The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 2 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
On the fourteenth day of the first month, at the beginning of noon, Cao Poyan was having his hair cut by Ji Shifu. The barber noticed Cao Poyan's inner shirt was wet and called his six-year-old daughter, Ji Jiang, to bring a fresh shirt. Initially, Cao Poyan grew wary and secretly drew Ji Shifu's razor, ready to attack.
However, seeing Ji Jiang reminded him of his own daughter, who was taller and loved "the stars in the sky," softening his resolve. He was in Chang'an to execute a mission, hoping to free his daughter from slavery. Before leaving, Cao Poyan told Ji Shifu and Ji Jiang that "fortune is upon us" and urged them to stay home and not go anywhere today.
Zhang Xiaojing, identified as a death row convict, affirmed his ability to "arrest the Wolven Squad and protect the peace of Chang'an." Cui Qi, though serving alongside Zhang Xiaojing and the Jing'an Si soldiers, expressed his distrust of Li Bi, claiming Li Bi "doesn't care about the people." He further revealed that Zhang Xiaojing would not gain freedom, but would be sent back to his death cell after 24 hours, even if he succeeded.
When Li Bi arrived and confirmed this, Zhang Xiaojing, feeling manipulated, aimed his bow and arrow at Li Bi. Unfazed, Li Bi calmly stated, "We are in the same boat today. Stop pointing a weapon at me." During this time, Cao Poyan, disguised, successfully navigated a city gate checkpoint and entered Chang'an.
Li Bi dismissed everyone else, returning Zhang Xiaojing's personal sword, a short blade Zhang Xiaojing called a "sword of humiliation," given to him by Prince Xin An seventeen years prior. Zhang Xiaojing admitted to being "a sentimental person and one who holds grudges." Li Bi reiterated that he could not commute Zhang Xiaojing's death sentence, and the current situation was far more complex than a simple capture of Wolven Squad members.
Zhang Xiaojing, confident in his combat skills, declared, "If I want to get out, you can't stop me," but expressed his resentment at being used. Li Bi then contrasted his own ambitions with those of Li Bai, whom he saw as underutilized despite his talent.
Li Bi passionately articulated his profound desire "to be the prime minister" and "to protect the people in this world" with his wisdom, acknowledging the cunning of Right Chancellor Lin Jiulang and the necessity of flawless execution in this mission. Zhang Xiaojing, though impressed by Li Bi's ambition, stated he would "retaliate against those who tricked me" after Cao Poyan was arrested.
Shortly after, Yao Runeng, the crown prince's Right Commandant, arrived, announcing his duty to assist Jing'an Si and oversee Zhang Xiaojing. He boasted about his superior memory and knowledge of the watchtower signals. At that moment, watchtower drums sounded, and the message, "Commander Zhang is out to arrest Wolven Squad! All commandants, keep your ears open!" rapidly spread across Chang'an, mobilizing all Wuhou and Unsavory Men under Zhang Xiaojing's command.
Li Bi reported to He Zhizheng about Zhang Xiaojing's mission, assuring him that he had found the perfect man for the job. He Zhizheng, however, was deeply concerned for the crown prince, as this was his first significant mission from the Emperor in three years, and Lin Jiulang would use any failure to impeach the crown prince. He Zhizheng promised to handle any interference directed at Jing'an Si.
Li Bi then discovered an imperial edict from the Emperor stating his intention to leave Chang'an for the "mountain hot springs" and entrust "all worldly affairs" to Right Chancellor Lin Jiulang. Realizing the grave threat this posed to the crown prince, Li Bi urgently consulted Tan Qi. He explained that the edict was scheduled to be announced at 2:00 AM tomorrow, leaving them "sixteen hours until the lantern festival" to find a way to make the Emperor revoke it.
Tan Qi expressed skepticism about entrusting such a crucial task to Zhang Xiaojing, reminding Li Bi of Zhang Xiaojing's violent past as the "King of Hell," who had killed thirty-four people, including his own commander. She questioned how Li Bi intended to prevent Zhang Xiaojing from escaping or betraying them. Li Bi simply replied, "I can't." Despite Yao Runeng's impatience and urging to resign, Zhang Xiaojing insisted on finishing his lamb soup to gather strength.
While eating, he strategically observed a shop called "Roujiayu Cosmetics" in the bustling Western District. He found it suspicious that a cosmetic shop, primarily frequented by men, could afford such a prime location, inferring it was a front for a "hidden business" dealing with the "Chang'an map and hidden death row convicts." He instructed Yao Runeng to "destroy his shop" to extract information. Yao Runeng, initially hesitant due to his high rank, eventually complied.
