In the Name of Blossom Episode 23 Recap
> In the Name of Blossom Recap
As the battle commenced, Jiang Chang Yang personally put on his armor, ready to lead his soldiers into battle. Prince Ning's forces, equipped with superior weaponry, unleashed a barrage of flaming arrows, overwhelming Jiang Chang Yang's Hedong Army. Despite their defensive formation and valiant efforts to deflect the fiery projectiles, several soldiers fell. The Hedong Army, with only 50,000 soldiers, was vastly outnumbered, yet they held out remarkably well, a testament to Military Governor Yu Zheng's strategic prowess.
Prince Ning, aiming for a swift victory, heavily relied on fire oil. Jiang Chang Yang, anticipating this, predicted a depletion of the enemy's fifty barrels by nightfall, which aligned perfectly with his plan to launch a surprise night raid on Prince Ning's rear.
This raid was crucial not only to capture Prince Ning and swiftly end the war, sparing countless lives, but also to prevent him from utilizing prepared escape routes through mountain passes to reach Chang'an and twist the narrative, which would cause endless trouble. Under the cover of darkness, Jiang Chang Yang led his light cavalry for the surprise raid. However, Prince Ning's forces were prepared, having deployed a crossbowmen ambush.
As the cavalry approached, fire oil ignited simultaneously, showering them with flaming arrows. Despite Jiang Chang Yang's swift reaction, leading his vanguard to raise shields and deflect arrows, many soldiers and horses caught fire, and only about a dozen men remained in the squad. During their planned retreat, Jiang Chang Yang shot three consecutive arrows at Prince Ning.
Although Prince Ning used a soldier as a shield to block the first two, the final arrow struck Prince Ning's shoulder, though the severity of the injury remained unclear as he retreated. Back at the Hedong Army camp, trouble escalated further. Shortly after Jiang Chang Yang's departure for the raid, death warriors, concealed nearby prior to the battle, suddenly broke into the east side of the camp.
Despite Jiang Chang Yang having deliberately doubled the night guards in anticipation of an attack, two warriors forced their way into the supply tents and set fire to nearly all stored grains. While these two took their own lives after being cornered, one death warrior was kept alive. Interrogation revealed they were Prince Ning's assassins, ordered to wait for a signal to eliminate the commander when the army was weakened.
Prince Ning's panic after Jiang Chang Yang's night raid had led to this premature and desperate charge, inadvertently revealing his hidden plans. This attack left the Hedong Army critically short on provisions, with Jiang Chang Yang ordering all portion sizes to be halved from the next day. Facing a potentially prolonged battle, Jiang Chang Yang instructed his subordinates to prepare He Wei Fang and others to withdraw to Xinluo for safety.
He Wei Fang, however, vehemently refused to retreat, asserting that no Tang citizen could speak of safety if the empire fell into chaos. Acknowledging the Hedong Army's dire situation with dwindling food and fodder, and knowing that Yu Zheng and Jiang Chang Yang would never flee, she conceived a bold plan. The Hedong Army's camp was backed by the Fan River, presenting a challenging but vital opportunity to transport provisions.
Despite the treacherous rapids and hidden reefs of the Fan River, He Wei Fang recognized that successfully delivering supplies could turn the tide of the war. She immediately began inventorying their stored grain and directed her crew to load cargo ships. Realizing it wouldn't be enough, she dispatched Yun Niang to borrow additional grain and fodder from Hedong shops using promissory notes, promising tenfold repayment.
Her integrity as a merchant inspired local citizens, including Mr. Yang, who contributed fishing boats filled with millet, medicinal soups, and pills. Even after receiving the first shipments, He Wei Fang, ever resourceful, instructed Fu to use fire-resistant cloth, originally intended for waterproofing grains on boats, to create protective gear. She organized Hedong villagers to stitch these fabrics overnight into large combat cloaks, face curtains, and chest armor for warhorses, specifically designed to counter fire attacks.
