Chapter 527: Different Motivations

Even Nan Jiyun himself could not have imagined that his attempt to capture the imperial palace would yield such unimaginable results. At the fourth watch of the night, an eunuch arrived in a hurry under Hu Peiyun’s leadership, bringing unbelievable news: Li Hen had fled the Daming Palace at the first watch, along with several of his sons and the imperial concubines. By now, the Daming Palace was completely empty. Hu Peiyun also told Nan Jiyun that his men had detected signs of large-scale mobilization among the Jinyiwei two hours earlier, suggesting they might have left the city. Yet Nan Jiyun remained cautious and immediately sent people to Wannian County to investigate. Soon, they learned that although the gates of the various districts in Wannian County were still closed, there was no sign of the Jinyiwei. Only after finding a few veteran soldiers guarding the city did they get confirmation: 20,000 Jinyiwei members had left the city at the first watch.

Both shocked and delighted, Nan Jiyun promptly reported the situation to Li Qing’an and ordered Yang Linjun’s army under Changsun Quanxu to take control of the palace, close its gates, and prevent anyone from entering or leaving freely. He also ordered the Qianniuwei to take charge of Wannian County, maintain order there, and suppress any news of Li Hen’s escape. Just as Nan Jiyun was hesitating whether to seal off Chang’an City, Yan Zhuang, who had been manipulating events from behind the scenes, came to see him.

Yan Zhuang had barely slept all night and had been extremely busy these past few days. Li Qing’an’s three-step strategy in Chang’an—evacuating the ministers’ families, seizing Tongguan, and capturing the imperial palace—had all been planned by Yan Zhuang. These steps were not simple; they involved numerous detailed considerations. For example, to seize Tongguan without being detected by Li Hen’s other troops and to capture it by surprise required careful planning of many details. Yan Zhuang knew that these moves were Li Qing’an’s final attempts to secure Guanzhong, and success in them would determine everything.

His tireless efforts finally paid off as all three steps were successfully executed. He had just received news from Hu Peiyun that Li Hen had fled Chang’an. Though exhausted, Yan Zhuang still couldn’t rest easy and rushed to see Nan Jiyun.

In the dim light of the night, Yan Zhuang arrived at the imperial palace. Upon seeing Nan Jiyun, he asked anxiously, “General Nan, what’s the situation in Wannian County?”

Nan Jiyun had been about to go to Wannian County to check things out. Seeing Yan Zhuang arrive, he dismounted from his horse and said with a smile, “Sir, haven’t you rested yet?”

“Ah! I couldn’t stop worrying, so I came to inquire about the situation.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ve sent troops to take control of Wannian County. The situation there is relatively calm. I think there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

Yan Zhuang shook his head. Looking at the sky turning gray in the east, he said, “It may be calm now, but once day breaks, Wannian County will likely fall into chaos. General, you must be prepared.”
“I intend to continue the martial law, close the city gates and district gates, and prevent the people from gathering in the streets to cause trouble.”
Seeing that Nan Jiyun didn’t understand his meaning, Yan Zhuang sighed inwardly and slowly said, “This is why I came to see you, General. You must not impose martial law. On the contrary, you should open the district and city gates, allowing everyone who wants to leave the city to do so, and letting officials who wish to go to Chengdu go as well. This is also the Great General’s wish.”
Seeing Nan Jiyun lowering his head in silence, Yan Zhuang continued, “When Li Longji fled south, it also caused chaos. Did you see the Great General order anyone to stop them? It was because so many high-ranking officials escaped that ministers like Pei Min, who supported the Great General, rose to power. The same is true here—only by allowing as many supporters of Li Hen to leave as possible can we achieve the Great General’s long-term strategy. The Great General hopes Li Hen will replace Li Longji, thereby provoking a struggle between them and giving the Great General time to deal with An Lushan. General Nan, you must not misunderstand the Great General’s strategy.”
Nan Jiyun was just a soldier who knew only to carry out Li Qingan’s orders without question. Although Li Qingan had not yet given the order to let Li Hen’s supporters leave the city, out of trust in Yan Zhuang, he ultimately accepted his advice. He turned around and ordered, “Pass my command: open the district gates and city gates wide—no one shall be stopped from leaving the city.”
……
As dawn approached, chaos finally erupted in the previously quiet Wannian County. When its people noticed that the troops patrolling the streets were no longer the Jinyiwei armed with golden staffs but the Qianniuwei carrying silver-edged swords, almost everyone realized that the Tang Dynasty was changing. Various rumors spread rapidly through Chang’an, with many exaggerating the events that had taken place in the imperial palace the previous night, claiming that the Anxi Army had captured Daming Palace and that the emperor and empress were locked up in a small room!
But how could the disappearance of all the Jinyiwei be explained? Clearly, they hadn’t been wiped out by the Anxi Army—no drops of blood remained—so it must mean they had fled. If the Jinyiwei had run, could the emperor have also fled?
Some people began to focus their attention on Li Hen. Soon, the massive wave of refugees in Wannian County confirmed their suspicions—the emperor had indeed fled.

