Chapter 75: You take care of yours, I

"So this is the Red Spring!"

Fang Chongyong circled a square little pond for a while, and the pond gurgled with crimson water.

Its color was like blood, yet clear enough to see the bottom.

During the Wude era, when Liangzhou peacefully returned to the Central Plains, the Red Water Army was founded at the same time. Settling here to build a camp, they named themselves after this Red Spring, striking fear across Hexi for a hundred years.

This is Red Crow Town, a military town founded because of the Red Water Army, with many of its families. They farm the surrounding fields, build houses, develop irrigation, and promote "Green Oasis Agriculture."

Such towns are one of Hexi's characteristics, even if they might not be called "towns" by name.

The Red Spring's water is truly crimson like blood, only on a small scale. Fang Chongyong crouched and slipped his hand into the water to taste it, but Fang Dafu quickly pulled him back.

"Young master, it's not for drinking."

Fang Dafu smiled and shook his head.

"I'm just looking, not really going to drink."

Fang Chongyong stammered an explanation, saying he had heard that the Red Spring's hue came from iron ore, though he wasn't sure if that was true.

Everything in Red Crow Town obeys the army; most of the laborers here are veterans, forming a closed-loop system.

The whole town is simply fenced with wooden railings. Though the Red Water Army numbers over 33,000, Red Crow Town is not large, and not all Red Water troops are stationed here.

At that moment, Fang Chongyong saw Wang Zhongsi approach with a sour expression, followed by a dejected Guo Ziyi.

"Father-in-law seems to have something on his mind?"

Fang Chongyong asked in confusion. He glanced at Guo Ziyi's expression and vaguely guessed what had happened.

"Exactly, come with me into the Red Water Army Office; this isn't a place for talking."

"Alright."

Fang Chongyong gave a slight nod; clearly his talent was recognized not only by Wang Zhongsi but also, it seemed, by Guo Ziyi.

The group entered the study of the Red Water Army Office, where Guo Ziyi recounted verbatim the events that occurred on the north shore of White Pavilion Sea to Fang Chongyong.

In short, the Baiting Army turned on its own, eliminating the smuggling partners. Such moves are fairly common in the Hexi Corridor and the Western Regions.

Not only do official troops prey on bandits, merchants prey on merchants; the line between hunter and prey here isn't crystal clear or instantaneous.

A caravan might be the target of horse bandits, but they might, at the right moment, "guest star" as bandits themselves and rob smaller caravans.

Fang Chongyong began to understand why Silk from West Asia costs more than gold, yet its quality is mediocre.

Besides the great distance, the chaotic meddling of various powers is also a major factor.

"The Baiting Army's stunt is truly clever."

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but exclaim.

Then Guo Ziyi crossed his arms and saluted, saying:

"Young master, I also thought the Baiting Army's trick of swapping Li for Tao was flawless. When the time comes, we only need to push those Turkic people out."

It was the Turkic people who killed the Tibetan monks, and the Turkic people who smuggled the loot on the north side of White Pavilion Sea; the Baiting Army exterminated them, recovered the loot, and not only were they blameless, they earned merit.

Even if Cui Jiedushi learned of this, he would have to pinch his nose and concede, smoothly shifting the blame onto the Turkic people.

Guo Ziyi said calmly.

Wang Zhongsi's expression changed several times, then he nodded, feeling uneasy about Guo Ziyi's analysis.

Because this aligns perfectly with the style of those Qiu Ba groups, matching the unwritten rules of the Hexi Corridor!

All the countless mistakes are blamed on the Tubo people, on the Turkic people; the only ones capable of wrongdoing are these folks, how could the Tang frontier army that protects everyone's lives and property possibly be involved!

Even if it is… that still must not be made public; it's enough that the insiders know what's happening.

The Baiting Army handing over the loot and money settles the matter; there's no need to push a scapegoat to take the blame, and the affair is considered closed.

Cui Xiyi saved face, and the Hexi Military Governor's Office obtained the loot and money, gaining an inside track.

The peoples of Hexi, upon learning that the ferocious Turkic raiders were plundering merchants and monks everywhere, firmly united behind the Tang authorities.

Everyone rejoiced!

Aside from the dozens of dead monks, not a single victim could be found in this affair!

That's why Wang Zhongsi felt he could not deal with the Baiting Army.

How wonderful it would be if everyone helped the Baiting Army fulfill this beautiful lie; why be the honest one and burst the "Emperor's New Clothes"?

"This matter truly has no solution."

Fang Chongyong sighed lightly.

Human resources can be limited; others have already set the stage, and openly there's no harm to your interests. At this point, others can step in to finish the setup. Rushing to dismantle the table would only draw contempt from all sides.

For example, if Wang Zhongsi or Cui Xiyi forcibly tore down the Baiting Army's table, insisting the Tang army was responsible, such actions help no one; even if the blame is nailed down, it only further tarnishes the Tang army's reputation in the Hexi Corridor.

Yet the feeling of being manipulated and controlled is extremely unpleasant, leaving Wang Zhongsi unsettled.

