Chapter 486: Play at Your Own Pace

That night, Fang Chongyong had a strange dream.

He dreamed that he became the besieged Xiang Yu at Gaixia, surrounded by the sounds of Chu songs, and was slaughtered by countless Han soldiers.

The enemy forces seemed endless, no matter how many he killed, they kept coming.

Waking up in the middle of the night, he found his whole body drenched in cold sweat, his heart pounding, and his hands trembling slightly.

"What the day thinks, the night dreams; sigh!"

Fang Chongyong got out of bed, covered Jiang Wuyan, whose spring light was exposed, with a blanket, then walked alone to the desk and lit an oil lamp.

He closed his eyes, steadied his mind, took a deep breath, and gradually organized the intelligence about the Hebei rebels in his head.

Because his life had been relatively stable these past months, without marching around, Fang Chongyong's life had changed greatly.

The most important point was that his wives and concubines were successively pregnant; Wang Yunxiu was already on her second child, and even Anaye was expecting. Only the assassin-born Jiang Wuyan refused to have children, insisting on contraception, and her belly showed no sign yet.

Having several offspring to add at once forced Fang Chongyong to consider his family's safety. He was no longer alone, nor could he simply mount a horse and roam the world.

The Hebei rebels were about to move south, not a wild fantasy but something many had already anticipated. When that time comes, with several pregnant women in his courtyard, where could they run?

It was a very serious problem.

"North of Bianzhou, the Huazhou and Puzhou on the southern bank of the Yellow River, and Wei Zhou, Xiangzhou, Wei Zhou north of the Yellow River…"

Relying on his memory, Fang Chongyong sketched a topographic map of these prefectures on paper. This would be the main battlefield of the war.

The Henan front emphasized a "flexible offense" and "flexible defense"; whether on the southern or northern bank of the Yellow River, there was strategic depth, yet no defensible stronghold!

In short, relying on brute‑force assaults or mindless stubborn defense are both terrible strategies. For both sides, this seemingly flat terrain still tests the commander's tactical skill.

Terrain is secondary; the army's own competence is the main factor. Victory and defeat are uncertain, and tactics need not follow set patterns.

If a reference is needed, it would be the Battle of Guandu during the late Han Three Kingdoms period.

If luck is set aside, the final outcome is hard to predict. However, the terrain on both banks of the Yellow River underwent massive changes by the Tang dynasty; the river here was no longer a natural barrier. Cao Cao's tactics back then have no applicable counterpart.

"One hundred thousand elite Youzhou troops are unstoppable."

Fang Chongyong let out a long sigh, admitting that if the Hebei rebels launched a full assault, his side would be outmatched, four against two, and would fall into a severe disadvantage.

"A Lang's mind is heavy."

Suddenly, Jiang Wuyan's voice reached Fang Chongyong's ears.

She had always been very restrained, unlike Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Thus Character: Jinsikaiya, the kind of bedroom temptress who would dive into Fang Chongyong's arms at the sight of him, preferring to express feelings through physical intimacy.

Jiang Wuyan quietly got up from the bed, put on a nightgown, and sat silently beside Fang Chongyong; the two had no physical contact.

"You saw all that?"

Fang Chongyong turned his head and saw Jiang Wuyan looking at him with concern, and he asked helplessly.

"In our line of work, one must discern the subtle signs."

Jiang Wuyan's pretty face flushed slightly as she said.

During tonight's conjugal affairs, Fang Chongyong's eyes were blood‑red, as if he wanted to devour and skin her alive, clearly venting his inner frustration.

"Why do you insist on not having children?"

Fang Chongyong grasped Jiang Wuyan's calloused little hand and asked.

"One must be useful to deserve to live; my purpose is to guard A Lang's safety in certain situations.

Obey A Lang's orders to kill.

As for serving as a beauty, I think A Lang never lacks companions.

If I were pregnant, it would be A Lang protecting me, not the other way around."

Jiang Wuyan whispered, a hint of inferiority appearing on her face.

Having grown up like this, few people have ever truly cared for her; Jiang Wuyan never considered herself Fang Chongyong's concubine.

Rather, it was a relationship akin to "lord and retainer," merely occasional shared sleep.

"As you wish."

Fang Chongyong sighed, many things cannot be forced.

"By the way, A Lang's trouble—can it be solved by killing a few people? Is there any place where I could be of use?"

Jiang Wuyan asked curiously.

"If only that were enough. The world's affairs are not solved by killing a few people!"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly.

"Is there anything I can do? I don't need to think about continuing the bloodline; if A Lang remembers anything else, he can tell me directly."

