Chapter 433: The Two Simpletons

"Be straight, kneel!"

In Lingzhou City, inside a study of the Shuo Fang Jiedushi's office, Fang Chongyong stared in bewilderment at the Shuo Fang army's expeditionary commander Hun Yu, pushed a delicate, handsome young man to the ground, then stomped on him hard.

He Changqi, Feng Changqing, Duan Xiushi and the others beside Fang Chongyong all found the scene inexplicable!

Hun Yu hurriedly begged an audience, "What kind of game is this?"

"Jiedushi, this man claims to be an aide of the Eternal King, harbors malicious intent, and even tried to bribe and win over Shuo Fang army officers for the Eternal King!"

The junior general remained calm, feigned compliance, and said he would act once concrete evidence was obtained, then capture him!

"The incriminating letters are here, the contact person is here; please, Jiedushi, review them!"

The tall, broad‑shouldered Hun Yu respectfully stepped forward, presenting a sealed secret letter with wax. The wax was intact, proving Hun Yu had not opened it.

Huh?

Everyone beside Fang Chongyong exchanged glances, unable to believe Hun Yu's words were true.

The Eternal King is that ruthless, sending people straight to Shuo Fang to bribe senior Shuo Fang officers!

Their first reaction was that the Eternal King was foolish.

But on further thought, considering that Ji Ge is already over sixty, the Eternal King might still have a chance of success. A little more daring, and it's not such a big deal.

Which army commander isn't a daredevil?

Because, in the eyes of the Eternal King's crowd, even if negotiations fail, few military officers would report the matter.

Making a good connection with the Eternal King isn't a bad thing. It might be useful later; why burn bridges?

Of course, promising to obey orders or even partake in certain unspeakable grand affairs is unnecessary.

But how could anyone know that the border army truly has such an "irrational" simpleton!

He just doesn't play by the rules!

After figuring out this round, Fang Chongyong and the others looked at Hun Yu, awaiting further explanation.

"The junior general, deeply grateful to the nation, could not commit treason. Today I hand him over to the Jiedushi to prove my innocence. Please, Jiedushi, see clearly!"

Seeing Fang Chongyong silent, Hun Yu broke into a cold sweat, hurriedly stumbling through an explanation.

One must admit, this commander of Tiele nine‑surname origin is truly loyal to the Great Tang!

Or rather, this is their way of survival. They recognize only the Great Tang; they obey whoever sits on the throne.

They have no intention of meddling in succession struggles!

Some border‑army commanders break the rules, but someone like Hun Yu, a "guest under another's roof," dares not act rashly; he must follow the overt rules and avoid any slip.

As for the "Cong Long" kind of "big project," Tiele men like Hun Yu, with their small arms, truly dare not take part.

"Hun Yu's loyalty and bravery are commendable, worthy of being a model for the Shuo Fang army!"

Fang Chongyong placed the letter on the desk and sighed,

"The junior general does not dare to claim credit; let the Jiedushi decide this matter."

Hun Yu clasped his fists in salute and said,

After arriving in Shuo Fang, Fang Chongyong first captured Huigu Yehhu, and the second time, with a single arrow, he frightened away a hundred thousand Huigu iron cavalry. All the Shuo Fang generals bowed in admiration.

As long as Fang Chongyong refrains from those deeds that would gamble everyone's families' lives, and remains the court‑appointed Shuo Fang Jiedushi,

then the Shuo Fang generals will still be willing to obey his orders.

Controlling the border army isn't it just walking on two legs: personal prestige and an official court post?

Lacking either leg makes stable governance impossible.

"The Huigu are provoking day and night; everyone, go on night patrol."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly, and the generals in the study streamed out one after another.

They all understood that Fang Chongyong was shielding them, preventing them from hearing the "things they shouldn't know."

After everyone left, Fang Chongyong looked at the kneeling, unusually calm young man and asked, "Are you speaking on your own, or shall I break your three legs, have you lie on the bed and then speak?"

"People only have two legs; where does a third come from?"

The delicate‑faced young man on his knees retorted, his calm expression finally showing puzzlement.

"When a man makes love, he naturally uses a third leg; you don't even get that?"

Fang Chongyong sneered at him,

The remark seemed to provoke the kneeling youth, who tried to scramble up; Fang Chongyong, seeing this, swiftly drew the Swift Wind Illusion Blade and, with a flash, sliced off the man's right arm!

Then he stepped back cautiously.

"Aaaahhh!"

The fellow who seemed "very brave" screamed in pain, then fell completely unconscious!

"Jiedushi!"

He Changqi, leading a few bodyguards, burst into the study and saw Fang Chongyong holding the Swift Wind Illusion Blade, with a limbless unlucky soul lying on the ground.

