A series of letters were written from 754 to 756 by the Japanese scholar Abe no Nakamaro to his friend Li Bai over the course of the An Lushan Rebellion. These letters recounted Nakamaro's attempted return to Japan after decades of study and work in Tang China, the true purpose of the voyage, his survival of the subsequent storm that destroyed his ship, his escape from the Golden Turtles' agents in Annam, his investigations into the Golden Turtles and the secrets of the Isu, and his reflections on contemporary political events.[1]
Letters[]
Dear Sir Li Bai,
I hope all has been well since we last spoke. Since we parted ways in Chang'an in the tenth month of last year, already countless moons separate us. I remember when you were seeing me off, you said to me, "this parting is for a whole lifetime".
I also remember when I first came to the Great Tang, I was still a nineteen-year-old teenager, captivated by all its splendour. As of today, I am already more than half a century old. Having seen the liveliness and beauty of Chang'an and made many intimate friends, the Great Tang has also become a part of me.
However, as my age grows ever older, the more I miss the taste of my hometown. Thirty years of the Great Tang has been as though it were one long, wondrous dream. I only want to, before I die, to experience the scent of my mother's cooking once again.
So, it is for the sake of fulfilling my heart's one last desire that this time I am following Lord Fujiwara's diplomatic mission to the Tang so as to return to Japan with them.
But apart from this, I still have, in fact, another objective.
As you know, I am someone who is full of curiosity, and this curiosity has spurred me to learn some secrets.
It turns out that the Buddha that we know of is called a "Precursor" by some people.
In distant antiquity, the Precursor Shakyamuni guided his masses of disciples to promulgate the proper dharma, receiving deeply the adoration of everyday people. Therefore, once he had discarded his flesh and chosen to enter nirvana, the people overwhelmingly grieved.
After the Buddha's body was cremated, the Buddhist disciples recovered a large amount of multi-coloured pearls. These are the "śarīra", and each one of these śarīra is indestructible. Otherwise, they are filled with Shakyamuni's memories of his past lives—the truth of the world.
Following the trade route of the Western Regions, the śarīra also poured into China in the Han period, and they passed from generation to generation throughout the tumultuous ages, cared for and protected by great master monks high in virtue and lofty in repute.
At present, the śarīra that we know of has been enshrined by Master Jianzhen of the Yanguang Temple in Yangzhou.
Master Jianzhen is a high priest who is full of wisdom. Even though it is a prosperous era of great peace, he remains as uneasy as he was in olden days.
Like you and me, Master Jianzhen clearly knows about the "Golden Turtles'" existence at court. Every type of clue here and there makes it apparent that unforeseen events may soon happen at court, but we still do not know when it will be. Supposing that the śarīra carelessly fall into evil hands, that they are exploited by ambitious people, the outcome may be too dreadful to contemplate.
Master Jianzhen hopes to settle them in a tranquil place far from turmoil. He said that Buddha dharma knows no borders and that perhaps Japan is the best destination.
Master Jianzhen has attempted to ferry east five times before. Unfortunately, he has not met any success, yet the setbacks have only hardened his resolve.
My pressing hope is to assist Master Jianzhen in protecting the śarīra. Notwithstanding this, if Master Jianzhen can borrow this opportunity to transmit the true Buddha dharma to Japan, awakening the populace—this too would be a good thing of immeasurable merit. Therefore, I have linked up with Lord Fujiwara no Kiyokawa of the Tang diplomatic mission, bidding our farewells to Chang'an together. Under secrecy, we picked up Master Jianzhen, raised the ships, and proceeded towards Japan. To our fortune, this operation was not at all discovered by the "Golden Turtles", and yet it was truly terrible.
We were divided into only four ships. Amidst calm ocean currents, the journey was constantly as smooth as the wind. I closed my eyes, and it was as though I could already smell the scents of my hometown.
"Upward gaze at far-stretched skies, my spirits gallop at Nara's edge.
There above at Mikasa's peak, then again the luminous moon."
Following the trail of home, ever closer and closer, I peered at the circular moon and thought of your reluctant parting. Thereupon, I decided to write this letter.
But it was at this moment that a storm arose above the sea.
The first ship, which Lord Fujiwara and I were riding on, unfortunately collided with rocks, and there was no way that it could continue sailing.
