Chapter 302: Disguise and Escape

Li Longji had arrived at Daming Palace. Though the palace was filled with beautiful women, none could soothe his anxious heart. It wasn’t until dusk that he finally received news from Yu Chaoen.

“Your Majesty, news has come from Chen Mingzhong. Li Qingan went to his residence with his wife this afternoon and then bought over thirty servants from the slave market. The Du Gu family and Gao Lishi each provided them with ten servants. The Du Gu family also sent a large amount of bedding, porcelain, and other items. Their new residence is already being prepared.”

“Hmm!”

Li Longji’s worried heart eased slightly. He nodded and said, “Send more people to keep a close watch. Make sure Li Qingan can’t take them away.”

“I shall obey your orders right away.”

“Wait!” Li Longji called him back. After thinking for a moment, he ordered, “Send someone to summon Wu Xianyi. I intend to favor her tonight.”

Yu Chaoen left in haste. Li Longji walked slowly to the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the lush spring scenery outside. At this moment, the country no longer mattered to him—what mattered were beautiful women. Every corner of his heart was filled with the image of Du Gu Mingyue. The pain of not having her was almost unbearable.

…

Li Qingan’s carriage still stood outside the gate. As darkness fell, the gate opened, and a group of cavalry rode out of the residence at full speed, like a storm. Each rider wore a heavy cloak, rushing past like a gust of wind. Several observers hiding in the alley across from them immediately grew nervous. They watched the cavalry closely. In the middle of the group, they saw Li Qingan surrounded by soldiers, but they didn’t see Du Gu Mingyue—or even anyone disguised as a man. The observers breathed a sigh of relief.

They didn’t follow Li Qingan. Their task was to monitor Du Gu Mingyue’s departure from the residence. There were observers outside every gate, but they weren’t too worried. It was only the second day of Li Qingan’s marriage. On the third day, he would return to his wife’s family, completing the marriage ceremony. Nothing should happen these days.

Once the cavalry left the city gates, the speed slowed down. Li Qingan pulled back his cloak, revealing Du Gu Mingyue hidden behind it. She had changed into black short clothes and was tightly holding onto Li Qingan’s waist. The fast-moving horse made her face pale from the jolts.

“Moonlight, how are you?”
Suppressing the nausea in her chest, Moonlight whispered, “It’s fine if we go slower. Going too fast is too jarring for me.”
“Alright! Let’s move more slowly.”
Li Qing’an carried Moonlight in front of the warhorse, wrapped her tightly in his cloak, slowed down the horse, and headed steadily toward the camp.
Two carriages were already parked at the camp entrance. Everyone dismounted. The windows of the carriages were opened, and Mingzhu waved at Moonlight and Li Qing’an with a smile, “Sis, brother-in-law!”
Moonlight stepped forward and smiled, “You tricky little thing. Once again, I’ll owe you a favor.”
“It’s okay! I hope I can go to Anxi too,” Mingzhu said with a smile, her gaze filled with a hint of pleading as she looked at Li Qing’an.
“It depends on your luck. If you’re lucky, you can go to Anxi. If not, you’ll just have to accompany your sister back to the capital.”
Li Qing’an smiled and asked her, “Did your father know you left?”
“Mom didn’t tell Dad. By the way, Mom asked me to tell you that it’s not important for my sister to return home—what matters is that you all return safely to Anxi. I hope everything goes well for her.”
“Good! We’re ready to set off.”
Li Qing’an walked up to Moonlight, gently placed a hand on her shoulder, and said with a smile, “You go first. I’ll follow soon.”
Although reluctant, Moonlight knew the situation was urgent. If she couldn’t escape, the consequences would be severe. She nodded silently and got into the carriage.
Li Qing’an then said to his personal commander, Jiang Xiaonian, “I’m entrusting the lady’s safety to you. Remember, we must leave Guanzhong as soon as possible.”
“Don’t worry, General! I’ll protect the lady well.”
He turned his horse around and gave a command, and the carriage slowly set off. Two hundred bodyguards escorted Moonlight’s carriage westward. As the curtains were drawn up, Moonlight waved goodbye to Li Qing’an.
Li Qing’an watched until the carriage disappeared into the darkness before turning his horse around and ordering, “Back to the city!”
A hundred warhorses rushed forward, speeding into Chang’an like a gust of wind.
…
Early the next morning, bustling preparations began in Li Qing’an’s new residence. Du Gu Moonlight, dressed elegantly, appeared several times. She sent people to silk shops in the East Market to buy high-quality brocades and also ordered many precious jewels from a Hu people’s jewelry store. Soon, the store’s clerk brought the jewels personally for them to choose from.
The people watching outside immediately questioned the clerk about who had ordered the jewels. The answer was that it was the General’s new bride, who had chosen jewels worth two thousand guan.

