Chapter 97: The Essence Is Still Child Labor

Strange incidents happen every year; this year there are especially many.

When Fang Chongyong heard Xiao Jiong say that he had been granted the honorary title of Guoyi Colonel, he already thought the world absurd.

Then, upon learning that he had also been appointed Gan Prefecture Inspector, he felt completely unsettled.

Having studied the Tang bureaucracy in depth, he simply could not understand why civil and military posts were simultaneously placed on a ten‑year‑old child!

Is this something a person of his age should have?

Fang Chongyong sensed deep malice from Ji Ge in this.

Even not just ten years old—among eighty‑year‑olds, the vast majority of officials have never held both titles simultaneously. Only a tiny fraction who are both civilly and militarily capable and valiant in battle hold both posts.

The Tang Empire does not separate civil and military, yet the granting of civil and military posts follows certain objective rules and loosely enforced edicts. These edicts were issued during Emperor Gaozong's and the Wu Zhou period; in the Kaiyuan era they were not abolished but were even reinforced as the imperial examination system spread.

In fact, officials now holding both civil and military posts are mostly figures like border‑region military governors.

For example, Fang Chongyong's father, Fang Youde, is a Grand Censor (though he does not handle specific matters) and the Military Governor of Youzhou, and he too has been granted the honorary title of Guoyi Colonel.

Thus Fang Chongyong's credentials are wholly insufficient, not to mention his age is a hard flaw.

On the civil side, Fang Chongyong has only written family letters to the Qiu Ba families in the Hexi Corridor, with hardly any notable achievements.

On the military side, he merely took part in the defense of Baiting Fort, idling the whole time. The nearest Turks were several miles away in a lake.

Thus the court granted him Guoyi Colonel and appointed him Gan Prefecture Inspector… Indeed, in today's world, a powerful father can do whatever he pleases?

Fang Chongyong began to doubt his life.

"The Sage's favor is so great, the court's esteem so high; how can a youngster like me bear this!"

Fang Chongyong hurriedly bowed thanks to Xiao Jiong, covering his face with his sleeve to show he dared not accept the court's appointment!

The Tang's human rights have collapsed; forcing under‑age children into office is truly shocking!

When offices come so easily, they'll inevitably stand out like a lone tree, and what will the grassroots officials think of that?

Fang Chongyong worried anxiously, not knowing what he had done wrong, nor how "colleagues" would view it.

Envy that some Fang has a good father?

Or jealous that he attained high rank without effort?

In short, this matter is a disaster!

"Brother, let me tell you this,"

Since the founding of the Tang, we have indeed never lacked those who consider themselves lofty and refuse the Sage's appointment.

Afterwards they are usually not punished immediately. But… with your wisdom, you should understand the principle, right?"

Xiao Jiong asked calmly.

Hearing that, Fang Chongyong instantly understood.

Surviving in the bureaucracy and saying 'yes' is indeed hard, because it requires the ability to handle problems and the courage to face difficulties.

But likewise, standing tall and saying 'no' is also a difficult matter.

Under normal circumstances, a legitimate edict must be drafted by the Secretariat, the emperor's seal applied, and the Chancellery's three‑step review completed—none can be omitted. This includes official appointments.

Missing any step means it is not an edict. If an incomplete edict is issued, the Ministry of Personnel has the right to refuse execution.

In other words, if this appointment passed through so many procedures, Fang Chongyong's refusal would not just slap Li Longji alone.

What if the Secretariat and the Chancellery both disagreed, but the emperor forced the appointment?

Then if Fang Chongyong refused, he would greatly offend Ji Ge!

The emperor disregards ministers' opposition and forces you into office; do we need to say more about the consequences of refusing?

Fang Chongyong would not dare overestimate Li Longji's patience. If the other side truly followed protocol, they wouldn't be spreading foul stench for miles against the wind!

"I've heard this matter has caused great controversy in court and among the people, but the Sage's opinion is firm."

Xiao Jiong lowered his head and whispered into Fang Chongyong's ear.

Because of the cooperation over Shunqi Suoyang tea, he shares a bond of goodwill with Fang Chongyong; saying all this and giving so many hints is already the utmost benevolence.

