Chapter 58: Overexertion

When speaking of Chang'an in the Tang dynasty, one cannot help but mention the so-called "Leyou Plateau."

Among the 108 wards of Chang'an, the Leyou Plateau was located in the southeast, roughly spanning the area of four wards — Xuanping, Xinchang, Shengping, and Shengdao — with Xuanping Ward situated at the northwest corner of the Leyou Plateau.

Tang dynasty Chang'an had six ridges running from north to south, the terrain subtly matching the six lines of the Qian hexagram from the Book of Changes, from the land of Nine-One to the land of Nine-Five. This was the ingenuity of Tang Chang'an's design and siting.

Among these, the land of Nine-One was Longshou Plateau, symbolizing a hidden dragon in the abyss, designated as a royal forbidden park where no one was permitted to live.

The land of Nine-Two was the area around Daming Palace, symbolizing a dragon appearing in the field, reserved for the Son of Heaven's use;

The land of Nine-Three was the area northwest of Xingqing Palace, symbolizing a gentleman striving ceaselessly, planned as offices for the hundred officials;

And the most supreme land of Nine-Five, symbolizing the peerless position of "a flying dragon in the sky" — this was the Leyou Plateau.

Ordinary mortals were not permitted to live there; it could only be left to the gods and buddhas. In Tang Chang'an's city plan, this area had many temples and Daoist shrines, such as Xingshan Temple, Qinglong Temple, and Chongzhen Shrine. The residences here were all very cramped, and occupancy was restricted by official decree.

The house before Fang Chongyong was also quite narrow and utterly unremarkable. Only this peerless location made one want to clap and cheer. Gazing north from here, the palace city of Chang'an lay right at one's feet.

Bai Juyi's poem described it: "Hundreds of thousands of homes like a go board, twelve streets like vegetable furrows. Gazing afar at the faint glow of morning court fires, a streak of stars west of the Five Gates."

This was no exaggeration or embellishment — merely a realistic depiction of gazing into the distance from Xuanping Ward.

"Whose house is this?"

Fang Chongyong stopped in his tracks and looked at Zheng Shuqing with puzzlement. Having been in Chang'an for several months now, he had already made inquiries and learned that not just anyone of any status could live in Xuanping Ward.

Even though this house itself looked quite unremarkable.

"Scholar He."

Zheng Shuqing said calmly.

"He Zhizhang?"

Fang Chongyong blurted out, but was immediately interrupted by Zheng Shuqing: "From now on he will be the teacher who instructs you in your studies. Do you also call your own tutor by his given name?"

Zheng Shuqing could not help but scold him in a low voice.

"How can this be?"

Fang Chongyong exclaimed. He did not know how Old Zheng had managed it, but to invite He Zhizhang as a teacher — the network of connections and personal favors required therein, how could that be measured in money?

"No more talk. Today I make the decisions. Hold in whatever questions you have, and we will discuss them after the apprenticeship ceremony is done."

Zheng Shuqing said sternly, his expression more solemn than ever before.

Fang Chongyong could only nod silently. As the saying goes, once the arrow is on the bowstring, it must be fired. They had already walked all the way to Xuanping Ward; if they were to pass by He Zhizhang's door without entering, what would people think when they found out?

That because your father is Fang Youde, you have the right to come here and show off?

How brain-dead would that be, offending someone for no reason at all.

With complicated feelings, Fang Chongyong followed Zheng Shuqing into the main hall. Sure enough, the furnishings here were very simple yet exceedingly elegant — no more than four or five side rooms and a courtyard, within which a viewing pavilion had been built.

Considering He Zhizhang's official positions of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and Scholar of the Jixian Academy, his having such treatment was actually not surprising.

How the house was built did not matter; what mattered was the location. Being able to establish a home in Xuanping Ward already proved his standing in the court.

"You're both here. Sit, please sit."

