Page:Frank Owen - The Scarlett Hill, 1941.djvu/328

RV 323 (VICTORY) to keep their hold on their troops. When there is an emergency, troops usually hang together. That was the way An Lu-shan reasoned. His own troops must be worn out with war in order that they might lose their thirst for conquest. Therefore he marched on the strong fortress of Tung Kuan, guarding the historic pass between Loyang and Changan.

Anticipating this move, the Emperor had ordered General Ko-shu-han, who was Governor of Kansuh and part of Turkestan, to proceed with all speed to take command of the garrison at Tung Kuan. The General's forces had reached their positions long before the arrival of the army of An Lu-shan, who moved forward slowly, engaging in numerous small battles along the way. It was his established plan to subdue all towns through which he passed so that troops might be moved around easily and not be in danger of either a flank or rear attack. He had no qualms about resorting to complete ruthlessness. The rights of small villages were not worth considering. His creed was that righteousness lay in strength, and no crime was more acute than weakness. He had played the part of a buffoon to gain position and power. Now they were his. He was a buffoon no longer. Only in one thing had he been sincere. His love for Yang Kuei-fei was beyond reasoning. Cleverly he had devised a plan that would inveigle his way into Imperial favor. But Yang Kuei-fei, without resorting to pretext, solely through the warmth of her smile and her fragile tenderness had played havoc with his plans. Thereafter she became so enmeshed in RV 323 (323)