"Understood."

Fang Chongyong let out a long sigh, saying he had decided to lie low and not worry about what would happen next.

Ji Ge's obsession is not something he can refuse.

The two walked toward the Hexi Military Governorate, chatting casually. Fang Chongyong, feeling something, suddenly asked, "Why did the Sage suddenly grant a post to me?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but I've heard that your father is stationing troops at Qikou, planning to engage the Turks. The Sage perhaps could not grant your father a promotion, so the reward fell on you."

Xiao Jiong sighed helplessly.

Why doesn't he have such an awesome father!

Damn!

"Qikou…"

It was the first time Fang Chongyong heard that name.

"It's north of the Hetao, the spot where our Tang chooses to trade with the Turks and Tiele tribes."

Xiao Jiong, being well‑versed in military affairs, naturally knows the strategic importance of Tang border towns.

"Isn't Hetao the defense zone of the Shuofang Military Governor?"

Fang Chongyong wore a puzzled expression, truly unable to grasp what his incompetent father was up to.

"Court military affairs, I have no idea about that."

Xiao Jiong laughed off casually.

Fang Chongyong understood; Ji Ge was pulling a 'project incentive.' After all, court offices and titles aren't like real gold; once given they can be taken back later.

In any case, a ten‑year‑old can't devise many tricks. Using such cost‑free favors to win hearts and display grace is plainly calculated.

Fang Chongyong couldn't help but lament: his useless father is the Military Governor of Youzhou, he could just have fun with the neighboring Khitans, so why go to Shuofang? The affairs of the Shuofang defense zone have nothing whatsoever to do with the Youzhou Military Governor.

What on earth is this person thinking?

Just thinking of these damned affairs, all caused by that scumbag father, Fang Chongyong was furious beyond measure!

The two arrived at the Hexi Jiedu Prefecture, where Xiao Jiong handed the imperial commission to Fang Chongyong and stated that he could independently assemble a staff team of more than ten people. Their salaries came from the official fields managed by the Ganzhou government, and their pay was considerably lower than that of regular officials.

Looking over the commission again and again, Fang Chongyong couldn't help but exclaim: It's been less than two years, and my rank has already caught up with old Zheng!

It's truly absurd!

The office of Inspector has a long history.

During the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Inspector became the first‑level administrative head of a province, ranking above the prefect of a commandery.

In that era, Inspectors fell into roughly two categories: one type was simultaneously the local military commander‑in‑chief, holding the title of Grand Commander with the rank of General, wielding supreme civil‑military authority.

These officials had both a prefectural and a provincial staff, wielding great real power. In other words, the so‑called 'Grand Commander' combined a military post with a civil one—a double set of personnel and titles.

The other type was a purely civil administrator, without the General title, with only a single staff, then called a 'Single‑Inspector'.

During the Tang Kaiyuan era, the situation became even more complicated.

Provinces were not only graded, with vast differences between levels, but the Jiedu Commander usually also served as the Inspector of the stationed province; the Inspectors of the subordinate provinces were his subordinates, able to handle only certain administrative matters, and their status and authority were even lower than those of the former Single‑Inspectors.

For example, Hexi Jiedu Commander Xiao Jiong now also serves as the Inspector of Liangzhou. The former Ganzhou Inspector Su Zhilian holds the position of Sima of Liangzhou; not only was he not demoted, he was even promoted exceptionally!

Because Liangzhou is a 'prefecture', a super‑size giant province, while Ganzhou is merely a central province, with only a few thousand households and a total population of just tens of thousands.

The Sima of Liangzhou is part of both the Jiedu Prefecture and the provincial system, whereas the Ganzhou Inspector is the poor man's version of a Single‑Inspector.

The Jiankang Army stationed within Ganzhou can have its commander also serve as Ganzhou Inspector, but the latter cannot simultaneously be the commander of the Jiankang Army. This alone reveals much.

Ji said he was letting Fang Chongyong 'experience the people's conditions', which isn't entirely nonsense.

Anyway, now Fang Chongyong is the first Tang official to break convention—a juvenile Inspector with no precedent before or after!

