Chapter 476: The Incident at Pinglou (Part 2)

Du Gu Changfeng did not recognize the group of fierce-looking officers before him. Instinctively, he pulled Si Niang behind him. Though he was merely a civil official, he still had a chivalrous heart to protect weaker women. Meanwhile, Chang Sun Nanyi recognized those men—everyone around him did as well. The young officer at the forefront, with a face full of muscle, was named Wang Yue. He was the son of Wang Yu, the governor of Jingzhao, and the nephew of Wang Gong. He was also the son-in-law of Li Hen, the regent king. He had married Li Hen’s daughter, the Princess of Danyang.

Although Wang Yue was not old—only twenty-four or twenty-five—and had only been in the military for two years, he had risen to the position of Lieutenant General of the Jinguwei Guard thanks to the influence of his father, uncle, and father-in-law. He was arrogant and domineering, even feared by Chen Xuanli, the general in charge of the Jinguwei Guard. He commanded two thousand men responsible for maintaining order in Pingkang Fang, Xuanyang Fang, Chongren Fang, and the Eastern Market area. He practically acted like a local emperor in that region.

The officer beside him from the Guanzhong Army was also a lieutenant general named Lin Yi. His elder brother was General Lin Jian, who had led an army to attack Pei’s birthday banquet just over half a month ago. Like his brother, Lin Yi was also a trusted subordinate of Chen Xuanli. The aunt of both brothers was Chen Xuanli’s wife. Lin Yi was a highly cunning man. With his wealthy family background, he tried even harder to please Wang Yue, often inviting him to drink. Today, it was his turn to host, and coincidentally, Chang Sun Nanyi and the others were hosting Du Gu Changfeng. Although the Yulin Army, Guanzhong Army, and Jinguwei Guard did not interfere with each other, Chang Sun Quanxu and Chen Xuanli were on bad terms. Seeing Chang Sun Nanyi, Lin Yi thought of avenging his uncle, but he wouldn’t take action himself. Instead, he wanted Wang Yue to do it. Wang Yue was young and arrogant, making him an ideal pawn.

“I wondered who it was. It turns out to be General Chang Sun. Since we’re colleagues, there’s no need to ruin our relationship over a woman.”
Lin Yi pointed at Bai Si Niang behind Du Gu Changfeng and said, “This beauty is very much liked by General Wang. Why not give her to us, General Chang Sun?”

Although Chang Sun Nanyi wasn’t willing to quarrel with Wang Yue and the others over a mere entertainer, Wang Yue had kicked the door open just now. If he gave Bai Si Niang to them without a fight, he would lose face. So he smiled and said, “Since we’re colleagues, why should we give her to you instead of you giving in?”

Wang Yue also recognized Chang Sun Nanyi. Seeing that he refused to give him face, he grew angry. Glancing over, he saw Bai Si Niang hiding behind Du Gu Changfeng and shouted harshly, “You little whore! Come here at once!”

Siniang trembled all over in fear. She knew that this Wang Yanei intended to use her as a warning to others. Wang Yanei had always been cruel to women. If she went over, she would either die or be disabled. How could she dare to go? Earlier, Dugu Changfeng had shielded her behind him, giving her a sense of reliance. She clung tightly to Dugu Changfeng’s arm, pleading silently for his help. Dugu Changfeng also disapproved of Wang Yue’s arrogance. He stepped forward, bowed, and said, “I am the chief secretary of Xuzhou. Please, sir, show me some courtesy and spare this girl, shall we?”

Dugu Changfeng was a gentleman. He didn’t want to reveal his name to intimidate others, nor did he want to mention that he was the deputy governor of Jingzhao. He believed that by showing he was also an official, the officer would be cautious. Then he could offer an apology and exchange a few polite words about long-standing misunderstandings, and the matter would be settled. This was his approach to handling situations, and generally, it worked.

But Dugu Changfeng forgot that this was Chang’an, not Henan Province. He didn’t realize there were people who were ignorant and only bullied the weak. If he had said he was surnamed Dugu and the deputy governor of Jingzhao, Wang Yue might not have dared to provoke him. But Wang Yue was exactly such a person—someone who bullied the weak. Hearing that Dugu Changfeng was just a local chief secretary, he sneered, “Where did you come from, a bumpkin?” Then he swung a punch at Dugu Changfeng’s face. Caught off guard, Dugu Changfeng stumbled back a dozen feet, knocking over five or six low tables before falling face down, blood spraying from his nose. He groaned in pain and covered his face.

