Before throwing Li Xiang into the pit, Duan Hong arrived with a letter from Zhangsun, and an unfamiliar eunuch also rushed over carrying an imperial edict from the young Emperor Li Jue. Needless to say, both were pleading for Li Xiang’s life.
Li Xiang in the pit continuously begged, wailed, and implored Yun Ye to first read the Empress Dowager’s letter and see his younger brother’s edict before dealing with him. Crying bitterly, he expressed that he would certainly reform.
Yun Ye’s face was as cold as ice. Sitting in a chair before the great tent without saying a word, his powerful aura made Duan Hong want to speak several times, only to close his mouth again. The other eunuch was even more pathetic, hiding behind Duan Hong and not daring at all to watch the tragedy before him!
The method of burying people alive had been personally taught to Yun Ye by Li Er. Back in Goguryeo, Yun Ye and Li Chengqian had vomited until dizzy and disoriented. At that time, Yun Ye considered this an extremely cruel method of killing—an immoral act.
But now he discovered that anger sometimes would certainly cloud one’s reason. To ensure such evil affairs never occurred again in the Great Tang’s future, Yun Ye decided to use this most brutal method to intimidate those ambitious ones. He ordered artists to completely paint the scene before them, displaying from various angles the terror of people in desperate circumstances. He planned to display these paintings in Wanmin Palace, naming them “The Rebels”!
Li Xiang was slowly buried by yellow earth. Even at the very end he never gave up pleading for mercy, but those iron-blooded Xuanjia Army soldiers ignored his promises of mountains of gold and seas of silver, mechanically throwing down the last shovelful of earth, covering Li Xiang’s face…
War horses trampled continuously on the mound for an entire day until the earth pile became as flat as the ground. Only then did Yun Ye stop. After examining the sketches from the artists’ hands, he ordered them to paint without a moment’s rest. Before Duan Hong and the others returned to the capital, they must complete the work—he needed Duan Hong to exhibit these paintings in Wanmin Palace.
Opening Zhangsun’s letter, it was indeed as Yun Ye had predicted. Zhangsun requested that Yun Ye spare Li Xiang’s life if possible. From the fury Yun Ye displayed upon leaving the capital, Zhangsun believed Li Xiang was doomed. For the inexperienced Li Xiang to try to clash with a renowned general like Yun Ye was simply seeking death. So she had written this letter hoping to save Li Xiang’s life.
Yun Ye set aside Zhangsun’s letter and, in front of the eunuch who delivered it, opened Li Jue’s edict. This edict was written by Li Jue’s own hand—the characters were still very immature. Between the lines was full of sympathy and guilt toward his own brother, believing that it was his becoming emperor that caused his brother to go mad. He hoped his teacher would not kill his brother and let him live well.
After reading the Emperor’s edict, Yun Ye sighed deeply, took up brush and ink, and personally memorialized Li Jue. He could ignore Zhangsun’s letter—after returning to the capital he could explain. But Li Jue’s edict he must account for. He must clearly explain why he did this, meticulously analyzing and explaining it clearly.
“Your subject Yun Ye kowtows from ten thousand miles away. Prince Hengshan Li Xiang…”
Li Jue’s personal eunuch respectfully attended Yun Ye as he wrote his memorial. He had originally thought that with the General’s style, a few words would give the Emperor an explanation. But he discovered that Yun Ye had already written a full ten pages and still showed no sign of stopping. Starting from how Li Xiang’s rebellion set a vile precedent, then describing the miserable conditions of Hengyang’s seven prefectures—how Li Xiang had turned a prosperous land into something resembling earthly hell—then explaining why he absolutely must use the most cruel methods to deal with Li Xiang. Each matter was explained very clearly. Finally, he told the Emperor that after his great army suppressed the Hengyang rebellion, the Emperor should dispatch ministers to comfort Hengyang’s people, reward those subjects who remained steadfast during the rebellion, punish those treacherous ministers who followed Li Xiang in rebellion, select local worthies and appoint local officials from among them, reorganize production, gather scattered refugees, and eliminate scattered rebel bandits wandering in the countryside, allowing Hengyang to achieve peace in the shortest possible time.
“Your subject leads the great army to quell rebellion and naturally must press with military force and overawe with威严. Where the great army passes, crushing all like rotting wood should be foremost. Your Majesty should embrace with gentleness and demonstrate favor, making winning hearts and minds paramount.”
“Your subject has received three generations of imperial favor, especially entrusted with the late Emperor’s orphaned charge. I dare not slacken even a fraction. Thinking back to Taizong and Gaozong’s affection, within ten years I shall naturally be Your Majesty’s vanguard, pacifying all unlawful affairs in the Great Tang…”
By the time he finished writing this memorial, the moon was bright and stars sparse. Thinking that Li Chengqian had not yet been interred when this human tragedy occurred, he couldn’t help feeling immensely sorrowful. No matter how one looked at it, he himself had killed his son. The scene from years ago when the two of them were bound to chairs watching prisoners buried alive was now vivid before his eyes. Rather than calling Li Chengqian his emperor, he was better called his friend. Li Chengqian had never used the word “zhen” before him—he always used “I.” Especially appointing him Cavalry General and Chang’an Garrison Commander before death showed his trust was without any conditions.
Since they had already agreed upon a ten-year covenant, then he would guard this glorious prosperous age created by countless people for ten more years.
