Chapter 337: Riots in Khwarezm

Ten more days passed. As the Byzantine delegation returned to their country, the turmoil in Li Qing’an’s family gradually subsided. Ever since Eirwenni forcefully visited Li Qing’an’s family, she never mentioned the incident again, not even referring to their special relationship, as if nothing had happened. However, both sides had already drafted preliminary plans for military cooperation, agreeing to support each other in dealing with the Arabs. As part of this cooperation and to show their sincerity, Li Qing’an decided to send a force of 100 archers to Byzantium to demonstrate the power of the Tang army’s crossbows. He also signed a memorandum with the Byzantine delegation to sell 3,000 of the Tang army’s stock of crossbows at 50 gold solidi each.

On the fifth day of the second month, the Byzantine delegation left Suiye. But at that time, all attention in Suiye was focused on Khwarezm, where the situation was deteriorating day by day. Li Qing’an had no choice but to send Li Siyeh from the Zashi Kingdom with 20,000 new troops to support Khwarezm. Yet, as the Tang army was on its way to Samarkand, the largest uprising broke out in Bukhara, the capital of Anguo.

…

At dawn, a long-suppressed riot swept through the ancient city of Bukhara in Khwarezm. In the largest temple square in Bukhara, nearly 10,000 Zoroastrians who wanted to demolish the mosque clashed violently with the Shiite Muslims who defended it. With bloodshot eyes, they fought desperately with swords and clubs. Cries and pleas filled the square. A young Zoroastrian was knocked to the ground, and a group of Shiites immediately surrounded him, beating him mercilessly with clubs. The young man rolled on the ground, crying for mercy, but hatred filled everyone’s hearts. In just moments, he was beaten to death.

A similar tragedy befell a young Shiite. The square was covered with dead and wounded people. Suddenly, the sound of hurried horse hooves came from afar. More than 5,000 Tang cavalry rushed in from all directions, charging into the crowd of Shiites and killing mercilessly those who tried to defend the mosque. The Muslims scattered in panic, while the emboldened Zoroastrians cheered as they rushed into the mosque. In less than half an hour, the mosque, the source of hatred in Bukhara, finally collapsed.

Extremely enraged Muslims spread the flames of rebellion through the streets and alleys of Bukhara. They carried out bloody revenge, mercilessly killing Zoroastrians and their families. The Zoroastrians who lost their loved ones were filled with grief and vowed revenge, turning their brutal killings against Muslim women and children as well.

Flames lit up every corner of Bukhara, and the situation was completely out of control. Thousands of people rushed to escape this city drowned in hatred and bloodshed. It was not until three days later that the Tang forces finally regained control of Bukhara. Yet this ancient and prosperous city had become a ghost town—over 20,000 people were killed, and even the Tang forces suffered over 400 casualties. Although the riots in Bukhara were quelled, the seeds of hatred had taken root, and a large-scale civil war and uprising were on the verge of breaking out in Anguo and the entire Transoxiana region.

…

The riots in Bukhara alerted the Tang forces greatly. Bai Xiaode, the deputy commander in charge of defending Transoxiana, urgently reported to Suiye while ordering martial law in the capitals of various countries in Transoxiana. Residents were forbidden from participating in any public activities. Especially in Samarkand, the largest city in Transoxiana, the Tang forces maintained strict vigilance. Teams of Tang soldiers patrolled the streets, allowing residents to go out briefly at noon to buy food and water only. Gatherings of more than twenty people were prohibited, and all religious services were canceled.

At noon, when residents were allowed to go out to buy food, the streets were filled with them hurrying about in a rush. They didn’t even have time to greet acquaintances. They had only one hour—after that, all residents must return home. Those who refused would be arrested immediately, and those who resisted would be killed without mercy.

At that time, a mysterious messenger also arrived at the palace of the Kingdom of Kang. After giving a brief report, he was immediately led inside by the guards. In a secret room, King Shao Fen of Kang received this mysterious messenger.

“This is a personal letter written by the governor of Khorasan, a Muslim, to His Majesty the King.”

