Chapter 98: The Trouble‑Laden Bicycle Governor

After two days of marching, Guo Ziyi led five hundred soldiers and a thousand horses from Liangzhou into Ganzhou territory, setting up camp at Shandan County.

Fang Chongyong and his party also traveled with the convoy, safe and without worry.

Shandan County is surrounded on three sides by mountains: the Qilian Mountains rise to the south, Yanzhi Mountain dominates the east, Longshou Mountain forms a barrier to the north, with rolling hills and crisscrossing ravines. It is a terrain of "three mountains embracing a central plain."

The southern plain is the Hexi region's largest Shandan pasture, where countless livestock graze. A Xiongnu folk song says, "Losing our Qilian Mountains makes our six beasts cease to thrive," referring to the Xiongnu's loss of the Shandan pasture after being defeated by the Han army.

It is also because the many pastures throughout the Hexi Corridor that the Central Plains dynasties can continually obtain fine horses to train cavalry, maintaining a military edge on the frontier.

On the bitterly cold autumn night in Shandan County, Fang Chongyong's party huddled by a fire inside the military tent. Anaye was checking her medicine chest.

This long journey had nearly emptied the household's ready‑made herbs, which they packed into several large boxes.

Fang Laique still dozed weakly, while Fang Chongyong listened to Fang Dafu describing the customs of the Western Regions.

Fang Dafu had actually served in the Anxi Protectorate back then, and even fought against the Tubo.

"Sir, you can speak with Guo Shouzhuo, go to Shandan County tomorrow, and then have the main army help harvest the pasture grass."

Fang Dafu smiled and said.

Fang Chongyong was startled, then gave a slight nod without a word.

Seeming to sense his hesitation, Fang Dafu added:

"When entering a region, following local customs and dispatching troops to assist harvest is a routine practice in Western Region colonization. Since you are already the governor of Ganzhou, having the soldiers under Guo Shouzhuo's command harvest the pasture grass is also reasonable.

Winter is approaching; people need not worry about food rations, but the livestock require pasture. Harvesting now is timely; even if you do nothing now, going to Zhangye City you would certainly issue a similar decree.

Rather than scrambling later, it's better to handle it now while on the way."

Sure enough, Jiang is still sharp as ever!

"That's excellent."

Fang Chongyong felt sincerely pleased; Fang Dafu's move was indeed a good deed, reaping benefits and asserting his presence.

Theory and practice always diverge greatly; policies are adapted to local customs once arrived. Whether the frontier troops in the Hexi Corridor are regular militia or conscripts, whether they are militia on the frontier or Long March veterans, they cannot ignore the surrounding affairs for survival.

It is codified that local frontier troops take part in farming during spring planting and autumn harvest, and the rule is not lifted unless there is war. The grain produced in the colonies is military supply, which is precisely what they are meant to do.

The governors of the Hexi provinces oversee matters that are not directly military, yet inseparable from warfare. Such seasoned insight can only be known by veterans who have been stationed locally for years.

"However, failing to assume the post in time would be punished by the court…"

Fang Chongyong asked with some difficulty.

"Arriving late and being praised—wouldn't that be a good thing? Then your tenure in Ganzhou would be much smoother,"

Fang Dafu said meaningfully.

Fang Chongyong understood instantly.

The body that evaluates the governor of Ganzhou is the Hexi Military Governorate. Only matters the Hexi Military Governorate cannot resolve are reported to Chang'an. Since the mid‑Kaiyuan era, the central administration in Chang'an has delegated a certain degree of local governance to the military governor level.

When Zheng Shuqing was in Kuizhou, because Kuizhou fell under no military governor's jurisdiction, the governor reported directly to the central authority in Chang'an and was directly overseen by it.

As for the Hexi Military Governorate on the Liangzhou side, everyone knows Fang Chongyong's status; the chain of command is fully connected.

Fang Chongyong was delayed because he passed through Shandan County and helped the locals harvest pasture grass… that shouldn't be a big deal, right?

In any case, they certainly won't punish him.

Although it's a minor matter, what will the officials in Ganzhou think once they hear about it?

At the very least, no one will jump out to show off and slap him, right?

"Better write a letter to Ganzhou first, just in case."

Fang Chongyong paused thoughtfully and said.

"Sir, you truly are gifted and wise."

Fang Dafu praised, his words seeming to carry deeper meaning.

Fang Chongyong often lacks common sense in his actions, yet each time he can "hit the nail on the head," correcting subsequent errors. His ability far exceeds his peers, even surpassing capable officials.

At that moment, Guo Ziyi entered the tent, his face bluish‑purple from the cold, evidently having completed a taxing patrol outside the main camp.

Seeing his condition, Fang Dafu scooped up Fang Laique and left the tent to find another place to warm up. As for Anaye, she hesitated, neither staying nor leaving, and after a while finally knelt beside Fang Chongyong like a young wife, bowing her head in silence.