Jiang Wuyan looked at Fang Chongyong very seriously as she asked.

It was evident that Jiang Wuyan wasn't speaking casually; it was a thought almost like repaying a favor.

"Tomorrow you will take Lady Wang and the other women, board a boat and quietly leave Bianzhou for Bozhou. I will have Feng Changqing, already the Bozhou Prefect, arrange your residence.

There you can rest peacefully; with several pregnant women at home, daily tasks are inconvenient, so please be more tolerant."

Fang Chongyong leaned close to Jiang Wuyan's ear and whispered.

"Understood, I will see to it."

Jiang Wuyan nodded slightly, her expression solemn. Having ventured out since childhood, she was experienced in many ways, and caring for several women posed no problem.

After feeling she was a 'useful' person, Jiang Wuyan instantly felt a bit more at ease.

"You're actually… quite straightforward; you put everything out in the open, and I actually quite enjoy being with someone like you."

Jiang Wuyan said haltingly.

"Don't speak, kiss me."

Fang Chongyong whispered in Jiang Wuyan's ear.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuyan was startled at first, then recalled a joke Fang Chongyong had told before, and burst into laughter, tears streaming.

"I used to often think, if only I could avoid killing, but besides killing I have no other skill. Even flirting and juggling with various men is just a performance; truly serving them is…"

It's as if I can't compare to A Na Ye, unable to attend to A Lang's daily routine.

And now I don't have to kill anyone, yet I feel I'm a useless person.

"I've killed more people than you've ever seen. I never said we could stop killing; what are you saying here?"

Fang Chongyong shook his head and sighed.

Jiang Wuyan fell silent in response, because Fang Chongyong was speaking the truth. Though he rarely kills directly, commanding thousands of troops inevitably claims many lives; countless people have died because of his orders.

"The chaos of the world has only just begun, with no end in sight; we don't know how many will be displaced, families shattered, lives lost because of it.

Living itself is already hard enough."

"Don't speak, kiss me."

Jiang Wuyan mimicked Fang Chongyong's tone, saying, and the two locked eyes, bursting into laughter, sweeping away the room's tension.

"A Lang, shouldn't we tell Madam Wang and the others?"

Jiang Wuyan clasped Fang Chongyong's arm and asked.

"No. Tomorrow I will travel lightly to survey the terrain from Pu Zhou to Hua Zhou. I cannot bear to see them each swear to live and die with me. While I'm away, you should quickly take them to Bozhou for safety."

Fang Chongyong did not utter the dreadful "what if".

If they were not pregnant, Wang Yunxiu and the others might still survive; but now, should Fang Chongyong be defeated, these pregnant wives have nothing but death.

Jiang Wuyan's face grew solemn as she nodded. They are now staying at the military governor's office, not at home at all, which was actually Fang Chongyong's deliberate plan.

The government office can learn all news instantly, issue orders promptly, and actively deal with any trouble.

In fact, since arriving in Bianzhou, various pressures have persisted, but Fang Chongyong simply hasn't taken them home.

"A Lang, take good care of yourself. On the battlefield, preserving your life is paramount…"

Jiang Wuyan babbled a hollow, insincere remark.

"They already have children; you should also bear one for me."

Fang Chongyong stared into Jiang Wuyan's eyes and said.

"Actually, I…"

He stopped halfway, the words stuck in Jiang Wuyan's throat and could not be spoken.

She actually still thought of leaving, liked a free life, and wasn't used to being a noble's concubine. No offspring meant no attachments; that would be best for both sides, and no one owed anyone anything.

Their past love was joyful for both, a memory worth cherishing, and Jiang Wuyan felt there was nothing wrong with it.

Yet Fang Chongyong didn't wait for her refusal; he casually blew out the oil lamp and embraced Jiang Wuyan.

"Ah!"

With a leisurely sigh, Jiang Wuyan wrapped her arms around Fang Chongyong's neck and kissed him.

Thinking of the fierce battle Fang Chongyong was about to face, she thought to herself: if I truly become pregnant, then it must be destiny's arrangement.

……

It was already deep night, yet the Purple Throne Hall of the Daming Palace in Chang'an remained brightly lit.

Although it was past bedtime, several senior ministers, including Yan Zhenqing, were still discussing state affairs, the debate unending.

After supporting Li Chang's ascension, more and more governmental matters kept pouring in, as if there were endless tasks to handle.

Li Chang sat on the dragon throne yawning, and regarding the ministers' discussions, he only occasionally nodded, shook his head, or interjected to ease the atmosphere.

Basically he showed no expression at all.

He had become a perfect mascot.

