Chapter Eleven: Preparing to Depart

“If you have any requests, speak freely to me!” It was unclear whether it was the words Yang Xi had just spoken, including his analysis of the situation and proposed rescue measures, that moved Li Longji and dispelled his doubts about Yang Xi’s youth, strengthening his resolve to let this young man lead the army to reinforce Tongguan; or whether it was the support of the court ministers, including Yang Guozhong, for Yang Xi’s command that convinced Li Longji; or perhaps he had guessed Yang Guozhong’s intentions at this moment. Upon hearing Yang Xi’s requests, Li Longji didn’t hesitate and immediately agreed.

“I ask Your Majesty to grant me a personal decree, allowing me to command any forces near Tongguan. Should any refuse my orders, I must be empowered to deal with them as I see fit!”

“Granted. You shall have my decree at once!” Li Longji agreed before any ministers could step forward to object, barely pausing for thought.

Relieved to have his request approved, Yang Xi seized the moment before any dissent could arise and continued, “Furthermore, I hope that the deployment of the frontline at Tongguan and all defensive measures shall be left entirely to my discretion, according to the circumstances. The court should not intervene, at least until the danger at Tongguan has passed, nor impose any commands upon me!”

“Ah?!” An exclamation rippled through the hall. If his previous request could be considered reasonable, this one seemed excessive. If the emperor had concerns for the greater good, could Yang Xi simply ignore them?

Yet Yang Guozhong was not surprised by his son’s demands. What astonished him was how far his son was thinking—so bold, so forward—able to consider so much and dare to make such requests openly before the emperor and all the ministers.

Under the watchful gaze of Yang Xi and the ministers, Li Longji pondered briefly, then agreed, “Very well, I permit it! I will grant you a decree and a ceremonial sword. All military affairs at Tongguan are under your command; the court will not meddle until the crisis is resolved. If anyone dares to disobey your orders, you may use the sword I bestow to execute them—act first, report later! If you have other requests, speak now. But let me make it clear: if I grant these conditions and you still fail to hold Tongguan, I shall not spare you!”

“Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do everything in my power to defeat the rebel army and defend Tongguan, restoring peace to the capital. If I fail, I shall answer for it with my life!” Yang Xi spoke with proud resolve, then added, “Majesty, once I depart to lead the army, I hope you will send additional troops to reinforce Tongguan swiftly, lest unforeseen events occur! All that remains at Tongguan are routed soldiers, utterly demoralized. If the rebel army sweeps the field, they will surely launch their full force against us. With only three thousand men granted by Your Majesty, holding Tongguan will be exceedingly difficult! Supplies for the defense must also be delivered promptly…”

Taking the opportunity to pledge his loyalty and determination, Yang Xi made further requests and outlined his plans for confronting the enemy upon arrival at Tongguan, supplementing his earlier statements. Li Longji was delighted, and Yang Guozhong and the other ministers were amazed.

A seventeen-year-old youth could give advice more insightful than all those present—how could they not be astonished?

Clearly, Yang Xi had given the Tongguan campaign deep, careful thought and was not merely making a bold request to lead the rescue. Some suspected that today Yang Guozhong and Yang Xi were staging a performance, aiming to seize military authority and elevate the Yang family’s power. Still, those who thought so admired Yang Guozhong’s daring, or else despised him for his willingness to sacrifice anything—even his own youngest son—for power.

But few could guess Yang Guozhong’s true intentions at this moment.

He was indeed considering sacrificing his beloved youngest son to save his family from disaster.

If Yang Xi failed to rescue Tongguan, the blame would fall upon him, allowing the court to deal with him as it saw fit. Yang Guozhong’s willingness to send his underage son to war would demonstrate that all his decisions were for the nation’s sake, to defeat the rebels, and others could not reproach him for it. He could also appeal to the emperor with a clear conscience. If Yang Xi succeeded and kept the rebels outside Tongguan, all worries would vanish. The credit his son earned would largely reflect upon him as father, raising the Yang family's prestige, and Yang Xi could step forward to request rewards and even official positions.

Whether this would be a desperate gamble for survival or a glorious triumph depended entirely on Yang Xi’s performance. Hearing his son speak so confidently, Yang Guozhong, who had nearly despaired, felt hope rekindled. His son’s recent behavior was radically different—had his injury truly awakened something new in him?

But now was not the time to probe further. After Yang Xi’s account and the emperor’s approval, Yang Guozhong stepped forward to firmly support his son’s demands: “Majesty, if you wish to send a general to rescue Tongguan, you must entrust all military affairs there to him. How else can he command the various forces? The situation at the front changes rapidly—only the commander on the spot can adapt accordingly. Thus, neither Your Majesty nor the ministers ought to interfere in frontline operations!”

With Yang Guozhong’s public support, Wei Jiansu and others echoed his stance.

