Chapter 72: Crazy About Stirring Up

Wow!

Before the towering Liangzhou City, at the Qingjiao Gate on the east side, Fang Chongyong scrambled out of the carriage, pressed his hands on his knees, lowered his head, and vomited wildly!

After a day of racing like a runaway carriage, they finally arrived at Liangzhou City at dusk. Unfortunately, the whole party was exhausted and had no energy to admire the magnificent scenery before them.

The mighty city, the setting sun, the yellow sand, and the oasis together formed a desolate yet grandly beautiful tableau.

Liangzhou's seven cities house a hundred thousand families, and the Hu people half‑play the pipa!

The Hexi Corridor's core is this very city! But the weary travelers only want to settle matters quickly and then find an inn to get a good sleep.

Fang Chongyong has no idea how riding feels, because he still can't ride a horse. But the sensation of careening in a carriage is truly terrible.

Every jolt makes Fang Chongyong unable to stop the urge to vomit inside the carriage.

Fang Chongyong's party pushed themselves to the limit to avoid being caught by the Baoting Army today, expending all their strength on the road. Fang Chongyong vomited for half an hour, now only dry heaving, since he'd already vomited several times; the stretch from Chang'an to Liangzhou was the hardest of all.

Du Gu Jun also stepped out of the carriage; although he appeared far more composed than Fang Chongyong, his steps were equally unsteady, his feet sinking into the ground like sponges.

He's an old veteran, no doubt, but suffering this way is truly his first time.

Among the party, only A Duan, who often roams the mountains and forests, takes these hardships as routine and isn't fazed.

The others were basically exhausted, and even the horses were panting heavily in place.

After a long pause, they finally recovered. Fang Chongyong said to Du Gu Jun, "Brother Du Gu, give me a hand; we must hurry into the city to meet the He Xi Jiedushi."

"Right, we must not delay!"

Du Gu Jun, being a sensible man, lifted Fang Chongyong, and the two limped, slightly disheveled, to the gate guard stationed at the city entrance, pulling out the identification documents from his chest and handing them over.

When the gate guard saw Du Gu Jun's documents, he remained composed, gave a slight nod, indicating entry was permitted, and was rather restrained. Fang Chongyong observed this and thought the man resembled a railway inspector from a past life, who checked IDs for a month without finding a single problem—simply too normal.

It was a work expression tinged with a sickly blandness and numbness.

Du Gu Jun's ultimate destination is the Anxi Protectorate.

To reach the Anxi Protectorate, Liangzhou is the first stop, and also the most well‑supplied, best‑conditioned, and most comfortable station.

No incoming official skips a two‑day rest after arriving at Liangzhou.

Officials like Du Gu Jun are so common that even a gate guard who hasn't seen a thousand still encounters eight‑hundred; it's no longer surprising.

However, when Fang Chongyong handed the identification papers issued by the Guanglu Hall to the gate guard, the man first glanced dismissively, then widened his eyes, and kept double‑checking repeatedly!

"Found it! Found it! Finally found it!"

The gate guard was flamboyant, flinging his helmet to the ground, grabbing Fang Chongyong's documents and sprinting into the city, looking just like Fan Jin going berserk in 'The Imperial Examination'.

It's no wonder he's excited; the He Xi Jiedushi has already placed a bounty—anyone who finds Fang Chongyong alive receives ten strings of cash on the spot!

Under the setting sun, this absurd scene left both Fang Chongyong and Du Gu Jun speechless.

The customs of Liangzhou are indeed extraordinary.

Soon, Cui Xiyi, clad in a scarlet official robe, followed the gate guard with an excited expression, a large crowd trailing behind, creating a formidable spectacle. The sight frightened Fang Chongyong into hiding behind Du Gu Jun.

"I am the He Xi Jiedushi Cui Xiyi. May I ask which one is Young Master Fang?"

Cui Xiyi's expression was gentle as he asked Du Gu Jun.

"That's me. What guidance does the Jiedushi have for me?"

Fang Chongyong ran out from behind Du Gu Jun, his face puzzled, and asked the other person.

Cui Xiyi turned his head, glanced at someone, and waved at him.

The man in his forties looked benevolent, wearing plain cloth robes with no ornaments, but a golden fish token hung on his belt was immediately visible. Fang Chongyong's heart tightened; he instantly realized the person's status was not as simple as it seemed—he was an officer of the Liangzhou Border Army!

