Chapter 569: No Use in Being Handsome

Inside the Konghe Army camp's training ground outside Yong County of the Fengxiang Prefecture Office, several Qiu Ba were surrounding a young general practicing martial arts.

The man at the center, bare‑torsoed with a strong, chiseled abdomen, brandished a flurry of sticks.

At times his staff rose like a dragon, at times it swept a thousand troops; the Qiu Ba attacking him could not parry a single move.

In less than the time it takes a incense stick to burn, he knocked the Qiu Ba who were training with him to the ground.

It was clean and decisive.

"Get up, get up—each of you, one or two at a time, you're too lazy in training."

He walked over and pulled up the few Qiu Ba who were lying on the ground pretending to be dead.

The young general speaking was Li Jiaqing's son Li Huaiguang, widely recognized as the Konghe Army's next military envoy. Since his last breakthrough against the Hebei bandit army as a vanguard officer at Huayin, Li Huaiguang has earned the support of many young officers in the Konghe Army.

One could say that, apart from the retired Fang Youde, no one can keep Li Huaiguang in check. Even his father Li Jiaqing's prestige in the army is somewhat lower than Li Huaiguang's.

Li Huaiguang also learned Fang Youde's way of winning over the Qiu Ba, gathering a large group of capable confidants around him, and using them to win over even more allies.

With a large group speaking for him within the army, even those who remained neutral had to, in most cases, side with Li Huaiguang and give him face.

As for the officials in Chang'an… they are merely the Konghe Army's granaries and wallets. Every time the court sends people parachuting into Fengxiang Prefecture, they end up injured in the camp for various reasons and flee back to Chang'an trembling with fear.

"Deputy Commander, the Jiedushi is urging you to report for duty at the Purple Chamber of the Grand Bright Palace."

A personal guard hurried over and reported to Li Huaiguang.

Although riding from Yong County of the Fengxiang Prefecture Office to Chang'an takes only two or three hours on foot, this Fengxiang Deputy Commander has consistently refused to fulfill the duty of guarding the Son of Heaven in Chang'an.

Every few days he claims to be rotating defenses, slacking off and returning to Fengxiang Prefecture.

"Go where? How many people in Chang'an are plotting to assassinate that dog emperor? Could this general possibly guard him?"

Li Huaiguang retorted bluntly.

Everyone present fell silent, because Li Huaiguang was speaking the truth.

Guarding Li Chang is like standing in a place surrounded by wolves, ready to block knives, with more lives needed than can be offered.

And what benefit does Li Huaiguang gain from being a head of the palace guard? He lacks the ability to use the Son of Heaven to command the lords, and he has no such intention. Guarding a father‑killing, king‑killing emperor—is that a fun thing?

Li Huaiguang is not foolish at all; he doesn't want to be a scapegoat.

Yan Zhenqing and Li Mi's arrangements are excellent, but even a good plan is useless unless those "pieces" willingly carry it out.

"Deputy Commander, how should I respond properly?"

The guard asked with a look of grievance.

"Fine, you go cool off on your side; I'll go speak to the Jiedushi."

Li Huaiguang wiped the beads of sweat from his body, dressed, and headed toward the commander's tent.

His demeanor seemed arrogant, yet the guards around him took it as nothing unusual; no one seemed inclined to speak for the court. One could say that after Fang Youde retired, the entire Konghe Army felt the court had wronged them.

"Without me fighting bloodily at the front, can you dog ministers still feast and revel at the rear?"

This sentiment is no longer held by just one or two.

Moreover, Li Huaiguang's easygoing yet capable nature has earned him the admiration of the Qiu Ba.

Upon entering the commander's tent, Li Huaiguang found, besides his father, another young man. He had seen him before—a confidant of Yan Zhenqing named Li E.

Seeing Li Huaiguang arrive, Li Jiaqing smiled and asked, "We've been looking for you. The court plans to send us through Tong Pass to attack Luoyang, seize the three cities of Heyang, and open the canal transport route. What do you think?"

Attack Luoyang?

Li Huaiguang was startled, then his face showed displeasure.