Thus, the most crucial matters were settled. Li Longji then kept Yang Guozhong, Yang Xi, Wei Jiansu, Chen Xuanli, and several key ministers behind to discuss the details of the rescue operation. Earlier, Yang Guozhong had proposed that Yang Xi lead three thousand troops—trained under trusted officers Li Fude and Liu Guangting—using a relay system to reach Tongguan as quickly as possible.

Li Longji had already ordered these troops to prepare urgently and depart as soon as ready. He issued an official decree appointing Yang Xi, Imperial Carriage Attendant, as Commander of the Tongguan Army, granting him full authority over Tongguan’s military affairs, and dismissed Geshu Han from his post, requiring him to serve as a common soldier.

The punishment for Geshu Han and his subordinate officers would be determined after the Tongguan campaign concluded.

In these discussions with Li Longji and the ministers, Yang Xi learned the details of Tongguan’s defeat.

On June fourth, after an emergency court assembly, the court ordered Geshu Han to lead his troops beyond the pass. Despite repeated petitions and explanations, Geshu Han received no approval and was compelled to march east from Tongguan. On the seventh, at Xiyuan in Lingbao County, Henan, he encountered the enemy commander Cui Qianbo’s forces.

The rebels were prepared, holding strategic positions against the Tang army. To break the stalemate, Geshu Han attempted a frontal assault, relying on his numerical superiority.

On the morning of the eighth—just as dawn broke—Geshu Han ordered Wang Sili and others to lead fifty thousand elite soldiers at the front, with Pang Zhong and one hundred thousand men following, and thirty thousand more stationed on the northern bank of the Yellow River to observe and beat drums for encouragement.

Between Tongguan and Shan County lay a narrow pass, seventy li long, mountains to the south and the Yellow River to the north, with the narrowest point barely wide enough for a single cart. An Lushan’s general Cui Qianyou, with fewer than ten thousand aged and infirm soldiers as bait, personally led fifty thousand elite troops in ambush on both sides of the pass.

Eager to defeat the rebels, the Tang forces entered the pass without careful reconnaissance. Once the vanguard was deep inside, the enemy ambush erupted—countless logs and stones rained down, killing and wounding vast numbers, plunging the Tang troops into chaos, unable to organize any effective resistance.

Seeing the situation deteriorate, Geshu Han ordered felt carts to lead the charge, hoping they could shield his men through the ambush and reach the rebel rear. But Cui Qianyou anticipated this and blocked the path with carts laden with dry grass, then set them ablaze.

A timely east wind blew the smoke into the Tang ranks, causing confusion and even friendly fire. Rebel cavalry suddenly appeared behind the Tang from the southern mountains, launching a surprise attack. The Tang forces panicked, lost all cohesion, and swiftly collapsed. The thirty thousand troops on the north bank, seeing disaster unfold, fled without fighting, beyond Geshu Han’s control.

This was the report sent back by the eunuch overseeing the army immediately after the defeat, followed by further updates, all describing utter disaster. The whereabouts of Geshu Han, the number of survivors, and the current status of Tongguan’s defense remained unknown.

Whether it was Yang Xi’s account or some change in his own attitude toward Yang Guozhong’s youngest, or simply the sense of duty his position demanded, after discussing the rescue details and deciding who would lead the follow-up forces, Chen Xuanli, Left Dragon Martial General, volunteered: “Majesty, in the nation’s hour of peril, I cannot remain idly in the palace. Tongguan is in urgent need—I ask to lead the reinforcing troops!”

In the twenty-sixth year of the Kaiyuan era, the Dragon Martial Army was formed from the split of the Left and Right Feather Forest Armies, each commanded by a Dragon Martial General. Chen Xuanli, who helped Li Longji seize the throne, execute Empress Wei and Princess Anle, was appointed Left Dragon Martial General—a most trusted figure.

Seeing the nearly sixty-year-old palace guard commander step forward, Li Longji was surprised but recognized the gravity of the situation. He considered briefly, then agreed: “Very well. I grant your request. Assemble at least fifty thousand men from inside and outside Chang’an and rush to Tongguan with all speed. Do not fail!”

“Yes, Majesty! Your servant obeys!” Chen Xuanli accepted the order, saluted, and departed to prepare.

Li Longji walked over to Yang Xi, who was also about to leave, and placed his hand on Yang Xi’s shoulder, gazing at him for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “Yang Fourth, I hope you will do as you say—drive back the rebels, defend Tongguan, and not disappoint me or your father.”

Yang Xi stood proudly, straight as a soldier, and replied, “I will not let Your Majesty or my father down!”

“Good! When you arrive at Tongguan, if the situation is secure and the pass can be held, send word of safety at once. If the circumstances are unfavorable… I shall have to make other arrangements. Go now!” Li Longji waved Yang Guozhong and Yang Xi off to begin their preparations.

Yang Xi wasted no time, urging Yang Guozhong, who still wished to speak, to hurry out of the hall.

Word had already come: the three thousand troops led by Li Fude and Liu Guangting were assembled outside the palace, with horses ready for departure!

End of update.