Chapter Eight Mist and Moon over Fourteen Provinces in One's Prime (II)

　　Thus it is said:

　　A grief that spans the ages, yet a jest of the spring breeze;

　　Fragments of annals recall the heroes—who now stirs for fame or rank?

　　It was told that the envoy from Goguryeo had lingered within the Tang realm for many a month, yet no imperial edict had reached him from the Son of Heaven. Burning with anxiety, he demanded of the relay-station officials, “I have waited at this post these many months—when will the Heavenly Kaghan deign to summon me?”

　　The official answered coolly, “How could we servants presume to divine the sovereign’s mind? If the august will is that you remain here and wait, then we shall wait as bidden.”

　　With those words the clerk turned and busied himself, and the envoy, seeing no hope, returned to his country after a few days.

　　He reported his failure to Quán Nánshēng. Quán Nánshēng (Quán Nánshēng — eldest son of Gai Suwen’s house) listened, and in despair threw up his hands toward heaven: “Truly heaven has forsaken us.”

　　Quán Nánshēng—styled Yuande—was the eldest son of the powerful minister Gai Suwen, born in Pyongyang. At nine he held the petty office of xiān rén, at fifteen rose to minor captain, at eighteen to senior captain, and by twenty-three he had become chief of the middle order; by twenty he had already borne the title of general, and at twenty-eight acted as commander-in-chief of the three armies. His rise had seemed smooth as a favored current.

　　Days passed and no succor came. Seeing no hope, Quán Nánshēng issued a levy upon neighboring counties: all males reaching the age of fourteen were to be pressed for service. In one day three thousand men were raised, and with the remnants of previous levies his forces swelled to over ten thousand. The next day he marched with them to decide battle with Quán Nánjiàn.

　　Yet the commanders under him were talkers rather than men of action; on the march their arrogance led them into stratagem. Before the clash was joined they broke and were swallowed by the sands—ten thousand horse and foot were slain in an instant, and the responsible generals, seeing their guilt, slew themselves upon the field.

　　Quán Nánshēng, witnessing this disaster, summoned an envoy and said, “When you go to the Tang, plead with courtesy for aid. If the Heavenly Kaghan will send troops, I shall at once submit and serve the Tang.”

　　The envoy set forth bearing this charge and, understanding the weight upon his shoulders, set about the Tang court’s corridors. Though Gaozong had previously been disposed to help, the officials contrived an answer to comfort the envoy: “We know your urgency; we have informed the Sovereign, and when the throne is raised tomorrow he will surely receive you.”

　　The envoy rejoiced and thanked them.

　　The morrow came and the envoy was summoned before Gaozong. He bowed and wept: “Sire, not long past our monarch passed away; in the ensuing instability Quán Nánjiàn and Quán Nánchǎn rose in rebellion, seizing the chance to kill the late sovereign’s son Quán Xiànzhōng and set themselves as mo-lí-zhī in defiance. My lord has been forced back into the old city and begs the Heavenly Kaghan to dispatch aid—if Your Majesty will send troops, my lord will submit the realm to Tang.”

　　Gaozong, hearing this, was enraged: “These two have flouted Heaven and man; they deserve to be struck down by both gods and men.”

　　He bade Huangfu Changbo (Huangfu Changbo — Minister of Rites) to draft a proclamation of their crimes so that the whole world might know their enormities.

　　Huangfu answered, “I obey.”

　　Though Gaozong fulminated against Quán Nánjiàn and Quán Nánchǎn, he did not immediately proclaim an expedition.

　　Soon after the formal audience, the envoy asked Zhang Wenguan (Zhang Wenguan — chancellor) point-blank, “When will the Heavenly Kaghan send troops to relieve my lord?”

　　Zhang considered and replied evasively, “The Sovereign has suffered a recent malady of the eyes; the imperial physicians cannot yet cure it, so he has not yet been able to see envoys in person. You must first convince the Sovereign of your master’s sincerity before troops will move.”

　　The envoy understood that his petition had been rebuffed and left with a heavy heart.

　　Again the envoy returned without success. On the frontier, however, Quán Nánjiàn’s forces continued to press forward. Seeing that the city would soon stand besieged, Quán Nánshēng once more levied boys of twelve across the counties to raise five thousand fresh troops; joined with the survivors they swelled to twenty thousand and prepared to repel the assault in person.

　　Quán Nánjiàn, hearing this, smiled and ordered Quán Nánchǎn to join him in the field. Quán Nánchǎn obeyed; their two armies advanced together toward Quán Nánshēng.

　　Quán Nánshēng judged the matter simple: the sovereign’s presence would greatly raise his men’s morale, and since Quán Nánjiàn and Quán Nánchǎn had been fighting long they must be exhausted. He believed the final battle would sweep them away like withered stalks.

