Chapter Three: The Debate in Court

“Your Majesty, you must never do this!”

The first to rise in opposition to Li Heng’s proposal was Geshu Han.

Amid the astonishment of the ministers, and the surprise of Emperor Li Longji and Li Heng alike, Geshu Han stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, Marshal Yang has only just led our forces to victory in the defensive battle at Tong Pass and brought the generals there to heel. In directing that defense, Marshal Yang showed sound judgment, great courage, and remarkable military talent. Even this guilty subject is deeply impressed. Yet the great work of quelling the rebellion is still unfinished, and Tong Pass remains the very stronghold the rebels most wish to seize. If another commander is appointed to take charge there, he would first have to become thoroughly familiar with all the affairs of Tong Pass, and the generals may not necessarily obey him. That would only ruin the larger cause. The rebel assault may continue for a long time, and to replace a commander on the eve of battle is the gravest of taboos. For that reason, I believe Marshal Yang should continue to command the troops at Tong Pass! I also support what Marshal Yang said just now: we must rely on the defenses of Tong Pass itself and not lightly march out to fight, or the tragedy at Lingbao may be repeated!”

Before the defeat at Lingbao, the situation at Tong Pass had in fact been even better than it was now. After a six-month assault brought them no success, the rebels had fallen back to the region near Shan Commandery, and their morale had been extremely low. But after the battle of Lingbao, their spirits had soared. Even though they still could not take Tong Pass, their morale was far higher than before. According to the latest intelligence reports, the rebels had established ambush points at many places along the route, hoping our forces would pursue their victory and fight another battle like Lingbao. Under such circumstances, it would be absolutely unwise to lead the army out of the pass. The consequences would be impossible to predict.

Geshu Han judged that the rebels would attack Tong Pass again, and he hoped Yang Xi would remain in command of the defense.

What he thought and what he said did not mean that the rift with Yang Guozhong had vanished. He was merely looking at the broader picture and acknowledging Yang Xi’s ability. He did not wish a hasty change of commanders to plunge Tong Pass back into disorder, and so, the moment Li Heng proposed replacing the marshal, he rose to speak.

Of course, his relations with Li Heng were not good either; otherwise he would not have been the first to speak in opposition.

Though Geshu Han had been stripped of all office by the court, his prestige still remained. After all, he was a veteran who had seen countless battles and suffered few defeats. Before Lingbao, he had won nearly every engagement. Since he spoke from the standpoint of the greater situation, even Li Heng found it difficult to insist on his own view, and the other ministers who had originally thought the same were likewise cowed by Geshu Han’s words.

Yet at this point Yang Guozhong stepped forward, bowed to Emperor Li Longji, and said, “Your Majesty, I too fear that Yang Xi lacks the ability to continue commanding the later campaigns. I support appointing another general to take charge of the troops at Tong Pass and to command the larger army in the subsequent pacification of the rebellion. Yang Xi is young, and before this he has never served in the army or fought in war. The reason he was able to command the forces at Tong Pass to victory in the defensive battle was entirely due to his reckless boldness, along with a little divine favor from above. But I fear that if he continues to command, he may only disappoint Your Majesty. Therefore I advise Your Majesty to choose another general instead.”

Yang Guozhong said this because he feared that if Yang Xi continued to command and then met with defeat, the prestige he had built and the military merit he had earned would all be ruined. Better to stop while ahead, throw the hot potato of Tong Pass to someone else, and hand over the burden of suppressing the rebellion to another commander.

Yang Xi’s military achievements were already immense. With those achievements alone, he could receive enormous rewards.

That was his capital, and the glory of the Yang clan. With those merits, he could gain a firm footing in court and secure his future. Of course, Yang Guozhong also worried that Yang Xi might suffer some mishap in the course of command, be injured, or even lose his life. If that happened, he would regret it far too late.

Yang Xi could not fully understand what Yang Guozhong was thinking. But whatever his father might think, he would never give up the chance to continue leading the troops. He had already expressed this view in the letter he sent to Yang Guozhong earlier, though he had not expected his father to ignore it, or perhaps disagree. It seemed he would have to speak with him properly later and explain all the advantages and dangers in detail to this father of his.

