Chapter 170: Advancing in the Bureaucracy

In Liangzhou, An Sishun paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back. His mood was extremely heavy. He had just received news that the Qiang and Hu tribes had been utterly defeated in Guazhou and were being pursued by the Shatuo people, with nearly the entire army wiped out.

An Sishun felt somewhat frustrated. In fact, his decision to attack Li Qingan’s convoy was made just the day before Li Qingan arrived in Liangzhou. He had received a request from An Lushan, asking him to intercept Li Qingan along the way. Of course, killing Li Qingan was impossible, but at least he needed to deal him a severe blow.

An Sishun usually did not refuse An Lushan’s requests, but this time he hesitated. After all, attacking the newly appointed governor of Beiting was no small matter. Yet he did not consult anyone. After thinking all night, he made up his mind.

If he could successfully frame it on the Shatuo people, then once Li Qingan took control of Beiting, it would become a nightmare for them. Would the Shatuo people then move to Hexi and Guazhou?

The answer was yes. Given the Uyghurs’ tendency to conquer and assimilate others, the Shatuo people would not turn to them for help. They would have no choice but to migrate eastward. If he could guide them properly, coupled with the influence of the imperial court, the Shatuo people would surely stay in Hexi, giving him, An Sishun, a powerful cavalry force.

Only if he failed—failures stemming from underestimating Li Qingan’s sharpness and his inability to control battles from afar—would he have taken such a risk. Now that nothing could be undone, An Sishun could only swallow his frustration. From then on, relations between Beiting and Hexi became strained. However, Beiting relied more on Hexi, so he wasn’t afraid of Li Qingan complaining to the imperial court. After all, it were the Qiang and Hu tribes who died—what did that have to do with his troops in Hexi? The real problem was how to pacify the Qiang and Hu tribes.

An Sishun stood by the table in deep thought. He was very interested in the “thunderbolt” tactic Li Qingan had used. As far as he knew, Li Qingan had employed such a powerful fire bomb during the Battle of Yinglong City. It certainly wasn’t divine thunder. What exactly was this fire bomb remained a mystery.

“What on earth is this?”

An Sishun tapped the table gently. He immediately went behind the table, sat cross-legged, spread out a piece of paper, and picked up a pen to write a letter.

……

Li Qingan had been in Beiting for three days, inspecting warehouses, training the army, and reviewing reports on financial expenditures. But more time was spent meeting officials—civilians and military officers—nearly a hundred in total—leaving him with no time even to catch his breath.

But throughout it all, there was one person he never met—Deputy Protector Cheng Qianli. Cheng Qianli still claimed to be recovering at home, and Li Qingan also did not go to visit him. It seemed both of them were waiting for the other to make the first move, but none took that crucial step.

Investigating thoroughly remained Li Qingan’s top priority. Over the past three days, he had met nearly a hundred military and civil officials from Anxi, exchanging polite but superficial words. He still couldn’t see through the politics of Beiting, which seemed shrouded in a thin veil of mystery.

That evening, Li Qingan returned from Beiting City to Jinman County. Beiting City was very close to Jinman County, only about three li apart. Beiting City served as the headquarters for the military and administrative authorities there, making life inconvenient, so most officials lived in Jinman County or nearby villages.

Jinman County was neither too large nor too small. By inland standards, it could be considered a mid-sized county. The city wall was over twenty li in circumference, with nearly 20,000 residents, most of whom were Han people, half of whom were military households. There were four main streets arranged in a “well” shape, lined with poplar trees. Various large shops, warehouses, inns, taverns, brothels, gambling houses, and other commercial establishments abounded, making the economy highly prosperous. Unlike cities inland, there were no separate eastern or western markets, no city walls, and no regulations limiting business hours. All shops were located along the streets and mostly stayed open until late at night.

Li Qingan’s residence was located in the northeast corner of Jinman County, in the most scenic part of the city. There was a lake covering hundreds of acres, whose water turned milky white several times a year, hence its name—White Lake. The Jinman River flowed through the lake, with weeping willows and poplars lining its banks, creating a beautiful landscape. Dozens of large mansions were scattered along the lake, mostly belonging to high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants. Li Qingan’s residence was one of them; it had originally belonged to Lu Fengyuan, the former deputy military governor, who had since been transferred, so the mansion naturally became Li Qingan’s residence.

However, Li Qingan did not go straight home that day. Instead, he went to the home of Deputy Protector Yang Fengche. Yang Fengche’s mansion was located on the west side of the lake, facing Li Qingan’s residence across the water. Covering 30 acres, it was the most beautiful residence in Jinman County. It housed Yang Fengche’s wife, three concubines, one son, one daughter, and over a dozen servants. In addition, Yang Fengche owned ten hectares of farmland outside the city and a shop inside, showing that his roots were firmly planted in Beiting.

