Chapter 472: How Could I Possibly … With This Horde of Creatures

That night, Fang Chongyong received an "inside" intelligence report saying that the main government force stationed in Hedong had been stalled for a long time, had not left Jingxing to attack Zhendong in Hebei, but instead swept northward and recaptured Xiurong River.

Shi Siming withdrew to defend Yanmen, holding a strict defense; the government army could not advance, and the battle once again fell into a stalemate.

But regardless of how the northern front recovers lost ground, the main government force cannot retake Yanmen, nor can it open a front in Hebei; Ji Ge's anxious mood is easy to imagine.

"Your father‑in‑law sees it quite clearly, huh."

Putting the secret letter down, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but sigh.

Anyone with a bit of insight in the army knows that Hedong troops rashly entering the interior of Hebei are bound to be defeated.

What Fang Chongyong can see, Wang Zhongsi can naturally also see.

He chose to move north to retake the defenseless Xinzhou, driving Shi Siming back to Daizhou, thereby extending the strategic depth of the northern front, so that after the main army leaves Hebei, the old stronghold of Taiyuan will not be easily seized by Shi Siming!

As for Hebei, we continuously maintain strategic pressure, secretly dispatching scouts to gather intelligence, so that Huangfu Weiming is kept in a dilemma.

When the autumn harvest arrives, many of the Hebei rebels are former militia soldiers, not entirely detached professional troops.

At that time, should they work the family fields? Should they harvest?

By then, the Hebei rebels, having been entrenched near Zhendong for a long time, will inevitably become increasingly lax.

First they press on with vigor, then they wane, then they exhaust; by harvest time the soldiers generally want to return home to farm, so how can this war continue?

This is a genuine Yang strategy; for the government army, the later they act, the better—dragging it to the autumn harvest counts as a win. On the Hedong side, the Hedong Circuit, centered on Puzhou, continues to supply grain, with no shortage concerns for now; they can afford the attrition.

However, such a "mature and steady" approach, while guaranteeing a chance of victory, is a devastating blow to Ji Ge's authority!

The longer it drags, the less likely anyone will regard him as the Tang Emperor; how could Ji Ge not be anxious?

"Ji Ge is most likely going to change commanders soon."

Fang Chongyong muttered to himself, having roughly guessed what would happen next.

Just as he was pondering the battle situation at his desk, Feng Changqing entered the study and, bowing with clasped fists to Fang Chongyong, said, "Jiedushi, the county magistrate Liu Changqing of Guoqiao County, Bianzhou, wishes to see you, saying he has an urgent matter to report."

"Liu Changqing?"

Fang Chongyong was unfamiliar with the name; he only knew that the Inspector of Bianzhou was Guo Na, a lofty scholar with not even the strength to bind a chicken.

In fact, due to Li Linfu's influence, the Tang grassroots structure was made more intricate and more hollowed out, with local authority heavily requisitioned and fragmented.

Therefore, the personal ability of the Inspector has little impact on governance of a region.

Everyone just follows the court's regulations. In such a situation, one cannot hold high expectations for the personal qualities of a local Inspector.

Since they're all wage workers, not shareholders, one shouldn't expect too much.

"Let him in."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly. It was getting late, and he had already planned to go to sleep right after receiving Liu Changqing.

After a short while, a skinny young man walked into the Jiedushi's office detention room, and Fang Chongyong was startled, fearing he might be knocked over by the wind.

The man had dark circles under his eyes, his steps were unsteady, clearly showing signs of overindulgence in carnal affairs.

Fang Chongyong placed his hand on his heart and asked himself; he also has many women, yet he knows how to restrain desire and won't spend all day rolling on a woman's belly.

"Lord Liu, are you in good health?"

Fang Chongyong quickly helped Liu Changqing to sit opposite him.

"I, a low‑ranking official, have recently been inspired to write poetry and have produced something; I came especially to present a poem to the Jiedushi."

Liu Changqing said somewhat embarrassedly.