We lost contact with the other three ships, and amidst the intense, stormy waves, I gradually lost consciousness as well.
Once I opened my eyes, I found myself on a shore. Our ship had already been wrecked beyond repair, yet I did not know where I was. Lord Fujiwara and I could only lead everyone to abandon the ship and keep moving on to seek help.
I wonder if this is Japan or the Great Tang?
Everything is still unknown. We can only believe in the path beneath our feet. If it is fate that I cannot return home, I can only accept this fate.
I only hope... that Master Jianzhen's ship at least is safe and sound.
I only hope... that the śarīra can safely arrive at their destination.
I only hope... that both the Great Tang and Japan are at peace and unharmed.
......
I do not know when I can send this letter out. For the time being, I will keep it by my side for safeguarding.
If there is a next life, I hope I would be able to drink a jar of wine with you once more.
—Chao Heng (Abe no Nakamaro)
Dear Sir Li Bai,
Now that beacon fires have risen in the four corners under Heaven, I wonder where you find yourself?
Having experienced half a year's arduous journey, I have now already returned to Chang'an. The reason, then, that I am writing this letter now is because I constantly could not dare to think back on the terrifying experiences leading up to this day. After I returned, I learned that the news that I had encountered disaster at sea had already spread throughout all of Chang'an early on, so all my friends thought I had died. So the moment everyone saw me, it was as though they were all seeing a ghost.
Perhaps, the past me has truly already died in that great ocean. The present me—it is as though I have become a dreadful ghost, roaming about in an endless nightmare.
I have forgotten how to laugh heartily. There were times when I really wanted to cry and yet how come I couldn't cry it out either?
I am always panicked and cannot find peace. I am always frightened awake in the middle of the night. The room that I used to know is yet so strange and unfamiliar now. I am also terrified to see other people. Every time my friends come to visit me, I close my doors and do not come out. I do not know for how long days like this would continue.
It was truly not until I read that poem you wrote mourning me that I finally lost my voice crying painfully. Thereupon, I drummed up the courage to pick up my pen.
Once I started writing a letter to you, I drifted to that place, which was actually a state situated south of the Tang: the name is Annam. The moment when we searched for the people of the land to make clear our identity and ask for rescue, we suddenly came under attack by a group of mysterious people. As a result, the majority of the entire ship of more than a hundred people met slaughter. Only Lord Fujiwara no Kiyokawa and I alongside a small number of warriors managed to escape tragedy and flee that hell.
But those people continued to unrelentingly pursue us. Because of this, we were evading the pursuit of death on one hand and striving to survive in a strange country on the other. I think that they learned somewhere that our squadron of ships was to secretly send the śarīra abroad, that they thought the śarīra was with us. This originally was a secret. People in general would not have known about it. Could it be that they had been directed by the "Golden Turtles"? I cannot at all be certain, but I know that they must have some link.
In the whole process of fleeing death, one of the things that kept me supported was my fine memory of the past. But gradually, my memory also began to become muddled: I am beginning to be unable to recall many circumstances. People say that an individual's proof of existence in the world is their own memory and others' memory of them, the combination of the two added together. I was in a foreign land where there was not anyone who knew me, in a different state without a language I could communicate, and I began to forget my past, becoming more and more numb.
As of now, I have finally begun to recall what kind of person I am. Unfortunately, Chang'an is yet no longer the Chang'an that I knew.
The news of An Lushan's rebellion that recently came down has stricken people from the court to the country all over with anxiety. The court ordered the execution of An Lushan's eldest son An Qingzong, who resided in Chang'an, and furthermore opened the treasury, raising a force of 110,000 soldiers in the capital. Proclaimed the Army of Heavenly Warriors, they are to proceed to the east capital Luoyang to defend it. Many celebrated generals have pledged their lives to peril and have departed on the expedition to pacify the rebels, including your good friends: the Great General of Jinwu, Gao Xianzhi; Anxi jiedushi Feng Changqing; and Shuofang jiedushi Guo Ziyi... People say that with so many reliable generals dispatching on horseback, we need not a few days, and the government's great generals will have beheaded An Lushan. But what I am anxious about is that the Army of Heavenly Warriors that has been assembled for now is mostly composed of street youths who, like me, have never experienced true war. They are only full of enthusiasm, without any real experience. But all in the rebel army have battled in frontier expeditions for many years; all are elites who can kill without blinking. Even though there is parity between troop strengths, even though there are great generals who are valiant and skilled in war, there is nonetheless an enormous hidden danger. But let's wish that my anxiety will not come true.
