Chapter 521: After This Battle, We Can Go Home

……

As the morning sun rose, the events that had taken place in the various wards of Chang'an became known to the surrounding neighbors.

Shock, fear, relief, and even secret schadenfreude—every household, every individual, a thousand faces, every kind of thought imaginable.

Chang'an remained deathly still, all trades languishing, taverns shuttered, the air thick with a bloodstink that would not dissipate.

Were the people killed last night one thousand, or ten thousand?

No one knew. No one even dared enter the courtyards where the carnage had occurred to collect the corpses, fearing the Western Army would brand them as "accomplices" and deal with them accordingly.

But regardless, the prevailing mood among the people of Chang'an was one of fear. They were deeply wary of the border troops from Hexi and Longyou, and placed little trust in them.

An army that resorts to violence the moment it arrives will always give people the illusion that it is unruly, uncontrollable, and liable to erupt into killing at any moment.

Ordinary citizens of Chang'an kept the Western Army at a respectful distance; while the Guanzhong aristocrats already regarded them as enemies and were plotting revenge.

Yet the Western Inner Garden, where the Xuanwu Gate stood, presented an entirely different scene.

To be precise, it had become an ocean of jubilation.

The sixty thousand soldiers of the Western Army acted as though they had won a great victory—virtually everyone was cheering, and celebration was everywhere!

Er, perhaps "a feast of sharing" would be a more apt description.

Pile after pile of gold, silver, treasures, silk, and copper coins were distributed throughout the Western Inner Garden. Officials from the Court of the Imperial Treasury, leading a large staff of clerks, were on site counting and registering these treasures into ledgers. The goods would be distributed when these soldiers left Chang'an.

What each person would receive, and how much, had all been arranged with crystal clarity.

In truth, even if the goods were distributed now, these soldiers—whose wives, children, and elderly parents were all back in Longyou, Hexi, or even Anxi and Beiting—had no way to use them.

In the end it would just be squandered on food, drink, gambling, and women, leaving them penniless once more.

Clearly, though the soldiers were greedy for wealth, they also had their families on their minds. This was not what they wanted.

To boost morale, for now only cumbersome copper coins would be issued, letting these men loosen up a bit in the glittering world of Chang'an. The rest of the valuables and silks would be distributed after they reached their garrisons with the army.

"We're rich! We're rich! My whole life I've never seen this much money!"

A soldier from Anxi was rolling around on a pile of copper coins, laughing like a seven-year-old hellion. The soldiers watching him all roared with laughter, even feeling a bit of kindred sympathy.

Compared to fighting battles and waiting for rewards based on military merit, robbing was simply faster—and safer, too, without having to risk your life.

That night, the soldiers of the Western Army had attended an unforgettable lesson in social practice in Chang'an.

Only Zhang Boyi was not smiling, and his personal guards who had not taken part in the looting could not smile either. And Ji Ge, who was atop the Xuanwu Gate preparing to "comfort the soldiers," gripped the parapet with a face of iron, silently watching the disgraceful spectacle of the Western Army's soldiers below in the Western Garden.

He desperately suppressed the fury in his chest—well, it was more like impotent rage with nowhere to vent.

Last night, a unit—apparently all soldiers from Hexi—had gone to the Hundred Grandsons' Compound and looted it.

In truth, they had not done all that much evil, nor killed all that many. They had merely killed a few imperial grandsons, raped a few imperial granddaughters and the attendants beside them, and then destroyed the evidence.

After that, they stripped the Hundred Grandsons' Compound bare and returned laden with booty.

Zhang Boyi was evidently among the more restrained, only targeting wards that had "issues." But many quick-witted "clever devils" clearly excelled at the art of pillage, understanding that robbing was a technical skill, and that one had to "win by surprise" to grab the most.

The soldiers from the Hexi Corridor in particular were experts at looting—bold and unscrupulous.

They felt that robbing the small fry on the list was unsatisfying. Who knew whether those people had money or not? If they turned out to be broke, wouldn't that be a wasted trip?

In fact, these soldiers' concerns were well-founded. Famous people were not necessarily wealthy.

For instance, He Zhizhang's reputation preceded him; he was absolutely an important figure. But to say He Zhizhang was rich would be a stretch—he was so hard up he nearly sold his house to buy wine.

However, there was one category of people who were definitely wealthy: the Li imperial clan. Princes, princesses, imperial uncles, imperial brothers and the like—no one had ever heard of any of them being dead broke.

Robbing imperial princes was definitely out of the question, but robbing at the level of imperial grandsons was less conspicuous and less taboo—so they would grab from them first!

These Hexi soldiers dared to act as soon as they decided—and they pulled it off!

Ji Ge had originally come to the Xuanwu Gate to demand accountability. But after arriving and seeing the crowd of soldiers clutching their loot in revelry, he actually felt a fear he had never experienced before.

That is right—he was afraid.

Ji Ge feared these soldiers would disregard all hierarchy and mutiny! He did not even dare utter a word of reprimand. A few years ago, that would have been unimaginable!

Killing one is killing; killing ten is also killing. Killing an imperial grandson is killing; killing an emperor is also killing!