"Guo Shouzhuo has matters, but speaking is fine."

Fang Chongyong pointed at Anaye and said in a deep voice.

Guo Ziyi nodded calmly and said, "Lord Fang, to the south of Ganzhou lies the Qilian Mountain range, and there is a mountain trail that only shepherds resort to when forced, and even livestock cannot traverse it."

He casually picked up a branch and sketched a rough diagram on the ground.

"Under normal circumstances, this path sees few footprints and is almost impossible for anyone to travel. If a large force were to march, they would have to rely on human labor to haul supplies, and encountering strong winds and snow would likely result in countless deaths!"

"Therefore the court does not regard this road as significant."

Guo Ziyi spoke cautiously, for everything was his conjecture; without any evidence, speaking recklessly and unsettling morale would be his responsibility!

"Guo Shouzhuo says the Tubo might take this unusual route, not riding horses to launch a raid on Ganzhou City?"

Fang Chongyong asked in disbelief.

Unlike Guo Ziyi's speculation, Fang Chongyong not only knew the road, but it was quite famous in his previous life!

A unit that passed once lost a quarter of its men due to severe weather! He couldn't recall the exact incident, only that it was strikingly shocking at the time.

Understanding this principle is not difficult.

Severe cold, strong winds, lack of water, and no supplies. Crossing the Qilian Mountains without livestock is far from a pleasant experience; describing it as a nine‑in‑ten chance of death is apt.

When crossing the range, the gale and snow easily cause hypothermia and disorientation, leading to massive casualties without timely rescue. Using this route for a march is essentially a gamble with life.

"Lord Fang, you are spot on; the Tubo nobles do not regard their soldiers as humans. Even if half of them die, as long as they earn merit, it's no big deal."

Guo Ziyi sighed, having a vivid experience of the Tubo's ferocious warfare.

In a serf state where people commonly die in their thirties from various causes, dying joyfully on the battlefield is not hard to accept.

Even surviving on the plateau, one would die from the strenuous labor in the low‑oxygen environment.

"So, what does Guo Shouzhuo intend?"

Fang Chongyong asked without a change of expression.

Guo Ziyi had come for a private talk; clearly it wasn't just small talk but a request. We are all now muddling through the officialdom, and the posts are incomparable.

There is no one belonging to another, nor anyone who must grovel and lick the boots of another.

"Although the Jiankang Army is organized under Ganzhou, its establishment is mainly to prevent the Tufans from capturing Guazhou and then advancing from the Western Regions into the Hexi Corridor, ready to support the garrison at Yumen Pass.

It is not intended to defend Ganzhou's southern flank. In fact, that route, perhaps even in my lifetime, will never see that army foolishly take it."

Guo Ziyi said with a wry smile.

The trouble lies right here.

The establishment of imperial military towns is for routine contingencies. The opposite of routine situations is, of course, special cases.

When the Tufans send troops over the Qilian Mountains to launch a surprise attack on Ganzhou, that is a job of extremely low probability and extremely high risk.

Without evidence, how could Guo Ziyi report this situation to his superiors?

He can't just write a report full of phrases like "I think," "I feel," or "I am worried," can he?

Moreover, the exit of that route is very close to Ganzhou's prefectural seat, Zhangye City— even closer than the Jiankang Army's garrison. If that day ever comes, five hundred elite troops of the Zhangye garrison plus six thousand Tuanjie soldiers would be dispatched to repel the enemy.

On the surface it seems not too risky, since the Chishui Army is supporting Ganzhou from Liangzhou, which does not appear far.

However, since the Tufans have sent troops for a raid, they must have a full‑scale plan; by then the main Hexi forces are likely already confronting the Tufan main force at Qinghai Lake, preparing for a decisive battle!

When that happens, Ganzhou's interior will be attacked, the Shandan horse ranch seized… this chain of rear‑area disasters would severely disrupt the Tang front's logistical supply.

Who will emerge victorious in this war is hard to say!

Wang Zhongsi ordered Guo Ziyi to train troops near Zhangye in Ganzhou, not without the intention of guarding against a Tufan raid. He simply cannot allocate more resources; everything now depends on Guo Ziyi's own effort. This is also Wang Zhongsi's chance to let Guo Ziyi earn merit, as a reward to this "old fellow."

The Hexi forces are led by the Chishui Army. When the Hexi Military Governor is absent, the orders of the Chishui military envoy can substitute for those of the Hexi Military Governor. Wang Zhongsi's painstaking intentions are now felt deeply by Fang Chongyong.

"That route does carry some risk, but… what can I do to help you?"

Fang Chongyong sighed and asked.

"All that is required is for Minister Fang to strictly enforce the autumn defense order. This will inevitably offend local Ganzhou officials and the populace, and may end up being futile, earning ridicule as being as timid as a mouse… sigh!"

