Chapter 187: Ji Ge's Twelve Hours (Part Two)

The Grand General of the Longwu Army is Chen Xuanli; he is the highest leader of the Longwu Army.

The Left General is Wu Zhiyi, so who is the Right General, whose presence is extremely low, who almost never speaks and seldom carries out important missions?

His name is Zhang Lingxin, a documented direct descendant of Zhang Han; he was born on Bailu Plain, and his family has been genuine locals of Guanzhong since the Han dynasty. He is now nearly sixty years old. He joined the army during the Wu Zhou period and has since been mixing among the Imperial Guards.

Yet now he is still entrusted with important duties by Ji Ge, showing how deep his foundations are.

Although the Longwu Army is formed by recruiting various "brave and strong" men from Chang'an rather than selecting elite militia from Guanzhong as before, it still represents the interests of the Guandong circle.

Ji Ge wants to break free from the shackles of Guandong power, yet cannot completely do so.

Thus a figure like Zhang Lingxin becomes the Longwu Army's anchor. It is precisely because he is present that the Longwu Army can be prevented from becoming Ji Ge's blade for purging Guandong forces.

Normally he does not interfere with Chen Xuanli's military affairs, and Ji Ge does not remove him; the two coexist peacefully and cooperate happily. This is actually a compromise solution between Ji Ge and certain Guanzhong forces.

At this moment, inside the guardhouse at the top of Xuanwu Gate behind the Imperial City, Zhang Lingxin rereads the "anonymous letter" delivered last night, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Failing to report this letter would normally be a grave offense!

If nothing goes wrong, it's fine; just burn the letter and it's over.

If something goes wrong… whether the whole family's heads remain on their necks will depend on how events unfold later.

In short, the situation is a bit ominous!

"General Zhang, Left General Wu Zhiyi is leading some men to enter the main camp. They look… off."

A personal guard whispered to Zhang Lingxin.

"Take me to see."

Zhang Lingxin gave a slight nod, folded the anonymous letter neatly, and slipped it into his sleeve without a trace.

He arrived at the wall top and saw, beneath Xuanwu Gate, over a hundred Longwu Army soldiers, almost everyone bearing dried bloodstains, their uniforms torn as if they had just endured a fierce battle.

"General Wu, weren't you guarding the Sage for Prince Shou's wedding? Why does everyone have blood on them?"

Zhang Lingxin ordered his guard to shout hoarsely.

"Eh? That's a long story, just unlucky to run into a few bandits.

I say, why close the gate of the Western Garden? The brothers finish their duty and want to return to the main camp for wine and meat."

Wu Zhiyi shouted, pretending to be indifferent, though his heart was already racing.

Normally the main gate of Xuanwu Gate stays closed, but a small gate opens, allowing only one person to slip through at a time.

This is to facilitate the Longwu Army's comings and goings!

By default, a few Longwu Army soldiers guard this small gate, but it does not close.

A team of more than five requires approval from a Left or Right Longwu Army General‑level officer. If it's a single individual, as long as they're known and have a pass from a staff officer or a mid‑level officer, a quick questioning of one or two sentences suffices.

But today, the small gate was actually closed! Wu Zhiyi had originally planned to sneak in with Li Heng!

"I have a holy command here: Xuanwu Gate is under martial law; without the Sage's edict, the Longwu Army may not enter or exit. Offending this is punishable.

Of course, if General Chen Xuanli were present, we could let him speak out."

Zhang Lingxin handled it officially, his expression cold, and immediately ordered his guard to shout down to the city.

The anonymous letter received last night said that if today smoke rises from the Shengye Fang direction, it must mean the Sage is in trouble and someone is rebelling.

As long as the Longwu Army holds the camp, preventing outsiders from entering and soldiers from leaving, they are serving the throne and need not do anything extra.

When the suppression ends, it will naturally be a great achievement.

Because the original imperial decree was to keep the Longwu Army's main force in the camp, not to move around!

Now it seems that anonymous letter was spot on!

I fear the rebel is the Left Longwu Army General Wu Zhiyi!