When Li Qingan arrived at Yang Fengche’s mansion, Yang Fengche came out after a short while. His office was less than twenty steps away from Li Qingan’s. Having spent the day together, the two had met many times, but meeting at home at night carried a completely different meaning.

Yang Fengche smiled sycophantically as he rushed down the steps, bowing and saying, “Welcome, General Li, to my humble abode.”
“I’m sorry to disturb Commander Yang’s rest at night,” Li Qing’an replied with a slight bow and a smile.
“What are you saying, General Li? I’ve long wanted to invite you here, but I never dared to ask. It’s perfect that you came on your own.”
Yang Fengche bowed and waved his hand dismissively, adding, “The night wind is quite cool. Please come inside to talk.”
The two exchanged pleasantries as they entered the main hall. Li Qing’an was impressed by the intricate carvings and elegant decorations of Yang Fengche’s house. Upon entering, there was a pond filled with lotus flowers, surrounded by weeping willows. A covered bridge, like a rainbow, led straight to the main hall—its design was truly ingenious and admirable. Walking across the bridge, Li Qing’an felt the cool breeze, which was refreshing and uplifting. He nodded and smiled, saying, “They say Commander Yang is very attached to his home. Now I understand. If I had such a house, I would surely think of it often too.”
After crossing the bridge, they arrived at the main hall. A young man around twenty years old stepped forward and bowed, saying, “I pay my respects to General Li.”
Li Qing’an noticed that he resembled Yang Fengche quite a bit, with handsome features and could be considered good-looking. He smiled and said, “So this must be your son!”
“Hehe! This is my son, Yang Ji. He plans to go to the capital this autumn to take the imperial examinations next spring.”
“I’ve heard that your son will take the exams. That’s truly an honor for the Yang family! Coincidentally, my newly appointed officer in charge of land reclamation, Wang Changling, and the judge, Cen Shen, are both graduates of the imperial examinations with outstanding literary talents. Young Master Yang might as well seek their advice.”
Yang Ji was overjoyed, but still hesitated slightly, saying, “I just feel it might be presumptuous.”
His father, Yang Fengche, stroked his beard and smiled, saying, “My son isn’t very worldly. Since General Li has suggested it, he will surely greet them. Why worry?”
Yang Ji suddenly understood and quickly bowed deeply to Li Qing’an, saying, “Thank you, General Li, for arranging this. I’ll go and seek guidance from Master Yuhu tomorrow.”
Li Qing’an glanced at Yang Fengche. Everyone said he was a nice guy, but it seemed he was actually a seasoned politician. This made things much easier.
“Commander Yang, let’s sit down and talk.”
Yang Fengche slapped his forehead and apologized, saying, “I was so absorbed in talking that I forgot the most basic courtesy. Please, General Li!”
“Please!”
The two sat down in the main hall. Influenced by the Hu people, many households in Beiting had chairs. Yang Fengche’s family didn’t kneel either; they sat in round armchairs. These chairs gradually spread to the Central Plains and became popular during the late Tang Dynasty.
Yang Fengche invited Li Qing’an to sit and ordered his servants, “Bring a table of drinks and dishes.”

Li Qing’an quickly stopped and smiled, saying, “I’ve already eaten with a few of my subordinates just now; one cup of tea will suffice.”
“Very well! Then bring a bowl of horse milk tea.”
A moment later, a maid brought over a bowl of steaming milk tea and placed it in front of Li Qing’an. In the Tang Dynasty, tea was not roasted but boiled in water with various seasonings. In Beiting and Anxi, however, people followed Hu customs and preferred milk tea. Having lived in Beiting for a long time, Yang Fengche was also accustomed to it.
Li Qing’an, however, had never really gotten used to the fishy taste of milk tea. After taking a sip, he shook his head and smiled, saying, “I brought some top-quality Mengding tea. I’ll have my personal guards deliver a few pounds to Protector Yang later.”
“That would be greatly appreciated. Someone! Bring another cup of fragrant tea.”
Seeing that Li Qing’an wasn’t used to it, Yang Fengche quickly ordered another cup of ordinary tea. After taking a sip, Li Qing’an finally smiled and said, “Today I reviewed the resumes of the officials. Protector Yang will have served for ten years this year, right?”
“That’s correct! In the blink of an eye, I’ve been in Beiting for ten years. Time makes one grow old. I’m already forty-eight this year, and I should retire in a few more years.”
Although Yang Fengche lamented the passing of his youth, a hint of tension flashed in his eyes. He could tell that Li Qing’an was implying something—that he had held the position of deputy protector for too long. Indeed, the Tang Dynasty had no precedent of anyone serving as deputy protector for ten years. Even Yang Fengche didn’t know why he had been able to stay in such a position for so long. Perhaps he had performed mediocrately, with no achievements or mistakes, and since the role held little real power and was merely nominal, it wasn’t taken seriously. As a result, the court neither promoted nor demoted him, letting him drift along year after year.
Yang Fengche wasn’t an ambitious person nor did he like to work hard. His greatest hope was to have another son. Therefore, in Beiting, he was known for being very family-oriented. The leisurely position of deputy protector in Beiting was perfect for him. He hoped to hold this position until retirement, amass a considerable fortune, and secure a good position for his son—that was his greatest life goal.
His previous superiors knew he lacked ambition and were happy to leave him alone. But with Li Qing’an in charge, he felt a crisis approaching.
This crisis wasn’t because Li Qing’an intended to do anything to him, but because the political situation in Beiting had changed from previous years. There was now a rivalry between two powerful figures: Li Qing’an and Cheng Qianli. Li Qing’an belonged to the Crown Prince’s faction, while Cheng Qianli was part of the Prince Qing’s faction. In other words, Beiting had become a battleground between the Crown Prince’s and Prince Qing’s factions. It was unclear who had orchestrated this situation.
Caught in the middle, Yang Fengche sighed secretly. He knew Li Qing’an hadn’t come over for mere leisure.

