Chapter 506: Extortion

The nights up north were relatively dry and crisp. When the cool breeze blew in, it made one want to lean back in a lounge chair and gaze up at the starry sky.

Inside the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army camp, those local "skin-wearing" able-bodied men playing soldiers had all returned to their tents to sleep. The real soldiers, however, were patrolling tensely, not daring to slack off for a moment.

Fang Chongyong strolled around the camp with two personal guards. He came to the camp gate and gazed into the distance, seeing that Xindu City afar was brightly lit. From a distance, it looked like a giant beast ablaze with fire.

To be honest, Fang Chongyong was genuinely somewhat worried that his method of "solid without, hollow within" would be seen through.

Fortunately, the defending general in Xindu City was an incompetent sort, intimidated by the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army's successive captures of cities and strongholds, to the point that he had not properly organized a defense.

Just then, a scout led his horse across the pontoon bridge to the camp gate. Seeing that Fang Chongyong was there too, he clasped his fists in salute and said, "Jiedushi, there is no unusual movement in Xindu City."

"Go rest. Your shift is over."

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly and said.

This news was within expectations, yet it still left him somewhat disappointed.

This Inspector of Jizhou had to be said, was indeed rather cautious to a fault.

A pitched battle was probably out of the question; the other side would never accept such an invitation.

Though Xindu's garrison was thin, it was indeed a key stronghold in Hebei.

If the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army could capture Xindu, no matter what underhanded tactics were used to achieve it, it would snap the last thread of Huangfu Weiming's restraint, driving him into a furious rage, making him return to southeastern Hebei at all costs to encircle and annihilate Fang Chongyong.

In that way, the campaign objective of this battle would be essentially achieved, and there would be no need to keep drifting along the canal.

However, fine as his idea was, the Inspector of Jizhou was unwilling to cooperate, which was truly a pity.

Never mind that the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army now struck in all directions with great glory—the transport ships sustaining their logistics were still on the Yongji Canal, and there were not many troops guarding them there either.

If someone pursued them along the canal, it would be enough to give Fang Chongyong a serious headache.

This was also why he kept targeting county towns.

Following the principle of "the countryside encircling the cities," hitting where it was easy and fast, minimizing battle losses as much as possible, and maximizing impact as much as possible.

It was just that this kind of high-intensity warfare carried an enormous burden of pressure.

This was true for both Fang Chongyong and the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army.

Fang Chongyong sighed softly, keeping his concerns hidden, not daring to confide in anyone.

Before long, another scout came hurrying from the south. He found Fang Chongyong, clasped his fists, and reported, "Jiedushi, the rebel army at Qinghe County in Beizhou has made no movements, and there are no transport ships at the ferry crossing. They seem to be waiting for provisions. Additionally, several thousand cavalry have arrived from Liaocheng to Qinghe and built stables outside the city. Furthermore..."

This scout hemmed and hawed, as if there was something difficult to say.

"Go ahead, is the ferry crossing south of Liaocheng sealed off?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a calm expression.

"To answer you, Jiedushi, indeed so. They also dismantled the pontoon bridge. This humble one estimates there are one to two thousand men in the camp."

That scout reported honestly.

When the Tang army set up camp, there were generally five hundred men per small campsite, with campsites connected yet separated from one another, arranged ingeniously. One could estimate the size of the army simply by looking at the shape and size of the camps.

Of course, in every era there were those old foxes who liked to "reduce the cooking stoves," using this trick to confuse their opponents, so judging troop numbers by camp size was not absolutely accurate.

Their retreat being cut off was something that should have been expected and perfectly reasonable. If the Hebei rebel army could not even think of such a conventional tactic, then they truly had no business being here; going home to farm would be safer.

Fang Chongyong nodded silently, understanding that the pursuers had anticipated his line of advance, but guessed wrong.

He returned alone to the commander's tent and looked at the map of Hebei propped up on a wooden frame, with one particular place specially marked:

Cangzhou, Dongguang County, Baiqiao Town!

This was another supply distribution hub on the Yongji Canal.

Along the way, the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army had no shortage of provisions, even to the point of being able to open granaries and distribute grain.

But consumable military supplies, such as fire oil, arrows, and the like, were in very short supply. If they could not obtain replenishments there, the battles ahead would inevitably be fought with hands tied.

Fang Chongyong leading the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army away from the canal corridor and north into Jizhou was a risky move, but also a brilliant stratagem to mobilize the Hebei rebel army. If they had simply kept heading north along the canal, someone clever would surely have guessed their line of march.

Indeed, this route was nearly identical to the northern expedition route taken by Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang's forces during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom era. History proved that for an army pushing deep into enemy territory alone, reaching the Hai River estuary (i. e., the vicinity of Tianjin) was the limit.

Fang Chongyong was very clear about his own weight and measure. Youzhou was out of the question; once they reached the Hai River, they would have to quit while they were ahead.

