Chapter Thirty-Three: The Raising of the Banner

Bian Lingcheng, of course, had no idea that Yang Xi had already set his sights on his head.

At this moment, Bian Lingcheng felt a slight sense of relief, a sensation akin to surviving a catastrophe. During his flight, he had learned of the imperial decree appointing Yang Xi as the Military Commander of Tongguan, replacing Ge Shuhan in charge of military affairs at Tongguan. This news had set his mind at ease and was, in fact, the most important reason for his return to Tongguan.

“Your subordinate greets Commander Yang,” he said.

Noticing Yang Xi’s cold demeanor towards him, Bian Lingcheng felt a wave of unease rise within him, yet he still stepped forward and saluted.

He had always maintained a good relationship with Yang Guozhong, and had dealt with several of Yang Guozhong’s sons as well. His acquaintance with Yang Xi was somewhat superficial, but not unfriendly. Yet on seeing Yang Xi today, a sense of dread took root in his heart. Yang Xi carried himself with an imposing air, his face exuding an unmistakable aura of menace.

Yang Xi straightened his back, planted himself before Bian Lingcheng, and questioned him with a tone of authority: “General Bian, answer me—where have you just come from?”

Bian Lingcheng, the supervising eunuch of the two hundred thousand troops at Tongguan, also held the title of Left Gate General, for which reason everyone referred to him as “General Bian.”

Yang Xi truly could not fathom why Li Longji placed such trust in eunuchs. Gao Lishi had been granted exceedingly high posts, even made a duke and grand general, and was ubiquitously addressed as “Grand General Gao.” Now, even someone like Bian Lingcheng, a eunuch, held the title of Gate General.

To call a “rootless” eunuch a general was, to his mind, utterly intolerable.

In the early years of the Tang dynasty, eunuchs had no voice whatsoever in state affairs. Only from the reign of Li Longji did eunuchs begin to meddle in politics, growing ever bolder and finally becoming a cancer on the empire, so powerful that even the fate of the emperor often lay in their hands. This thought filled Yang Xi’s heart with profound disgust.

Down with the eunuchs! This was a mission he would pursue in the days to come.

At Yang Xi’s question, Bian Lingcheng looked uneasy, but steeled himself and replied, “Commander Yang, after our defeat at Lingbao, your subordinate fought desperately to resist but found it futile. I had no choice but to withdraw, and was swept from Tongguan by the retreating soldiers. Upon hearing that the court had dispatched you to urgently reinforce Tongguan, I at once hastened back to the city!”

Observing Bian Lingcheng’s manner, the other commanders fixed their eyes upon him. Yang Xi, adopting a mocking expression, said, “So, General Bian, you had already arrived at Tongguan, but believing it could not be held, you abandoned the city and fled, is that it? And only when you learned that the court had ordered me to lead reinforcements, did you think the city could yet be defended, and so you returned? Is that not so?”

Bian Lingcheng grew even more embarrassed. He stole a glance at Yang Xi, then shook his head. “Commander Yang, I never intended to abandon Tongguan. It was the chaos among the retreating troops that forced me out! I am well aware of my duty, and wished to return swiftly to Chang’an to report the reasons for our defeat at Lingbao to His Majesty and petition for reinforcements!”

His evasions drew the contempt of the assembled officers; many even spat discreetly in disgust.

They had seen shameless men before, but never one like Bian Lingcheng, who fled for his own life while painting himself as a hero.

Yang Xi did not spit at him, but instead donned a smile, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced in circles, his tone still mocking: “General Bian, if everyone were like you, eager to run to Chang’an for reinforcements, Tongguan would have long since fallen to the rebels, and none of us would be standing here today. Do you truly imagine anyone believes your claim that you did not flee the battlefield out of cowardice?”

“Ah?!” Bian Lingcheng exclaimed, looking blankly at Yang Xi, whose face had grown cold. He was at a loss for words.

Yang Xi strode up to him, towering over him, and asked in an icy tone, “General Bian, as the army’s supervising officer, you must surely know the penalty for cowardice and desertion in the face of the enemy. Generals Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi were executed for that very crime—were you not the one who compiled the charges against them?”

Without waiting for a reply, Yang Xi turned to Ge Shuhan, whose face was a study in conflicting emotions, and asked, “Marshal Ge Shu, what is the penalty for cowardice and desertion in the face of the enemy?”

“Death without pardon!” Ge Shuhan replied, his expression grim.

“Exactly! I have just decreed that any soldier who displays cowardice, deserts, rebels, or surrenders to the enemy shall be executed without mercy!” Yang Xi’s words now bristled with murderous intent. His eyes, cold as steel, bored into the trembling Bian Lingcheng as he pronounced, “As the supervising officer of this army, when our forces were routed, you did nothing to help the commander resist the enemy or rally the fleeing troops, but only cared for your own escape. According to military law, you deserve to be beheaded!”

Terrified by Yang Xi’s outburst, Bian Lingcheng dropped to his knees before him with a thud, kowtowing and pleading, “Commander Yang, I know I was wrong! I did not desert the battlefield—I truly intended to return to Chang’an for reinforcements! When I heard you were coming to the rescue, I returned at once! Commander Yang, I have always been on good terms with your esteemed father. For his sake, spare my life! I will confess to His Majesty and Chancellor Yang myself and accept whatever punishment they see fit!”

Yang Xi stepped back two paces to distance himself from Bian Lingcheng, then ordered two soldiers to seize him. When Bian Lingcheng was forced to look up, Yang Xi continued, “Bian Lingcheng, as the supervising eunuch, you have betrayed the emperor’s trust. During the deployment of the army, you constantly meddled, disregarded orders, and repeatedly slandered the commanding generals Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi, resulting in their execution and the demoralization of the troops. You frequently reported to the court that Marshal Ge Shu harbored ulterior motives, further destabilizing the army’s morale. It was due to your persistent advice that His Majesty and Chancellor Yang believed our forces could defeat the enemy outside the city, which led to the disastrous decision to order Marshal Ge Shu to sally forth, resulting in the catastrophic defeat at Lingbao. You must bear full responsibility for this failure. If you are not executed, Heaven itself will not permit it!”

Ge Shuhan and the other commanders stood dumbfounded. In a few deft words, Yang Xi had shifted all blame for the defeat at Lingbao onto Bian Lingcheng. Who could have anticipated such a turn?

With a clang, Yang Xi drew his sword and pointed it at the ashen-faced Bian Lingcheng. “Bian Lingcheng, this is the imperial sword bestowed upon me by His Majesty, with which I am authorized to execute any who defy orders, display cowardice, or plot rebellion. Already, Prince Huoba Guiren of Yanshan has fallen to this blade; you shall be the second!”

He cast a proud glance at the stunned Ge Shuhan and the other generals, then proclaimed in a loud voice, “As the supervising officer of the army and Left Gate General, Bian Lingcheng, in the hour of our forces’ rout, not only failed to assist the commander in rallying the troops and mounting a resistance, but also abandoned his men to save himself, passed through Tongguan without so much as a pause, and neglected to defend the city’s natural barrier. His crimes are beyond pardon! To prevent any further incidents of cowardice or desertion among our commanders, I have decided to execute Bian Lingcheng before the assembled army, as a warning to all. Guards, drag Bian Lingcheng outside Tongguan and behead him in full view of the troops!”

With those words, he tossed his sword before Bian Lingcheng. He would make an example of him, using his head to inspire the troops and establish his own authority.