Chapter 26: The Army Presses Toward the Eastern Capital

When Li Wenyuan returned to his unit, he was still pondering Su Wei’s words. The plan was to drive the rebels away, not to annihilate them—wasn’t this just a superficial project to make the Eastern Capital appear peaceful before the emperor’s return? But on second thought, Yang Guang’s carriage would soon arrive in the Eastern Capital. If they could lift the siege before his arrival, making the rebel forces vanish from sight, it would certainly please him. Su Wei had survived the turbulent transitions from Northern Zhou to the Great Sui, his decades in officialdom owed to his steadfast support for Yang Guang against the gentry, which allowed him to weather every storm.

Lost in thought, Li Wenyuan’s troops arrived at the Yellow River. He ordered the men to rest and await the ferries. The soldiers dismounted, watered their horses, fed them bean cakes, and then sat down to recover. Li Wenyuan and Zhang Juntao found a seat on a large green stone beneath a tree, cleared by the troops. Li Wenyuan asked, “Juntai, what do you think is the best way to drive off these rebels?”

Zhang Juntao, chewing on some dry rations, replied, “General, yesterday the scouts brought word that Wei Xuan’s force of over seventy thousand, at the command of Prince Dai, Yang You, has already come through Hangu Pass to relieve the Eastern Capital.”

“But the scouts also reported that yesterday, Fan Zigai, the commander left in charge of the Eastern Capital, sent Da Xi Shanyi, Prefect of Henan, with five thousand garrison troops south to repel Yang Jishan, and Pei Hongce, Prefect of Henan County, led eight thousand north against Yang Xuanting. These two columns are the main forces of Yang Xuangan, while the central force advancing along the official road is merely a feint.” As he spoke, Li Wenyuan traced lines on the ground with a branch.

“Fan Zigai saw the situation clearly. His intent was to defeat these two flanking forces with the garrison troops, then concentrate strength to crush Yang Xuangan’s main army, thereby dissolving the siege as if it had never existed. But alas…”

Zhang Juntao, who had heard the details from the scouts, continued, “Alas, the garrison has not seen real combat in the thirty years since the founding of the Great Sui. Though considered elite, they have become corrupted by the decadent pleasures of the capital. Especially the Da Xi contingent—stationed at Hanwang Monastery, when they saw Yang Jishan’s smaller force, they dared not fight and fled back to the capital, abandoning large amounts of armor and equipment to the rebels.”

Li Wenyuan nodded. “Indeed, compared to the troops who fought at Goguryeo, these garrison soldiers can hardly be called soldiers at all. Still, Pei Hongce seems competent, able to lead these men into battle against Yang Xuanting’s forces.”

“True. Though he lost five battles in a row, to rally routed troops and form up again is no small feat,” Zhang Juntao remarked with admiration.

“But now, with the thousands of suits of armor and weapons captured from the defeated garrison, Yang Xuangan’s army has become a tough adversary. What’s more, these victories have attracted many strong young men from the surrounding area to join, swelling his ranks into a formidable force,” Li Wenyuan said, frowning.

Zhang Juntao shook his head. “General, you may not realize—the Eastern Capital is a newly built city, with strong walls and broad moats. Without siege equipment, it cannot be taken. Most of the empire’s siege engines were taken by His Majesty for the Goguryeo campaign. With none in Yang Xuangan’s hands, the siege poses no real danger despite appearances.”

At that moment, a scout returned: “General Lai Huer’s army has arrived at the Yellow River and joined forces with General Qutu Tong.”

Another scout reported: “General Yuwen Shu is also nearby, and Tiger Guard Captain Chen Leng has taken Liyang.”

Li Wenyuan smiled at Zhang Juntao. “Now the rebels truly are rootless weeds adrift. The situation is in our favor.” He then set about preparing to cross the river.

Meanwhile, Yang Xuangan had learned from his subordinates that Liyang had fallen and several armies returning from Goguryeo were closing in on him. Uneasy, he sent for Li Zixiong to discuss the crisis.

Li Zixiong entered the tent to find Yang Xuangan pacing nervously. Seeing him, Yang Xuangan pleaded, “Sir, save me.”

Li Zixiong helped him to a seat and said, “Duke of Chu, do not be anxious. Old General Qutu Tong is a seasoned warrior—if he crosses the Yellow River and joins with Wei Xuan’s force, our army will surely be defeated. It would be better to split our forces to defend the river: as long as Qutu Tong cannot cross, both Wei Xuan’s army and the Eastern Capital remain isolated and vulnerable to us.”

Just then, Fan Zigai, having executed Pei Hongce and Da Xi Shanyi in the garrison camp, addressed the others: “The rebels are at our gates, yet these two men, rather than sharing the emperor’s burdens, showed cowardice in the face of the enemy and threw our ranks into chaos before battle, causing grave losses of arms and supplies. I have executed them today to warn you all: fight bravely, and when His Majesty returns I will ensure you are rewarded. If you shrink from battle, do not blame us if your heads are offered as a sacrifice to the banners!”

Thus, by wielding both incentives and threats, Fan Zigai managed to restore the morale of the garrison. Soon, sentries on the city walls reported that a detachment of rebel troops was advancing towards the Yellow River.

Fan Zigai laughed. “Ha! Old General Qutu Tong must be arriving with reinforcements. The rebels outside the walls are surely splitting their forces to hold the river. Men, follow me out of the city to pin the rebels down. When General Qutu Tong arrives, the rebel army will collapse without a fight. After the battle, we shall reward the valiant and punish the cowards!”

He personally led five thousand garrison troops out to attack Yang Xuangan’s main camp. Inspired by his mix of threats and rewards, the garrison fought with unexpected courage. Under their fierce assault, the newly recruited young rebels could not hold and broke ranks. Yang Xuangan was forced to recall the troops he had sent towards the river. Once his forces returned, Fan Zigai withdrew his own men back inside the capital, closed the gates, and refused further engagement.

Yang Xuangan led his troops to pursue them to the city walls, but was met by a hail of arrows from the defenders, losing dozens of men and retreating in frustration. Thus, whenever Yang Xuangan sent troops to guard the river, Fan Zigai would sortie from the city; when he recalled his men, Fan Zigai would retreat behind the walls and hold his ground.

Seeing the predicament, Li Mi said to Li Zixiong, “Go and persuade the Duke of Chu—there’s still time to withdraw west. Delay any longer and we’ll be beyond saving.”

Li Zixiong asked, “Why don’t you go yourself, sir?”

Li Mi replied, “Would the Duke listen to me now? He rose in revolt without a plan for victory; at this rate, the court will capture us all and behead us. That’s why I have tried to save your life—already, from the affair of Wei Fusi, it’s clear the Duke is distancing himself from me.”

Li Zixiong asked, “Then, sir, you propose we withdraw west and occupy Guanzhong?”

Li Mi nodded. The mountain passes of Guanzhong and Longxi are natural barriers, easy to defend and hard to attack. If they could establish a foothold there and patiently scheme for the heartland, it might offer a way to escape their present desperate straits.