Chapter 394: A Victor's Posture

The wind blew mournfully as Fang Chongyong stood atop the outer city wall of Mulu City, gazing out at the inner city of Mulu City in the distance, feeling for a moment that things were rather tricky.

Because the outer city garrison had surrendered as expected, and the local nobles and prominent families had also sent people to offer their surrender, but the inner city showed not the slightest sign of movement.

The inner city garrison adhered to the "three no's" principle: no fleeing, no counterattacking, no surrendering.

The fortress of Mulu City's inner city was extremely tall, visually estimated at over ten zhang high.

Yet the outer city's defenses were truly not worth mentioning—the walls were thin to begin with, and their height was only a head taller than a grown man. Many sections were not stone walls at all, but temporary wooden substitutes. At the base of many walls there were even "rat holes" for convenient passage in and out.

The area enclosed by the outer walls was enormous, considerably larger than Zhezhi City. Even with tens of thousands of garrison troops, it would likely be impossible to defend it impregnably.

Therefore, occupying the outer city walls was, militarily speaking, not of much significance.

Looking down at the outer city wall of Mulu City beneath his feet, Fang Chongyong was reminded of Jiankang City (Nanjing) from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. That city had long ago been ordered razed to the ground by Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, when Yang Guang conquered the Chen dynasty. Fang Chongyong felt that what he was doing today seemed entirely identical to what Yang Jian had done.

In the course of Jiankang City's development, it too had started from several fortress strongholds as its foundation, with residential and commercial districts growing up beneath them, then gradually forming a great city that was militarily indefensible yet economically extremely prosperous.

Mulu City could be regarded as a "knockoff version" of Jiankang City, except that its surrounding environment was not, like Jiankang's surroundings, abundant in water sources and suitable for habitation.

Therefore, the Mulu City garrison had to fight on exterior lines and engage the enemy outside the city.

If the flames of war spread to the outer city, then even if they won, Mulu City would be gravely weakened, and for the garrison, victory or defeat would matter little.

In the course of clashing with the Dashi people, Fang Chongyong found that although the enemy had many shortcomings in combat, and the coalition forces composed of various tribes did not coordinate very smoothly, the Dashi people were still commendable when it came to managing their territory and strategic vision.

Central Asia here was indeed too close to the Dashi people's power base! Unless they could count on internal strife among their opponents, unless the Tang empire's national strength remained perpetually at its zenith, the various costs required to contend with the Dashi people here would become so great as to be unbearable.

"What is the situation?"

Fang Chongyong saw Che Guangqian walking toward him with a somewhat unpleasant expression on his face, so he opened his mouth to ask.

"Jiedushi, the Black Flag Army is willing to lay down their weapons and armor and surrender, but they demand to leave Mulu City and are unwilling to become prisoners."

Che Guangqian said in a low voice.

"Such a thing?"

Fang Chongyong was taken aback, somewhat unable to understand what those Dashi people were thinking. The residents of the outer city had already given up resistance; without their support, how long could the inner city hold out? To still be setting conditions at this critical juncture—could it be that they did not know how sharp the Tang army's blades were?

"Jiedushi, the situation is somewhat... how should I put it, not quite what one would imagine. This army is not Abu Muslim's trusted subordinates. They were sent to salvage the situation after the Dashi king Abbas learned of Abu Muslim's disastrous defeat in the East.

They are not the same group as the locals."

Che Guangqian, who was well-versed in the ways of the world, had long since inquired about the situation clearly. He felt this was an opportunity.

"Then what do you think?"

Fang Chongyong asked in a low voice.

"Jiedushi, your humble general believes that those men all come from places as far away as Baghdad and have no desire to fight to the death. It is not worth it for us to grind them down either.

Better to let them depart, so that the locals of Mulu City will believe they have been abandoned by the Black-Robed Dashi. Those who return, in order to cover up their own incompetence, will surely describe us as though we were gods descended to earth.

In this way, we can intimidate the interior of the Dashi nation."

Che Guangqian cupped his fists in salute and expressed his idea.

"And you? What do you think of General Che's suggestion?"

Fang Chongyong looked at Feng Changqing and asked.

"Jiedushi, what General Che says is quite right. Does the Jiedushi not also often say, 'If one can repel the invader, what need is there for excessive slaughter'?

Our purpose in this battle is not to kill people.

If releasing these one or two thousand men can intimidate a hundred thousand Dashi troops, your humble general believes this is a deal worth making."

Feng Changqing echoed Che Guangqian's words.

Hearing what the two men said, Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, silently weighing in his heart how he should respond.

Their purpose in this battle was to cripple the Dashi nation's bridgehead for its campaign into the Western Regions—Mulu City, the birthplace of the Black-Robed Dashi's elite "Black Flag Army." What mattered was destroying the local supply capacity and population potential, not killing a few more soldiers.