Wang Yue’s sudden attack caused chaos in the room. The singing girls screamed and ran outside. Changsun Nanyi flew into a rage. He rushed at Wang Yue, grabbed his neck, and threw him to the ground. Then he mounted Wang Yue and smashed his face with huge fists. “You bastard! How dare you hit my friend? I’ll teach you a lesson today!”

Wang Yue relied on his power to bully others, but he was himself a spoiled brat. He was no match for the strong and muscular Changsun Nanyi. In moments, he too was bleeding from his nose, screaming in pain like a pig being slaughtered. Lin Yi deliberately didn’t intervene. Only when Wang Yue was badly beaten did he step forward and pretend to mediate, “General Changsun, stop! Young General Wang is the son-in-law of the regent—someone you can’t afford to provoke!”

The more he said this, the harder Changsun Nanyi fought. Seeing that things might get worse if they continued, Wei Yingwu grabbed Changsun Nanyi from behind and pulled him away. “Changsun, stop fighting!”

Wang Yue was on the verge of being beaten to death. He had never suffered such humiliation in his entire life. He got up and ran downstairs, shouting frantically, “Changsun dog thief! If you’ve got the guts, wait for me! I’ll show you how I’ll kill you!”
Lin Yi and the others also ran downstairs after him. By then, Bai Siniang had already used her skirt to wipe the blood from Du Gu Changfeng’s face and helped him up. She was extremely grateful to Du Gu Changfeng and quickly said to him, “Young Master Du Gu, you should leave quickly! There are troops near Wang Yue—he must have gone to gather them. If you don’t leave now, it will be too late.”
Du Gu Changfeng nodded. “Miss, please come with us.”
“It’s already too late to leave now.”
Changsun Nanyi stood by the window, watching troops from the Jinguwei guard approaching. It was a patrol unit that happened to encounter Wang Yue, who was seeking help. A fierce look appeared in Changsun Nanyi’s eyes. He immediately said to Wei Yingwu, “Go back through the back door quickly and call some of your men here!”
Wei Yingwu also realized the situation was critical. If they didn’t seek help, they might lose their lives there. He nodded, rushed out of the room, and left the brothel through the back door, heading toward the nearest Anmen Gate in the imperial city to ask for help. In a moment, Wang Yue arrived, leading a group of Jinguwei soldiers, radiating murderous intent. He was on horseback, his face covered in blood, with a large Jinguwei staff across the saddle and a bow and arrow in his hand. His hatred had reached its peak. Who was he? The nephew of the prime minister, the son of the governor of the capital, the son-in-law of the regent king—yet he was being beaten mercilessly by the son of a dismissed general. Was he beating himself? No! He wasn’t beating himself—he was attacking the power of the Wang family and humiliating the regent king.
The fire of revenge had reduced his reason to ashes. He galloped to the front of the brothel and shouted, “Block both the front and back doors! No one is allowed to escape!”
At that moment, the brothel owner, Luo, ran out, pleading fearfully, “General Wang, please show mercy! We’re willing to pay compensation and apologize!”
“Damn your crap!”
Wang Yue swung his staff, hitting Luo’s left arm. Luo screamed in pain, clutching his arm as he staggered back. Wang Yue’s eyes turned red with rage. He pointed his staff at the third floor and shouted, “Changsun dog thief! I’ll cut off your legs! Your grandfather will spare your life!”
The hundreds of Jinguwei soldiers behind him also shouted, “Come out, you dog thieves of the Yulin Army!”

