Chapter 68: The Prime Minister's Talent

In the twenty‑sixth year of the Kaiyuan era, March, Li Longji, who had spent the whole winter comfortably, returned from Huaqing Palace to Xingqing Palace, and then he was almost knocked unconscious by a head‑butt from a Tubo soldier.

The Tubo army clashed fiercely at the three border points with the Tang: Jiannan, Longyou, and Hexi, and their onslaught was extremely ferocious!

But the attacks in the other two directions were feints; only the Hexi front was a genuine assault.

The Tubo forces stationed at the new city (now the ancient city of Jinbatai in Qinghai) slipped through a pass in the Qilian Mountains into the Hexi Corridor, launching a rapid attack on Liangzhou, far beyond the expectations of Hexi Military Governor Cui Xiyi.

He personally led the Chishui Army against the Tubo troops outside Liangzhou, and both sides suffered heavy casualties, each blow landing squarely on flesh.

Later, failing to reap any profit, the Tubo army slipped away under cover of night.

Although the Tubo men gained nothing, they made Li Longji break out in a cold sweat. Liangzhou is a crucial logistical hub for the Hexi Corridor and the Anxi and Beiting Protectorates. If the Tang forces in the Western Regions were likened to a sword, Liangzhou is unquestionably the hilt of that sword.

When the hilt is smashed, the precious sword breaks. The situation in the Tang's northwest will deteriorate rapidly.

Ji Ge was enraged and issued an imperial edict:

"Tubo clowns, repeatedly violating the frontier, destroying our towns, abducting our border people. In the prefectures of Hexi, Longyou, Anxi, Jiannan, and others, any Jiedushi officer or below who can capture a Tubo Zanpu shall be ennobled as a king of a different surname; those who capture a Grand General shall be granted the title of Grand General; those who capture lower ranks shall be awarded the rank of General of the Middle Army. No restriction on civilian official rank; a reward per case shall be given. Promptly issue a proclamation so that all may hear."

In short, merit will be rewarded with offices, but no mention is made of monetary or material rewards.

Wang Zhongsi received the order, was transferred to serve as the Chishui Army's envoy, and set out for Hexi from that day, while Fang Chongyong had not yet departed, because his current role was a civil affairs officer of Liangzhou and he could leave when the situation was less urgent.

…

"What the hell is this?"

A few days after his departure, Fang Chongyong received a letter from Zheng Shuqing written in Luoyang; aside from the usual courtesies, the core issue boiled down to two words: help!

Old Zheng had been appointed Transport Commissioner and now oversaw the storage at Han Jia Storehouse and the grain supply for the northwestern campaigns.

This was a matter of his very life!

The canal from Biankou to Luoyang had been abandoned by Pei Yaoqing, so the grain stored at Han Jia Storehouse had no stable source. Occasionally a grain‑carrying ship would reach Luoyang, but it sold the grain locally rather than to the official warehouses.

Now is the time to try out the good methods of the "elders", for example the "Ping Di method".

The Ping Di method purchases grain at a price lower than the market price in Luoyang, which means that when the canal is blocked, little grain can actually be obtained. Buying grain locally in Luoyang also drives up the price in the Eastern Capital.

And the higher the grain price, the more local magnates hoard and withhold grain, further pushing the price up. Thus Old Zheng must constantly petition the court for funds; otherwise he simply does not have enough money to buy grain. Given Li Longji's character, doing so would likely be courting disaster.

But if Han Jia Storehouse remains half‑empty, Old Zheng may be punished by Li Longji.

Either way is a dilemma.

"It's just a warehouse…"

Fang Chongyong read the letter over and over, feeling a growing disgust.

If he wanted to improve the Tang economy and solve those livelihood problems, Fang Chongyong had no solution at all.

But filling Han Jia Storehouse—was that difficult for him?

Not at all!

He was just about to spread out paper to write a letter when Fang Dafu reported that Niu Xianke was at the door!

Fang Chongyong was startled; although Niu Xianke was low‑key, he was also the Minister of Works! He just didn't know why Niu Xianke would come to his door.

After leading the guest to the study and having him sit, Niu Xianke pulled a thick, thread‑bound volume from his sleeve.

These days most books are scrolls, but many people's notebooks are hand‑copied thread‑bound volumes, each with its own merits.

"This is a booklet of common Tubo weaponry, and I have added illustrations beside it."

Niu Xianke said with a cheerful smile.

"How does one use this?"

Fang Chongyong was flattered but resolutely took the thread‑bound volume.

"I will depart for the northern frontier tomorrow, to persuade the six prefectures of Sogdian and mixed Hu; today is the day I bid you farewell."

Niu Xianke's face grew solemn.

Even though Fang Chongyong knew little about military affairs, he could tell that the so‑called "six prefectures mixed Hu" were not easily persuaded. The border Hu were numerous, their conflicts intertwined, and a slight misstep could enrage them. This time Niu Xianke was getting a far from pleasant assignment.

