Chapter Sixty-Five: Stirring the Grass to Startle the Snake

After learning from Li Mao that Li Wenyuan intended to strike against him, Li Gui sent men overnight to the armory by Moon Lake to investigate the state of the weapon production. The report returned that the armory had stockpiled enough completed arms to equip twenty thousand soldiers, which brought Li Gui a measure of relief.

Still, given the gravity of the situation, Li Gui could not let himself become a panicked bird, unnerved by hearsay and losing his composure. Thus, he began quietly transferring his assets toward Yiwu Commandery in the far west, feigning illness and remaining in Wuwei Commandery to recover, all the while observing the evolving circumstances.

One day, the imperial emissary from the Censorate finally arrived in Wuwei Commandery to deliver the imperial decree. Li Wenyuan led the officials of Wuwei Commandery out of the city to receive the decree from Yang Guang on the main road.

Standing atop a temporary platform, the censor unfolded the decree and read slowly to the kneeling officials below: “We command Li Wenyuan, Governor of the Western Regions, to thoroughly investigate the corruption of Li Mao, brother of Li Gui, in Yongdeng County. Li Wenyuan is granted full discretion to act as he sees fit, including summary execution before reporting. Thus is Our will.”

Li Wenyuan knelt, raising his hands above his head. “Your servant Li Wenyuan accepts the decree.” The censor then descended from the platform, placed the decree in Li Wenyuan’s hands, and helped him to his feet.

“This decree is testament to His Majesty’s trust in you, my lord. The Emperor regards you as a pillar of our great Sui, a bulwark of the Western Regions. I daresay your promotion cannot be far off; let me congratulate you ahead of time.”

Li Wenyuan handed the decree to Xue Renyue for safekeeping, then clasped his hands to the censor. “Lord Censor, you have endured much hardship traveling here. Please rest for a few days before rushing back to the capital.”

The censor’s eyes brightened at these words, though he hesitated. “Thank you for your kindness, Lord Li, but I am entrusted with imperial duty and must return to report without delay. I cannot linger here.”

Li Wenyuan smiled. “You are entirely correct, Lord Censor. Yet the Western Regions border the northern deserts, and sandstorms occasionally obstruct the roads, causing unavoidable delays. One of my men, skilled in reading the winds, tells me a sandstorm is imminent. Rather than suffer its fury on the road, would it not be better to wait here until it passes?”

The censor was surprised. “If that is so, then I must trouble you for a few days.”

Li Wenyuan, seeing the censor finally acquiesce, hurried forward, grasping his hand and leading him toward Wuwei Commandery, saying as they walked, “Hardly a trouble! I have some grape wine from Sogdian merchants. Today, let us drink until we are satisfied, Lord Censor. Do not refuse me this time—it is but my humble welcome for you.”

Li Wenyuan led the censor into Wuwei Commandery with laughter and conversation. Meanwhile, a watcher who had observed from a distance had already rushed back to the city ahead of Li Wenyuan to report the contents of the decree and Li Wenyuan's actions in detail to Li Gui.

Clenching his fists, Li Gui said to Li Mao, “This is not about investigating your corruption at all. It is clearly granting Li Wenyuan life-and-death authority in the Western Regions so he can eliminate me. I suspect Li Wenyuan already knows about our clandestine weapon production by Moon Lake. He is holding back for an even greater scheme. We can’t wait any longer. Arrange for our entire estate in Wuwei Commandery to be moved to Yiwu Commandery immediately, and wait for me there.”

Li Gui then disguised himself and slipped out the back gate of his residence, heading straight for the army camp west of the city. He sent his most trusted aide to the armory by Moon Lake, instructing them to transfer all completed weapons to Yiwu Commandery overnight, destroy all remaining tools, and bring every craftsman along.

Li Gui infiltrated the military camp in the west of the city and summoned his three confidants, ordering them to assemble the troops, prepare ten days’ provisions, and be ready to depart at any moment. After issuing a flurry of commands, Li Gui sat in the camp, feeling somewhat reassured, and began to carefully plan his next steps. He had already committed the gravest offense—raising troops and forging arms without imperial sanction. There was no turning back: either he would rebel or face execution. He had no choice but to wager everything, to see if fate would let him survive this ordeal.

Meanwhile, Li Wenyuan had seen the censor settled in the guest lodge, arranging for him to rest and promising a grand banquet that evening at his own residence in honor of the guest.

No sooner had Li Wenyuan left the guest lodge than Qiuniang’s messenger arrived with news that Li Gui had begun to act. Li Wenyuan nodded, instructing the messenger to return and tell Qiuniang he was already informed. He then proceeded to Zhang Juntai’s camp and asked, “Juntai, has there been any unusual activity at the armory I ordered you to watch?”

“Nothing unusual, but since yesterday, no more ore has been delivered for weapon forging, and the craftsmen finished work unusually early yesterday,” Zhang Juntai replied.

“It seems Li Gui has resolved to make his move. Send word at once to our men: take control of the armory, detain all the craftsmen, and execute any who resist,” Li Wenyuan ordered.

Li Gui, meanwhile, had assembled over ten thousand men. Just then, the watcher stationed outside Zhang Juntai’s camp reported that a cavalry detachment of about three thousand had just ridden north, allegedly to scout Turkic movements, then vanished into the desert.

Li Gui frowned, sensing danger. “Quick, take my token and go to the city. Tell my cousin to abandon everything and join me outside the city at once. Now that Li Wenyuan has decided to move against the armory, his next step will be to confiscate my estate. If Li Mao remains, he will surely become a bargaining chip.”

Meanwhile, Li Gui’s chief steward, Li Fu, braved the scorching sun to reach the armory. He addressed the commander, “Our master commands that all craftsmen assemble immediately and depart for Yiwu Commandery, bringing all completed weapons, destroying any tools that cannot be taken, and wasting no time.”

The commander, fully aware of the gravity of the situation, quickly organized everyone for the task. When all was ready, and they were poised to depart, they found themselves surrounded on three sides—save for the Moon Lake shore—by cavalry bearing the banners of the Sui dynasty.