Just the thought of "Liangzhou Border Army" made Fang Chongyong's scalp tingle; those dozens of naked monks lying on the ground constantly reminded him that an uncontrolled border army is essentially no different from bandits.

They can even fight better than bandits! Their disaster is greater!

"Young Master, General Wang sent me to assist you; feel free to tell me any orders you have."

The middle‑aged uncle walked over, bent down, and said kindly to Fang Chongyong.

"Oh, oh."

Fang Chongyong was stunned, still not catching the key words.

"General Wang feared you might face inconveniences living in Liangzhou, so he specially dispatched fifty elite Red Water Army soldiers to accompany you everywhere, ensuring your safety. The fish token is here."

He removed the fish token from his waist and handed it to Fang Chongyong for inspection. On the back it read "Chiwu Town Red Water Army Left Force," with a raised character "Tong."

So it's the Red Water Army—why didn't you say so earlier?

Seeing "Red Water Army" on the token completely eased Fang Chongyong's mind. After all, his future father‑in‑law is now the Red Water Army's boss, and no soldier in that army would dare cause trouble for him within his office.

"Um, then you are…"

Fang Chongyong wore a bewildered expression, thinking that after saying so much, why didn't the person introduce himself?

"I am a Jiedu Judge of the Red Water Army, seconded from another fanzhen. Hehe, isn't it a coincidence that my ancestral home is the same as General Wang's, and my birthplace is also the same place, only… (the text is incomplete)."

"This time the young master is coming to He Xi, General Wang specially transferred me here and even promoted me. Young master, you are my esteemed patron."

"Feel free to address me by my official title, not by the noble surname Guo. If you have any orders, my fifty Red Water lads will do their utmost."

Guo Junshi was very talkative and clarified everything in a few words.

In short, Wang Zhongsi worries that Fang Chongyong, being unfamiliar with the area, might be bullied or even killed by accident. After all, Wang Zhongsi's military duties are busy and he must also guard against Tubo, so he cannot watch over Fang Chongyong constantly.

There are many desperados in He Xi; those who murder and flee to the Western Regions are commonplace. Thus, here, one's status is not an absolute shield; having no escort is unacceptable. Moreover, the level of escort must be raised to a border army cavalry squadron.

The dozens of Tibetan monks whose robes were stolen and stripped earlier are a living counterexample.

Therefore, Wang Zhongsi specifically seconded an official from elsewhere who does not belong to the He Xi Jiedushi, and who is also his old hometown companion, sharing the same ancestral home.

He also promoted this person, returning a favor.

This Jiedu Judge is not under the Jiedushi's establishment, but belongs to the internal structure of the Red Water Army, a position only such a massive army possesses.

Strictly speaking, it is a relatively high‑ranking idle post, sometimes wielding authority, sometimes not, fully reflecting the flexibility and capriciousness of the Great Tang bureaucracy.

When the Red Water Army commander is concurrently the He Xi Jiedushi, the Jiedu Judge becomes the actual executor; only then does the role carry weight, often acting as a 'deputy military commissioner', handling daily Red Water Army affairs.

The Judge does not adjudicate; the character "pan" in official titles often means 'execute', so 'Judge' is better understood as 'executive officer'.

However, Wang Zhongsi himself currently held the post of Red Water Army Commissioner and did not concurrently serve as Jiedushi, so this Red Water Army Jiedushi Judge's authority partially overlapped with Wang Zhongsi's official position.

Clearly, the Jiedushi Judge before him could not possibly vie for power with Wang Zhongsi, the benefactor who had promoted him, so this official position naturally became one in name only.

To put it bluntly, this was the lead of a "bodyguard squad" tailor-made by his future father-in-law Wang Zhongsi for his future son-in-law Fang Chongyong. High rank and heavy authority he could not use, but it was quite handy for intimidating the grunts.

Of course, from this it could also be seen that Wang Zhongsi was putting great effort into cultivating Fang Chongyong, even going so far as to abuse public office for private ends by "lending" him fifty elite soldiers of the Red Water Army to test the waters. This Judge Guo should also have some ability; otherwise, Wang Zhongsi would have no need to stuff a useless drunkard into his own team.

Thinking of this, Fang Chongyong stepped forward and warmly shook hands with Commissioner Guo to show his friendliness.

"Guo Ziyi! Have you said enough!"

Cui Xiyi flicked his sleeves and scolded impatiently!

He did not have the slightest good feeling toward this outsider parachuted in as some Red Water Army Jiedushi Judge.