Upon Zhang Xiaojing's arrival, the shop owner, a former spy of Zhang Xiaojing, recognized him. Zhang Xiaojing openly stated that they were investigating the "illegal possession of the map" and implicitly advised the owner to "inform those shops that are secretly hiding the map to cover their tracks."
He then instructed Yao Runeng to gather the "sleuth-hounds in the Western District" to stake out the shop's back door, track everyone who left, and note the shops they entered to locate the map. He explicitly warned Yao Runeng not to expose the owner's identity as a spy and to use a smoke pellet if trouble arose.
Li Bi secretly met with Prince Li Yu, who expressed concern over the Emperor's apparent decline and the growing influence of Right Chancellor Lin Jiulang. Li Bi reassured the Prince that he had a plan to make the Emperor revoke his edict before the day ended. He revealed that he and Tan Qi had been secretly investigating Lin Jiulang's crimes for a year under the guise of Taoist travels.
Their investigation led them to Ying, a singer whose family had perished during the Ministry of Works' forced demolition of homes in Anye Street. Ying, seeking revenge, infiltrated Lin Jiulang's inner circle and overheard a "secret feast" where Lin Jiulang conspired with Prince Yong to use gangs to forcibly evict residents for an embassy project for the Small Patola Sahi diplomat.
During this, Ying managed to steal Lin Jiulang's "Jade Fish Pendant" while he was drunk, providing crucial "witness and evidence" to present to the Emperor during the "royal feast." Prince Li Yu, however, emphasized the immediate importance of the "Wolven Squad issue," urging Li Bi to ensure their capture, which Li Bi confidently stated would not fail.
Zhang Xiaojing followed a clerk from Roujiayu Cosmetics, who had been warned by another contact about a shop called "Gold and Silverware of the West" having "a tough hatchet man" and being involved in selling maps. Zhang Xiaojing confronted the owner of this shop in Huaiyuan Street, accusing him of illegally selling a map and colluding with the Wolven Squad. The owner repeatedly invoked his connection to "Jing Zhaoyin" as a defense.
Just then, a Wuhou messenger arrived, reporting "yellow smoke outside," indicating that Yao Runeng needed backup. Zhang Xiaojing initially left, but the owner's insistent repetition of "Jing Zhaoyin" made him suspicious. He quickly returned to find the owner and a worker murdered, with the dying worker gasping, "The wolf is still here." Inside, Zhang Xiaojing confronted a Wolven Squad member named Tugelu, who managed to retrieve the map.
After a struggle, Tugelu escaped through a hidden "underground tunnel from Western District to Huaiyuan Street," throwing large stones to block Zhang Xiaojing's pursuit. Wuhou on the watchtowers observed Zhang Xiaojing and the Wolven Squad member emerging from an underground tunnel in Huaiyuan Street, promptly relaying the information to Jing'an Si. Li Bi, reviewing a model layout of Huaiyuan Street with its dense population, expressed concern that any casualties during the chase could lead to Jing'an Si being investigated.
It was "three-quarters after noon," with "fourteen hours left" until the lantern lighting. Li Bi ordered Lu San to instruct Zhang Xiaojing "to catch that man no matter the cost," and for Yao Runeng and Cui Qi to bring in sleuth-hounds and the Dauntless Army as backup. As Zhang Xiaojing relentlessly pursued Tugelu, the Wolven Squad member, Tugelu took a woman hostage, then seized a horse from a passing scholar, Cheng Can, to escape.
Zhang Xiaojing, navigating the crowded streets, took to the rooftops in pursuit, sending a yellow smoke signal to the watchtower for assistance. He was also informed that Huaiyuan Street's Prayer Hall was significant to An Lushan and that weapons were forbidden in the area, making Jing'an Si's actions sensitive; Li Bi ordered this information to be kept from He Zhizheng.
Taking a shortcut, Zhang Xiaojing managed to catch up as Tugelu fell from the horse but immediately scrambled to continue fleeing on foot. Simultaneously, in Xiuzheng Street, Cao Poyan arrived at a hidden meeting place, where he was met by Ma Ge Er and other Wolven Squad members.
Cao Poyan confirmed his awareness of their losses and rallied his men with a fervent speech, promising that "starting tomorrow, we will be able to build the paradise of our dreams" in Chang'an. He declared that the "Flaming Demon is going to descend upon Chang'an" to forge a "new path of rebirth" through "charred bones," and that their "noble sacrifices" would fulfill their lives. His men responded with a unified cry of "Long live the Alpha."
