Chapter 434: Seemingly Loyal and Righteous

Gao Shang thought he would be abused by Fang Chongyong, but in fact he was not.

The residence arranged for him was a heavily guarded courtyard within Lingzhou City. He stayed in an ordinary side room, and a medical officer came regularly to change his wound medicine.

This was clearly the treatment of a guest, not that of a captive or a criminal.

The only drawback was that his mouth was blocked and not allowed to be removed (if he slipped it off quietly and was discovered, he would be slapped), and even when eating or using the latrine, someone kept watch.

Three days later, Gao Shang finally saw Fang Chongyong come here to interrogate him, and his already hanging heart rose to his throat.

Whether he lives or dies now depends on this response.

"Your Highness has become a prince, and his temper has grown; upon seeing a certain familiar person, without thinking, he severed an arm.

Blocking that person's mouth—was it out of fear that others would know you and I were old acquaintances?"

Gao Shang suppressed his inner fear and feigned anger as he questioned.

"A victorious king and a defeated bandit; your task failed, death is not even a pity.

Now it's only a broken arm, truly a great blessing in this world.

You don't thank me for sparing you, but instead blame me for cutting off your arm.

In the world, those who repay kindness with hatred, who fear power without virtue, are none other than this."

Fang Chongyong's words alone made Gao Shang die of anger.

If Fang Chongyong lets him return to Chang'an, that would truly be a "great kindness", taking a limb as price is already quite "cheap".

"Your Highness is right; I misunderstood you,"

Gao Shang remained silent for a long while, gave a slight nod, and said after a deep breath.

A person under a eave must lower his head. At this moment he had nothing more to say.

"Write down all the Northern Frontier Army generals you have encountered and give them to the Jiedushi, then you may return to find Prince Yong."

Fang Chongyong placed his hands behind his back, his face calm, and said.

"Your Highness actually willing to let me go?"

Now Gao Shang was completely unsettled!

He came to the Northern Frontier this time with full mental preparation, not fearing death.

But if one could live, who would willingly die for nothing?

"If not to let you go, why would I cut off your arm?"

Fang Chongyong, unabashedly boastful, scolded Gao Shang, his reasoning righteous and without flaw.

In fact, at the Military Governor's office, he simply did not recognize Gao Shang for a moment and reflexively cut off Gao Shang's arm.

After being castrated, Gao Shang's entire demeanor changed dramatically from before. He did not reveal his family, wore a hat, and was even pushed to the ground, his face smeared with stains.

In an instant, who could recognize him!

But speaking frankly, even if he hadn't cut the arm then, Fang Chongyong later would inevitably take some "part" from Gao Shang.

Thus, whether Prince Yong Li Lin or Ji Ge, neither would think they were linked to this matter, nor that he had a "secret agreement" with Gao Shang.

Of course, this also reflects Fang Chongyong's belief that "struggle entails sacrifice", handling affairs with a "fair trade" principle.

Even if I spare you for my own benefit, that is a death penalty that can be avoided, while a living crime is hard to escape.

Otherwise, wouldn't everyone in the future cease to fear me, thinking I'm easy to bully?

Fang Chongyong is deeply concerned about certain principles.

"Your Highness's self‑inflicted scheme has indeed become a bit too costly."

Gao Shang gave a wry smile.

At this point, what else could he say? Who let Hun Qiu act completely off‑script?

Among so many Northern Frontier Army generals, only Hun Qiu was a fool, and yet he happened to encounter him.

He didn't know whether to call it luck or misfortune.

Conversely, people like Fang Chongyong are very "reasonable", knowing that showing loyalty before an aging, tooth‑falling emperor is of no use!

"I'll write the list now; those whose attitudes are enthusiastic will also be circled for Your Highness."

Gao Shang did not hesitate and readily agreed.

He still didn't want to die, especially a death so meaningless.

"That will do."

Fang Chongyong sat at the desk and personally ground ink for Gao Shang.

The latter had an excellent memory, and actually wrote down more than twenty names in a row, circling many of them.

