Chapter Seventeen: Initial Deployment

Yang Xi could clearly sense the shift in Geshu Han’s demeanor and tone; relief surged within him, but he quickly pressed on, “I have already pledged before His Majesty under military order to defend Tong Pass at all costs and keep the rebel forces at bay. Should I fail, I will lay down my life for the nation!”

His words rang with unyielding pride, stirring all who heard them. Yet he added at once, “Of course, I know that slogans alone cannot hold Tong Pass. With the battered remnants we have now, the challenge is immense. We will need meticulous preparations! Fortunately, the rebels have not yet reached the city walls. We still have time to respond!”

When Geshu Han’s forces retreated, some units—such as those led by Wang Sili and Pang Zhong—though scattered, drew on their combat experience to lay obstacles along the road to slow the rebel pursuit. In retrospect, this had indeed proved effective.

As Yang Xi personally supported Geshu Han toward his command tent, a distant clamor of battle cries rose but quickly faded. Seeing Yang Xi glance back, Geshu Han’s lips curled in a faint smile. “General Yang, you need not worry. The South Gate is secure and back under our control. Soon someone will report in.”

When the two entered the command tent together, Geshu Han asked, “Commander Yang, in your view, what is the best way to defend Tong Pass?”

“How we defend is something I wish to discuss thoroughly with you, Marshal Geshu, after learning the current state of the pass. But I believe there are things that must be done at once! First, we must clear the corpses from the defensive trenches, so they can once again hinder the enemy. Second…” Yang Xi paused, then continued, “I believe we should send a detachment out of the city to lay an ambush along the road from Lingbao to Chang’an!”

“What? An ambush?” Geshu Han was taken aback.

“Why do you think this?” he pressed, frowning. “Commander Yang, you must realize that aside from the three thousand men you brought, the rest of the troops in Tong Pass are beaten and demoralized, hardly battle-worthy. If we send more men out to ambush, never mind the effectiveness, it will reduce our numbers for the city’s defense and could cause panic when the enemy attacks! If the ambush fails, morale may break completely and our defenses could collapse without a fight!”

“Your concerns are valid, Marshal,” Yang Xi acknowledged, yet remained steadfast. “But I still believe an ambush outside is necessary. The aim isn’t to inflict great losses on the rebels, but simply to slow their advance. As you know, the rebel army is surely rushing here and could arrive at any moment. If they meet ambushes along the way, they’ll become suspicious, fearing a large government force lies in wait. They’ll slow down and probe the situation before making their next move. If this happens two or three times, it could buy us precious time to adjust our defenses—perhaps even hold until General Chen Xuanli’s reinforcements arrive. It’s all a ruse of feigned strength.”

Yang Xi then articulated his deeper reasoning, explaining every detail thoroughly.

After hearing this, Geshu Han fell into deep thought, withholding his judgment for the moment.

Sensing Geshu Han’s wavering, Yang Xi pressed his case, “Marshal, if the troops conducting the ambush bear my own banners, the rebels will be thrown into doubt. If they realize imperial reinforcements have reached Tong Pass, they may hesitate or even abandon their immediate assault. I understand that with our meager forces, holding Tong Pass is a Herculean task, especially as the trenches are clogged with corpses. That’s why we must try every possible stratagem to slow the enemy’s advance.”

Finishing his argument, Yang Xi fixed Geshu Han with a bright, unwavering gaze, showing neither retreat nor fear.

What Yang Xi needed most now was to earn the trust of Geshu Han and his officers. Without their support, his three thousand men would be hard-pressed to hold Tong Pass. There were nearly a hundred thousand rebels outside the walls; to rely on just three thousand to prevail was a fantasy, and he knew it as well as anyone.

Unless, of course, he commanded a modern force as he had in his past life—armed with firearms, grenades, even artillery. Otherwise, the outcome would surely be slaughter and ruin.

In the era of cold steel, three thousand against thirteen thousand could already mean a vast difference in fighting strength—how much more so against a hundred thousand?

Moreover, if he fell out with Geshu Han and his officers, his three thousand would be rendered ineffective.

Geshu Han was astonished—stunned, in fact, at Yang Xi’s proposal to send out his own men to ambush and slow the rebels. Was this truly the son of Yang Guozhong? He seemed nothing like the man’s reputation suggested.

But a closer look confirmed it: the youth in armor before him was indeed Yang Guozhong’s youngest son.

With a long sigh, Geshu Han gathered himself and nodded in agreement. “Commander Yang, I accept your proposal. We’ll send several detachments to lie in ambush at strategic points outside the city to slow the enemy’s advance. As for the trenches, I’ve already ordered the men to begin clearing them, but the number of corpses is so great it will take days to finish, and the rebels will not wait so long to attack. We’ll clear as much as we can.”

“There are two ways to clear the trenches quickly,” Yang Xi replied, raising two fingers. “One is to flush them with water. If we had a large source, we could wash the corpses away. The other is to burn them—soak them in oil, heap on dry wood, and set it all alight. But both methods are difficult. There’s no water source near the pass unless rain falls. Burning might shake morale, for those corpses are not rebels but our own Tang soldiers, many of them comrades of the survivors. To burn them could provoke anger or unrest among the ranks.”

“Hm…” Geshu Han mused, about to speak when a flurry of hoofbeats sounded outside. After a cry of “Report!” two men swiftly entered.

It was none other than Pang Zhong and Li Fude, just returned from securing the South Gate. Having handed over its defense to their deputies, they now reported back for further orders.

Once they confirmed the South Gate was under control, Yang Xi, without waiting for Geshu Han’s instructions, commanded Li Fude, “General Li, immediately take five hundred men outside the city and set an ambush at a strategic location to slow the rebel pursuit. Raise my banner! Remember, engage briefly—fire a few volleys of arrows, then withdraw. Order your deputy to lead a thousand men to another ambush site further off, and from there send a detachment to drag branches behind their horses, kicking up dust. Do this several times, then return to the city!”

Seeing Li Fude and Pang Zhong hesitate, Yang Xi patiently explained his reasoning—essentially, to stage an empty-city ruse, much like Emperor Taizong’s feigned strength at Yanmen Pass, so the rebels would believe reinforcements had arrived and be deterred from pressing their attack.

After this explanation, Li Fude finally understood, yet still hesitated—not out of defiance, but concern for Yang Xi’s safety. To him, the loss of Tong Pass was far less grave than failing to protect Yang Xi. If the young commander fell into Geshu Han’s hands, the consequences would be dire—Yang Guozhong would never forgive him.

He could not understand why Yang Xi would risk himself so, sending away the very forces he relied on. Both he and Liu Guangting, Yang Xi’s trusted commanders, were immediately dispatched on missions instead of kept close for protection—Li Fude to seize the South Gate, now to lay an ambush; Liu Guangting to rally stragglers outside the city.

With both away, who would defend Yang Xi within the city?

It was this concern that made Li Fude hesitate after receiving his orders.

Noticing Li Fude’s reluctance, Yang Xi’s face darkened. With a clang, he drew his sword and pointed it at Li Fude. “General Li, if you dare disobey, do not blame me for enforcing military law without mercy!”

“Yes, I obey, my lord!” Startled, Li Fude straightened and answered loudly.

“Remember—do not linger in combat, but do not let the rebels see through our ruse. Do all you can to delay their assault, or you will answer to me!”

“Yes, I will carry out my mission without fail!” With a bow, Li Fude strode out to make arrangements.