I have continuously inquired about the whereabouts of Master Jianzhen. Unfortunately, communications have been cut off. There is no way of knowing if Master Jianzhen and the śarīra have already safely arrived in Japan. I also urgently would like to see you again face-to-face, yet I have heard that you had already left Chang'an ahead of time to travel the four corners, and no one knows where you actually are. Adding to that the fires of war swirling in the air, the land laid waste by soldiers and horses in disarray, I am especially anxious about your safety.
I am praying for fortune on the Great Tang, praying for fortune on Master Jianzhen, and praying for fortune on you.
Given that I do not know to where I would send this letter, I will keep it at my side for the time being. Take utmost care of yourself.
— Chao Heng (Abe no Nakamaro)
Dear Sir Li Bai,
Sir, Luoyang has fallen. My prior fear has ultimately become reality after all.
I heard that before General Gao Xianzhi and General Feng Changqing withdrew to Tong Pass, they continuously chopped down pagoda trees on both sides of the road to block the road behind them. This is not to mention that they opened the Taiyuan storehouses, distributing all money and goods to the troops, and furthermore incinerated the granaries, so as to prevent the supplies from being used by An Lushan. But the rebel army's pursuit was still quicker than the retreating army. Thereupon, the soldiers who had not yet undergone training scattered in four directions, tossed aside their helmets, forsook their armour, trampled one another, and the casualties were numerous.
At the same time, the court turned to the nation to conscript from every circuit but not a single reinforcement came. This entire development surpassed even the people's expectations. The present city of Chang'an has already fallen deep into terror, and as for the city of Luoyang which has fallen into bandit hands, what miserable condition awaits it?
It is really something people would not dare to imagine. Every day there are new bad news which make me even more anxious about your safety.
The amazing fortune amidst misfortune is: I have finally learned of the whereabouts of Master Jianzhen.
Apparently, at the moment that the ship I was embarked on encountered disaster at sea, Master Jianzhen's ship fortunately managed to avoid it and eventually arrived safely in Japan. Master Jianzhen established an ordination platform at the Eastern Great Temple in Nara for the Tennō and members of the imperial house to receive the Bodhisattva Precepts and moreover to help the monks of Japan discard the old precepts for the new.
Japan did not originally have the orthodox Risshū Buddha dharma, and it is now from this moment that they have begun to inherit them. The śarīra that Master Jianzhen has been protecting has also been under his constant, personal care. Reportedly, the Master is preparing to erect an entirely new temple where the śarīra would be safely installed. This brand-new temple will be built in the style of the Tang dynasty. Its name will be "the Temple where the Tang Beckons and Lifts".
This is a great matter. The construction will expend many years of time and the blood and sweat of countless people. Yet destruction only needs be in a day and night. Those people who hold the "golden turtle pouches"—would they follow the ships of the emissaries to the Tang and secretly arrive in Japan eyeing the śarīra like hungry tigers?
It is at this time that I finally smacked my spirits awake and began to research the "Golden Turtles".
Thousands of years ago, as the dynasties of China interchanged, there was a secret society that continuously controlled the power at the core of government. At times, they supported a suitable individual to be selected as emperor. At times, they had one of their members personally seize power and assume the throne as emperor.
Just as you are aware, under the Tang dynasty's system of protocols and regulations, officials ranked five and higher wear carp-shaped fish tallies to authenticate their identity. During the era of Wu Zetian more than sixty years prior to our time, because Wu Zetian thought that the character of her surname "Wu" correlated with "Xuanwu", which signifies the turtle and snake, she thereupon changed the accessory from the fish to the turtle. Notwithstanding this, she used the decorative pouches filled with turtle tallies as a means of distinguishing officials' ranks. Among the nine ranks of officials, ranks three and higher wore golden turtle pouches, ranks five and higher wore silver turtle pouches, and ranks six and lower did not have turtle pouches. Wu Zetian became empress regnant, bolstered her own relatives' influence, and consolidated tremendous power.
From then on, a new secret society began to take shape. They controlled the government's key posts and military power, manipulating from behind-the-scenes the fate of the world under Heaven. These ministers high in status and immense in power were precisely the "Golden Turtles".
