Chapter 140: Where Is My Son?

News of the Tang army’s capture of Shibao City reached Chang’an five hours later via messenger pigeons, spreading throughout the city overnight. The court and the people rejoiced greatly. Although many commoners were unaware of Shibao City’s importance, the news of the Tang army’s decisive victory was enough to fill the city with excitement. The New Year of Tianbao 8 turned out to be an incredibly thrilling one.

On the afternoon of the 29th, Chang’an was in full bustle. People in brightly colored clothes filled the streets, carriages rumbled by, and groups of laughing children dashed through the streets. Amidst the sound of firecrackers, three soldiers in tattered uniforms led horses to the entrance of Gao Lishi’s residence.

They were Nan Jiyun and two soldiers who had come from Longyou. Despite traveling day and night, they still couldn’t keep up with the speed of the messenger pigeons. They had heard news of the victory at Shibao City while in Xianyang, but there was no word at all about Li Qing’an or the Yinglong Army. Nan Jiyun was extremely anxious.

They stepped up the stairs and knocked on the door. A gatekeeper came out. Nan Jiyun showed him the jade token given to him by Li Qing’an. The gatekeeper did not dare delay and immediately went back to report. Moments later, a steward led them inside. About half an hour later, the side door of Gao Lishi’s residence opened, and a large carriage drove out, heading straight for Xingqing Palace.

…

Ever since learning of the Tang army’s great victory in Longyou the previous day, Li Linfu had been worried. The significance of winning the battle at Shibao City for the imperial court was far greater than that of the battle against Xiaobolue. After the battle against Xiaobolue, the emperor had generously rewarded the Anxi Army. So what about the battle at Shibao City? Li Linfu knew rewards were necessary, but he was also well aware of how much money and resources the imperial treasury actually had. Governing the country was like managing a household—he couldn’t cook without rice! Half a month earlier, he had caused rice prices to plummet by using a forged report from the Jianghuai Transport Commissioner. That was because he knew Chang’an wasn’t actually short of rice; it was just a matter of using tactics. But rewarding the troops from Longyou was a real issue that couldn’t be ignored.

After much deliberation, Li Linfu decided to tell Emperor Li Longji the true financial situation and advise him to be cautious before making a decision. Immediately after making this decision, he rushed to Xingqing Palace.

Although Li Linfu had successfully driven down rice prices in Chang’an with clever tactics half a month earlier, Emperor Li Longji hadn’t promoted him. After all, his methods weren’t entirely honorable. Still, the emperor gave him a special reward: he no longer needed to report before appearing before the emperor. Worried, Li Linfu entered the Datong Hall only to see more than a dozen of Li Longji’s personal guards standing in a line at the entrance of the imperial study, looking as if they were preparing for a major battle. Li Linfu was stunned, and his steps hesitated.

A Sanlang Wei hurried forward and said, “Prime Minister, by the Emperor’s orders, no one is allowed to enter.”
“Who is the Emperor receiving?”
“It’s Eunuch Gao who brought a general, seemingly from Longyou.”
“Longyou?” Li Linfu was stunned. Who could that be?
In the imperial study, Li Longji sat weakly on the throne, gently pressing his thumb against his forehead. He could hardly imagine three thousand Tang soldiers facing the fierce attack of eighty thousand Tubo troops on that stormy night. Decades of brutal political struggles had hardened his heart like iron, but even now, his nose felt slightly sore.
Nan Jiyun knelt on the ground, crying uncontrollably. “I was fortunate enough to escape with my life, but General Li and our three thousand men are missing—unknown whether alive or dead. Your Majesty, eighty thousand Tubo troops!”
“I know!”
Li Longji sighed softly. “I will investigate Dong Yan Guang’s crimes and ensure justice is done for the Anxi Army.”
At that moment, Gao Lishi, standing nearby, whispered, “Your Majesty, since Shibao City was eventually captured, it means Li Qingan must have successfully stopped the Tubo troops. Given that, I believe there’s a high chance Li Qingan is still alive. Moreover, since he can use gunpowder to defend himself, I’m sure he can turn danger into safety.”
“The general is right. Since Shibao City has fallen, Li Qingan should be unharmed. I too look forward to meeting him.”
Gao Lishi’s words brought some comfort to Li Longji. Thinking of gunpowder, he picked up the formula written by Li Qingan on the imperial desk and smiled. “There are alchemists in my palace who use this to make medicine. Who would have thought it could be such a powerful weapon against enemies? With this, why should I fear the Tubo? For this alone, Li Qingan has rendered great services to me.”
“Your Majesty, the Prime Minister has arrived,” an eunuch reported softly at the door.
“I was just about to call for him! Have him come in.”
Li Longji said to Nan Jiyun with a smile, “General Nan, you risked your life to break through and bring news—your loyalty is truly admirable. I will reward you generously. For now, go back and rest, waiting for the army’s triumphant return.”
“I thank Your Majesty!”
Nan Jiyun slowly retreated, passing by Li Linfu as he entered. Li Linfu turned back in confusion, looking at Nan Jiyun—this was a strange Tang general he had never seen before.
He stepped forward quickly and bowed. “Your servant, Li Linfu, pays his respects to Your Majesty!”
“Prime Minister, please sit.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Li Linfu sat down and said, “I’ve come to discuss the aftermath of the battle in Longyou with Your Majesty.”