The streets and city gates were filled with carriages belonging to fleeing officials, carrying valuables, their children, and their beautiful wives and concubines. Although Li Fuguo had fled at dawn himself, he was afraid that Li Heng would hold him accountable for not notifying the officials. So he sent two trusted subordinates to go from house to house at daybreak to inform Li Heng’s close allies. Cleverly, he did not say that Li Heng had fled first but claimed that the Anxi troops had attacked the Daming Palace, forcing the emperor to retreat through the back door.

Whatever the reason, the news of Li Heng’s escape caused chaos among his trusted ministers. The entire Wannian County was in turmoil. Li Heng’s close ministers such as Wang Gong, Li Qiu, Li Lin, and Da Xi Xun also knew that Li Qingan would not tolerate them. It was like being on a ship where the captain changed ships, and they had to follow suit.

Wang Gong was the first minister to leave Chang’an with his wealth and family. He had long anticipated this day. Two months earlier, he had sent his two sons with some of his valuables to Shu to acquire land and property. A month earlier, he had begun packing up his belongings, even secretly selling the five hectares of permanent farmland under his name last month. That’s why Wang Gong was able to flee the fastest. Accompanied by over eighty loyal servants and five carriages, he left the city at first light.

Inside the carriage, Wang Gong looked through the curtains at the streets below. His feelings were complex. A few years ago, he had formed an alliance with Li Qingan and served as his ally in the court. Somehow, he gradually parted ways with Li Qingan and became his rival.

“A rival?” A bitter smile appeared on Wang Gong’s lips. He had overestimated himself. He was no longer fit to be Li Qingan’s rival, not even Li Heng’s. There was only one rival for Li Qingan—himself.

Ultimately, it was all because of Li Heng. Hadn’t Li Qingan once been Li Heng’s close ally too? But later, Li Qingan went his own way, while he continued to rely on Li Heng’s favor.

At that moment, his six-year-old son asked in a soft voice, “Dad, why can’t we stay in Chang’an?”

Wang Gong gently stroked his son’s head and said softly, “Although Chang’an is large, there’s no place for dad. Dad has to go to Chengdu. You’re still young; you’ll understand when you grow up.”

“I understand, Dad. There are no bad people in Chengdu, right?”

“That’s right. Let’s hurry.”

Wang Gong immediately ordered, “Speed up! No stopping at all.”

The coachman accelerated, and the five carriages rushed toward the Ziwu Valley in the south.

In the evening, Li Qing’an’s army arrived ten li west of Mei County. At that moment, he received news that Guo Ziyi was also leading an army of 60,000 troops toward Guanzhong, less than a hundred li away from his forces. Li Qing’an immediately ordered his troops to camp there and remain on high alert.

At that time, a group of cavalry from Guo Ziyi’s forces rushed over. Leading them was a general in his thirties—Li Guoliang, Guo Ziyi’s trusted general. He had been sent by Guo Ziyi to explain the situation to Li Qing’an.

This was also Guo Ziyi’s first move since the death of Emperor Li Shi. Since then, his army of 100,000 troops from Shuofang had remained silent. He neither pledged loyalty to Li Heng nor joined in the campaign against what the pro-royalist faction called the puppet dynasty, which left many ministers who supported Li Shi dissatisfied with him. In fact, Li Heng only had 80,000 troops in Guanzhong, while Guo Ziyi had 100,000 troops plus 30,000 Xiang tribe mercenaries—far surpassing Li Heng’s forces. If he launched an attack on Chang’an to demand accountability, the situation of the Tang Dynasty would change completely, with Guo Ziyi taking control of the dynasty instead of Li Qing’an.

But Li Qing’an knew that this old fox of Guo Ziyi had other plans. He was the only minister in the mid-Tang period who could achieve a peaceful end to his career—surely not someone who would settle for staying low-key.

“I am Li Guoliang of the Shuofang Army. I’ve been sent by my general to meet His Highness, the Prince of Zhao!”

Li Qing’an spurred his horse forward and demanded sternly, “Without my permission, how dare the Shuofang Army enter Guanzhong? Why doesn’t Guo Ziyi come to see me himself?”