And one of the core personages of Golden Turtles in those years was none other than Empress Wu's paramour (male lover): Zhang Yizhi. In the Shenlong Revolution fifty years prior, Empress Wu abdicated, Zhang Yizhi and the Golden Turtles were accordingly also executed, and the Tang dynasty was restored. The turtle tallies that the court officials were wearing were, following this, freshly changed back to fish tallies as well. And yet there was still some lingering force which covertly preserved the turtle tallies and even transmitted them down the line in secret to serve as proof of membership tokens—all while continuing to exert influence at court. The members of the Golden Turtles are no longer limited to officials ranked three and higher. They need only be approved by the society, and they will be able to secretly wear a golden turtle pouch.
According to my investigation, Zhang Yizhi, while still alive, secretly had a servant girl give birth to an illegitimate child with him in order to leave behind progeny. This illegitimate child—his name is "Yang Guozhong".
As a result, based on my conjecture, Chancellor of the Right Yang Guozhong is precisely one of today's members of the Golden Turtles and is even a chief figure. A few years ago, he advocated for the rehabilitation of his biological father Zhang Yizhi—this too proves the point.
Perhaps military power-wielding An Lushan is also a Golden Turtle.
Remember when the court first learned of An Lushan raising his forces in rebellion, Yang Guozhong was even quite pleased with himself as though the whole scenario was under his control—it was truly funny. Now, His Majesty cannot contain his fury. Sending down an edict clearly expressing his desire to personally lead the campaign, he has ordered his crown prince to supervise the state. In this case, Yang Guozhong has also begun to fret restlessly.
Having the crown prince supervise the state in a time of emergency signifies that the great authority of the court is shifting into the crown prince's hands. It also signifies that the passing of the throne is not far off. Just as you are aware, the strife—both open and veiled—between Yang Guozhong and the crown prince has already gone on for a long time. Yang Guozhong constantly thinks of any means to beat down the crown prince and preserve his own position and power. Should the crown prince begin to hold real authority, the first person he would clear out would precisely be Yang Guozhong.
I learned from my good friends in the palace that Yang Guozhong and the Lady of Guo worked together to convince Yang Guifei to plead on their behalf to His Majesty while stuffing her mouth with clay.
"Should His Majesty personally lead the campaign, your humble servant would certainly so and so die like this."
Under Yang Guifei's pitiful begging, His Majesty withdrew the issued order.
When a country is at a perilous juncture, being a prime minister should normally mean giving their utmost efforts to devise strategies for defending the peace and pacifying rebellion, but Yang Guozhong is only ever looking after petty feuds and the preservation of his own position. It is truly unbelievable to anyone. Saying this, with Yang Guozhong having incited An Lushan to rebel time and time again, could it signify that this calamity originated in an internal power struggle of the Golden Turtles? Of those with high status and immense power at court, how many of them are affiliated with the Golden Turtles as a member?
I still need to further my investigation, so that I can verify my conjecture.
Someone said that you have fled south to avoid the turmoil and that you are located in Xunyang. There was also someone who said that you are in Jinling, but given the present chaos of war and obstructed roads, there is no one in Chang'an who can verify your fate.
Because of this, I still do not know to what location would I send this letter, and for the time being, it will be by my side for safekeeping.
Please take care of yourself at all cost.
—Chao Heng (Abe no Nakamaro)
Dear Sir Li Bai,
Sir, I have finally gotten closer to the truth of the situation. Where to begin? How about let's start from the origin of everything.
In the hexagram statement for "Revolution" in the Classic of Change, it is recorded "Tang and Wu changed destinies in accordance with Heaven and in response to the people". Two thousand years ago, after the ruling power and succession of the Xia dynasty was overthrown, China began the cycle of dynastic change. Arriving at the Spring and Autumn period, the Central Plains fell into chaos and division, and everywhere conflict arose in the ways of military affairs and state governance. These developments needed the ways of a great number of prudent and wise individuals to counsel and educate lives. So hence in this period, there appeared countless philosophical systems in China: they were called the "Hundred Schools of Thought". It is known to all that the four most famous philosophies among these are... Taoism, which propagates wu wei; Mohism, which advocates equality; Legalism, which propagates order; and Confucianism, which propagates humane governance.