All the generals of the armies under the Northern Frontier Military Governor were present, the sheer number staggering.

When the ink dried, Gao Shang folded the list, handed it to Fang Chongyong, his heart already at the utmost tension.

In today's world, there are too many people who say one thing and do another; he himself is one of them!

If Fang Chongyong were to be two‑faced, killing him outright would be a single stroke, without even needing an excuse.

Gao Shang was never a good person, never holding back, always speculating with the greatest malice.

Sure enough, Fang Chongyong, half‑smiling, looked at Gao Shang and asked:

"Do you know what to say when you return?"

"Your Highness, I have already thought it through.

Please return that letter to me; I will go to Chang'an and deliver it to Gao Lishi.

And state that Your Highness still does not know my true identity, having mistakenly injured me and cut off my arm."

Gao Shang forced a smile, and as he spoke, he felt a faint pain at the severed arm.

His true identity was actually as Ji Ge's spy, intended to control and monitor Prince Yong Li Lin. Yet Gao Shang had his own selfish motives, secretly playing both sides, deceiving each and reaping benefits.

For example, this time he can return to Gao Lishi and say, "Holding Prince Yong Li Lin's recruitment letter, the fishing enforcement failed, and I was captured by the Northern Frontier Military Governor, who cut off my arm, nearly costing me my life."

In this way, he proved his loyalty to Brother Ji with one arm. And Fang Chongyong's loyalty to Brother Ji was beyond words—he did not even bother to open the letters Li Lin used to win him over!

Because he "knew nothing of the inside story," Fang Chongyong of course had to be harsh toward this trusted secret agent of a prince!

If they had been in cahoots, that would have shown disloyalty instead.

As for Prince of Yong Li Lin's conspiracy, it was nothing but a joke, and Brother Ji would not take it seriously.

Why hastily dispose of this foolish eldest son only to promote an even cleverer prince who would cause him trouble in the future?

Brother Ji's way of doing things had in fact long been figured out by many.

During these few days, Gao Shang had already planned out every route of retreat, just waiting for today.

In other words, Brother Ji's round of "probing" had flushed out the political leanings of many people within the Shuofang Army.

Gao Shang's tactic of "serving Li Lin if things succeed, and serving Brother Ji if things fail" was actually quite common in this day and age.

People who sought survival in the cracks were all like this—they climbed fast and had many opportunities, but out of a hundred, nearly a hundred would die; it was only a matter of when.

Sure enough, Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said, "You are exceptionally intelligent, with a mind surpassing others. It is truly a pity. If the Sage had not castrated you, this Jiedushi would certainly have transferred you to my side as a secretary to devise strategies.

Go back and report as you just said. Of course, you may also speak ill of this Jiedushi before the Sage. That does not matter—we have a long road ahead."

In his words, Fang Chongyong subtly planted seeds of doubt about Brother Ji.

Sensing an indescribable threat, Gao Shang hurriedly explained, "I have yet to thank the Jiedushi for saving my life. How could I possibly speak ill of the Jiedushi behind his back?"

He actually did want to complain to Brother Ji, saying that Fang Chongyong "harbored deep schemes and disloyal intentions."

But after thinking it over again and again, he realized the two of them were now in the same boat.

If Gao Shang said Fang Chongyong was problematic, that would be tantamount to saying his own safe return this time had been deliberately arranged by Fang Chongyong. If Fang Chongyong was a rebel, then how could you, who were not a rebel, have been released back to Chang'an?

Gao Shang reporting secretly to Brother Ji would be tantamount to suicide!

After this combination of blows, Fang Chongyong, relying on imperial favor, would likely suffer no loss. But whether Gao Shang himself could withstand Fang Chongyong's retaliation in the future was hard to say.

The road ahead was long, so why make things difficult for himself? If he wanted revenge, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future!

As long as he was alive, there was hope!

Gao Shang encouraged himself thus.

