Chapter 401: How Old Are You?

Late at night, the post station on the outskirts of Liangzhou City was suddenly engulfed in raging fire! The ferocity of the blaze was truly unexpected. The flames quickly swallowed the sizable post house, thick smoke billowing inside and out.

Yet Fang Chongyong and his entourage seemed to have anticipated this. When the fire broke out, the soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army unhurriedly carried buckets to fight the fire, showing not the slightest panic. Dedicated personnel also arranged for the orderly evacuation of everyone else inside the post house.

As for Fang Chongyong himself, his left arm around Anaya and his right around Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, he watched the great fire consume the post house from nearby, his expression calm, as though it had nothing to do with him, as if he were merely a bystander watching the spectacle.

But just because he was not panicking did not mean others were not!

Li Guangbi and An Chongzhang both arrived nearly in a frenzy, each bringing their trusted aides, arriving one after the other. At the first sight of the post house ablaze, both were terrified.

But at the second glance, seeing Fang Chongyong with his arms around beautiful women, leisurely enjoying the view, they seemed to understand something.

"Censor Fang, the fire is fierce. Have you suffered any losses here?"

Li Guangbi asked with some concern.

An Chongzhang said nothing, merely cupped his fists in salute to Fang Chongyong.

"A group of bandits came, set the fire, and rescued the assassin. My general has already led troops to pursue them, but whether they can catch up is still uncertain."

Fang Chongyong sighed deeply and gently waved his hand, signaling Anaya and the other women to step back.

His attitude was thought-provoking, leaving Li Guangbi and the others unable to figure out exactly what had happened.

To think that bandits would dare burn down a post station on the outskirts of Liangzhou City, and with Fang Chongyong, a high-ranking court official, temporarily staying there.

One had to admit, these bandits had powerful backing!

Li Guangbi looked thoughtfully at An Chongzhang, and the latter happened to look at him at the same time. Both involuntarily averted their gazes, their hearts sinking to rock bottom.

The scene before them could only be described as—those who understand, understand. Everything was left unspoken.

"However, although the assassin was rescued by persons unknown, the confession is still in hand. When I return to Chang'an and submit it to His Majesty for a decision, it will be no obstacle.

After all, I am merely a passerby in Liangzhou."

Fang Chongyong could not help clicking his tongue in lament. Under the glow of the fire, both Li Guangbi and An Chongzhang had extremely unpleasant expressions.

They both understood that the feud between Li Guangbi, an outsider Jiedushi with no roots in Hexi, and the local Liangzhou An clan was now beyond repair.

Building trust is hard; destroying it is easy.

Men's hearts are like shadowy realms—who knows what foul intentions the other harbors within?

Even if Li Guangbi were the most ignorant of men, he would not dare believe the An clan had nothing to do with the assassination.

And it was the same for An Chongzhang and the Liangzhou An clan behind him. No matter how they explained, they could never dispel Li Guangbi's misgivings.

Because in Li Guangbi's view, the fire at the post station might well have been set by the An clan's people.

"I had thought only the Western Regions were unsafe. I never expected Liangzhou to have so much trouble too. First an assassin at the banquet, then the post station burned down and the prisoner broken out.

I had better go stay at the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army camp for a couple of days. At least there is no danger in a military camp.

Take your time with your affairs, gentlemen. I shall take my leave. As for the cleanup, it is not fitting for an outsider like me to be involved, so I will leave it to you."

Fang Chongyong courteously bade farewell to Li Guangbi and An Chongzhang, then departed with his two favored concubines toward the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army camp.

After he left, An Chongzhang did not know how to explain things to Li Guangbi. Things having come to this, more words meant more mistakes. He could only say politely, "The city outskirts are not my defense zone. I ask Jiedushi Li to take charge of the situation. I shall take my leave."

With that, he mounted his horse and returned to the An clan's residence.

The post station burned, the assassin rescued, both Fang Chongyong and An Chongzhang gone—Li Guangbi had a bellyful of fire with no one to vent it on. He could only sigh deeply, order his subordinates to deal with clearing the ruins of the post station, and then returned to the Hexi Jiedushi yamen.

