Volume Three: The Tempest of the Xuanwu Gate Chapter 81: Chaos in Chang’an

When Li Shimin received the news, his anger reached new heights. Not only did he and his wife share a deep affection for Mingyu, raising him as their own, but Mingyu had also devised countless strategies and rendered great service to him. Even considering only his third brother Xuanba’s connection, this was not a matter that could be ignored. If Xuanba learned that his sole disciple had been abducted and was in mortal danger, he might well charge into the Dugu household single-handedly to settle the score. By then, how could he, Li Shimin, have any face left to confront his brother?

Hands clasped behind his back, Li Shimin paced back and forth in the hall, his expression terrifyingly severe. Dusk had already fallen. Wang De, wishing to enter and light the lamps, was waved away by Lady Zhangsun, who feared to disturb the Prince of Qin’s thoughts. Wang De withdrew quietly, careful not to disrupt his lord’s concentration.

Li Shimin pondered in secret. Was it because he had recently made deliberate concessions at court, giving certain petty villains the impression that his power was waning and that he was weak and easy to bully? Fools! Did they not understand that until the dust settled, it was impossible to know who would emerge victorious?

His steps halted as he came to a decision. In a deep voice he commanded, “Send orders to Gao Zhizhong of Yongzhou Prefecture—launch a citywide search! Arrest all suspicious persons, rather kill the innocent than let the guilty escape! Anyone providing verifiable information about Mingyu will be rewarded with five hundred taels of silver! Those who withhold information will be punished more harshly! Inform all the generals of the Tiance Guard to come at once for a council of war! Wang De, send my card to the Dugu household—demand Mingyu’s return from Dugu Wu himself! Tell him that if Mingyu is not returned, unharmed, by dawn, I will lead troops to demand him in person! And if any harm has befallen Mingyu, let Dugu Jie pay with his life!”

Even after issuing this string of orders, Li Shimin’s anger remained unabated. The Dugu family, daring to provoke him, had already aroused his lethal intent. Yet the Dugu clan was arrogant and domineering, and the Guanzhong aristocracy always stood united. They had thrown their lot in with the Crown Prince; even he, Li Shimin, could not easily bring them to heel.

But what if Dugu Wu brazened it out and destroyed the evidence? No matter—let this incident serve as a warning. He would show them that Chang’an still belonged to the House of Li.

After much deliberation, Li Shimin called Wang De back. “Wait—tell Li Junxian to take my military tally and summon three hundred armored cavalry from the camp outside the city. Make a great show of force—let all Chang’an know what is happening. If there is no answer from the Dugu family by dawn, march the troops into the city and surround their residence!”

With Li Shimin’s command, the Prince of Qin’s residence transformed into a whirring machine, operating at full speed. Squad after squad of his guards, armed and mounted, set out in groups of ten, scouring the city outward from the western market under the command of the city’s military officers.

All the constables of Yongzhou Prefecture were mobilized, working with Li Shimin’s men: any suspicious person was arrested, the leaders of all gangs interrogated, and every wandering swordsman thrown into prison. For a time, the crooks and ruffians of Chang’an suffered greatly; whether guilty or not, they were all rounded up for the night. In the process, many longstanding cases were unexpectedly solved, and the city’s security improved markedly.

Proclamations for the capture of the deadly swordsman Ma Bolian and the grinning Maitreya, Tong Dekun, were posted throughout the city’s markets and wards. Everywhere, squads of the Prince of Qin’s guards raced to and fro, while the subordinate generals of the Tiance Guard, armored and helmeted, hurried into the residence, creating a commotion at the gate.

Many wondered in secret: which fool had dared to offend the mighty Prince of Qin?

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng was in high spirits that day. The Prince of Qin’s faction had suffered setbacks at court, and he had taken the opportunity to place many of his own men in key positions. With the political situation turning in his favor, he wore a rare smile. Gazing at the winter plum blossoms outside his window, Li Jiancheng, seized by a sudden whim, summoned musicians and dancers to join him in a small banquet to drink and admire the blossoms.

As he sipped his wine in solitude, he mused over recent events. The Prince of Qin had been falling out of the emperor’s favor and was increasingly marginalized. It seemed his younger brother’s days were numbered. The only remaining threat was his military command, but the Crown Prince’s Six Regiments were no less formidable. Xue Wanche was an excellent commander, drilling the regiments into an impressive fighting force. In the future, he could be entrusted with important responsibilities.

At the height of his enjoyment, the chief steward, Pei Ju, was announced. Li Jiancheng, pleased, greeted him warmly. “Hongda, come sit and keep me company as I drink and enjoy the plum blossoms.”

Pei Ju, his face dark, got straight to the point. “Your Highness, how can you be in the mood for wine? Do you not know that something major has happened in Chang’an?”

Startled, Li Jiancheng asked, “Hongda, what do you mean?”