Changsun Nanyi was also a fierce and aggressive man. Hearing the insults from the other side, he didn’t back down at all. Standing by the window, he sneered and shouted, “You fools! You had your testicles cut off in Xinfeng County. If you’re so brave, go fight against the Anxi Army. Do you dare?”
The Jinwu Guard and the Guanzhong Army were nominally two separate forces but were actually one entity. The Guanzhong Army had been thoroughly defeated by the Anxi Army in Xinfeng County. Although this incident hadn’t spread among the common people, it was impossible to conceal within the military. Everyone in the Jinwu Guard and the Guanzhong Army was aware of it, and it was a profound humiliation for them. Yet they dared not provoke the Anxi Army and could only swallow their anger. Suddenly, Changsun Nanyi struck at their sore spot, prompting some soldiers to start making noise and shooting arrows randomly at the upper floors.
At that moment, Lin Yi slowly stepped forward. He was a step late but just saw Wei Yingwu riding out of Pingkang Fang. He immediately guessed that Wei Yingwu must have gone to report the situation. He secretly rejoiced—this was exactly what he hoped for. The bigger the chaos, the better, so that both sides would be damaged and he could reap the benefits. He had originally planned not to intervene again, but he was worried that Wang Yue might feel guilty and end things with just some shouting. To achieve the best results, he needed to stir things up further.
“General Wang, I think we should give up! They’re the Yulin Army—we can’t afford to offend them.”
“Give up?”
Wang Yue glared, pointing at his face still covered in fresh blood, and roared, “What do you see? This is blood! Blood must be repaid with blood! If I don’t avenge this today, I swear I’ll never be a man!”
By now, more and more people had gathered to watch. Pingkang Fang was already one of Chang’an’s busiest and most prosperous areas, with a huge flow of people. With such an incident occurring, everyone rushed to see what was happening. It was also lunchtime, so the crowd was even denser.
The prostitutes in the brothels stopped working, and the staff and customers in the taverns rushed outside as well. A dense crowd, layer upon layer, surrounded the entire area, numbering tens of thousands.
Just then, the sound of hurried horse hooves came from afar, along with shouts, “Move aside! Get out of the way!”
The crowd panicked and scattered to both sides, quickly clearing a wide path. More than a hundred Yulin soldiers rushed in, led by Wei Yingwu, who had gone to report the situation earlier.

Logically, Wei Yingwu shouldn’t have returned so quickly, but by chance, not far after leaving Pingkang Fang, he encountered a group of Yulin Army soldiers who had just finished their shift and were going to Pingkang Fang to eat. Most of these Yulin Army soldiers came from middle-to-upper-class families in Chang’an and were known as the “army of the wealthy.” Over the more than a hundred years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, they had always lived in luxury and held themselves above others. Although their status had declined in recent years, their ingrained mindset from those years remained, and they were still extremely proud. When Wei Yingwu told them that General Changsun was being bullied by the Jinguwei, the Yulin Army soldiers became furious and rushed to help Changsun Nanyi.

What was originally a minor issue escalated into a confrontation between the two armies due to mutual stubbornness and deliberate provocation by certain parties.

Lin Yi from the Guanzhong Army had already disappeared. Seeing that the conflict was intensifying, he fled the scene.

Without any negotiation or discussion, the fury in both sides could not be contained, and they started fighting as soon as they met. They clashed on horseback, wielding swords and sticks, with cries filling the air. From time to time, someone was knocked down by a sword strike or a stick blow. At that moment, Changsun Nanyi rushed out of the pavilion, waving his long sword and shouting, “You wretched dog! Don’t you want my life? Here I am!” He charged at Wang Yue with his sword. Frightened by Changsun Nanyi’s fierce attack, Wang Yue turned and fled. Just then, over a thousand Jinguwei soldiers stationed in the East Market arrived upon hearing the news. Seeing his troops arrive, Wang Yue regained his courage and pointed at Changsun Nanyi, shouting, “This man is the culprit! Kill him!”

The thousand Jinguwei soldiers surrounded the hundred-plus Yulin Army soldiers, with shouts echoing continuously. The crowds around also cheered loudly, creating utter chaos. People like Dugu Changfeng were trapped inside the pavilion; no matter how loudly they shouted, those fighting couldn’t hear them.

Changsun Nanyi was surrounded by nearly a hundred Jinguwei soldiers who beat him mercilessly with their sticks. Unable to hold on, he began to plead for mercy. Wang Yue trembled with excitement and screamed frantically, “Kill him! Kill this dog!” Poor Changsun Nanyi, not having a horse, couldn’t escape. Under the relentless attacks of the Jinguwei soldiers, his bones were broken, his nerves torn, and his brain burst, leading to his tragic death in Pingkang Fang.