Zhang Lingxin has already made a decision in his heart.

"General Zhang, open the gate! The Sage and General Chen Xuanli have been killed, Prince Shou has already rebelled inside the city, and we urgently need the Longwu Army to step out and quell the rebellion! Time is truly tight!"

Li Heng removed his helmet and shouted from the wall top. He was posing as Wu Zhiyi's guard; seeing that he could no longer trick his way through Xuanwu Gate, he had to step forward early.

"Do you have the imperial edict?"

Zhang Lingxin asked leisurely.

Because yesterday's letter left a strong impression, he is the first to distrust Li Heng's words now.

"General Zhang, the edict exists; it is in my hand. The Sage, before his death, appointed me as Crown Prince. The other brothers all died at Prince Shou's hands, alas!

Look, Prince Xue behind me can testify."

Li Heng, mounted on his horse, squeezed out a few crocodile‑like tears, turned and pointed at the anxious Prince Xue Li Xuan behind him.

"Fine, then Loyal Prince can come in alone; the others wait outside."

Zhang Lingxin had his guard shout down.

Below the Xuanwu Gate wall top, Li Heng, Wu Zhiyi, Li Xuan and others stared at each other, never expecting Zhang Lingxin to pull such a stunt!

Li Heng, going up alone, what use could it have?

But if he doesn't go up, wouldn't all previous effort be wasted?

Go up? Or not? Zhang Lingxin has indeed posed a dilemma for everyone!

"Alright, General Zhang, lower the hanging basket."

Li Heng shouted toward the wall top.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not…"

Wu Zhiyi panicked, grabbed Li Heng's arm, and shouted in a lowered voice.

"Don't worry, I will persuade them."

Li Heng said confidently, though in fact he now had no way out.

Seizing the window of information asymmetry, he could pull the Longwu Army officers down, then smoothly seize control of the Imperial City; this game could still be turned around. Otherwise, all the scheming would be meaningless, with no chance at all!

The cavalry, which had been proceeding smoothly, was completely outmaneuvered by Prince Shou!

Why doesn't this guy give Li Longji a slash? Isn't he hating him to death? Why not kill him?

At this moment, Li Heng's heart is already hovering on the brink of collapse.

If he knew that Prince Li Chang would never kill Li Longji, then why would he stage a mutiny!

Since you don't kill him, why the hell did you, you son of a bitch, still go to Da Qin Temple to buy a soft sword? Why did you also go there to buy that mandala flower pollen that makes the whole body weak after eating?

Li Heng also can't figure out what Prince Li Chang is thinking, but he knows that this time he rushed too far forward and can't retreat.

This time, whoever has the better intel will more easily fall into the Prince's trap! His most favored Loyal Prince has unfortunately been caught.

Moreover, with the Prince causing such a ruckus, Li Longji and all the princes will distrust each other, and there will be no overt trust left!

From now on, it's a life‑or‑death struggle!

Why has it come to this!

While Li Heng was pondering these things, the suspended basket on the city wall had already been lowered.

"Go to Shengye Workshop and look for that immortal old man; perhaps he's still hiding in some Buddhist temple.

Find him, slay him, and this round is won!"

Li Heng whispered to Wu Zhiyi and Prince Li Xuan.

"Also, Your Majesty, please proceed with caution."

Wu Zhiyi and Li Xuan crossed their hands in salute, bid Li Heng farewell, and immediately led over a hundred men, murderous aura blazing, toward the south.

Li Heng was lifted by Zhang Lingxin's personal soldiers in a suspended basket to the top of Xuanwu Gate. He handed the yellow silk to the other side, crossed his hands in salute and said: "General Zhang, the nation's safety now rests on a single thought of yours; please, General, put the country first…"

Before he could finish, Zhang Lingxin didn't even glance at the imperial edict, waved his hand and said: "Men, take the Loyal Prince down and keep a close watch; do not delay."

Huh?

Li Heng was startled; he was about to speak, but heard Zhang Lingxin say:

"The Sage may have met disaster, or may not have. The Prince may have rebelled, or may not have.

