Chapter Sixteen: Geshu Han’s Support

Yang Xi’s decisive execution of Huoba Guiren and swift subjugation of the other schemers not only astonished his loyal soldiers and household guards, but even Goshu Han and Pang Zhong were utterly stunned.

So Yang Guozhong’s youngest son truly possessed a ruthless, resolute nature!

Goshu Han and Pang Zhong quickly understood that Yang Xi’s earlier disregard for Goshu Han’s words was merely a ploy to distract Huoba Guiren, not an attempt to harm Goshu Han. If that had been his intention, Yang Xi’s men would not have immediately shot those soldiers holding Goshu Han hostage, nor would they have protected him.

After ordering his personal guards to bind the kneeling offenders, Yang Xi commanded Li Defu and Pang Zhong to lead their troops toward the South Gate. “General Li, General Pang, take your men and hurry to the South Gate. Root out Huoba Guiren’s remaining followers. I order you, no matter the cost, you must secure the South Gate without fail! If any resist, execute them without mercy!”

“What? This—” Li Defu was shocked. At such a moment, Yang Xi was entrusting him with the South Gate. If he took his soldiers away, should Goshu Han and Pang Zhong harbor ill intentions toward Yang Xi, how could Yang Xi’s mere few hundred guards possibly contend with them?

He looked at Yang Xi, then at Pang Zhong, confused and uncertain.

“General Li, General Pang, why do you hesitate? Are you defying orders?” Yang Xi commanded again, his tone authoritative.

He had no fear that Goshu Han or Pang Zhong would dare move against him—his bold execution of Huoba Guiren had shaken them enough to deter rash decisions.

Nor was he concerned that Li Defu’s fifteen hundred men would fail to secure the South Gate. Huoba Guiren’s chief followers were either slain or captured, and only one or two capable lieutenants remained at the South Gate. If attacked suddenly, those men would surely be overwhelmed.

He sent Pang Zhong along merely to test Goshu Han and his subordinate’s reaction to his orders, to assert dominance from the outset, not because he expected Pang Zhong to fully obey at this moment.

After Yang Xi finished issuing orders, Goshu Han unexpectedly spoke up, “Obey Commander Yang’s command, head to the South Gate at once!”

“Yes, Commander Yang, your subordinate obeys!” Li Defu hesitated briefly, then accepted the order, leading his fifteen hundred soldiers galloping toward the South Gate, leaving the remaining thousand or so troops to Yang Xi.

Pang Zhong, after a moment’s hesitation, saluted Goshu Han from horseback. “Marshal Goshu, your subordinate obeys. I shall go to the South Gate immediately. The South Gate must not fall—if the rebels attack, Tongguan will be lost!” Without waiting for Goshu Han’s reply, he rode after Li Defu with his troops.

Watching the fiery procession of torches snaking toward the South Gate, the thunder of hooves fading into the distance, Yang Xi exhaled deeply in relief.

Once Li Defu and Pang Zhong had hurried away with their troops, Yang Xi sheathed his sword, dismounted, and walked up to Goshu Han, bowing respectfully. “Your subordinate, Yang Xi, newly appointed Commander of Tongguan, pays his respects to Marshal Goshu!”

Goshu Han reflexively returned the gesture, and Yang Xi continued, “Marshal Goshu, by imperial decree I have led three thousand troops in urgent relief of Tongguan. General Chen Xuanli of the Left Dragon Martial Army will bring tens of thousands more in support, expected to arrive by dusk today at the earliest. The situation is dire; I shall dispense with idle talk. Once the South Gate is secure, please summon all unit commanders for an emergency council to redeploy Tongguan’s defenses.”

Seeing Goshu Han’s uncertainty and suspicion, Yang Xi sighed, “Marshal Goshu, I know my father and you have some past grievances, but now is not the time to dwell on them. The situation is critical. No matter how deep the rift, it must be set aside. The most urgent task is to block the rebels outside Tongguan, preventing them from taking advantage of their momentum to seize the city. I led my men nearly three hundred miles through the night for fear that Tongguan might fall. Otherwise—”

Goshu Han was not a typical man; he had clawed his way to his position over the bodies of many rivals. After years of serving the Tang court, he had mastered the art of officialdom. Witnessing Yang Xi’s resolute bearing, he could no longer afford hesitation. After a long sigh, he said, “General Yang, your arrival is timely. I never expected the court to send reinforcements so swiftly. Please, accompany me to my tent to discuss how to redeploy Tongguan’s defenses. Do not worry about the South Gate; with Generals Pang and Li in command, there will be no mishap.”

It could be said that Goshu Han was shaken by Yang Xi’s decisive handling of Huoba Guiren and by the fierce spirit Yang Xi displayed. He knew such ruthlessness could only emerge from one who had faced life and death many times.