"Oh? Great! If you have a fine work, bring it out quickly!"

Fang Chongyong appeared very excited, but inside he was bored to death and felt nothing at all.

Liu Changqing, however, did not notice Fang Chongyong's perfunctory attitude and hurriedly pulled a scroll from his chest, respectfully handing it over.

Upon opening it, it read "Offering to the Xuanwu Army Jiedushi, Lord Fang."

"Jian Ya's horn blows unheard; at thirty, one ascends the altar, revered by all."

"The family dispersed, ten thousand gold paid to dead scholars; a single sword remains to answer your grace."

"Many veteran generals of Hexi return to their seats, while half of Luoyang's scholars linger at the gate."

"White horses prance, spring grass is fine; the outskirts head north to hunt the plains."

"Well written, you put your heart into it."

Fang Chongyong tucked the poem away, nodded slightly, looking quite satisfied. The meaning of the poem is easy to grasp: in short, Fang Chongyong is a great boss here, whose call is answered by all, a famed commander!

"Lord Liu, this Jiedushi sees that your complexion is not great; coincidentally, there is a good doctor in my household—shall I have him treat you?"

"Even though you are still young and strong, you must practice restraint; lust is a bone‑scraping knife."

"Such debauchery will wear your body down in just a few years!"

Fang Chongyong said to Liu Changqing with a concerned expression, looking very worried.

Hearing this, Liu Changqing's face instantly flushed to a pork‑liver hue; he shyly crossed his arms and saluted, saying, "Jiedushi is right; I have indeed been a bit debauched lately, I will certainly be more careful from now on, I will certainly be careful."

He felt his flattery had hit the right spot; in court, only close superior‑subordinate relationships speak like this.

His poem "Offering to the Xuanwu Army Jiedushi, Lord Fang" is a high‑level flattery poem.

Don't underestimate this poem just because it's flattery; its effect is not to be dismissed—it can quickly boost Fang Chongyong's reputation among the literary circles!

With this in hand, it is only natural for Fang Chongyong to suitably promote Liu Changqing.

Both sides can say they each gained something.

"Lord Liu, you came to Kaifeng today not only for this poem, right? If you have anything to say, feel free to speak plainly; as long as it's not treason, this Jiedushi is still easy to talk to."

Fang Chongyong asked pointedly, his face still smiling but already several degrees more serious than before.

"Indeed, I have come because there is a major matter to report to the Jiedushi."

Liu Changqing also set aside his flattering expression, sat up straight and said.

"I am ready to hear the details."

"Jiedushi, the Bianzhou prefect Guo Na, ambitious but talent‑lacking. When the Hebei bandit army had already crossed the Yellow River to scout, he spent his days feasting in Kaifeng City, even recruiting many singing and dancing girls in the flower streets and willow alleys, constantly entertaining in the government office day and night, neglecting civil and military affairs.

At that time, if the bandit army crossed the Yellow River, Bianzhou would be in danger!

The subordinate has heard that the Jiedushi will soon confer with the inspectors of the Six Prefectures on a grand defensive plan; I fear that the idle Guo Na will ruin the Jiedushi's important affairs!

A thousand‑mile embankment can be destroyed by an ant's nest; the Jiedushi must never be careless about this!

Liu Changqing said with righteous words.

He employed a slight trick in his speech, vaguely mentioning Guo Na's earlier recruitment of entertainers into the office. It could give the impression that Guo Na is lecherous, sleeping with dozens of women a day.

In reality, Guo Na may never even touch those singers and dancers; he merely enjoys the performances, food, drink, and amusement, which is nothing new in the Tang bureaucracy.

Fang Chongyong understood and did not expose Liu Changqing's subtle intent.

Nevertheless, Guo Na is a useless fool, an uncontroversial fact. Fang Chongyong also learned that Kaifeng, being the prefectural capital of Bianzhou, hosts the Xuanwu Army, and all battles, large or small, are personally overseen by his cheap father Fang Youde.

So Guo Na certainly will not bother to handle any military affairs!

