Chapter 588: Starting Over

The next day, An Lushan held a swearing-in ceremony for his 300,000-strong army outside Youzhou City. He publicly accused Li Heng of poisoning the former emperor and seizing the throne of Southern Tang, and also accused Li Qing’an of supporting a young emperor with disloyal intentions. He called on people across the land to join him in raising a righteous banner to overthrow the usurper, purge the corrupt officials, and restore order to the Tang Dynasty.

An Lushan then proclaimed himself the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the National Expeditionary Force. He dispatched 200,000 troops in two columns: one led by General Shi Siming to march westward toward Hengzhou, and the other led by General Cai Xide to head south straight for Xiangzhou. Thus, An Lushan’s rebellion officially began.

…

A pigeon message sent from Yizhou arrived in Chang’an three days later. News of An Lushan’s rebellion quickly spread throughout the court and the public. At Li Qing’an’s request, the Council of State held an emergency meeting that very night.

The meeting decided to urgently send 800,000 bushels of grain and 2 million loads of forage to Hedong. It also agreed to Guo Ziyi’s request to transform 80,000 local militia into regular troops and provide his army with 80,000 sets of armor, 100,000 weapons, and 10,000 tents. Additionally, following Li Qing’an’s suggestion, the Council ordered Guo Ziyi to abandon Xiangzhou and concentrate his forces on defending Hedong.

Furthermore, the Council approved Zhang Yun’s proposal to launch a campaign to support the army in Guanzhong, urging every household to provide a winter garment for the soldiers, thereby fostering a nationwide enthusiasm for joining the war.

Late at night, when the Council meeting ended, the carriages of various high officials left the Daming Palace one after another. Just as Li Qing’an got into his carriage, he heard someone laughing behind him and saying, “Your Highness, may I accompany you for a while?”

Li Qing’an turned around and saw Zhang Gao, the Minister of Works. He nodded and smiled, saying, “Minister Zhang, please come onto my carriage!”

Zhang Gao stepped forward, bowed, and said with a smile, “Then I shall trouble Your Highness.”

The two boarded Li Qing’an’s carriage, and the convoy slowly set off. Five hundred bodyguards escorted Li Qing’an’s carriage out of Danfeng Gate, while Zhang Gao’s carriage and guards followed behind.

Inside the carriage, the two sat facing each other. Zhang Gao asked with a smile, “Is Your Highness really going to Luoyang to oversee the battles?”

Li Qing’an nodded and said, “Although An Lushan started his rebellion a month earlier, that doesn’t mean his strategy has changed. If I’m not mistaken, his main focus of attack will still be the Henan route, especially Zhengzhou, Huazhou, and Bianzhou. If he can capture Bianzhou, he’ll gain a strategic advantage—able to advance south into the Central Plains and Jingxiang, east to seize Xuzhou and Yanzhou, and west to threaten Luoyang. The Central Plains are vast; if we lose them, we’ll be in a very vulnerable position. How could I not go to Luoyang?”

“And when does Your Highness plan to depart for Luoyang?”

“Let’s wait a couple more days! I want to settle things at home first tomorrow and the day after, then set off for Luoyang the day after that.”
Zhang Gao sighed and said, “With Your Highness leaving, the court will once again lose its core leader.”
Li Qing’an glanced at him. Knowing that Zhang Gao must have something important to discuss, he smiled and said, “How could that be? The court has the Political Affairs Hall to support it, and affairs are running smoothly now. When I went to Luoyang last time, wasn’t the Political Affairs Hall functioning well too?”
Zhang Gao gave a bitter smile. “Times have changed. Last time Your Highness went to Luoyang, everyone in the Political Affairs Hall was united, and major policies could be passed smoothly. But now… As Your Highness can see, whenever Prime Minister Zhang puts forward a suggestion, Prime Minister Cui firmly opposes it, with each side having its supporters. Can’t Your Highness really not see that?”
Leaning against the carriage wall, Li Qing’an certainly understood what Zhang Gao meant. There were already signs of division in the Political Affairs Hall—Zhang Yun, Wei Tao, and Cui Ping were in close contact, while Pei Zunqing, Lu Huan, and Wang Jin had formed another alliance, exactly a three-versus-three split. Only Zhang Gao hated forming factions; he rejected attempts from both sides and remained an independent intermediary.
Li Qing’an was fully aware of all this. In fact, this was exactly what he wanted to see. Though he wasn’t yet an emperor, he had already begun to use imperial tactics. Only by creating conflicts and oppositions within the Political Affairs Hall could he control the affairs of the Tang Dynasty. Otherwise, what was the point of promoting Pei Zunqing?
But Li Qing’an also knew that the decline of the Tang Dynasty in its later years was related to factional struggles. So such a situation of factionalism couldn’t last, and such a trend shouldn’t be encouraged. Ministers like Zhang Gao, who were upright and incorruptible, were the true pillars of the Tang Dynasty he relied on.
In fact, even if Zhang Gao hadn’t approached him, he would have wanted to have a serious talk with him. He needed someone in the Political Affairs Hall who could understand his plans. Especially during An Lushan’s rebellion, he needed to minimize the negative impacts of these factional struggles. And Zhang Gao was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate—honest, incorruptible, highly capable, and brave enough to offer honest advice. Such a minister was a curse for a foolish ruler but a blessing for a wise one.
“Minister Zhang, I’ve noticed what you’re saying. But now that An Lushan has rebelled, I need to maintain stability in the court, so I’ll refrain from interfering in this matter for now. However, I can tell you this—I plan to establish a Secretariat to deal with such factional conflicts.”
“A Secretariat?”
Zhang Gao was stunned. He didn’t understand what Li Qing’an meant by a Secretariat. “Your Highness, could you explain that a bit more clearly?”

