History of the Five Dynasties, Volume 41

Leading several of his attendants, Li Keyong scaled the walls to break through the encirclement. They moved by the flashes of lightning A sudden thunderstorm had broken out during the assassination attempt; the lightning provided the only light for the escape through the dark, barricaded streets. The men of Bianzhou Zhu Quanzhong’s troops held the bridge, but Li Keyong fought with all his might and managed to break through. Shi Jingsi the loyal general mentioned on the previous page acted as the rear guard and died in the heat of battle. Li Keyong finally escaped the city by being lowered down the outer wall with a rope.

During the chaos, Zhu Quanzhong mistakenly shot and killed his own general, Yang Yanhong original: Yan Hong. In the darkness and confusion, Zhu Quanzhong fired at a figure he thought was Li Keyong, only to kill his co-conspirator.

Li Keyong’s wife, Lady Liu, was a woman of great wisdom. When the first attendants to escape returned to their camp and informed her of the betrayal, her expression did not change. She immediately ordered the messengers to be executed she did this to prevent a general panic or an unauthorized riot among the troops before a plan was in place. She then secretly summoned the senior generals, binding them to a strict plan to preserve the army and prepare for a strategic withdrawal.

By dawn, Li Keyong arrived back at the camp. Enraged, he wished to marshal his troops immediately to attack Zhu Quanzhong.

Lady Liu said: "This matter should be reported to the Imperial Court. If you take it upon yourself to raise troops and attack him now, who in the world will be able to distinguish who is right and who is wrong? Furthermore, by doing so, you would provide him with an excuse to justify his actions."

Li Keyong followed her advice and led his army away. However, he sent a formal letter to Zhu Quanzhong rebuking him for his treachery.

Zhu Quanzhong replied in a letter: "As for the incident the other night, I knew nothing of it. The Imperial Court itself sent an envoy to plot with Yang Yanhong. Since Yang Yanhong has already met his punishment original: fu qi gu—referring to his death as a form of karmic or legal retribution, I hope you, My Lord, will see the truth clearly."

Li Keyong then...