"Is this matter being suppressed by the Right Prime Minister?"

Fang Chongyong asked calmly.

Niu Xianke was slightly taken aback, then nodded silently.

"The waters of Chang'an are too deep; as a local official of Hexi, I find myself unable to control things after arriving. Going to negotiate with the six prefectures' mixed Hu is not a bad thing."

Niu Xianke sighed, not knowing what to say.

In the Tang central administration, officials floated above their duties, and the atmosphere was lax. Although he was the Minister of Works, he had no connections; his words carried little weight, as real power lay with the two Assistant Ministers of Works.

The Ministers of the Six Ministries had long been hollowed out; after the mid‑late Tang they became mere ornaments, giving rise to the new rule of "entering the prime ministership via the Assistant Minister". Though this malignant wind has not yet fully blown, Niu Xianke, lacking a patron, already felt that bone‑chilling cold.

"Minister Niu… please take care on the road."

Fang Chongyong performed a salute with his hands and said he regretted that such a diligent official was about to be unable to make a living in Chang'an.

Thus it can be seen that the Tang may still appear splendid and unrivaled, but the seeds of disaster have already been sown. An important sign of a nation's decline is that capable officials cannot be employed and cannot carry out their work.

"By the way, although Liangzhou is generally safe, Tubo scouts could still launch a surprise raid. Tubo bows use arrows whose shafts are made from poisonous reed, and their soldiers often coat the arrowheads with toxin.

The poison does not kill on contact, but if ignored it can be a matter of life or death. Remember to stay vigilant over there."

Niu Xianke warned patiently.

"Understood."

Fang Chongyong nodded solemnly.

"Then I will not disturb you further; I shall take my leave."

"The young master has gone to Hexi and does not need to accomplish any great deeds. If you have time, perhaps you could write letters home for the border soldiers."

Niu Xianke offered a 'request' that was not really a request.

"Understood, I will do my best on this."

Fang Chongyong continued to nod.

Niu Xianke seemed to have more to say, but finally let out a sigh, hunched over, and left the Fang family's courtyard.

After he left, Fang Chongyong began flipping through that booklet, and saw that it contained not only text but also illustrations drawn by Niu Xianke.

"The Tibetans have five types of swords and blades, namely: Shangma, Suobo, Hupai, Gusi, and Jiare.

"The Shangma has a thick blade back, the Suobo is sharply honed, the Hupai comes with a scabbard, the Gusi bears silver blade patterns, and the Jiare can cleave through iron."

"Tibetan armor includes rhinoceros-hide armor, nine-eye armor, chainmail, and horse armor."

"The rest are not worth mentioning; only the chainmail is lightweight yet sturdy, with both men and horses fully armored, leaving only the eyes exposed, impervious to arrows."

"The Tibetans excel at siege warfare, possessing siege towers, flying ladders, goose carts, wooden donkeys, and other engines, which combined with heavily armored infantry are unstoppable."

……

Fang Chongyong flipped through Niu Xianke's provided "secret manual" page by page. These records of military equipment had been compiled item by item over Niu Xianke's decades in Hexi—intelligence bought with the lives of Tang soldiers.

"This gift carries great weight indeed."

Fang Chongyong could not help but sigh with emotion.

In his impression, when the Tang army faced the Tibetans, they should have held an absolute advantage in weapons and equipment.

But according to Niu Xianke's secret manual, it seemed his understanding had been biased. The Tibetans' ability to fight the Great Tang to a standstill, and even gain the upper hand at certain times, was not without reason.

The Tibetans were not only well-equipped, but their equipment also had many fine subdivisions, showing a profound understanding of warfare in the era of cold weapons.

If it really came to fighting, could Wang Zhongsi hold the line?

Fang Chongyong drew a question mark in his heart.

This trip to Hexi would likely be a true eye-opener!

At this very moment, the shadow of war loomed over Fang Chongyong's heart. The battles and slaughter of Hexi would, in but a few years, become the norm for the Great Tang. Better to prepare thoroughly now than to be caught flustered and at a loss when the time came.

After all, you couldn't wait until the enemy had a blade at your neck before thinking to practice martial arts.

……

Inside Hanjia Granary, Zheng Shuqing was putting on a show of inspection. The interior of Hanjia Granary had a cross-shaped main street dividing the granary city into storage zones, residential and administrative zones, and a canal dock zone. Zheng Shuqing looked at the desolate canal dock, not knowing how to start cursing.

So-called reforms always produce both beneficiaries and victims.

After Pei Yaoqing's canal transport reform, a segmented transport system was adopted. Previously, the common people of Jiangnan had to send their tax rice by boat to Luoyang at their own expense. Now, the government decreed that once these tax boats reached the Heyin Granary at Biankou and unloaded the rice, they could turn back south, without needing to separately hire river hands to navigate the Yellow River as before.