In fact, Li Chang was uninterested in those concrete affairs and had little to say about them.

At that moment, a clatter of armor rang out, growing louder.

Soon, Fang Youde, clad in light armor and military uniform, his face solemn and even a hint of anger, entered the Purple Throne Hall, his eyes flashing as he surveyed the ministers.

He held a sword hilt in one hand and a stack of papers in the other.

Sharp-eyed Yan Zhenqing recognized it as the newly issued provincial report!

He just couldn't understand why Fang Youde had a copy in his hand.

"General Fang?"

Li Chang snapped out of his stunned daze, and his sleepiness vanished instantly.

Compared to the Chang'an aristocrats who helped him rise, Li Chang trusted more the people like Fang Youde and Li Mi who lifted him out of difficulty.

"Your Majesty, what's going on?"

Fang Youde waved the report, his expression unkind as he questioned.

"General Fang, which matter are you asking about?"

Yan Zhenqing stepped forward, crossed his hands, and bowed to ask Fang Youde.

Fang Youde, not wanting to face his former subordinate, bypassed Yan Zhenqing and went straight to Li Chang, pointing at the report and demanding, "Your Majesty, the report says each province may recruit soldiers and raise funds on its own. Whose bad idea is this?"

The assembled officials looked at each other, unsure how to answer.

Finally Yan Zhenqing stepped forward to explain, "General Fang, it was my suggestion."

Hearing this, Fang Youde immediately became displeased!

"Yan Zhenqing! Can such a disastrous policy even be carried out?

Do you think changing the inspectorate to a military governor will bring peace to the realm?"

Fang Youde stared at Yan Zhenqing, his face flushed with anger, looking ready to raise his sword.

He seemed to have anticipated this.

Yan Zhenqing met Fang Youde's gaze without fear, calmly explaining, "South of the Yangtze, the court's forces are severely depleted. Without this policy, any warlord could lead a few thousand troops southward, carve out a domain, and claim kingship. Are you planning to go from house to house with a sword, wiping them out?"

Hearing this, Fang Youde fell silent.

In fact, such incidents were common in the late Tang, later culminating in Yang Xingmi moving south to Yangzhou, becoming the "first among the Ten Kingdoms."

Because the southern forces are weak, powerful northern fiefs often seize the opportunity to invade, stirring up a storm of blood and carnage in the Two Huai and Jiangnan. Yet those troops in the north could never raise any trouble at all.

"Once each province can raise its own troops, there will no longer be cases where a few hundred soldiers try to occupy a province or a few thousand soldiers aim to capture a strategic stronghold!"

When the court has amassed strength and pacified Hebei, it can naturally reclaim the right to raise troops.

In urgent matters, we must follow authority; this is the only recourse!

Yan Zhenqing said with righteous confidence, "In fact, the palace report also contains other items, such as setting up checkpoints at key transport hubs to collect salt and tea taxes, among other things."

It's a combined strategy.

Fang Youde probably doesn't know how dire the situation in Chang'an and Guanzhong has become.

The treasuries of the aristocratic families may still have some surplus, but the national treasury and the households of Guanzhong's common folk have almost no grain left.

"If military authority is decentralized, it will be hard to take it back! Your opinions, women and children, are not worth consulting!"

Fang Youde shouted angrily, and everyone present, except Li Chang, wore an unusually grim expression.

"General Fang, your words are a bit exaggerated, aren't they? You've been leading troops abroad and don't know how expensive firewood and rice are at home!"

An old minister, appearing to be over sixty, retorted to Fang Youde.

"Who are you?"

Fang Youde curled his lip and asked with disdain.

"I am the old man Miao Jinqing, now Minister of Rites and Chief of the Secretariat."

Miao Jinqing said solemnly, as if those offices had given him boundless courage.

Fang Youde, uninterested in him, turned to Li Chang and asked, "Your Majesty, if this plan is implemented, it will surely plunge the realm into chaos; please consider it thrice before proceeding."

By saying that, he made it clear he would give no face to anyone present.

"General Fang, the palace report was sent out long ago; to retract it now would be like changing orders from morning to evening. Perhaps we should implement it for a while first."

Li Chang let out a light sigh and said that, in truth, whether this national policy is carried out or not makes no difference to him.

But Fang Youde's overbearing attitude made him feel displeased.

"Hehe, you ruinous, disaster‑bringing lot, don't come crying to beg me later!

Your Majesty, this humble servant is retiring to his hometown and will no longer embarrass himself here.

Please, Your Majesty, take good care of yourself."

Fang Youde removed his armor, tossed it aside, and turned away cleanly and briskly!