Chapter 572: Pulling a White Wolf with Empty Hands

Li Yi, her face calm, walked out of the Bianzhou Prefectural Office and saw Wei Lan alighting from the carriage, staring at her in surprise.

"It didn't work out?"

Wei Lan couldn't quite believe it.

With Li Yi's beauty, could she fail to handle a hot‑blooded man?

She is the genuine daughter of the Huang family; would Fang Chongyong not be interested?

If a woman like this weren't a family relative, even Wei Lan himself would want to have her.

"Hmm, it didn't work out."

Li Yi let out a light sigh, seeming both regretful and relieved.

"Why, why couldn't it be done?"

Wei Lan grew a bit anxious; he thought his scheme had a high chance of success.

Today a kiss, tomorrow a little undressing, flirting bit by bit, advancing one step each day—sooner or later it will end up on a bed.

It's not that it has to happen today. Step by step, once the flirtation between a man and a woman starts, it can't stop.

How could it fail?

"Uncle, I'm tired. Does it make a big difference to me whether I'm Huangfu Weiming's daughter‑in‑law or Fang Qing's concubine?"

Li Yi's beautiful eyes fixed on Wei Lan's face, making the former high‑ranking Ministry of War official dare not meet her gaze.

Her tone carried deep fatigue.

"It may not matter much to you, but to the Wei family... the difference is huge."

Wei Lan let out a long sigh; now he must return to report, but he hasn't brought back the good news that Fang Chongyong is willing to cooperate.

Wei Jian's words and actions are hard to guess.

"If you like, you can go your own way; I won't interfere."

"But whether your elder uncle will interfere is hard to say."

Wei Lan gave Li Yi a slight nod and smile, his expression full of helplessness.

Compared with Wei Jian's complete disavowal of kin, Wei Lan is still a sentimental person. He had already seen through Li Yi's little thoughts.

If she didn't have some feelings in her heart, Li Yi wouldn't have obediently come to Bianzhou and refused to leave. She certainly wouldn't dress up and go to Fang Chongyong's study late at night.

Wei Lan had been young once, knowing that a maiden's springtime impulses can make one's mind dizzy; Li Yi now is exactly like that.

"I've always been a daughter raised by the Wei family; why talk about whether I like it or not—am I even entitled to discuss this?"

Li Yi gave a self‑deprecating laugh, her tone tinged with resentment, helplessness, and a faint bitterness.

As a "commodity," what right does she have to talk about liking or not? If she likes, so what; if she doesn't, so what?

When it's truly her turn to act, can she say no?

Seeing Li Yi about to leave, Wei Lan hurriedly grabbed her sleeve.

Even a fool could tell that Li Yi's mood was at its worst.

He didn't know what had just happened, but Wei Lan could be sure that, judging from Li Yi's intact clothing, Fang Chongyong indeed handled women with some elegance.

"No one knows what the future holds; why must you be so despondent?"

Wei Lan urged.

"Let go! Don't touch me!"

Li Yi erupted in sudden fury, turned and shouted at Wei Lan, then walked off toward her residence inside Kaifeng City.

No one knew that after she turned, tears were already streaming down her face; only her silhouette appeared both graceful and lonely.

Meanwhile, inside the study of the Bianzhou Prefectural Office, it was a completely different scene.

Da Zhenhui knelt on the ground, too ashamed to lift her head, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

She realized she had caused a disaster; she had only been eavesdropping outside the door, but couldn't help rushing out to cause trouble.

Da Zhenhui also didn't understand what she was thinking at the time.

Perhaps it was partly selfish desire, or jealousy of Li Yi's beauty; in any case she couldn't explain why, her brain flooded with blood and she acted rashly.

Fang Chongyong had indeed complained to Da Zhenhui that Li Yi's complicated status made her untouchable.

But that was just one opinion.

Whether it's urgent or not, whether it can be touched or not, Fang Chongyong knows his own mind; no one can interfere. It's not Da Zhenhui's place—she hasn't even entered the family gate nor earned the senior wife's approval—to comment.

Let alone ruining something good.

"You made the commander lose his charm; what crime is that?"

Fang Chongyong said in a flippant tone, teasing Da Zhenhui.

"Young master, I, I will go to Li Yi's residence now and bring her back; I know where she lives."

Da Zhenhui quickly lifted her head and said, then saw Fang Chongyong desperately holding back laughter, staring straight at her.

"What a rotten idea you came up with!"

Fang Chongyong laughed and scolded, then hurriedly helped Da Zhenhui to her feet and let her sit on his lap.

"Your courage was so big earlier; why is it so small now?"

He grasped Da Zhenhui's small hand and asked.

Da Zhenhui bit her lip in silence, her face flushed with shame. She was no longer afraid, just didn't know how to explain her rash action.

How to say it? Looking back now, she feels she was like a fool then.

"There are countless beauties in the world, but those who understand reason and are loyal are truly rare."

