Chapter 83: Confidence

“What?” Tian Qianzhen was utterly shocked, staring at An Qingshu in disbelief. He could never have imagined that An Qingshu would order a temporary halt to the assault on Tongguan right at the moment when the army was about to launch its attack. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.

The other generals were equally stunned, gazing at An Qingshu, who, though still visibly angry, was beginning to regain his composure. They all waited in silence, hoping for an explanation.

An Qingshu, of course, took note of their reactions, but he was not surprised. Seating himself at the head, he slowly exhaled and spoke with a trace of weariness, “Gentlemen, you all witnessed last night’s attack, how we met with fierce resistance from the Tang army almost immediately. This proves that Tang reinforcements had already arrived by yesterday afternoon. Judging by the intensity of the arrow volleys, there are at least twenty thousand troops inside the city. Reports from our scouts near the walls confirm there was significant movement at dawn, and from the arrogant tone of this Tang commander, Yang Xi, it’s clear that yet more reinforcements have come; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare speak so brazenly!”

“In the past days, the Tang defenders were barely holding on. But with several waves of reinforcements, the situation has changed. Now they can not only withstand our assault but even muster counterattacks. Worse, while our forces are concentrated on storming the walls, they could send troops out to harry us, taking advantage of our distraction. If we do not make proper preparations, we may suffer a devastating blow. Therefore, we must postpone the assault and plan anew. Only with careful arrangements can we try again. The Tang forces have shaken off the defeat at Lingbao and will defend Tongguan with desperate determination. If we continue as we have these past two days, we will achieve nothing!” With that, An Qingshu rose and paced a few steps before adding, “The tactics we set yesterday will no longer work. Simply carrying earth and stone to fill the trench is as hopeless as reaching the sky!”

“The prince is right!” Li Guiren, one of An Qingshu’s trusted lieutenants, immediately stepped forward as An Qingshu looked to his commanders and declared, “Your Highness, I believe we should order the troops to cut down more trees and bamboo, use them to make rafts or platforms, and lay those over the trench. With enough timber and bamboo, we can turn the moat into a thoroughfare in no time!”

Li Guiren had already made this suggestion to An Qingshu earlier, recommending that Cui Qianyou manufacture enough bamboo and timber platforms to throw into the trench, quickly filling it and allowing their troops to charge across for another assault.

But at that time, Cui Qianyou had reported that the trench was already filled with corpses, and that they could simply walk across. He argued that making large numbers of bamboo platforms would waste precious time and forfeit the best moment to attack. An Qingshu had listened to Cui Qianyou and ordered the vanguard to attack at once, but it had accomplished nothing. Now, with the assault paused, Li Guiren raised the proposal again.

“General Li’s idea is excellent!” Tian Qianzhen immediately supported him. “There is abundant timber and bamboo near Tongguan. It would be easy to make the needed platforms in half a day. Once we have filled the trench, we can launch wave after wave of attacks with our entire force. Tongguan will surely fall!”

An Shouzhong also came forward to voice his support for Li Guiren’s suggestion.

To be honest, many had not thought of using cut bamboo and timber to make platforms to fill the trench. They had only considered filling it with earth and stone, relying on the sheer number of troops to fill it for good.

Once the trench was filled, the full force of over a hundred thousand men could be concentrated on the southern gate, storming the walls like a tidal wave and taking the city in a single, overwhelming assault.

But last night’s attack proved this approach unworkable: each soldier could carry only a small amount of earth or stone, and they were constantly under heavy arrow fire from the Tang defenders.

Platforms of bamboo and timber, however, were different. They were large, could even serve as shields during transport, and once thrown into the trench, would form a passable route even if there were gaps. Only a few hundred would be necessary to span the trench. Anyone who considered these points would surely agree to the plan.

No one voiced opposition. Encouraged, An Qingshu seemed to see victory within reach. Without hesitation, he ordered the soldiers to cut down timber and bamboo at once and to make over a thousand platforms by noon.

With the prince’s orders given, the generals moved swiftly to carry them out.

Soon, Tongguan’s surroundings echoed with the sounds of axes and saws, as soldiers felled trees and bamboo. The vegetation near the eastern slopes of Mount Hua, close to Tongguan, suffered widespread devastation.

———

“Marshal Yang, you’re incredible! After you shot those letters into the rebel camp, they actually halted their attack!” With the sun already high and the enemy yet to resume their advance—in fact, their troops had even pulled back a little—Wang Sili could contain his amazement no longer. He was eager to know what Yang Xi had written, but dared not ask directly, so he hinted instead.

“My letters were merely a delaying tactic, to give us breathing room and make An Qingshu reconsider his assault. It seems to have worked!” Yang Xi glanced at Wang Sili’s astonished face, then at the other officers, and smiled. “But An Qingshu will not give up so easily. He has over a hundred thousand men, all hardened border troops. They are sure to devise new ways to attack.”

Pang Zhong, standing nearby, couldn’t help voicing his doubts. “But Marshal, the trench is restored. Last night, the rebels gave up on filling it with earth after suffering heavy arrow fire. It will be hard for them to cross it now. If An Qingshu doesn’t attack while we’re still exhausted, what chance will he have once our reinforcements arrive?”

Yang Xi gazed at the rebel lines in the distance and sighed. “The rebels know the trench is a formidable obstacle. That’s why they tried to fill it last night. Our arrow volleys forced them to abandon the plan, but it shows they are determined to fill the trench before attacking again. There’s no way they’ll give up, nor will they withdraw from Tongguan!”

“Then, Marshal, what method do you think they’ll use next?” asked Tian Liangqiu, the former acting commander, who had been silent until now.

Yang Xi pointed to the distant enemy soldiers, barely visible as they labored to cut down trees. “Look there. The enemy is harvesting timber on a massive scale. They are likely making more scaling ladders and platforms. If I am not mistaken, they intend to throw these wooden platforms into the trench outside the southern gate. Once it is filled, they’ll launch a full-scale assault!”

“What?” All the officers blanched in alarm.

“There is nothing to fear,” Yang Xi said calmly. “I have already devised a countermeasure.” He then quietly shared his plan.

“I understand, Marshal! I will make preparations at once!”

After hearing Yang Xi’s words, everyone suddenly understood and immediately rushed off to carry out his orders.