"Jiedushi, this is…"

Seeing Fang Chongyong unharmed, He Changqi breathed a sigh of relief. Then again, the pale‑faced kneeler seemed utterly powerless, nowhere near Fang Chongyong's match.

Fang, now also a Jiedushi, can be called a "muscular" military commander, a warrior capable of leading troops into battle. Naturally, he could not be defeated by a pale‑faced novice.

"That damn dog tried to ambush!"

"Go fetch Ana Ye, have her bandage him, don't let the guy die."

"Then this Jiedushi will interrogate him thoroughly!"

Fang Chongyong picked up the linen on the desk, wiped the blood from the Swift Wind Illusion Blade, and said,

"He didn't truly intend to get violent; it was just an instinctive bodily reaction. Years of military life have honed this instinct of licking blood from the blade."

He Changqi promptly sent someone to summon a military doctor, then searched the man on the ground. Soon, he approached with a strange expression, lowered his voice and whispered to Fang Chongyong, "Jiedushi, this person has been castrated; could he be a palace eunuch?"

No wonder!

Fang Chongyong finally understood why the other side suddenly rose up and fought him desperately.

A person without a "third leg," after being mocked like that, finally hit rock bottom and erupted!

Seeing him pondering, He Changqi withdrew his personal troops, and carefully continued: "Jiedushi, this matter is of great consequence; perhaps we should directly eliminate this beast…"

He Changqi made a motion of cutting at the throat.

His idea was indeed sound, because killing this person was the safest method.

However, there was a problem: Hun Yuan and the other Northern Frontier Army generals, many of them had already dealt with this scoundrel. Not everyone is as simple‑minded as Hun Yuan.

Perhaps some even got along famously with this spin doctor.

Killing him—could it alert the grass and scare the snakes?

"This person must not be killed."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and said.

If we truly killed him, I'm afraid Lingzhou would be thrown into chaos! Those generals who have spoken with him would all feel uneasy!

If the dog is cornered and jumps the wall, who knows what crazy deeds those people would do!

At the critical moment when the Uighur were harassing the border, if the Northern Frontier Army were to erupt, the consequences would be unimaginable!

"I will personally interrogate him later; you go attend to other matters first."

Fang Chongyong gave this order to He Changqi.

He hesitated for a long while, then silently left the study.

Soon, Anaye arrived, skillfully bandaging the unlucky fellow lying on the ground.

While continuously wrapping gauze, she chattered, "Alang, why does this man look so feminine? Could he be a gigolo who lives off others?"

She grew up in Hexi, where beauty standards lean toward robust, masculine looks; she could not stand this Chang'an‑style pretty boy.

"Who knows? Maybe he's even selling himself to Prince Yong."

Fang Chongyong replied offhandedly, still pondering what Prince Yong Li Lin intended.

Unexpectedly, Anaye suddenly said with a disgusted look:

"This person is truly disgusting."

"Alang, why don't you cut off his other arm as well? After all, we won't need his hands for selling anyway; what's the point of keeping them?"

"I'll first bandage this severed arm, then you can cut off the other arm."

"Don't worry, I'm skilled; I've been bandaging wounded soldiers in Hexi since I was five or six, I guarantee nothing will go wrong."

"Stop playing around; I was just joking earlier."

Fang Chongyong whispered a scold.

After bandaging, Anaye made a funny face at Fang Chongyong, then quietly left the study.

After she left, Fang Chongyong finally looked at the man lying on the floor and impatiently asked: "The study has floor heating; lying down isn't cold. Perhaps Jiedushi should now send someone to carry you outside, where it's ice‑cold and freezing; lying down would be very cool."

"Jiedushi Fang, ask whatever you like."

The man opened his eyes, suppressed his inner hatred, and said hoarsely.

His voice wasn't the typical eunuch's high‑pitched tone; perhaps he was castrated later in life.

"What is your name? Who are you to Prince Yong?"

Fang Chongyong asked gravely.

"I am Gao Shang, a consulting officer of Prince Yong's residence."

Lying on the ground in pain, Gao Shang forced himself to speak through the agony.

"Gao Shang, huh."

Fang Chongyong felt the name rang a bell.

Suddenly, he recalled his father Fang Youde, who had once impeached an official named Linghu Chao, accusing him of having an affair with a servant called Gao Shang; the two men and a woman tangled, the woman became pregnant and didn't know who the father was, and Linghu Chao claimed her as his "adopted daughter."

Looking at the pretty‑faced Gao Shang, he could very well be that person. He just didn't understand why he became a eunuch and now served Prince Yong Li Lin.

