Chapter Ninety-Two: Winning Trust

Winning control of the city was, of course, an unexpected windfall, one that even Liu Ji, the man who had set everything in motion, had not foreseen.

At the outset, he had only meant to stir up disorder within the city and thereby draw out Xiduanzan’s troops. He had never imagined that Kang Laosi would present him with such a priceless gift.

This was not the twenty-first century. On this land, settlements like the city were the most concentrated population centers in all of Greater Bolu. Elsewhere, at best, there were only small villages. Population decided everything. To seize the city was to seize Greater Bolu. How could that not be a tremendous gift?

Of course, setting the city ablaze until it was reduced to a barren waste, leaving more than ten thousand people homeless, was not something Liu Ji could control. After all, this was war, and in war, the people who suffered most were always the common folk.

Quejijianzan certainly understood that the fire could not have been set by the Tubo, but their intent to strike at him had been all too real. Now, with one arm wrapped in cloth and the wound still throbbing dully, everything reminded him of what the Tubo had once done.

“Are you the leader of this city?”

Feng Changqing sat upright in the great tent, regarding him with solemn composure. His expression made Quejijianzan’s heart tighten; he could not help bowing deeply and pressing his only good hand against his chest in salute.

“Honorable Tang official, this humble servant is willing to obey your commands.” His Chinese was halting and broken, enough only to convey the rough meaning.

Feng Changqing nodded. “If your heart is set on the Celestial Court, there is still hope for you. You once aided the Tubo and obstructed our army, but now that you have awakened to the truth, I shall report faithfully to the imperial court and request that your offenses not be pursued further.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Sir. From this day forth, we shall follow you to the end and serve with our lives.” Quejijianzan became even more humble. The several chieftains who had come with him no longer cared that the ground beneath them was mud; they almost flattened their entire bodies to the earth.

Feng Changqing gave a quiet snort inwardly. These fence-sitters would lean toward whichever side held the upper hand. If the Tubo ever returned, they would likely not even bother changing their tune. But on his face, he only grew more genial.

“It is not my mercy, but the Son of Heaven’s grace.”

“Yes, yes. The Heavenly Khagan is like the sun upon the snow mountains, illuminating the hearts of every man in Bolu.” Quejijianzan lifted his head and raised his remaining arm, pouring out his admiration as though singing a hymn.

In the great tent, Feng Changqing and several officers watched these performances, keeping pleasantly gratified expressions on their faces. No matter how much they were inwardly repulsed, they had to see the formality through. After all, his title included the duty of pacifying the four frontiers.

Every frontier commandery of Great Tang bore the additional rank of Vice Censor-in-Chief. Some even held the higher title of Censor-in-Chief. The purpose was not to let them speak bluntly and remonstrate with the court, but to grant them autonomous authority over foreign affairs. In plain terms, it meant deciding war or peace, or mediating disputes between two states. Since the current emperor had taken the throne, this normally not-easily-bestowed honorific had become routine, all in the name of encouraging frontier expansion.

At last, when they had finished their endless praises, Feng Changqing’s patience seemed nearly exhausted. Compared with pacifying these natives, he had countless other matters waiting for him.

“Quejijianzan, how many people have you taken in now?”

Quejijianzan turned to confer briefly with the chieftains beside him, then replied, “Our army was defeated by Great Tang. More than a thousand who fled here remain. The others are scattered through the villages and hamlets. We have already sent men to summon them. The number should not be too large, perhaps around fourteen or fifteen hundred.”

“And the city’s civilians?”

“There are still more than eighteen thousand. They are homeless now, and some did not even manage to salvage food. We beg you, Sir, to lend them aid and leave them a way to survive.” Seeing that the other side still had not answered, Quejijianzan added, “My men and I can all be at your disposal.”

Feng Changqing did not agree immediately. He did have some provisions in hand, but those were meant for the army. This place had already been burned to a wasteland, so there was no way to live off the enemy. The more civilians there were, the heavier the burden. Yet if they were left alone, then the whole point of the campaign would be lost. Moreover, everything that happened here could not escape the watchful eye of the supervising censor, so he had to think carefully.

Quejijianzan and his thousand or so men were of little consequence to the Tang army; at most, they were a band of guides familiar with the local terrain. But to take on responsibility for nearly twenty thousand mouths? Feng Changqing said nothing, only glanced at Duan Xiushi. The latter had been writing something on paper all this while, and after a while he finally looked up.

“When our army set out from Najuduo City, we carried only seven days’ rations. Once we camped at Boyi River, everything was supplied by Changxing Ward. If we add the civilians here, the daily requirement will be at least seventy percent greater. We cannot sustain that on our own.”

His words made Feng Changqing frown. The result was exactly as expected. Feng Changqing himself came from a logistical background, so with only a little thought he could reach the same conclusion. But now that he was the commander-in-chief, his position was different; there were some things he could no longer say aloud himself.

“What is your opinion, then?”

Duan Xiushi stood up, first giving him a clasped-fist salute, then turning to face the Bolu people in the tent. They clearly understood what he had said, and all wore looks of worry.

“There is no good solution at present. In this subordinate’s view, the civilians have lost their homes and lack clothing and grain. Relying solely on grain transported from the rear is not only time-consuming and laborious, it is also no long-term answer. Rather than that, it would be better to send them to the Returning Benevolence Army. Those willing to settle there can be arranged by the authorities. Those unwilling can simply return once the fighting here is over.”

In truth, the moment Duan Xiushi spoke, Feng Changqing understood what he wanted to say. Their thoughts could be said to have coincided perfectly, and this was also the only choice available at the moment.

Feng Changqing still gave no clear answer, and instead asked the Bolu people, “Quejijianzan, what do you think of this plan? Is it workable?”

After a few low murmurs among themselves, the chieftains still let Quejijianzan answer. He bowed slightly and said, “The mercy of Great Tang is a blessing to the people of Bolu. We are willing to follow this plan and will arrange for them to set out at once.”

“Good, good.” Feng Changqing rose with both hands on the great table before him, his face breaking into an appreciative smile. “It is rare to see such clear understanding of righteousness. Let us work together to drive the Tubo from this land, so they will never dare return.”

At once, the tent filled with a chorus of flattery and praise, a scene of apparent harmony and warmth. Only Duan Xiushi and the others understood clearly that this arrangement in truth turned the Bolu people into hostages; otherwise, how could they be trusted with any real responsibility? At the same time, it also happened to save the civilians.

The building of trust has never been a matter of wishful thinking. What must be paid is not merely time, but blood and life.

Of course, the quickest catalyst has always been only one thing, and it has never changed from ancient times to the present.

Profit.