Yang Xi did not wish to voice an opinion contrary to his father’s before the entire court, and so he did not step forward to say anything. He believed that with so great a matter, Li Longji could not possibly make a decision at once. After Yang Guozhong stepped down, the two exchanged glances. Yang Guozhong seemed to understand the meaning in his eyes, and after a moment’s hesitation, he signaled Wei Fangjin.

Wei Fangjin immediately stepped forward. After bowing to Li Longji on the throne, he spoke with passionate conviction: “Your Majesty, I do not agree with Minister Yang’s words. I think the veteran General Geshu is right. To replace a commander in the midst of battle is a grave taboo. Marshal Yang should continue to command the troops at Tong Pass!”

Wei Jiansu also stepped forward and echoed Wei Fangjin’s view, though he too was mainly thinking of the greater situation and believed that changing commanders at such a moment was unwise.

But the Minister of War, Xiao Hua, rose to oppose allowing Yang Xi to remain in command of the Tong Pass forces. His reason was that Yang Xi was too young, could not possibly grasp the situation fully, and lacked experience. He would be unable to cope with the ever-changing realities of the battlefield, and if the fighting went poorly, disaster would follow.

Yet Wei Fangjin, who supported Yang Xi’s continued command, immediately shot back. He said that the famous Han general Huo Qubing had been only seventeen when he took command, and when he achieved his extraordinary feats, he had been only around twenty. Emperor Taizong himself had been only sixteen when he led troops to break the siege of Yanmen. Ambition is not measured by age. From Yang Xi’s performance at Tong Pass, one could see that this young man was fully capable of serving as marshal of the cavalry and had the ability to continue directing the war.

The court descended into heated argument. Emperor Li Longji, seated upon the throne, frowned. As the ministers continued to quarrel, Yang Guozhong coughed hard several times, then walked to the front of the hall and bowed before Li Longji.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “please consider this carefully before making a decision. There is no point in such uproar today; no conclusion can be reached by argument alone. When Yang Xi returns, he will surely have many important matters to report privately to Your Majesty. Let us wait until he has finished his report before deciding anything further.”

Hearing Yang Guozhong say as much, Li Longji thought it over and quickly agreed. He waved a hand to silence the ministers and said, “My lords, there is no need for further clamor. I shall consider this matter carefully before making a decision. The audience is dismissed.”

Having said this, he paid no further attention to the reactions in the hall and departed at once. Gao Lishi, who had been standing at his side, immediately followed.

Li Longji’s abrupt departure greatly surprised Yang Xi. Wasn’t today’s court assembly meant to discuss many major affairs? How had matters devolved into noise and argument, after which Li Longji simply abandoned the session instead of continuing to preside and deliberate with the ministers? As for how to handle the veteran Geshu Han, and whether he should be punished, nothing at all had been said. For an emperor, that was hardly a very competent display.

Once the emperor had left, the ministers had no choice but to end their dispute as well. They departed from the Hall of Rising Prosperity one after another, some alone and some in groups.

Yang Guozhong quietly instructed Wei Fangjin and Wei Jiansu a few words, then summoned a young eunuch and gave him a few more low-voiced instructions. Only then did he allow Yang Xi to accompany him to the imperial presence.

“Father, why are you opposed to letting your son continue commanding at Tong Pass?” Yang Xi asked plainly as they walked together toward Li Longji’s sleeping palace.

Yang Guozhong answered with some embarrassment, “Xi’er, your father is afraid something may happen to you at Tong Pass. There is no mercy in swords and arrows on the battlefield. If anything should befall you, your mother would cry herself to death!”

Pei Rou already knew that Yang Xi had gone to command at Tong Pass, and for several days she had been weeping and making a scene at home. Yang Guozhong did not even dare return, fearing he would have to face his wife’s tears and complaints. In answering his son’s question, he could only first offer this explanation. Only after confirming that no one was nearby did he reveal his other thoughts, saying that he merely wanted to stop while ahead and not let Yang Xi take further risks in case some accident occurred.

“Father, rest assured,” Yang Xi said in a lowered voice. “As long as the court does not interfere with my decisions, I will certainly be able to command the men under me, win more battles, and earn more merit. Father, you do not have many loyal followers in the army. I have already brought the generals at Tong Pass to heel. If, in time, all these men can be used by you, then your influence in both civil and military affairs will grow enormously, and I too will have even greater prestige in the army. That should be what Father most wishes to see.”

Yang Xi’s bold words left Yang Guozhong stunned.