The competition has concluded.

Because Li Zhi was too short in stature, Yu Shinan read his poem aloud on his behalf. Although the crowd could not discern the quality of the poem, it was, after all, the first piece presented in the poetry contest. Everyone cheered excitedly. The soldiers of the Dragon Cavalry understood the poem on a deeper level, especially several officers led by Su Lie. Having received some education, they could more clearly appreciate the poem’s imagery. The poem reminded Su Lie and the others of their own experiences fighting at the frontier. For a moment, it was as if they were once again standing amid the swirling yellow sands of Yumen Pass, with enemy soldiers before them and an endless wilderness behind. They keenly felt the loneliness of the border guards, the harsh environment surrounding them, and the desperate resolve of facing the enemy alone. From this poem, they saw that His Highness the Jin King understood them and truly cared for them. At that moment, they were deeply moved and resolved to follow the Jin King to the death. Li Zhi did not know what this poem had brought him, but after writing it, he did wish to do something for the border troops of the Great Tang. A few other scholars later composed poems as well, but compared to this timeless "Marching to War," their works fell far short. Thus, unsurprisingly, Li Zhi took first place once again, becoming the brightest jewel of the contest. Li Tai quietly left the Lotus Garden, feeling disheartened. This contest shattered his pride completely and made him fully realize Li Zhi’s formidable talent. For him, Li Zhi’s strength was terrifying. He could not imagine how a child who had studied only two years could so easily crush him. He had always considered himself the most learned among the princes.

In the past, he had not even regarded other scholars in the empire. Yet today, not only had he failed to surpass Li Zhi, but he was also not as outstanding as he had imagined compared to other scholars. Especially during the final poetry contest, he did not even have the courage to finish his poem when facing Li Zhi’s composition. Li Tai truly felt as if he had struck his own foot with a stone. He knew his performance would soon reach the ears of the Emperor, and by then, he would likely lose the only advantage he held in his father’s eyes—his literary talent. Halfway along his way, Li Tai was gripped by panic, sensing that everything he had done so far had only brought him endless trouble. Meanwhile, Li Zhi was celebrating with the soldiers of the Dragon Cavalry. The soldiers rejoiced in Li Zhi’s outstanding achievement, but he valued their training results even more. After more than a year of rigorous training, the Dragon Cavalry had been completely transformed—from a group of inexperienced youths into a spirited and formidable force. Although Li Zhi did not yet know their exact combat strength, he could see their confidence shining through their demeanor. He conversed at length with Su Lie and others, meeting many outstanding soldiers, among them Xue Li—later famed as General Xue Rengui—who, though a bit shy and often blushing at Li Zhi’s teasing, had earned high praise from Su Lie as one of the fastest-growing warriors in the army. As the banquet reached its peak, Zhang Anan arrived at the Imperial Banquet Palace with an imperial edict. After exchanging a few words with Li Zhi, he gathered everyone outside to read the decree aloud:

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Dragon Cavalry was established with My expectation as the main force to expel foreign invaders for the Great Tang. I place great hopes upon the Dragon Cavalry and have invested much since its formation. Today, the soldiers have completed their initial training, and I am greatly comforted. To assess the Dragon Cavalry’s accomplishments, a military exercise shall be held soon. I hope the soldiers will display their skills and achieve a great victory, so as not to disappoint My expectations. So be it!"

Li Zhi, representing the Dragon Cavalry, accepted the edict and declared, "Vice Commander Li Zhi receives the imperial decree and pledges to secure a grand victory at the upcoming contest to repay His Majesty’s trust." Zhang Anan glanced at the well-ordered Dragon Cavalry before him. This single look revealed the army’s difference—over a thousand men standing upright like sturdy pines, their breathing synchronized and steady. Their physiques were strong and robust, proof of diligent training. Most satisfying to Zhang Anan was the confidence reflected in their eyes, as if any enemy before them were mere weaklings. Smiling, he said to Li Zhi, "Your Highness’s strategy for training the troops is indeed exceptional. Judging by their formation alone, the Dragon Cavalry already qualifies as a strong force." Li Zhi smiled in return, "Thank you, Chief Zhang. I also believe the Dragon Cavalry will win a great victory at the contest." Zhang Anan nodded but could not help reminding him, "Since its establishment, the Dragon Cavalry’s expenses have been four times that of other armies. I suspect it will not be easy to succeed in this contest." Li Zhi responded, "If the Dragon Cavalry consumes four times the resources, it naturally must bring more than four times the combat power to Great Tang." Looking ahead at his troops, he said, "I will petition my father to arrange for four times the number of enemies to face the Dragon Cavalry, and then the outcome will speak for itself." Zhang Anan was surprised and looked at him with astonishment. Li Zhi’s face was full of confidence, as if he was certain the Dragon Cavalry could easily fight four against one. This made Zhang Anan eager to see what made this army so different. The results of the literary contest became the latest hot topic in Chang’an. The citizens who supported Li Zhi took the opportunity to ridicule the scholars who had challenged him. They cared little for the scholars’ pride and only knew that those who stirred up trouble had all been overshadowed by Li Zhi. At the court assembly the next day, Emperor Taizong began by praising Li Zhi, then thanked Fang Xuanling and the others for their guidance of Li Zhi, before turning to discuss the assessment of the Dragon Cavalry. Hou Junji, eager to seize the moment, was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, since the Dragon Cavalry consumes four times the military funds, it should possess four times the combat strength." He had long been dissatisfied with the huge expenditure of the Dragon Cavalry and now finally took the opportunity to demand that the army’s power correspond to its costs.