Was this a good policy?

Largely speaking, yes, but not everyone liked this tune—for instance, the management personnel of Hanjia Granary.

The current situation was the result of the state's supporting policies not being properly allocated during the reform, not solely the fault of any one person.

But since the blame had been left behind, naturally someone had to bear it. That was simply how officialdom worked.

"Vice Minister Zheng, spring plowing has already begun. Do you think we should…"

The granary's supervising censor said without batting an eye.

"What brilliant idea do you have?"

Zheng Shuqing asked with a forced smile.

"During the green seedling season, we could purchase grain ahead of time to avoid complications. By autumn harvest, we would naturally be able to collect a portion."

That supervising censor spoke cautiously, and upon noticing Zheng Shuqing's unfriendly stare fixed on him, his heart pounded with anxiety.

"This official hasn't a single copper coin. Any grain purchased must first request funding from the court. Tell me—when the court hasn't seen a single grain of rice, how am I supposed to get this sum approved?"

Zheng Shuqing, eyes bloodshot, stared at this granary administrator who was "in the same boat" as him and demanded.

"Perhaps we could use the Harmonious Purchase method to buy grain at high prices in Luoyang."

The supervising censor continued to suggest.

The so-called Harmonious Purchase method meant that the government purchased new grain for storage at a price one or two tenths above market value when grain prices were low. This method had a long history, and its effects were immediate.

However, this approach was not without problems either.

First, using the Harmonious Purchase method would inevitably drive up grain prices in Luoyang, and even overall commodity prices. Luoyang had already lost its former status as a transit and storage hub due to the canal route's rerouting. If the government now came out buying grain at high prices, the inevitable result would be a skyrocketing of Luoyang's grain prices!

Seeing grain prices rise, would the great aristocratic families immediately release their grain to stabilize prices?

No, no, no—what they would do was hoard grain and hold back sales, pushing grain prices even higher!

Given Luoyang's political stature, if such a thing happened, Zheng Shuqing felt his tenure as Vice Minister of Revenue would be at its end.

What kind of rotten ideas were these!

Just then, Zheng Shuqing's servant hurried over and placed a very thick letter in his hand.

"Good! It's finally here!"

Zheng Shuqing was overjoyed and hurried toward the office area within the granary. He had already arranged to live there. Though it served no practical purpose, it at least declared his stance to the court: he would share the fate of Hanjia Granary, to live or perish together.

After dismissing the servants, he hastily tore it open.

Reading it in one go, Zheng Shuqing let out a long sigh.

This fellow is truly terrifying; one day he will surely replace Li Linfu!

In his letter, Fang Chongyong had proposed three measures!

The first measure, which Fang Chongyong called the "See-Money Method," had a simple principle.

Encourage merchants at Biankou to transport grain to the dock of Hanjia Granary, after which they could proceed alone to Chang'an, and with government-issued documents in hand, collect payment for their grain at the Court of Agriculture yamen in Chang'an!

In this era, large-scale transactions were predominantly in physical goods. The current trade route had merchants transporting grain to Biankou and then receiving payment in goods.

In theory, they would turn back after delivering the grain, but in practice, they could not possibly make the return trip empty.

Typically, they would haul their goods to Luoyang, especially to Chang'an, purchase rare commodities from the Western Regions there, and then head south along the canal.

In Fang Chongyong's previous life, a taxi driver who dropped off a passenger at the train station would also hope to pick up a fare there to avoid running empty. Such thinking was very common in later eras, and it was the same in this age.

The advantage of the See-Money Method lay in the fact that merchants only needed to ship goods by water to Luoyang, then go to Chang'an to collect payment, purchase goods at the Eastern and Western Markets there, and finally ship the goods away.

This eliminated the intermediate step of "escorting payment goods into Guanzhong."

Saving this entire segment meant enormous savings! And transporting grain from Biankou to Luoyang was all by water—under profitable conditions, it was not troublesome at all.

Therefore, Hanjia Granary's grain purchase price only needed to be slightly above market price, or even on par with it, to ensure a steady stream of merchants coming to transport grain.

More importantly, this method is "open and close as needed"; it does not require applying to the imperial court for funds in advance, and this alone solves a major problem Zheng Shuqing faces.

If the first move solved the problem through market means, then the second move is definitely an administrative measure.

The second move is simple to say and simple in practice; in short, it's "quota to households". Each household's grain contribution must have a portion go into the Containing Excellence Granary. Whether this move is useful is another matter, but overall it should be able to collect some amount.

Besides administrative measures, Fang Chongyong also proposed a third move: lending copper coins as loans before spring planting to farmers, who must then repay the loan in grain after the autumn harvest, and the grain must be transported to the Containing Excellence Granary to settle the debt.

He said in the letter that these three moves can be used separately or in combination, depending on how much grain the Containing Excellence Granary needs to store.