These different ideologies and groups collided with one another, driving the course of the era. Under the impact of different philosophies, wars between equity and authority and wars between freedom and slavery were ceaselessly reproduced again and again across the vast, great lands of China. The proponents of liberty and those who pursued power, bearing different names and forms dynasty after dynasty and era after era, opposed one another throughout the general trend of division and unity in the world under Heaven.
In my last letter, I already shared intelligence around the "Golden Turtles": it is that they are a secret society which formed under Wu Zetian's rule as an alliance between her kin, powerful officials, and eunuchs.
But these "Golden Turtles" were not newly born in Wu Zetian's era but rather have been passed down from ancient times, only having changed their skin is all. They pursue "power" and follow the archaic order of "slavery".
After the Tang dynasty was restored, the influence of the Golden Turtles was greatly weakened as well. This was how His Majesty's Reign of Kaiyuan began, which was exactly the Great Tang Golden Age that had caused me to linger forgetting to return home, as well as the wonder that I still miss to this day.
Twenty years ago, "Golden Turtles" leader Li Linfu became prime minister, his power dominating court and country. Following this, the Golden Turtles' influence attained another step of expansion as well, and from then on, everything began to quietly change.
Li Linfu used duplicitous and vicious methods to remove dissidents. Not to mention that to suppress the crown prince's faction, he actively backed frontier generals. He supported new member of the Golden Turtles An Lushan in founding the "Yeluohe" at the border stations, so as to grow the Golden Turtles' military power.
No one could guess Li Linfu's thoughts, and yet Li Linfu could guess through everyone.
And so, Golden Turtles Yang Guozhong and An Lushan revered and feared this "honey in mouth, sword in belly" leader. Reportedly, every time Li Linfu and An Lushan had a conversation, he could feel through thoughts of An Lushan which were unknowable to others, and every time it would cause An Lushan to sweat profusely. Because of this, Yang Guozhong and An Lushan were always held firmly in Li Linfu's hands and had difficulty unleashing their ambitions. Until four years ago, Li Linfu died; he was then aged seventy. The news announced to the public by the court was that he had died from illness, but there was also a small trail of news that said that he was assassinated by a mysterious person.
Li Linfu monopolized power for twenty two years, fostering numerous enemies at court. Even if he died by meeting assassination, it would not in the least bit be unusual. But precisely as a result of this, Li Linfu always took extensive precautions at all sides. Binding boards and erecting brick walls, he would even switch to a different residence every day, so that even his family would not know his place of hiding. So then who actually had that great of an ability to assassinate the prime minister? Supposing that it was an Assassin's doing, then who was it who directed it behind-the-scenes?
I only know that the ones who hoped the most for Li Linfu to fall from power were Yang Guozhong and An Lushan. Li Linfu had not yet been interred when so soon did Yang Guozhong and An Lushan collaborate to falsely accuse Li Linfu of having plotted treason. From this, Li Linfu was removed from his official position, demoted to a commoner, had his family assets confiscated, and every last of his children was exiled to the frontier. Consort kin Yang Guozhong smoothly seized his position, succeeded to the seat of prime minister, and became the leader of the Golden Turtles' new generation. This caused An Lushan to be extremely dissatisfied.
In competing for the position of Golden Turtle leader, An Lushan and Yang Guozhong battled in the light and fought in the dark, sharp needles pointed at each another everywhere, eventually triggering the present disastrous upheaval.
On the first month of this year, An Lushan established an illegitimate dynasty in Luoyang and declared himself emperor. Because he set his soldiers loose to slaughter and pillage, An Lushan's rebel army already lost the people's hearts early on. Once he has lost the people's hearts, his days must necessarily come to an end.
I have heard that General of the Feathered Forest Wang Chengye personally assassinated the three rebel generals of Tumen Pass, and he presented to His Majesty the three "Golden Turtle tallies" that the rebel generals were carrying on their bodies. As far as His Majesty is concerned, this was some good news that had been hard to come by. So then heaping tremendous praises on Wang Chengye, he generously rewarded him at once. Wang Chengye also remained in the capital city, managing confidential matters at Yang Guozhong's side and at the same time safeguarding his security.
