The Longest Day in Chang'an Episode 9 Recap
> The Longest Day in Chang'an Recap
Lin Jiulang expressed his frustration over Li Bi's unwavering commitment to the Peacekeeper Corps, questioning why Li Bi would risk his future for its sake. An aide suggested Li Bi was merely seeking to please the Crown Prince. Ji Wen then arrived with troubling news from the Ministry of the Capital: there were inconsistencies in the case surrounding Zhang Xiaojing's murder of Tan Tongshou, the Wannian County magistrate.
While official files indicated a work-related dispute, a hidden confession, including one from Tan Tongshou's servant before his suicide, revealed the true events. San Nu had been instrumental in uncovering this hidden statement. In August of the second year of the Tian Bao era, the Blaze Gang had brutally attacked shops and five merchants on Anye Street, leading to many innocent deaths.
Tan Tongshou and his Sleuth-Hounds were present but stood by, allowing innocent people to be killed, with the official report falsely blaming the victims. Zhang Xiaojing subsequently arrived and, in a fit of rage, killed thirty-four Blaze Gang members. Tan Tongshou then ordered Zhang Xiaojing's arrest, which Zhang Xiaojing did not resist. During a private interrogation, Zhang Xiaojing killed Tan Tongshou. Yao Runeng returned to the Jing'an Si, having been to the Ministry of the Capital.
He was perplexed by Zhang Xiaojing's actions, such as cutting off his own finger out of guilt for killing his spy. Yao Runeng questioned why Zhang Xiaojing was so intensely dedicated to the current investigation, suspecting ulterior motives. He had researched Zhang Xiaojing's past, discovering that the killing of the thirty-four Blaze Gang members was an act of vengeance for his close friend, Wen Wuji, who was among the merchants ambushed and killed by the gang.
Li Bi asked Xu Bin why Zhang Xiaojing's criminal records were so incomplete. Xu Bin explained that official record-keeping had become lax in recent years, leading to hastily completed files. Li Bi then pressed Xu Bin on how he identified Zhang Xiaojing as the right person for the mission, to which Xu Bin attributed the selection to the case files database.
Li Bi later questioned Xu Bin's motives more directly, recalling their initial meeting at Qu River Park despite Xu Bin living on Anye Street. Xu Bin maintained he went there because his usual reading spot was under construction. Li Bi found Xu Bin's brilliant mind combined with his apparent lack of ambition unusual, wondering if he was deliberately trying to curry favor.
Xu Bin countered that at the time, Li Bi was an insignificant scholar, and he himself was a low-ranking official who had grown disillusioned with the social demands of his position. Meanwhile, Cao Poyan, eager to move forward, suggested an early strike. Zhang Xiaojing, who was being held captive, offered them valuable inside information and a promise of safe passage out of Chang'an. Cao Poyan, suspicious of Zhang Xiaojing's intentions to stall, ordered Ma Ge Er to kill him.
However, Ma Ge Er defied Cao Poyan, instead tying him up. Ma Ge Er expressed the Wolven Squad's desire to live, build families, and not die in vain. Seeing Ma Ge Er's practical outlook, Zhang Xiaojing offered to draw the map of Chang'an for them, and Ma Ge Er provided the necessary materials. Wang Yunxiu, also captured, was brought before Zhang Xiaojing.
Cao Poyan specified they didn't need a full map, just a critical point whose breach would sow terror in Chang'an and guarantee their escape. Wang Yunxiu, witnessing Zhang Xiaojing drawing, condemned him as a traitor, invoking her father's belief that a Tang soldier would rather die than betray his country. Zhang Xiaojing retorted that her father had only ever faced enemies head-on, never having been betrayed from within.
Wang Yunxiu then said her father also taught her to prioritize saving herself. This resonated with Zhang Xiaojing, reminding him of Wen Wuji. He vividly recalled a time during the Defense Beacon battle on the Lantern Festival when Wen Wuji ventured out at night to hunt wolves for their hungry comrades. Before leaving, Wen Wuji, uncertain of his return, asked Zhang Xiaojing to look after his daughter.
Wen Wuji's strategy to attract wolves with rabbit blood backfired when they were ambushed by enemy soldiers. Zhang Xiaojing, stationed nearby, intervened, killing the attackers and securing the wolf meat. As they shared the meal, Wen Wuji shared his dream of returning to Chang'an after the war, reopening his incense shop, and living there with his brothers.