As soon as he entered the main hall, Fang Chongyong saw the kindly smiling, slender He Zhizhang come over to greet them, without the slightest air of importance.

Fang Chongyong sat down stiffly, pressed his hands together, and bowed to He Zhizhang.

"This is the son of Jiedushi Fang. He has not yet had anyone to pass on knowledge and instruct him. We hope Scholar He might offer him some guidance."

Zheng Shuqing said modestly, cupping his hands in a bow.

"Very well. I serve my shift for half a day each day and return after noon. You come to Xuanping Ward every afternoon to practice calligraphy, every day without fail — can you manage that?"

He Zhizhang looked at Fang Chongyong and asked.

"I shall faithfully follow all of my teacher's instructions."

Fang Chongyong kowtowed and bowed with composed dignity.

"Haha, then let us begin tomorrow. Today I am going to drink wine. Gentlemen, please return."

He Zhizhang laughed heartily and raised his right hand, signaling Zheng Shongyong and Fang Chongyong to leave. Such a clean and direct way of seeing guests out was something Fang Chongyong was encountering for the first time.

Zheng Shuqing was a seasoned bureaucrat. He produced a gift list from his sleeve, carefully presented it to He Zhizhang, then crossed his arms in a salute and took his leave.

"This…"

Seeing the gift list, He Zhizhang looked surprised, then gave a slight nod, tucked it into his sleeve, and said nothing more.

This so-called "apprenticeship ceremony" had no tears of gratitude, no mutual admiration, and certainly no humility, filial piety, or fraternal devotion.

No matter how you looked at it, it resembled a transaction.

Returning to the Fang family residence, arriving at the study, Fang Chongyong waited for Zheng Shuqing to explain everything.

"I know you are clever, far beyond ordinary people. But what you lack most right now is not learning, but reputation. If you remain forever under the shadow of your father's fame, you will forever be nothing more than the son of Jiedushi Fang.

With the identity of Scholar He's disciple, it will be convenient for you to associate with all kinds of people in the future, and to shed the mark of a silk-stocking scion."

Zheng Shuqing spoke with earnest sincerity.

Why was Li Linfu not accepted by the literati? Was it merely because Li Linfu wanted to monopolize the court?

In fact, not entirely.

Because even before Li Linfu had risen to high office, the literati already disliked him. For instance, Yuan Ganyao said of Li Linfu: "A vice director must be someone of established conduct and high reputation — how could Genü be a vice director?" At that time, Li Linfu's official rank was nothing worth mentioning.

Li Linfu was not a man of the literary circles, so he was bound to be ostracized by those people. If Fang Chongyong were He Zhizhang's disciple, then as long as he showed no obvious "ignorance and incompetence," he would not encounter the literati faction's innate resistance when conducting affairs in the future.

That was the benefit. And what was the drawback? Zheng Shuqing did not say, and Fang Chongyong did not know. But one thing was certain: if he did not enlist a heavyweight to back him up and hoist a tiger banner to bolster his prestige, then when Fang Chongyong turned fourteen, he would have to go to the Directorate of Education or the Chongwen Academy to study, and develop his network through "classmate connections" at that point.

That starting point would be much later.

Otherwise, he would end up with the same sort of background and standing as the likes of Li Linfu.

Fang Chongyong nodded slightly, feeling somewhat moved. Earlier, when Zheng Shuqing had wanted to give him things like "twin sister flowers," that was merely treating him, Fang, as a bureaucrat of equal rank for an exchange of interests.

But now, pulling strings to invite He Zhizhang to be his teacher — that was genuine, heartfelt care.

This move was indeed worthy of all the strategizing Fang Chongyong had done for Zheng Shuqing, before and after.

"Uh, Scholar He's fame fills all of Chang'an. How did Vice Minister Zheng persuade him to agree to teach me?"

Fang Chongyong asked in puzzlement.

"The Sage bestowed a hundred bolts of Tang brocade; I gave Scholar He… eighty bolts."