"Your loyalty to me tonight I will remember for a lifetime."

Fang Chongyong looked at Da Zhenhui softly, with no trace of anger.

"Young master, as long as you're not angry, don't remember it for a lifetime; it'd be best to forget it tomorrow. I'm truly embarrassed."

Da Zhenhui lowered her head and defended herself.

"Once my family's members all arrive in Bianzhou, I will openly welcome you into my home. I won't treat you as a servant, nor as merchandise."

Fang Chongyong clasped Da Zhenhui's shoulder, looked at her and made his promise, his demeanor extremely sincere.

He could completely take this woman tonight, but there is no need. Da Zhenhui will certainly have a place among his concubines in the future, even a relatively important one.

Thus it cannot be too rash; Wang Yunxiu must nod first.

Hearing this, Da Zhenhui felt a warmth in her heart. In fact she had already realized that Fang Chongyong is very kind to those around him, but she didn't understand why.

Today she personally experienced it, and finally understood this principle.

If even those close to you cannot be bound by affection or drawn by benefit, wouldn't you end up as a solitary outcast?

If Fang Chongyong hadn't always been so kind and respectful to her, she would certainly have chosen to stand by and watch tonight.

This simple principle, however, many people in the world fail to see; they don't know whether it's because Fang Chongyong is too clever or others are too foolish.

Da Zhenhui thought this in her heart, clutching Fang Chongyong's arm tightly.

……

On the same night, some were holding a girl and whispering sweet words, while others were quarreling in a study.

In a study of a large mansion in Yong County, under the jurisdiction of Fengxiang Mansion, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Yan Zhenqing's expression remained calm as he looked at Li Jiaqing, who didn't look at him at all but stared at his own eldest son Li Huaiguang.

As for Li Huaiguang, the former Jiedushi of Fengxiang, his eyes were fixed on the beam, showing an unwillingness to speak.

The atmosphere in the study stalled.

After a long while, Li Jiaqing finally sighed helplessly:

"Yan Xianggong, the bonds you mentioned are likely unacceptable to the Kuochu army's soldiers. Everyone makes a living by fastening their heads to their belt; it's hard to say how many will return from this expedition."

Holding these bonds that cannot be eaten or worn, the brothers will probably lose the will to fight. Li Jiaqing stepped forward, thrust the ledger in his hand into Yan Zhenqing's hand, and immediately stepped back two steps.

His words were very polite, but the refusal was already obvious.

A single coin can thwart a heroic man! At this moment Yan Zhenqing realized that a treasury without money could not even properly mobilize troops and horses.

In fact, this situation did not arise because of the recruitment system.

Rather, the Tang Empire's invincibility abroad itself constituted a national credit. The lack of campaign funds was only because the strong national credit could guarantee the normal distribution of spoils and rewards after victory.

Now the Tang is split into pieces; where is there any strong national credit left?

Thus, the troops fighting the war don't even know whether they can survive the next battle.

Who would then risk death?

Going on campaign and seeking reward is only human nature.

"After capturing Luoyang, the Kuochu army may take half of the items in Luoyang's treasury."

Yan Zhenqing said in a deep voice, and again handed the ledger in his hand—a booklet recording the number of bonds and the distribution scheme—to Li Jiaqing.

Li Jiaqing and Li Huaiguang exchanged a glance, seeming somewhat moved.

What items are in Luoyang's treasury?

I don't know, but it certainly won't be few.

Because the rebel Hebei's small court is in Luoyang. From a beneficiary's perspective, these people should also concentrate wealth in Luoyang.

"Please, Yan Xianggong, make a blood pact."

Li Huaiguang said bluntly.

He wrote the oath with his own fresh blood on paper to prove he would not retract his words.

This means that if Yan Zhenqing backs out, the Kuochu army's soldiers will annihilate his entire clan.

"What difficulty is that!"

Yan Zhenqing laughed heartily, took out a Tang sword to cut his finger, wrote the contract on his official robe, then cut off the piece of cloth bearing the contract and handed it to Li Jiaqing.

"Li Jiedushi, we can dispatch troops now, right?"

Yan Zhenqing's eyes flashed like lightning as he met Li Jiaqing's gaze.

"Once a word is spoken, even a six‑horse carriage cannot chase it back; the Kuochu army, top and bottom, shall obey the command!"

Li Jiaqing and Li Huaiguang knelt on one knee, saluted Yan Zhenqing and said.

"The military order will be sent to the main camp soon; you should properly prepare the necessary matters before the expedition. Once the order arrives, set out immediately."

Yan Zhenqing's expression turned solemn as he said, and at this moment the prime minister's aura seemed to re‑enter his body.

"Understood!"

The two in the study said in unison.

Yan Zhenqing nodded with satisfaction, then took his leave with a bow.