　　Soon a scout returned with news: the enemy’s two columns were meeting in a hollow. The vanguard general urged, “My lord, the rebels have gathered in this low ground as if seeking their doom—Heaven favors us. Let me lead two thousand men and strike them; within half a day I will break their host and bring Quán Nánjiàn and Quán Nánchǎn bound before you.”

　　Quán Nánshēng consented and sent the vanguard forward; he followed with the main force.

　　But the vanguard met Quán Nánchǎn and after a few exchanges fled in rout into the low ground. Quán Nánshēng, thinking each victory now before him, led the main army in pursuit. Unbeknownst to him, this was the bait of Quán Nánjiàn and Quán Nánchǎn: Quán Nánchǎn feigned a crushing defeat to lure his foes into the trap; Quán Nánjiàn’s outer host lay in ambush.

　　Wood and stone tumbled, and a rain of arrows fell—Quán Nánshēng’s host suffered appalling casualties. Only by the loyal courage of the palace troops was a bloody passage opened for Quán Nánshēng’s escape.

　　Quán Nánshēng returned to the city and could not sleep. In despair he summoned his son Quán Xiànchéng and charged him: “Previous envoys begged for aid in vain. You must now go with proper bearing and secure succor to relieve your father.”

　　Quán Xiànchéng vowed, “I will not fail. I will bear gold and gifts and cross mountains and rivers to reach Chang’an’s Hanyuan Palace.”

　　Quán Xiànchéng arrived at court, presented himself before Gaozong, and laid out the case.

　　Gaozong exclaimed, “If our ministers had but spoken sooner and set forces forth, your father would not be in peril. I will now at once dispatch troops to relieve the inner city.”

　　Hearing this, Quán Xiànchéng wept for joy upon the palace floor and thanked the Sovereign.

　　Gaozong thereupon appointed Qie Heli (契何力) as envoy and pacifier to Liaodong, named Pang Tongshan (Pang Tongshan) of the Right Golden Guard and Gao Kan (Gao Kan) of Yingzhou as march commanders to lead twenty thousand men against Quán Nánjiàn. Quán Xiànchéng himself was made Right Martial Guard General and assigned as guide to the force.

　　Speeding like a meteor, come the ninth month Pang Tongshan, Gao Kan, and Quán Xiànchéng reached the border bearing the imperial rescript. The border commander, finding messengers at the gate, asked the usual question, “Who comes, and have you authority to enter?”

　　Pang answered, “I am Pang Tongshan of the Right Golden Guard, bearing the Sovereign’s edict—open the gates and send your chief commander to receive the orders!”

　　The frontier guard unlatched the gate at once and welcomed them in, while a runner was sent to summon the Grand Commander Li Ji.

　　Li Ji (Li Ji—also rendered Li Shiji) was a renowned general of the Tang, born of the Xu clan of Gaoping; once of the Wagang band, he later came to serve Li Mi and then surrendered to the Tang. He had served three reigns—Gaozu, Taizong, and Gaozong—and been richly honored, even granted the imperial surname Li. Celebrated as one of the twenty-four merit ministers of Lingyan Pavilion, he had held high posts in the military and civil administration, and was a peerless strategist.

　　When Li Ji arrived and received the imperial orders, he mustered his troops and set forth that day.

　　Li Ji’s prowess equaled that of the godly general Li Jing—he stormed forts and took cities as if plucking fruits. In short time he captured the western fortress of Xincheng.

　　After taking Xincheng, Li Ji left Pang Tongshan and Gao Kan to secure the place, and pressed onward, seizing sixteen cities of Goguryeo. He advanced to Quán Nánjiàn’s gates and arrayed a mighty formation; Quán Nánjiàn sent forth his great general Gao Sheji to meet the Tang foe.

　　Gao Sheji was a tall, handsome warrior of formidable talent—especially skilled in mounted archery. He rode forth with an eighteen-foot serpentine spear upon a coal-black steed, clad in full armor, a figure both stately and awe-inspiring.

　　He led his men out and called, “Name your general!”

　　Li Ji rode forward and proclaimed, “I am Li Ji of the Tang—lay down your arms and spare defeat.”

　　Gao Sheji, hearing Li Ji’s name, jeered, “Marquis Li speaks bravely. I have never known defeat in battle; if I fall, what shall become of your fame? Moreover, we Goguryeo have been allies with Tang—your coming now is perfidy!”

　　A Tang deputy spat, “Traitor scum who rebel against the crown and oppress your lord in the old city! We act by the Sovereign’s command to put right the world. Dismount and surrender.”

　　Gao Sheji retorted, “It was the Tang who broke treaty and attacked our lord; you would lecture of Heaven’s will?” and with that led his host into Li Ji’s array.

　　Li Ji’s formation was subtle and cunning. Gao Sheji’s entry soon turned bloody; through fierce fighting many fell, and only by desperate valor did Tang soldiers enable Gao Sheji to escape.