The seas change into mulberry fields, the road winds through the peaks; thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Whether it would be Fang Chongyong who continued to bask in glory, or himself who would turn the tables and become his own master, remained to be seen!

The grudge of a severed arm today could be avenged ten years later without being too late!

Gao Shang secretly vowed in his heart that the humiliation Fang Chongyong had inflicted upon him today, he would surely repay a hundredfold in the future.

"Good that you won't. Tomorrow you will return to Guanzhong and report to the Sage, exposing those in the Shuofang Army who harbor disloyal intentions."

Fang Chongyong said with an expression of cold indifference, his tone grim and imposing, brooking not the slightest refusal!

Gao Shang could sense that if he dared utter a single word of refusal, he would certainly die without a burial place!

He hurriedly nodded and bowed, promising, "Please rest assured, Jiedushi. I will certainly handle these matters properly."

"Mm. If there is nothing else, this Jiedushi still has much business to attend to. Tomorrow I will have someone escort you to the relay station, and you can make your own way back to Chang'an.

I will not see you off."

Fang Chongyong said very casually, not taking someone like Gao Shang to heart.

Or rather, he did not care at all what Gao Shang was thinking.

This indifference deeply wounded Gao Shang's pride.

He had always believed himself to be very capable, and he had once thought Fang Chongyong was merely someone with a good father.

Without a good father, he was nothing!

Gao Shang believed that if his father were Fang Youde, he too might well have become a Jiedushi by now!

The Great Tang was a world that belonged to the powerful and noble—they could have whatever they wanted!

But he, a man of humble origins from Hebei, had nothing. The path upward was strewn with thorns at every step!

Brother Ji wanted to castrate him, and castrate him he did! Fang Chongyong wanted to cut off his arm, and cut it off he did!

He was powerless to resist, unable even to retaliate.

These powerful nobles—besides holding great authority in their hands, what else did they have?

The more Gao Shang thought about it, the angrier he became. With his one remaining hand, he squeezed his fingers until they turned white.

But right now, he could only… rage helplessly.

Gao Shang took the extremely weighty "recruitment letter" that Fang Chongyong handed him—it was originally the one he had intended to use to bribe the commander of the Jinglue Army, Hun Jian.

Once he controlled the Jinglue Army, he would essentially control the defense of Lingzhou. In the future, as long as the Prince of Yong arrived in Lingzhou and raised his arm in a call to arms, then…

Damn it, he was short by just that little bit! Why was it always just that little bit!

Gao Shang secretly lamented in his heart—he truly was short by just this one step. He had originally assumed that the people of the Nine Surnames of Tiele would be very easy to bribe, but the opposite had turned out to be true.

Those people were obstinate and thick-skulled, impervious to any persuasion!

One false step brings everlasting regret. But fortunately, his head was still on his shoulders, and there would still be opportunities in the future!

While his thoughts turned a hundred times over, Fang Chongyong had already pushed the door open and departed, leaving behind only a tall, retreating figure.

Bang!

After Fang Chongyong had left the courtyard, Gao Shang cautiously closed the door, and only then furiously slammed his fist onto the desk!

"How coldly Heaven has treated me!"

Gao Shang wailed in lament, lowering his head and shedding tears.

He refused to accept it.

Reality kept battering him, battering him repeatedly without end.

Why!

……

Gao Shang departed from Lingzhou, escorted along the way by trusted guards dispatched by Fang Chongyong. Ostensibly he was being sent back to Chang'an for trial, but what dealings had actually taken place between Gao Shang and Fang Chongyong, none of the rough soldiers at the border garrison knew.

But generally, everyone felt that Fang Chongyong was still quite loyal to the Son of Heaven!

Gao Shang had not been gone from Lingzhou for more than a few days when Fang Chongyong—the Grand Commissioner for Hetao and Jiedushi of both the Shuofang and Hedong military commands—summoned the frontier generals of the Shuofang Army to a meeting in Lingzhou City to discuss preparations against Uyghur border incursions.