In this way, two busy days passed, and Li Qing’an returned to his family’s home with his wife, returning only at night. On the morning of the third day, a group of messenger cavalry rushed in from outside Mingde Gate at high speed, their hooves thundering. The messengers shouted, “Move aside! Urgent military news from Anxi!”
The guards at the city gate quickly stepped aside out of fear, not daring to stop them. The messenger cavalry sped along Zhuque Street, with the crowd on the street scattering to both sides. Hearing their cries about urgent news from Anxi, everyone grew worried—what had happened there again? News of the crisis in Anxi spread quickly throughout Chang’an.
The messenger cavalry rushed into Jingshan Fang and stopped in front of Li Qing’an’s new residence. They dismounted and rushed inside, shouting, “General, urgent military news from Anxi!”
Soon after, Li Qing’an stepped out of his residence, got into a carriage, and headed straight for Xingqing Palace. Something serious had happened in Anxi, and he needed to return there urgently.
Li Longji had already returned to Xingqing Palace. He had just woken up and was combing his hair when an eunuch came to report, “Your Majesty, the governor of Anxi has sent an urgent military report. He requests your permission to return to Anxi immediately.”
Li Longji was startled and asked, “What urgent news? Show it to me.”
The eunuch handed over the report sent by Li Qing’an. Li Longji opened it and read: “The Tubo army has increased its forces by 20,000 and is now south of Xiaobo Li, showing signs of launching a counterattack.”
Li Longji pondered for a moment before ordering, “Bring Yu Chaoen to me at once.”
A moment later, Yu Chaoen rushed over, “Your servant pays his respects, Your Majesty!”
“I want to ask you—any news from Bian Lingcheng in Anxi?”
“Your servant hasn’t had time to check yet.”
“Go and find out right away! I want the latest news!” Li Longji ordered angrily.
“Your servant obeys. I’ll go check right away.”
Yu Chaoen fled in panic to the inner palace officials’ office. Li Longji read the report again, his brows furrowed. According to Li Qing’an’s plan, he should have returned to Anxi in five days to prepare for battle. But now, news had arrived that the Tubo army was preparing to counterattack Xiaobo Li—a possibility that indeed seemed likely. Clearly, the Tang army’s plan was to target Tokharistan. By sending more troops to Xiaobo Li at this critical moment, the Tubo aimed to take advantage of the Tang army’s engagement with the Arabs, seize Xiaobo Li, intervene in Tokharistan, and reap the benefits.
However, this situation created conditions for Ge Shuhan to launch his campaign in Longyou. With the Tubo forces divided in Tokharistan, they couldn’t fight on two fronts at the same time, meaning Ge Shuhan would face much less resistance in Longyou.

“Your Majesty!” Yu Chaoen rushed back, “There’s news from Bian Lingcheng! It was delivered by a messenger pigeon just now.”
He handed over a pigeon letter. Li Longji unrolled it and saw only one sentence written on it: “News from Xiaobolü: Tubo is showing signs of reinforcing its forces.”
It was indeed true. Without any further doubt, Li Longji said, “Allow Li Qingan to return to Anxi immediately. Let the Crown Prince Yu see him off on my behalf.”
He waved at Yu Chaoen and whispered a few instructions to him, who then left to carry out the orders.
…
The urgent military news from Anxi quickly spread throughout the court. This meant Li Qingan had to return to Anxi right away. In the morning, over a dozen officials from the court went to the city outskirts to see him off.
Crown Prince Li Yu, entrusted by Li Longji, came to see Li Qingan off, followed by Wang Gong, the Minister of Punishments, Zhang Yun, the Minister of Revenue, Wei Huan, the Minister of Works, Pei Min, the Deputy Minister of War, and more than a dozen other high-ranking officials from the Eastern Palace faction. Even Yang Guozhong, the Minister of Personnel, and Wei Jiansu, the Minister of War, were present at the farewell.
Li Qingan’s nearly a thousand bodyguards were already lined up, flags fluttering, ready to set off. Among them were several large carriages carrying his family members.
In a separate pavilion nearby, a simple banquet had been prepared. Over a dozen high-ranking officials gathered there to bid Li Qingan farewell. Li Yu raised a cup and said, “General, as you head to Anxi now, just as the battle in Longyou is about to begin, I hope you can support the efforts there from the west and bring good news soon.”
Li Qingan also raised his cup and said, “Please rest assured, Your Highness. I will surely eliminate the Tubo forces in the western front and create conditions for the victory in Longyou.”
“Very well! Let’s drink to wishing the General a smooth journey.”
Li Yu raised his cup and looked around. The officials all raised their cups as well, and they drank it all in one gulp. Li Qingan smiled at everyone and said, “Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll return to the capital next year to report on my duties.”
At that moment, Zhang Yun glanced at the carriages and suddenly laughed, “Has the General brought his newlywed wife along too?”
Before Li Qingan could respond, Yang Guozhong laughed and said, “Minister Zhang isn’t aware of this. The General’s parents and ancestors are all in Suiye. He’s taking his wife there to pay respects to his ancestors. Does Minister Zhang understand now?”
Li Qingan was slightly taken aback. He had never discussed this with Yang Guozhong before and wasn’t expecting him to say such a thing. He glanced at Yang Guozhong, who also looked at him. Their eyes met, and they both smiled knowingly.

