Chapter One: A Great Undertaking Missing One Person

Chang’an, Taiji Palace, Wude Hall!

Emperor Li Longji sat solemnly at the head of the hall. Below him stood Wei Zhigu, Wang Ju, and Cui Riyong, all bearing serious expressions.

The eunuch Gao Lishi attended carefully by his side, while an unusual atmosphere of oppression filled the grand hall.

“Your Majesty, Minister of War Guo Yuanzhen requests an audience!”

“Summon him!” Li Longji ordered, allowing Guo Yuanzhen to enter. At the same time, he cast a meaningful glance at Gao Lishi. Understanding immediately, Gao Lishi stepped outside and ordered all palace guards and maids to retreat at least thirty feet from the hall, taking up a post himself outside the door.

Guo Yuanzhen hurried into the hall, having rushed so fast that his breath faltered, requiring several coughs before he recovered.

“Lord Guo!” Li Longji anxiously descended from his throne to support him. “How is your health?”

Guo Yuanzhen stepped back slightly, politely declining the support with a bow. “Your Majesty, please do not worry. I am merely advanced in years, nothing serious. Your Highness’s great undertaking has yet to be accomplished; your humble servant dares not die before it is fulfilled.”

Li Longji nodded with concern. His trusted ministers had been one by one driven out of Chang’an by Princess Taiping. Now, only Minister of Revenue Wei Zhigu and Minister of War Guo Yuanzhen remained as truly formidable pillars at his side. Losing either would leave the other isolated and overwhelmed. He could not afford to be careless, so he invited Guo Yuanzhen to take a seat.

Guo Yuanzhen nodded. “Your Majesty has summoned me urgently. Has something changed?”

Li Longji drew a short dagger from his robe, unsheathing it. “This was sent to me from Luoyang by Daoji... My aunt has recently frequented the Taiji Palace, determined to sway the late Emperor’s will for me to embark on an inspection tour. Her intent to depose me has reached its peak.” Daoji was Zhang Shuo, Li Longji’s most trusted strategist, who had recently been stripped of his chancellor position for secretly conspiring with Princess Taiping. He was demoted to Left Minister and appointed overseer of the Eastern Capital, sent away to Luoyang.

Guo Yuanzhen stared at the gleaming, cold blade, his pupils contracting as his expression grew grave.

Li Longji muttered to himself, “Daoji advises me that hesitation leads to chaos. I will not sit idly by and allow the Tang dynasty to fall once more into the hands of a woman. A true man would rather shatter like jade than survive as mere tile.” His gaze swept across Wei Zhigu, Guo Yuanzhen, Wang Ju, and Cui Riyong. “You are all my closest and most trusted allies. What say you?”

Cui Riyong and Wang Ju quickly proclaimed, “We are willing to give our lives for Your Majesty!”

Guo Yuanzhen exchanged a glance with Wei Zhigu.

With solemnity, Guo Yuanzhen said, “It is not that this servant doubts Your Majesty’s resolve, but I must ask once more: Have you truly made your decision? Once taken, this path cannot be undone. Our lives and fortunes are entrusted to you alone. If we fail again, Your Majesty will have no chance to turn the tide. May I ask, have you truly decided?”

Li Longji replied with unwavering resolve, “As with the Tang Long incident years ago, my mind is made up and will not change!” Three years prior, he had made a similar decision to completely eradicate the Wei and Wu factions, an indication of his firm will.

Guo Yuanzhen and Wei Zhigu straightened and bowed, “We stand ready to follow Your Majesty’s command.”

Li Longji fixed his burning gaze on Guo Yuanzhen. “Lord Guo, in matters of military strategy, none of us compare to you. You know my strength and how best to wield it. What opportunity do you see?”

Without hesitation, Guo Yuanzhen said, “To succeed, one must strike unexpectedly. In terms of sheer power, Princess Taiping commands the Imperial Guards and the Southern Palace Guards; seven-tenths of the palace troops are under her control. No matter how many forces we gather, we cannot shake the Imperial Guards or the Southern Palace Guards. Moreover, any troop movements will alert the Taiping faction and ruin our chances. When Liu Youqiu attempted a coup to eliminate the Taiping party, it was precisely the leakage of such plans that led to our current predicament. We must learn from that failure. Three hundred troops, I believe three hundred is the optimal number…”

Listening to Guo Yuanzhen’s analysis, Li Longji nodded repeatedly, though his expression faltered slightly at the figure of three hundred.

The combined strength of the Imperial Guards and Southern Palace Guards neared fifteen thousand. Though not all might obey Princess Taiping’s orders, even ten thousand would be impossible for a mere three hundred to confront.

Guo Yuanzhen sighed upon seeing Li Longji’s expression. “Your Majesty, I had hoped to bring five thousand troops from Longyou to the capital to strike the traitors. Even with that, the fool Chang Yuankai is no match for me, and ten thousand troops would still not suffice. But the moment Longyou troops move, foreign forces enter the capital, Princess Taiping will surely seize the chance to strong-arm the Retired Emperor, worsening the situation. It is not a lack of men we have, but the Taiping faction is deeply entrenched throughout court and country. Gathering troops only alerts them. Only the three hundred men under General Wang Maozhong of the Longwu troops are trustworthy and not weak in strength. Their movement will not arouse suspicion.”

Li Longji understood Guo Yuanzhen’s reasoning. Princess Taiping was not like Empress Wei or Wu Yanshou; the Tang Long coup was far less complicated and dangerous than this present crisis.

Cui Riyong nervously asked, “Lord Guo, what does he intend to do with three hundred men?” The disparity in strength unnerved him.

Guo Yuanzhen’s voice was grave. “Princess Taiping’s greatest threat is not her influence over court affairs, but the Imperial Guards and Southern Palace Guards under her command. With these two forces, she can control the palace at any time. Who would not fear that? We must strike precisely at this core to end the threat once and for all. Seize control of the Imperial Guards and sever Princess Taiping’s arm. Once we control the Imperial Guards, the neutral Wanqi troops will also serve Your Majesty. Then, with the Imperial Guards and Wanqi troops in hand, and with the Northern Palace Guards pressuring the Southern Palace Guards, the ministers Dou Huaizhen, Xiao Zhizhong, and Cen Xi—none of whom are military commanders—will pose no real threat.”

The Northern and Southern Palace Guards were the entire protective force of the imperial palace.

The Northern Palace Guards descended from the Hundred Riders established by Emperor Taizong of Tang. Since his time, successive emperors of the Li family expanded their personal guard units. Emperor Taizong created the Hundred Riders system, while Emperor Gaozong added the Yu Lin troops, composed of mounted archers and infantry. Over the years, the Hundred Riders grew into the Wanqi troops numbering over ten thousand, and the Yu Lin troops increased to more than five thousand. Stationed north of the palace, these two forces became known as the Northern Palace Guards.

The Southern Palace Guards were sixteen elite battalions stationed within the southern palace, directly overseen by the Ministry of Revenue. These troops were drawn from elite soldiers dispatched regularly from provincial garrisons throughout the realm to protect the capital, forming the palace’s backbone.

Li Longji listened, eyes shining with excitement, especially at the strategy of pitting the Northern against the Southern Guards. His heart tingled with anticipation.

Guo Yuanzhen rubbed his nose. “Your Majesty, do not rejoice prematurely. This plan is perilous. Controlling the Imperial Guards is the most critical step—truly capturing the leader is the key. Yet we lack one person: someone who can eliminate Chang Yuankai and Li Cili within the Imperial Guards. To my knowledge, Wang Maozhong’s martial skills are insufficient for such a task.”