Volume Two: The Battle of Hulao Pass Chapter Forty-Six: Foul Enemy General, Your Father Has Arrived!

Dou Jiande was now riding a tiger he could not dismount. With his hundred thousand troops consuming vast sums of money and grain each day, he had already wasted over a month before the gates of Tiger Cage Pass. Now, with his supply lines cut and rations dwindling to mere days, Dou Jiande was forced into a situation where a swift resolution was necessary. If he diverted his forces to attack Shanxi or other regions, the risks outweighed the potential gains, and Dou Jiande was unwilling to concede. By his calculation, Li Shimin was employing a strategy of attrition, using a small force to pin him at the pass, waiting for Luoyang to fall.

Dou Jiande could not simply watch as Luoyang's provisions ran out and the city collapsed without resistance, gifting Li Shimin the lands of Henan and beyond. In that case, his arduous expedition would yield nothing, making all his efforts futile.

As Dou Jiande reorganized his troops, he deployed scouts everywhere, monitoring every move of the Tang army. Yet, he was mistaken—Li Shimin was even more eager for a swift victory.

At present, the Tang army was engaged on two fronts: Li Shimin besieged Luoyang and defended against Dou Jiande, while Li Jing led a campaign in Sichuan. The Tang Dynasty had effectively emptied its reserves, leaving only the old, weak, and infirm to garrison the rear, with the homeland nearly undefended.

Although Li Yuan had temporarily appeased the mighty Turks on the steppe through tribute and submission, their greed was insatiable, and no one knew when the fragile peace would be shattered.

Li Shimin, a man of extraordinary talent and foresight, adept at grand strategy and precise judgment, easily deduced that Dou Jiande had another option: to raid Guanzhong.

Based on his understanding of Dou Jiande’s character, Li Shimin believed he would not relinquish this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to simultaneously swallow Wang Shichong and severely wound the Tang Dynasty. However, Dou Jiande, who had risen from obscurity to command an army of hundreds of thousands, was no ordinary man; his camp was filled with capable advisers who might dissuade him.

Throughout his life, Li Shimin never subscribed to the belief that success depended on fate. His nature was always to seize initiative, unwilling to let the future rest in the hands of uncertainty—not even the slightest chance.

Previously, Changsun Wuji had reported that Wang Junkuo had intercepted Dou Jiande’s supply lines, burned massive quantities of grain, and captured Xia’s general Zhang Qingte alive. Li Shimin rejoiced at the news, knowing the moment to defeat the enemy had arrived.

Unsure of Dou Jiande’s next move, Li Shimin took proactive measures to force his hand, ensuring Dou Jiande would follow the path he had laid out, stepping into his carefully arranged trap.

In May of the fourth year of Wude, Li Shimin personally led a thousand elite armored cavalry out of the pass, each man with two horses, crossing the Yellow River to the north, deliberately leaking his whereabouts to the Xia scouts.

Li Shimin’s plan was meticulous: lure the enemy into attacking by leaving a thousand warhorses grazing by the riverbank on his return, creating the illusion that the Tang army was short on supplies.

Dou Jiande, upon hearing the news, fell right into the trap. His army of over a hundred thousand surged forth, banners blotting out the sun, weapons bristling like a forest. The ranks stretched for dozens of miles, a sea of soldiers with no end in sight, the thunder of war drums shaking the heavens, and the shouts of warriors echoing to the skies.

Li Mingyu stood atop the city gate with his master, observing the scene. His master’s stern expression betrayed deep contemplation. Mingyu thought to himself, “They say that when an army exceeds ten thousand, the ranks are endless. It’s true! Dou Jiande’s force sweeps across the land like a torrent, threatening to shake the very walls of Tiger Cage Pass, which now seems but a fragile dam before a raging storm, liable to be shattered at any moment.”

Mingyu glanced around, noting that the Tang defenders were visibly unsettled, thinking to himself that this was a bad omen. The battle had yet to begin, and the Xia army had already seized the psychological advantage.

Morale is paramount in war. If the enemy’s momentum overwhelms you before the fighting starts, you’ve already lost a third of the battle. Mingyu, having spent years in the army in his previous life, knew well how to bolster soldiers’ morale before a great battle. He raised his voice to his master, “Master! Dou Jiande has thrown all his troops at us, but the terrain before Tiger Cage Pass is so narrow that his force cannot fully deploy. Is he just trying to intimidate us, putting on a show?”