The messenger placed a scroll on the table. Shao Fen looked grave as he slowly picked up the scroll and read it. In the letter, the Muslims explicitly demanded that he initiate a rebellion among the Shiites in Samarkand. Shao Fen read it twice; there was no mention of any compensation for him, which made him frown. Sighing, he said, “Things aren’t as simple as the governor thinks. The Tang army has 20,000 troops in Samarkand, with the strictest martial law in place. As you must have seen, the streets are filled with Tang soldiers, and residents aren’t even allowed to talk in groups of more than twenty. How can we organize a rebellion? Besides, the Tang army is brutal and biased toward Zoroastrians. Over 10,000 Shiites died in Bukhara, and the entire city was destroyed. I’m afraid the rebellion will fail, and Islamists will disappear from Transoxiana.”

Hearing Shao Fen’s refusal to comply with the Muslims’ demands, the messenger’s expression darkened. He threatened him, “You need to think carefully. Our counterattack in Transoxiana is imminent. If you refuse to earn redemption now, once the Khorasan soldiers invade Samarkand, your head will be hung on the city gates. Do you understand?”

Shao Fen wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “I’m not saying I won’t comply. I’m just asking for some time. Once the Tang army lifts the martial law, I’ll immediately organize a rebellion.”

“No!” The messenger firmly rejected his request. “If the Tang army maintains martial law for ten years, you must stay inactive for ten years. I don’t care what methods you use—you must obey the orders of the Muslim general. The Muslim general said he’ll give you at most a month, otherwise, prepare to die! Think for yourself!”

After the messenger left, Shao Fen sat down helplessly, rubbing his temples frantically. What should he do?

…

Before dawn, Li Qing’an received an urgent message from Bai Xiaode: a riot by Islamic Shiites had broken out in Bukhara, causing heavy casualties among the city’s residents. Now Bukhara was a deserted city. In other cities of Transoxiana, tensions between Shiites and Zoroastrians had reached a boiling point, and only martial law could keep order. But if the conflict between the two groups wasn’t resolved soon, a large-scale uprising of Islamists in Transoxiana would inevitably erupt.

This news prompted Li Qing’an to activate his emergency plan immediately. He ordered the Tang troops in Hexi to return to Anxi, sent 20,000 Tang troops from Shule to occupy Daxia Bolu, and urgently recalled Li Guangbi, who was stationed in Juzhanti, with 10,000 troops to Yincheng, to prepare to assist the Shule Tang troops in attacking Sindh.

At the same time, Li Qing’an began to hold someone accountable for the worsening situation in Hezhong. The severe situation there left him no room for leniency. Li Fei Yuanli bore undeniable responsibility for the deterioration in Hezhong. He removed Li Fei Yuanli from his position as the military governor of Hezhong and reassigned him to Ningyuan State. Meanwhile, Li Qing’an sent a message to Bai Xiaode via carrier pigeon, ordering him to temporarily take over as the military governor of Hezhong and continue to enforce martial law.

In Li Qing’an’s office, Li Fei Yuanli stood head bowed at the bottom, enduring Li Qing’an’s fierce rebukes in silence.

“How did I instruct you when I handed Hezhong to you? Without Luo Qiming’s request, you were not allowed to dispatch a single soldier. But what did you do? You acted as you pleased, using troops however you wanted, killing whoever you wanted, and showing favoritism toward Zoroastrians. Now look at how chaotic Hezhong has become. How will you explain this to me?”

Li Qing’an grew angrier by the moment. He slammed the table, furious enough to strangle the scoundrel before him. Li Fei Yuanli kept his head lowered. After a long while, his thick lips moved as he murmured an explanation, “It’s mainly because most of the Tang troops in Hezhong are former slaves from Yincheng. They are mostly Zoroastrians, and it’s they who are showing favoritism to their own people.”

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

Furious, Li Qing’an grabbed the inkstone on the table and hurled it at him. He shifted his hand slightly, and with a bang, it hit the wall, shattering into pieces.

“If you hadn’t ordered troops to be sent, would they have suppressed the Shiites? Who told you to send troops? Did I give you any orders?”

Li Qing’an restrained his raging anger and glared at him fiercely. “I originally wanted to demote you to a lowly rank, but considering our years of acquaintance, I’ll give you one more chance. Go to Ningyuan State and replace Li Guangbi. I’ll give you three strict orders. If you dare violate even one of them again, I’ll shatter your skull.”

Li Fei Yuanli was terrified. Trembling, he said, “I dare not.”

“Good! Handle local affairs. Do not interfere in any government matters. Do you hear these three rules?”

Li Fei Yuanli wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, “I remember them. I dare not disobey.”

