The Campaign of the Dragon Cavalry

This poem not only vividly depicts the winter scenery of Zhongnan Mountain but also casually mentions the city of Chang'an. The language is both concise and mature, and it was composed in an impressively short time. At this moment, Fang Xuanling and Li Jing had already begun to smile silently. Both knew this was another masterpiece destined to be remembered through the ages. However, as Li Zhi’s mentors, they hesitated to be the first to comment.

Fortunately, someone didn’t make them wait long. Wei Zheng was the first to step forward and praise, “This poem uses only four lines to perfectly capture the essence of Zhongnan Mountain in winter. It will surely be passed down for generations.” Following him, Yu Shinan addressed Emperor Taizong, saying, “Prince Jin is quick-witted; his poetry flows effortlessly. I am fortunate to have witnessed three of his poems, two of which are remarkable.” Emperor Taizong laughed heartily, “Thanks to Chancellor Fang, Wujie, and the medicine master’s earnest guidance, Zhinu has achieved what he has today. I must sincerely thank the three of you!”

Changsun Wujie was not present, so Fang Xuanling and Li Jing quickly offered modest words. Though their words were humble, their faces radiated joy. The others, uninterested in their banter, began praising Li Zhi. By now, Li Zhi was nearly shivering from the cold wind atop the mountain, barely able to pay attention. After offering a few modest remarks, he dashed into a tent that had just been set up.

Following Li Zhi’s lead, the others noticed the tent was ready and quickly laughed together as they all entered. Soon after, Hou Junji, who had been busy directing the Sixteenth Guard in setting up defenses, hurried in, trembling. Everyone burst into teasing laughter at his appearance.

Yuchi Jingde teased, “Minister Hou, aren’t you worried that if you leave the supervision outside, the Dragon Cavalry might find a gap in the defenses?” Before Hou Junji could respond, Cheng Yaojin chimed in, “I also think the Dragon Cavalry shouldn’t be underestimated. Brother Hou should keep a strict watch.” Both men felt Hou Junji was taking the contest’s outcome a bit too seriously, hence their playful remarks.

Hou Junji retorted, “As Minister of War, it’s only proper for me to rigorously oversee the competition’s standards. If this were a trivial matter, why go through such trouble?” None of those present, whether civil or military officials, were fools ignorant of political maneuvering. They all knew whom Hou Junji usually aligned with.

However, no one wished to take sides prematurely. After hearing his words, they merely smiled faintly. Qin Qiong said, “Carelessness is unacceptable, but overly harsh conditions aren’t ideal either. Our Tang Dynasty faces many nomadic enemies who may not set up defenses in such a way.” Hou Junji defended, “Battle between two armies cannot always follow fixed rules. My arrangements are merely precautions.”

Qin Qiong’s words were a subtle reminder that Hou’s measures against the Dragon Cavalry were too conspicuous. Seeing Hou pay no heed, he fell silent, smiled slightly, and resumed sipping the hot tea a soldier had brought. Li Jing was unusually quiet today, confident in the Dragon Cavalry. Like Li Zhi, he awaited their victory to deliver a harsh rebuke to Hou Junji.

The Dragon Cavalry’s operation began that very night. They used the darkness to split into smaller groups and moved to the southern side of the peak. This side was the steepest and perpetually shadowed, with snow covering the upper slopes year-round. No one would suspect anyone could climb to the summit from this side.

Only at dawn did the Dragon Cavalry soldiers begin gathering at the mountain’s base. They didn’t rush to ascend but quickly dug snow pits with their engineer shovels. Skilled and efficient, they finished promptly. Then they laid their down quilts inside the pits, removed their outer garments, and slipped in without hesitation. The quilts, made of cotton, provided excellent insulation, allowing the soldiers to rest comfortably.

By afternoon, all emerged simultaneously from their snow pits and unpacked their food to dine. A modern observer would be surprised to see the soldiers eating something resembling sausage. This product was a collaboration between Li Zhi and the Ministry of Agriculture. After borrowing experts from Zhang Ru, Li Zhi not only had them guide tenant farmers in experimenting with unfamiliar seeds but also in developing livestock farming.

This included common poultry like chickens, ducks, and geese, as well as more challenging pigs. At that time, pig farming was not fully confined as in modern times. Both officials and commoners preferred to find swampy ponds suitable for pig rearing. Pigs were herded like livestock to the pond edges to forage freely. Only in areas lacking such conditions was penning used.

Because their habits were not well understood, pigs grew slowly, and people had yet to learn curing methods to remove the characteristic pork odor. Li Zhi taught the Ministry how to cure meat and suggested building smaller pens to reduce pigs’ movement, which shortened growth cycles and eliminated unpleasant smells. This innovation allowed the Dragon Cavalry to have more meat, inspiring Li Zhi to develop sausages — a convenient, preservable cooked food.

After the meal and a brief rest, Su Lie led thirty men in a distinct operation. They tied cloth strips tightly around their sleeves and pant legs, then took out iron shoe covers resembling simple roller skates. They strapped these over their shoes and secured them with cloth ties. Unlike roller skates, these covers had rows of steel spikes on the soles, effectively turning them into mountaineering boots.

As dusk approached, the thirty men, led by Su Lie, his deputy Zhao Yang, and Xue Li among others, prepared for the perilous climb. They put on gloves, carried steel ropes, and moved to the mountain base. Each chose a vantage point and used telescopes to survey the area. Then they drew special crossbows designed to launch steel-claw grappling hooks.

After a brief aim, they pulled the triggers...