Li Bai writes several imaginative poems in the traditional forms, expressing the majesty of China's mountain and river landscapes, the poet's soaring flights of the spirit, his legendary intoxication with moonlight and wine, and his treasured friendships.
As the An Shi disturbances continued, Li Bai had become an adviser to one of Ming Huang's sons, who was far from the top of the primogeniture list, yet nevertheless apparently made his own bid for the imperial power.
Upon the defeat of the Prince's forces, Li Bai escapes, but is later captured, imprisoned in Jiujiang, on the southern shores of the Yangtze River, and sentenced to death.
The famous and powerful army General Guo Ziyi intervenes: this is the same general whom Li Bai had saved from court martial a couple of decades previously, when the former had been a common soldier.
Upon General Guo Ziyi's offering to exchange his official rank for Li Bai's life, Li Bai's death sentence is commuted to exile: he was consigned to Yelang (in Yunnan), in the remote extreme of the empire.
Towards the destination of Yelang, Li Bai heads with little sign of hurry, stopping for prolonged social visits, and writing poetry along the way, leaving detailed descriptions of his journey for posterity.
Notice of an imperial pardon recalling Li Bai reaches him before he even gets close to Yelang.