But in Fang Chongyong's view, this so‑called high‑ranking official, who is actually child labor, is nothing short of tragic!

"The Sage even wrote you a personal handwritten letter."

A short eunuch with a thin, high‑pitched voice pulled a bamboo tube from his cuff and handed it to Fang Chongyong, saying,

"Thank you for the Sage's grace!"

Fang Chongyong accepted the bamboo tube with tears of gratitude on his face, but in his heart he berated Ji harshly.

After the court‑sent 'military labor' eunuch left, Fang Chongyong finally exhaled in a dazed, relieved manner, as if a lifetime had passed.

He seemed to have done nothing, yet he suddenly became Ganzhou's Inspector. Though he had no trusted aides to wield power freely, just the title alone was already intimidating!

Fang Chongyong had just stepped out of the Hexi Jiedu Prefecture when, upon exiting, he ran into Guo Ziyi, who seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

"The court intends to rebuild the Zhangye Shouzhuo, fully staffed with 6,500 men. Thanks to your grace, I will go to Ganzhou to serve as Shouzhuo Commissioner. I heard you are the Ganzhou Inspector, so we can go together,"

Guo Ziyi said with a smile, clearly having lingered here to wait for him, yet forced a pretense of a chance encounter.

"Zhangye Shouzhuo only has five hundred men, I heard it doesn't even have a single horse,"

Fang Chongyong said with a puzzled expression.

He had already figured out the troop distribution in the Hexi Corridor; the Zhangye Shouzhuo is responsible for defending Ganzhou City, with only five hundred soldiers.

"The Sage issued an Autumn Defense Order, mobilizing six thousand Tuanjie troops for training in Ganzhou during autumn and winter. The Wang Junshi even specially provided me with a thousand horses,"

Guo Ziyi leaned in and whispered,

Seeing Fang Chongyong's disbelief, he emphasized: "Because Ganzhou is surrounded on all four sides in the Hexi region by no bandit territories, the court plans to train troops and horses here for contingencies.

Deploying forces against the Tubo is not something that began only in the past one or two years."

Guo Ziyi continued to stress.

Although he didn't mention it and his tone revealed no obvious issue, Fang Chongyong could still sense his disappointment from certain minor details.

It's one thing to receive no reward for merit, but to be openly promoted yet secretly demoted—Guo Ziyi's composure is astonishing.

"I heard General Guo achieved remarkable feats in the recent battle against the Turks; why was he transferred elsewhere to idle away?"

Fang Chongyong didn't hold back with Guo Ziyi, directly pointing out the biggest flaw in his previous statement!

Guo Ziyi has a personal connection with Wang Zhongsi; they share the same ancestral home and are fellow townsfolk. Based on his earlier victory cutting off the Turks' retreat, Guo Ziyi should have been promoted and granted authority over more troops.

One can imagine that, had he remained in the Chishui Army, he would have easily earned merit in battles against the Tubo and perhaps, after the war, leapt directly to a position of real authority as a military commander.

However, Guo Ziyi was openly promoted yet secretly demoted!

Going to Ganzhou to train some irregular Tuanjie troops, only five hundred of them were former border soldiers. The combat effectiveness of this force is easy to imagine!

Moreover, Ganzhou has no battles to fight; essentially, it supplies high‑quality troops to the Hexi armies. When the Tang forces clash with the Tubo, casualties among soldiers are inevitable.

Thus, drawing some soldiers from the rear base of Ganzhou to quickly replenish forces is only natural.

This time Guo Ziyi is a classic case of being set up and left speechless.

"Hehe, this time Guo (myself) snatched the achievements of some local Chishui Army men; those men couldn't stand me, so the Wang Junshi had no choice but to transfer me out of the Chishui Army to another post,"

"At least this time I'll be managing 6,500 men, so it's not really a demotion."

There was a hint of helplessness in Guo Ziyi's tone.

He was seconded here by Wang Zhongsi from the Hedong Jiedu Command, and after the war he would return to his original unit. Of course, if he rose in rank and wealth in Hexi, he would naturally settle here.

During the Kaiyuan period, the posting of Tang border generals was not fixed; a border general belonged to the Tang army, not to a private commander under any Jiedu Commander.

