The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 23 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
Li Bi confronted Yu Chang, pressing her for information on Long Bo's whereabouts. Yu Chang, realizing Li Bi was already aware of He Fu's role as the mastermind and deliberately avoiding the topic out of deference for He Zhizheng, lashed out. She accused Li Bi and his kind of protecting each other and called him a "darned official."
Li Bi firmly stated his commitment to the hundreds of thousands of citizens of Great Tang, wanting to prevent anyone from losing their homes and becoming consumed by hatred. Yu Chang, however, declared that Long Bo was right and that all the officials, along with everyone in Chang'an, deserved to die.
Li Bi implored Yu Chang not to blindly sacrifice herself and Long Bo for a fleeting sense of warmth, emphasizing that every life in Tang, including theirs, held value and shouldn't be lost in vain. Yu Chang, however, asserted that she acted willingly and was prepared for death, believing her sacrifice would be worthwhile. Li Bi offered to untie one of her bonds for an answer, which Yu Chang met with a threat.
She then revealed that Long Bo was acting on behalf of someone else. Before she could name them, Yu Chang suddenly lunged at Li Bi, attempting to escape, but Xu Bin quickly arrived and subdued her. Meanwhile, the streets of Chang'an buzzed with the festive spirit of the Lantern Festival, as crowds gathered to witness Xu Hezi's captivating performance on a decorated vehicle.
Tan Qi soon caught up with Zhang Xiaojing, both ignoring the vibrant celebrations as they urgently headed towards Liu's Bookshop in Pingkang Street. Concerned about the dangers ahead, Zhang Xiaojing urged Tan Qi to return to the Peacekeeper Corps, warning that a cautious mercenary might have spies observing the area. However, Tan Qi insisted on accompanying him. Yi Si then appeared, offering his assistance, expressing a desire to avenge the fallen friars and bring renown to his temple.
Though Zhang Xiaojing initially considered Yi Si a burden, he eventually relented, agreeing to let him join. Back at the Peacekeeper Corps, An Zhuguo returned and found Cui Qi, now in the uniform of the Right Cavalry, guarding the gate. An Zhuguo mocked him for his change of allegiance. Soon after, General Gan Shoucheng, acting on Lin Jiulang's orders, arrived to recall all Right Cavalry troops.
Cui Qi refused to leave, resolute in his decision to protect the Peacekeeper Corps for the sake of his former Royal Escort brothers. Gan Shoucheng threatened him with military disgrace and dismissal for disobeying orders, yet Cui Qi remained unmoved, standing alone at the main entrance. As the evening progressed, various officials of the Peacekeeper Corps returned, reporting back to Li Bi.
As they walked, Tan Qi hummed a tune based on a Li Bai poem, hoping to alleviate Zhang Xiaojing's stress. Developing a growing affection for him, she expressed a strong desire to understand his past. Zhang Xiaojing then recounted the tragic fates of his comrades from the Eighth Division. He explained that out of the twenty soldiers who faced thousands of enemies at the defense beacon, only nine survived.
Among them, six had either been persecuted by officials or died tragically, including Wen Wuji. Zhang Xiaojing recalled how Wen Wuji, despite having a daughter in Chang'an, refused to retreat from the front lines, only to later die within Chang'an itself. Only Zhang Xiaojing and Xiao Gui remained. Zhang Xiaojing remembered Xiao Gui as a remarkably optimistic individual, capable of laughing even when surrounded by the enemy.
After the war, Xiao Gui ventured to the Western Regions for business, and no one had heard from him since. When Tan Qi pressed him for more details about Xiao Gui, Zhang Xiaojing appeared troubled and quickly redirected the conversation, urging them to hasten their pace. In the prison, Cheng Can slowly regained consciousness. Through a small hole in the wall, he spotted Long Bo and a group of Pine Peak Army soldiers changing into Royal Escort uniforms.
He immediately woke Yuan Zai, who, recognizing the imminent danger of an attack on the Peacekeeper Corps, panicked. Yuan Zai frantically instructed Cheng Can to block the hole and then cautiously closed the cell door. Meanwhile, Cui Qi, sensing the looming threat to the Peacekeeper Corps, went to the armory in search of Royal Escort uniforms. He found Yao Runeng there and offered him a uniform.
Yao Runeng, still resentful, accused Cui Qi of being a greedy traitor for abandoning his unit earlier and now attempting to rejoin. Cui Qi, struggling to defend himself, explained that he had a strong premonition of danger, a feeling akin to the anxiety he experienced before ambushes during his time as a soldier in Longyou.