Zhang Xiaojing swiftly completed a section of the map, revealing it depicted the Right Counselor's manor, confirming his intent for the Wolven Squad to target Lin Jiulang's residence. Lin Jiulang, meanwhile, received further intelligence on Zhang Xiaojing. He learned Zhang Xiaojing, born in Chang'an, was a veteran of the Anxi Protectorate.
He was one of only nine survivors from the brutal Defense Beacon battle in the 23rd year of the old calendar, coincidentally the same year Lin Jiulang became Minister of War. During that battle, General Gai Jiayun of the Anxi Protectorate failed to send reinforcements, leading to devastating losses for Zhang Xiaojing's unit, the eighth division of the 33rd Local Militia. Gai Jiayun subsequently blamed the Ministry of War.
Upon his return to Chang'an nine years prior, Zhang Xiaojing had no family or property and resided in the Wannian County office. His zealous pursuit of criminals had earned him many enemies. He also maintained a network of secret informants. His sole close personal connection was Wen Wuji, another survivor of the Defense Beacon battle, who was later killed on Anye Street. Lin Jiulang understood that Zhang Xiaojing harbored a deep-seated resentment towards him for the lack of reinforcements.
He also discovered that Zhang Xiaojing had once abducted Prince Yong, who later went into hiding for months, emerging with a facial scar, indicating Zhang Xiaojing's animosity towards him as well. Growing increasingly paranoid, Lin Jiulang ordered Li Sifang to double the Right Cavalry guards for his protection.
He suspected the Crown Prince's cunning, believing he was deliberately employing Zhang Xiaojing, a death row convict with grievances against both Lin Jiulang and Prince Yong, to eliminate them under the guise of an investigation. Meanwhile, the drum and dance competition raged on, with the songstress Xu Hezi delivering a captivating performance that mesmerized the large audience.
Cui Qi and his soldiers, tasked with reinforcing Zhang Xiaojing, found themselves completely gridlocked by the dense crowds, unable to advance until the festivities concluded. They became so absorbed in Xu Hezi's performance that they began singing along, momentarily forgetting their urgent mission. At the hideout, Qin Jue of the Blaze Gang arrived with his men and a captured Wen Ran, intent on seizing Zhang Xiaojing.
As Zhang Xiaojing finished drawing the map, Cao Poyan ordered him killed and Wang Yunxiu taken. Before the Wolven Squad could execute the order, the Blaze Gang stormed the courtyard, sparking a chaotic battle. Zhang Xiaojing valiantly fought back but was wounded by Cao Poyan; he stubbornly continued to fight despite the injury. In the ensuing melee, Wen Ran attempted to free Zhang Xiaojing but was recaptured by the Wolven Squad.
Li Bi, increasingly anxious, desperately hoped for Cui Qi's swift arrival to rescue Zhang Xiaojing and resolve the crisis for the Jing'an Si. In their shared captivity, Wang Yunxiu accused Zhang Xiaojing of treason for drawing the Right Counselor's manor map for the Wolven Squad. Wen Ran fiercely defended Zhang Xiaojing, asserting he was trying to save the city and that drawing the map was not an act of betrayal.
Wang Yunxiu, the daughter of a general, countered that even if he survived the current situation, he would face execution for treason. Finally, Cui Qi and his troops arrived at the hideout. He commanded a volley of arrows into the building and led his men in, vowing to eliminate everyone and avenge his brother, Cui Liulang. Ma Ge Er, prioritizing You Cha's mission, ordered an upper floor set ablaze, then attempted to escape through a window with Cao Poyan.
Zhang Xiaojing pursued the arsonist upstairs and subdued him. Cui Qi confronted Cao Poyan, accusing him of Cui Liulang's murder and engaging him in a fierce fight. Ma Ge Er used this diversion to slip away. Wen Ran, seizing an opportunity, incapacitated Wang Yunxiu and tried to flee, only to be immediately seized by Cao Poyan, who used her as a hostage. To ensure their escape, Cao Poyan falsely claimed Wen Ran was Wang Yunxiu, daughter of General Wang Zongsi.
Weighing the severe consequences of harming a General's daughter, Cui Qi ordered his men to lower their maces and allow them to pass. Ma Ge Er, positioned on the wall, helped Cao Poyan and Wen Ran escape. During the fight, Zhang Xiaojing resisted desperately, fighting and retreating, finally breaking through the encirclement.
However, when Cao Poyan and Ma Ge Er used Wang Yunxiu as a threat, Zhang Xiaojing had no choice but to surrender and was captured by Cao Poyan on the spot.