Li Longji was somewhat restless. He was holding a small bag of gunpowder, examining it carefully. Li Linfu stopped speaking. Suddenly, Li Longji seemed to realize something; he put down the bag of gunpowder and smiled, saying, “I was distracted. Prime Minister, please continue.”

“The great victory in the Battle of Longyou naturally warrants rewards for the soldiers. Of course, I will fully support Your Majesty, but…”

“But what? Go on!”

Li Linfu sighed secretly before finally gritting his teeth and saying, “It’s just that as the year draws to an end, the treasury is empty, and I’m afraid we won’t have much money to reward the meritorious soldiers.”

Li Longji stared coldly at Li Linfu. After a long while, he let out a soft hum and said, “Prime Minister, the Battle of Longyou was planned at the beginning of the year. I even said months ago that I hoped to capture Shibao City before the New Year. Since I had already made such a plan, you should have prepared the corresponding rewards long ago.”

“I had prepared them, but Your Majesty rewarded Yang last month…”

“Dare you!” Before he could finish, Li Longji slammed the table angrily and said, “Are you trying to say it’s me who spent all the money, Prime Minister Li?”

Frightened, Li Linfu knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, “I dare not. The treasury is truly empty; I have no solution. Please understand, Your Majesty!”

Li Longji glared at him fiercely before finally responding after a long pause, “Speak! How much money can you come up with?”

Li Linfu quickly took out a memorial from his bosom and handed it over, saying, “This is a plan I’ve thought of. Please take a look, Your Majesty.”

A eunuch stepped forward and handed the memorial to Li Longji. Li Longji looked at it with a dark expression. Li Linfu’s plan combined land, money, and titles. The amount of money and silk was roughly the same as last year’s rewards for Anxi—300,000 strings of coins and 150,000 bolts of silk—except it included 5,000 hectares of land from the four prefectures of Longyou, along with numerous titles. At first glance, it seemed passable, but the Battle of Xiaobolü involved over 20,000 soldiers, while the Battle of Shibao City involved 150,000 troops. On a per-person basis, there was hardly anything left.

Of course, Li Longji was well aware of this. He threw the memorial onto the table and sighed, “Can’t we have a little more? My original plan was 1 million strings of coins.”

“Your Majesty, there are also at least 300,000 strings of coins needed for compensation to the families of the fallen, which is a huge amount. Adding these two together, only 50,000 strings of coins remain in the treasury. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until the taxes from Yangzhou arrive in the spring.”

“We can’t wait that long!”