These old fools cannot determine it now.

But this is not a difficult matter to clarify.

If the Prince comes to Xuanwu Gate with the imperial edict to deceive, I will naturally capture him and bring him to justice. He brings troops to assault the city; I would sacrifice my life to protect the Loyal Prince. The Crown Prince would then live up to his title!

But if the Prince launches a rebellion yet does not bring troops to attack Xuanwu Gate, nor comes to deceive the city.

Then I might have to consider what the Loyal Prince and Wu Zhiyi's performance below the city earlier actually meant.

Take him away and guard him alone.

After the gate is locked, no one may stand guard outside, nor speak with him; violators will be treated as rebels and executed on the spot!

When he uttered those final three words, Zhang Lingxin clenched his teeth in fury.

Where did this cavalry go wrong?

Li Heng's heart sank to the bottom of a valley, and he was helplessly dragged away by Zhang Lingxin's personal soldiers.

After he left, Zhang Lingxin, the old general nearing his sixties, finally let out a long sigh!

Now he can almost conclude that this time it is Loyal Prince Li Heng who is rebelling, while the Sage's fate remains unknown.

Nevertheless, who will claim victory in this game remains an unknown.

Observing from the side and holding position, without the Sage's orders, refusing to leave the camp, that is the optimal solution.

If the Sage truly died, then Zhang Lingxin would turn around and treat Li Heng as an honored guest, hand over command of the Dragon Martial Army, and order his subordinates to obey Li Heng's command to quell the various disturbances in Chang'an.

If the Sage hasn't died, then… detaining Li Heng would be a great achievement, and there is no need for this sixty‑year‑old to take a side.

This response is simply the best plan—attack when advancing, defend when retreating.

Recalling the unsigned letter from last night, sent anonymously by Dragon Martial Army soldier Zhang Guangsheng, who guards Xingqing Palace, Zhang Lingxin secretly felt relieved that he had kept an extra eye out.

If it weren't for this "anonymous tip" as a foundation, how he would handle today truly warrants two explanations.

Perhaps, he would have let Wu Zhiyi's party in.

And what would happen if those people entered Xuanwu Gate is hard to say. Perhaps Wu Zhiyi would seize power with his men, kill him and those Dragon Martial Army officers who refuse to submit.

At that time, who would become the Son of Heaven of Chang'an would be even harder to determine.

What a relief!

Zhang Lingxin wiped the cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

……

"The Sage is now trapped in Shengye Workshop; Right Prime Minister, please accompany someone into the Dragon Martial Army camp and steady the group of Qiu Ba, so they won't be swayed by the Loyal Prince's men."

Inside Li Linfu's mansion in Pingkang Workshop, Fang Chongyong met Li Linfu pacing the main hall and immediately asked him to go to the camp together.

"You mean Wu Zhiyi is rebelling, and Prince Li Xuan is rebelling?"

Li Linfu slightly frowned and asked.

He has no reliable information channels within the Dragon Martial Army, nor any close confidants.

However, recently the Southern Yamen Guard was completely redeployed out of Chang'an by the Sage, which made the politically keen Li Linfu sense something amiss.

Therefore he did not go to the Council Hall today, fearing he would be taken out in one fell swoop!

"Yes, exactly so."

Fang Chongyong, dressed in the monk's "three robes", nodded slightly and said, his shiny bald head standing out.

Li Linfu nodded slightly, weighing repeatedly in his mind whether to go to the Dragon Martial Army camp.

"Now Chang'an's defenses are weak; the people of Prince Xue, together with the few rebels within the Dragon Martial Army, could seize the imperial city, control the Six Ministries, then use the Right Prime Minister to endorse Li Heng, ascend the throne early, and finally bribe the Dragon Martial Army high command with official titles, turning the army to swear loyalty, thereby fully controlling Chang'an."

"As long as the Right Prime Minister goes to the Dragon Martial Army, even doing nothing can thwart Li Heng's plot. Time waits for no one, Right Prime Minister!"

Fang Chongyong bowed and respectfully requested.