Letting those defeated captives return to Baghdad would help spread the news and trigger turmoil within the Black-Robed Dashi.

If the Dashi people wished to make a comeback in the future, they would certainly be extremely cautious. This was far better than annihilating one or two thousand Dashi garrison soldiers.

"Then I must trouble you to make another trip to the inner city. Tell them that we accept their proposal to lay down their weapons and leave this place.

But every one of them must sever the little finger of their left hand—not much, just one joint will suffice.

Those unwilling to do so may voluntarily become slaves. Regardless of whether they are officers or soldiers, we treat them all equally—the same rule applies to all."

Fang Chongyong instructed Che Guangqian.

Sever one joint of the little finger?

Che Guangqian and Feng Changqing were both startled in their hearts, then silently pondered the matter for a moment, and only then did they realize the shrewdness of Fang Chongyong's move.

Why say this? Because having one small joint of the little finger cut off—specifically the joint with the nail—basically would not affect daily life, and would not even affect combat!

But this kind of thing, in terms of its devastating blow to the self-confidence of an individual and even an entire army, was incalculable.

If they did nothing and simply let those people go back, given humanity's inherent baser nature, that lot would likely portray themselves as victors, claiming that their valiant performance had earned the Tang army's admiration and respect, and that was why they had been released.

They might even give the Dashi people the illusion that "the Tang army is weak, winning only by piling on bodies."

This would run entirely counter to the message Fang Chongyong wished to convey.

Cutting off one joint of the little finger could both crush the arrogance of the Mulu City inner city garrison and destroy the Dashi people's self-confidence, without exceeding their psychological bottom line.

"Understood! Your humble general shall make the trip at once."

"No rush. First draft a treaty, and let the defending general review it before proceeding.

With this in hand, we will be able to speak with a straight back in the future, so that things cannot be disputed afterward."

Fang Chongyong said with a cold laugh.

In this era there were no recording devices and no cameras. Without leaving some evidence, when certain people at court tried to make trouble for them in the future, a small matter could be blown up into a big one.

"Understood! Rest assured, Jiedushi, your humble general will certainly get it done!"

Che Guangqian said excitedly. These were all military merits, and ones that could be obtained without fighting in real combat with real blades and spears—it could not be more satisfying.

After he left, Fang Chongyong said to Feng Changqing:

"Go into the city and take a census. Offer several places for the locals to choose from: Shi Kingdom, Kang Kingdom, Suiye, or anywhere under the jurisdiction of the Anxi Protectorate—they may go wherever they wish. Those who have money and are willing to pay will be registered in the Tang household registry; those without money will become slaves outright."

"Jiedushi, aren't we being too merciful like this?"

Feng Changqing asked with some puzzlement.

In the hearts of traditional Tang people, these "people beyond the frontier" like those here in Mulu City were all barbarian beasts, with a status little different from livestock. Toward such people, they would use them if they could be used, and kill them if they could not—why bother with such "refined operations"?

Feng Changqing and the others were not lacking in morals; rather, their morals depended on the target.

Fang Chongyong immediately understood this simple sentiment—in the eyes of Feng Changqing and the rest, a strategy like the Mongols' "kill all those taller than a cart wheel" was what counted as normal.

To be a slave of the Great Tang was itself a supreme glory!

"Go and carry it out. We just need to destroy Mulu City—there's no need to create karma of killing.

Of course, for those who are obstinate and refuse to leave, who wish to perish together with Mulu, then see them off on their way!"

"Yes, sir!"

Feng Changqing also accepted the order and departed.

"The economic base determines the superstructure!"

Once there was no one around, Fang Chongyong could not help but sigh and muttered to himself. His thinking was indeed too "civilized"—he had forgotten that this was in fact a barbaric era.

The soldiers' feast was about to begin. A pity that this would also be their final revelry.

……

"Wuuuuuuu…"

A soldier of the Arab army had a piece of cloth stuffed in his mouth, wanting to scream but unable to make a sound.

Beads of sweat rolled down his head, his face twisted from the excruciating pain, his eyes wide as saucers.

A section of his pinky finger had been cut off. Though the impact on his future life would be minimal, the pain during the amputation was more than anyone could endure.

Fang Chongyong certainly had no leisure to give them "anesthesia"!

"Next!"

He Changqi, who was watching the "execution" from the side, shouted loudly. The Arab army soldier, in so much pain he wished to die, seemed like a survivor of a catastrophe. He did not dare to even glance at He Changqi, hastily wrapped his injured pinky himself, and retreated to the side in a wretched state.

