Chapter Fifteen: Decisive Action

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Seeing a group of men hustling a white-haired elder toward the southern gate, Yang Xi immediately understood the situation. A surge of relief filled him: his repeated orders for his soldiers to quicken their pace had indeed been the right decision. Otherwise, Geshu Han would have been seized by Huoba Guiren. If Huoba Guiren managed to abduct Geshu Han, the already leaderless Tongguan would descend into utter chaos. Even if Huoba Guiren merely took Geshu Han out of the pass to defect, without inviting the rebel army into the city, Tongguan would become indefensible.

Geshu Han's prestige at Tongguan was irreplaceable; even his mere abduction and defection would be enough to shatter the army's already fragile morale. Once the troops’ resolve disintegrated entirely, no amount of authority could reforge their will to fight together against the enemy.

Moreover, without Geshu Han, there would be no one capable of commanding the nearly ten thousand battered, demoralized soldiers. Even if Yang Xi came bearing imperial orders, without Geshu Han’s support, no commander would acknowledge Yang Xi, the son of Yang Guozhong. Some might even seize the opportunity to attack him—killing him was not out of the question.

Had they been delayed a moment longer, or if Yang Xi hadn’t urgently ordered the troops to hurry, the consequences would have been unimaginable. He was also grateful he hadn’t lingered at the city gate arguing with Pang Zhong; upon hearing the news, he had led his troops straight into the city. Had he wasted a few more words with Pang Zhong, he might have been too late. Man proposes, Heaven disposes; now it seemed Heaven favored him.

His three hundred personal guards, along with a contingent led by Li Fude and another by Pang Zhong, had rushed to the scene, encircling Huoba Guiren and his men, who were holding Geshu Han captive. All the soldiers’ bows were drawn, arrows aimed at Huoba Guiren and his followers.

Yang Xi knew he could now turn the tide. However brave Huoba Guiren might be, he could not withstand a barrage of arrows at such close range.

As long as Pang Zhong did not also plan to defect.

If Pang Zhong harbored such intentions, Yang Xi might fail. But even so, it would be better than letting Geshu Han be taken by Huoba Guiren.

As soldiers with torches surrounded them swiftly, Huoba Guiren was taken aback. He had thought he’d eliminated all of Geshu Han’s personal guards, yet someone had managed to sound the alarm—this was a serious problem.

Seeing the young general who blocked his path, Huoba Guiren was even more shocked.

He recognized the commander as Yang Xi, the youngest son of Yang Guozhong.

Yang Guozhong’s current status was second only to the emperor; since rising to power, he acted with great flamboyance, and his sons followed suit. Each had caused a sensation in Chang’an, Yang Xuan’s exam scandal once the talk of the town. Yang Xi was no exception, though his exploits had not been as dramatic as his brothers’. The Yang family’s sons were well-known among the capital’s elite, and as the Prince of Yanshan, Huoba Guiren was certainly familiar with all of Yang Guozhong’s sons.

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That Yang Guozhong’s son appeared here made it clear to Huoba Guiren that the imperial rescue force had arrived; he was now utterly dismayed. Had he known the court would send reinforcements so quickly, he wouldn’t have needed to take such a risky move as abducting Geshu Han to defect.

With the imperial troops dispatched at such speed, the natural fortress of Tongguan could surely be defended. Huoba Guiren could scarcely believe it: just yesterday at dusk, they had retreated in defeat to Tongguan; before dawn, in the early hours, the imperial relief army had already reached the pass!

He had assumed that even if the court sent reinforcements, they would not arrive until midday or even evening the next day—by then, Tongguan would have fallen to An Lushan’s army. It was this pessimistic expectation that had prompted his decision; after a night of secret meetings with trusted allies, he acted in the pre-dawn hours to seize Geshu Han.

His plan was to control Geshu Han, then use his authority to summon other commanders for a council, seizing them as well and thus taking control of the city. He would then surrender Tongguan, holding Geshu Han and his officers captive, and surely earn generous rewards from An Lushan.

But at this moment, Huoba Guiren was deeply regretful, cursing his rashness.

Yet now, there was no turning back; he had to respond immediately. Drawing his sword and pointing it at Geshu Han, he shouted, “Disperse and lay down your arms, or I will kill Geshu Han with a single stroke!”

At his command, his officers and soldiers also drew their weapons, forming a defensive circle.

Yang Xi paid no heed to Huoba Guiren’s threat; with a clang, he drew his sword and pointed it at Huoba Guiren’s group, shouting, “By order of His Majesty, I lead troops to reinforce Tongguan and resist the rebels. You dare abduct Marshal Geshu and collude with the enemy? Lay down your arms and surrender at once! Any who harm Marshal Geshu will be executed without mercy! Those who surrender will be spared!”