"What do you think is the best way to handle it?"

Wang Zhongsi said gravely.

He will eventually succeed the Hexi Military Governor, a tradition since the Red Water Army's founding. The Hexi Military Governor either assumes the Red Water Army command upon appointment, or after mastering the Red Water Army, is promoted to Hexi Military Governor—there is no third option.

Therefore Wang Zhongsi hopes he can settle the Baiting Army. Though he can't now, once he becomes Hexi Military Governor he'll look for a chance to settle it.

"You handle yours, I'll handle mine."

Fang Chongyong said thoughtfully.

"Hm?"

Wang Zhongsi and Guo Ziyi were startled; both were pure martial men, lacking such intricate thinking, and could not grasp what Fang Chongyong intended.

"I'll go find Cui Jiedushi now, rest assured, father-in-law."

Fang Chongyong nodded without further comment.

"Do you need me to do anything?"

"Send a formal notice to the Baiting Army, stating that when the Red Water Army clashed with the Tubo people last time, many warhorses were damaged. Now a group of cavalry without mounts needs to go to the stud farm south of White Pavilion Sea to select new warhorses."

Therefore, please have the Baiting Army withdraw its garrison troops to avoid any misunderstanding.

Fang Chongyong offered a suggestion that left Wang Zhongsi feeling inexplicably puzzled.

Such a matter may appear reasonable, but in fact it does not follow the court's regulations.

It is proper for a warrior to select his own warhorse, because the first step of cavalry combat is the coordination between rider and horse.

However, the selection is not done that way; the official procedure is for the Agricultural Staff Officer dispatched from Liangzhou City to bring a group of "professionals" (all without official rank) to the pasture to pick horses, then bring them to the Chishui Army, where Chishui soldiers make the final selection.

There has never been a case where Chishui soldiers were sent directly to the Baiting Sea area to select horses.

That location is not within the Chishui Army's defensive zone!

When a unit trespasses into another army's defensive zone without orders, it is tantamount to rebellion!

Afterwards, they could be interrogated or even disarmed.

However, the situation of the Chishui Army is somewhat different, because it reports directly to the Tang court, and there are many precedents of the prime minister remotely appointing a Chishui Army commander. After all, the Chishui Army fields 33,000 elite soldiers and 13,000 warhorses.

This composition makes it the unrivaled leader among Tang forces, and it cannot be messed with by a regional Jiedushi.

Thus the Chishui Army's operation of going to the Baiting Sea pasture to select horses is extremely odd and subtle. The need is reasonable, but the procedure is irregular, and its status is very powerful.

More importantly, they are only sending an official letter now, not actually dispatching people.

Whether the Baiting Army agrees or not, it is a hassle for them either way.

"Nothing left?"

Wang Zhongsi asked with a bewildered expression.

"Yes, nothing left."

"Then why do it?"

Wang Zhongsi didn't grasp the cause and effect, and just felt the operation was somewhat inscrutable.

"The Baiting Army handled the Turkic raid on the Indian monks so flawlessly that there are no flaws left. Our goal is not to broadcast this incident and tarnish the Tang army's reputation in Hexi.

Therefore we must take another route, making the Baiting Army uncomfortable from elsewhere."

Fang Chongyong chuckled.

The horse rider that day was blown by cold wind all night and was frightened throughout the night.

He had never looked so disheveled in front of Brother Ji!

If it weren't for giving the culprits in the Baiting Army, those Qiu Ba, a taste of their own medicine, how could I continue to serve as "Fang's clerk" in the Hexi Corridor?

"That works too; we can say the soldiers are eager for horses and want to select them personally at the pasture, which is plausible.

Although it violates protocol, it is still a natural human desire."

Wang Zhongsi nodded slightly.

Fang Chongyong's move, aside from other merits, at least makes the Chishui soldiers feel comfortable, which helps solidify Wang Zhongsi's position as Chishui commander; he has no reason to refuse.

"Then you should go quickly; the sooner this is done, the better, since the Tubo forces could arrive at any time. Resolve these trivial matters swiftly, and we can focus unimpeded on confronting Tubo."

After leaving the Chishui Army office, Guo Ziyi, with an apologetic expression, bowed to Fang Chongyong and said, "I have failed your important trust, and I do not know how to atone; please tell me what I should do, sir."

"Hey, Judge Guo, you're being too courteous; this matter is simply that I didn't expect the Baiting Army to act in reverse, which is not your fault.

I should say we're fortunate that you didn't lead troops to clash with the Baiting Army then; otherwise the current situation would be irreparable.

Within the Baiting Army there are high-level figures, hard to deal with."

Fang Chongyong said in a deep voice, his gaze drifting toward the yellow sand drifting with the wind beyond the oasis of Chiwu Town.

"Young sir, you're too polite, too polite."

Guo Ziyi said apologetically.

His impression of Fang Chongyong has flipped several times, and now he thinks this kid truly cannot be underestimated.