Zheng Shuqing said slowly.

"Even a mad scholar cares for wealth? I thought they were all detached from worldly affairs."

Fang Chongyong was startled and said, unable to comprehend.

He Zhizhang's daily life was exceedingly comfortable; each day he drifted through the palace city's office, worked only the morning shift before returning to rest, spending his time drinking or reveling. Such a carefree, joyous life is beyond what someone like Zheng Shuqing can aspire to.

"Drinking, entertaining friends, traveling, official socializing—none of these can be sustained without money.

Now Tang brocade is priceless on the market; if Scholar He hands over a bolt, it can fund his drinking for many good days.

A casual brush‑off each day, a slight tip, can make his purse considerably fuller—what's wrong with that?"

Zheng Shuqing explained patiently.

I must admit, those words make sense. Fang Chongyong considered them from He Zhizhang's perspective and couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Zheng Shuqing gave far too much; even a chaste, fierce woman was reduced by money to a flamboyant, door‑opening prostitute.

He Zhizhang was notorious in the court for his terrible drinking habits, so at the last banquet everyone unanimously appointed him as host just to keep him from drinking. When sober he observed etiquette, but after drinking he became a completely different person.

In Du Fu's famous poem "Drunken Eight Immortals," the first line is about He Zhizhang: "He rides a horse as if on a boat, his eyes dazed, falling into the well and sleeping at the bottom." It describes his drunken posture on the horse, slumped forward and backward, his ugly demeanor exposed, like sitting on a boat. His drunken eyes blurred, he fell into a well and simply slept at the bottom.

Of course that's an exaggeration, but He Zhizhang loves wine and, after drinking, cares nothing for his image—this is absolutely true.

Although his name is renowned throughout Chang'an, He Zhizhang's salary is far from a mountain of gold and silver; in reality it's quite limited, not exceeding fifty strings per month.

Compared with a military governor who oversees a frontier town and can "flexibly use" the local treasury, court officials like He Zhizhang receive a "fixed salary".

Only when Li Longji bestows generous mercy upon court officials do they find their pockets a bit fuller.

These central court officials have huge daily expenses and are themselves "living paycheck to paycheck", unable to save anything. Hence the windfall Zheng Shuqing offers is far more attractive than Fang Chongyong imagined.

In fact, He Zhizhang had no objection to the deal and readily agreed. At that time, he didn't know Zheng Shuqing was sending Tang brocade; he only felt the silk was of superior quality.

"Scholar He is only your nominal teacher; he cannot truly teach you anything of great use. At most it's calligraphy, writing splendid prose, and the like."

Zheng Shuqing warned Fang Chongyong patiently, fearing he might become complacent. His words seemed to disdain He Zhizhang's scholarship.

"Does Deputy Minister Zheng think Scholar He's learning is actually of no use to the court?"

Fang Chongyong retorted with a sharp remark.

Zheng Shuqing was taken aback, then gave a wry smile: "As long as you're clear in your own mind, don't spread rumors. I never said anything, and I won't admit to it."

"Deputy Minister Zheng's kindness, I will keep in my heart; in the future I shall repay it richly."

Fang Chongyong bowed deeply to Zheng Shuqing.

He understood that he had no connections in Chang'an; to get anything done, he must operate through Zheng Shuqing's network.

But his worthless father Fang Youde seemed to act in extremes, with many mysteries surrounding him, making Fang Chongyong unable to trust him.

Chang'an is a stage for competition, not a cradle of growth. Fang Chongyong knows he must leave, to train, to mature, to gather strength. In that process, he must keenly observe this world, this era.

"Don't think about twin maidservants; those things, once you achieve fame, will be like goods in a cabinet—available at will, without effort."

In a few days I'll go to Luoyang Hanjiacang to re‑inspect the grain stores for Hexi's military supply. I doubt I'll return to Chang'an during that period; you should stay peacefully with Scholar He and stop worrying about those chaotic matters.