Li Longji walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, then turned around and said, “How about this! I’ll put forward three suggestions for you to discuss in the government hall. First, the compensation can be reduced slightly at first—give 100,000 guan, with the remainder paid monthly by local authorities in the form of money and grain, or converted into land with reduced taxes, which could free up another 200,000 guan. Second, order the Ministry of Works to mint gold and silver; if there’s not enough cash, use gold and silver instead. Third, not all combatants should receive the same reward—some troops deserve heavy rewards, while others should not only be left out but also severely punished!”
Li Linfu was somewhat stunned. What did this third plan mean?
Li Longji glanced at him and threw the simple report written temporarily by Nan Jiyun at him, saying coldly, “Read it yourself! Once you read it, you’ll understand how to take back Shibao City.”
…
Ten days later, Geshu Han returned triumphantly with an army of 5,000 men. These 5,000 were elite troops selected from various armies. With flags flying high, bright armor, and a grand display of strength, this was a large-scale local army allowed into the capital with special approval from the Ministry of War—though under strict conditions: no long weapons or crossbows were permitted, no heavy siege engines were allowed, and only short swords were permitted, allowing them to enter the capital lightly disguised.
When the triumphant army arrived in Xianyang, the news spread to Chang’an, causing the city to erupt in excitement. Countless people, old and young, came out of the city to welcome them. Zhuque Street was packed with crowds, and almost the entire population of Chang’an came out.
At noon, when the brightly armored troops from Longyou entered Mingde Gate, Zhuque Street became completely chaotic. Over 300,000 people from Chang’an gathered on both sides of the street, stretching for ten miles. The crowd beat drums and gongs, their shouts echoing through the air, with faces full of excitement. A victory in the Longyou campaign meant peace for Guanzhong and Chang’an.
As groups of imposing soldiers passed by, the atmosphere reached its peak of enthusiasm. The crowd waved and cheered loudly, shouting, “Long live the Tang Dynasty! Long live the soldiers of Longyou!”
At the forefront were the 600 soldiers of the Anxi Army. Li Siye, a tall and robust man, led the way with a serious expression, not looking aside. Whenever they passed by, countless young women would jump up in excitement, throwing ribbons and flowers at them. They were the main heroes in taking back Shibao City, the heroes in their eyes.
Tens of thousands of soldiers from various guards were responsible for maintaining order. From Mingde Gate to Zhuque Gate, tens of thousands of soldiers held hands, desperately trying to stop the crowd from rushing forward. Geshu Han rode in the middle of the column, accompanied by Chen Xilie, Yang Shenjin, and dozens of high-ranking officials who had come ten miles to welcome him.

From time to time, he smiled and waved at the crowd, extremely proud—this moment marked the pinnacle of his life. Soon, the procession reached the Zhuque Gate. Li Longji personally led nearly a thousand officials, civil and military, as well as members of the imperial family to welcome them back in triumph. The procession stopped from afar. Ge Shuhan and dozens of generals spurred their horses forward. When they were about a hundred paces away, they dismounted and rushed to Li Longji’s side, kneeling on one knee. Ge Shuhan loudly declared, “Your servant, Ge Shuhan, pays his respects to Your Majesty!” The generals echoed in unison, “We, your servants, pay our respects to Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!” Li Longji quickly helped Ge Shuhan up and smiled gratefully, saying, “My loyal minister, you truly are a pillar of my reign. I waited for eight long years until today, when Shibao City was finally reclaimed. You have rendered great services to me and to the nation!” “It is my duty to share the burdens with Your Majesty; you need not praise me so highly,” replied Ge Shuhan. Then he pointed at the other generals and said to Li Longji, “It was these generals who risked their lives to capture Shibao City; they deserve the credit for this great achievement.” “I understand,” said Li Longji. Smiling, he stepped forward and looked around but did not see Li Qing’an, which surprised him. He turned to Ge Shuhan and asked, “Where is Li Qing’an?” Ge Shuhan replied calmly, “General Li entered Guanzhong with me, but when we reached Jincheng, he said he had matters to attend to and left his unit. I’m not sure where he went.” As soon as he spoke, all the officials exchanged shocked looks. How dare Li Qing’an refuse to enter the city with the army? “Li Qing’an is bold!” Yang Zhao shouted angrily. “Your Majesty has personally led all the officials to welcome the triumphant army from Longyou—what an honor! How dare he skip the ceremony? Is he disrespecting the emperor?” “Your Majesty!” Li Siyeh hurriedly interjected, “Li Qing’an truly has urgent matters!” Li Longji glared at Yang Zhao, then slowly walked over to Li Siyeh and asked gently, “What urgent matters?” Li Siyeh’s eyes reddened as he replied in a trembling voice, “Such a grand triumph makes it impossible for him to face the soldiers who died in battle.” After a long pause, Li Longji sighed and nodded. “I’ve also led troops; I understand his feelings.” He turned to the others and declared, “Regardless, you are all meritorious soldiers, and I will reward you generously.” He boarded the imperial carriage and smiled at Ge Shuhan, saying, “General Ge Shuhan, you have achieved an extraordinary feat for me. I hereby grant you the honor of riding in the same carriage as me!”