Soon, the party rode a carriage from Chiwu Town to Liangzhou City, twenty li away, unaware that Hexi Jiedushi Cui Xiyi was raging in the Jiedushi office hall, and all his subordinates were silent as frogs.

……

The reason Hexi Jiedushi Cui Xiyi was angry was none other than an official letter sent by the Baiting Army commander Xin Yunjing.

The letter stated that a few days earlier they had sent patrols to a pasture north of Baiting Sea and discovered several Turkic merchants trading stolen goods with an unknown band of horse bandits; they then launched an attack, annihilated them, and seized a large amount of expensive gold‑threaded Buddhist robes, likely those belonging to the Indian monks from a few days earlier.

They also confiscated some gold and silver coins from the illegal Turkic merchants.

Now the Baiting Army does not know how to deal with this loot, so they wrote to ask the Hexi Jiedushi whether these items should be transferred to the Liangzhou City treasury for confiscation.

From the tone, it is humbly unlike a fist‑holding Qiu Ba; yet its conduct is no different from the style of Hexi's Qiu Ba.

Cui Xiyi's anger stems from the Baiting Army treating him like a fool in their story!

But this "beautiful lie" he cannot expose!

More frustratingly, a Jiedushi's term is short, at most four years, and once transferred it is far away, leaving no real power in Hexi.

Meanwhile, the Baiting Army commander, although also serving a four‑year term, rotates mostly within the five prefectures of Hexi.

Thus the Baiting Army commander's "play" on Cui Xiyi, though it frustrates him, cannot be taken by Hexi locals as evidence that the Baiting Army disregards protocol; it only shows that Cui Xiyi lacks the ability to control the situation.

Having a troublemaker stir things up offers a hidden benefit to the Hexi commanders; who wouldn't get involved in such a mess!

In short, Cui Xiyi's current state is impotent rage!

"Jiedushi, Staff Officer Fang requests an audience."

A clerk walked over and said to the sulking Cui Xiyi seated at the desk.

"Staff Officer Fang?"

Cui Xiyi racked his brain, trying to recall which Fang held the staff officer rank.

"It's that half‑grown kid."

The clerk whispered.

"Oh, oh, oh, what does he want?"

Cui Xiyi asked with a puzzled expression.

"He said that upon meeting the Jiedushi, it would be clear; it's a good thing."

"Bring him in."

Cui Xiyi sighed. At this critical juncture, this "Fang Yane" still won't rest—what exactly does he want?

Last time they said they'd settled the Baiting Army matter, but now the Baiting Army Commander is giving me eye drops—really damn annoying.

After Fang Chongyong brought Guo Ziyi in, he saw Cui Xiyi's unpleasant expression and hurriedly explained the whole story of how the Baiting Army had "black‑eaten‑black"—killing the Turkic merchants and their retinue guards.

Only then did Cui Xiyi sigh and say, "This matter, I, the Jiedushi, already know about it. Look at this."

Fang Chongyong took the document from Cui Xiyi's hand, looked at it, and sucked in a breath of cold air!

It's exactly the same routine as when Fang Chongyong and Guo Ziyi explained things to Wang Zhongsi at the Chishui Army Headquarters!

These Hexi soldiers are really lawless. They have to spit out the meat they've stuffed in their mouths, and in their bad mood they even dare to sarcasm the Jiedushi.

They openly wrote a document titled "Humiliation".

"Commander Cui, the Baiting Army people have actually pulled this off flawlessly. But there's still another way to deal with them."

Fang Chongyong said with a mysterious look.

"Just tell me what the plan is—why can't I, the Jiedushi, see any solution?"

Or are we supposed to tell the Hexi locals and Western Region merchant foreigners that our Tang border troops are doing the same thing as barbarian bandits?

Cui Xiyi retorted angrily.

Considering Fang Chongyong is just a kid with a powerful background, he doesn't want to quarrel with this guy. The best thing for him is to get as far away as possible.

"Commander Cui, let's do this, then that, then that..."

Fang Chongyong leaned in and whispered to Cui Xiyi's ear for a long while, then finally looked at him and asked, "What do you think, Jiedushi?"

"Good! Excellent!"

Cui Xiyi instantly got excited and slammed the table!

This kid's idea is truly brilliant, and more importantly, it fully complies with Tang law, as well as the explicit and implicit rules of officialdom.

It's like two people racing: one runs at godlike speed, nearly invincible.

If the other wants to win, they obviously need to blaze a new trail, choose a different "track".

Knowing the opponent runs fast, yet still going up to race them—that's not bravery, it's stupidity and recklessness.

Saying it, he did it: he immediately wrote a document with vigorous brushwork and handed it to the clerk in the study, saying, "Send it to Baiting Fort, where the Baiting Army Headquarters is located, as fast as possible."

After the clerk left, Cui Xiyi laughed heartily, looked at Fang Chongyong and said, "You've been in Hexi for a few days, and I still haven't given you a welcome feast. Tonight I'm holding a banquet at the city's largest Flower Gate Pavilion—be sure to come!"

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

(End of chapter)