The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 8 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
Wen Ran, captured by Cao Poyan along with Wang Yunxiu, identified herself and claimed to be an emissary for You Cha. She warned Cao Poyan that harming Wang Yunxiu would incur General Wang Zongsi's wrath, who would retaliate by destroying their homeland and slaughtering their people. When questioned about her loyalty, Wen Ran, who was born and raised in Chang'an, revealed her hatred for the city, stating it was responsible for her father's death.
Tan Qi informed Li Bi that Wen Ran had previously approached Ying, suggesting a connection to Ying's death, and that Wen Ran planned to kidnap Wang Yunxiu and escape Chang'an by 2 AM. Li Bi then tasked Tan Qi to investigate Wen Ran's background. According to records, Wen Ran's family had operated a fragrance shop for four generations, and she was raised by her mother, who passed away nine years prior when Wen Ran was 11.
Her father's name vanished from the merchant register when she was a toddler, leading to speculation that he either died or abandoned the family. Li Bi deduced that this coincided with the 13th year of the old calendar, a period when border defenses were strengthened and many commoners paid to join the army. He instructed Tan Qi to search old soldier registers for Wen Ran’s father, realizing that Zhang Xiaojing also enlisted in the same year.
Later, Cui Qi reported that Zhang Xiaojing had killed a long-term spy named Xiao Yi from Wannian County on Pingkang Street. Cui Qi further detailed the extensive illicit activities of Ge Lao, the leader of Chang'an's underworld, who used prostitutes to gain influence, trade secrets, and engage in various illegal businesses. Ge Lao was a top court fugitive, protected by powerful connections.
Cui Qi accused Zhang Xiaojing of breaking the law and potentially committing treason if he was colluding with Ge Lao, warning Li Bi that he could be implicated. Tan Qi, however, was more concerned that Zhang Xiaojing's actions would implicate Li Bi. Cui Qi proposed arresting Zhang Xiaojing, arguing that Zhang Xiaojing was a condemned man who would be difficult to apprehend once outside the city.
However, Li Bi, convinced Zhang Xiaojing had uncovered a crucial clue about the Wolf Squad, ordered Cui Qi to send his Royal Escort to reinforce him immediately. Cui Qi questioned Li Bi's unwavering trust, suggesting Zhang Xiaojing might be a traitor. Li Bi, focused on the mission, explained that only one individual could assist them, and that information came at a price.
Upon learning from the watchtower that Zhang Xiaojing was alone and they had lost track of Yao Runeng in the dense crowds, Li Bi became concerned for Zhang Xiaojing's safety and again urged Cui Qi to dispatch forces to Xiuzheng Street without delay. However, Cui Qi, despite his soldiers pointing out a shorter path, feigned unfamiliarity with Chang'an and used the bustling streets as an excuse to deliberately prolong their journey.
Disguised as a lantern seller giving away free lanterns, Zhang Xiaojing quietly scouted the area, hoping to find Long Bo's hiding place. Unbeknownst to him, Qin Jue and the Bear Fire Gang, sent by Feng Dalun, were tracking him, intending to make him suffer before death, believing he had no backup from Chang'an. Inside a manor, a Wolf Squad member spotted Zhang Xiaojing, and Ma Ge Er was instructed to shoot him.
However, Wen Ran intervened, dramatically announcing that Zhang Xiaojing was "one of their own" and her husband, here to retrieve her, warning that You Cha would unleash his fury if he were harmed. When questioned, Wen Ran playfully claimed to have spread word of her location to many, implying a failed mission if she didn't return, and stated that the person who sent her, whom You Cha knew, expected her return.
After attempting to leave, leaving Wang Yunxiu as a hostage, Cao Poyan changed his mind, threatening to shoot Zhang Xiaojing if Wen Ran did not bring him inside. Wen Ran hesitantly called Zhang Xiaojing, who, startled to see her, questioned her presence and pressed her to return home, reminding her of her father and the stable life she had built.
Wen Ran, in turn, urged him to abandon his investigation into the manor, claiming they would be free and live with dignity after that night, even vowing to die with him if he didn't survive, to reunite with her father. Meanwhile, Cao Poyan, fearing exposure and the arrival of Tang troops due to Zhang Xiaojing, decided to advance their plans, overriding Ma Ge Er’s insistence on awaiting You Cha’s orders.