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Geshu Han boarded the imperial sedan. Thunderous applause erupted in front of the Zhuque Gate, with cheers echoing through the streets.
…
About thirty li east of Jincheng County in Jingzhao Prefecture, there was a small town called Xiweiqiao. As it was the only route from Chang’an to Longyou, the town was quite large, housing thousands of households and resembling a small county. At that moment, the town was bustling with activity—the victorious troops from Longyou had just passed by, and almost everyone in the town came out to welcome them.
The troops had left, but the enthusiasm remained. People still gathered in groups on the streets, chatting. By the roadside stood a young woman holding a thin boy, both gazing in the direction of the Longyou troops from afar.
A few women passed by her and, seeing her neck stretched out, joked, “Madam Lin, are you still waiting for your husband Lin San to come home?”
“No!” The woman blushed and smiled shyly. “Those soldiers from Longyou are all tall and strong. My husband Lin San is thin and short—how could he possibly be chosen?”
“Mom, when will Dad come back?” the little boy asked, looking up.
The woman smiled. “I think your father has gone to Anxi. The war is over now. He must be waiting for us in Anxi. Let’s go home quickly! Grandpa must be worried.”
The woman led the boy quickly toward the west side of the town. To the west of the town, there were dozens of households living in houses rented out there. These people all came from Jiangdu; they were part of the Jiangdu Militia Camp’s families, who had come together with their children, planning to settle in Anxi after the battle in Longyou ended.
The woman and her child arrived at one of the houses. A red lantern hung at the door, along with talismans to ward off evil, indicating that the New Year had just passed. From afar, she saw an old man with white hair standing at the door, leaning on a cane and looking around. She hurried over and said, “Dad, why did you come out? It’s cold outside! Go back inside quickly.”
“Grandpa, Mom said Dad went to Anxi. When will we leave?”
The old man gently stroked his grandson’s head and smiled. “In a few days, once we rent a carriage, we’ll set off.”
“Yang, help Grandpa inside. Mom will go cook.”
The family entered the yard and closed the door. At that moment, a group of cavalry soldiers approached—about two hundred people in total. Several carriages were mixed among them, filled with earthen porcelain jars, each with a small piece of paper attached.
They slowly came closer. Among them were four female soldiers in military uniforms, all dark-skinned and thin, with no trace of a smile on their faces. A few officials accompanied them.
“General Li, this is where the people from Jiangdu are renting houses—fifty-two households in total.”

These soldiers were Li Qing’an and his men. A total of 284 of them survived. Aside from 80 who were seriously injured and recuperating in Shanzhou, the remaining 203 followed Li Qing’an to the capital. After the battle, they collected the remains of 840 soldiers; the rest could not be found. Li Qing’an went to the capital to personally deliver their ashes to their families.

Out of the 500 soldiers from Jiangdu, only 42 survived and went to the capital with Li Qing’an. The arrival of the 200 soldiers attracted the attention of the Jiangdu residents, many of whom rushed outside to watch from a distance. Suddenly, an old woman shouted, “Shiyi Lang, is that you?”

A soldier rolled off his horse and rushed forward, kneeling before the old woman and crying loudly, “Mother! It’s me! I’m not dead!”

The old woman hugged her son and burst into tears. Only then did the Jiangdu residents realize that their relatives had returned. The news spread quickly, and many people rushed over. They didn’t dare get too close but stretched their necks, anxiously searching among the soldiers for their loved ones. None could be found, and people began to discuss that out of the 500 soldiers from Jiangdu camp, only a few dozen seemed to be here; the rest might have returned to Anxi.

The soldiers dismounted, and the village head pointed to the closed courtyard gate ahead and said, “General Li, this is the Lin family’s home.”

Li Qing’an took a pottery jar, bit his lip, and went forward to knock on the door. It opened, and a young woman stood inside. Seeing a large group of soldiers outside, she was stunned.

“Who are you looking for?”

“We are from the Anxi army, coming from Longyou. Are you Lin San’s wife?”

“I am!” The young woman grew uneasy. She glanced behind her and asked in a trembling voice, “Where is my Lin San? Is he… injured?”

At that moment, an old voice came from inside the courtyard, “Third Sister, who has come?”

“Father, it seems to be people from Sanlang’s army.”

A young man helped an old man with white hair appear at the door. The old man looked at Li Qing’an, then at the soldiers at the door. Suddenly frightened, he stepped back and asked, “Sir, where is my son?”

Li Qing’an slowly knelt down, and all the soldiers behind him knelt as well. Li Qing’an raised Lin San’s ashes jar high above his head, tears streaming down his face.

“Grandfather, I’ve brought your son back!”