The series of recent upheavals gave him the illusion of being full of strength with no idea how to use it.

It was true that Li Guangbi knew how to fight battles, but faced with this kind of covert struggle where friend and foe were indistinguishable and the battlefield was unnecessary, he could not bring even a tenth of his ability to bear.

Fang Chongyong, having returned to the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army camp, was not idle either.

He summoned Che Guangqian and asked, "Has tonight's business been handled properly?"

"To reply to the Jiedushi, the men carried it out cleanly and neatly. Not a single person burned to death. As for property, that could not be helped."

Che Guangqian said with a respectful bow. He admired Fang Chongyong's stratagem from the bottom of his heart.

"When the brothers return to Chang'an, the pay is meager and there is no way to make extra money, so life will surely be hard.

This move of winning over Li Guangbi and coercing and restraining An Chongzhang is to secure some benefits for the officers and men of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army. Let An Chongzhang help us get some money to subsidize the men's household expenses.

As for Li Guangbi's side, it is to pave the way for the brothers' future postings to Hexi. The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's establishment is only so large; some people will inevitably be promoted and leave, and they need a way out."

Fang Chongyong said with a sigh. If he could, he would rather not resort to underhanded methods.

But many times, a man in the jianghu cannot act as he pleases. He was not just one person—he was the commander of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, not fighting alone.

If you do not secure benefits for the brothers under you, who will treat you as their big brother?

Loyalty has a price. You cannot get it for free.

"Rest assured, Jiedushi, this matter has been handled properly. The assassin in our hands would actually have been more likely to cause trouble.

For the Jiedushi to toss out this hot potato so quickly was the masterstroke! With one fire at the post station, Li Guangbi now stands completely opposite the local Liangzhou forces. For both sides to stand firm, they will certainly need the Jiedushi's support.

In the future, even if the Jiedushi casually says a good word before His Majesty, the parties involved will be deeply grateful. The Jiedushi's move of creating something from nothing was truly brilliant. With the assassin's confession in hand, there is no fear of the An clan turning hostile. Throwing it out can make them lose a layer of skin even if they do not die."

Che Guangqian flattered Fang Chongyong with these words.

Fang Chongyong was Wang Zhongsi's son-in-law; in other words, he was naturally a political ally of Li Guangbi. Add to that the previous friction with the Liangzhou An clan's people, which though suppressed had not escalated, and it was clear he was not on the same side as the An clan.

Whom he should help was obvious at a glance. But helping required skill. What he needed to do was maximize his own interests, not help others at the cost of his own!

Fang Chongyong's move this time—giving An Chongzhang a warning and simultaneously seizing his leverage—was precisely what is called 'drawing the bow without releasing the arrow, poised to strike'!

I have your leverage. I will not use it, nor will I coerce you into doing anything.

But if you want to come after me, you had better carefully weigh how many pounds and ounces you amount to!

Whether the Liangzhou An clan actually sent the assassin or burned the post station—in truth, the facts did not matter.

What mattered was that they were indeed the biggest local power in Liangzhou and even the entire Hexi Corridor, having operated in the region for over a hundred years. Their ability to raise a call and receive responses from all quarters naturally invited suspicion from imperial power.

Fang Chongyong's scheme was a matter of guiding existing forces, not conjuring a lethal weapon out of thin air.

Though he was still on the road back to Chang'an, he continued, as if seizing every opening, to pave the way for his life after return.

So Che Guangqian's admiration was genuine; his earlier words were not entirely flattery.

"By the way, didn't we bring back many slaves from Suiye Town? We can sell them right here in Liangzhou, and then buy some female slaves."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and spoke, clearly quite pleased by Che Guangqian's flattery.

"That won't be a problem. Liangzhou has the largest slave market in Hexi and even the Western Regions. Whether it's Silla maidservants or Kunlun slaves, both are easy to find.

It's just that I don't know what the Jiedushi wants to buy female slaves for? And which kind of female slaves?