Guo Ziyi!

Fang Chongyong, holding the hand of "Judge Guo," stood frozen in place. Looking at the middle-aged man before him with his kindly face and utter lack of pretension, seemingly harmless to man and beast, he found it hard to connect him with that "Lord Guo" of history who had extended the Great Tang's life by a hundred and fifty years.

Truly, one cannot judge a person by appearances.

Fang Chongyong sighed inwardly, slowly withdrew his hand, performed a cupped-hand salute to Guo Ziyi, then bowed with hands clasped to Cui Xiyi and said, "Jiedushi, there is a major matter that must be discussed back at the Jiedushi's office. It is extremely urgent!"

Seeing his solemn expression, Cui Xiyi muttered in his heart but nodded slowly without showing anything on his face.

In his impression, this "Young Master Fang" who had disappeared the moment he left the Guanzhong region was absolutely no good bird!

His reason for coming to the Western Regions was probably the same as those sons of nobles in Chang'an—perhaps he had read the work of some frontier poet, found it thrilling, and wanted to come to Hexi to see for himself. Then go back to Chang'an and brag about it.

What these people wanted was the romance of the Western Regions, not the bitter cold of the Western Regions! And they certainly had no intention of establishing merit and building careers here!

Once he grew tired of it after a while, this youth of unsettled temperament would surely kick up a fuss and demand to go back, which would be another troublesome matter when the time came.

Only, judging from the current situation, it seemed... not quite like that.

"So be it, then. Come with me."

Cui Xiyi called out to his attendants and walked ahead to lead the way. Guo Ziyi walked beside Fang Chongyong, half a step behind, while Dugu Jun, standing to the side dumbfounded, only now felt just how terrifyingly powerful Young Master Fang's formidable social connections truly were.

……

"Go to Chiwu Town and notify Commissioner Wang. There is a major matter."

Guo Ziyi handed the fish tally from his waist to a soldier of the Red Water Army and instructed in a low voice.

At this very moment, the group was looking at the White Pavilion Army fish tally lying quietly on the desk in the Jiedushi's office study.

"This tally is identical in specification to the Red Water Army fish tally I carry, and can only mobilize no more than fifty soldiers. The White Pavilion Army should have an authorized strength of one thousand seven hundred, an actual number of one thousand four hundred, with three hundred positions unfilled."

Guo Ziyi said, pointing at the fish tally on the desk.

Fish tallies came in matching pairs: one kept by the commanding general, inscribed with the character "He" — this version could only exist as a single copy and was never duplicated. The other copy, however, had as many copies as there were officers of the corresponding rank in the army.

When in use, one took the fish tally inscribed with "Tong" to the commanding general for verification, and could then mobilize troops. When not in use, it served as an officer's credential of identity.

The material and design of the fish tally determined the upper limit of troops it could mobilize. The ones in Guo Ziyi's hand and on the desk were of the lowest tier, capable of mobilizing at most fifty men.

"Frontier troops posing as bandits, intercepting and killing monks, seizing silk goods..."

Cui Xiyi pondered in silence.

He had heard of this kind of rotten business more than once! Every time, he ordered a thorough investigation, and in the end, it came to nothing.

In reality, it could only come to nothing.

Garrisoning the frontier was bitter!

The weight of those three words was something the grandees of the Chang'an court could never appreciate.

They demanded that frontier soldiers fight bravely and kill the enemy, yet after each battle rewarded them with only a few official titles and noble ranks. Over time, how could the frontier garrisons not have problems?

Each time they looted, the grunts actually received only a small share proportionally—not much money at all. Perhaps enough to go to Liangzhou City for a little wine and a Hu dancing girl, and it would be gone.

In truth, these men sought only this little bit of pleasure. Their demands were not high, nor did they have any grand ambitions. Making the Hexi Jiedushi's office restless over such a trifling matter was truly unnecessary.

The Red Water Army, because it had the highest pay and provisions, was often managed directly by the Jiedushi, and was stationed right next to Liangzhou City, had relatively few such incidents. This was a trump army directly under the Great Tang's central administration, and genuinely had no need to do such things.

But the other armies of the Hexi Corridor were another matter entirely. The White Pavilion Army was simply unlucky enough to be caught red-handed by Fang Chongyong and his companions. Among the other armies, no one dared to pound their chest and claim they were clean.