He idles all day, which is understandable.

Fang Youde does not concern himself with civil matters; as long as Guo Na does not interfere with his troop deployments, he treats him like a dog digging for food beside him—out of sight is clean.

"By the way, I haven't asked Liu Mingfu for his courtesy name."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod, sidestepping the issue without a clear answer.

"Replying to the Jiedushi, the subordinate's courtesy name is Wenfang."

Liu Changqing quickly returned the salute, secretly pleased.

His official career has been very rocky; his great talent made him somewhat arrogant and disdainful, offending many, and later he was framed.

Otherwise, given his poetic talent and the Tang dynasty's preference for literary candidates, how could he still be only a county magistrate now?

Now that the world is growing chaotic, Liu Changqing has abandoned his former pretended aloofness and begun seeking a patron. Guo Na was his former immediate superior, and they dislike each other.

Guo Na thinks Liu Changqing writes poetry like a feather, looking down on everyone, while Liu Changqing deems Guo Na a complete fool, a contemptible meat‑eater!

Guoqiao County lies in the northern part of Bianzhou, close to the front line; once fighting erupts, its situation becomes extremely perilous.

Then Liu Changqing will either surrender to the bandits, a one‑way road to ruin, or die in battle with no retreat. This is his main purpose in coming to Bianzhou: to unseat Guo Na and return to the far safer Kaifeng City for official duties.

From today's outcome, although Fang Chongyong did not speak openly, he was clearly moved and dissatisfied with the placeholder Guo Na.

"Tomorrow the five inspectors and the Sima of Bozhou, Yan Bojun, will come to the office for a meeting to discuss major matters; why not have you attend as an observer?"

"Wenfang's Guoqiao is on Bianzhou's front line, so listening to military strategy is only natural."

Fang Chongyong stroked the short beard on his chin and said, believing his hint was already clear enough.

What virtue or ability does a tiny county magistrate (Guoqiao County is the smallest in Bianzhou) have to join the Jiedushi and numerous inspectors in such an important military conference?

Obviously, they left a seat for him so he could "do something big" during the session!

If Liu Changqing can't even discern that, then he should quit the officialdom, retreat to the mountains and practice poetry.

However, when Liu Changqing heard the name Yan Bojun, he was momentarily stunned, but quickly concealed his embarrassment, feigned a surprised honor, and hurriedly performed a profound bow before Fang Chongyong.

Unintentionally, the two reached a mutually beneficial exchange.

…

Late at night, in an ordinary compartment of a relay inn outside Kaifeng City, Bianzhou,

Lu Yu and Li Jilan, the "stuttering brother" and "Jilan child" that Fang Chongyong had met that day at the arena, were anxiously waiting inside.

"Alas, why hasn't Wenfang returned yet?"

Li Jilan couldn't help letting out a sigh, her clipped voice tinged with worry. Her delicate features were compressed together; the sorrow needed no words, it was written on her face.

"Wenfang said he should be able to convince Fang the Jiedushi, so you needn't fret about that idle concern. It's like a fish in the water worrying about a white egret in the sky; such worry is pointless."

Lu Yu comforted Li Jilan, saying.

"May it be so."

Li Jilan leisurely sat down at the table.

She glanced at Lu Yu, saw his ugly appearance, and couldn't help feeling a pang of regret.

The two came together to Bianzhou to look for Liu Changqing, each with different motives.

Li Jilan came to pressure a marriage, while Lu Yu's purpose was purer: to befriend high‑ranking officials, promote his "Tea Way", and also survey the tea around Luoyang for documentation.

The two were already friends; Lu Yu took care of Li Jilan all the way, even warming stones for her. During the journey Li Jilan began to entertain thoughts of marrying Lu Yu, but he refused to betray his first wife and kept a proper distance from her.

They trudged to Guoqiao; upon seeing Liu Changqing, Li Jilan immediately cast aside her thoughts from the road and threw herself into Liu Changqing's embrace. The two sang and reveled night after night, seemingly the only joy in the world beyond love.

