Chapter 35: Countermeasures

Yang Xi’s words left Li Heng momentarily stunned. He understood the subtext all too well: although he was the Crown Prince and the Grand Marshal of the Empire's armies, he lacked the authority to discipline Yang Xi, the Deputy Marshal in command of Tong Pass. Only the Emperor could decide such matters, and Yang would only face punishment if the Emperor deemed him in the wrong.

While the remark infuriated Li Heng, he was forced to concede its validity. Despite his title, his father—an aging Emperor with little energy left for state affairs—had never granted him the power of regency, even after An Lushan’s rebellion had erupted. Though his father had hinted at succession, everyone knew it was merely a performance. If the Emperor truly intended to pass the throne to him, he would have long ago allowed him to handle state affairs instead of sidelining him during this national crisis. Over the years, the Emperor had several times considered deposing him; had he not remained cautious, he might well have followed in the footsteps of the former Crown Prince, Li Ying.

Arriving at Tong Pass, Li Heng dared not discipline the Deputy Marshal on his own initiative. A private reprimand could provoke his father’s wrath, potentially leading to severe punishment or even his own deposition. He realized that Yang Xi was precisely aware of this, which was why he dared to ignore the attempt to put him in his place.

Li Heng seethed. He knew Yang Xi only acted this way because of the deep trust his father placed in Yang Guozhong. No one else would dare speak to him like this, let alone treat Li Fuguo, the court-appointed military inspector, as a mere piece of furniture. However, Li Heng also feared that Yang Xi might find a pretext to execute Li Fuguo, much like he had with Bian Lingcheng. Bian had been a veteran inspector with military merit and the backing of Yang Guozhong, yet Yang Xi had summarily executed him without any repercussions from the court. Li Heng feared his own protégé, Li Fuguo, might suffer the same fate. With the generals of Tong Pass firmly under his control, it would be easy for Yang Xi to fabricate a crime, and the court might not even intervene.

Recognizing his own precarious position, Li Heng suppressed his rage and adopted an air of indifference. "In that case," he said coldly, "I shall listen to the Deputy Marshal’s detailed report on the military affairs of Tong Pass, so that I may relay it to His Majesty upon my return. I trust the Deputy Marshal will leave out no detail, however small."

Seeing Li Heng shift his tone and abandon the attempt to use Li Fuguo’s accusations against him, Yang Xi felt a wave of relief. It was clear that Li Heng was losing the power struggle against Yang Guozhong and lacked the confidence to press the issue. Feeling more at ease, Yang Xi replied calmly, "As you wish, Your Highness. I shall provide a comprehensive report on the situation at Tong Pass."

Yang Xi began to speak at length, detailing how they had repelled the rebels, the subsequent defensive measures—such as clearing the Forbidden Ravine, reinforcing the walls and passes, and deploying constant scout patrols—as well as the ongoing intensive training. He glossed over the specifics of the special training camp and made no mention of the production of gunpowder. That was a state secret sanctioned by the Emperor himself, and Yang Xi was under no obligation to disclose it to the Crown Prince.

Following his own report, Yang Xi called upon his subordinates—Gao Shi, Wang Sili, Li Chengguang, and Pang Zhong—to provide supplemental details. Gao Shi, as the Military Sima, was particularly thorough.

Li Heng had no genuine interest in these reports; he had only intended to make things difficult for Yang. However, once the officers began, he had no choice but to listen. The report lasted nearly an hour. The dry, technical details left Li Heng struggling to stay awake, forced to stifle yawns as he stood before the assembled officers. Exhausted from his travels, he regretted not resting before calling the meeting. He felt humiliated, his attempt to establish authority thwarted by Yang Xi’s audacity and his own insecurity. When the briefing finally concluded, Li Heng offered a perfunctory commendation of the officers' diligence and loyalty before bringing the meeting to an end.

Citing travel fatigue, Li Heng retired to rest, accompanied by Li Fuguo. Yang Xi dismissed his officers to return to their duties.

As the officers departed, Gao Shi, the Military Sima, followed Yang Xi. Once they reached a secluded area, he asked cautiously, "Marshal Yang, you openly defied the Crown Prince today. Do you fear he will harbor resentment and speak ill of you to His Majesty when he returns to the capital?"

Gao Shi, having risen to his position through Yang Xi’s patronage, saw him as a man of great potential and was deeply invested in his success. He was genuinely worried.

Yang Xi smiled reassuringly. "General Gao, we both know the Prince came to 'inspect the troops' primarily to bolster his own prestige and undermine mine. It is no surprise that he acted this way, nor would it be a surprise if he spoke against me in the capital. We cannot stop him. While the rebellion continues, our priority is to train our men and crush the insurgents as soon as possible. We must not waste energy on such trivialities."

"Your magnanimity puts me to shame, Marshal," Gao Shi replied, though he added, "But if you foresee his antagonism, should you not take preemptive measures?"

"I appreciate your concern, General. I have already considered it," Yang Xi said, gesturing for Gao Shi to continue walking. "When the Crown Prince returns to the capital, I shall accompany him to Chang'an. I will report on the situation at Tong Pass personally to His Majesty and request permission to lead an offensive to seize Shan Commandery. Once I have made my case in Chang'an, there will be no cause for concern."