“How have you felt during your three days in office, General Li?” Yang Fengche asked with a forced smile.
“Not bad! I feel that Beiting is full of vitality—it’s a great place to build a career, and life here is quite good. I came today to thank Governor Yang for arranging a residence for me in advance, so my family has a place to stay.”
Yang Fengche quickly humbly replied, “Oh, no! That’s just a small effort. It’s not worthy of General Li coming in person to thank me.”
Li Qing’an smiled and then changed the subject, asking, “I wonder if your son is prepared to go to the capital for the exams?”
Yang Fengche was taken aback. “What kind of preparation is needed?”
Li Qing’an chuckled. “Although I’ve never taken the imperial exams myself, I do know a bit about them. Candidates from various places go to the capital early to take the provincial exams. It’s not to cram at the last minute, but to try to gain access to influential families. I’ve seen crowds of scholars outside the residences of various prime ministers, all striving to become their students. Does Governor Yang know why?”
Yang Fengche nodded. He was somewhat aware of this. Chen Zhonghe, the magistrate of Jinman County, had told him that in the Tang Dynasty, the names of candidates were not concealed during the exams. Examiners considered not only their knowledge but also their character—essentially, their background. The leniency or strictness of the examiners depended heavily on this, but the provincial exam was just the first step.
In the provincial exam, whether one passed the Jinshi or Mingjing exams, they only obtained the qualification to become an official. To actually become an official, they still had to pass the examination conducted by the Ministry of Personnel. This was the crucial step. The examination by the Ministry of Personnel was like an interview, focusing on appearance and character—again, background played a role. Those with influential connections or noble backgrounds were more likely to be accepted. Only a few people could pass this stage, but it was still just the second step.
The third step was being assigned to a position, which required even more powerful connections. Those with strong backing could get good positions, either in the capital or in wealthy counties, where it was easier to achieve results and get promoted, ensuring a smooth career path. For example, Chen Zhonghe, the magistrate of Jinman County, came from a poor family. It wasn’t until the 27th year of the Kaiyuan era that he was appointed to an official position after ranking third in the Jinshi exams. But due to his lack of connections, he was sent to Beiting, where he served as a magistrate for ten years despite his outstanding abilities. Because of his lack of influence in the capital, he remained a low-ranking magistrate to this day.
Yang Fengche gave a bitter smile. He was about to say that there were no influential people in the capital when suddenly he realized what Li Qing’an was implying!
He immediately asked tentatively, “What does General Li mean?”
Li Qing’an smiled faintly and said, “If Governor Yang doesn’t mind, I could recommend your son to Gao Lishi.”

Li Qing’an drank a cup of tea, casually exchanged a few words about household matters, and then took his leave. Yang Fengche, however, stared at the teacup on the table, unable to calm down for a long time. Li Qing’an’s attempt to win him over was too obvious, yet it also stirred his interest greatly. Although he longed to have another son and had taken in three concubines for that purpose, after more than a decade of efforts, the concubines hadn’t even borne a child, leading him to realize there might be a problem with his own fertility.

He was forty-eight years old and had only one son, who was his entire hope. If his son could study under the powerful eunuch Gao Lishi and have Gao Lishi as his backer, even if he failed the imperial examinations, he could still enter officialdom through patronage, ensuring a bright career for his son. Yang Fengche certainly knew that Li Qing’an’s backer was Gao Lishi. But allying himself with Li Qing’an would inevitably offend Cheng Qianli, putting him in a difficult position.