The two of them had been at odds for so many years, never agreeing on anything, except on this matter, where their interests aligned. Yang Guozhong wanted to protect the rights of the Yang family, and under no circumstances would he allow Du Gu Mingyue to enter the palace. He already knew that Li Qingan intended to take his wife away, so he remained silent on this issue—for him, not opposing meant supporting it.

Li Yu immediately stepped in and said, “The general taking his wife to pay respects to his parents and ancestors is an act of filial piety. I have given my consent, and I will take full responsibility for this matter.”

Since the crown prince had spoken, no one else said anything. Pei Min stepped forward and gave Li Qingan a firm pat on the shoulder, “Take care on your journey!”

Li Qingan nodded and smiled as well. “Uncle, why not send some of the Pei family’s young men to train in the Anxi army? I’ll give them a chance to earn merits.”

“I will send some of the Pei family’s young men to Anxi.”

Li Qingan smiled again and bowed to everyone, saying, “Your Highness, my lords, I take my leave now.”

The senior officials returned the bow and said, “Wish the general a smooth journey!”

Li Qingan quickly left the pavilion, mounted his horse, waved to everyone, then softly ordered, “Set off!”

The convoy slowly set off, heading west along the official road. Li Yu watched the departing convoy with a slight frown. Li Qingan was able to take his wife away so smoothly, yet the emperor didn’t interfere at all, which made him feel uneasy.

……

Li Qingan continued westward. Two days later, the convoy arrived in Fengxiang. As soon as they reached the city gates, a large group of soldiers, numbering in the thousands, suddenly emerged from the city. They lined up in a row, blocking Li Qingan’s path.

“General, it seems to be the Yulin Army!” one of the bodyguards recognized the troops.

Li Qingan smiled coldly. As expected. It was within his expectations. A general rushed forward from the ranks—Chen Xuanli, the commander of the Right Yulin Army.

He rode up to Li Qingan and bowed, saying, “General, I am here by the emperor’s orders to question you why you did not follow tradition by leaving your family in Chang’an as hostages.”

Li Qingan smiled slightly and said, “General Chen, your words are surprising. Since the reign of Emperor Kaiyuan, when the emperor adopted the system of eunuchs overseeing the army, there has been no longer any practice of leaving family members in the capital as hostages. Moreover, since the founding of our Tang dynasty, we have always relied on censors to oversee the army—there has never been a practice of leaving generals’ families in the capital as hostages. I’m not sure where General Chen got this idea from.”

“This…”

Chen Xuanli was at a loss for words. After a long pause, he said, “Though there’s no formal rule, it has always been customary for military governors to leave their wives in the capital. An Lushan, Geshu Han, and Gao Xianzhi all did the same. Why is it special in the case of the great general? Since the Emperor trusts the great general, the general should repay that trust with courtesy!”

Li Qing’an smiled and said, “I understand General Chen’s point. I’m not saying I’m breaking precedent. My intention is simply to take my wife to Suiye to pay respects to our parents and ancestors—a natural human concern. After that, I’ll return to Chang’an. I believe the Emperor can understand this. Besides, the Crown Prince has approved my request. Please, General Chen, understand.”