The kind that can weave and do manual labor, or... the kind that entertain with their looks?

How many would be appropriate?"

Che Guangqian asked in puzzlement.

"First, set aside one battalion of three hundred. No pretty vases — just the ones with skilled hands. You go arrange the handover.

This Jiedushi wants to train them into a battalion, for a major purpose. It is not for matters below the waist."

Fang Chongyong even went out of his way to offer an explanation.

Che Guangqian nodded thoughtfully. In fact, the women beside Fang Chongyong — Anaye and Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya — were both exceptionally beautiful. Finding women even more charming and alluring than them in the slave market would indeed be no easy task.

Besides, there are only oxen worn out from plowing, never fields ruined by plowing. Matters below the waist, once stripped bare, are just like that.

Che Guangqian hadn't noticed Fang Chongyong being particularly desperate or crazed in that regard. In his view, his own Jiedushi was a very reserved person who would not easily let others know his thoughts.

Summed up in one phrase: "unfathomable."

"Jiedushi, that female assassin was quite a looker. Letting her go just like that is a bit of a loss.

Having some fun first and then releasing her — just treat it as her toll, there's nothing wrong with that. This subordinate thinks it's quite fair."

Che Guangqian complained in some confusion. Of course, whatever Fang Chongyong wanted to do, he could only comply. He could grumble about it afterward, but raising objections beforehand wouldn't be appropriate.

"As a man, the lower half must follow the command of the upper half. You can't let things get out of order."

Fang Chongyong pointed at his own head and said.

Che Guangqian nodded thoughtfully, greatly admiring him in his heart.

The kind of thing Fang Chongyong spoke of could truly be a big deal or a small matter.

For instance, that shameless hussy Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya — if she relied on her beauty and bedroom skills to insist that Fang Chongyong make her Queen of the Stone Kingdom, what then?

That would disrupt Fang Chongyong's entire plan, and the political significance expressed would be completely different. If Fang Chongyong truly acted recklessly just to "win a beauty's smile," it would genuinely be no small matter.

The "little brother" below the belt truly could only take a back seat, following the command of the "big brother" inside the head, in order to accomplish great things.

"Go rest. Enough chatter. Tomorrow we'll change into plain clothes and take a stroll through the slave market in Wuwei City."

Fang Chongyong had a new plan. He wanted to restructure the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army and strengthen its combat power!

……

The next day, Fang Chongyong had Che Guangqian bring along several dozen personal soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army. Everyone dressed up as Hu merchants and their guards, and followed him to the sprawling slave market within Liangzhou City.

Looking at the plaque hanging at the entrance, inscribed with "Hexi Human Resources Market," a surge of indescribable absurdity welled up in Fang Chongyong's heart!

Damn it, that plaque was one he had personally written and hung up himself back when he was still Inspector of Shazhou, when he came to Liangzhou for a meeting by sheer coincidence!

It was actually still there, and the name hadn't even been changed!

Perhaps later generations felt that this undertaking of Fang Chongyong's was "very refined" and exceptionally elegant, a rather fine fig leaf, and so it had been kept in use right up to the present.

Yet no matter how pleasant the name of slave trading sounded, it could not change its cruel essence of exploitation and oppression. So even though Fang Chongyong's skin was as thick as a city wall, he still felt somewhat ill at ease at this moment.

A real boomerang square in the forehead!

"Jiedushi, is something amiss?"

Seeing Fang Chongyong looking thoroughly uncomfortable, Che Guangqian leaned in and asked in a low voice.

"It's nothing. I just recalled some matters from years past. I have stayed in Hexi for many years now."

Fang Chongyong could not help but sigh with emotion.

Che Guangqian led him wandering through the slave market. Here there were adults and children, men and women, people of every ethnicity. They were all like animals — some with ropes around their necks, others simply stuffed into large wooden cages.

Not a shred of human dignity to speak of.

The slave market was permeated with a pungent, nauseating stench, extremely foul. Just thinking about it, one could imagine what kind of treatment these slaves received at the hands of slave traders.

