The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 3 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
On the midday of January 14th, in the third year of Tianbao, Ji Wen, a county official from Xinfeng, reported to Right Counselor Lin Jiulang. Ji Wen revealed that reliable reports from their spy within the Peacekeeper Corps provided new evidence against Crown Prince Li Yu. Lin Jiulang, supported by many court officials, intended to use this opportunity to depose the Crown Prince, replacing him with another prince, thereby consolidating his own power.
Ji Wen congratulated the Right Counselor, confident that the plan would soon materialize, allowing Lin Jiulang to seize power that night and eliminate opposition the next day. Lin Jiulang agreed, stating that the Crown Prince should be deposed of his title. Zhang Xiaojing relentlessly pursued Tugelu through the bustling market of Huaiyuan Street.
Trapped by the dense crowd, Tugelu, unable to move, declared he possessed the map of Chang'an and, seizing a young boy, threatened to kill him unless the crowd drove Zhang Xiaojing away. A constable on a nearby watchtower, observing the chaos where Commander Zhang was surrounded, immediately signaled Li Bi. Li Bi initially considered asking He Zhizheng to contact the Ministry of Rites and the Archpriest for a joint warrant to intervene, but realized there was no time.
He quickly ordered Yao Runeng to gather the Sleuth-Hounds to assist and protect Zhang Xiaojing. Yao Runeng expressed concern that bringing troops into Huaiyuan Street, a residential area for high-ranking officials, would lead His Majesty to blame Crown Prince Li Yu. However, Li Bi firmly stated that he alone was responsible for the order, given the urgent situation. Suddenly, Cheng Can appeared, furiously attacking Tugelu and vowing revenge for his horse, Greeny Brow.
The enraged crowd then mobbed Tugelu, beating him mercilessly. Zhang Xiaojing, unable to push through the throng, desperately tried to stop them, shouting to spare Tugelu for interrogation. Amidst the chaos, Zhang Xiaojing noticed someone with copper coins tied to their hand discreetly stealing the map from Tugelu before vanishing into the crowd. Yao Runeng and his men quickly arrived, attempting to pull Zhang Xiaojing away from the mob.
Unwilling to give up, Zhang Xiaojing pushed through to the dying Tugelu, demanding to know who took the map and who his accomplice was. With his last breath, Tugelu uttered cryptic words: "The black bones. . . shall pave the way to rebirth. Flaming Demon shall arrive in Chang'an. All of you must die." Zhang Xiaojing desperately pressed him for the meaning of "black bones" and "Flaming Demon," but Tugelu succumbed to his injuries before he could elaborate.
Li Bi received urgent news: the Wolven Squad member had been beaten to death by the crowd, the map was lost, and the community officer (lizheng) of Huaiyuan Street was also killed, with the body lying on Huaiyuan Street. He realized the gravity of the situation.
Before he could formulate a response, He Zhizheng angrily confronted him, chastising him for relying on a condemned prisoner like Zhang Xiaojing, recalling Zhang Xiaojing's past crimes of killing his superior and 34 men from the Blaze Gang. Simultaneously, Zhang Xiaojing, concerned about the ongoing threat, ordered Yao Runeng to seal off all four main gates of Huaiyuan Street, preventing anyone from disrupting the upcoming Lantern Festival celebrations.
Just then, soldiers arrived, declaring an order from He Zhizheng to strip Zhang Xiaojing of his rank and arrest him. As he was being led away, Zhang Xiaojing urged Yao Runeng to obtain the household registry of Huaiyuan Street residents. He Zhizheng sought to protect Li Bi, fearing that Li Bi's ambitious actions would jeopardize his future and be exploited by the Right Counselor.
He expressed concern that a failed operation could lead to Li Bi's demotion and the Right Counselor seizing control of the Peacekeeper Corps. Li Bi, however, remained resolute, declaring that Chang'an was his sole priority. Understanding Li Bi's determination, He Zhizheng revealed that he had ordered Zhang Xiaojing's arrest primarily to ensure his safety from the angry mob on Huaiyuan Street, and promised that Zhang Xiaojing would soon be released. Zhang Xiaojing found himself imprisoned with Cheng Can.
Cheng Can of Xianzhou lamented the loss of his horse, Greeny Brow, and the destruction of his poems, blaming Zhang Xiaojing and demanding compensation. He boastfully spoke of the importance of his poetry. Zhang Xiaojing, annoyed, told him to "Scram!" but Cheng Can merely sat closer and continued to complain. Patrol soldiers discovered Jiao Sui's body by the river and reported it to Lin Jiulang.
Lin Jiulang, aware of Jiao Sui's friendship with He Zhizheng, instructed the soldiers to deliver the body to the Peacekeeper Corps, not wanting to cause trouble but sending the body there regardless. Li Bi received an urgent report detailing the discovery of Jiao Sui's body with a broken neck and shaved head, immediately suspecting the Wolven Squad.
When soldiers tried to bring the body into the Peacekeeper Corps, Li Bi, as Chief, emphatically refused, citing regulations and ordering them to return the body to Jiao Sui's family, hoping to shield He Zhizheng from the devastating news. However, He Zhizheng soon learned of his friend's death through official reports, which deeply grieved him. Li Bi tried to console him, but He Zhizheng recounted his visit to the palace the previous night.
He lamented how the Emperor, once a visionary, now only sought an elixir for immortality with An Lushan and Master Yan, neglecting affairs of state. Distraught, he had sought solace in drink with Jiao Sui, who had predicted a great misfortune at the 'Chou' hour, which unexpectedly befell him instead. Overcome with sorrow, He Zhizheng broke down in tears. The Archpriest of Huaiyuan Street arrived at the Peacekeeper Corps, demanding to see He Zhizheng.
He Zhizheng asked Li Bi to stall him while he sought to calm himself with reading. The Archpriest vehemently accused the Peacekeeper Corps of causing chaos in Huaiyuan Street, leading to the deaths of a community officer and two residents, demanding Zhang Xiaojing be handed over for a brutal public execution by burning and molten metal to appease the public. Li Bi firmly refused.
The Archpriest then threatened to go to Xingqing Palace to report the matter directly to the Emperor, especially on the night of the Lantern Festival, to publicly air their grievances. Just as a standoff ensued, He Zhizheng emerged. He questioned if the Archpriest knew the identity of the man beaten to death.
He then revealed that the man was a Wolven Squad member, explaining that the Wolven Squad had infiltrated Chang'an to cause widespread destruction during the Lantern Festival, having already caused many deaths. He accused the Archpriest of obstructing their investigation and implicitly defending the Wolven Squad. Privately, He Zhizheng further warned the Archpriest that a crucial item had been stolen from the dead Wolven Squad member.
If rumors spread that the people of Huaiyuan Street were colluding with the Wolven Squad, the Archpriest would be in an indefensible position. In his cell, Zhang Xiaojing pondered Tugelu's dying words. He recounted "Flaming Demon" and "black bones" to Cheng Can, seeking his help. Cheng Can, despite his initial boastfulness, struggled to decipher "Flaming Demon." After Zhang Xiaojing reminded him of the full quote—"Flaming Demon will arrive in Chang'an. The black bones will pave the way to rebirth.
We are chosen by the Flaming Demon." —Cheng Can connected "Flaming Demon" to an ancient language of the perished Yue tribes, and, after a correction from Zhang Xiaojing from "Kali Yuga" to "Pataal," deduced its meaning: "The inferno of an apocalypse." This chilling revelation suggested the Wolven Squad planned to set Chang'an ablaze, sending a shiver down Zhang Xiaojing's spine.