But what puzzled him was that Yang Xi, famed in Chang’an as a pampered wastrel, though talented and skilled, had never served in the army or killed a man. How could such a youth exude such terrifying presence?

While Goshu Han pondered, Yang Xi stepped forward, supporting him by the arm and guiding him toward the makeshift command tent, quietly saying, “Marshal Goshu, I know my father’s advice was wrong. What our forces must do now is defend Tongguan, confront the rebels, exhaust their strength, and stall them until the royal armies from all directions arrive. Only then can we hope to defeat the rebels in earnest. Tongguan must not fall, or Chang’an will be endangered. But since the situation has reached this point, further blame will not change reality. Our task is to hold Tongguan at all costs, keeping the rebels from opening the road to Chang’an. The rest can wait until Tongguan is secure.”

Originally, Goshu Han had several hundred personal guards, but after the defeat, most were lost, leaving only thirty or so. These remaining guards had all been slaughtered by Huoba Guiren, leaving Goshu Han without anyone to care for or support him. Yang Xi naturally took it upon himself to assist.

Yang Xi did not allow anyone else to help Goshu Han, but personally supported him back to the command tent, surprising Goshu Han even more.

Yang Guozhong’s son, treating him like this?

No words of reproach for his defeat, only affirming his repeated petitions to the court that the best strategy was to hold Tongguan with all might.

Was this truly Yang Guozhong’s son?

This uncertainty led Goshu Han to glance repeatedly at Yang Xi, searching for any sign of deceit. Seeing none, he relaxed somewhat, no longer troubled, and replied, “Commander Yang, if only your father had shared your view and advised the court to focus all efforts on holding Tongguan, instead of ordering me to fight beyond the pass, today’s disaster might have been avoided. I know the court has appointed you as Commander of Tongguan, which surely means you carry an edict relieving me of all duties and ordering my return to Chang’an for judgment. Defeated, I accept whatever fate the court decrees. Please, Commander Yang, issue your orders, and I will hand over Tongguan’s defenses to you.”

The change in Goshu Han’s manner of address made Yang Xi realize the veteran had accepted his arrival as the new commander, would no longer obstruct him, and was prepared to admit guilt to the court. Yang Xi breathed easier and quickly said, “Marshal Goshu, you are correct in one thing: the court has indeed ordered you relieved of all duties, but has not instructed me to escort you to Chang’an for punishment. Instead, you are to join the army as a commoner and redeem yourself through merit. But I know that to hold Tongguan, we cannot do without you, Marshal Goshu. Though I arrive with imperial mandate, you remain the highest authority on Tongguan’s defenses. All deployment decisions are yours to command.”

Seeing Goshu Han’s confusion, Yang Xi smiled wryly and spoke plainly, “Marshal Goshu, you surely realize that without you, I—even with the emperor’s edict—could not command all the troops in Tongguan. The city’s defense would surely collapse. Facing the enemy, all personal grudges must be set aside. We must unite to resist. I hope you will do the same.”

“Commander Yang, your magnanimity far surpasses your father’s!” Goshu Han paused, regarding Yang Xi with a strange smile. “Yet I sense the court has chosen well in sending you, a youth, to lead the relief. Had it been someone else, Tongguan would already be in chaos, and I might have been dragged away by Huoba Guiren. Even if another had arrived in time, they might not have dared so decisively to rid us of Huoba Guiren! Very well, I take your advice—let all personal grudges be set aside, let us unite against the enemy, block the rebels at Tongguan’s gates, and once the city is secure, you may escort me to Chang’an, where I will plead guilty before His Majesty!”

Goshu Han’s attitude changed in an instant. Yang Xi was surprised, yet delighted, and quickly said, “Marshal Goshu’s devotion to state and military affairs, setting aside personal enmity and peril, deeply moves me. Once Tongguan is safe, I will personally escort you to Chang’an, recount the campaign before His Majesty, and beseech him to pardon your offense! Victory and defeat are the common fate of soldiers; you acted under imperial orders to fight beyond the pass and suffered defeat—blame cannot be yours alone.”

Goshu Han took Yang Xi’s words as flattery, perhaps even as temporary deception, but paid it no mind, chuckling twice and saying, “That is for later; let us speak of it once Tongguan is secure. But now that the court has relieved me of command, you need not address me as marshal. The defense of Tongguan is yours to direct. Soon I will summon all the generals to council and instruct them to heed your orders. I trust they will honor my word. I hope Commander Yang can lead us to hold Tongguan!”

In truth, Goshu Han himself could not fully explain why he so quickly changed his attitude toward Yang Xi and spoke so candidly.

Let the matter rest. The story continues.