Guo Ziyi wore a helpless expression, unsure what to say.

The Great Tang has not issued an autumn defense order for a long time. Locals in Hexi actually resist it, seeing it as a needless measure that prevents troops scheduled for rotation from doing so; the lack of complaints would be strange.

Moreover, they must fortify walls, clear fields, organize Tuanjie soldiers' drills, increase patrols, and raise treasury expenditures. Indeed, Tuanjie soldiers and stranded border troops who cannot return home both receive pay! All of this is drawn from the Hexi local treasury.

Furthermore, the farming tools for the military farms—straight plows, draft oxen, stone mills, and the like—are supplied by the government. Border troops cannot rotate; those who were farming at home are suddenly conscripted as long‑march youths, leaving the government‑run farms untended, forced to be worked by women and children.

This will have a huge negative impact on the border towns' economies.

All of this has little to do with Guo Ziyi, yet it is directly and significantly linked to the interests of Fang Chongyong, the newly appointed Governor of Ganzhou.

Simply put, as a "solo Governor," he is tasked with supervising the local border towns' labor projects!

Guo Ziyi concisely explained this to Fang Chongyong, leaving the Fang clerk who came from Chang'an in a terrible state!

Fang Chongyong's plan is to lie low and travel around Ganzhou, acting as a carefree, hands‑off manager. After all, he still has the Ganzhou Sima and Ganzhou Chief Clerk under him, so he can simply delegate the tasks to those two.

Since Ganzhou is peaceful, he can relax. He's heard the scenery near Zhangye is beautiful; he even toured here in a past life and found it wonderful.

Ganzhou is nicknamed the "Jiangnan of the Frontier," a place where waterways converge, with fresh air, no sand, abundant water, rich produce, and a sparse population!

Fang Chongyong thought it through: the Jiankang Army envoy Ouyang Kui also serves as Governor of Ganzhou; normally people stay in the Jiankang Army camp, whose garrison lies at the border of Suzhou and Ganzhou, over two hundred li from Zhangye City.

Even if I were just a mascot, I couldn't be worse than the almost‑inactive Ouyang Kui, could I?

How could I be so bad as to give Ganzhou a negative buff?

Brother Ji's appointment is absurd, yet not utterly outrageous. Because in a prefecture overseen by a Military Governor, a Camp‑field Administrator, and a Treasury Administrator, the governor's authority is far less than that of an ordinary prefecture.

That twenty‑four‑year‑old clerk‑governor has been Ganzhou Governor for four years and nothing much has happened.

Fang Chongyong had thought so before, but after hearing Guo Ziyi, his mood plummeted to the bottom.

If the Tufans come, he will live in constant fear, experience military disaster, and could inadvertently become a Tufan prisoner.

If the Tufans don't come, his rigid enforcement of the autumn defense order will be scolded by locals into never leaving home, cementing his "young and ignorant" persona.

In short, whether the Tufans arrive or not, this assignment is a miserable task!

"What does Minister Fang think?"

Guo Ziyi asked cautiously. He understood that the hard‑headed Fang Chongyong could simply refuse this matter.

No one can demand a half‑grown child to bear such responsibility, even if that child is extraordinarily clever.

"I understand. I will do my utmost to handle this."

Fang Chongyong nodded.

"Then, thank you, Minister Fang."

Guo Ziyi crossed his hands in salute and bowed, looking very reverent.

"Tomorrow, could the Guo army envoy arrange for the young soldiers to help Shandan County harvest pasture grass for military supplies?"

Fang Chongyong did not forget Fang Dafu's instruction and made his own request to Guo Ziyi.

"This is a duty owed; even if Minister Fang does not mention it, the Zhangye garrison must cooperate. With you so diligent in governance, I, Guo, am somewhat …"

Guo Ziyi bowed in thanks and left; Fang Chongyong then saw A Na Ye staring intently at him, her gaze oddly strange.

"What are you thinking now?"

Fang Chongyong sighed, lay down on the grass mat, and habitually rested his head on A Na Ye's thighs.

"What Military Governor, what military envoy, they all chat merrily with you. The young lord was only ten when he became governor; I don't even know how to describe it."

A Na Ye said with a grimace, worried about her own future.

This branch is a bit high; I don't know if I can reach it! She feels the gap between herself and Fang Chongyong growing larger, so large it's frightening!

"Come, give grandpa a smile."

Fang Chongyong, in a mischievous manner, extended his index finger and pressed it against A Na Ye's upright nose bridge.

"Ganzhou… is it dangerous?"

Ana Ye gently placed Fang Chongyong's hand and asked uncertainly.

"Who says it's not… Anyway, it's an immensely massive deep pit, huh."

Fang Chongyong, exhausted, closed his eyes, muttering to himself, and fell asleep quickly.

(End of chapter)