Chapter 584: Behind the Scenes and on Stage

Early the next morning, the Anxi Army, under the guise of a Tang Dynasty frontier force, officially issued an open letter to Emperor Li Hen of Southern Tang, demanding that he release Gao Xianzhi immediately and unconditionally. The letter was signed by Li Qing’an, the governor of Anxi.

Within days, the letter spread throughout Guanzhong, becoming the second shocking news story since Gao Xianzhi’s imprisonment. It caused a great stir in the imperial court and among the people. The soldiers of the Anxi Army were especially excited. Although Gao Xianzhi was no longer their commander, he had served in Anxi for many years and treated his troops well. Many veterans still remembered his kindness. They hoped that Li Qing’an and Gao Xianzhi could get along harmoniously rather than turn into enemies and fight on the battlefield. Now that Li Qing’an was publicly advocating for Gao Xianzhi’s rescue, the soldiers of the Anxi Army were deeply relieved—it was exactly what they had hoped for.

However, an open letter alone was not enough to rescue Gao Xianzhi. Li Qing’an immediately ordered Li Guangbi to send troops to Jianghuai again and march on Yangzhou. The order was carried out immediately. Li Guangbi assigned his general He Jinqing to lead 10,000 elite cavalry straight for Yangzhou. Wherever the cavalry of Longyou Army went, Li Lin’s troops would flee at the sight of them.

On October 15th, the cavalry crossed Fuli and annihilated 1,000 Southern Tang troops stationed there. On October 16th, they reached Hong County, where the defending general surrendered with 1,500 men. On October 18th, the main army crossed the Huai River at Sizhou. Liang Feng, the defender of Linhuai and a loyal general of Li Lin, commanded 4,000 troops to defend Xuyi. Upon hearing the arrival of the Longyou troops, Liang Feng tried to intercept them by crossing the river halfway, but was attacked from behind by 800 cavalry who had crossed from another route. Caught off guard, Liang Feng’s army was defeated, with most of the 4,000 defenders killed or wounded. Liang Feng himself died in the chaos.

On October 20th, the vanguard of 10,000 cavalry reached Tianchang Town, just 100 miles from Yangzhou. By then, Yangzhou was in complete chaos. Li Lin, the King of Wu who had just returned to Yangzhou, fearing the might of the Anxi cavalry, abandoned Yangzhou once again and led his troops across the Yangtze River to deploy 100,000 troops along the Runzhou area to resist the advancing Anxi Army.

On October 21st, He Jinqing led 10,000 cavalry to capture Yangzhou. This prosperous city, second only to Chang’an in the Tang Dynasty, was captured by Li Qing’an for the first time.

But Li Qing’an’s pressure did not end. In the Jingwang Palace in Xiangyang, the faint sounds of music lingered in the air. Inside the Qingguang Pavilion by Biyu Pond, Li Mao, who had just woken up from his nap, lay reclined on a magnificent couch, sipping jasmine tea slowly. Before him, his beloved concubine Xiao Lian danced gracefully, her eyes filled with a hint of melancholy as she moved with fluidity, each step resembling a lotus blooming. From time to time, her sorrowful gaze would fall on the charming Li Mao. In the past, Li Mao would play his precious white jade flute to accompany her dance, but today he seemed somewhat distracted.

Li Mao indeed had something on his mind. He had just read the open letter Li Qing’an sent to Li Hen. At the end of the letter was a statement calling on everyone to unite in a righteous effort to persuade Li Hen to release Gao Xianzhi. Li Mao understood that this was aimed at him. There were five major forces in the world, and Li Qing’an certainly would not appeal to An Lushan; he must be hoping that Li Mao would join forces with him to pressure Li Hen.

A few months earlier, Li Mao had exchanged 300,000 bushels of grain for Li Qing’an’s troops to pressure the Jianghuai region, ultimately forcing Li Lin to withdraw and thwarting Li Hen’s attempt to invade Jingzhou. Li Mao also knew that Li Qing’an didn’t really care about those 300,000 bushels of grain; he simply didn’t want Li Hen to grow too powerful, which was why he agreed to send troops to help him.

Now, Li Qing’an was urging him to take action as well. Of course, Li Mao knew he had no right to bargain with Li Qing’an. This was an opportunity for him to prove himself. If he agreed to help this time, Li Qing’an would assist him again next time Li Hen invaded Jingxiang.

Li Mao understood clearly that this was indeed an opportunity—for him to figure out how to make use of it and cooperate with Li Qing’an to exert pressure.

As Li Mao pondered, a guard reported from outside the Qingguang Pavilion, “Your Highness, urgent news from General Geshu Han.”

Li Mao perked up immediately and sat up, saying, “Bring him in!”

