Chapter Nineteen: Lei Lixing Swiftly Assumes Command as Military Governor of Fanyang

“How did you manage to distill it?”
“We just boil it in an iron cauldron, but it’s very dangerous—fire often breaks out. Nearly every time we distill it, someone gets burned. Yet that substance is invaluable. We believe it’s something only the gods should possess, so we think the fire disasters that happen during distillation are divine punishments, forbidding us from having it too easily.”
My goodness, boiling gasoline in an iron pot—what kind of divine method is this? Gao Buyi was utterly astounded.
“Did we do something wrong?” Shangguan Peihui asked tentatively.
“Of course it’s wrong! Let me tell you…”
It took Gao Buyi half a day to explain to Shangguan Peihui why fires broke out every time they boiled petroleum.
“Your Majesty, how do you know all this?”
“Ha! Don’t you see my eyes have been opened to the heavens? I have an extraordinary talent granted by the gods.”
“Your Majesty’s knowledge is truly vast, I am in absolute awe.” Shangguan Peihui played along with his boasting in perfect harmony.
“Hahaha! Modesty, modesty! Once I have the time, I’ll establish a college—not to teach the classics of Confucius and Mencius, but to impart scientific and cultural knowledge.”
“Scientific and cultural knowledge?”
“Yes, using scientific language to describe the essence of all phenomena in nature, so that people can correctly understand the world and better adapt to their environment, and thus survive more effectively.”
“That’s so profound, I don’t understand at all.”
“That’s alright; when the time comes, you’ll be the student and I’ll be the teacher—I’ll teach you!”
“Wonderful, may I attend as well?” In truth, Shangguan Peihui was diligent and eager to learn.
“Of course you can! With such a beautiful female student, it’s pleasing to the eye. In fact, the concubines in the harem should attend, too. Instead of idling away in the palace, wasting their youth and overthinking, there’s a word that perfectly describes them.”
“What word?”
“Homebodies.”
“What does that mean?”
“It refers to women who stay at home all day doing nothing, letting their minds run wild.”
“Homebodies—how apt.” Shangguan Peihui said earnestly.
Gao Buyi went on to explain to Shangguan Peihui the principles behind many natural phenomena they encountered in daily life. She became utterly fascinated, and he, in turn, was deeply gratified—a beautiful and clever student like her was surely his to keep.

That very night, Wang Sizhong brought Gao Shi to Zhenzhou. Not daring to delay, he immediately beat the war drums to summon his officers.
General Wang sat in command with imposing presence. After three beats of the drum, the deputy generals reported, “General, all officers of the Divine Strategy Army and Hedong Army are present.”
“Good! Have the Divine Strategy Army gathered?” Wang Sizhong asked sternly.
“General, the fifty thousand of the Divine Strategy Army have assembled as ordered.”
Wang Sizhong nodded. “And the Hedong forces?”
“General, our main force of fifty thousand from Hedong is also assembled.”
“Excellent. Is An Lushan in Fanyang or Pinglu?”
“He is at his residence in Chongzhou, Pinglu.”
“Is this information reliable?”
“Reliable. Currently, Jia Xun serves as acting Military Commissioner in Youzhou, and there are sixty thousand Fanyang troops stationed there.”
“Good. Pass my order: All troops are to have a hearty meal. In two hours, the army marches. Wang Sili!”
“Here!”
“You will lead five thousand Divine Strategy troops as the vanguard. Clear the way for the main army, avoid main roads as much as possible. If you encounter checkpoints, simply state you are on an official border patrol.”
“At your command!”
“Move out immediately!”