……

The incident at the pavilion shocked the entire court. In the clash between the Yulin Army and the Jinguwei in Pingkang Fang, eighteen Yulin Army soldiers, including Lieutenant General Changsun Nanyi, were killed, and the rest were injured. Wei Yingwu also suffered severe injuries—his leg and arm were broken. On the Jinguwei side, three were killed and over ten were injured.

If the man who was killed was an ordinary soldier of the Yulin Army, the matter could have been resolved easily. But since the victim was the son of Changsun Quanxu, things became much more complicated. Upon hearing of his son’s death, Changsun Quanxu went mad with grief, rushed back the body to his mansion, and cried himself unconscious holding his son’s corpse. That very night, he led his entire family to place his son’s body in front of Wang Yu, the governor of Jingzhao, demanding that Wang Yu hand over the murderer. Wang Yu’s mansion had its doors tightly shut out of fear. Wang Yue was Wang Yu’s second son, who had been doted on by his grandmother since childhood and was extremely mischievous. Although the Wang family was a prominent and strictly disciplined clan where all members were expected to study and understand propriety, Wang Yue, relying on his grandmother’s favor, dared not be reined in, refused to study, and had bullied kind people since he was young, developing a spoiled attitude. Because he was handsome and the legitimate son, he took advantage of his status, gaining Wang Gong’s favor and even being chosen as a son-in-law by Li Hen. Wang Yu rarely interfered with him, thinking that since he was a son-in-law of the regent, he didn’t need to worry. Yet, Wang Yue ultimately caused him great trouble. At that moment, Wang Yu paced back and forth in the hall, hands behind his back, filled with hatred and anger over the disaster caused by his son. But now he didn’t even know where his son was, so how could he hand him over? “Well! I’ll go and kowtow to them to apologize.” Gritting his teeth, Wang Yu opened the door and stepped outside. Below the steps, hundreds of Changsun clan members stood silently, with a coffin placed there—inside was the body of Changsun Nanyi, tightly wrapped in white cloth as a symbol of seeking justice. As soon as Wang Yu stepped out, he cried out in sorrow, “Brother Changsun, I failed to teach my son properly, resulting in such a terrible disaster. I come to apologize to you.” After speaking, he knelt beside the body and kowtowed to Changsun Nanyi three times. Yet Changsun Quanxu still ignored him. Could three kowtows settle the revenge for killing one’s son? There was no such easy solution in this world. Realizing this, Wang Yu shouted again, “Brother Changsun, I dare not ask for your forgiveness. I only want to show my sincerity. That traitor hasn’t returned home for three days, and I don’t know where he is. If I’ve lied even slightly, may my family’s ancestral graves be struck by lightning and never rest in peace.” Swearing by his ancestral graves was an extremely serious pledge, and Changsun Quanxu believed Wang Yue was indeed not there. He waved his hand and said, “Go to Daming Palace and demand the regent hand over the man!”

Wang Yue didn’t have his own residence. If he wasn’t at his own home, he was at his father-in-law’s. Although Li Heng’s daughter lived in the Prince Yong’s mansion, Changsun Quanxu knew that Li Heng must be in the Daming Palace at this time and had likely not returned to his residence yet.

Hundreds of people from the Changsun family set off in a grand procession toward the Daming Palace. They walked along Zhuque Street, with everyone from this prominent family dressed in mourning clothes and crying. The coffin wrapped in white cloth was carried high, drawing many passersby to stop and watch. Thousands more followed them, and many officials who were on good terms with the Changsun family offered sacrifices along the way for the deceased.

Wang Yue’s residence was very close to the Daming Palace. Before long, the procession arrived at the Danfeng Gate. The gate was already heavily guarded, as if it had known they were coming. Thousands of Yulin Army soldiers stood in front of the gate, blocking their path.

An Baoyu was waiting there personally. When he saw the Changsun family approaching with the coffin, he gave an order, and thousands of Yulin Army soldiers knelt down.

Changsun Nanyi was a key member of the Yulin Army and also An Baoyu’s favorite general. Now that he had been killed by the Jinyu Guard, An Baoyu was extremely grief-stricken. Though he hated the Jinyu Guard deeply, as the commander of the Yulin Army responsible for the security of the palace and imperial city, he couldn’t allow the Changsun family to enter the Daming Palace by any means.