He sat on a soft cushion studying the map, calculating possible interception routes the Hebei rebel army might take, standing up from time to time to make marks on the map.

"The troops defending Youzhou will certainly come south along the Yongji Canal to intercept."

"And the Uighurs—Huangfu Weiming could have them participate. They seem to have a deep grudge against me."

"After winter sets in, the canal will freeze over, and by then we would be unable to escape even with wings. So we must return within two months, or at the very least get back to the Yellow River."

Fang Chongyong wrote these down one by one on paper, afraid of forgetting.

He did not sleep a wink all night, and Che Guangqian and the others had not returned to camp with their men either.

It was not until the mao hour that Fang Chongyong, truly unable to hold on any longer, fell asleep slumped over his desk.

He had a very long dream.

In the dream there were decisive killings, iron lances and warhorses, and an endless flow of blood.

In the dream there were also beautiful young women who had stripped off their clothes, lying fair and bare on the bed, begging for his favor. That smooth, tender skin felt like silk to the touch, and the wonderful sensation seemed almost tangible.

He dreamed that he had become a supreme emperor, but at the end of the dream, his head was cut off!

The entire world turned crimson.

"Jiedushi? Jiedushi?"

Feeling someone gently pushing his shoulder, Fang Chongyong raised his head with bleary eyes and saw that it was Che Guangqian calling him.

"Is the business taken care of?"

Fang Chongyong stretched and casually glanced at the desk, and was instantly startled!

A head with disheveled hair was sitting right there on it!

"Whose is this?"

Fang Chongyong tried his best to calm himself down and asked in puzzlement.

"Jiedushi, did you not say you wanted to see the head of the Magistrate of Wuqiang County before dark today?"

This is the one."

He Changqi hurriedly explained.

"Oh, oh, I see."

Fang Chongyong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath; he had already recalled this matter.

Last night when the military orders were issued, it seemed that was indeed what was said.

But that was just to put on airs—there was no need to actually place the Wuqiang County magistrate's severed head on the desk, was there? Killing the man was enough; no need to be so rigidly by-the-book about it.

Fang Chongyong felt somewhat displeased in his heart, but it was not convenient to vent it.

"By the way, what was his name?"

Fang Chongyong suddenly remembered that among the various counties of Jizhou, only this county magistrate had firmly refused to open the city gates when urged to surrender, his attitude unequivocal.

Che Guangqian thought for a moment but could not recall; he hadn't asked when the city was taken either.

It was He Changqi who spoke a plain truth: "Jiedushi, he's just a county magistrate—who knows his name? The Great Tang has over sixteen hundred county magistrates. Someone like him, dead is dead, who would remember him?"

Fang Chongyong looked at the severed head placed on the desk and could not help but sigh.

Before the tide of history, a county magistrate was but a slightly larger ant.

And in this era, ants could not leave their names behind.

"Jiedushi, the Wuqiang County magistrate talked tough, but he had no skill whatsoever in defending a city. The brothers quietly scaled the walls under cover of night and opened the city gates without much effort. What came after needs no elaboration.

Following Jiedushi's instructions, we killed every official in the county yamen who held an official post and brought all their heads back. We left two hundred men to open the granaries and distribute grain, and that was that."

Che Guangqian gave a concise account of the city's fall—there was truly nothing remarkable to speak of.

The height of county city walls in the Tang dynasty had one important dividing line: the An Lushan Rebellion.

After the An Lushan Rebellion, due to warlord fragmentation, cities everywhere reinforced their existing walls, and even built "outer city walls" beyond the original ones. Of course, in those precarious times, the heightened sections were mostly earthen walls. Only major cities like Yangzhou and Chengdu had large brick walls.

Before that, county city walls were extremely low and short—good only for keeping out bandits.

Fang Chongyong's heart remained entirely unruffled; he only felt a pang of regret for the county magistrate on the desk.

He had no intent to kill, but some people simply wanted to die, and there was truly nothing to be done about that.

Without killing those who stubbornly resist, there was no way to instill awe in people's hearts. With grace but no authority, the locals who received benefits would turn a peck of kindness into a bushel of resentment.

Such is human nature.

Just then, a personal guard walked in, whispered a few words in Fang Chongyong's ear, then stepped aside to await instructions.

"Bring him in."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly and said to Che Guangqian and the others: "You see, Xindu City has sent an envoy."

Everyone sneered without cease.

If they didn't want to fight, they didn't fight; sending an envoy was already a sign of fear. Men who lick blood off the edge of a blade would never do such a thing unless it was for some scheme.

Fang Chongyong did not mind; he sat down with imposing authority.

After the envoy entered and saw the severed head on the desk, his expression shifted slightly, and in an instant cold sweat covered his forehead.

He didn't even dare to meet Fang Chongyong's eyes.

"Who comes? State your name!"

Fang Chongyong asked with narrowed eyes, his tone unfriendly.