The eunuch carefully absorbed the excess ink from the memorial with dry cloth, spread it out to dry, and only then collected it piece by piece into the memorial booklet. Yun Ye was very unaccustomed to writing on the small booklet—everyone knew this quirk of his.
Before Yun Ye’s eyes, the eunuch sealed it with wax and softly asked Yun Ye about the date of his return.
“Leave tomorrow. Please have His Majesty dispatch ministers early to clean up this chaos. This matter cannot be delayed. If Li Yifu and Zhang Jianzhi dare obstruct without cause, this old man will naturally go seek punishment after returning to the capital. The army will set out tomorrow to pacify Fuzhou.”
The eunuch bowed and withdrew from Yun Ye’s tent, feeling the thick booklet in his breast. He glanced smugly at Duan Hong, who still stood guard before the tent, flicked his sleeves, and returned to his own quarters.
After Duan Hong entered the tent, he heard Yun Ye ask without preamble: “How could the Empress Dowager send me such a letter? If Li Xiang doesn’t die, it’s insufficient to intimidate the realm—especially now when His Majesty’s corpse is not yet cold, his son attacks with armor and weapons. How vile! Where is there even half a bit of father-son or brotherly affection? If such a person is not killed, how many others does the Empress Dowager plan to let proclaim themselves kings?”
No one else was in the tent. Duan Hong found a chair and sat down, saying: “The Empress Dowager is someone’s grandmother—naturally she must have a grandmother’s merciful heart. His Majesty is someone’s brother—naturally he must have thoughts of filial piety and fraternal duty. These words must be said. As for whether to act on them naturally depends on your meaning as Cavalry General.”
“You also know that now in court you are supreme. Decisions the Empress Dowager and His Majesty cannot make well must be made by you. You are also imperial family—the Grand Princess has entered the capital and brazenly moved into the Yun Family home. Although she was sent by our First Rank Madam to live in a small courtyard, this is your family matter—outsiders cannot interfere. When the imperial house handled your family matter, they still held their nose and accepted it. It’s just that this time the Imperial Clan Court has written your family into the genealogy—this was the Empress Dowager’s idea. I estimate you have no way to refuse?”
“Prince Hengshan rebelled, and the realm’s situation became delicate. Moreover, Prince Hengshan had long ago sent agents to spread rumors in Chang’an City, saying His Majesty’s accession was illegitimate, even saying His Majesty caused the late Emperor’s death. Everyone knows this is reckless talk, but some with ulterior motives are willing to believe and spread the rumors.”
“But after you led three thousand cavalry out of the capital, all discourse about Prince Hengshan being the true Son of Heaven disappeared. Because whether commoners, officials, nobles, royalty, or even our enemies all know that Li Xiang’s army before you is simply clay chickens and pottery dogs—utterly vulnerable. The only hope they could still have was that you wouldn’t strike lethally.”
“After the Empress Dowager received the Yueyang report, she sighed and said Prince Hengshan was doomed. She also said that others killing princes might have scruples, but you killing princes have not half a scruple. Back when Taizong was on the throne, you dared kill Li Yuangui. Now burying Prince Hengshan alive, this servant is not surprised at all.”
“The Empress Dowager also said that if you insist on executing Prince Hengshan, it shows you’ve already begun to grow irritable and want to use heavy-handed methods to intimidate the realm so you can safely pass through the ten-year covenant with the late Emperor. This servant has also been acquainted with you for a long time—today’s you, radiating killing intent, is truly a sign of irritability. This servant originally wanted to advise you to give Prince Hengshan a dignified death, but ultimately held my tongue. Duke of Chu, you truly cannot be irritable now. If things are mismanaged even slightly, with the Great Tang’s sovereign young and unable to command the situation, great problems will arise.”
Yun Ye said irritably to Duan Hong: “When others rein in powerful ministers, what’s sent to their homes are young, beautiful princesses. How is it that when it comes to me, an old woman is sent?”
Duan Hong’s shrill laughter rang out in the tent. He cupped his hands to Yun Ye and said: “But which princess does the Duke of Chu favor? This servant will immediately send word back to have them wash clean the young, beautiful princess you fancy and send her to the Yun Family estate. This little matter this servant can still decide. The late Emperor left six princesses behind!”
Thinking of Li Chengqian’s several terrible daughters, Yun Ye sighed and shook his head: “Forget it. I’m old now, can’t stand such turmoil. An old woman is an old woman—at least she’s the children’s mother. Taking a little loss is taking a little loss.”
“But isn’t the Empress Dowager doing this to disturb my household’s peace? You know Xinyue’s temper—you probably haven’t suffered little from her temper either? Anlan is also a woman accustomed to wielding power. With these two women living together, my household will probably be in chaos. The Empress Dowager harbors no good intentions at all. Does she want me to handle court affairs or family matters?”
“I know what the Empress Dowager worries about. Go back and tell the Empress Dowager that after I finish matters here, I’ll return to Chang’an. As long as no rebellion occurs, I won’t leave the capital. Even if rebellion occurs, I don’t plan to come out again—hiding in Chang’an to deploy troops and generals will suffice!”
Duan Hong smiled and said: “No matter how wise the Empress Dowager is, she’s still a woman. What’s so strange about having some odd notions? What she most loves to see is you coming to pay respects every day. As long as she sees you in Chang’an, her heart is at peace.”