He implored Yao Runeng to convey his concerns to Li Bi and to give him a set of armor so he could guard the Peacekeeper Corps. Despite Yao Runeng's initial skepticism and accusations of shamelessness, Cui Qi passionately pleaded, promising to take all the blame if his instincts were wrong and to attribute any merits to Yao Runeng. Moved by Cui Qi's earnestness, Yao Runeng reluctantly agreed to take him to see Li Bi.
Long Bo, accompanied by his Pine Peak Army soldiers disguised as Royal Escort, stormed the Peacekeeper Corps. They easily overcame the prison guards and Long Bo quickly located and freed Yu Chang. As Yao Runeng and Cui Qi made their way through the corridors, they stumbled upon the bodies of the slain guards. Yao Runeng considered seeking help from the Ministry of Capital, but realized he lacked the necessary official documents to mobilize troops.
Cui Qi, seeing the gravity of the situation, exchanged his helmet with a fallen Royal Escort soldier, effectively donning the identity of a dead man, ready to make a stand and atone for his past actions as a soldier from Longyou with a long history of service. In the main hall, An Zhuguo and other Peacekeeper Corps officials were enjoying a meal, exchanging gossip and critiques about the Emperor's lavish lifestyle and his relationship with Yan Taizhen.
They openly discussed how the Emperor's prolonged stays at the Hot Spring Palace, renamed Huaqing Pool, and his neglect of state affairs to enjoy himself, had led to the delegation of important matters to Guo Lishi. Li Bi, observing from a distance, was visibly disturbed by their casual indifference to the state of affairs, lamenting that the prosperity of Great Tang might falter under the current Tian Bao reign.
Suddenly, Long Bo and his Pine Peak Army burst into the hall, initiating a brutal massacre. The terrified officials screamed and scattered, but Long Bo, disdainful of their cowardice, demanded Li Bi be handed over, promising to spare the others. Li Bi stepped forward, bravely confronting Long Bo and urging him to release the remaining officials. However, Long Bo cruelly reneged on his promise.
He ordered his men to call out each official by name, then executed them one by one, declaring it was to avenge Yu Chang. Li Bi watched in horror as An Zhuguo and Wang Dazhu were ruthlessly cut down before his eyes. Enraged, Li Bi denounced Long Bo, demanding to know his true identity. Long Bo chillingly introduced his group as "Ants," proclaiming that where the ants passed, everything would turn to dust.
He then commanded his men to slaughter all remaining officials. Li Bi, seething with anger, desperately lunged forward to protect them, but his efforts were futile against the overwhelming force, and he could only watch helplessly as more lives were taken. In a dramatic turn, Cui Qi suddenly appeared, launching himself into a solitary battle against the Pine Peak Army.
Yao Runeng, who had been hiding behind a screen, watched as Cui Qi fought valiantly but was quickly surrounded, wounded, and overwhelmed. Long Bo, recognizing Cui Qi's military background, offered him a grim challenge: he would beat a drum three times, and if Cui Qi remained alive by the end, the remaining Peacekeeper Corps officials would be spared. Long Bo himself began to beat the drum, a rhythmic call to battle.
Despite his injuries, Cui Qi fought with unwavering courage, encircled by enemies but showing no fear. Witnessing this incredible display of heroism, Yao Runeng was deeply moved. Just as he grabbed a shield to join the fray, Royal Escort reinforcements arrived. The officials quickly moved to shield Li Bi, guiding him to safety. Cui Qi, fighting with renewed ferocity, sustained more injuries but continued to resist fiercely. Eventually, weakened by severe blood loss, he collapsed.
Even Long Bo, a seasoned warrior, was momentarily stunned by Cui Qi's unwavering spirit. He loudly declared, "Chang'an Cui Qi!" and continued to beat the drum as a final salute. After the drumbeats ceased, Long Bo led his Pine Peak Army away from the Peacekeeper Corps. Yao Runeng rushed to Cui Qi's side, lifting the dying man.
With his last ounces of strength, Cui Qi used his blood to write "Chang'an" on the identification tag from his Longyou regiment, a poignant realization of his lifelong dream to be a citizen of Chang'an, before finally succumbing to his wounds. Yao Runeng lamented his death, reflecting on how both Cui Qi and his brother, Cui Liulang, had sacrificed their lives for this small dream. Amidst the blood-soaked and chaotic great hall of the Peacekeeper Corps, the unyielding Pang Ling continued his duty, calling out the time.