These blood-crazed soldiers had already killed several imperial grandsons and granddaughters—would they not also dispose of him, the emperor, while they were at it?

Ji Ge dared not think any further. The more he thought, the more terrified he became.

So he changed his mind on the spot and dropped the matter of the murdered imperial grandsons. Instead, he ordered that the Western Army soldiers be granted meritorious ranks and honorary offices.

Ordinary soldiers received meritorious ranks; officers received honorary offices. Of course, the titles sounded intimidating, but in reality these worthless things amounted to nothing at all.

You could not eat them, could not wear them, could not exchange them for money.

In the Tang dynasty's system of meritorious ranks, at the very beginning, it not only rewarded military merit but also granted meritorious officials generous benefits. These included official positions, salaries, rewards, housing, medical care (assigned medical officers), retirement arrangements, and other welfare.

Back then, soldiers would practically fight to the death for a meritorious rank. Enthusiasm for enlistment was high, soldier quality was excellent, and some even brought their own provisions to join the army, all for a meritorious rank title!

But since the late Zhenguan era, the meritorious rank system had degenerated into a joke. Many promised benefits could not be honored, and the later it got the more perfunctory it became, until eventually all practical benefits were eliminated entirely.

As a result, many soldiers discarded meritorious ranks like worn-out shoes and no longer regarded them as honors. A bizarre situation even arose where those granted meritorious ranks were actually discriminated against in society.

The pitiful thing was, the only things Ji Ge could offer now were these meritorious ranks and honorary offices.

His inner treasury had already been diverted for military expenses. Even maintaining the daily expenditures of the imperial palace was difficult, so naturally there was no money to hand out as rewards.

To have fallen this low would have been unimaginable a few years ago.

"Yesterday, which generals did not participate in the house raids?"

Ji Ge asked Li Guangbi beside him.

The soldiers below the gate tower were beside themselves with excitement, and Li Guangbi did not dare to intervene either. The reason came down to four words: "the wrath of the masses is not to be provoked."

If you offended the rank-and-file soldiers on ordinary days, they would not say anything to your face, but once on the battlefield they would deliberately give you "a little something"—getting a commanding officer killed was the work of a moment.

Li Guangbi had commanded troops for many years and naturally understood this principle.

He clasped his fists in salute and said, "In reply to the Sage: Guo Ziyi led troops on night patrol and did not participate."

Ji Ge gave a slight nod and asked nothing further. He well understood that Guo Ziyi had his own ideas, but General Guo's ideas did not represent those of the men under him.

Looting Chang'an had already become the consensus of the Western Army from top to bottom. It could not be stopped.

"General Li, I ask you: why are the Hexi soldiers so greedy for wealth? You once served as Hexi Military Commissioner — have you nothing to say?"

Brother Ji's clouded eyes fixed on Li Guangbi, his question seemingly casual yet carrying a hint of reproach.

Li Guangbi was an honest man, so he could only answer truthfully:

"To reply to the Sage, it is likely because they were frightened into it by poverty.

In Liangzhou, a fine bolt of silk from Chang'an could buy a ten-year-old Hu girl.

Even if paid in the common coarse cloth of the region, it would only take a dozen or so bolts. When human life is so cheap, it is no wonder soldiers love wealth."

Li Guangbi spoke plainly, having witnessed it with his own eyes. Fang Chongyong had even shamelessly left a plaque reading 'Human Resources Center' at the entrance of the local slave market.

But Brother Ji clearly did not like hearing such words. Soldiers taking money to do a job was not what he wanted to hear.

Brother Ji frowned slightly and asked sternly, "To fight for the nation is a soldier's sacred duty. To prize wealth so highly is simply outrageous!"

Brother Ji seemed to be complaining that these rough soldiers were lawless enough to dare raid the Hundred Grandsons' Court. Yet he dared not say so openly, and could only vent his temper in roundabout fashion.

Li Guangbi fell silent, not knowing how to answer this question.

Or rather — did this kind of bullshit question even need answering? Soldiers enlist to eat and draw pay; that is only natural. Why demand lofty sentiments?

This was not the first time Brother Ji had spoken such baffling words in front of Li Guangbi. It made the slow-tongued Li Guangbi often feel that the Son of Heaven was difficult to serve, and want to stay as far away as possible.

"Sage, your humble general plans to attack Qizhou three days from now. I have come today specifically to report this matter."

Li Guangbi suppressed his inner vexation and spoke cautiously. Brother Ji could turn on a person faster than flipping a page, making him experience the hardships of 'attending a sovereign is like attending a tiger.'

"Can you not go tomorrow?"

Brother Ji at this moment seemed unable to hold back any longer.

"Sage, General Li still needs time to assemble his forces. I beg the Sage to be patient a few more days. Two days will not make the difference in defeating the enemy."

Gao Lishi hastily helped smooth things over for Li Guangbi.

Even a fool could see the current situation — the rough soldiers below the gate tower were already rolling around in piles of money.

With such morale, such a state, how could they fight a hard battle?