He waved at his concubine, signaling her to leave. Xiao Lian, sensing that her lord was preoccupied, did not dare to be playful and quietly withdrew. The musicians also stopped playing and left as well. Moments later, a messenger was brought in by the guards. He knelt on one knee, bowed, and held up a letter high above his head. “Your Highness, this is an urgent military report from General Geshu. Please take a look!”

The guard handed the letter to Li Mao, who eagerly opened it and scanned it quickly. Suddenly, he burst into laughter. “Indeed excellent! Exactly what I wanted.”

As Guo Shu Han stated in his letter, Li Qingan’s elite cavalry had moved south to Jianghuai, forcing Li Lin to retreat south of the Yangtze River, with his forces concentrated along the riverbanks. The three provinces of Luzhou, Shouzhou, and Shuzhou to the west of Li Lin were unguarded, providing an opportunity to seize them. At the same time, this could also save face for Li Qingan—a win-win strategy. Li Mao was urged to seize this chance.

This letter cleared up the doubts in Li Mao’s mind. Knowing what to do, he immediately ordered, “Pass my command: let Guo Shu Han lead 30,000 troops to Shouzhou and attack Luzhou and Shuzhou!” After issuing this order, he took up pen and paper to write a public letter in response to Li Qingan, ensuring Li Qingan understood that he was repaying his earlier assistance.

On October 25th, Prince Jing Li Mao also issued a public letter calling on Li Hen to release Gao Xianzhi. He also echoed Li Qingan’s call to send troops, ordering Guo Shu Han to lead 30,000 troops to Luzhou and Shuzhou and pressure the region south of the Yangtze River. With Li Lin trapped between enemies, in desperation, he sent twelve urgent pleas for aid in one day, urging Li Hen to release Gao Xianzhi to alleviate the crisis in the south.

…

Under the cover of night, Chengdu was brightly lit, with bustling streets filled with people out for leisure or late-night meals. Good harvests in Shu over the past two years had ensured an abundance of food and relatively low prices. Although people didn’t have much money, they still had enough to support their families, and with many members of the royal family moving south, their extravagant spending habits persisted, boosting Chengdu’s commerce. Within just two years, hundreds of taverns and brothels emerged, making nights even more lively than days.

In Zhuangyuan Fang to the west of Chengdu stood a large mansion covering 40 acres—home to Linghu Fei, the Minister of War of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Several servants stood at the entrance, and two lanterns the size of mills hung beneath the gate, casting light on the path.

At that moment, a rider sped up and dismounted, leading his horse to Linghu Fei’s mansion. Immediately, a servant shouted, “This is private property! No entry!”

The rider took out a letter and handed it to a servant, saying, “I’m coming from Chang’an. This letter is for your master—it’s extremely important and could cost your master his head. Deliver it right away!”

The servant was stunned. “Who are you…?”

“Don’t ask questions. Just deliver the letter!”

He mounted his horse and rode away, disappearing into the darkness soon after. The servants watched him go and, not daring to delay, rushed back to the mansion to deliver the letter.

Before long, the side door of Linghu’s residence swung open, and a carriage rushed out of the estate. It sped down the street, surrounded by dozens of armed servants on horseback. Inside the carriage, it was dark—no lights were lit—only the occasional light from a household by the roadside illuminated Linghu Fei’s gaunt, donkey-like face.

Linghu Fei was only forty-five years old. Over a decade earlier, he had been a poor scholar. He had passed the imperial examinations but was rejected by the Ministry of Personnel due to his unattractive appearance and humble background. With no means of support, he ended up teaching children in a private school to earn a meager living. Eventually, because his employer was a friend of Xianyu Zhongtong, a wealthy man from Shu, he was recommended to Xianyu Zhongtong as a tutor. Two years later, because of his strategic skills, he was recommended by Xianyu Zhongtong to Yang Guozhong, who had been demoted to county magistrate due to the Yang Shen case, and became his advisor.

Under Linghu Fei’s planning, Yang Guozhong rose step by step until he became the Right Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, holding supreme power. Linghu Fei himself was promoted to Vice Minister of War.

But in the end, Linghu Fei abandoned Yang Guozhong and clung to Li Hen, an even more powerful figure. Now he was the Minister of War of Southern Tang and one of Li Hen’s most trusted confidants.

Linghu Fei indeed had some skills, especially in strategy and planning, but his character was not highly regarded. Many people whispered behind his back that he was self-serving. Indeed, Yang Guozhong had been extremely kind to him, but for his own advancement, Linghu Fei abandoned him without hesitation at the worst moment for Yang Guozhong, claiming that “birds choose the best trees to perch on.”