Of course, this was also one of the characteristics of the Tang dynasty. The Tang Code explicitly stipulated that slaves were like cattle and horses — killing them was no crime, merely a fine. In a certain sense, they were not even as valuable as draft oxen.

Killing an ox without cause was still a criminal offense, but if a master killed a slave without cause, all it took was reporting to the yamen and paying a token sum to settle the matter.

"Your Excellency, the slaves you sent have all been inspected by this humble one. The female slaves you requested have also been prepared. Would Your Excellency like to take a look?"

A middle-aged fat man dressed as a Hu merchant, with the appearance of a proper Han, asked with lowered eyes and a deferential manner.

He knew that Fang Chongyong was that "Fang the Jiedushi," but this was not the place to pay respects. He simply pretended he knew nothing at all.

"How is this one's reputation?"

Fang Chongyong asked Che Guangqian beside him.

"To answer the Jiedushi, in their line of work, reputation is very important, otherwise they couldn't survive in Hexi. This place is not safe — a den of mixed crowds and trouble. This subordinate suggests the Jiedushi can return to the main camp."

Che Guangqian suggested in a low voice.

"Fine then. When the time comes, have him handle the handover with you."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, showing no sign of "womanly softness," and said nothing like "treat the slaves better" or any such nonsense.

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, please don't leave just yet.

This is a big transaction. This humble one has a small gift to present to Your Excellency.

A complimentary addition — please rest assured, Your Excellency, this humble one has no conditions whatsoever."

The slave trader said with bowing and scraping, his fawning intent extremely thick. In fact, slave traders had dealt with the Tang army more than once or twice. To be precise, every time the Tang army captured prisoners of war after battle, they were "disposed of" in exactly this manner.

Therefore, the major garrison towns where the Tang army was stationed were often also places where slave traders were unusually active.

"Oh? It seems this small gift is rather fine, giving you such confidence."

Fang Chongyong raised an eyebrow, his interest immediately piqued.

"But of course! This humble one certainly wouldn't dare present misshapen wares as treasures and make a fool of himself before Your Excellency."

The middle-aged slave trader dressed as a Hu merchant said with a look of pride, clearly very confident.

He brought Fang Chongyong and his group, winding their way, to an ordinary courtyard; soon, this person brought out a young woman in a light gauze dress from the side room.

Fang Chongyong merely glanced, then his eyes widened in shock! Even those beside him, like Che Guangqian, were dumbfounded.

This woman was actually Jiang Wuyan, whom Fang Chongyong had let escape last night!

Jiang Wuyan, now helpless, kept a blank face and pretended not to know Fang Chongyong, but inwardly she groaned in despair.

As an assassin, she could only kill high-ranking targets and display her skills in specific circumstances.

If she really fought the palace guards, escaping a two-on-one would be lucky. Thus, even if Fang Chongyong had released her, actually trying to leave the West River on her own would be as hard as climbing to heaven.

However, as the saying goes, the greatest hidden is in the marketplace; the story of darkness under the lamp never gets old.

Jiang Wuyan, with rich experience in the martial world, quickly thought of an escape plan: she immediately went to a slave trader and offered herself as a gift to some noble! As long as they weren't a local of the West River, it would do.

Such a windfall demand was naturally impossible for the slave trader to refuse.

Under his protection, Jiang Wuyan easily evaded the search. After all, neither Li Guangbi nor An Zhongzhang could have imagined that an assassin would voluntarily become a slave and hide among slaves!

Rather than desperately fleeing Martial Might City!

"This gift, I am very satisfied."

Fang Chongyong smirked triumphantly, pinched Jiang Wuyan's chin, lightly patted her cheek, and revealed a lewd, lascivious smile.

The slave trader was overjoyed, and quickly told Jiang Wuyan, "From now on you are this noble's servant—come along."

"Isn't that so? Let's go."

Fang Chongyong smugly made a gesturing invitation to Jiang Wuyan.

(End of chapter)