To tell you the truth, I bear a lot of misgivings towards this General Wang Chengye. Tumen Pass is, to historical schools of military, ground that must absolutely be contested. The famous "a battle with backs to the water" happened exactly here. Since Wang Chengye successfully assassinated the three rebel generals and opened Tumen Pass, why did he not garrison troops to rigorously defend it, but rather deliberately ran all the way to Chang'an to claim credit? I remonstrated with His Majesty to investigate this matter in detail, but His Majesty only hears the news he wishes to hear. As a result, none of my counsel had the slightest effect.
And now I have also lost opportunities to offer counsel because Yang Guozhong has commanded the "Golden Turtles" to keep His Majesty tightly surrounded, covering up his eyes and ears and leading me to have no way to get close to him alone. To avoid encountering adversity, it is best to mute oneself. I cannot say these words out loud; I can only write to you, Li Bai, like this.
Just as he wrongly killed the two generals Gao and Feng, Yang Guozhong also would like to find a chance to eliminate their successor Geshu Han, and though I clearly know this, yet I am powerless as ever.
According to the intel that Yang Guozhong provided, An Lushan's vanguard are all old and feeble, sick and crippled; their military spirit lax and undisciplined; their morale low. The battle-hardened Geshu Han early on already saw through that this is the rebel army's stratagem to bait their enemy, and he refused to go on the offensive. But His Majesty was anxious to pacify the rebellion and thought that the Tang military should have already had victory in their grasp from the start, and so thereupon he believed Yang Guozhong's slander and would not stop dispatching messengers to Tong Pass to urge Geshu Han to move out from the pass. After being urged three more times, Geshu Han could only look up at the sky and wail. He could not but command two hundred thousand infantry and cavalry out of the pass and engage the enemy in a life-and-death battle.
Of course, nowhere was there an accident, for this was precisely the enemy's trap. The ambush troops, which were fully arrayed and lying in wait, routed the imperial army, two hundred thousand imperial troops were completely annihilated, and Tong Pass was rapidly broken through.
...
Now, the rebel army will strike into Chang'an at any time. Yet I do not know what we should do.
The information atop this letter is all reliable. After all, having previously served as Great Tang Supervisor of the Secretaries, I was able to come into contact with the Hall of Assembled Worthies' myriad scrolls, collected books, and records at any time. This has until now been my most important intelligence source. In fact, one only needs to diligently search it, and we would be able to investigate every secret whether ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign.
For instance, in a dusty corner of the great hall, there is a strange, tattered book named "Tui Bei Tu". Recalling it now, although the content was cryptic and difficult to understand, the prophecies within verifiably hinted at future events that are to occur. It foretold the An Lushan Rebellion happening today, and not to mention that it also foretells even more remote futures.
Only too bad, at the time I was not able to comprehend the contents' deep meanings, and when I left the capital in haste, I also failed to bring it with me. Truly regrettable. At the moment, it should be lying still in some corner of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, but I wish I could have it protected by Master Jianzhen like the śarīras, for it to evade the turmoil of war, for it to not be burned or destroyed.
The book says that this is an ancient war: a war between light and darkness. This is also a war between equity and authority, freedom and enslavement.
We previously lived in a continuous age of peace, so we neglected the cycle of savagery, wantonly squandering away those beautiful times while forgetting that history will always repeat. Whether we wish to do so or not, we still must begin to face the era of conflict and hardship. This is all because of the "Golden Turtles'" internal struggle and because of those ambitious power-mongers seeking to enslave the people.
So then, for thousands of years, those individuals who had hidden themselves deep in the shadows to battle for equality and freedom, where are they in the present day?
Sir Li Bai!
The twenty-four commanderies of Hebei were once the lands of Yan and Zhao. Since ancient times, the lands of Yan and Zhao have had many scholars for whom magnanimous and sorrowful songs are sung. I believe that there are many unknown scholars of justice and gallant heroes fighting to the end in the darkness, using their own methods to resist by themselves. It is only that we do not know about their uprisings for justice at the moment, but it does not mean that they do not exist. Sooner or later, there will be a day when someone takes a stand, unite with those forces we cannot see, and confront the darkness of night together.
Just now, I received news transmitted by Gao Lishi a courtier that His Majesty has decided to abandon leave Chang'an and proceed to Shu to escape disaster. I am also to follow His Majesty, once again embarking on a journey where life-and-death has yet been divined. The obstacles along the road to Shu—you should know clearer than I do. But having experienced the previous tribulations over life-and-death, I firmly believe that I will definitely be able to hold on until the end.