“General, we are also saddened by Nanyi’s death, but there are family rules and national laws. The Daming Palace is a sacred place in the palace complex. You should understand better than I do that unauthorized entry is strictly forbidden, even for imperial relatives.”

“National laws? Hmph!”

Changsun Quanxu snorted angrily and said, “It’s because I’ve been too strict about following laws and rules that I’ve ended up like this. Someone framed me and removed me from my position, and I accept that. But what crime did my son commit? He was beaten to death right in the street. Who is the murderer? It’s his son-in-law! If he doesn’t give me an explanation, I’ll make the whole world know the truth about the imperial estates!”

An Baoyu was terrified and quickly stepped forward to grab Changsun Quanxu’s arm, saying, “General, please speak carefully!”

Changsun Quanxu sneered and said, “If General An is afraid, I won’t say anything in front of you, so as not to ruin your career.”

Just then, several officials rushed out from inside the Danfeng Gate. The leading official shouted, “Changsun Quanxu, receive the imperial edict!”

Changsun Quanxu was filled with rage. He used to be a very cunning man, even somewhat cowardly at heart, but his son’s death deeply angered him, unleashing his inner courage. Abandoning his usual cunning, he stood proudly and accepted the edict.

The imperial edict reader, feeling somewhat awkward, unrolled the decree sealed with the Great Seal of the Secretariat and read aloud, “The Yulin Jinwu and the imperial guards are originally of the same lineage, brothers by blood. Yet now, over trivial matters, they have turned against each other and caused harm—what a sorrow! Those who have passed away cannot be brought back. The harmony of a family lies in brothers working together, and the harmony of a nation lies in the unity of its armies. Now, Tubo is eyeing the regions of Hehuang, and war is on the horizon. Considering the stability of the Tang Dynasty and the safety of millions of people in Helong, the Yulin Jinwu must put the greater good first and set aside past grievances. Changsun Nanyi has been diligent and loyal in his duties, so he is hereby promoted to General of the Six Commanderies of the Eastern Palace, granted the title of Champion General, and made a marquis of Gaoyi County. Wang Yue, the Lieutenant General of the Jinwu Guard, was arrogant and violent in the markets. However, considering there was a reason for his actions, his death sentence is waived; he is sentenced to fifty lashes, removed from his position as Lieutenant General of the Jinwu Guard, expelled from the guard, and barred from serving in the military ever again. So it is decreed!”
Changsun Quanxu suddenly burst into loud laughter, tears streaming down his face. “Excellent! Truly, harmony is precious—I’ve witnessed it now.”
He pushed An Baoyu away abruptly, strode forward to the thousands of Yulin soldiers, and shouted loudly, “Soldiers of the army, do you know who I am?”
The thousands of Yulin soldiers looked at each other, none understanding what Changsun Quanxu meant. After serving as the General of the Yulin Army for so many years, who didn’t know him?
A few dared to shout, “You are General Changsun.”
The thousands of soldiers echoed, “You are the General of the Yulin Army.”
“Good! Since you recognize me, then I ask you—do you accept this imperial decree?”
“Not at all!”
At first, one person shouted, then hundreds joined in, and finally, thousands cried out together, “We won’t accept it! Unless Wang Yue is killed, the Yulin Army will never give up!”
Changsun Quanxu was moved to tears. He said slowly, “Today, I have no intention of resisting. With war with Tubo looming, I, Changsun Quanxu, will not ruin everything for personal gain. But I will remember this grudge. One day, I will seek justice for my son and for the Yulin Army. I hope that by then, you will not forget today’s oath!”
After speaking, Changsun Quanxu was in tears. With a wave of his hand, he left the Daming Palace with his clan and his son’s coffin. An Baoyu watched Changsun Quanxu walk away and sighed deeply. This decree was the result of discussions in the government hall—what could he do? The Jinwu Guard and the Guanzhong Army were the foundation of Li Heng’s rule. If he didn’t side with them now, would he instead support the Yulin Army? An Baoyu felt utterly exhausted. In a few months, it would be his mother’s seventieth birthday, and he needed to go back and rest for a while.