Chapter Twenty-Five: The Harder Battle Is Yet to Come

“Report to Commander Yang: General Li’s surprise attack was a success. Around five hundred rebel cavalry were slain, with only two of our own lost. General Li is leading his men back to the next ambush point, and for now, the rebels have halted their advance!”

A soldier rushed to deliver the latest news to Yang Xi.

“I understand,” Yang Xi replied coolly, waving the soldier away. He continued to gaze toward the southeast of Tong Pass, the direction where the ambush had just taken place.

Li Chengguang and Gao Shi, having completed their assignments, stood with Yang Xi atop the city gate tower. They had come to report on their latest deployments, and just as they finished, the soldier arrived in haste with news of Li Fude’s victorious ambush, his safe withdrawal after two charges, and the temporary halt of the rebel advance.

This news brought great delight to both Li Chengguang and Gao Shi, yet they could not discern any change of expression on Yang Xi’s face and could not help but feel surprised.

At last, Li Chengguang ventured carefully, “Commander Yang, why do you show no happiness at this news? Was General Li unable to accomplish your full plan?”

“Of course I am pleased,” Yang Xi replied, still not turning his head. His gaze remained fixed forward, and his tone was as calm as before. “General Li commanded admirably in this battle—not only did he deal a heavy blow to the rebel vanguard, causing panic among their ranks, he also ensured the safe withdrawal of our own men. Still, the death of five hundred cavalry cannot decide the outcome of this war—unless such victories are multiplied many times over. But this is a good beginning. General Li has rendered great service, and I shall report this to the court and request he be rewarded. The real trial for Tong Pass is yet to come; the reinforcements from the court will not arrive swiftly. Even if we win another victory, we must not grow complacent. Only if the rebels suffer a grievous defeat beneath these walls and are forced to retreat with heavy losses—only then may we celebrate our triumph.”

Hearing these words, Li Chengguang and Gao Shi finally relaxed. So the new commander was thinking ahead, not counting this small victory as anything significant. Such breadth of vision was hardly common in one so young.

After glancing briefly at the two men beside him, Yang Xi continued, “In the end, the rebels will realize that our scattered ambushes are merely buying time. Once they see through our plan, they will launch an all-out assault on the city. As things stand, Han Tong Pass cannot be held. Eventually, all our forces outside will have to withdraw to this stronghold. Whether we can bring them back safely and withstand the rebel attack will depend on you, General Li and General Gao.”

“We will not fail you, Commander Yang!” Li Chengguang and Gao Shi pledged one after the other, expressing their resolve and confidence.

Indeed, they already felt some measure of respect for Yang Xi, even admiration, all due to his conduct since arriving at Tong Pass. Who else could have led three thousand troops in a forced march of more than two hundred li from afternoon through midnight, arriving in time to slay Huoba Guiren—the rebel who tried to seize Marshal Geshu Han—then immediately reorganize the defenses, reassure the officers, and forgo holding anyone to account? And now, after first contact with the enemy, he had achieved the first victory. Anyone would be impressed.

Were Yang Xi not the son of Yang Guozhong, he would have won even more recognition and respect. Yang Xi knew this well, but there was nothing to be done—if he were not Yang Guozhong’s son, he would not have had command at Tong Pass, nor would any of this have come to pass. Some things in life are mutually exclusive; one cannot have it all.

Noticing Yang Xi’s calm figure still watching the east, Gao Shi could not help but ask, “Commander Yang, if our ambushes continue to succeed and we manage to slow the rebels’ advance, should we send reinforcements to General Pang at Old Tong Pass, trying to hold the enemy there?” He did not agree with Yang Xi’s earlier assertion that Han Tong Pass could not be held, hoping instead that more forces would be dispatched to defend it, keeping the rebels at bay as in the months before.

Yang Xi turned and, for once, smiled at Gao Shi. “General Gao, if we committed the forces of Tong Pass to defend Han Tong Pass, we might hold it for a time, but the risk would be enormous, with no path of retreat. If, by ill chance, we failed to hold, our army would collapse in an instant, and there would be no chance to fall back and defend this stronghold. That is why Marshal Geshu, after his defeat, chose to abandon Han Tong Pass and retreat here. Given Tong Pass’s terrain, so long as the natural barrier of the Forbidden Ditch endures and our men fight as one, we will hold. Therefore, we cannot send troops to aid General Pang; we need only bring his and General Li’s forces back to safety.”

In truth, the historical loss of Tong Pass after the defeat at Lingbao was closely tied to Huoba Guiren’s seizure of Geshu Han and his forced surrender. Had that not occurred, perhaps the pass would not have fallen so swiftly—if at all. Now, with Huoba Guiren dead, Geshu Han still commanding atop the walls, and this new commander’s timely arrival with fresh troops, how could history repeat itself? Besides, Chen Xuanli was even now marching to reinforce Tong Pass.

“I understand,” Gao Shi replied, somewhat enlightened, though something still weighed on his mind—a feeling he could not quite articulate.

Yang Xi asked nothing further, staring silently into the distance. He could not help but wish for a high-powered military telescope to observe the enemy’s movements more closely. Alas, his soul alone had crossed over—no useful tools had come with him.

By now, the sun had leapt above the horizon. As the first rays spilled over the earth, warmth began to return. Li Chengguang invited Yang Xi to rest within the tower and take some breakfast, but Yang Xi declined.

He chose to remain where he was and had his meal brought to him, eating while standing watch.

There was no shortage of supplies within Tong Pass; the granaries were overflowing, enough to feed ten thousand soldiers for half a year. Both Geshu Han and Yang Xi had given orders to ensure the defenders were well fed—no man was to fight on an empty stomach. Only with full bellies could the troops keep their strength, and with strength, they could slay the enemy.

Even as Yang Xi received his report, the commanders at every part of the wall—including Geshu Han—learned of Li Fude’s successful ambush and safe retreat after two charges. This modest victory, after a recent devastating defeat, revived the spirits of the Tang soldiers, especially the leading generals; the confidence they had nearly lost slowly returned.

But all knew the hardest battles were yet to come.