The generals suspected nothing; this was a routine matter of course, and they all rode without rest to reach Lingzhou. After a brief respite, they immediately proceeded to the Jiedushi's yamen to attend the meeting.

That afternoon, goose-feather snow drifted down over Lingzhou, blanketing everything in vast white.

Fang Chongyong sat in the master's seat of the yamen's main hall, looking at the densely packed crowd of Shuofang Army generals before him, then glancing at the heavy snow swirling outside, and could not help recalling Jiang Dayou's line: "Yellow dogs turn white, white dogs turn swollen."

He nearly laughed out loud.

Seeing his commander lost in thought, Feng Changqing, the Recording Officer beside Fang Chongyong, softly reminded him: "Jiedushi, everyone is here."

"Mm, then let us begin."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly, and Che Guangqian at the main entrance had already led a hundred soldiers of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army armed with horn-bow crossbows to seal off the yamen gate tight!

Even from the inner hall behind Fang Chongyong, many fierce warriors armed with swords and shields charged out, led by He Changqi, and stood at Fang Chongyong's side.

This formation clearly did not look right!

The Shuofang Army generals in the yamen's main hall—dressed in military uniforms, entirely unarmored, even their waist-swords confiscated—immediately changed countenance.

Many generals exchanged glances with those beside them, all wearing expressions of bewilderment, not knowing what Fang Chongyong was up to.

"Gentlemen, those whose names are not called in a moment may leave the yamen on your own, but do not leave Lingzhou City.

The strategy for defending against the Uyghurs will be discussed first thing tomorrow morning. You must be present then, or military law will apply.

Those whose names are called, do not leave the yamen. This Jiedushi will have words with you in detail shortly.

Is that all understood?"

Fang Chongyong stood up and looked around at everyone as he asked.

"We all obey the Jiedushi's orders!"

The generals answered in unison.

At this point, what else could they say?

"Han Youhuan! Answer when your name is called!"

Feng Changqing read aloud.

"Here!"

"Hao Tingyu!"

"Here!"

"Ji Guangchen!"

"Here!"

"Wei Chuyu!"

"Here!"

"Zhu Yuanzong!"

"Here!"

One after another, names completely unfamiliar to Fang Chongyong were read out. Each time someone responded, Fang Chongyong would look to see who that person was.

Simply put, the frontier generals' appearances all shared certain template-like features, formed from facing similar geographic environments and daily duties.

Burly builds, long arms, dark-yellow complexions tinged with ruddy cheeks—many people looked like this.

Even Fang Chongyong himself was much the same. Being constantly at the frontier, one could not possibly grow to look like a fair-faced pretty boy like Gao Shang.

Judging by appearance alone, Fang Chongyong could not tell at all who was a "good person" and who was a "bad person." Who was loyal, who harbored petty schemes—none of it was written on their foreheads.

For a moment, he felt a bit of sympathy for Brother Ji.

Fang Chongyong, with memories of his previous life, at least knew something of certain people's characters. But Brother Ji sat high above and could not possibly know things beforehand.

How was he to judge who the bad people were?

The Duke of Zhou feared the days of rumor; Wang Mang was humble and respectful before he usurped. This was nothing unusual.

"Chen Huiguang!"

"Here!"

The last person's name was finally called. Feng Changqing handed the roster in his hand to Fang Chongyong, then returned to his original position.

"Those whose names were not called may now leave the Jiedushi's yamen!"

Fang Chongyong stood up and swept his hand!

The generals who had not heard their names felt as though granted a great pardon and hastily, cautiously withdrew from the yamen's main hall. The originally crowded hall was left with only about twenty people.

"Gentlemen, do you know why this Jiedushi has kept you behind?"

Fang Chongyong looked around at everyone and asked in a low voice.

Everyone present had flickering eyes.

They vaguely guessed why they had been detained here by the Jiedushi of Shuofang.

Only, having already reached this point, even if they had to grit their teeth, they had to brazen it out!

The atmosphere in the room gradually grew heavy.

(End of this chapter)