Why was there no one to help Li Bai when he was exiled

Why was there no one to help Li Bai when he was exiled? Interested readers and history encyclopedia editors, let’s take a look together!
When it comes to the scenery of the poet Li Bai in Chang’an City, later generations describe it with the eight words “Noble Consort grinds ink, strongman takes off his boots”. Although the authenticity of the first four words is unknown, it is recorded in history that Gao Lishi took off his boots. Later, even if he did not become an official and was rewarded with gold, Li Bai’s heroic spirit did not diminish. He sang loudly all the way and wrote the magnificent words “My talents are meant to be useful, and even after spending a thousand gold, they will come back again”. But Li Bai, who was like this, ultimately ended up in exile as a night boy and a desolate sunset.
At the age of 57, Li Bai participated in the Eastern Tour of Prince Yongwang Li Lin. Later, Li Lin was arrested for plotting rebellion, and Li Bai was exiled to Yelang. Two years later, there was a severe drought in Guanzhong, and the court announced a general amnesty. Li Bai was finally exonerated and defected to Li Yangbing, who was serving as the county magistrate in Dangtu. One year later, he fell seriously ill and wrote his final poem, ‘Song of the End’.
The Song of the Road “by Tang Li Bai, the great Peng, flew and shook the eight descendants, but his power was not strong enough to destroy them. The lingering wind stirs for eternity, while the wandering mulberry hangs its stone petals. Who shed tears when Zhongni died?
Reading this poem, one can feel the word ‘miserable’. The general idea of the poem is: I once hoped to spread my wings like a great Peng, but it didn’t work in the air. My legacy can inspire eternity, but my left sleeve is caught by Fusang. Kong Zhongni is no longer here, who else would be sad for a big Peng like me? In the poem, the Poet Immortal compares himself to the Great Peng, just like the one who desires to soar, ultimately folding its wings into mid air. And the last sentence ‘Who shed tears when Zhongni died’ is even more heartbreaking.
In fact, at this time, apart from this distant relative named Li Yangbing, Li Bai had no other relatives by his side. The desolate situation he fell into is directly related to being demoted to Yelang. Along the way, Li Bai was extremely worried, and coupled with the harsh environment, he was unable to recover from his illness. This inevitably reminds people of the four wives that Li Bai married in his lifetime, two of whom were granddaughters of prime ministers. Why was there no one to plead for him when he was exiled at that time? Is it really because he has a bad temper that even the abbot refuses to speak up for him?
First, let’s talk about the granddaughter of the first prime minister, Xu Shi. This Xu family is the granddaughter of former prime minister Xu Guishi. Li Bai was 26 years old at the time, and Xu family gave birth to a son and a daughter for him, but his beloved wife passed away 10 years later. Li Bai left his father-in-law’s house with his children and never had any interaction with him again. At that time, Li Bai was designated as a collaborator in rebellion. His daughter had passed away many years ago, and Li Bai had already married another wife. This first father-in-law naturally had no reason to plead for his mercy.
Speaking of the granddaughter of the second prime minister, Zong Shi. When Li Bai met Zong, he was already 49 years old, and Zong had not yet left the court. When the two met, they also left behind a story of “buying a wall with a thousand taels of silver”. At that time, Zong admired Li Bai very much and read Li Bai’s inscription on the wall of the Liang Garden, “The Song of Liang Garden”. In order to make the owner of the garden not erase it, Zong bought this wall for a thousand taels, which shows that Zong had a deep affection for Li Bai.
Since that’s the case, why didn’t the Zong family help Li Bai after his accident? Firstly, the grandfather of the Zong family, who was also the prime minister Zong Chuke, passed away around 710 AD, and the Zong family’s position in the court was long gone. Secondly, this Zong Chuke was dependent on Empress Wei and Wu Sansi before his death, and was later executed by Li Longji. Although the Zong family’s children and grandchildren were not implicated, they naturally avoided Li Bai’s crime of rebellion, let alone pleaded for his mercy. That’s why Li Bai didn’t go home to find Zong after returning from Yelang, but went to Uncle Dangtu’s house.
Li Bai relied on his talent and arrogance throughout his life. Although the evening scenery was bleak, his 1000 poems left a lasting impression on history. Perhaps this is also a comfort for him.