　　Humiliated, Gao Sheji returned to the city and related the defeat. Quán Nánjiàn, hearing that he could not stand Li Ji body to body, grew anxious. Gao Sheji then proposed a stratagem: “Let us mirror the stratagem of besieging Wei to relieve Zhao. Send raiding forces upon Xincheng; the garrison there will not be made of Li Ji’s equal—facing sudden peril they will cry out to Li Ji for aid. Li Ji must then march back to relieve them.”

　　Quán Nánjiàn approved and sent neighboring commanders to strike at Xincheng.

　　Pang Tongshan and Gao Kan had been dispatched to support Li Ji. When their army reached Jinshan they met the raiding force and, unprepared, suffered heavy losses. Seeing the turn, Pang Tongshan sent urgent cry for help to Xue Rengui (Xue Rengui — also called Xue Li, famed general).

　　Xue Rengui, of noble pedigree, had served from the very end of the Sui into the Tang. Promoted by Taizong, he had fought and triumphed for decades—smashing the Nine Surname Tiele and routing the Turks—earning renown and high office under Gaozong.

　　At the call Xue Rengui rode five columns hard and fast to Jinshan and that night linked with Pang Tongshan’s forces. They met the raiders, utterly routed them; Xue slew over fifty thousand and took three cities—Nansuo, Mudi, and Canyan. That night their forces joined Quán Nánshēng’s host in camp.

　　By the next day the three armies were united and Quán Nánjiàn’s force was routed; Quán Nánjiàn and Gao Sheji were taken and brought to Chang’an for judgment.

　　Meanwhile, at Hanyuan Palace Gaozong convened his chancellors to deliberate Goguryeo matters. Zhang Wenguan urged, “Sire: now is Heaven’s appointed chance to subdue Goguryeo—do not let it slip.”

　　The council agreed: this was the providential moment to destroy Goguryeo.

　　Gaozong therefore decreed Quán Nánshēng be made Special Advanced Commander of Liaodong, Prefect and Pacification Envoy of Pyongyang, and ennobled as Duke of Xuantu—to remove suspicion and bind him to Tang.

　　After the ceremony Gaozong held an inquiry into Quán Nánjiàn and Gao Sheji. Quán Nánjiàn was detained in Luoyang; because Gao Sheji had talent Gaozong demoted him to a post on the western frontier, in charge of the Hexi troops to make merit and restore his name.

　　Gao Sheji, feeling loyalty to his old lord, elected to be held in the same place as Quán Nánjiàn rather than abandon him. Gaozong dispatched Liu Xiangdao repeatedly to persuade him to yield.

　　One day Liu came to the place of confinement. From afar he heard Gao Sheji say in a lofty tone, “If you persist in urging surrender, then go back the way you came. My mind is set; there is no need for further admonition.”

　　Liu approached and replied, “Your talent is treasured by the Sovereign—if lord and minister accord, is that not Heaven’s will?”

　　Gao Sheji sneered, “The Heavenly Kaghan breaks treaties with neighboring realms and attacks my liege—where is the Heaven you cite?”

　　Liu rejoined, “You mistake; Quán Nánshēng is the true line—Quán Nánjiàn has rebelled and stolen the post. Quán Nánshēng has repeatedly entreated us and the Sovereign has acted to enact justice. We pity you; why not yield?”

　　Seizing the moment Liu continued, “If you think not of yourself then think of your family; yield and your clan will prosper under the Sovereign. If you remain imprisoned, the Sovereign may treat your household as traitors. Consider well.”

　　Saying this, Liu turned to go.

　　Gao Sheji called, “Wait, Liu! Are your words true?”

　　Liu answered, “I act by the Sovereign’s command—how could I falsify it?”

　　Hearing this, Gao Sheji kowtowed and asked that Liu speak a good word for him before the Sovereign.

　　After these courtesies Liu returned with Gao Sheji to report to Gaozong. The Emperor was pleased and drank with them.

　　That month, as Tang prepared for war with Goguryeo, the internal state kept many busier than usual. Liu Xiangdao died in service at the age of seventy-one; Gaozong posthumously named him Governor of Youzhou and accorded him the posthumous title Xuan.

　　In the following winter—twelfth month—Gaozong appointed Li Ji as the supreme march commander for the Liaodong expedition, with Sima official Shechangbo (a minister) and others as his deputies, readying for the opportune moment.

　　In the year after, Gaozong again named Pang Tongshan and Qie Heli as joint supreme march commanders and pacification envoys for Liaodong; the combined land-and-water forces’ commanders and commissaries—for grain and transport, among them Dou Yiji, Dugu Qingyun, Guo Daifeng—were put under Li Ji’s direction, sworn to subdue Goguryeo once and for all.