But let us wish that we will all use our respective means to continue in resolute defence, to continue to keep moving forward, until the bright moon bursts through the raven clouds.
—Chao Heng (Abe no Nakamaro)
- In the following letter, Abe no Nakamaro recounts Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's flight from Chang'an in anticipation of its fall to An Lushan's forces. Only fragments of the letter are known. To fill in gaps between the excerpts, dialogue from the historical events is used. This dialogue appears in italics and indented.
Month 6 Yiwei, Dawn, Torrential rain.
His Majesty departed from the Gate of Prolonged Autumn, proceeding to Shu. Inside the Jade Coach is His Majesty and the Guifei. The carriages following closely behind them were associated with the Guifei's sisters: the Lady of Guo and the Lady of Han.
The princesses and royal grandchildren. The crown prince.
At the very head of the procession is Prime Minister Yang Guozhong. At his side is his new confidant, Wang Chengye, as well as a small number of powerful aristocrats.
General of the Army of Dragon Warriors Chen Xuanli, who commands the imperial guards.
Under the escort of two thousand imperial guards, our procession left Chang'an. This is a quiet escape from disaster, without a single sound. None of the people living outside the palace are among the procession, even if they were princes and dukes or aristocrats. It is likely that they could not be notified in time. There was no one who clamoured about, nor was there anyone who cried. Everyone only silently… silently followed the procession onwards. I do not know for His Majesty… what kind of mood he is even in right now.
With the arriving Left Treasury Vault, the carriages stopped in place.
- The Emperor: Guozhong. Stopping here is for what reason?
- Yang Guozhong: Your Highness. Please tolerate a moment's delay. The state treasury must not under any condition be left behind for An Lushan. I am presently arranging for helpers to burn the Left Treasury Vault clean, allowing Your Highness to leave the capital with peace of mind.
- Yang Guozhong: [To his men] Be quicker about it! Burn!
- The Emperor: Don't burn. Supposing that the criminal army fail to get any treasure... they will certainly loot and plunder homes, extorting from the everyday people. How about let's leave it all behind for the criminal army. In this way, they will not cause trouble for the Emperor's children.
Yang Guozhong unwillingly complied, and thereupon the carriages continued to move forward. Am I mistaken? It looked like I saw the corner of Gao Lishi's eye flow with glistening teardrops. But this is Gao Lishi!
At the break of dawn, the carriages passed over the bridge of the Wei River. Yang Guozhong ordered to cross the river and burn down the bridge so as to cut off the pursuit of An Lushan. His Majesty smelled the burning, yet this time, he did not summon Yang Guozhong.
- The Emperor: Enough. The citizenry all need to escape the criminals and save their lives as well. Why sever their route of survival? Lishi, go and bring people to extinguish the fire.
- Gao Lishi: His Majesty has an order: do not burn the bridge! Extinguish the fire! Extinguish the fire, quick!
Everyone began to carry water and toss them to the fire. I naturally followed to help as well. Until the fire had been thoroughly extinguished, His Majesty's carriage remained stopped on the plain, with not a single movement.
The day that we left Chang'an, His Majesty aged in the blink of an eye.
At the hour of the dragon, we arrived at Xianyang Wangxian Palace. Gao Lishi had already sent the eunuch Wang Luoqing to put in order a meal here in advance, yet we did not see him come forward to welcome our carriages. Having hurried along the road continuously for several hours, we were already tired and hungry. Only need to eat one slice of steaming hubing and to add to it a bowl of lamb soup. There would be no other request. And yet—Wangxian Palace had long already been emptied of people. Not even a single grain of rice remained.
- Gao Lishi: Son-of-a-bitch deserving of death… He actually fled together with the county magistrate…!
At midday, His Majesty had accordingly not yet dined a meal.
- The Emperor: Lishi, kill a few horses. Let's distribute them to the troops to eat.
- Gao Lishi: Your Highness! These are all Great General Chen Xuanli's dragon breeds specially and carefully chosen from the imperial stable. Each one is worth a thousand gold!
- The Emperor: The mountains, rivers, and full moon soak my clothes with tears. How long lasts the glory of wealth and nobility? Kill the thousand gold.