With the newly crafted fire-resistant armor, the Hedong Army prepared for a second night raid. Jiang Chang Yang, despite his recent injury and lack of battlefield experience, was determined to lead the charge personally, asserting his martial skills and the necessity of his involvement after the first raid's failure. Meanwhile, Prince Ning, still recuperating, remained overconfident, believing Jiang Chang Yang's renewed attack was futile, having already refilled the trenches with fire oil, confident his enemy would perish in flames.
As Jiang Chang Yang's forces advanced, he swiftly shot down Prince Ning's army banner, severing their communications. He then confronted Prince Ning, revealing an imperial decree. The decree, issued by His Majesty, denounced Prince Ning Li Xian as the true traitor, accusing him of slandering the Hedong Army, persecuting loyal officials, and conspiring to rebel. It commanded Military Governor Yu Zheng of Hedong to apprehend Prince Ning, promising clemency to any Central Army soldiers who surrendered.
Prince Ning, initially dismissing the decree as a fake and urging his troops to continue fighting, watched in despair as his demoralized soldiers began to defect. He had always looked down on merchants and women, unaware that this crucial decree had been personally written by the Emperor, given to Noble Consort Shu, then to Xue Xi, and finally delivered overnight to He Wei Fang, who ensured Yu Zheng had a legitimate justification for fighting to protect the sovereign.
As Prince Ning desperately rallied his remaining troops, proclaiming his intent to retake the capital, he still expected reinforcements. However, the arriving troops were not his allies. Jiang Chang Yang then introduced Xiao Wen Yan, whom Prince Ning recognized as a "traitorous rat," revealing that the expected reinforcements were, in fact, Jiang Chang Yang's new allies.
Following this, Assistant Minister of War Liu Chang, previously Prince Ning's ally, openly confronted Prince Ning, declaring his loyalty to the prevailing circumstances and betraying him. Liu Chang promptly surrendered to Jiang Chang Yang, acknowledging his past grave crimes and offering to cooperate fully with Military Governor Yu Zheng's investigation, presenting Prince Ning as his captive to redeem himself. With Prince Ning finally apprehended, the Emperor consolidated his power, bringing peace to the court.
Military Governor Yu Zheng of Hedong was ennobled as Prince Jun for quelling the rebellion and tasked with remaining in the capital to oversee investigations and eradicate Prince Ning's faction completely. Liu Chang, despite his past transgressions, was shown leniency due to his battlefield confession and the capture of Prince Ning; his death sentence was commuted to stripping of position and confiscation of property.
A plea was also successfully made for amnesty for Prince Ning's daughter, the County Princess, stressing her innocence, lack of involvement in the rebellion, and precious royal lineage. Jiang Chang Yang and He Wei Fang later visited a memorial for their fallen comrades, including Master, General Yu, Brother Zhang Qiu, and She Yan, finding peace that the calamities had ended and reforms begun.
He Wei Fang, choosing to abandon her identity and live as the carefree shopkeeper Xiao Hua, explained that her extraordinary experiences couldn't be logically explained to outsiders, especially since the treacherous Floral Envoy had already perished. She expressed her desire to travel across the lands with Mu Dan, engaging in trade while subtly acting as the Emperor's watchful eyes against corrupt officials and bandits.
Jiang Chang Yang, now "homeless" after his mansion's confiscation, found solace knowing He Wei Fang's staff had already reclaimed the Fragrance Garden, which she had redeemed through her business over the years, inviting him to reside there. Reflecting on his near-death experience, Jiang Chang Yang asserted his belief that sacrificing for the nation's crisis meant meeting death as homecoming, and he would have no regrets if he had perished fulfilling his duty.
The Emperor, aware of Jiang Chang Yang's (referred to as Mr. Third) desire for a more relaxed life, playfully teased him about wanting to travel and enjoy life. While others urged them to clear their names and restore their status, He Wei Fang and Jiang Chang Yang preferred to live away from court, embracing a life of quiet freedom, with He Wei Fang (Xiao Hua) planning her shop's reopening before a quiet departure to avoid tearful farewells.