Linghu Fei was a pragmatist; all his decisions were based on practical considerations, and his vision was far-reaching. When Yang Guifei was deposed, he knew the rise of the Yang family was over. Although Yang Guozhong hadn’t fallen yet, it was only because Li Longji hadn’t found a suitable replacement. Sure enough, after the Li Wan case, Li Longji mercilessly wiped out the Yang family members, including Liu Sheng, who had later become Yang Guozhong’s advisor. If Linghu Fei had remained by Yang Guozhong’s side, he too would have met a similar fate.

When he defected to Li Hen, Li Hen had just become the regent of Northern Tang. Linghu Fei realized then that Li Hen would surely achieve great things in the future. As expected, Li Hen eventually ascended the throne of Southern Tang and became emperor, lifting Linghu Fei to the third most powerful figure in the realm, second only to Wang Gong and Cui Yuan.

Inside the carriage, Linghu Fei sighed. He took out the letter he had just received. There wasn’t a single word on it—only a bright red seal stamped on the blank paper: the Seal of Prince Zhao.

Though there were no words, Linghu Fei understood perfectly. In fact, not only Linghu Fei but also veteran politicians who had spent years in the political arena would understand that this letter without words was like a glance from Li Qing’an—a way to figure out the thoughts of those in high positions. This was the code of the political world.

To understand what those in power are thinking, the key is to know what they are focusing on recently, what their attitude toward it is, and from which perspective they plan to address it. Once these three aspects are thoroughly understood, it’s not hard to gauge their intentions. For example, Gao Shiqi, Emperor Kangxi’s favorite minister, always kept a bag of gold melon seeds. Every time he went to court, the eunuchs would swarm around him, asking what books the emperor was reading or what troubles he had. Gao Shiqi would reward the eunuchs with gold melon seeds for their information, then study the matter carefully. When Kangxi summoned him for advice, he could respond fluently, resolving Kangxi’s doubts. Over time, it became difficult for him not to remain favored.

The same was true for Linghu Fei at that time. Though Li Qing’an didn’t write a single word, Linghu Fei understood clearly that Li Qing’an was seeking his help regarding Gao Xianzhi’s matter—not to ask for his assistance, but to give him an opportunity. Whether Linghu Fei would seize this opportunity depended on him.

Li Qing’an’s letter hit Linghu Fei right in the heart. He saw through Linghu Fei’s pragmatic nature, yet his approach was clever. If Li Qing’an had actually written a formal letter demanding Linghu Fei’s cooperation to save Gao Xianzhi, Linghu Fei might not have agreed, because if there was a first time, there would be a second—Yang Guozhong’s bloody lesson was still fresh in memory!

Thus, a letter without words was the most subtle. Linghu Fei could choose to act or not. Even if he did, Li Qing’an couldn’t use it to blackmail him. Both sides understood the situation clearly—it was essentially a one-time deal. The seller was Li Qing’an, whose “payment” was Gao Xianzhi’s release, while the buyer was Linghu Fei, who was buying the chance that one day Li Qing’an might spare his life. The reason Linghu Fei had to make this deal was simple: that day would come sooner or later.

The carriage stopped in front of the Nanming Palace. Linghu Fei took out a gold plaque and waved it—this was a plaque allowing him to enter the palace at any time. The Imperial Guards didn’t dare stop him and let him in.

Though it was already late at night, Li Heng was still in the imperial study, deeply worried. He paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. On the imperial desk, twelve golden pigeon mailboxes were neatly arranged—these were the twelve rescue requests sent by Li Lin. Those twelve golden mailboxes weighed like twelve heavy iron bars on Li Heng’s heart, pressing down so heavily that he could hardly breathe.

Especially since Li Qing’an’s army easily captured Yangzhou, which filled him with both anger and concern. Yangzhou was the second most prosperous commercial center in the land and one of Li Heng’s key sources of revenue. Three months earlier, Li Lin had brought two million guan in cash and one million shi of grain from Yangzhou, greatly alleviating the Southern Tang’s financial difficulties. Moreover, Li Lin had promised to do this every year. Yet, less than three months after that promise, Yangzhou fell. If it had been lost after a fierce battle, it might have been acceptable, but Li Lin actually led 50,000 troops to flee across the Yangtze River at the first sign of trouble, while the enemy had only 10,000 men. This filled Li Heng with rage—it was a profound humiliation.

Li Heng also knew that Li Qing’an’s attack on Jianghuai was aimed at forcing him to release Gao Xianzhi. But if he really released Gao Xianzhi, he would lose face. How could he explain to the world that he had vowed to punish Gao Xianzhi severely when he captured him, only to release him out of fear under Li Qing’an’s pressure? He was the emperor—how could he face the world if word got out?

But this time, Li Qing’an seemed determined to attack Jianghuai, and with Li Mao’s joint assault, if he didn’t compromise, half of the southeast region might be lost.