The most difficult task was finally settled, but at a huge cost. This means the Chang'an court cannot fill the deficit by capturing Luoyang and seizing its treasury's wealth.

Moreover, the Kuochu army now holds overwhelming power; will there be a mutiny in the future?

It's hard to say; today's Tang is no longer the Tang of twenty years ago.

After securing Luoyang, we still need to negotiate with Li Lin of Bianzhou, hoping he won't block the canal. Will there be some concession of interests, will there be war?

Yan Zhenqing dared not contemplate it; solving Li Baocen's issue was the priority, and he could no longer think about the problems that would follow.

Luoyang, in a sense, is a bridgehead from Guanzhong to Guandong, and must be held in the hands of the Guanzhong court.

Whoever holds Luoyang, Guanzhong's troops will have to fight that person; this is an iron rule.

The court can only discuss other matters after retaking Luoyang; otherwise, with the economic lifeline locked by others, all that remains is to await death.

When weighing two evils, we must choose the lesser; there is no other way.

After leaving Fengxiang Mansion with heavy worries, Li Jiaqing and his son Li Huaiguang continued their discussion.

Looking at the "blood contract" Yan Zhenqing left, Li Huaiguang asked, puzzled, "Father, why do you indulge these people?"

They were just playing good cop, bad cop; they had already negotiated and reached agreement.

They had agreed that, as long as the conditions were suitable, they would ultimately still send troops to Luoyang.

If the canal route isn't opened, the Control Crane Army will also run out of provisions. Feeding an army ultimately falls to the court; even as the Control Crane Army's granary and purse, these soldiers have the duty and responsibility to uphold their "parents of food and clothing"!

"Grand Commander Fang has devoted his life to the Great Tang; the Control Crane Army is his own creation, and it too must strive for the Tang's survival."

You don't even understand this? Throwing a tantrum, haggling a bit is fine, but not sending troops would be our fault.

Li Jiqing lectured his son Li Huaiguang.

He is an honest man, but it's obvious Li Huaiguang doesn't think that way.

"Father, if Commander Fang himself wanted to become emperor, the brothers following him and honoring him as the Son of Heaven would be perfectly natural."

"Grand Commander Fang tells us who to fight, and we fight whom he says."

But the Great Tang court has shown us no kindness; why should we risk life and death for this court?

Li Huaiguang retorted.

Li Jiqing had no reply, after all, Li Huaiguang was stating the facts. Sentiment can't fill the stomach; everyone has a wife, children, and extended family—if the treatment isn't adequate, how can one risk their head on the battlefield?

Although the Control Crane Army was stationed in Fengxiang Prefecture, they can actually go anywhere; they are not limited to one place.

In the future, not serving the Guanzhong court is also an option!

"We'll discuss these matters later; once the military order comes down, distribute the bonds first, then tell the lads they can seize half of the wealth in Luoyang's treasury."

The matter of sending troops needs no further discussion; it's settled as such.

Is that okay?

Li Jiqing wearily waved his hand and said.

"Yes, please rest assured, Father; I will surely do my utmost to defeat the enemy."

Li Huaiguang let out a light sigh, bowed his fist to Li Jiqing in salute, and he still took his father's words to heart.

Li Huaiguang is a very 'pure' person; having already promised his father, he will naturally give his all in battle.

Li Huaiguang then chatted with Li Jiqing about trivial matters, after which he withdrew from the study.

After Li Huaiguang left, Li Jiqing took out a handkerchief, covered his mouth and coughed. When he finished coughing and examined the handkerchief, he saw it was covered in black blood.

Li Jiqing once told Yan Zhenqing that his previous battle injury to the heart meridian was nonsense, but his poor health is genuine; with his current condition, he can no longer fight on horseback.

This time, for the expedition, Li Jiqing will not lead troops; he will stay at Fengxiang Prefecture to hold the fort. All matters concerning the dispatch of troops will be handled by Li Huaiguang. After Li Huaiguang returns from Luoyang to Chang'an, Li Jiqing will then resign his posts as Fengxiang Jiedushi and Commander of the Control Crane Army to the court, letting his son succeed him.

The court's jiedushi should be appointed by the court, saying who should take the post, and that person does so. But now, the succession of father to son has become the norm; the unspeakable matters involved are already obvious.

Li Jiqing thought of Fang Youde, feeling regret for this invincible jiedushi.

He was of lofty integrity, flicked his sleeves, took nothing with him, and declared his retreat.

But nowadays, the Great Tang has ever more jiedushi; if not for father-to-son inheritance, who could guarantee that stepping down from office would still leave one a wealthy landowner?

Stepping down often means death.

If Li Jiqing does not yield his jiedushi position to his son but must instead hand it over to others, he might even have to sleep with his eyes open.

"Grand Commander Fang, the present Great Tang has disappointed you, is that why you retired?"

Li Jiqing gazed at the oil lamp about to go out, muttering to himself.

(End of chapter)