“Yes!”
“Wei Boyu, you command forty thousand Divine Strategy troops as the rear guard. I will personally command the central force.”
“At your command!”
Two hours later, Wang Sizhong gave the order, “The army marches!”
The troops departed quietly, bits in the horses’ mouths, men with silence tokens between their teeth, heading towards Youzhou under cover of night.
They avoided the main roads wherever possible, and if they couldn’t, Wang Sizhong ordered an immediate exchange of garrisons, with the replaced troops closely watched and forbidden from leaving or contacting the outside until the main army reached Youzhou.
The gate garrisons, seeing Wang Sizhong’s imperial edict appointing him as Military Commissioner of Fanyang and Minister of War, as well as the emperor’s golden token, naturally obeyed.
The emperor’s token spared Wang Sizhong many troubles. Thanks to his meticulous planning, by nightfall he had already led the army to the outskirts of Youzhou.
“Halt! Who goes there?”
The Youzhou city commander, sensing faint tremors in the ground and glimpsing many shadows in the darkness, called out sharply. This was a border city, often raided by small enemy bands, so the commander was vigilant.
“It is I!” Wang Sizhong rode alone to the city gate.
The commander, seeing a Tang general’s uniform, relaxed slightly and shouted, “Forgive me, General. May I have your name and business? Our Military Commissioner has ordered that no one, no matter who, is to enter after sunset. If you have urgent business, I can report to him on your behalf.”
“I am the Minister of War and newly appointed Military Commissioner of Fanyang, Wang Sizhong.”
“Do you have proof?”
Wang Sizhong fell silent. He realized that even with proof, they would not come down to verify. An Lushan’s methods of managing his subordinates were quite effective—he had many adopted sons.
Just as Wang Sizhong pondered his reply, another voice called from the battlements, “What’s happening at the gate?”
“A man claiming to be Wang Sizhong, the Minister of War and new Military Commissioner of Fanyang, wishes to enter.”
“Nonsense! The Military Commissioner of Fanyang is my foster father. Shoot the imposter with arrows!”
“But sir, he is dressed as a Tang general.”
“Rubbish! The enemy often disguises themselves too. Where is he?”
“Below the gate.”
“I’ll see. Have the archers ready!”
“Yes!”
“Who are you below the gate?”
Recognizing the voice, Wang Sizhong called out, “Is that Commander Cui Qianyou?”
“It is I. Who are you, and how do you know my name?”
This man was one of An Lushan’s fifteen adopted sons, a fierce warrior, though known for his violent temper and for beating his own soldiers.
Wang Sizhong, realizing it was indeed him, ordered, “Light the torches!”
Instantly, the hundred thousand-strong army hidden in the darkness lit their torches, illuminating the night sky.
Faced with such a force, Cui Qianyou was startled. Wang Sizhong declared, “Cui Qianyou, the court has received secret intelligence that the Turks will soon attack the border. I have been dispatched to reinforce you by imperial order. Open the gates and summon your Military Commissioner to receive the decree.”
“So it’s General Wang Sizhong. For your information, our commander is not in Youzhou, but at his residence in Pinglu. Would you kindly wait outside the city while I report your arrival and await his return to receive the decree?”
“How dare you! Even An Lushan himself would not dare keep me waiting outside the gate, let alone a mere deputy. Do you intend to defy the imperial edict?”
“Please, General, do not be angry. I will come down and open the gates at once!”
Cui Qianyou then instructed his guards, “Quickly inform the deputy commissioner.”
“Yes!” The guard galloped into the city.
Cui Qianyou came down to the gate, where Wang Sizhong entered with his men.
Just as Cui Qianyou was about to greet them, Wang Sizhong signaled to Wang Sili and Wei Boyu, who each took a detachment into the city at speed, bearing Wang Sizhong’s writ and summoning all civil and military officials to the Military Commissioner’s residence while collecting their official seals and tokens.

“What are you doing, General?” Cui Qianyou shouted, sensing something was wrong.
“Must I report my every action to you? Gao Shi!”
“Here!”
“Take over city defenses!”
“Yes!”
“Who dares resist? Wang Sizhong, are you rebelling?”
“Open your eyes and see what this is!”
“The imperial edict?!”
“Indeed. As of now, I, Wang Sizhong, Minister of War and Military Commissioner of Fanyang, hold the emperor’s golden token, granting me full authority for expedient action. Will you not kneel?”
“I obey, General!”
“Gao Shi!”
“Here!”
“Replace all garrisons. Send orders under my seal: any troop in Fanyang territory that moves without my command is to be executed!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Commander Cui, come with me to the Military Commissioner’s residence.”
Cui Qianyou, though anxious and eager to warn An Lushan, could not leave given the circumstances. Just days before, his foster father had hinted at major court changes, and now the imperial army was before Youzhou, seizing control of the Fanyang troops—events were moving too fast.
With the situation now beyond his control, he decided to save his own neck first. He forced a smile and replied, “As you command!”
At the Military Commissioner’s residence, all city officials were assembled. Wang Sizhong addressed them, “I regret disturbing you from your rest so late, but the situation is urgent. Receive the imperial decree!”
“Long live the Emperor!”
“By mandate of Heaven, His Majesty proclaims: the peace of the frontiers is owed to the loyalty and valor of our Tang soldiers. Moved by the longing of their families, His Majesty specially grants the Minister of War, Commander of Shuofang, Hedong, and Fanyang, Wang Sizhong, the Golden Dragon Token, empowering him to act with full discretion. He is entrusted with all matters of garrison rotation between the Divine Strategy and border armies. Carry out these orders without error!”
“We obey! Long live the Emperor!”
“Rise, all of you. The decree is clear; the emperor’s orders are urgent, so I won’t say more. Wei Boyu!”
“Here!”
“Lead twenty thousand Divine Strategy troops to relieve the garrisons at Miyun and Yuyang. Order the fifteen thousand defenders there to report to Zhenzhou for further orders.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Wang Sili, Jia Xun!”
“Here!”
“From Youzhou’s sixty thousand, select thirty-five thousand elite Fanyang soldiers and combine them with forty thousand Hedong elites. Take them through Yunzhong back to Hedong for border patrol and intimidation of the enemy.”
“At once!”
“All others, perform your duties without error!”
“As ordered!”
To avoid any mishap, that very night Wang Sizhong selected three or four reliable men from the list provided by Pei An to take charge of Youzhou’s defenses. With their help, he quickly picked out thirty-five thousand Fanyang elites, who, along with forty thousand Hedong elites, set out that night under the command of Wang Sili and Jia Xun for Yunzhong.
Once there, these thirty-five thousand Fanyang elites and the fifteen thousand in Zhenzhou would be re-assigned by Li Guangbi and sent to garrison Hexi, Shuofang, and Hedong. From these three regions, fifty thousand would later be drawn back to defend Chang’an.