Li Qing’an stared at him for a while before slowly saying, “Whether you can be given important responsibilities in the future depends on your performance in Ningyuan State. If you do well, I’ll let you lead troops in battle again. But if you still fail there, you’ll go back to Sulou Fortress to be a garrison commander. Don’t blame me for not showing leniency. Go!”

“Yes! I retire.”

Li Fei Yuanli slowly retreated, and two bodyguards quickly stepped forward to clean up the broken inkstone. Li Qingan sat in his seat, flipped through a report on the table, then ordered, “Let Cui Qianyou come in!”
A moment later, Cui Qianyou entered, bowed, and said, “Your subordinate pays respects to the Great General!”
Li Qingan smiled and pointed to the chair beside him. “Sit down and talk.”
“Thank you, Great General!”
Cui Qianyou sat down, his back straight, feeling uneasy. The thick volume on Li Qingan’s table was his proposal for strategies regarding Hezhong. He had already heard that Li Fei Yuanli had been removed from his position as the governor of Hezhong. Did he have a chance of going there?
Li Qingan picked up the volume and smiled. “General Cui suggests merging the various states in Hezhong into two countries, with Zoroastrians and Shiites establishing their own states respectively. Although the suggestion is good, has General Cui considered that one day the Shiite state might fall under the rule of the Abbasids, while the Zoroastrian state falls under the Tang Dynasty? Has General Cui thought about such a possibility?”
“Your subordinate has considered it. In the past couple of years, the Abbasids have suppressed the Shiites harshly, and their hatred cannot be eased in just a few days. I believe it will take at least ten years before the Abbasids can conquer the Shiite state.”
“Ten years?” Li Qingan smiled faintly. “If Abbas dies of illness and Mansur takes power, given Mansur’s long-standing grudge against Abu Muslim, would he kill Abu Muslim to atone for his sins against the Shiites in Hezhong and then ease relations with them? Would your ten-year estimate still hold?”
“But…”
Cui Qianyou objected, “But when will their caliph Abbas die of illness? This is just the Great General’s guess. No one can know for sure. What if he doesn’t die for ten years?”
Li Qingan smiled slightly. “To win every battle, one must know both oneself and the enemy. Abbas was injured by an arrow in the Battle of the Tigris, and his internal injuries have yet to heal. You should know why he designated his brother as his successor instead of his own son—because he was well aware that his injuries would never fully recover. If I’m not mistaken, Abbas will surely die within the next one or two years. Let’s just wait and see.”
Li Qingan knew that Abbas had only served as caliph for four years in history, but he didn’t know why Abbas would die. With the help of the Han-Tang Association, he finally learned that Abbas had been injured by an arrow in the Battle of the Tigris. From this, he deduced that Abbas must have died because of that injury.

Cui Qianyou was speechless for a long time. At that moment, Li Qing’an stood up, walked slowly toward him, and said with a smile, “After talking for so long, what I really hope is that you’ll stay in Northern Desert and continue to command the troops of the three divisions for me, because I know that something is about to happen there.”

Cui Qianyou was stunned. He quickly asked, “Why do you say that, General?”

Li Qing’an walked a few steps around the room with his hands behind his back, then turned around and said with a smile, “Before I returned to Anxi, I had already planned strategies in Hezhong. After spring, the Uyghurs will surely invade Helan in force. By then, my Anxi army can legitimately send troops against them. You can take advantage of the Uyghurs’ weakened position to strike at their stronghold in the east, preventing them from attacking Beiting. Only then can I confront the Arabs without worries. Do you understand?”

Cui Qianyou stood up abruptly and straightened up, saying, “I understand, sir. I will no longer consider matters in Hezhong.”

Li Qing’an nodded in approval. “Very good. Go back right away. I estimate that news from Shuofang will arrive within a month at the latest.”

“I take my leave.”

Li Qing’an patted his shoulder and said with a smile, “I happen to have some matters to attend to ahead, so I’ll walk you out!”

…

Li Qing’an gave a few more instructions to his personal guards before seeing Cui Qianyou out of the courtyard and heading toward the government hall. Despite the unrest in Hezhong, he wouldn’t ignore the situation in Chang’an either. Silver coins were already being minted in large quantities in Anxi, and he needed to send them inland to purchase various luxuries such as silk and porcelain needed for trade with the Byzantines.