Though his mind spun with melodramatic plots, Fang Chongyong still said sarcastically, "Names reflect what's missing. A person named 'Gao Shang' isn't lofty; a handsome man isn't handsome; a beautiful woman isn't beautiful. You are called Gao Shang, yet you engage in petty, crawling deeds—truly fitting."

"Jiedushi Fang, your name bears the character 'yong' for bravery; could you be a mouse‑hearted coward?"

Gao Shang retorted sharply.

"You are really brave, aren't you? Do you think your neck is so hard you can't be cut off?"

Fang Chongyong squinted with a half‑smile, looked at Gao Shang and said, his tone unfriendly.

"I am already a root‑less man, my mother has passed; I have nothing in this world."

Jiedushi Fang, do you think I still have anything to fear?

The people do not fear death; why should death be feared!

"Is this principle unclear to you, Jiedushi?"

Gao Shang showed no weakness before Fang Chongyong. He seemed well‑read, spouting doctrine after doctrine.

"Fine then, since you are so stubborn, I will hand you and that letter over to the Sage."

Fang Chongyong shook his head in disappointment.

"Heh, Jiedushi, disaster is already looming; even if you hand someone over, that someone will simply be one step ahead of you."

"The Sage is already over sixty years old; how many more years can he trouble us? Does Jiedushi have a wife, concubines, children? Does Jiedushi care about his afterlife?"

"Would you willingly become a lapdog for that incompetent Sage? If the Sage passes away next year, how will Jiedushi survive?"

"Jiedushi, do not bring ruin upon yourself!"

Gao Shang questioned in a low‑growl.

"Heh heh, your tricks of turning black‑and‑white upside down are all the leftovers I have."

Hearing this, Fang Chongyong laughed dismissively, then summoned He Changqi to bring his personal troops inside.

Stuff this savage's mouth with rags, only removing it when he eats. As soon as he utters a word, no matter what he says, slap him immediately, continue until he submits.

Take him away, keep him under close watch, don't let him commit suicide!

Fang Chongyong lightly waved his hand and said, making Gao Shang so angry his eyes almost popped out.

Wuuuuu!

After He Changqi personally stuffed Gao Shang's mouth with rags, he let out a wailing cry, his eyes fixed on Fang Chongyong, filled with anger, helplessness, resentment, hatred.

But that was completely useless.

He was carried out by the personal guards, as if blown away by the wind; only a bloody smell lingered in the study.

Jiedushi, Hun Zhuo's loyalty and bravery are certainly commendable, but you must also consider what the situation will be after the sage is gone.

He Changqi made the suggestion without changing his expression.

Speak up, I can see you've been holding it in for a while.

Fang Chongyong wearily sat on the cushion and had He Changqi sit opposite him.

Jiedushi, the sage won't be emperor for much longer.

If he suddenly passes away, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army may still exist, but you and I, his close aides, will surely not fare well.

One emperor, one set of ministers; with your achievements towering above all, how could the new emperor tolerate you?

If you don't side with the dragon, plenty of others will! When rewards are handed out, you'll be in a high position—let alone wealth and honor, even whether your life and property can be preserved is questionable.

He Changqi countered somewhat urgently.

He is really anxious!

Looking at the current situation, undercurrents are surging within the Tang; all factions are preparing for Li Longji's aftermath.

Any discerning person can see that the day Li Longji passes away will be when the various dragons contend for the succession. The Tang will face a tremendous civil war, and the turmoil will certainly not be minor.

By then, Fang Chongyong won't be able to avoid picking a side.

You all are underestimating that sage in Chang'an.

Fang Chongyong lightly shook his head, clearly not thinking now is the time to act.

What's more, Prince Yong Li Lin is certainly not a good choice.

Fang Chongyong and his father Fang Youde both rose to prominence thanks to Li Longji's patronage. Although personal effort played a part, to outsiders this is simply the basic political complexion.

Whoever's food you eat, you cannot smash their pot—that is the most basic political morality, and also the capital for standing in officialdom.

Those who like to flip-flop, the fence-sitters, will be the first to die when crisis strikes, and no one will come to their rescue.

He Changqi still thinks things are too simple.

That's all for this matter; you all should not pursue it further, nor involve yourselves too deeply.

Defeating the Huihe is the utmost urgency.

Fang Chongyong took a deep breath and spoke with a solemn expression.

He Changqi wanted to say more, but Fang Chongyong raised his hand, indicating he need not say more.

The latter could only sheepishly retreat from the study.

After he left, Fang Chongyong then muttered to himself:

Without An Lushan, this world is still not at peace.

The times have changed, but few can see it.

Tragic, lamentable, a pity.

(End of chapter)