The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 7 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
Li Bi waited outside Counselor Lin Jiulang's residence. Only two quarters of an hour remained from He Zhizheng's promised deadline. After a long wait, Li Sifang finally called Li Bi in. Lin Jiulang was in the midst of deploying security for the Lantern Festival, detailing the Emperor's escort route from Daming Palace to Xingqing Palace and then to the Grand Auditorium.
He announced that the Royal Guards, Dragon Army, and Right Cavalries, a total force of 5,000, would be under General Chen Xuanli's command, stressing the importance of cooperation.
Various generals and officials, including General Guo Yingyi of the Left Royal Guards, General An Chongzhang of the Right Royal Guards, General Gan Shoucheng of the Right Cavalries, Vice Censor-in-Chief Huang Zhen, and County Aide Ji Wen, were present and openly blamed Li Bi, Chief of the Peacekeeper Corps, for the "mess" that required their extensive efforts. Li Bi offered no explanation. Lin Jiulang dismissed them, leaving Li Bi alone with him.
Lin Jiulang asked Li Bi the purpose of his visit. Li Bi requested the immediate withdrawal of the Dragon Army executives, Right Cavalries, and General Guo's men from the Peacekeeper Corps, as their presence obstructed his investigation. Lin Jiulang countered, listing recent incidents like murders in the Western District and lives lost on Huaiyuan Street, accusing the Peacekeeper Corps of negligence and endangering the Emperor and Chang'an.
He threatened to discharge the entire corps if they continued to "put the emperor and Chang'an in danger." Li Bi argued that these were the Wolven Squad's crimes and his corps was actively investigating. He proposed that they be tried after the Lantern Festival. Li Bi then asserted that Lin Jiulang lacked the authority to deploy the three military divisions without the Minister of Defense, Li Shi's permission.
He further suggested that allowing the Peacekeeper Corps to handle the Wolven Squad investigation would actually shield Lin Jiulang from responsibility, regardless of the outcome. Li Bi then advocated for He Zhizheng's attendance at the night's feast, arguing that while the Emperor had discharged him, the Emperor valued rite (respect for elders) over law. Excluding He Zhizheng would make the Emperor appear disrespectful, potentially causing public discontent, a responsibility Li Bi stated Lin Jiulang would not want to bear.
Lin Jiulang acknowledged that He Zhizheng was not on the guest list but confirmed he could enter the Grand Auditorium with his Golden Fish Pendant, retaining the right to meet with the Emperor. As Li Bi prepared to leave, Lin Jiulang stopped him, condemning his decision to use Zhang Xiaojing, a death row convict, as a commandant, calling it a dangerous act disrespectful to the law.
Li Bi responded that Zhang Xiaojing was officially bailed out for the investigation for 24 hours and declared he would take full responsibility for any mistakes Zhang Xiaojing made. Lin Jiulang sternly warned him that this decision would determine his entire future. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiaojing pressed Ding Tong'er for information about Long Bo. She demanded freedom for herself and Qin Lang in exchange, threatening to keep Long Bo's secrets otherwise. Ge Lao intervened, stating only one person could be freed.
Ding Tong'er and Qin Lang had sworn to live and die together, and she confidently declared she would not leave without him, insisting Qin Lang would choose to free her. Zhang Xiaojing then untied Qin Lang, falsely claiming Qin Lang had chosen to save himself.
He encouraged Qin Lang to go to the Western District for a bowl of lamb soup from Old Ma's, telling him to forget what he should forget and to look at the sky, which would be brighter. Qin Lang, visibly distressed and repeatedly asserting he had told Zhang Xiaojing nothing, hastily walked out. Ding Tong'er, heartbroken yet still holding onto hope, accused Zhang Xiaojing of lying and insisted Qin Lang would not abandon her.
Zhang Xiaojing then reopened the door, allowing Qin Lang to make his own choice. Qin Lang returned, offering a tearful but hollow farewell to Ding Tong'er, promising to find a way to save her later. Ge Lao advised Ding Tong'er not to trust men's words but their actions. Completely devastated, Ding Tong'er finally pledged loyalty to Ge Lao.
She then provided detailed information about Long Bo: he had frequented her establishment for six months, always asking for stories about assassins attempting to infiltrate the Right Counselor's manor. She revealed that Long Bo had once taken her to an abandoned officer's manor in Unit 3, Xinan Alley, Shizi Road off of Xiuzheng Street, identifiable by a withered bamboo bush outside.
Inside one of the rooms, she had seen large quantities of "foreign food," enough to sustain dozens of people for months. Zhang Xiaojing immediately recognized this as Long Bo's hideout. He instructed Yao Runeng to send word via the watchtower to the Peacekeeper Corps, relaying Long Bo's location and the presence of Wolven Squad tracks. As Zhang Xiaojing left Pingkangfang, he was confronted by a large group of "sleuth-hounds" and spies from Chang'an.
They accused him of betraying Xiao Yi, to which Zhang Xiaojing admitted. Kang Youguo, speaking for the group, declared that from that day forward, no sleuth-hound or spy in Chang'an would recognize or assist Zhang Xiaojing. Zhang Xiaojing was unable to defend himself.
Yao Runeng, realizing they could no longer rely on the watchtowers due to the risk of information leakage, decided to ride back to the Peacekeeper Corps himself to personally deliver the message and instruct Cui Qi to bring reinforcements to Xiuzheng Street. Zhang Xiaojing, unwilling to wait, decided to scout ahead to Xiuzheng Street alone. Meanwhile, Chen Canjun, Feng Shenwei, and Zhao Canjun had taken over the Peacekeeper Corps headquarters, expelling officials and pillaging the premises.
They criticized the detailed city models, calling them treasonous. When Li Bi rushed back, he found his subordinates kneeling under duress. He presented Lin Jiulang's special order. Advisor Chen questioned if Li Bi's actions were worth sacrificing his promising future; Li Bi affirmed they were. Advisor Zhao, however, insisted that Li Bi read the order aloud. Li Bi complied, reading that if he failed to capture the Wolven Squad and brought disorder to Chang'an, he would be punished for negligence.
Any subordinates who broke rules would also face punishment, with sentences ranging from three to five years. Most critically, if the Emperor's life was threatened, Li Bi would face a death sentence. Advisor Zhao mocked Li Bi, but Li Bi, unyielding, instructed Tan Qi to document Advisor Zhao's insubordination. Advisor Zhao then escorted Feng Shenwei back to the palace, withdrawing his men.
Li Bi addressed his disheartened staff, offering them the choice to leave, even providing documents to restore their previous positions. However, all of them, moved by his resolve, chose to stay loyal. Li Bi then attempted to secure Tan Qi's freedom, presenting her with a document to abolish her servitude, signed with his official seal.
He reminded her that she had been sold as a servant at fourteen and was now free to marry, ensuring her descendants would also be free. However, Tan Qi, who had served him since she was ten and considered him family, refused to leave. She declared that just as Li Bi had made his choice to take responsibility, she had made hers and would remain by his side. Li Bi accepted her unwavering loyalty.
Tan Qi then reported a critical piece of intelligence: Wen Ran had sold her shop on the black market three days prior, laundering the money out of Chang'an through "Underground Flying Cash." Furthermore, Wen Ran had ordered a carriage from a car rental shop and planned to leave Chang'an at 2:00 AM, having ordered two sets of bedding.