Li Guoliang grew nervous and quickly bowed, saying, “The Shuofang Army is still at Tange Gorge and has not officially entered Guanzhong. General Guo sent me here first to ask for your approval for the Shuofang Army to enter Guanzhong, and secondly to discuss with you the matter of building a tomb for the Young Emperor.”

Building a tomb for the Young Emperor was just an excuse. Clearly, Guo Ziyi wanted to be involved in the selection of the new emperor or to supervise Li Qing’an to ensure he did not commit any acts unworthy of a subject. Li Qing’an understood all this clearly. He also knew that Guo Ziyi had already made concessions by not advancing on Chang’an, likely to avoid offending him.

After a brief pause, Li Qing’an said, “The Uyghurs won’t stay trapped. They could invade through the Guannei Road at any time. The main force of the Shuofang Army should not enter Guanzhong. Please convey to General Guo that my 100,000 troops from Anxi are sufficient to drive away the puppet emperor. There’s no need for the Shuofang Army to help. If General Guo really wants to build a tomb for the Young Emperor, he only needs to bring 3,000 men. I can guarantee their safety.”

“3,000 men?” Li Guoliang was somewhat embarrassed. “General, isn’t that a little too few?”

Li Qing’an said coldly, “If the Shuofang army wants to fight against the Anxi army, fine. He may bring as many troops as he wants into Guanzhong—I, Li Qing’an, will meet him!” His blunt threat made Li Guoliang break into sweat. He quickly bowed and said, “I understand. I’ll go report to the old general right away.” Not daring to stay longer, Li Guoliang returned at once to inform Guo Ziyi. Li Qing’an watched his retreating figure and sneered before ordering, “The army shall camp overnight in Mei County!” The order was passed down, and the army quickened its pace. Then Li Qing’an said to one of his bodyguards, “Go quickly to Wugong County and summon officials such as Pei Min, Zhang Yun, Cui Huan, Wei Tao, Zhang Gao, and Lu Huan.” After a pause, he added to another bodyguard, “Also go quickly to Qiyang County and find the Yang brothers.” … As darkness fell and rain began to fall, the hundred-thousand-strong army set up camps outside Mei County. Li Qing’an did not stay in the county town but waited for Pei Min and the others in the central tent of the camp. With his hands behind his back, he stood in front of the tent curtain, gazing at the dense rain in the night. It had been ten years since he entered the Tang Dynasty. Over these ten years, he had risen from a lowly soldier to one of the most powerful figures in the Tang Dynasty. Every word and action of his was carefully analyzed by countless people, and his every move could alter the course of history. This had given him the sweetness of power but also its loneliness—no one could engage him in a spiritual conversation, not even himself. Not even he knew what his ultimate goal was. Was it to rule the world? But what after that? Perhaps he had already changed history, yet who could guarantee that the Tang Dynasty wouldn’t return to its original path after taking a detour? Who could ensure that his descendants would fare better than those of Li Longji? Confusion—over the past ten years, the mysteries of history had plagued him. Even now, he still lacked a lighthouse to guide him forward. Perhaps the mist of power obscured his vision. Li Qing’an sighed deeply. Maybe twenty years later, when the strength of the Tang Dynasty freed him from the cycle of power, he would find a new path that wouldn’t lead the dynasty back to its old trajectory. For now, he needed to climb step by step to the pinnacle of power: ruling the world. At that moment, a hesitant bodyguard outside the tent interrupted Li Qing’an’s thoughts. “What is it?” “Reporting to the general, there’s a Taoist priest seeking an audience. He says he’s an old acquaintance of the general.” “An old acquaintance, a Taoist priest?”

