A Remarkable Journey
While Su Lie and the others busied themselves organizing their equipment, Emperor Taizong and his ministers surrounded Li Zhi and Li Jing, persistently probing for information. Since finishing dinner, they had been curious about when the Dragon Cavalry would begin their assault.
Emperor Taizong was the first to speak. Sipping tea, he said to Li Zhi, “Zinu, three days have passed, yet the Dragon Cavalry has made no move. Why is that?”
Li Zhi smiled and replied, “Father, I have stayed with you atop this mountain; how could I possibly know the Dragon Cavalry’s plans?”
Feigning displeasure, Taizong said, “You sly boy, clearly you are not telling the truth. I do not believe you and the Medic have no knowledge of the Dragon Cavalry’s intentions.”
Li Jing interjected, “Your Majesty, that accusation is unfair. I have not once left your side these past days.”
Taizong continued, “Even if you have not left, surely Zinu has had contact with the Dragon Cavalry?”
Li Zhi responded, “Father, I climbed this mountain with you. How could I have relayed any messages to the Dragon Cavalry in time?”
Emperor Taizong was momentarily speechless. He knew these two had to have found some secret means of communication with the Dragon Cavalry, yet he possessed no clear evidence.
Minister Fang Xuanling spoke to Li Jing, “Medic, you are too cautious. The Marquis is not here now; what harm would it do to reveal something to us?”
Li Jing shook his head, “Minister Fang, it is not that I distrust you all, but truly, I know nothing of the Dragon Cavalry’s plans!”
Fang Xuanling then teased the group, “Do any of you believe this nonsense?”
Everyone shook their heads. General Yuchi Jingde said, “In my view, the Dragon Cavalry will not attack today.”
Yu Shinan asked, “General Yuchi, why do you say that?”
Yuchi Jingde replied, “It is fully dark now, and the mountain paths are treacherous. No army would choose to launch an attack by night.”
Fang Xuanling said, “While the general’s point is valid, this is the third day of the standoff, and the Dragon Cavalry has yet to test the defenses of the Sixteen Guards. Surely they must probe.”
General Qin Shubao added, “I too believe the Dragon Cavalry will act tonight; without some movement, even their strength would not suffice to take this mountain in a single day.”
Cheng Yaojin also chimed in, “I agree. The Dragon Cavalry will launch a night raid, at least to familiarize themselves with the Sixteen Guards’ defenses.”
Emperor Taizong nodded, “With their skill, ascending the mountain at night should not be difficult. I concur with Shubao and Zhijie.”
On the surface, they debated the Dragon Cavalry’s movements, but secretly, they closely watched Li Zhi and Li Jing’s reactions. Yet no matter how they analyzed, the two merely smiled and listened calmly. Their expressions never wavered, much to the frustration of the emperor and his ministers.
Li Jing’s composure was expected, given his battlefield experience and years in office. But Li Zhi, still a child, maintaining such calm was difficult for the others to accept.
To unsettle Li Zhi, Yuchi Jingde deliberately said, “The Dragon Cavalry are all trained warriors, skilled in special combat. Might they not climb the other three sides to launch a surprise attack on the Sixteen Guards?”
He exaggerated the Dragon Cavalry’s prowess, hoping to provoke a reaction from Li Zhi to inform their next move.
To everyone’s shock, Li Zhi’s face showed genuine surprise at this suggestion, as if Yuchi’s improbable theory might be true.
Li Jing immediately realized trouble. Li Zhi was too young to fully control his expression, and now these seasoned foxes surely suspected something.
Li Zhi quickly tried to cover his slip, saying, “General Yuchi, how could you entertain such a bold notion? Do you think the Dragon Cavalry can scale walls and roofs like thieves?”
Though he tried to mask his earlier reaction with words, he faced a group of the Tang Dynasty’s shrewdest minds. By now, including Emperor Taizong, all suspected Yuchi’s proposed route might indeed be accurate.
With this suspicion, silence fell. Everyone lowered their heads in thought, analyzing how the Dragon Cavalry might ascend the mountain from other directions.
Seeing this, Li Zhi could only exchange a helpless, bitter smile with Li Jing.
While the ministers silently pondered, the Dragon Cavalry began their first moves, dispersing to lurk and sending out scouts to probe other directions.
Meanwhile, Hou Junji frowned deeply, pondering why the Dragon Cavalry had yet to act. His years of combat experience told him they would not launch a full assault without first testing defenses.
Yet it was already dark. Could the Dragon Cavalry truly strike in the dead of night?
Determined, he decided to double the number of soldiers on watch that day, increasing the mountain pass guard to a thousand men.
Though this would double sentry duty, it ensured no matter how fierce the Dragon Cavalry, they could gain no advantage.
The Sixteen Guards grumbled silently at Hou Junji’s decision but accepted it to maintain their honor.
The mountaintop was illuminated by countless torches, bright as day. The entire camp had no shadowy corners. Bonfires blazed continuously, raising the temperature to a bearable warmth.
Even so, watch duty was grueling, primarily due to the psychological pressure imposed by the Dragon Cavalry’s looming presence.
After patrolling outside and finding no issues, Hou Junji entered the grand tent where Emperor Taizong and the others awaited.
The once troubled group brightened at his arrival, joking about his nervousness as in previous days, though their words were gentler now.
If their suspicions proved true, they reasoned, Hou Junji’s vigilance was justified. The Dragon Cavalry would indeed be a terrifying force.
As time passed, silence deepened within the tent. A heavy, oppressive feeling settled, like a storm about to break.
Hou Junji was the first to break, excusing himself to again patrol the mountain pass.
Yet long-held experience misled him, and by midnight, no movement had stirred along the pass.