Chapter Fifty-Five: Recruiting Gao Shi

Yang Xi had a remarkably restorative sleep. Though it lasted no more than two hours, it was sufficient to replenish his energy.

When he awoke, the sky was still pitch black. Unable to rest easy about the situation outside, Yang Xi rose from his bed, intent on patrolling the city.

During his sleep, no one disturbed him, which meant nothing significant had occurred. If anything major had happened, his personal guards would surely have awakened him.

The three hundred or so guards who served him took turns sleeping in shifts. The previous night, they had marched through the darkness without a chance to rest. The day had passed in anxious tension, and though many felt exhausted, there had been no opportunity to recuperate. Had this sleepless routine continued, everyone’s stamina—Yang Xi’s included—would have been greatly diminished.

Yang Xi himself needed to maintain his strength, so he ordered his guards to rest in groups, each taking a few hours to restore their vigor.

When Yang Xi got up to patrol the city, he did not rouse those who were sleeping. Instead, he instructed Yang Dong to bring along the hundred or so guards currently on duty. If Yang Dong had once hesitated to obey Yang Xi’s orders, perhaps deferring to the commands of Yang Guozhong or Pei Rou, after following Yang Xi to Tongguan for a day and night, he dared not defy the Fourth Young Master in the slightest. With such a decisive and ruthless master, any show of disrespect from a subordinate could result in unknown punishment.

Although Yang Dong wished Yang Xi would sleep a little longer, he did not dare to delay him or offer any words of dissuasion. He could only obediently gather his men and escort Yang Xi to the city wall.

On the ramparts, countless lanterns and torches flickered, and fully armed soldiers patrolled back and forth. Aside from the rhythmic sound of their boots upon the stone, there was no other noise—not even the usual chorus of insects and birds. This quietude felt tranquil, as if this were not a battlefield, but an ordinary city, its inhabitants deep in peaceful slumber.

Yet Yang Xi knew that when dawn broke, perhaps by midmorning or noon, a fierce battle for the city would erupt. Countless soldiers would lose their lives here; many of the men patrolling now might soon fall. Beneath the walls of Han Tongguan, hundreds or thousands already lay dead, their bodies soon to rot and fill the fortress with stench. The air inside and outside Tongguan was heavy with unpleasant odors—the smell of ashes, the acrid scent of burned corpses, the sickening reek of decay—all mingled together to assault the senses.

Fortunately, the wind at night was strong, carrying away much of the foulness. Otherwise, the atmosphere would have been even more unbearable.

As the patrolling soldiers halted before him, saluting loudly and continuing on at his gesture, Yang Xi felt deeply moved. Just a few months ago, both sides in this conflict bore the same name: the armies of the Great Tang Empire. Now, they were mortal enemies, their titles changed—one side remained Tang soldiers, the other had become the forces of Great Yan.

Civil war, brother against brother, life and death—this was the tragedy of Tang, and of all the common people.

Yang Xi knew that the An Lushan Rebellion had raged for over a decade in history, with three emperors—Xuanzong, Suzong, and Daizong—reigning in succession. Only in the time of Daizong, Li Yu, was the uprising finally quelled, but by then countless soldiers and civilians had perished, and the flourishing era of Tang had been utterly destroyed, never to recover.

Yang Xi hoped that his presence as a traveler from another world might change the course of history. Such change must start with holding Tongguan, preventing the fall of Chang’an, and stopping Emperor Li Longji from fleeing west to Shu.

If, through his efforts, he could halt the rebels outside Tongguan, inflict a crushing blow upon them, and disrupt the flow of events, the future would no longer unfold as it once had.

Thinking that his actions were altering history, a sense of mission and honor welled up in Yang Xi’s heart.

No matter what, he must give his all to defend Tongguan and keep it from falling into enemy hands. With this ambition and sense of duty, Yang Xi's steps felt light as he patrolled, even moving naturally to stand beside the soldiers at the battlements, patting their shoulders kindly in encouragement.

Yang Xi had been officially appointed Deputy Marshal of the army, and every soldier knew that this young man had legitimate authority over the defense of Tongguan. After witnessing his astounding actions during the day, most soldiers felt genuine admiration and awe for him. To have the commander-in-chief personally pat them on the shoulder, offering encouragement, was an honor that moved some of them to tears. Just a day earlier, they had been routed troops, uncertain of their fate, but now they no longer feared punishment—instead, they received encouragement from the marshal himself. How could they not be stirred? In this era, the distinction between ranks was profound.

While Yang Xi performed his rounds, intentionally or otherwise playing the role of comforting his troops, another group approached from ahead. After a loud challenge, he learned it was Gao Shi, freshly awakened, leading a patrol along the southeastern ramparts.

Upon discovering that it was Yang Xi and his guards, Gao Shi hurried over with two aides, saluted, and reported in a clear voice, “Marshal Yang, I feared the rebels might attack under cover of night, so I am leading my men to patrol the walls.”

Yang Xi returned the salute and replied, “Thank you for your diligence, General Gao.”

“Marshal, our defeat at Lingbao was disastrous—almost two hundred thousand men lost, and Tongguan is in grave peril. I dare not slacken in the least, nor feel any hardship.”

Though Gao Shi had not fought at Lingbao himself, as a senior adviser to Geshu Han, he would be held accountable should the court seek to punish those responsible.

Not just him, but all of Geshu Han’s officers faced the same fate. Many, like Gao Shi, hoped their tireless efforts might lessen the burden of their sins, perhaps even atone through merit.

Gao Shi, originally determined to distinguish himself and earn promotion through valor, now strove even harder.

Both Geshu Han and Yang Xi, newly arrived to take command, noticed this.

With a favorable impression of Gao Shi—and knowing his illustrious reputation from history—Yang Xi had already resolved to recruit him. Hearing Gao Shi speak so, he responded, “General Gao, your talent is remarkable, and your capabilities admirable. Yet your current position as Censor and Chief Sima does not match your abilities. I will report to His Majesty and seek a promotion for you! From today, you will assist me directly, handling military affairs as Acting Sima. I will immediately petition the court to secure your appointment.”

Gao Shi was stunned for a moment, but quickly bowed respectfully and declared, “Thank you, Marshal Yang, for your favor. I will not fail in my mission nor betray your trust!”