Li Qing’an thought for a moment before saying, “Bring him to my main tent.” He put his thoughts aside temporarily and returned to the main tent. Moments later, several bodyguards led a tall Taoist priest into the tent. “Buddha of Infinite Life, General, I hope you have been well.” The Taoist priest wore a bamboo Taoist hat, his robe was tattered, and he held a dust brush with only a few bristles left. At first glance, he seemed like a disheveled Taoist begging in the military camp, but his expression was different. His unusually bright eyes held a hopeful gaze—he was Li Bi, who had disappeared in the tragedy at the imperial estate nearly a year ago. “So it’s Mr. Li!” Li Qing’an smiled. “As I guessed, you have become a Taoist.” “I have a natural aptitude for wisdom; becoming a Taoist has been my long-held desire.” Li Qing’an said with a half-smile, “Then why have you returned to the mortal world today? Surely it’s not just a coincidence?” “No! It’s not.” Li Bi was honest. “I came to persuade the General, as well as for the fate of 50 million people in the Tang Dynasty.” Li Qing’an looked at him deeply and said calmly, “Please sit down and talk.” Li Qing’an invited Li Bi to sit and ordered his bodyguards to serve tea. With a slight smile, he asked, “Where have you been living as a Taoist these past years?” “I became a Taoist on Mount Heng and have been traveling in the Central Plains recently. Hearing that Tubo was defeated, I rushed here to see the General.” “So Master Li is part of the Taoist community, yet his heart remains in the court—quite rare.” Li Qing’an sneered lightly. Although Li Bi was a famous statesman in history known for revitalizing the country, Li Qing’an wasn’t impressed by him. Just like with Li Bai, he admired his reputation but not his character. In contrast, Li Qing’an preferred Li Bi’s nephew, Zhang Zhihe—a down-to-earth young county magistrate who worked hard for the people in Anxi—and Liu Yan, another famous statesman who diligently managed finances in Anxi. Li Qing’an favored those who worked diligently; he wasn’t interested in a commoner like Li Bi who often fled to the monasteries to avoid trouble. Li Bi noticed Li Qing’an’s sarcastic tone and smiled awkwardly. “Being a Taoist doesn’t mean one can’t care about worldly affairs. I’m not seeking wealth or fame; I just want to contribute a little to the people of the world.” “The people of the world? Master Li, your words are quite bold!” “No, it’s not my words that are bold. It’s because every decision the General makes affects the people of the world. If it were a trivial matter, why would I bother coming to see the General?” Li Qing’an smiled this time without sarcasm and said, “Go on.”

Li Bi suddenly stood up, bowed deeply to Li Qing’an, and said, “I knew long ago in Anxi that the General aspired to rule the whole world, but I never mentioned it to Emperor Jingzong. I also fully agree with the General’s measures to limit land and slaves in Anxi. After the General makes Jiancheng the crown prince, it is not impossible for him to take control of Daming Palace. But if he does so now, it would be the most unwise decision he could make.”

“Go on!”

Li Qing’an’s face showed no expression at all; it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Li Bi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—he realized Li Qing’an was even more inscrutable.

But since he had already started, he had to force himself to continue, “I remember the General once telling me that the person he admired most in his life was Cao Cao, the Emperor Wu of Wei. Yet Cao Cao was titled King of Han and Wei during his lifetime, and even after his death, he was posthumously honored as ‘King Wu of Han.’ He never dared to shed the ‘Han’ title throughout his life. It was only after his son usurped the Han throne and ascended to the throne that he was later titled Emperor Wu of Wei. Why? Because he refused to bear the label of a usurper. Although the General is from the Li Tang royal family, has the General ever thought about this? If the General were to ascend to the throne, would people consider the Southern Tang the legitimate dynasty or the General? The General came under the pretext of clearing Emperor Jingzong’s name, but in the end, he would be the one to ascend to the throne. How could he justify that? If the name is not legitimate, then the words lack credibility. Therefore, I advise the General to resist his immediate desire for power, first unify the country, and then establish his legacy.”

Li Qing’an’s expression finally softened a little. Even this slight change made Li Bi feel a hint of warmth—he realized Li Qing’an wasn’t as unfathomable as he had thought.

“Sir, you actually didn’t have to tell me this!” Li Qing’an said, staring at Li Bi.

“Not at all. As I’ve said, I am here for the sake of the people, without any personal motives.”

“Then I thank you, sir.”

Li Qing’an bowed to Li Bi and then turned around, ordering, “Someone, prepare five hundred taels of gold for this sir.”

He then smiled at Li Bi and said, “Though it’s vulgar, it can be used to build a Taoist temple for you. Please don’t refuse!”

Li Bi laughed and looked up at the sky. “Five hundred taels of gold? I can’t carry that!”

He waved his dust brush and left. From afar, his clear singing could still be heard: “What’s the use of Jiancheng? What’s the use of Shimin? We’re all from the Li family—may the people live in peace…”

Li Qing’an shook his head with a smile. This Taoist priest with the cow’s nose actually had his merits.

At that moment, a bodyguard who had been waiting nearby reported, “General, the Yang brothers have arrived.”

The Yang brothers were Yang Guozhong’s two sons, Yang Xuan and Yang Bing. The two brothers were hostages secretly placed in Chang’an by Yang Guozhong and had lived there all along. When Li Heng ascended the throne, fearing retaliation, they fled to Qiyang County. When Li Qingan returned to Guanzhong, his first order was to have the two brothers brought before him. The reason was simple: if Yang Guozhong did not grant Li Heng even greater merits, how could Li Heng possibly spare him?