Especially…

Zheng Shuqing patted Fang Chongyong's shoulder, leaned in and lowered his voice:

"Especially matters concerning the Sage—if you can avoid them, don't touch them.

The two verses at the banquet were written by you, and the Sage now knows them. If the Sage summons you to the palace to write poetry as a test of wisdom, you must conceal your skill and not be overly sharp."

"Understood."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod.

Yang Yuhuan's rise and Li Longji's shifts were observed by many court officials, each forming their own judgments.

The changes in the court have already begun; they have all seen them, though they don't know how they will evolve or end. Each shift will be a top‑down great reshuffle of officialdom.

These central court officials are like schools of fish in a pond; as black clouds gather overhead and pressure drops, the fish surface, blowing bubbles, becoming restless, some even flipping over and dying from lack of oxygen.

Li Linfu didn't notice these, and Fang Chongyong is unaware; but he knows Zheng Shuqing has certainly seen them clearly and will have corresponding preparations!

"Do you still intend to arrange for your future father‑in‑law to go to Hexi?"

Zheng Shuqing asked in a low voice; now he will become the transport commissioner responsible for moving Hexi's grain, and whether the Tang army can defeat Tubo is a matter of life and death for him.

If the Tang army wins, he will be promoted while lying down.

If the Tang army loses, he will have to kneel before Li Linfu pleading for help.

The difference between the two is huge.

"Indeed so."

"Hmm, in that case, is there anything I can help with?"

Zheng Shuqing pressed further.

In officialdom, one cannot always wait for good fortune to arrive.

When facing challenges, one must exert full effort and use every available condition.

Old Zheng may not excel at handling big affairs, but he is adept at being an official, and his skill is superb.

"There's nothing major. However, if a chance arises, you could give the Right Prime Minister some ideas—say you think Loyal Prince Li Heng will become Crown Prince, prompting the Right Prime Minister to prepare early.

If there's a chance, mention it; if not, let it be—it isn't a decisive factor.

"Understood."

Zheng Shuqing nodded; he already had a sense of it in his mind.

"My future father‑in‑law is brave and battle‑savvy; if he can go to Hexi, this battle will surely win. Deputy Minister Zheng, if possible, think of ways to convey my words to the Right Prime Minister, saying it was your idea. This has an eighty‑plus percent chance of succeeding."

Fang Chongyong continued.

Zheng Shuqing nodded again, committing it to memory.

……

In the study of the Qinzhengwubenlou in Flourishing Celebration Palace, Li Longji was reading the letter given to him by Gao Lishi, which was written by Lady Li, the wife of Wang Zhongsi.

In the letter, Lady Li requested of Li Longji that Wang Zhongsi be transferred back to Chang'an for official duties, and not be sent away again.

She asked for no office, only to return home; her plea was sincere and heartfelt. One cannot deny that this letter touched a soft spot in Li Longji's heart.

When Wang Zhongsi was eight or nine, his father Wang Haibin had already died on the battlefield, and indeed he had been framed to death by his colleagues. Li Longji had taken Wang Zhongsi into the palace to raise him; whether there was any other motive, nobody could really say.

But one thing is certain: Li Longji's trust in Wang Zhongsi is absolutely above that of an ordinary frontier general. The only concern, however, is Wang Zhongsi's relationship with Li Heng.

"The Left Division of the Dragon Martial Army still lacks a general; we could transfer Wang Zhongsi to be the Left Division General of the Dragon Martial Army."

Gao Lishi made the suggestion without changing his expression.

"That makes sense."

Li Longji nodded slightly; he felt that keeping Wang Zhongsi on the sidelines for two years was already enough time. Since Lady Li pleaded for his return to Chang'an, it was only natural.

Du Xiwang and others wanted to send Wang Zhongsi to West of the River, while Li Linfu wanted him to go to South of the Jian; Li Longji had his own idea and did not want to be led by others.