Chapter 185: The Incident at Ganlu Temple

"Everyone, don't move. Don't open the door!"

Li Longji recovered from his shock, his eyes fixed on Li Heng, who was equally stunned.

At this moment, Li Longji's heart was filled with regret, a sense of luck, and bewilderment about the future.

Yet, although he hadn't ordered the door opened, the great gate opened on its own.

While no one was watching, a knife slipped through the gap between the double doors, swung down forcefully, and split the wooden door bolt.

Outside the main hall, Gao Shang looked puzzled at Fang Chongyong, who was cutting the bolt with a knife, and asked, "The bolt should be copper‑wrapped wood; how did you split it with a single strike?"

Sheathing his Swift Wind Illusion Blade, Fang Chongyong pretended to be urgent and said, "Perhaps someone's blade is faster. General Gao, hurry inside and see how the Saint is doing; the rebels outside are shouting, and it may truly not be Prince Shou causing trouble."

Fortunately, he had deliberately replaced the copper‑wrapped wooden bolt here with a rotten‑wood one yesterday; otherwise opening the door would have been difficult.

Gao Shang and Fang Chongyong entered the Buddha Hall and saw Prince Shou sitting in a corner, hair disheveled. On the main seat sat Li Longji, his dragon robe soaked, drenched in tea water. The other princes wore varied expressions, but none looked good.

The scene had an indescribable oddness.

"Saint, Wu Zhiyi and Prince Xue are plotting rebellion, leading their trusted men to assault Ganlu Ni Temple! Earlier they suddenly launched an attack inside the temple; we suffered heavy losses and many died."

"General Chen is leading troops to resist; please wait here, Saint, the junior officer…"

Before Fang Chongyong could finish, a blood‑splattered Dragon Martial Army Spear Commander rushed in, two arrows still lodged in his back.

"Saint, withdraw quickly… General Chen fell in battle, and that dog‑thief Wu Zhiyi is about to break through!"

"No way!"

Not only everyone in the hall, but even Fang Chongyong and Gao Shang were stunned!

Earlier, Chen Xuanli had proudly pounded his chest, saying holding back the chaotic troops would be a piece of cake; how could he crumble in such a short time, not even half an incense stick's worth of time?

"I will go out and see; I refuse to believe the Dragon Martial Army would rebel!"

Li Longji stood up and headed toward the Buddha Hall exit, but Fang Chongyong grabbed him.

At that moment, the rebels were already blood‑thirsty. If they killed Ji Ge, they'd win the whole game, then feast without worry, since the pot belongs to Prince Shou! Even if Ji Ge went out to prove he was alive, the rebels would claim he was a fake.

Going out now would be walking into a trap, wouldn't it?

"Saint, those rebels have gone beastly mad; they won't listen to anything. The junior officer has a retreat route; go this way!"

Without a word, Fang Chongyong hoisted Li Longji onto his back and said to Gao Shang, "I'll first hide the Saint; the rest depends on you, General, and the Dragon Martial Army."

Seeing Gao Shang about to speak, Fang Chongyong shouted, "Loyalty to the sovereign and serving the nation is today; a true man cannot be a whiner!"

Having said that, he sprinted southeast with Li Longji on his back!

The optimal route from Ganlu Ni Temple to Shengye Yard is to head northwest, scale the yard wall onto Chang'an's main road, then proceed eastward straight to the west gate of Xingqing Palace!

If one goes straight north, they will reach Daming Palace!

This is the shortest escape route; unless the rebels number in the thousands, they cannot completely block every exit. Thus this path is the overt "survival route."

Of course, since it's "overt," our own people know it, and the enemy knows it too. If Wu Zhiyi—or anyone else—stations dozens, even a dozen, of cavalry on that main road, they could wipe out any stray persons.

Therefore, when planning the escape routes, Fang Chongyong initially marked this road as a pass.

In fact, the rebels under Wu Zhiyi and the private troops and warriors that fled Prince Xue's residence are now concentrated at the northwest corner of Shengye Yard. Elsewhere, they merely hold the main gate and a few side street entrances.

Gao Shang looked helplessly as Fang Chongyong ran off with Li Longji, sighing softly. He was, of course, worried about Li Longji, but Gao Shang knew that as long as he stayed here, those who didn't understand would assume the Tang Emperor was still present, merely having shed his dragon robe to blend into the crowd.

By staying, Ji Ge's chance of escape increased, which was the main reason Gao Shang chose not to block Fang Chongyong.

"Everyone, come with me to fetch knives; now is the time for you to show loyalty to the Saint."

Gao Shang looked at the princes, his smile thin, and said.

"We've arrived!"

Fang Chongyong, carrying Li Longji, arrived at a corner wall in the southeast of Ganlu Ni Temple. He set Ji Ge down, swiftly removed the dragon robe from his body, then opened an unnoticed, unassuming cloth bundle in the corner, which contained a gray old Dao robe.

