Though already past fifty, the civil official Zhang Gao led the army in the campaign against the rebels and achieved great merit. After the victorious forces returned to the capital, Wu Tong and his two companions followed them back to Chang'an. Naturally, the headquarters of the Loyalty Hall was moved from Fengxiang back to the capital as well.
Travel-worn and dust-covered, Wu Tong and his companions arrived at the residence. Steward Tang hurried out to receive them, overjoyed, and shouted,"Madam! Hall Master Wu and the two madams have returned!"
Li Qian and Zhao Rou were overjoyed and rushed out at once. After a long separation, Wu Tong's affection for his wives needed no words. He immediately drew Li Qian and Zhao Rou into his arms. The two women were gentle and tender, soft and radiant. Li Qian then called out brightly,"Steward Tang, prepare a banquet!"Steward Tang replied at once,"At your command!"He raised his voice and ordered,"Prepare a grand feast to welcome the Hall Master and his party!"The servants answered in unison and withdrew to make the preparations.
Upon Wu Tong's return to Chang'an, the entire court was busy restoring the imperial palace and the residences of officials at every level. Emperor Suzong dispatched envoys to Chengdu to escort Emperor Xuanzong back to the capital. At the same time, officials from across the realm streamed into Chang'an without cease. All wished to secure a post in the restored capital—beneath the Son of Heaven's gaze, where nobles gathered like clouds. Who did not wish to rise by attaching themselves to power? Who did not dream of becoming a grand minister? Within a few short days, Chang'an had regained its former splendor.
Before long, Emperor Suzong issued a general amnesty. Except for those who had rebelled alongside An Lushan himself, all others involved in the uprising were pardoned. The Prince of Guangping was enfeoffed as Prince of Chu; Guo Ziyi was promoted to Minister over the Masses; Li Guangbi to Minister of Works. For those who had sacrificed their lives for the state—Li Cheng, the Eastern Capital's Defender; Censor-in-Chief Lu Yi; Yan Gaoqing, Prefect of Changshan; Chief Clerk Yuan Lüqian; Zhang Jieran, Military Governor of Henan—the court granted posthumous honors and noble ranks to their descendants. Zhang Xun was posthumously appointed Grand Governor of Yangzhou; Xu Yuan, Grand Governor of Jingzhou.
One day, Wu Tong and his four wives set out to visit Lord Zhang Gao. On the way to Zhang Gao's residence, Ling Xian'er suddenly said,"Brother Tong, is that official ahead not Helan Jinming?"
Liu Yun said coldly,"That's right—it's Helan Jinming, the man who stood by and did nothing!"
At the sight of Helan Jinming, Wu Tong's fury surged. With a few swift bounds, he landed in the middle of the street. The moment he touched down, Helan Jinming's attendants closed in to protect their master. Wu Tong stepped forward and called out loudly,"Lord Helan—long time no see!"
At the sight of Wu Tong, Helan Jinming's heart trembled. He said weakly,"Hall Master Wu, this is Chang'an, in broad daylight…"Turning to his attendants, he added hurriedly,"Don't panic. I am an official of the court—no one dares act recklessly here."
Wu Tong sneered."Since this is the capital, beneath the Son of Heaven, there are plenty of interesting tales to be heard."His tone shifted suddenly, and he shouted loudly,"Good people! This here is the famed Lord Helan Jinming! Lord Helan is known far and wide for his literary talent!"
His loud voice drew the attention of passersby. A crowd quickly gathered.
Zhao Rou stepped forward and recited:
Have you not seen the willows before the gate?Once green with glory, now long stripped and bare.Have you not seen the flowers by the road?Blown away by wild winds—whose home do they fall to?A lonely wife sighs at the sight,Hair uncombed, heart in turmoil.Her husband left in his prime, long parted,Meeting again at year's end, their faces worn by time.
The crowd burst into applause.
Li Qian stepped forward and recited:
Have you not seen the barren branches of wasted trees,Spring blooms fallen, no bees remain to seek them?Have you not seen the mud upon the beams,Autumn winds rise, and swallows will not roost?The wanderer goes to war, chasing distant battles,While fair brows remain alone behind the gate.Solitary nights are enough to draw tears,All the more when crows cry through the dark.
Ling Xian'er then recited:
Have you not seen the moon among the clouds,Briefly full, then waning again?Have you not seen the wind beneath the forest,Its sound far-reaching, its meaning without end?Friends and kin are fated to gather and part,Joy unfinished, the wine cup already empty.I sigh for the green cypress upon the mound—In bitter cold, how many stand firm till the end?
The crowd was thunderstruck by such literary grace, cheering loudly. Helan Jinming's long poem was impassioned and heartfelt—yet it stood in stark contrast to his cowardice and hypocrisy on the battlefield.
Wu Tong said,"Good people, this poem was written by none other than Lord Helan Jinming himself. He is indeed a man of letters, worthy of admiration. But recently, there are rumors that Lord Helan has committed a most astonishing deed—one known to all under Heaven!"
Liu Yun deliberately raised her voice."What great deed might that be? Why not tell us all!"
Helan Jinming's face drained of color. He hurriedly urged his men to leave. But how could Wu Tong let him go? Each attempt to break through was blocked by Wu Tong's body.
Helan Jinming shouted in rage,"Attack!"
An attendant shoved at Wu Tong. Wu Tong sidestepped and pushed back casually—the man flew off and crashed flat on his back. Another rushed in, striking with both palms. Wu Tong seized his wrist and kicked him away with a cry. Seeing this, the others drew their weapons.
Wu Tong said coldly,"Good people! What deed has this dignified court official committed, that he dares not let the world know?"
Before he finished speaking, several blades slashed toward him. Wu Tong's form flickered. He produced a folding fan from his waist and tossed it into the air. His palms struck twice in rapid succession—left and right—and two men were sent flying. At that moment, the fan fell; Wu Tong caught it smoothly. Two more attackers came in—he spun, their blades cutting only air. With a snap, he brought the fan down like a staff—thud, thud!—both men collapsed in pain.
Five or six more charged in. Wu Tong lifted the fan and flicked it open with a sharp snap. Fan in hand, he darted through the crowd—thud, thud!—the fan flew, fell, was caught, tossed again. Four times he threw and caught it; four times men fell screaming. The crowd roared with applause.
At that moment, Wu Tong thought of General Zhang Xun and the days they had defended the city together. The memories felt as vivid as yesterday. Overcome with emotion, tears streamed down his face. With passionate grief, he cried out,"Good people! Do you know who this man truly is? He claims to be a court official—but when General Zhang Xun sent his defender Nan Jiyun to beg this dog of an official for援兵, he made excuse after excuse and refused to send troops, leading to General Zhang's heroic death!"
By imperial decree, Emperor Suzong had already ordered a shrine built at Suiyang, with seasonal sacrifices. All under Heaven knew of Zhang Xun's loyalty—but they did not know that the man before them was the very official who had abandoned him. Instantly, the crowd erupted in curses:"Dog of an official!""Beast!"
Several elderly women, furious beyond restraint, rushed forward and struck Helan Jinming, slapping him again and again until stars burst before his eyes.
At that moment, constables and yamen runners arrived in force. Soon, several of the women were seized. The lead constable, seeing Helan Jinming's fine attire and recognizing him as an official, shouted,"You dare strike a court official? Are you not afraid of being dragged to the yamen?"
Wu Tong strolled forward and said loudly,"Constable, please show mercy. These aunties struck well—struck rightly—and struck so soundly that this court official does not even dare press charges. If you do not believe me, ask him yourself, right here!"