He said impatiently, "The Konghe Army has just expanded its ranks, recruiting many new men; it's precisely time for training. Launching a campaign through Tong Pass now is no different from courting death. Whoever wishes to go to battle may go, but the Konghe soldiers will not."

Li Jiaqing hadn't expected Li Huaiguang to speak so bluntly, and a wry smile crossed his face.

Such words aren't forbidden, but they should be phrased more tactfully.

Li Huaiguang has always idolized Fang Youde and tried to emulate him; now it's unclear whether he mastered the art of warfare, but his arrogant, straightforward boldness is a perfect ten.

Li Jiaqing looked at Li E and said:

"Staff Officer Li may not know this, but during the fierce battle last time against the Hebei bandits led by Huangfu Weiming, I injured my heart meridian. Planning strategies now is fine, but taking up a sword… sigh, perhaps not. Currently, commanding the Konghe Army in battle relies entirely on Deputy Commander Li Huaiguang. If Staff Officer Li has anything to say, just tell him directly. I will retire to my hometown someday; in the future, the Konghe Army will be decided by Li Huaiguang."

Li Jiaqing's words were like hidden needles in silk, very hard to respond to.

He again mentioned his injury from the previous fierce battle and that his words now carry no weight, actually hinting that the court wants the horse to run without letting it graze.

The rewards from the last decisive battle were already discounted; now they still want to send the Qiu Ba to fight beyond the passes?

The rewards from the last fierce battle that settled the world have already been discounted; now you still want to order the soldiers to go fight outside the passes?

Li Jiaqing smiled with a hidden blade; Li Huaiguang was unmoved, and the Qiu Ba followed his lead without question—this is the Konghe Army's attitude.

"Jiedushi Li, it's all for the country; speak up if you have something to say."

Li E said with some helplessness.

What else could he say? If he could take troops away, if he had a strong army at his command, he would have left long ago!

No need to come here pretending to be a grandson begging.

"Nonsense!"

Li Huaiguang suddenly pointed at Li E and shouted:

"Last time we went through countless hardships, finally achieving a great victory over the Hebei bandits and beheading Huangfu Weiming. We thought the world would be at peace, but guess what? The emperor actually murdered his father and killed the ruler!

General Fang retired in great style; what were you idle officials doing back then?"

Li Huaiguang didn't care whether Yan Zhenqing was a chancellor; even knowing Li E was Yan Zhenqing's staunch aide, he cursed just as he pleased.

"Then, I shall return to report to Minister Yan."

Li E clasped his fists in a salute to Li Jiaqing and his son, then turned and left.

If we don't click, there's no point in saying another word!

Li E also didn't want to indulge Li Huaiguang.

Li E also didn't want to indulge Li Huai guang.

The main point now is that this matter has only a stance and no right or wrong; continuing to entangle ourselves will only bring us disgrace.

What else is there to talk about?

After Li E left, Li Jiaqing let out a long sigh and admonished his son Li Huaiguang: "In life there are often things one must endure; being blunt and outspoken is a grave fault. The principle is the principle, but you shouldn't speak so harshly."

But Li Huaiguang seemed unable to take the words to heart.

He looked at Li Jiaqing and asked: "Father, among those who serve the court loyally, none surpasses Fang Dashi. Look at what became of Fang Dashi in the end. If he hadn't retired, he'd be harassed daily by Yan Zhenqing and his group, exhausting him to death."

Li Huaiguang met Li Jiaqing's gaze without showing weakness.

In the end, Li Jiaqing was the one who yielded, merely shaking his head and sighing.

We, the Qiu Ba, are not some treacherous wolves. Everyone knows who has been kind to us and who is using us.

If Fang Youde were still alive, as soon as he ordered a campaign out of Tongguan, the soldiers of the Konghe Army would have no objections.

But now Fang Youde has already retired, and the reason is known to all.

Now the court faces difficulties again and thinks of us Qiu Ba, demanding that we go out of the passes to fight.

On what grounds!

The Konghe Army, from top to bottom, doesn't owe these dogs any favors!

Li Huaiguang spoke bluntly, without saving face, but his reasoning was not wrong. The only worry is that there are more than a few in the Konghe Army who think like him.

Otherwise, Li Huaiguang wouldn't dare to speak so boldly here.

