The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 37 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
At 1:00 AM, the Emperor, awakening from a brief rest, requested General Guo Lishi to prepare food, and the Huaexianghui Tower was re-illuminated. The Emperor gazed at the magnificent and lifelike Great Holy Lantern on the opposite tower, marveling at Master Mao Shun's design. Right Counselor Lin Jiulang immediately pressed the Emperor for a verdict regarding the Crown Prince.
The Emperor, sensing his impatience, sarcastically asked if he was eager to get rid of the Crown Prince, then inquired whether they should commence the feast or discuss government affairs first. Lin Jiulang reluctantly agreed to start the feast, which Guo Lishi then announced. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaojing confronted Master Mao Shun, the lantern tower's architect, questioning why he would conspire with criminals to destroy Chang'an despite his fame and wealth.
Mao Shun confessed that his initial joy over the project, which cost Great Tang four million qian, turned to despair after a flood in Yingzhou left tens of thousands homeless and the government provided no relief. He overheard a remark at the construction site: one qian could buy one flatbread, enough to sustain a child for two days. This statement profoundly affected him, leading to overwhelming guilt as the tower grew higher.
He wished his act of transforming the symbol of false peace into a weapon would serve as an eternal lesson for future craftsmen: that true value lies in practical things like food for the people, and national resources should not be squandered on mere spectacle. Long Bo, confronted by Li Bi about his true master, defiantly declared himself a commoner intent on killing the "old geezer" Emperor, refusing to be dictated to.
Li Bi argued that a conceited person is easily manipulated. Long Bo then named Zhang Xiaojing as the one who had planted the idea, asserting he knew Zhang Xiaojing better than Li Bi and believed Zhang Xiaojing would eventually understand his motives. Mao Shun then presented Zhang Xiaojing with a stark choice: save the Emperor or save the people. To save the people, Zhang Xiaojing had to first destroy Mao Shun and the lantern tower.
Without hesitation, Zhang Xiaojing chose the people and ignited the fuses on Mao Shun. Mao Shun, believing his death to be "worth it," accepted his fate as Zhang Xiaojing moved away. Moments later, a powerful explosion consumed Mao Shun, causing a significant tremor within the lantern tower. At this time, crowds gathered in Xingqing Palace Square, eager to catch a glimpse of the Great Holy Lantern, with Ji Jiang dozing on her master's back.
Observing the smoke from the explosion, Long Bo deduced that Zhang Xiaojing had killed Mao Shun. Yu Chang then intercepted Zhang Xiaojing, using Wen Ran as leverage to lure him into a section of the fire-ball rail system, where his leg became painfully trapped. As a large fire-ball rolled towards him, Yu Chang quickly used her knife to block it.
At the feast, the Emperor commanded the Crown Prince to cut the first slice of roast meat and present it to Lin Jiulang, claiming Lin Jiulang had worked hard. Foreign envoys immediately began to bet, recalling a previous incident during the Lantern Festival in the 27th year of the old calendar where Lin Jiulang had publicly humiliated the Crown Prince. When the Crown Prince respectfully offered the meat, Lin Jiulang refused, citing an immediate need to use "the lavatory."
Li Shizhi attempted to impeach Lin Jiulang for his "indecent" language, but the Emperor dismissed it as common human nature. General Guo Lishi then announced that all officials were permitted to use the lavatory quickly, except for He Zhizheng. This prompted several officials to slip away to secretly discuss supporting the Crown Prince, a conversation Prince Yong eavesdropped on.
Lin Jiulang privately confessed his concern that he might have pushed the Emperor too hard, stirring up his paternal affection, even though he believed the Emperor had intended to depose the Crown Prince that night. Prince Yong, excitedly envisioning himself replacing the Crown Prince, was dismissed as foolish by Lin Jiulang. Yu Chang urged Zhang Xiaojing to surrender to Long Bo, promising freedom from Chang'an after their mission was complete.
Zhang Xiaojing, solely focused on Wen Ran's whereabouts, adamantly refused to join them. Yu Chang reminded him of his exhaustion and previous actions, implying he was losing his spirit. The Crown Prince defiantly ate flatbread and meat, prompting the Emperor to accuse him of hypocrisy—maintaining a humble facade at the Royal Academy while secretly building a luxurious summer palace in Lingwu that surpassed the Emperor's own Grand Auditorium. The Crown Prince passionately defended himself, asserting his devotion as a son.
Noticing He Zhizheng's discomfort, he demanded a seat for his elderly teacher, then personally fed him, declaring that his teacher felt more like a father to him than the Emperor ever would. Enraged, the Emperor reluctantly ordered a seat for He Zhizheng. After releasing Li Bi, Long Bo meticulously explained the lantern tower's design: water from the Dragon Spillway powered gears that extended Qilin columns to deliver a "new year gift."
He detailed his timing: at exactly 2:00 AM, at the peak of the Emperor's happiness—when the Emperor, standing above all, received a unique golden arrow from the most beautiful woman of Tang and shot it at the Ox-Head Guardian to pray for spring, feeling like a god—that same blazing arrow would ignite the lantern tower, turning it into the "Flaming Demon" and leading to its catastrophic explosion.
Li Bi, horrified, tried to use a lit lantern to signal the Huaexianghui Tower but was too far. He then threw the lantern down, cursing Long Bo as a "sinner for all eternity," but Long Bo remained indifferent. Zhang Xiaojing pressed Yu Chang for Long Bo's identity. Yu Chang described him as a "good man" who, as a simple businessman in the Mercenary Garrison, selflessly rescued her from mercenaries, forcing him to abandon his business and homeland.
Half a year ago, Long Bo, as the mysterious employer, sought her out in Chang'an for a "great cause." During their time in Chang'an, she observed Long Bo leaving early and returning late, distributing bags of gold coins to the poor on Huaiyuan Street, who believed it was a divine gift.
She revealed that he never coerced anyone into his "killing business," but rather gathered distressed veterans by helping them without asking for anything in return, inspiring them to willingly follow him. Zhang Xiaojing, putting the pieces together, realized Long Bo was his former brother-in-arms, Xiao Gui. Yu Chang urged Zhang Xiaojing to meet Xiao Gui, emphasizing that he wanted Zhang Xiaojing to live and that more people like them would make Great Tang truly great.
Zhang Xiaojing remained skeptical, viewing Xiao Gui as cunning and evil despite his saintly appearance. Yu Chang, respecting Zhang Xiaojing's determination, offered him a "red pill of Wolven Squad" to replenish his energy before they continued their fight, not wanting to "bully the weak." Zhang Xiaojing swallowed it, reaffirming his vow to guard Chang'an until his last breath. However, his leg remained painfully trapped.
Unexpectedly, Wen Ran appeared, quickly deploying anesthetic smoke to incapacitate Yu Chang, then carried her away, allowing Zhang Xiaojing to finally free himself. Zhang Xiaojing was then overcome by a vivid memory of the Battle of Fengsui Fort during the 23rd regnal year of the old calendar. The Eighth Division of the 33rd Local Militia fiercely defended the beacon for over twenty days.
Despite their desperate struggle and dwindling numbers, no reinforcements arrived from Great Tang, leading to catastrophic casualties, with only nine out of 211 soldiers surviving. At the same time, Lin Jiulang also recalled the same battle. As a newly appointed Assistant Minister of Justice then, he knew that General Gai Jiayun had repeatedly falsely reported stability at the border. Fearing that sending reinforcements would expose Gai Jiayun's lies and embarrass the Emperor, Lin Jiulang also refrained from acting, contributing to the tragedy.