"Saint, change your clothes!"

He ignored the bewildered Li Longji, tossed the removed dragon robe into a nearby well. When he returned, Ji Ge had already changed into the Dao robe, looking like a shabby old man.

"I never thought I would encounter a loyal minister today..."

Ji Ge couldn't help but sigh wistfully.

"Saint, climb the ladder over the wall!"

Fang Chongyong set up the wooden ladder placed in the corner, pushed Ji Ge, and began to ascend!

"Why is there a ladder here?"

Li Longji asked with a puzzled expression.

The Dao robe, the ladder, and that bolt that shouldn't have been split with a single slash—today's oddities were truly one after another.

"That was the junior officer's spare, placed there this morning."

Fang Chongyong lit a fire basin near the well, and instantly smoke rose skyward.

He then scrambled up the courtyard wall, grabbed the inner ladder with one hand, set it outside, and leapt down. He shouted to Ji Ge, "Saint, come down quickly, there's no time!"

"Alas!"

Li Longji sighed and descended the wooden ladder like a bereaved dog.

Fang Chongyong carried the ladder to the neighboring courtyard wall and shouted to Ji Ge, "Saint, hurry over; once inside, you'll be safe!"

"That's it?"

Li Longji was shocked, unable to believe Fang Chongyong's escape plan was so childish.

"Just hopping over to the next courtyard—doesn't that seem too rash?"

In fact, two days earlier when Fang Chongyong was planning escape routes, he repeatedly considered how someone might block Ganlu Ni Temple. He then realized that scaling a wall with a ladder straight to the neighboring Shengye Temple was the retreat path with the lowest chance of error.

Hiding inside Shengye Temple would buy time before the enemy could locate them. A coup hinges on that time gap; as long as Ji Ge remains unfound and alive, their odds keep improving.

According to the principle of darkness under the lamp, hiding in such places can gain even more time!

"Saint, once you cross over, it's Shengye Temple; you'll be temporarily safe inside!"

Fang Chongyong saw Ji Ge still standing dazed there, and grew so anxious he nearly leapt up.

He hurried over, pulling and dragging, and pushed Ji Ge onto the climbing ladder. When the two of them flipped over the wall and landed, they found a crowd of black‑clad private troops, white strips tied around their arms, kneeling on one knee, a sea of darkness!

"Sage, the servant arrives late; I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

The man at the front had a beard already white, but his voice was loud and his stout figure unchanged. He turned out to be Prince Li Yi of Xin'an, who had long been stripped of office by Li Longji and kept idle at home.

"How could you…"

Li Longji wore a horrified expression; too many events had unfolded today, his mind could not keep up.

"Sage, this matter is long; please follow me to the Buddha Hall to rest, the reinforcements are on the way."

Fang Chongyong performed a salute with crossed arms and said.

Hearing this, Li Longji was overjoyed. He seized Fang Chongyong's arm and, excited, asked, "Are there reinforcements?"

"Indeed, the Dragon Martial Army soldier Zhang Guangsheng is going to fetch the aid. Please, Sage, stay here a moment longer; if we go out now, we will surely die."

Fang Chongyong earnestly pleaded.

"Hmm, let's go together."

At this moment Ji Ge finally regained his imposing bearing, leading the group to the Buddha Hall of Shengye Temple. There were over a hundred people gathered, many already with white beards, which made Li Longji sigh wistfully.

These people were probably the old soldiers who had followed Prince Li Yi of Xin'an to fight in Hexi years ago; now they serve as household guards, cramped in Chang'an, most of them living in the Prince of Xin'an's Residence, evidently not living comfortably.

Yet the decree that removed Prince Li Yi of Xin'an from office was issued personally by Ji Ge himself. If he dies among the chaotic troops today, then one can only say that the Way of Heaven turns in cycles.

The sins he sowed long ago now bear bitter fruit.

"I have treated Wu Zhiyi kindly, yet he betrays me; even Prince Xue has turned, sigh…"

Li Longji lamented, never having imagined that Wu Zhiyi would bring part of the Dragon Martial Army into rebellion, and that Prince Xue had also turned.

Wu Zhiyi is an outsider; his betrayal is understandable. But why would Prince Xue betray?

"Sage, Wei Lan, brother of Wei Jian, holds the rank of Assistant Director of the Ministry of War. Therefore the Southern Yamen Six Armies are unlikely to come to the rescue; a single document from the Ministry can keep them outside Chang'an."

"Since Wu Zhiyi dared to rebel, he must have some deployment against the Dragon Martial Army's main camp. The Dragon Martial Army can hardly be relied upon."

Fang Chongyong said helplessly.

At this critical moment, it is hard to command the troops to move at will, but keeping a certain army idle is far easier. A conspirator only needs to spread news that the Sage has perished, and that is enough.