Li Qing’an accompanied Cui Qianyou all the way to the entrance of the government hall, watching him go before turning back to search for Wang Changling. It was noon, meal time. The government hall did not provide lunch, so many lower-ranking officials and students who had come to Anxi to assist left the hall to eat at nearby taverns. Additionally, many Sogdian merchants who came to the hall to pay taxes and obtain transit permits waited inside the gate for their lunch break. The place was bustling with people coming and going.

“General!” Many officials bowed to greet Li Qing’an.

Li Qing’an returned the gesture with a bow. He entered the main gate, where there was a waiting area in the passage between the inner and outer gates. Dozens of Persian merchants sat there resting and waiting; most of them carried boxes filled with Dinar coins intended for taxation. They were allowed a half-hour break at noon, during which time merchants were not permitted to enter the government hall. Anxi had established a tax bureau specifically responsible for collecting merchant taxes, with the headquarters located in Suoye. Branch offices were also set up in eight cities: Samarkand, Juzhan Ti, Tuozhi City, Talas, Kucha, Jinman, Yutian, and Shule. The tax rate was uniformly set at 30%, a low rate intended to encourage trade. Since the tax bureau in Suoye had not yet been built, its officials temporarily worked inside the government hall, so merchants also had to come there to file their tax declarations. After paying the taxes, they would go to the military governor’s office to obtain a transit permit—a new rule implemented only this year. Previously, merchants crossed using tax receipts, but since these receipts did not reflect the military’s opinion, it was necessary to obtain a transit permit in Suoye.

Since no one worked at noon and staying inside the government hall was not allowed, merchants usually rested in the passage between the inner and outer gates. There were over twenty wide wooden chairs there, and many merchants had already gathered there, drinking water and eating dry food while patiently waiting for business to resume in the afternoon.

Generally, Li Qing’an did not use the main gate but instead rode a carriage through another side gate about a hundred steps away to enter the eastern section of the government hall, where was his office. But today, as he had escorted Cui Qianyou out through the main gate, he walked back to the government hall on foot.

At that moment, several Sogdian merchants saw Li Qing’an approaching from afar. They quickly exchanged glances, hiding their extreme surprise. They were all Shia Muslims who had disguised themselves as merchants and come to Suoye from Bukhara. Their goal was clear: to assassinate Li Qing’an. They had been in Suoye for a long time, searching for an opportunity, and never expected to encounter him here. Suppressing their intense excitement, they pretended nothing and crouched down in front of their boxes.

Not far away on either side of them, dozens of Tang army soldiers were stationed at the inner and outer gates. Entering the outer gate required registration, and only after receiving permission could one enter to handle affairs. Persians usually carried weapons such as knives and swords for self-protection, but these had to be left outside the gate and were not allowed inside. A more thorough inspection was required to prevent assassins from sneaking in when entering the inner gate.

At that time, Li Qing’an entered the outer gate and stepped into the long passage.

The gates of the government hall were ten zhang wide, exuding grandeur. Between the inner and outer gates lay a passage about thirty steps long. Over twenty bodyguards armed with swords guarded Li Qing’an as they escorted him into the hall. Just then, a young Hu merchant from the east suddenly shouted, “General, I’m innocent!” He ran toward Li Qing’an, holding a scroll of parchment, and knelt down about thirty zhang away, repeatedly kowtowing and crying, “I want to sue Li Fei Yuanli for stealing my wife!” This sudden incident distracted the bodyguards, and everyone’s attention turned to the complainant. At that moment, three Sogdian merchants from the west attacked simultaneously. They drew the short knives hidden in the gaps of the box lids and rushed at Li Qing’an at lightning speed. At that instant, two of Li Qing’an’s bodyguards on either side spotted the assassins. Without hesitation, they raised their swords to block them and shouted, “Assassins!” Chaos ensued in the passage. The other merchants, unaware that there were assassins among them, panicked and fled in all directions. Soldiers stationed on both sides rushed in, knocking the merchants to the ground. Li Qing’an’s bodyguards were extremely fierce; they killed the complainant, and a dozen of them used shields to surround Li Qing’an, while another ten bodyguards encircled the three assassins from the west. Li Qing’an quickly scanned the scene and seeing only three assassins, he ordered loudly, “Catch them alive!” Realizing they could no longer assassinate Li Qing’an, the three assassins despairingly shouted to the sky, “May Allah protect Khwarezm and its Muslim brothers!” Then they turned their knives and stabbed themselves in the chest.