Pei Ju recounted the Prince of Qin’s unusual actions: dispatching his guards, launching a massive citywide search, throwing the gangs of Chang’an into chaos. As a member of the gentry and the Crown Prince’s chief steward, Pei Ju served as the intermediary between the prince and the aristocratic families. Those families, troubled by the Prince of Qin’s aggressive measures, had suffered considerable losses. The gangs were their tools for acquiring wealth and engaging in unsavory activities while preserving their own good names. Now that their interests were threatened, Pei Ju had been pushed forward to demand an explanation from the Crown Prince.

Li Jiancheng pondered for a moment, then laughed. “You worry too much, Hongda. The Prince of Qin is merely trying to compensate for his setbacks at court by showing off his power. As the governor of Yongzhou, he is responsible for Chang’an’s security. If he wishes to discipline the city, let him. Reassure the noble families—whatever losses they suffer, I will make good. At the morning audience tomorrow, you can take the opportunity to impeach him: accuse him of arrogance, abuse of power, harassing the innocent, disrupting the capital, and disturbing the people.”

Pei Ju clapped his hands in approval. “Your Highness is wise! The Prince of Qin has made a grave error. Not only will this achieve nothing, but he will further alienate the great families, driving them firmly into your camp!”

Pleased by Pei Ju’s flattery, Li Jiancheng raised his cup. “Come, let us drink!”

At that moment, Prince Qi, Li Yuanji, burst in, shouting, “Elder brother! Something terrible has happened!”

Li Jiancheng’s expression hardened. “You are a prince of Qi! How can you behave so rudely?”

Chastened, Li Yuanji straightened his attire and bowed respectfully. “Yes, Your Highness. I accept your rebuke.”

Li Jiancheng nodded, then asked, “What is this terrible news—does it concern the Prince of Qin? I already know; let him do as he pleases.”

Li Yuanji hesitated. “Then you already know about his summoning the armored cavalry to await orders outside the city?”

“What? Mobilizing troops? Is this true?” Li Jiancheng was shocked.

“It is absolutely true!” Li Yuanji insisted.

Hearing this, Li Jiancheng’s cup fell to the floor with a crash; he could no longer sit still.

Nor could the emperor, Li Yuan, who deep within the palace also received the news.

As the sovereign of the Great Tang and the true master of Chang’an, nothing in the city escaped Li Yuan’s notice. The news arrived while he was at a banquet; startled and angry, he exclaimed, "Outrageous! What is the second boy thinking, mobilizing troops? Does he take no heed of his father the emperor?"

Consorts Yin and Zhang, seated nearby, seized the moment to fan the flames. One claimed she had long warned that the Prince of Qin was arrogant and lawless, drunk on his own achievements—and now it was proved true. Another pointed out that with military command in hand and generals summoned by night, perhaps he intended some treasonous act.

Their words left Li Yuan unsettled, and he sent two waves of palace eunuchs to the Prince of Qin’s residence to inquire.

By now, night had fallen, with still no word of Mingyu.

The Prince of Qin’s mansion was ablaze with light, as bright as day. Guards and officers hurried in and out, reporting news. Li Shimin, his face dark as thunder, gathered the generals of the Tiance Guard to discuss their next move.

Lady Zhangsun entered quietly and sighed. “The palace has sent another group of eunuchs to ask about the matter. I sent them away. Erlang, forgive me for saying so, but once you mobilize troops, things may spiral out of control. Though you have reason, the emperor will doubtless harbor concerns.”

Li Shimin waved her off. “My dear, I am doing this deliberately. I want to make as much noise as possible, to bring the matter to the emperor’s attention and to the whole world. Dugu Wu is notoriously intractable; unless I do this, he’ll simply deny everything and I’ll have no leverage. Even if I force him to pay with Dugu Jie’s life, it won’t bring Mingyu back. So, the emperor must be made aware. It’s time to reveal Mingyu’s true identity. I do not believe that, for Xuanba’s sake, the emperor would refuse to intervene and force the Dugu family to return him!”

Lady Zhangsun nodded. “If you have made up your mind, I will not press further.”

Li Shimin straightened his robes and rose, smiling. “The time is right. I should go to the palace and see the emperor myself.”

Lady Zhangsun stopped him. “Let me go. Word from the palace is that some concubines have been stirring up trouble, fueling His Majesty’s displeasure toward you. It would be better if I went to explain and buy you some time.”

Li Shimin agreed. “You are more thoughtful than I; you will be more effective. Those concubines are truly hateful, always speaking ill of me on Yuanji’s behalf. I cannot stoop to their level.”

Lady Zhangsun smiled. “Rest assured, Erlang. As a woman, it will be easier for me to deal with them. But about Mingyu’s identity—are you really going to tell the emperor the whole truth?”

Li Shimin considered for a moment. “Tell him everything, but do not reveal that Xuanba is still alive.”