Cross‑regional deployment of border generals was commonplace and not at all surprising; being resisted after being reassigned elsewhere was also frequent.

In short, the senior officers of the Chishui Army simply didn't want Guo Ziyi interfering. Sending him to Ganzhou to train Tuanjie troops is a routine measure, nothing extraordinary. After all, Guo Ziyi comes from a military family with influence; his ascent would naturally be feared.

This is fundamentally different from Cui Qianyou.

In Fang Chongyong's past life, the historical pattern of Tang border generals being reassigned to distant posts and then marginalized during the Tianbao era had already become an unwritten rule among the major Jiedu Commanders. Guo Ziyi and Li Guangbi even openly clashed, mutually obstructing each other.

At present it's only a budding sign, not a serious matter.

Of course, someone like Guo Ziyi, who can push out Chishui Army officers, will inevitably face some resistance. But someone like Fang Chongyong, who enthusiastically writes family letters for border troops and generals, is warmly welcomed and fully cooperated with.

In a sense, Fang's office is far more popular than Guo Ziyi in Hexi!

"Then I'll trouble General Guo to escort me to Ganzhou. I have never been to Ganzhou; being unfamiliar with the place makes me rather uneasy,"

Fang Chongyong bowed his hands to Guo Ziyi and said,

"Fine, fine, young lord hasn't even reached twenty, yet already holds a high position; in the future, I, Guo Ziyi, will still need your patronage."

Guo Ziyi laughed heartily, his words very warm, clearly not minding drawing closer to Fang Chongyong.

A ten‑year‑old inspector— even if this person were a simpleton, it would still make everyone look up to him!

In the Tang court's rules, many times one must consider not only an individual's ability but also the strength of his backing.

The absurdly ridiculous official rank that Fang Chongyong holds carries a solemn implication that one dare not take lightly.

"The main camp is outside Qingjiao Gate; I will go organize the troops. Young lord should head to the main camp immediately and accompany the army."

After Guo Ziyi escorted Fang Chongyong to the Ana Ye family's medical hall, he took his leave.

……

The river bend of the Tang era, for various reasons, vanished from the historical records of Fang Chongyong's previous life.

In fact, this place is not the river bend on the Yellow River banks of Lüliang, Shanxi, but near the Baiyun Ebo iron mine in Inner Mongolia. It is a mountain‑valley mouth formed by two great mountains, with a nearby river supplying water—a fine spot for garrisoning troops and trade.

Fang Youde led five thousand elite troops of the Youzhou border army to garrison here, and has been stationed for over a month.

Fang Youde already knows where the Turkic Yachang is, not to mention the Pugu tribe—a "pro‑Tang" Tiele group—acting as guides.

But Fang Youde also knows that the Tang army's numbers are few, insufficient to sweep the steppe.

He harbors a plan: to eliminate the northern border troubles of the Tang, he should, according to his own design, alter the power balance among the steppe tribes!

Further west, the Uighur can be strengthened a bit, because the Uighur are strategically vital for checking the Tubo forces in the Western Regions. As long as Tubo remains strong, the Uighur will not turn against the Tang.

However, the stretch of steppe from north of Youzhou up to north of Hetao should be fragmented among these steppe powers.

Superior strategy lies in planning; fighting and killing are not all of war. The Tang army is now waiting for an opportunity!

In his letter to Li Longji, Fang Youde has already presented his plan, though he does not know whether Ji Ge will agree.

At that moment, Zhang Xun brought in a eunuch, suppressing his excitement, and reported, "Jiedushi, the envoy has arrived with good news!"

"Congratulations, Jiedushi; the Sage has promoted you."

The eunuch, with lowered brows and a compliant demeanor, spoke to the leather‑armored, towering Fang Youde, handing him the yellow silk scroll.

After skimming the scroll's contents, Fang Youde, expressionless, nodded and returned it to the eunuch, saying:

"Understood; I, this commander, will not betray the Sage's trust."

He then calmly waved his hand, signaling the eunuch—whose name he did not even wish to ask—to hurry back to Chang'an to report.

Second watch, seeking votes.

(End of chapter)