"Going there is not to 'rescue the carriage', but rather to 'do nothing'!"

The subtlety of this became clear to Li Linfu after a brief contemplation. One must admit, Fang Chongyong thought things through thoroughly, with measured advance and retreat!

Anyone can handle suppressing the rebellion, except Li Linfu.

If Li Linfu leads troops to suppress the rebellion, what will Elder Brother Ji think afterward?

Li Linfu already has great influence in government affairs, and he has many followers in the court.

He's already so impressive; if he also gained control of the Dragon Martial Army, Elder Brother Ji would surely be delighted and more at ease, finally issuing an edict to abdicate the throne to Li Linfu, then happily becoming a "forced-suicide" emperor.

Just thinking about it makes it impossible!

Only by Li Linfu going to the Dragon Martial Army camp, using his authority to stabilize the army and keep it neutral, waiting for others to suppress the rebellion, is this the proper bearing of a Tang dynasty chancellor.

Good, this chancellor will go with you to the Dragon Martial Army's main camp.

What needs to be prepared?

Li Linfu asked curiously. Upon learning that Li Longji was safe and sound, he also wasn't so panicked.

Please have the Right Chancellor write a handwritten order, commanding the Six Ministries and the Council of State to take a three-day leave— that will do!

Fang Chongyong added a sentence.

Well said, a brilliant plan!

Li Linfu accepted advice readily, wrote a letter, and gave it to a servant with instructions.

Fang Chongyong's move is excellent; letting officials take leave means even if Li Heng wanted to rebel and ascend the throne early, he couldn't find enough officials to support him.

Come on, lead the way for this chancellor!

Li Linfu flicked his sleeve and headed out the door.

The two rode on horseback, light and simple, heading north all the way into the Imperial City. For some reason, the gate guards tasked with watching the Imperial City's gates, who should have been on duty, were nowhere to be seen.

You're right, the situation really isn't right.

Li Linfu rode on his horse, lost in thought, and said to Fang Chongyong.

Arriving below the Xuanwu Gate tower, they saw the Dragon Martial Army on the tower as if facing a great enemy, looking very tense, fully armed, unlike their usual laxness.

General Zhang, this is the Right Chancellor; I am the halberdier tasked with guarding Xingqing Palace, Dragon Martial Army's Fang Chongyong. We wish to enter the main camp to discuss important matters with General Zhang!

Fang Chongyong shouted at the top of his lungs from beneath the tower.

Zhang Lingxin, without a word, without even shouting, directly ordered the basket lowered, pulling Fang Chongyong and Li Linfu up onto the Xuanwu Gate tower.

This chancellor has received the sage's edict, already ordering the Six Ministries and the Council of State to take a three-day leave. The edict also says the Dragon Martial Army must stay in the main camp, not act rashly, no idle persons allowed inside, and soldiers may not go out.

Now, with nothing to do, this chancellor also wishes to stay in the main camp; General Zhang, you have no objection, right?

Li Linfu smiled falsely and said to Zhang Lingxin.

Hearing this, Zhang Lingxin finally let go of his worries completely.

If it were just him holding the fort, I'd really fear that soldiers with ulterior motives might mutiny, be bribed by Li Heng, tie him up, and claim credit.

Now we have an additional Right Chancellor of imperial lineage, Li Linfu, who is still following the order to lie low and feign death; there's no need to openly take a stance—this can definitely be used to make a deal with the other side.

In the future, we can back each other up, take the blame together if something goes wrong, and cover for each other—it's simply great.

Zhang Lingxin's face instantly broke into a sincere smile; he stroked his white beard and laughed heartily.

The Right Chancellor's arrival is perfect; I was just hoping to share a drink and chat with the Right Chancellor. Fortunately, the army camp is quiet, the court is on a three-day leave, so we should have a good talk.

This chancellor thinks the same; General Zhang, please.

Li Linfu smiled and said.

Please, Right Chancellor this way.

Zhang Lingxin glanced at Fang Chongyong without changing his expression; seeing him nod slightly, he suddenly realized.

(End of chapter)