Yang Fengche sat at the table, pressing his temples and sighing, “What should I do?”

Just then, a servant rushed over and reported in the main hall, “Master, Commander Cheng is outside asking to see you!”

“Who?”

“Commander Cheng, Cheng Qianli.”

“Ah!” Yang Fengche jumped to his feet in shock, stunned.

……

Li Qing’an’s mansion was located east of Bai Lake. It was a large estate covering over twenty acres, ranking second only to Yang Fengche’s mansion in Jinman County. The house had been renovated the year before last, with most rooms newly built. It consisted of five courtyards—front, back, left, right, and center—along with more than a hundred rooms of various types. Although it wasn’t as exquisitely designed as Yang’s mansion, it had its own features: first, the lush trees shaded the entire estate; second, the courtyard walls were tall and sturdy, resembling a castle that was difficult to climb over, and military camps were stationed around it, ensuring the safety of the mansion.

Li Qing’an had just arrived in Beiting and hadn’t had time to hire servants yet. Only a few people like Ru Shi Ru Shi lived there, with most rooms empty and dark, without any lighting. Aside from the dozens of Li Qing’an’s personal guards living in the west courtyard, only three or four rooms in the back courtyard were occupied. He had already sent people to Gaochang to hire some maids and servants, and Yan Zhuang would also move into the east courtyard once they arrived.

As Li Qing’an returned home, the mansion immediately became lively. Xiao Lian came out smiling, “Elder brother, the food is ready. Let’s eat together!”

“It’s so late; we’ve already eaten.” He glanced behind him and asked with a smile, “Where are the others?”

“They’re learning the six-stringed zither! I didn’t call them.”

“Hmm! Don’t disturb them.”

Li Qing’an turned to his bodyguards and said with a smile, “Everyone, go back! If you’re hungry, head to the kitchen to eat first. If you want to go out for drinks, that’s fine too—just don’t cause me any trouble.” The bodyguards dispersed, and Li Qing’an returned to the inner residence. He went to his study, changed into loose Zen robes, and sat down comfortably. The light in the study was soft and bright, with a bronze incense burner in the corner emitting the scent of lilies, filling the room with a gentle fragrance. The study consisted of two rooms—inside, used for resting, with only a bed covered by a thick mattress; he planned to convert it into a strategy room later. Outside, bookshelves lined the walls, filled with various books and paintings, and a large table stood against the north wall. On the table lay a thick stack of newspapers, all sent from the capital, though a month late. Li Qing’an sat down and picked up a newspaper delivered that day. This was one of the earliest newspapers in history, though its content was rather dull, recording major events in the court and Emperor Li Longji’s various administrative activities, such as tilling the fields himself to encourage farming. However, two items caught his attention today, both related to Jiannan. One was the promotion of Xian Yu Zhongtong, formerly the deputy governor of Jiannan, to the position of chief secretary—a role previously held by Yang Zhao. The other was Emperor Li Longji’s approval to change Yang Zhao’s name to Yang Guozhong and appoint him as minister of the Imperial Treasury. “Yang Guozhong!” Li Qing’an sneered. Yang Guozhong had finally stepped onto the stage of history. It remained to be seen whether he would handle the Nanzhao issue as poorly as in history. At that moment, the door opened, and Ru Shi rushed in carrying a cup of tea. Li Qing’an’s study was also a restricted area, kept tidy by Ru Shi; no one else was allowed in except her. “Brother, have some tea first!” Ru Shi smiled gently, dimples appearing on her peach-like cheeks. She placed the tea on the table in front of him, then knelt behind him and gently massaged his head and neck. Li Qing’an patted her hand lightly in thanks. “Why aren’t you practicing the zither?” “Ru Hua is learning! I’m here to take care of you. Your neck still hurts, right? Is it any better today?” Ru Shi asked while gently rubbing his back of the neck. “It’s a little better today. Thanks to you applying hot water to it last night.” “Mm! I’ll boil some more hot water later to apply it to you properly.” Suddenly, Li Qing’an remembered something and said with a smile, “Tomorrow, take five jin of Mengding tea and have my bodyguards deliver it to General Yang’s office. I promised him today.” “Okay.”

Po Si also remembered something and quickly said, “By the way, this afternoon, a group of Anxi soldiers brought over a batch of boxes. They said you ordered them to deliver them; it seems to be copper Buddha statues.”
“Oh! Where are the Buddha statues?”
“I had them placed in the east courtyard!”
Li Qing’an was overjoyed. He had been very worried about these copper Buddha statues. Since they had indeed arrived, he quickly stood up and said with a smile, “I want to go take a look.”
He strode out of the study, only to see Xiao Lian rushing towards him. “Elder brother, there’s a guest who wants to see you.”
“Who is it?”
“It’s Commander Yang. He says it’s urgent!”