However, whenever the marriage was mentioned, Liu Changqing evaded the question, never giving a straight answer or any concrete promise.

Simply put, Liu Changqing first enjoys Li Jilan's beautiful body. As for marrying her, that remains to be seen. Li Jilan became a Taoist at a young age; as a Tang‑era female Taoist, everyone knows she's a "half‑prostitute", with a reputation worse than a courtesan.

After all, many courtesans entertain with song and dance; they aren't aiming for the lowest road.

Marrying a woman whose forehead is practically engraved with the characters "prostitute" as a legitimate wife brings extraordinary pressure.

If carried out, it would be a social‑death level hammer in Tang society.

Li Jilan, with a lovestruck mind, believes that once Liu Changqing succeeds in "seeking office", the chance of him taking her as a wife is high.

However, Lu Yu sees clearly: if Liu Changqing becomes depressed and frustrated, he might still marry Li Jilan.

But if he truly earns the favor of the Xuanwu Army Military Governor Fang Chongyong, he will definitely keep a clear boundary with Li Jilan. They won't even be "friends with benefits" in bed; their interaction will be limited to poetry.

Tang society's hierarchy was this rigid; the reality is helpless.

Lu Yu, watching Li Jilan full of anticipation for Liu Changqing's return, couldn't help letting out a sigh.

As an outsider and mutual friend of both, he really couldn't say much.

Moreover, before Liu Changqing, Li Jilan had relationships with Zhu Fang, Han Kui, Yan Bojun, and even sought the affection of a high monk named Shi Jiaoran without success; before ordination, he was a tenth‑generation descendant of Xie Lingyun and quite talented.

The people Li Jilan mingles with could be described as "in conversation with eminent scholars, never with the ignorant"; she herself is also talented, especially at poetry.

As for private life, Lu Yu's situation is also hard to explain. He understands that women chosen for literary talent are destined not to lead ordinary lives, but he does not approve of Li Jilan's impulsive, irresponsible approach to love.

She is not a prostitute, yet in some respects she is actually worse than one!

Prostitutes who come out to sell themselves are forced by life; everyone has unavoidable hardships. Li Jilan, however, belongs to the type who loves whoever she meets, pursues those she likes, and discards those she no longer likes, constantly searching and constantly changing.

That is the typical sort of person who, without male-female love, finds life utterly bleak.

Her great need for love and affection, coupled with her great fear of marriage, constitutes Li Jilan's life creed.

Lu Yu gathered his complicated feelings and sighed to Li Jilan: "Jilanzi, the fallen blossoms have intention, the flowing water is ruthless…"

Before his words had finished, Liu Changqing pushed the door open and entered, excitedly saying: "It's done! Tomorrow night there will be a banquet, at which Jiedushi Fang and several inspectors will be present. I am certain that securing an official post will not be difficult. The two of you should follow me to the banquet tomorrow, and Jilanzi can also make an appearance there."

"Ah Lang, has it really been accomplished?"

Li Jilan hurried forward and linked her arm with Liu Changqing's, but this time he did not readily embrace her; instead, without changing his expression, he drew his arm out of her soft embrace.

"Tomorrow I still have to go to the government office to attend to important matters; I will retire first. Jilanzi, you and your virtuous younger brother Lu should go back and rest."

Liu Changqing said this solemnly.

The smile on Li Jilan's face froze in place; only after a long while did she reluctantly say: "That's fine then; I will go rest now."

"Wenfang brother, I take my leave."

Lu Yu had already seen through it, but he said nothing, choosing to keep quiet and bid his farewell directly.

"Beyond the Changmen Gate, the flowing water carries a lone boat westward day after day. The sorrow of parting spreads over the fragrant grass, nowhere without lush growth."

"Jilanzi, I fear I will let you down."

After Li Jilan and Lu Yu left, Liu Changqing could not help but shake his head and sigh. This poem is a thorn in his heart, preventing him from ever truly accepting Li Jilan.

(End of chapter)