Chen Xuanli had also heard about this. He heard that the Emperor favored Li Qing’an’s wife but didn’t dare take her directly, so he tried to restrict Li Qing’an using established customs, preventing him from taking his wife away. Yet Chen Xuanli knew that Li Qing’an hadn’t violated any rules. In the Tang Dynasty’s military system, there was only a supervisory officer system, not a hostage system. It was merely a customary practice for high-ranking officials to leave their wives in Chang’an. If pursued strictly, there were no clear regulations, so taking her away wouldn’t be wrong. Of course, no one would dare offend the Emperor over this.

Although Chen Xuanli understood this, his task was to stop Li Qing’an from taking his wife away. He said apologetically, “Great General, I’m sorry. I’m acting under orders. Since you have special circumstances, you can submit a request to the Emperor. Of course, the Emperor will understand your familial obligations and allow your wife to go to Suiye to pay respects to your in-laws. But the condition is that you must submit this request to the Emperor yourself, rather than acting on your own, which led to this misunderstanding. To avoid this, it’s better if you send your wife back to Chang’an first, then submit your request to the Emperor. That way, I won’t trouble you anymore. Please don’t force me to do so.”

Li Qing’an grew slightly angry. He said coldly, “General Chen, I have urgent military matters to attend to and must return to Anxi. If you force me to go back to Chang’an, delaying my mission, can you bear the consequences?”

“I wouldn’t dare delay the general’s military matters. Please go to Anxi. But your wife should return to Chang’an first. If the Emperor approves, I’ll send troops to escort her to Anxi. I won’t hinder your familial obligations.”

Chen Xuanli’s attitude was firm. This was an order from Emperor Li Longji. No matter what excuse Li Qing’an gave, he must bring Li Qing’an’s wife back.

Li Qing’an suddenly smiled. “Since General Chen insists, then let her return to Chang’an!”

“What?” Chen Xuanli didn’t understand Li Qing’an’s meaning.
At that moment, the curtain of the carriage was pulled open, and Mingyue said with a smile, “General Chen, I’m not your sister. You’ve got the wrong person!”
She jumped down from the carriage and opened the door—it was empty inside. The next carriage was also opened, and two identical twin sisters got out. Chen Xuanli recognized Mingyue and was stunned. “General, what’s going on?”
“To be honest, General Chen, my wife is too ill to accompany me. She’s still in Chang’an and plans to set off in a few days. Since you insist that I report this to the emperor, I’ll send someone to deliver the report.”
Chen Xuanli felt uneasy. He knew well that Li Qing’an wouldn’t leave his wife in Chang’an; it was likely she had already left. He sighed inwardly but had no choice but to bow and say, “Then I wish the general a smooth journey!”
He waved his hand and said, “Go!”
Thousands of imperial guards turned their horses and left, vanishing in an instant. Li Qing’an watched them go and said with a faint smile, “Set off!”
The convoy entered the city and continued westward.
…
That morning, Mingyue’s carriage also passed Liangzhou and entered Ganzhou. The convoy arrived near Shandan County. Mingyue pulled back the curtain to see an endless grassland. The Hexi Corridor was covered in lush greenery. Herds of horses galloped across the fields, while sheep grazed leisurely by the river. In the distance lay the snow-capped Ganjun Mountains, their peaks shining with gem-like brilliance under the sunlight.
The beautiful scenery beyond the frontier broadened Mingyue’s heart, but her husband’s delayed arrival darkened her mood, leaving her gloomy. Wu Yi, who was traveling with her, asked with a smile, “Is Mingyue missing Lord Li?”
Mingyue smiled shyly. “A little. I know there’s no real problem, but I just can’t shake the worry.”
“That’s human nature! You parted from your husband just the day after your wedding—it’s natural to worry. But I heard from Lord Li that you also long for the scenery of Anxi. Isn’t that exactly what you desire?”
Mingyue nodded. “Where will we live in the future? Beiting or Anxi?”
Wu Yi smiled. “We’ll live in Suiye. Our family has already moved there. There are many troops stationed there, and it’s said that many Han immigrants will also move there. You won’t feel like you’re in a foreign land.”

At that moment, a horse rushed over. Colonel Jiang Xiaonian bent outside the carriage and said, “Madams, the general has sent word that they have entered Longyou Huizhou. He ordered us to wait in Shandan County for now; they will come to join us in three days.” The two women exchanged a glance, both showing signs of delight. Volume 10: The War of Four Kingdoms