He shifted his sword away from Huoba Guiren, pointing it at the soldiers holding Geshu Han.

Yang Xi’s troops and Pang Zhong’s contingent all raised their bows, arrowheads aimed at Huoba Guiren and his men; the air was thick with a palpable sense of death. The soldiers holding Geshu Han were cowed by Yang Xi’s presence and the threat of countless drawn bows—their hands shook, their legs trembled, and they were visibly terrified.

Seeing his show of force had the desired effect, the soldiers holding Geshu Han cast pleading glances at Huoba Guiren. Yang Xi barked again, “Lay down your arms and kneel in surrender now, and you will be spared! If you persist in rebellion and hold Marshal Geshu hostage, do not blame me for showing no mercy—I will execute you all!”

Yang Xi’s commanding presence and words had a strong effect; several of Huoba Guiren’s officers wavered, their hands trembling, sword tips drooping instead of pointing at Yang Xi and his guards.

Huoba Guiren, however, had thrown caution to the wind. He knew full well that Yang Guozhong, who had always sought to eliminate Geshu Han, would seize this opportunity for a bloodless coup. Yang Xi, acting on imperial orders, likely had instructions to punish Geshu Han. Threatening Yang Xi with Geshu Han’s life would not sway him; if Huoba Guiren resisted, Yang Xi would order an attack and have them shot down in a hail of arrows. He had to try another tactic. He pointed his sword at Yang Xi and, turning to the disheartened Geshu Han, shouted bitterly, “Marshal Geshu, the court has sent Yang Guozhong’s son to deal with you. Why don’t you order your men to seize this villain? He cares nothing for your life! He is here on orders to take your life—the court treats you thus, and yet you remain blindly loyal to the Tang?”

“Huoba Guiren, since you know the court intends to punish Marshal Geshu, threatening me with his life is a joke! If you kill him, you will only preserve his honor, and I believe many would wish you did!” Yang Xi coldly replied, sword pointed at Huoba Guiren. “Let me tell you: if you kill Marshal Geshu and preserve his honor, you will be riddled with arrows, and your entire family will be executed! The same fate awaits those at your side, and their families as well!”

A series of clatters rang out as weapons fell to the ground; several men were so frightened their swords slipped from their grasp, some collapsing in terror. Yang Xi spoke nothing but the truth—if they dared resist, their end would be as he said.

Huoba Guiren’s hand shook uncontrollably; his family was all in Chang’an...

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Such naked threats from Wang Chen not only stunned Huoba Guiren and his followers, but also shocked the captive Geshu Han and Pang Zhong. Geshu Han seemed resigned, his spirit nearly extinguished, but also somewhat relieved; he sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and ignored the confrontation between the two sides. Pang Zhong, however, was furious—his anger directed at Yang Xi for his disregard of Geshu Han’s life.

Before Pang Zhong could vent his rage, Yang Xi signaled to Yang Dong, Yang Zheng, and several close guards. The leaders understood, relaxed their bowstrings, and, with the sound of arrows slicing the air, shot at the soldiers holding Geshu Han. Several screams rang out as those soldiers fell dead.

Everyone present was shocked. At that moment, Yang Dong and Yang Zheng led their guards to flank the enemy from both sides.

Seizing the moment as Huoba Guiren was distracted, Yang Xi, shielded by his loyal guards, suddenly charged forward with a shout. In the midst of everyone’s surprise, he drove his horse toward Huoba Guiren and, with a swift stroke, slashed the prince’s throat. Huoba Guiren managed only half a scream before collapsing, blood gushing from his neck, twitching a few times before lying still.

Huoba Guiren died with his eyes wide open, filled with terror. He could not have imagined that, after only a few words, Yang Xi would suddenly strike, killing him—the Prince of Yanshan, personally appointed by Emperor Li Longji. Did Yang Xi not see he was wavering?

But he would never understand Yang Xi’s thoughts now.

At this moment, Huoba Guiren’s remaining armed men near Geshu Han were also cut down by Yang Xi’s guards.

The soldiers holding Geshu Han were all dead; with no further threats to his life, Geshu Han was immediately protected.

“Traitors deserve death at the hands of all!” Yang Xi wiped his sword clean on Huoba Guiren’s corpse, left it unsheathed, and pointed it at the stunned accomplices surrounded by his guards. “If you do not kneel and surrender, you will be executed without mercy!”

Clang...

Clang...

With several crisp sounds as swords hit the ground, all those who had helped Huoba Guiren abduct Geshu Han dropped their weapons and knelt, not daring even to lift their heads.

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