The winter here was not particularly cold, yet the locals of Mulu City who had gathered nearby to watch the "finger amputations" all felt a bone-chilling cold.

Several days had already passed, and the Tang army's control over Mulu City was beyond doubt. Fang Chongyong was stationed in the inner city, searching the entire city for various books and preparing to transport them back to the Great Tang. He had also dispatched Che Guangqian to inquire about craftsmen of all trades in the outer city and register them in official rolls.

"Inviting" people to watch pinky amputations was merely one of his small tricks to intimidate the locals.

Just as Fang Chongyong had expected, the garrison troops of Mulu City's inner city accepted the Tang army's proposal without any hesitation whatsoever. Not a single person "voluntarily" chose to become a slave in order to keep their pinky finger.

They likely knew, even within the Arab nation, what kind of treatment slaves received. Compared to losing a section of a pinky finger, becoming a slave essentially pronounced the death of one's social identity.

Better to have a finger cut off!

But what was baffling was this: not everyone among the locals was willing to leave. Many would rather be killed than depart from here.

These people were mostly local great landowners and the powerful and wealthy class.

Just as He Changqi was enthusiastically supervising the executions, a personal guard came over and said to him:

"General He, the Jiedushi has business with you."

"Understood, I shall go at once!"

The bored He Changqi had been fretting over having nothing to do, and Fang Chongyong had sent someone to summon him.

After arriving at the inner city of Mulu City, He Changqi was brought to the library. Fang Chongyong was touring this library, which occupied a vast area and contained numerous buildings.

It had to be said that Mulu City, which had risen to prominence several centuries before the common era, still possessed considerable cultural depth.

Books of various materials were everywhere, covering medicine, astronomy, religion—nothing was excluded. There were not only many texts from Western Asia, but surprisingly even a hand-copied, annotated version of the *Analects* written in Chinese, along with similar Confucian classics.

As a mandatory stop on the Silk Road and a transportation hub since the Han dynasty, Mulu City had indeed achieved the ideal of "all rivers flowing into the sea," a convergence of culture and talent.

Of course, someone like He Changqi did not understand the significance of all this; he only found it troublesome.

"Jiedushi, what are your orders?"

Seeing Fang Chongyong staring intently at the bookshelves, He Changqi reported in a low voice.

"There are some prominent local families who are obstinate and refuse to leave. Have you heard of this matter?"

Fang Chongyong asked with his back to He Changqi, his expression invisible.

"In reply to the Jiedushi, I have heard a little."

He Changqi did not know how he should answer, so he gave a perfunctory reply.

"Then have you also heard about local mobs of Mulu storming prominent families' homes, plundering their wealth, and slaves killing their masters?"

Fang Chongyong continued to press.

"This… your subordinate is not entirely clear on that…"

He Changqi rubbed his head and replied offhandedly. He was not someone like Che Guangqian who was responsible for intelligence gathering and covert affairs—how would he know whether such sordid business existed among the locals of Mulu?

Seeing that he was not catching on, Fang Chongyong elaborated: "Those prominent families, originally protected by the Arab Black Banner Army, had lorded it over others and offended many people. Now that the Arabs have left, I hear they have been frequently harassed by their former victims. This Jiedushi cannot bear to see it."

With things spelled out to this extent, if He Changqi still did not understand, then he was truly a pure fool!

"Oh, oh, oh, so that's what the Jiedushi meant. That is truly tragic, genuinely tragic."

He Changqi said with a "sudden realization."

"Mm, it's good that you know. The women of those prominent families must be properly protected.

There are soldiers in the army who cannot afford bride prices and cannot take wives. You should ask those women on their behalf whether they would be willing to return to the Great Tang with them.

If they are willing, these people can be freed from slave status.

This Jiedushi's meaning—is it clear to you now?"

Fang Chongyong said with pointed implication.

"Understood, understood—kill the men, capture the women! Your subordinate understands perfectly!"

He Changqi blurted out.

"Nonsense! Is that what this Jiedushi meant?"

Fang Chongyong's expression turned displeased as he scolded!

"Mm, yes, yes, it was this lowly officer who spoke amiss. It was the man who was killed by the local victim's family, and the woman who came along with us of her own will.

We forced nothing at all."

He Changqi said this with a perfectly straight face, talking absolute nonsense.

"Mm, go and handle it. This concerns the welfare of the brothers, so you must put some care into it."

Only then did Fang Chongyong nod in satisfaction. He turned his back and gave a light wave of his hand, signaling He Changqi to withdraw.

After He Changqi had left, he could not help but let out a sigh.

The strong can always take whatever they want from the weak — such is the way of the world.

Razing Mulu City can win the Great Tang twenty years of peace.

Brother Ji, I no longer owe you anything."

He muttered under his breath.

(End of this chapter)