Then everyone will pause and watch, not act rashly.

"Where do the reinforcements come from?"

Li Longji asked in puzzlement.

"Sage, a swift wind knows the sturdy grass; now we can only see who remains loyal!"

Fang Chongyong performed a crossed‑arms salute to Li Longji and said.

This is all he can do; for this he even risked exposing the relationship between Ana Ye and Prince Li Yi of Xin'an. The beacon fires have been lit, the reinforcements called, and Ji Ge has been taken to a relatively safe place.

As for the rest, leave it to fate.

Those hundred‑plus veteran soldiers of Prince Xin'an, unarmored, might not hold out long in a fight; this insurance is better than nothing.

The useless Chen Xuanli truly cannot compare with the battle‑hardened outsider Wu Zhiyi, who has years of experience on the frontier of Youzhou!

In his heart, Fang Chongyong cursed the Chen Xuanli who was beheaded by Wu Zhiyi, half‑to‑death.

……

"Sage, hurry to the Dragon Martial Army main camp in the Northern Garden, then seize the Imperial City, summon all officials, and hold the coronation ceremony!"

In front of the Buddha Hall of Ganlu Ni Temple, a blood‑soaked Wu Zhiyi stepped forward, performed a crossed‑arms salute to the shaken Loyal Prince Li Heng, and said.

The other princes, as well as Gao Lishi, kept their distance from Li Heng, standing coldly aside, as if drawing a clear line from him.

"Have you found Li Longji?"

Li Heng lowered his voice and asked Wu Zhiyi.

"Not yet; we have already sent people to look, but we lack manpower, so we cannot cover everything at once."

Wu Zhiyi also lowered his voice calmly; despite his earlier booming words that sounded like a successful coup, as long as Li Longji is not found and the Dragon Martial Army not controlled, the situation could flip at any moment.

"Hey, anyone, give me a slash. I'll go to the Yellow Springs and watch you make trouble."

Not far away, a cynical shout rang out—it was the true mastermind of this incident: Prince Li Chang.

"Tie him up, guard him well, and make sure he does not kill himself."

Li Heng ordered a rebel soldier beside Wu Zhiyi.

How could Prince Li Chang die? If he dies, there would be no evidence of his death.

The one who truly should die is Li Longji!

At that moment, Loyal Prince Li Heng felt a great sense of vengeance fulfilled.

As long as we find Ji Ge and slaughter him, the flawless logical loop is completed.

Prince Li Chang kills Ji Ge, then Loyal Prince leads the army to "suppress the rebellion", many princes fall at the hands of Prince Li Chang's confidants. Afterwards, Prince Li Chang is tried at Dali Temple, confesses all crimes, and is sentenced to death for his heinous deeds!

Finally, Loyal Prince ascends the throne with the support of the royal clan and the outer court!

What a perfect "turmoil".

"But Li Longji has not been found; if we go to the Dragon Martial Army camp, will we…"

Li Heng asked with some doubt; he had not expected that Prince Li Chang had not killed Ji Ge.

Hearing this, Wu Zhiyi almost cursed his mother, what a dog‑brain!

He quickly pulled Li Heng aside and whispered:

"Chen Xuanli colluded with Prince Li Chang to rebel; we have already executed him. The Sage has perished, so for now the Loyal Prince shall command the troops, and I, your humble servant, will temporarily assume the role of Dragon Martial Army general; that will suffice."

"Once we control the Dragon Martial Army and the Imperial City, even if the Sage truly appears, he will be nothing but a puppet brought by Prince Li Chang, and we can kill him outright."

Hearing this, Li Heng finally calmed down.

Now we send people to search for Li Longji's whereabouts; meanwhile, we seize the Dragon Martial Army, then use it to control the outer court, and the matter is settled!

By then, even if Ji Ge appears again, those who fear being purged will also firmly support themselves!

"You're right, uh, bring them along too."

Li Heng pointed at the princes and said.

Now he no longer cared about his unsightly eating. After all, these princes will die under the Prince of Longevity's blade—why bother caring what the dead think?

"What about Gao Lishi—should we... now..."

Wu Zhiyi made a throat-slashing gesture.

"Hehe, he still has to stay as a witness."

Li Heng gave a cold smile and said.

"Come on, let's go see Prince Xue's people."

Li Heng walked in front, his brow slightly furrowed as he looked at the corpses of the Dragon Martial Army soldiers strewn across the ground, feeling unusually apprehensive.

If it weren't for Wu Zhiyi's sudden uprising inside the temple, and the forces of Prince Xue outside drawing the guards' attention, this coup would really have been difficult.

How should we reward Wu Zhiyi in the future?

Such a tremendous achievement cannot be rewarded, so we can only... give him a grand funeral.

Li Heng secretly calculated in his mind how to wrap things up after he ascends the Dragon Throne, and how to deal with those who participated in this coup.

(End of chapter)