Chapter 419: Minor Details and Grand Principles

In the deep autumn of the 11th year of Tianbao, the emperor in Chang'an issued an edict appointing Yan Zhenqing as Inspection Envoy for the three eastern routes of Henan, Huainan, and Jiangnan, responsible for inspecting canal transport matters, traveling to various locales, investigating the people's conditions, and policing illegal activities.

The prefects of each province must unconditionally cooperate with Yan Zhenqing and his party in handling governmental affairs.

At the same time, the court issued another edict establishing the post of Jiedushi of Huainan, headquartered in Yangzhou, overseeing military affairs in Yangzhou, Chu, Chuzhou, He, Lu, Shou, Shu, Guang, Qi, An, Huang, Shen, and Mian prefectures.

The Huainan forces are primarily a navy, intended only to suppress bandits and safeguard the safety of the Yangtze River and canal transport; its strength is only ten thousand troops. After the Jiedushi of Huainan assumes office, additional soldiers will be recruited.

The Yangzhou prefectural government already maintains an armory, whose weapons could equip a hundred thousand men, so there is no need to worry about armaments.

The accompanying personnel appointment is that the court named the Prince of Pingxi, Yinqiang Xiaojie Army commander Fang Chongyong, as the first Jiedushi of Huainan, and he brings three thousand of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army south to Yangzhou with Yan Zhenqing, obeying his orders.

As for whether Fang Chongyong will ever return to Chang'an, whether the Huainan fief is a temporary post to be abolished later or will be permanently retained, Ji Ge did not mention it in the edict, and no one in the court asked.

Of course, all of this is just the official line.

The real purpose of Fang Chongyong and Yan Zhenqing's southward journey is known in great detail by all court officials, yet they remain silent and avoid mentioning it whenever possible.

Everyone knows internally that this is not a mere posting abroad; it's a money‑making venture—hard, dirty, exhausting work!

If we don't go to the Two Huai and Jiangnan to scoop up money, we'd have to do it in Chang'an and Guanzhong! Everyone in Chang'an has families; a fire at the city gate harms the fish in the pond. If we must cause trouble, it's better to do it farther away.

Given that, who would bring an "unspeakable secret" to the table for discussion?

With departure imminent, Fang Chongyong has not yet approached Yan Zhenqing to discuss the itinerary; instead, Yan Zhenqing arrives at the Prince of Pingxi's residence in Lantian County to consult Fang Chongyong on how to "raise funds" for the court.

Colloquially known as "money‑scooping."

In the study of the princely mansion, Fang Chongyong watches Yan Zhenqing, who looks somewhat awkward, finding it amusing yet unable to show it.

"Lord Jiedushi's household ornaments are indeed rather exquisite."

Yan Zhenqing points to the embroidered tapestry "Magnificent Tang Landscape" hanging on the wall, forces a dry laugh and says. This forced small talk makes him extremely embarrassed.

"The joy of moving houses, blessed by the saint, a royal gift. It may be admired from afar but not profaned."

Fang Chongyong replies flippantly, waiting for Yan Zhenqing to get to the main matter.

"The great army will set out tomorrow, leaving Guanzhong for the Two Huai and Jiangnan. I wonder what Lord Jiedushi thinks about the Huainan affairs."

Yan Zhenqing asks dryly, his speech a bit clumsy.

Because it's truly shameful!

The chief official in charge has to seek help from an escort commander; if word got out, this old face would have nowhere to hide.

"Since the Zhenguan era, the Two Huai and Jiangnan regions have been peaceful for ages, the people living in safety and prosperity; no incidents have been reported."

"My troops are merely heading south to clear waterways and chase bandits."

"The prince might as well tell Censor Yan a brazen line: this Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's southward march is officially a public duty, but in truth it's a repair, precisely the time to loosen and invigorate the muscles."

"So if you ask me what I think of going to the Two Huai and Jiangnan for feasting, drinking, and revelry, to be honest, I not only have thoughts, I have plenty."

"It could be called eager to try!"

"However, if you ask me about the military affairs over there, I can only say: this trip has no enemy chieftain beside us, so I truly have no thoughts at all."

Fang Chongyong pretends to be clueless while actually understanding, and simply does not follow his line.

This time Yan Zhenqing is an "Inspection Envoy", tasked with money‑scooping; the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is a guard unit, unsuitable for operations in the Two Huai and Jiangnan, so Fang Chongyong petitions Ji Ge for a temporary assignment as "Jiedushi of Huainan".

The escort mission is solely to protect Yan Zhenqing and his subordinate clerks who collect and tally money, ensuring the gathered wealth can be safely transported back to Chang'an.

As for how to scoop the money, that is not Fang Chongyong's duty. In reality, he is merely the head bodyguard responsible for escorting the cargo along the way!

The saying goes that one should manage affairs from one's own position; Yan Zhenqing hopes to catch a wolf with bare hands, but his thoughts are overly idealistic.

Seeing Fang Chongyong not taking the bait, Yan Zhenqing thinks for a moment, then sighs lightly and says:

"The court this time sends me to the Two Huai and Jiangnan, and the only matters are money and grain. However, the saint has provided some blank, stamped edicts for me to issue my own orders. How am I to make this work?"