"Let's wait two days first. You shouldn't go to Chang'an for now; after two days, the court will probably send someone again."

Li Jiaqing said in a deep voice.

He knew clearly that not dispatching troops was impossible. The Konghe Army's pay and provisions all come from Chang'an, and most of Chang'an's grain must be shipped via the canal.

Opening the canal route is the inevitable choice; it concerns the Konghe Army's supplies, and one cannot stay completely detached.

However, one cannot leave all conditions unspoken and be shuffled around by the court. Without sufficient reward for mobilizing troops, there is no way to launch a campaign east of Tongguan.

……

Early that morning, the outer ferry dock of Kaifeng County in Bianzhou was bustling.

Cargo ships from Dengzhou docked at the ferry and unloaded. One fine horse after another stepped down from the ships, looking very robust.

In fact, the common impression that the Great Tang produced no horses outside the frontiers is wrong.

The Great Tang not only had horse‑breeding farms across the realm, but also a huge output; at its peak, over 500,000 horses were born each year.

Horses had already become common among relatively wealthy farmers, so how could anyone claim there were no horses?

However, horses and warhorses are completely different concepts.

The Tang habit was to import fine steeds from the steppe peoples for breeding, to obtain good warhorses. Yet after one or two generations of being fed in the Central Plains, various conditions caused them to degenerate, eventually suitable only for pulling loads, not riding.

Now, draft horses are easy to find, but suitable warhorses for cavalry are scarce.

Merchants and townsfolk of Bianzhou rarely saw so many fine horses; they were stunned, crowding around as if witnessing a marvel.

"Roll, roll, roll! Don't just stand around idly watching!"

He Changqi led his personal troops, shooing the crowd like swatting flies.

Today they were in high spirits and too lazy to rough up these fortunate people.

Fang Chongyong had once told him that watching spectacles for fun is a common human nature; these people are like flies—cannot be all killed, and there's no need to tarnish one's reputation because of them.

Just drive them away directly; don't keep thinking about fighting and showing off.

"Yo, this horse is fine."

Fang Chongyong arrived at the dock with a few civil officials; the group's previously calm faces instantly broke into delighted smiles.

"Jiedushi, the horses sent from Dengzhou total a full thousand!"

Whether to say it or not, Che Guangqian handles matters very efficiently.

He Changqi hurried forward to greet him, his tone brimming with joy.

These horses will be first allocated to his troops.

Of course, although Fang Chongyong has already dispatched several of his subordinate generals, that can only proceed after Li Lin ascends the throne; otherwise, without a legitimate name, orders would be unsmooth and hard to command the masses.

Thus these people are still in Bianzhou, not posted elsewhere.

"Your father handles affairs very effectively."

Fang Chongyong turned and said to the sharply dressed Da Congming behind his personal troops.

Da Qinmao said that the fine horses from the Bohai Kingdom were sent over immediately, without any delay. His daughter Da Zhenhui is also a clever person, could be considered for recruitment into the household.

Fang Chongyong was quite satisfied with his relations with the Bohai Kingdom; such external reinforcement, unrelated to his own troops, is hard to meddle in political or military affairs, yet offers great support.

Fang Chongyong thought that in the future he could consider supporting Da Qinmao in interfering with the Bohai Kingdom's ruler's removal, as long as the current old ruler Da Menyi is out of the picture.

He looked at the hostage Da Qinmao had sent, whose face resembled a young Takeshi Kaneshiro. Usually as silent as a closed gourd, saying nothing.

Thus Fang Chongyong once thought this person secretly loved Da Zhenhui and wanted to flirt.

But Da Zhenhui said she had never spoken to the fellow whose original name was "Da Yingjun"; the two were completely unfamiliar and not even from the same mother.

Probably only a little closer than strangers.

Sure enough, Da Congming, upon hearing Fang Chongyong praise Da Qinmao, only bowed cautiously, clasped his fists, and said nothing.

Nearby, He Changqi and other Yinqiang Xiaojie Army generals felt that this guy usually acted cool and swaggered like a 2.58‑million‑yuan show‑off. Coupled with his looks among the burly generals of the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, it made these Qiu Ba despise him.

