Chapter 8: Du Yu (III)

Since the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, Dongdu Luoyang has experienced three heavy snowfalls in a row. Each snowfall was heavier and more intense than the last, almost completely blocking the roads from Dongdu to Guanzhong. In Luoyang, every household locked their doors and windows tightly to keep out the harsh winter cold. At this time, even water turned to ice, so even those who relied on their strength to earn a living, such as cart drivers, stayed indoors and avoided working for meager wages.

Poorly clothed and worried about the low price of charcoal, people longed for even colder weather. Perhaps the only ones still out on the streets shouting their wares were old charcoal sellers.

In the palace to the north of Luoyang, the Emperor of Great Yan, An Lushan, was taking his noon nap. As the saying goes, people feel drowsy in spring, tired in autumn, sleepy in summer, and especially lethargic during the three cold months of winter. Winter clearly makes people more lazy than other seasons. If ordinary people are like this, how much more so for a ruler like An Lushan?

After his army captured Dongdu, An Lushan eagerly moved into the palace in the north of the city, declared himself emperor, and indulged in his imperial desires. Rising from a mere military commander to emperor, even An Lushan himself considered his journey a miracle. With the idea that “it’s my turn to be emperor next year,” he resolutely rose in rebellion against the Tang Dynasty and captured both capitals. But things did not unfold as he had planned. First, his eldest son, An Qingzong, who remained in Chang’an as a hostage, was executed by the incompetent Emperor Li Longji along with his family after news of An Lushan’s rebellion spread, and their heads were displayed publicly.

In fact, An Qingzong had always been An Lushan’s most admired and beloved son, but he was sent to Chang’an as a hostage out of necessity. Of course, when it came to a life-or-death struggle, An Lushan would surely prioritize his own survival. Of course, he intended to avenge this blood debt on the Li Tang royal family, which was why he ordered the massacre of all remaining Li Tang members after capturing Chang’an.

Yet, no amount of killing could bring back his beloved son’s life. An Qingzong ultimately died, forcing An Lushan to consider the issue of an heir. He had many sons, but few were truly outstanding. Following the customs of the Central Plains, and at the urging of his advisor Yan Zhuang, he appointed his second son, An Qingxu, as the crown prince. Yet he himself had little affection for this son; he did so purely out of necessity.

He was originally from the Hu people and held very little regard for concepts of legitimacy, rank, or hierarchy. On the steppes, the Turks also faced issues of succession to the khanate; whenever this happened, a struggle would break out among the heirs, with the winner rightfully becoming the new great khan and protector of the nomadic people.

In power struggles, strength ultimately determined everything. Whoever had the sharpest blade and the strongest handle was the stronger one and would be the one to succeed in the end.

At present, among his sons, only An Qingxu’s age and calculating nature made him suitable to be the heir apparent, with no competitors putting pressure on him, so naturally he became overconfident!

“Hmph!”

An Lushan let out a cold snort, stood up with difficulty, and groped his way forward.

He had long suffered from eye diseases, and his vision had gradually declined since he started raising an army. By now, aside from a faint sense of light, he could barely see anything. This often made An Lushan explode in anger for no reason, and recently many palace maids and eunuchs had been ordered to be executed by him for minor mistakes.

“Pig! Pig! I want tea!”

Leaning on his ivory cane, An Lushan groped his way forward while shouting. After calling several times with no response, he grew suspicious and became alert. Although blind, his hearing was extremely sharp—he could hear even the drop of a sewing needle from thirty steps away.

But it was eerily quiet now, so quiet that it induced fear.

“Pig! Pig! Come here immediately! If you don’t come, I—”

An Lushan was both angry and scared, his chest swelling with rage, causing the belt binding him to stretch.

“Your Majesty, what do you need from your servant?”

Li Zhurou appeared behind An Lushan like a ghost, whispering with a sinister smile.

“How dare you come now? I’ve called you three times already!”

An Lushan was terrified by Li Zhurou, breathing heavily. Just as he tried to wave his hand at him, he sensed something was wrong in the room. In the past, Li Zhurou had always been subservient to him—where had such behavior come from?

Hiss!

An Lushan gasped and stepped back two steps.

“Your Majesty wants tea, right? I’ll go get it for you right away.”

Li Zhurou sneered twice, moved quietly, and approached the foot of An Lushan’s bed.

“Wait! Why are you going that way?”

An Lushan sensed something suspicious and shouted.

“Of course, to send Your Majesty on his way!”

Without hesitation, Li Zhurou drew the sword hanging at the head of the bed and swung at him.

Although An Lushan had a sharp sense of hearing, he was already blind—how could he avoid Li Zhuer’s powerful strike? A dull thud was heard as the sword carved a large wound in An Lushan’s fat belly, causing him to cry out in pain. “Damn you! Damn you! I’ve been good to you—how could you be so ungrateful?” An Lushan cursed as he tried to flee, blood spilling all around. Li Zhuer laughed loudly, “Yes, Your Majesty has been good to me—that’s why he castrated me and turned me into a eunuch. Your Majesty has been good to me—that’s why he abuses and beats me every day. Truly, Your Majesty has been very kind to me!” Hearing his sarcastic words, An Lushan realized he could never persuade him to lay down his weapon, so he merely sneered, “Was it that traitor who told you to do this?” Li Zhuer covered his mouth and laughed lightly, “The crime came from Yan Zhuang, but the plan originated with the crown prince. It seems all of this is retribution.” With that, Li Zhuer hesitated no longer and swung his sword at An Lushan. An Lushan, caught in panic, stumbled and, after shouting once, died, his blood spreading across the palace. “Someone, drag this old dog out!” Li Zhuer tossed his sword aside and snapped his fingers in command. Note 1: Li Zhuer had followed An Lushan since childhood as a personal guard and was later castrated to become a eunuch. An Lushan was obese, old, and often ill; he was almost blind, suffered from sores on his back, and had poor sleep. He could only fall asleep with Li Zhuer’s care. Resentful of An Lushan’s abuse, and incited by An Qingxu, he took advantage of his position to slash open An Lushan’s belly and kill him.