"How about this: I, the Jiedushi, will muster two thousand Red Water Army troops, raid the White Pavilion Army's garrison tonight, surround them, then find the owner of the fish tally and have him ferret out some accomplices. Tomorrow, they will be beheaded outside the gates of Liangzhou City as a public warning. Would that satisfy you, young master?"

Cui Xiyi asked probingly.

If the Red Water Army had done this deed, then he would probably have to let Wang Zhongsi step in to settle it. But a minor White Pavilion Army—Cui Xiyi still had confidence in handling that.

This Young Master Fang had sat on the hillside blowing in cold wind all night, with anger in his heart and nowhere to vent it. He should be allowed to let off some steam, and incidentally, to rectify the conduct of the various Hexi armies.

Cui Xiyi felt that he had already shown great sincerity.

After all, he was a Jiedushi too!

"Eh? That would not be proper! Jiedushi Cui, there is a saying: when catching a thief, seize the stolen goods; when catching adulterers, catch them in the act. If Jiedushi Cui goes to the White Pavilion Army with nothing but a fish tally to find someone, not only would it alert the snakes in the grass, but those grunts have probably already thought up their excuses—saying they didn't know when they lost it, that some scoundrel picked it up, and so on. In short, it would be very easy for them to disclaim all connection, and they would certainly have hidden the stolen goods well, making them very hard for outsiders to find.

On the contrary, if the Red Water Army makes a great show of surrounding their garrison, then even with right on our side, we would end up in the wrong. If the stolen goods cannot be found when the time comes, what if Jiedushi Cui gets bitten back by the White Pavilion Army Commissioner?

Sowing discord among the various armies is a serious crime!"

Fang Chongyong waved his hand and spoke fluently and at length.

Cui Xiyi was taken aback. He carefully mulled over the other's words and could not help but set aside his disdain for those sons of Chang'an's noble houses.

This child did not seem like an ignorant and incompetent son of Chang'an nobility! The words just now were reasonable and logically airtight. Was this truly something a nine-year-old child could say?

"Then what does the young master think should be done?"

Cui Xiyi asked in a low voice, unable to help feeling a bit of anticipation for what answer the other party might produce.

Only then did it dawn on him: this "child" before him held an official rank! The other party was already a colleague within the officialdom of Liangzhou City, and could no longer be treated as a child!

The prodigies Liu Yan and Li Mi both held official ranks before the age of ten. Such things, though rare, were truly not without precedent.

"Jiedushi Cui, this matter arose because of me, so I will not trouble the Jiedushi. I will handle it myself.

After all, I am now the Prefectural Adjutant of Liangzhou Prefecture. Rectifying lawlessness is itself one of the duties and authorities of a Prefectural Adjutant, is it not?"

Fang Chongyong said with a smile.

The words sounded reasonable enough, but on closer reflection, there was something a bit odd about them.

Having the authority associated with a position was one matter; how one actually exercised that power was quite another.

For example, the various Jiedushi of the border commands—apart from the Jiannan Jiedushi—had all now concentrated authority over personnel, finances, and materiel in their own hands. In theory, the border commands had already become a one-man show under each Jiedushi.

But in practice, this only meant that a Jiedushi could interfere in the operation of those respective powers; it did not mean that everything fell under his jurisdiction, much less that he could blot out the sky with a single hand and have the final say over everything within the Jiedushi's headquarters.

In fact, precisely this was why there were strong Jiedushi and weak ones.

The weaker Jiedushi were mostly of civil-official origins and could not interfere with the preexisting separate authorities of the "Camp-Fields Commissioner" and the "Revenue Commissioner."

It was just like Fang Chongyong's official post of "Prefecture Staff Officer"—though he could manage any matter within Liangzhou City, exercising that power required the corresponding channels and personnel, which happened to be exactly what he lacked.

When fifty men of the Baiting Army mobilized to rob and kill, could those with knowledge really have been limited to just those fifty?

Could the Commander of the Baiting Army truly not have known of this?

This was an easy little question to puzzle out—one turn in the mind and the answer came.

"We must not act rashly in this matter; we need to deliberate at length…"

Cui Xiyi said with an awkward expression. The thing he feared most had arrived after all. He hoped it was not a case of some brat being too clever for his own good, leaving him to clean up the mess in the end.

"Rest assured, Jiedushi. If I botch this, I shall voluntarily request to return to Chang'an and accept punishment. I can write a written guarantee right now as proof."

Fang Chongyong seemed to see Cui Xiyi's hesitation and took everything upon himself as he spoke.