“It’s simple. The Privy Council is essentially an assistant to the Council of State, composed of powerful officials who can attend its meetings. If the Council of State delays making crucial military decisions due to factional disputes, the Privy Council can act first and later submit a resolution to the Council of State.”
Li Qing’an’s words sent Zhang Gao into shock. He suddenly realized that this so-called Privy Council was nothing but another version of the Council of State—or rather, Li Qing’an was using it to undermine the Council of State.
For a long time, Zhang Gao said nothing; he had nothing to say. Once the Privy Council was established, half of the Council of State’s power would be taken away. Seeing him stunned, Li Qing’an smiled again and said, “Actually, the Privy Council is only a wartime institution. Once An Lushan’s rebellion is quelled and the Tang Dynasty is reunified, it will be disbanded, and power will return to the Council of State. There’s no need for you to worry, Minister Zhang.”
Perhaps the word “temporary” gave Zhang Gao a glimmer of hope. He quickly asked, “May I know who Your Highness has in mind for the Privy Council?”
“I can tell you. I plan to propose promoting Yan Zhenqing to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Although he doesn’t hold the position of Chancellor, he holds power over the Ministry of Personnel and is already among the key officials, so he’s suitable for the Privy Council—first. Second is Liu Yan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and Director of the Treasury. He’s highly capable and in charge of financial affairs; he can also join the Privy Council. Third is Cui Ning, governor of Qizhou. I plan to propose promoting him to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. He has achieved remarkable results in local governance and enjoys high popularity among the people; he’s also suitable for the Privy Council. Fourth is Pei Min, Deputy Minister to the Crown Prince. He was once prime minister and has many years of experience in the Central Secretariat. I plan to propose promoting him to Vice Minister of the Central Secretariat, so he can join the Privy Council as well. Finally, there’s Wang Wei, Deputy Minister of the Right. Though he’s famous for his poetry, I value his integrity, and his abilities are well-known. So I plan to propose promoting him to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. These are the five candidates. What do you think, Minister Zhang?”
For each candidate named by Li Qing’an, Zhang Gao approved in his heart. Yan Zhenqing, Pei Min, Liu Yan, Cui Ning, and Wang Wei were all upright and honest officials. If Li Qing’an could employ them, the Tang Dynasty might experience a revival—yes, a revival!
Eager and excited, Zhang Gao suddenly clasped his hands and pleaded with Li Qing’an, “Your Highness, I too wish to resign from my position in the Central Secretariat and join the Privy Council with these five men. That’s what I aspire to.”
Li Qing’an smiled slightly and said, “The Council of State still needs loyal officials like you, Minister Zhang. But rest assured, you will always be a pillar of the Tang Dynasty.”
……

Zhang Gao returned by carriage, while Li Qingan’s carriage continued to move slowly along the empty streets. He was in a good mood that night; after much deliberation, he had finally found a solution to the chaos in the Chancellery—by establishing a Privy Council, which would effectively sideline the Chancellery itself.
The current Chancellery still represented a balance between powerful families and traditional forces. He had taken into account the interests of prominent families like the Cui, Pei, Lu, and Wei clans, as well as those of old-guard figures like Zhang Yun. In essence, this Chancellery was the product of compromise. None of these people were the kind of prime ministers he, Li Qingan, desired. What he wanted were honest and upright individuals like Yan Zhenqing, Pei Min, Liu Yan, Cui Ning, Wang Wei, and Zhang Gao—such reformers who could lead the Tang Dynasty to a period of prosperity.
He needed these people to enter the center of power as soon as possible, and An Lushan’s rebellion was the perfect opportunity.
An Lushan still rebelled as history dictated. Historically, the rebellion occurred in the 14th year of the Tianbao era; although two years had passed now, he still rose in rebellion.
However, history took a different path because of Li Qingan’s arrival. Though the Tang Dynasty was now divided between north and south, it was by no means as weak and incompetent as during Li Longji’s reign. With a strong leader like him in control of military and political affairs, could there really be a situation like “the drums of Yuyang shaking the earth, disrupting the Rainbow Feather Robe Dance”?
Li Qingan was full of confidence in himself.
“Disrupting the Rainbow Feather Robe Dance…” Suddenly, he thought of Yang Yuhuan. What would she feel upon hearing news of An Lushan’s rebellion?
His heart warmed, and he immediately ordered, “Turn the carriage around! Head to Xuyang Fang!”
The carriage changed direction and sped toward Xuyang Fang…
Ever since Mingyue discovered Yang Yuhuan’s affair, although she eventually agreed to Li Qingan’s plan to keep Yang Yuhuan outside the palace, he remained worried that Mingyue wouldn’t give up so easily. Throughout history, no woman had ever tolerated her husband keeping another concubine. Li Qingan knew his wife well—though she pretended to be forgiving, she was highly cunning. She might not truly let Yang Yuhuan go. So, Li Qingan hid Yang Yuhuan again in Xuyang Fang, but he was still uneasy. He planned to bring Yang Yuhuan with him and settle her in Luoyang.
The carriage stopped in front of a grand mansion. As usual, 500 bodyguards surrounded the house, with female guards secretly providing protection.
“Your humble servant greets the Great General!”
A female guard leader dressed in tight black clothes jumped down from the wall and knelt to pay respects to Li Qingan.
“Is there any issue?”
“None. Lady Yang is doing well.”

“Retire all the guards! There’s no need for you to be on guard tonight.”
“Yes!”
The female guard waved, and several shadows left the rooftops and trees. Li Qing’an calmed himself down. Whatever happened, he had to possess both the body and heart of this beauty tonight. He stepped forward and knocked on the door. Light footsteps came from inside the courtyard, and the door opened. Li Qing’an was stunned…
…