Yan Zhenqing, a veteran official, is accustomed to petty scheming.

This trick of Ji Ge—providing only edicts without orders—is not his first time.

Frankly, letting a dispatched official fill in policies on the edict as convenient is the classic "I take the blame, you go to your death" scheme.

If the task succeeds, it reflects the emperor's boundless grace and the saint's wisdom.

If the task fails, the executing official is guilty of forging edicts, a heinous crime.

In any case, the emperor is always right.

Now Ji Ge's game has cornered Yan Zhenqing with no retreat.

Otherwise, how could he possibly lower his face and come to Fang Chongyong for help?

"Censor Yan, if you truly want me to speak, I can only say that this thing succeeds because of Xiao He and fails because of Xiao He. If it can be avoided, then avoid it as much as possible."

Fang Chongyong replies concisely, offering a piece of correct nonsense.

This kind of "blank‑sealed" edict is somewhat akin to the "golden finger" held by an imperial commissioner.

But the commissioner who wields this must also bear the risk of using the golden finger.

Local officials, after all, have the right to submit memorials and complaints to the court!

If a real dispute erupts, the legal battle over who loses or wins truly requires two sides to argue.

Fang Chongyong now is like a tube of toothpaste; when Yan Zhenqing squeezes, he only gives out a little.

And indeed, that's all there is!

"If we don't use the edict, then… should I issue an order for the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army to directly rob the great households in the region?"

"If we don't use the imperial edict, then... would you have this official issue an order, telling the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army to go directly to the homes of those wealthy families in the localities and loot them?"

"Censor Yan, by disturbing the region and committing greed and perversion of law, that's enough; you may go on your own. I, for the sake of a colleague, will pretend my eyes are blind and see nothing. But if Censor Yan drags me into the water, that's wrong; the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is a meritorious unit that helped the Great Tang sweep the Western Regions, and cannot engage in looting. Even if I were willing, the loyal and brave soldiers would not consent."

Fang Chongyong shakes his head and sighs.

I, out of consideration for my colleagues, merely pretended my eyes were blind and couldn't see.

But for Minister Yan to drag me into this is wrong; the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army is a meritorious unit that swept the Western Regions for the Tang—how could it possibly engage in banditry?

Even if I were willing, the loyal and brave soldiers would not agree.

Fang Chongyong shook his head and sighed.

His attitude is crystal clear: no matter how you hint, I'm not going to fall into the trap!

Fang Chongyong's move of playing Tai Chi could drive Yan Zhenqing completely mad.

"This southward fundraising concerns the safety of the Great Tang; His Highness, please instruct me."

Yan Zhenqing crossed his hands in salute to Fang Chongyong and no longer dared to keep his previous airs.

Seeing Yan Zhenqing soften, Fang Chongyong finally sighed, shook his head and said, "Censor Yan, may I ask you: if the Tubo forces rush down from the plateau, advancing eastward like a blade through bamboo, how quickly could they reach Yangzhou at best?"

Huh?

Yan Zhenqing was taken aback; he never expected Fang Chongyong to ask such a seemingly unrelated question.

"Even if the Great Tang were gone, the Tubo reaching Yangzhou would be as impossible as scaling the heavens!"

Yan Zhenqing forced a wry smile.

"Indeed, the court understands this, we both understand it, and the big households of Yangzhou are not foolish—they understand it too!"

Therefore, whether the court's border troops or its imperial guard, they have no interest at all!

For those people, fertile fields stretch everywhere, shops line every street, countless tenant workers serve under them, and counting money makes their hands ache.

Tubo cannot reach their homes, nor can the Khitans; bluntly put, even if a prince seized power by coup, they would still do whatever they please.

In any case, those disputes are far from them, and they feel indifferent about who runs the court.

Now Censor Yan is heading to Yangzhou to tell those people that the court is in trouble on the ground and they must provide real gold and silver to fund the imperial guard.

You think they would be willing?

Fang Chongyong's words left Yan Zhenqing speechless!

From Yan Zhenqing's perspective, the court's current difficulties, the Two Huai and Jiangnan are not like Hebei; those regions are far from the front, have enjoyed long peace, and have benefited from the Great Tang's blessings.

Shouldn't those places and those people feel grateful to the court?

Even if they don't have to be forced, they could still raise some money, right?

But after hearing Fang Chongyong, he realized his thoughts were too naive!

Gratitude? It doesn't exist!

The fertile fields are my inheritance from my ancestors, nothing to do with your court. The tenant workers serving me is natural and honest; my wealth of ten thousand strings comes from hard work, what does your damned court have to do with it!

I'm not rebelling, so don't hinder me from being a rich man!

Sure enough, there are probably more people who think like this.

Huainan and Jiangnan are tucked away in a corner, their geography naturally makes them comfortable; it's their business, not the court's!

It's no surprise that some big households in the Two Huai and Jiangnan act this way; it's just human nature.

Just as many Great Tang officials think that handling a few tasks while in office is their own merit and has nothing to do with the court's system.