“What should I do?” Li Heng paced back and forth, anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

At that moment, a guard reported from outside, “Your Majesty, Minister Linghu is urgently requesting an audience!”

“Oh! Bring him in at once!”

Li Heng was overjoyed, as if a drowning man had suddenly grabbed a life raft.

A moment later, Linghu Fei hurried into the imperial study and bowed, saying, “Your servant Linghu Fei pays his respects to Your Majesty!”

“Minister Linghu, please don’t be formal. Come! Come! Sit down quickly.”

Li Heng pulled him to sit. Then, Linghu Fei glanced at the twelve golden letter tubes on the imperial desk and was secretly shocked—was the situation in the southeast already so dire?

Noticing Linghu Fei’s gaze, Li Heng sighed deeply and said, “Now, not only is Li Qing’an’s army threatening the southeast, but that scoundrel Li Mao is also taking advantage of the chaos to seize the three provinces of Shou, Lu, and Shu. The King of Wu is trapped on all sides and has come to me for help. Meanwhile, Yiling is held by Gao Xianzhi’s men, making it difficult for my troops to advance eastward. The situation is critical!”

“Your Majesty, don’t you understand Li Qing’an’s intentions?”

“I know. He just wants me to release Gao Xianzhi. Hmph! Trying to coerce me by threatening the southeast—do I really think I’m that easy to manipulate?” Li Heng spoke loudly, waving his arms in anger. Linghu Fei sighed inwardly—what a cowardly and domineering emperor! He had ruled out all possibilities, leaving Linghu Fei with no way to persuade him.

“Your Majesty, in truth, Li Qing’an needs to focus on dealing with An Lushan. He isn’t really intent on taking control of Jiangnan. The real ambitious one is Prince Jing, Li Mao—he clearly wants to seize the opportunity to annex the territory of the King of Wu. That’s our greatest threat at the moment. Your Majesty, yielding to Li Qing’an isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a strategy. By releasing Gao Xianzhi, this crisis can be temporarily resolved. I believe Li Qing’an doesn’t want to disrupt the current balance. He will surely prevent Li Mao from taking over Jiangnan. As long as Li Qing’an doesn’t interfere in Jiangnan’s affairs, we can swiftly defeat Li Mao and unite Jiangnan, Jingxiang, and Bashu into one region. Our strength will greatly increase, and perhaps we’ll even be able to rival Li Qing’an in the future. Your Majesty, release Gao Xianzhi! We’ll gain time and opportunity.”

In fact, Li Heng already wanted to release Gao Xianzhi, but he couldn’t bear to lose face—that was the real issue. He sat down and sighed, “I’m very worried about what others will think of me if I release him!”

So that’s how it is. Linghu Fei’s eyes sparkled. Now, convincing Li Heng to release Gao Xianzhi wasn’t difficult. The key was to make Li Qing’an aware that he had played a role in this, so he had to use Linghu Fei’s own approach to do it.

“Your Majesty, I have a strategy to outmaneuver them.”

“Hurry up and tell me! What strategy is it?”

Linghu Fei smiled slightly and said, “Why not sentence Gao Xianzhi to exile?”

“Exile?” Li Heng wasn’t quite sure. “Explain more clearly—what kind of exile?”

“Your Majesty, exile is just an excuse. You could have the Grand Judicial Council sentence Gao Xianzhi to serve in the army in Wenzhou. Then, secretly send someone to take Gao Xianzhi to Hanzhong. Immediately after, dismiss the governor of Wenzhou, Zhang Baoling, on the charge of failing to keep him under control, allowing Gao Xianzhi to escape. Let him take the blame. A few months later, once people forget about Gao Xianzhi, quietly send his family away. That way, the matter will be resolved perfectly.”

“Good!”

Li Heng gave a thumbs up and smiled. “Truly worthy of being my advisor. Your plan is excellent. I’ll adopt your suggestion.”

……

Two days later, the Grand Judicial Council issued its verdict. Gao Xianzhi’s additional 2,000 mu of land had been privately given by the Northern Tang dynasty. Although it wasn’t land seized by force, the evidence of his treason was conclusive. Considering his past contributions to the state, he was spared the death penalty, but all his titles were stripped from him, and he was sent to serve in the army in Wenzhou. Yet soon, news spread that Gao Xianzhi had escaped from Wenzhou and gone to Chang’an. Li Heng was furious. He dismissed Zhang Baoling, the governor of Wenzhou, on charges of negligence and ordered a thorough investigation to give the people an explanation.

Half a month later, news came from Chang’an that Gao Xianzhi had been appointed by Li Qing’an as the governor of Tubo to replace the former general Feng Changqing.