Being this handsome and still pretending, why don't you become a rabbit lord?

The boss praises you yet you can't even return a compliment; I guess you must be quite capable in battle.

"Zhang Shouyu, go investigate his background."

He Changqi said this to a nearby Ten General.

Zhang Shouyu entered the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army early, but his promotions were always a step behind others. He Changqi was about to become Jiedushi, yet Zhang only rose to Ten General.

The reason is simple: he caused a commotion in Longyou earlier, becoming a primary target on the blacklist drafted by Fang Chongyong.

People with a prior record find promotion in the army slower by a beat, because those above fear you'll cause trouble. In the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army, this taboo is taken even more seriously.

If troublemakers could still be promoted normally, what would those who faithfully obey orders and execute tactics flawlessly every day—people like Ruhe Changqi, Che Guangqian, and Wang Nande—think in their hearts?

If no obstacles are placed for troublemakers, then loyalty becomes meaningless.

Fang Chongyong runs the army with strict discipline, yet everyone above and below is genuinely convinced of him, precisely because he pays close attention to these details and always keeps things fair.

Thus the army's hearts have always been with him.

Although Zhang Shouyu's promotion has been slow, his personal martial skill stands among the best in the Yinqiang Xiaojie Army.

He walked straight over, blocked Da Congming, and said: "You're the newcomer, attached to the Jiedushi's side. The Jiedushi usually looks after us, and we're all willing to take a blade for him. Whether your cowardly demeanor can actually protect the Jiedushi's safety, we don't believe—first exchange two moves under me, then we'll talk."

Having said that, he drew his horizontal blade, pointed it at Da Congming, and said: "You also draw your blade—first to touch wins."

Eh? There's fun to watch!

The Yinqiang Xiaojie Army soldiers who usually enjoy watching people fight immediately formed a large circle, separating them from the idle bystanders.

"Come on, what are you standing there for?"

Fang Chongyong saw Da Congming's embarrassed expression and urged him with a sentence.

Actually, Jiedushi Fang also wanted to know how strong this young man—who on the surface is his attendant guard but in reality is a hostage prince of Bohai State—truly is in martial ability.

However, he wasn't too optimistic about Da Congming, because from the situation of Da Zhenhui it's clear that Bohai State places great emphasis on literature and study. In other words, Da Zhenhui carries a strong scholarly family aura, which makes Fang Chongyong doubt that Da Zhenhui's younger brother can fight well.

In such a martial‑minded place, the local women inevitably have a touch of wildness about them.

Take A'naye for example: she had seen severed limbs and broken bodies by age six, and by nine could skillfully bandage wounded soldiers with missing hands or feet. Women like her are certainly more accustomed to killing and arson than ordinary girls.

Thus her everyday speech and conduct are quite wild, forged by her environment.

"Jiedushi, I……

Da Congming wanted to say something, but felt unable to get the words out.

"If he were to snatch your wife, wouldn't you draw your blade? Come on! A man must dare to unsheathe his sword!"

Fang Chongyong gave Da Congming a shove.

After hesitating a few seconds, Da Congming drew the horizontal blade at his waist, faced Zhang Shouyu, and looked fairly composed.

However, from the way Da Congming held his blade and his steps toward Zhang Shouyu, Fang Chongyong could tell he was definitely a novice.

He reckoned he could match the ten‑year‑old Fang Cishi of Shazhou, and Fang Chongyong silently snorted to himself.

A few seconds later, Zhang Shouyu took a strong step, executed the "Empty‑Hand Blade Seizure" technique, and with a backward throw pinned Da Congming to the ground.

His movements were swift as a tiger, yet his strikes were measured—he hurt Da Congming not at all, yet subdued him in a single move.

That's it?

Those watching from the sidelines, like He Changqing, were greatly disappointed.

They had expected Da Congming to have a few tricks up his sleeve, just like Che Guangqian—though handsome, his subordinates' martial skill is not weak, and he wouldn't be looked down upon by other commanders.

What kind of "smart" is this—how could he be nothing but an embroidered pillow?

"Let's disperse."

Fang Chongyong waved his hand, personally helped Da Congming up from the ground, and patted the dust off his clothes.