Zhang Xiaojing then led Wen Ran to a secluded spot, instructing her to retrieve his "flag" from his manor in Wannian County and meet him at Ningyuang Teahouse outside Qixia Gate, explaining they couldn't travel together due to surveillance. He gave her a distinctively scented lantern as a recognition signal, and Wen Ran emotionally pledged to wait for him. After Wen Ran departed, Zhang Xiaojing discarded his disguise and stormed the manor, engaging Cao Poyan's men.
He quickly subdued one of the Wolf Squad members, interrogating him about their numbers and location, learning that all fifty Wolf Squad members were hiding there. Zhang Xiaojing also inquired about Wen Ran, discovering that she had willingly brought Wang Yunxiu to them, not the other way around. Soon after, other Wolf Squad members converged on Zhang Xiaojing, surrounding him as he fought valiantly alone. Back at Jing'an, Li Bi tasked Xu Bin to search for Wen Ran's father.
Xu Bin found a "Wen Jinxing" in the household registry but no corresponding name in the soldier registers from the 13th year of the old calendar, a period with stringent recruitment criteria. Li Bi then asked about Zhang Xiaojing’s last battle, learning it was a brutal engagement at the Defense Beacon in Anxi, where only nine of 220 soldiers, including Zhang Xiaojing, survived.
Instructing Xu Bin to investigate the other eight survivors, they soon identified a "Wen Wuji" who had fought alongside Zhang Xiaojing. Tan Qi further discovered that Wen Wuji had owned a fragrance shop, which led Li Bi to deduce that he was Wen Ran's father. Li Bi then reconsidered Zhang Xiaojing's past actions, suggesting his killing of the Blaze Gang may have been more complex than simple justice.
Simultaneously, at the manor, after Zhang Xiaojing had fought his way through some of the Wolf Squad, Cao Poyan and Ma Ge Er cornered him, threatening Wang Yunxiu’s life. To save her, Zhang Xiaojing was forced to drop his weapons and surrender, whereupon he was immediately captured and incapacitated by the Wolf Squad. Soon after leaving, Wen Ran was intercepted and recaptured by members of the Wolf Squad, who intended to force her to lead them to Zhang Xiaojing.
Meanwhile, inside the manor, Ma Ge Er subjected Zhang Xiaojing to brutal torture, demanding to know how he discovered their hideout. Zhang Xiaojing, while concerned for Wang Yunxiu and requesting to question her, believed that Cui Qi's reinforcements would soon arrive. Ma Ge Er cruelly countered, showing him a torture method and stating that Chang'an would abandon anyone deemed useless, implying Zhang Xiaojing was a disposable pawn.
This triggered a vivid flashback for Zhang Xiaojing to a harrowing battle at the Defense Beacon in the 23rd year of the old calendar, on the very same date, the 15th of the first month. His Eighth Division, caught in an ambush, suffered heavy casualties. Despite repeated smoke signals, no imperial reinforcements arrived for three days.
Amidst the grim outlook, Wen Wuji, his comrade and Wen Ran's father, maintained an optimistic facade, promising the men wolf meat for their Lantern Festival feast. Zhang Xiaojing, sensing Wen Wuji's hidden despair, questioned him about searching for relief troops. Wen Wuji simply reiterated their duty to hold the fort and keep the Tang flag flying.
As the enemy launched a full assault, attacking from the rear and surrounding the outnumbered division, Wen Wuji rallied his men with the stark realization that no relief would come. Back in the present, Cao Poyan, fearing imminent Tang pursuit, proposed killing Zhang Xiaojing immediately. Zhang Xiaojing, seizing an opportunity, offered to secure their survival and mission completion in 15 minutes, but the Wolf Squad, embracing their fate, rejected his offer.
Cui Qi's detachment found their route to Xiuzheng Street completely obstructed by the Lantern Festival celebrations. The Ministry of Rites had blocked the streets for the "Starlight Competition," where talented commoners performed music and dance on festooned vehicles, vying for the honor of meeting the Emperor at Xingqing Palace.
Cui Qi, observing the stark contrast between the city's joyous revelry and the harsh realities outside, questioned whether the road was typically blocked, to which his subordinate suggested the Ministry of Rites might have deliberately impeded passage due to awareness of the Wolf Squad situation. With the popular performer Xu Hezi drawing massive crowds, Cui Qi's forces were forced to remain stationary, caught in the throngs of spectators, unable to proceed with their mission.