- Yang Guozhong: Your Highness! Your Highness! Your Highness! I fetched something good!
- Guozhong took out a loaf of hubing from his sleeve.
- Yang Guozhong: Your Highness! Please, while it's hot! It wasn't easy getting this. Should it not be enough, I will go and fetch some more!
I almost forgot. Yang Guozhong was born on the streets. No matter where he is, he has the skill to adapt to the circumstances. Those common folk tentatively observing us from afar probably followed Yang Guozhong here. From what it looks like, the prime minister bought the hubing at a nearby market.
- The Emperor: Take it away. I have no appetite.
- A village elder, who had been watching from behind a tree, scrambled down to greet them.
- Village elder: I wanted to respectfully ask… you lords came from Chang'an, right?
- He received only blank stares.
- Village elder: Wow! Such beautiful clothes! So red, so violet... They look so smooth and sleek to the touch… You are all dignitaries of very high status, right?
- Yang Guozhong grabbed him furiously by the towel around his neck.
- Yang Guozhong: Audacious knave! You dare be frivolous in front of the Son of Heaven? Men! Why have you not hurried to seize this lunatic?
- The Emperor: Shut your mouth! Yang Zhao, withdraw!
- The speechless Yang Guozhong let go of the elder in shock and dismay.
- Village elder: My lord in yellow robes, you are really... the present Son of Heaven?
- The Emperor nodded. The astonished village elder turned around to look at the other villagers watching behind him.
- Village elder: Hey! Everyone come here! It's His Majesty for real! This time, it's not a bluff! They are all starving in agony! Hurry and offer all of our dishes of beef rice to His Majesty.
- The villagers came out with buckets of food.
- Villagers: Woooow!!!!
Inside the crude food vessels, filled to the brim, were brown rice mixed with peas: the regular food of the nearby villagers, with not even any decent accompanying dishes. But the aristocrats and servants, the imperial children and grandchildren, the eunuchs and courtesans, the generals and privates... already it was such that one could not distinguish who from whom.
- Yang Guifei was eating while village women around her watched.
- Village woman 1: Her skin complexion is truly fair and white!
- Village woman 2: I even thought that the Lady Guifei only drinks dew water.
- Village woman 3: Hush, don't bother the lady while she's eating!
- Village woman 4: My lady, eat slowly! Be careful not to choke!
- The village elder held out a bowl of food to the Emperor while addressing him.
- Elder: Every year during the Flower Banquet, I thought about needing to visit the capital to broaden my horizons. Unfortunately, I was always unable to go to Chang'an... A year's planning lies in the spring, but the banquet is held during the time for planting crops, so I actually could never bring myself to just up and leave! Not to mention that the "passes" are also very hard to get... In any case, that I can see Your Majesty and the Lady with my own eyes, as well as offer food with my own hands, it is truly an honour for the entire village! An Lushan, so bad is he! We all stand by Your Highness's side! The point is: the best food of our village has already all been brought out... I do not know... if it fits Your Highness's appetite... "
- The Emperor took a parcel to his mouth and ate it.
- The Emperor: Delicious. It is truly... very delicious.
- The Emperor broke down crying. Everyone stared, awestruck, and bowed in respect.
The day that we left Chang'an, I saw the Son of Heaven's tears.
Sir Li Bai, I am to follow His Majesty, continuing on a journey where life-and-death has yet been divined. We are to pass through Jincheng, moving westward along the road of relay stations. Before us is a place called "Mawei Station".
The following may only be an excerpt from a letter.
Month 6, Day 18 [sic]: There was a mutiny at Mawei Station. The crowd of soldiers issued an order stating, "Yang Guozhong colluded with enemies on the outside to plot treason", encircling the station with arms. Cavalryman Zhang Xiaojing first shot Yang Guozhong off his horse. The mob of troops set upon him with their blades in a frenzy and hung his head atop a stake, butchering his corpse. Of those simultaneously killed, there were also Imperial Censor Wei Fangjin and two men; Yang Guozhong's sons vice minister of finance Yang Xuan and Yang Xi; the Lady of Han, the Lady of Qin, the Lady of Guo, and her son Pei Hui... as well as... Yang Guifei. The Crown Prince stayed behind for the local elder and proceeded to Lingwu—commanding the Tang army to continue to fight back against An Lushan. Hereupon, the Yang family was exterminated.