Concepts like "if the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold" or "shouldering burdens while moving forward", even if they understand them, they will pretend not to know.

From their view, paying taxes each year according to the court's rules is enough; they have no intention to rebel, and the court should not disturb their tranquil lives!

Everyone lives peacefully on their own; what's the problem?

"Hearing Your Highness say that, I must resign before the sage and retire home."

Yan Zhenqing sighed helplessly, shook his head and forced a wry smile.

"Normally, getting the big households in those regions to contribute money is difficult.

Even if forced, it would likely be remembered as a disgrace for ages.

Censor Yan has come, presumably also to avoid public criticism."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, not denying Yan Zhenqing's statement.

In fact, Yan Zhenqing sought Fang Chongyong's help because he cherished his reputation and did not want future histories to record him as someone who "plundered the regions, exhausted every means, and left deeds too numerous to be written down."

Otherwise, why waste so much effort going around? Once in the Two Huai and Jiangnan, just holding a knife to the rich households' throats would finish the job, wouldn't it?

Earlier, in the Apricot Blossom Tower, we only discussed strategies—how to act—without getting into concrete execution.

At that time, Yan Zhenqing also thought the problem wasn't serious; the Two Huai and Jiangnan regions should have many "men of benevolence and ambition" willing to serve the state, donating family assets and "lending" them to the center.

When overturned, how can an egg stay whole?

Surely no one truly fails to understand this, right?

But hearing Fang Chongyong put it that way, it seemed entirely different.

"There is no pain that cuts the flesh, no matter of life and death, yet making unrelated people abandon their wealth is indeed a great difficulty."

Yan Zhenqing sighed helplessly, saying he had come to understand this point.

"It's just that the holy command is hard to fulfill; I don't know what Prince of Pingxi could teach me."

Yan Zhenqing asked earnestly.

"Well, actually the method does exist."

Fang Chongyong stroked the short whiskers on his chin and said slowly.

He stopped there, refusing to go on, making it clear he wouldn't act unless he saw a rabbit.

Yan Zhenqing felt helpless, realizing that without a huge investment it wouldn't work.

He gritted his teeth and said, "I can draft a guarantee; after heading south, everything will be under the authority of the Prince of Pingxi. All related affairs—orders, personnel appointments and dismissals, reports to the court—will be decided by a single word of the Prince of Pingxi."

This is tantamount to voluntarily handing over his great authority, abandoning his own control, only hoping for a proper, mutually satisfactory outcome in the end.

Regardless of how the process unfolds.

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong finally smiled, waved his hand and said:

"Censor Yan, you're too kind, truly kind. Originally, this was within my duties, but since you've spoken, let's draft a contract, two copies, each of us keeping one."

"That way, it'll be convenient for us to cooperate and complete the task. Censor Yan, does that sound right to you?"

Fang Chongyong asked cheerfully.

"Your Highness is absolutely correct; I will write the contract right now."

Yan Zhenqing is a straightforward person; he didn't stand on ceremony with Fang Chongyong, found brush, ink, paper, and inkstone in his study, and began writing himself.

After writing two copies, he took out his personal seal, stamped the contract, and after the ink dried, handed it to Fang Chongyong for inspection.

"Inspector Yan, your sincerity, I truly feel it. On this trip south to the Lianghuai and Jiangnan regions, Inspector Yan, you must speak and act cautiously; I will handle everything."

Fang Chongyong shook the contract in his hand and said. Since Yan Zhenqing has already yielded, he also doesn't need to keep pressing the other party.

Is this just a contract?

It is, yet not entirely.

This is a leverage that cannot be made public! Even after the matter is settled, Fang Chongyong can still use it to control Yan Zhenqing!

This is the strategic cornerstone for establishing a future offensive-defensive alliance.

"This time I help you; in the future, if I have business, you must help me, with evidence here. If you don't cooperate then, leaking this letter will be enough to ruin your political reputation."

Yan Zhenqing obviously knows how weighty this is, so he has been beating around the bush, hoping Fang Chongyong will work for free.

After some back-and-forth, he still ended up yielding.

"Then, I'll trouble the Prince of Pingxi to arrange it."

Yan Zhenqing nodded slightly and said. This is somewhat underhanded, but it does not cross his political red line.

Yan Zhenqing wants to do something great for the country; raising funds for the forbidden army is such a 'great deed' that aligns with his sense of righteousness. For this, forming political alliances with certain people, engaging in petty maneuvering, is also unavoidable.

It's merely not fussing over minor details for the sake of righteousness; it's not unacceptable.

After all, Fang Chongyong is considered a 'royalist', not a rebel, so why couldn't they cooperate? Since they want to cooperate, paying a price is inevitable.

"Please rest assured, Inspector Yan, this prince's word is deed; I will never go back on my word."

Fang Chongyong nodded and put the contract into his lapel.

"Your Highness, I don't know exactly how to proceed."

Yan Zhenqing asked humbly.

"Eh, it can't be said yet; if spoken prematurely, it won't work."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, giving an inscrutable air.

(End of chapter)