"Jia Shen, County Defender of Xindu, pays respects to Jiedushi Fang."

The man performed a crossed-hand salute toward Fang Chongyong. He was no more than forty-something, his face weathered by hardship—clearly his official career had not been successful. Perhaps because entering the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army camp was dangerous, the man looked quite haggard.

"Do you recognize this person?"

Fang Chongyong pointed at the severed head on the desk—abrupt and grotesque—and asked.

"I do. Zhang Tongyou, the Wuqiang County magistrate."

Jia Shen nodded slightly and said so, but though his face appeared calm, certain subtle facial expressions betrayed his deeply unsettled heart.

"Speak. Su Youde sent you—what instructions does he have for this Jiedushi?"

Fang Chongyong asked with a hint of impatience.

"Prefect Su wishes to ask Jiedushi Fang:"

Jia Shen took a deep breath and continued, "What exactly would it take for you to leave the borders of Jizhou?"

"Give us Xindu City, and we will naturally leave."

Fang Chongyong said with a shameless sky-high demand and no sincerity whatsoever.

Jia Shen shook his head in disappointment and said: "Then there is nothing left to discuss. Prefect Su will wait for Jiedushi's army to arrive beneath the walls of Xindu—it just depends on whether you can take it down."

He rose to leave, but Fang Chongyong waved his hand lightly and said: "Ask an outrageous price, then come down to a real one. Whatever conditions you have, we can negotiate slowly. You see, we've already taken Wuqiang County. Besides Xindu, how many counties in Jizhou are still in your hands?"

Hearing these words, Jia Shen sat down powerlessly. It was indeed as Fang Chongyong said—the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army might truly lack the ability to conquer Xindu, or at the very least the cost would outweigh the gain. But the fact that the troops inside Xindu City dared not sally forth for a field battle and could not come to the aid of the various counties in the prefecture was also an ironclad truth!

This was the moment when neither side could achieve its objective, and both could take a step back.

"Land and cities are not negotiable—on this point Prefect Su has already issued a firm order.

But gold, silver, valuables, wealth, provisions, weapons, and military supplies—all of those can be negotiated."

Jia Shen said bluntly.

Fang Chongyong glanced at Che Guangqian, saw the latter nod slightly, and then said in front of Jia Shen: "Little Che, go write up an itemized list and bring it here shortly."

Che Guangqian took the order and departed.

Fang Chongyong then said to Jia Shen: "This head is of no use to me. Better to offer it as a gift to Prefect Su, and then let him give the Wuqiang County magistrate a proper burial."

He Changqi, very tactfully, brought over a wooden box, placed the head inside, and shoved it rudely into Jia Shen's arms.

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Before long, Che Guangqian came back in and handed the list to Fang Chongyong.

Written on the list were no weapons, no provisions, no military supplies, no horses or livestock—nothing but gold, silver, valuables, copper coins, and silk fabrics and the like.

In truth, these Yinqiang Xiaojie Army troops were entirely unnecessary — at least not before returning to Bianzhou!

Fang Chongyong pondered for a moment, then handed it to Jia Shen without changing a single word, saying, "This is all. If Prefect Su is willing to provide it, we will leave Jizhou. If he is not willing, then our apologies."

Jia Shen took the list, read it word by word, his face showing surprise, then quickly regained his composure.

He nodded slightly and said, "Then I shall return to Xindu City and report to Prefect Su."

Jia Shen stood up, picked up the box containing the severed heads, and left the military tent.

After he left, Fang Chongyong looked at Che Guangqian and smiled, "Aren't you going to explain?"

The latter immediately clasped his fists in salute and said:

"Jiedushi, what our army lacks most right now is arrows; second, military supplies; third, horses. But if we wrote those on the list, we would inevitably be exploited by those with ulterior motives, who could probe the true state of our forces.

What we lack least is gold, silver, and wealth — and what we obtain can neither be eaten nor worn. Precisely because of this, it will confuse that old scoundrel Huangfu's subordinates, making them think we still have ample strength to spare."

Che Guangqian explained patiently at length.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly — in fact, he had been thinking the same thing. The matter of replenishing military supplies needed to be resolved at the storehouses near Baiqiao Town in Dongyang County; there was no need to expose their true situation right now.

"Jiedushi, are we really not attacking Xindu?"

He Changqi asked with a face full of regret.

"It hasn't been easy for the brothers to make it this far. I, as Jiedushi, want to lead them to promotion and fortune, not send them to their deaths.

Attacking Xindu would likely cost many lives — there's no need to throw away lives in vain."

Fang Chongyong sighed and said.

In war, there is no avoiding death — but disregarding casualties entirely to achieve a strategic objective would be going too far. A commander may be too compassionate to lead troops, yet he must also use his wits and cherish human life as much as possible.

A human head is not a leek — once cut off, it won't grow back.

"Go and sort out the military affairs. We're preparing to march out of Jizhou."

Fang Chongyong instructed the two men beside him.