Brother Ji, as one lost in the thick of things, hoped to capture Li Chang quickly and grind his bones to dust. But he failed to see that the situation in Chang'an was not as calm and smooth as it appeared on the surface.

At the very least, Fang Youde's Crane Guard Army had vanished without a trace — a massive hidden danger.

Brother Ji should have been very familiar with what level of military skill this formidable figure possessed. How could he have overlooked it!

Gao Lishi was secretly anxious in his heart.

"Three days! I give you only three days!

After three days, I want to see the army march out!

You and Gao Xianzhi go together. Leave ten thousand troops for Guo Ziyi to defend Chang'an.

The two of you will have fifty thousand men between you — is that enough?"

Brother Ji's voice was nearly a roar, and his expression turned dark and gloomy.

Li Guangbi knew this was the other party's final concession, and hastily bowed with hands clasped, saying, "It is enough. Your humble servant will surely march out within three days. Please rest easy, Sage."

"Back to the palace!"

Brother Ji tossed out two words, turned, and walked away. Supported by Gao Lishi, he left the gate tower.

His back was somewhat hunched and unsteady, which made Li Guangbi a little worried.

Worried about Brother Ji's health, and even more worried about the future of the Great Tang Empire.

"Three days will be tight enough."

Li Guangbi shook his head and sighed helplessly. He had already noticed that in different parts of the West Park, the quantities of wealth piled up varied greatly — some large, some small.

This meant some units had seized a lot, while others had seized little. Those who had taken more might lower their banners and quiet down.

But would those who had seized less go for another round of looting?

One could only say this was inevitable.

If he issued an order now, could he stop those frantic soldiers who only resented not having taken enough?

One had to admit, this order could not be issued — or at most it could only serve to bluff them. In the end, he would still have to turn a blind eye.

The trouble was great.

"Fang Quanzhong..."

Li Guangbi murmured to himself. He recalled what Wang Zhongsi had once told him: your use of troops is somewhat like Fang Quanzhong's, but far inferior in timing and strategy.

Wang Zhongsi never used provocation to toy with people. He always spoke plainly and directly, saying whatever there was to say.

"Such a dire crisis would be one thing, but Chang'an has also fallen. Facing fifty thousand Western Army troops, how will you win? What will you use to win?"

Li Guangbi thought it over again and again, but could not find where Fang Youde's odds of victory lay.

……

In the main hall of the Qianyuan County government office, the seat of Longzhou's prefecture, people already knelt all over the floor.

The Son of Heaven Li Chang sat in the master's seat, looking at these people with a conflicted expression. Every one of them was travel-worn and dust-covered, their brocade robes torn and tattered, looking little different from refugees.

Perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to see them as refugees.

These people were all the ones who had slipped through the net the night the Western Army carried out their 'great purge' in Chang'an, along with their relatives from the estates outside the city. This group had been arriving one after another at Qianyuan, begging Li Chang for help, hoping he would send troops to Chang'an, defeat Li Guangbi and the others, and avenge their kin.

Yet Li Chang himself was like a clay Buddha crossing a river — barely able to save himself. Faced with the wailing pleas for aid from a crowd of nobles, he was powerless to help.

Sixty thousand elite border troops — what would they use to fight them? Fight with their heads?

"Gentlemen, please take lodging within Qianyuan County for now. The matter of punishing the rebel army requires careful deliberation."

Li Chang spoke without sincerity.

A general at Fang Youde's side, Li Jiaqing, stepped forward, drew his horizontal blade, and planted it in the ground. He glared at the crowd and roared, "The Son of Heaven tells you to go back first. You linger here and refuse to leave — are you intending harm against the Son of Heaven?"

That accusation was too enormous; no one could bear it.

These spineless nobles scattered like birds and beasts, leaving only Li Chang sitting blankly in the prefect's seat, staring into space, heaven knows what he was thinking.

"Commander Fang, you heard those people wailing too. What should I do?"

Li Chang glanced at Fang Youde and asked, shaking his head with some disappointment.

"This humble subject will break them for Your Majesty. Moreover, the day the enemy is broken should be within these few days."

Fang Youde said with a calm expression.

With your Control Crane Army of fewer than eight thousand men?

Li Chang nearly blurted out the curse. Though he did not care who sat on this dragon throne, he was single-mindedly determined to deal with Brother Ji. Before that, he would not give up power!

"Commander Fang, can you truly break the enemy?"

Li Chang asked again.

"I can, and I can settle the outcome in a single battle."

Fang Youde continued to answer in an exceedingly calm tone, as though he were speaking of killing a chicken today.

Faced with such a man, Li Chang did not even know what to say.

He walked to Fang Youde's side and asked in a lowered voice, "How does Commander Fang intend to break the enemy?"

"Plans that are not kept secret will fail. Even if you are the Son of Heaven, this humble subject still cannot say."

Fang Youde still wore that same expression, but he refused very bluntly.

"Then I wish the Commander a triumphant start."

Li Chang sighed and slowly walked out of the prefectural office.

Qianyuan was a small county, and Longzhou was barren.

Even if you recruit farmers, you cannot match the enemy in numbers!

Li Chang grumbled inwardly, no longer holding any hope for victory.