Li Xuanba snorted coldly. “Indeed. Dou Jiande’s men are a rabble, gathering courage like chickens collecting feathers. They rely on the mass of their numbers to embolden each other. Though their ranks are vast, their formations are loose and noisy—proof of lax discipline. With the high walls and strong gates of Tiger Cage Pass, they should advance cautiously, probing our defenses, but instead, they parade boldly, clearly underestimating us. His arrogance blinds him to the principle that a lion uses all its strength even against a rabbit. Dou Jiande is not worth worrying about!”

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“Haha! Xuanba is right! Dou Jiande has had nothing but smooth victories since he raised his banner. His troops are proud and lazy, never tested by hard fighting. Now the enemy’s morale is strong, but if we hold our ground until noon, when their men and horses grow weary and hungry, their spirit will wane. Then, when we sally forth, we’ll break them in one charge!” Li Shimin had just ascended the gate with his generals and overheard Mingyu and his master’s conversation, laughing and agreeing.

At that moment, Li Shimin wore a helmet adorned with coiling dragons, dark golden mountain-patterned armor with eight golden beasts, kirin heads on his shoulders, a gleaming heart mirror on his chest, and a dragon’s head biting the belt at his waist. His armor skirt covered his limbs, the front protected by plate, the back by falcon feathers. The black mountain-patterned armor glistened like ink, the golden beasts dazzling, leather base stitched with red thread—truly majestic and imposing, surrounded by Tang generals in black armor, standing out like a celestial god descended to earth.

This was the prized armor previously sent by Changsun to Xuanba and his disciple over a thousand miles. It had belonged to Changsun Song, restored with great skill by the Changsun family. The armor was a type of bright mountain-patterned plate, each piece interlocking without nails or thread, allowing full mobility. Its unique construction deflected arrows and was impervious to blades, extremely costly and rare. Changsun Song had left only two sets, differing only in the gold and silver beast heads.

Normally, Li Shimin would not wear it, as it drew too much attention on the battlefield. But today, on the eve of decisive battle, he donned it to inspire the troops.

With Li Shimin’s assurance, the Tang soldiers on the gate relaxed, their faces brightening. Li Shimin glanced at the surging Xia army below, utterly unconcerned, as if facing a swarm of ants rather than a hundred thousand troops. He teased Mingyu, “Well, boy, are you afraid?”

Li Mingyu lifted his chin and replied loudly, “Afraid? Zhao Zilong rode alone and charged through eighty thousand Cao troops seven times. Guan Yu beheaded Yan Liang and Wen Chou amidst thousands, as if picking items from a bag. If ancient heroes could do so alone, why fear now, with thousands of soldiers and the formidable Tiger Cage Pass at our back? Dou Jiande’s vast army is cramped here, doomed to die by the spoonful. What is there to fear? Unless he sprouts wings and flies up here, he’s nothing!”

The others laughed at the child’s bold words. The Tang generals admired Mingyu’s courage, impressed by his poise at such a young age.

Cheng Yaojin slapped the parapet with awe. “This lad Mingyu is remarkable! To face a hundred thousand troops without flinching—what composure! Pity I only have sons, or I’d make him my son-in-law.”

His close friend Niu Jinda mocked, “With your scruffy beard, even if you had a daughter, would she be good-looking enough? Could she match him? Mingyu is a dragon among men, destined for greatness. You’re dreaming!”

Li Shiji stroked his short beard and chimed in, “Indeed, old Cheng, you can forget it. Coincidentally, I have a daughter myself—boy, shall I betroth her to you?”

Mingyu, startled, waved his hands. “I’m still young! Let’s talk about this when I’m older!” He thought to himself, “Being Li the general’s son-in-law isn’t easy—legend has it he liked to execute sons-in-law to establish authority. Three out of six were killed. Marrying his daughter might mean a short life—no way!”

Below, the enemy army roared, but atop the gate, the Tang generals joked and chatted. The commander’s confidence emboldened his soldiers, and the Xia army’s momentum seemed to wane.

Dou Jiande sought to further undermine Tang morale, sending three hundred cavalry to parade before Tiger Cage Pass, challenging the Tang to come forth.

Leading the Xia cavalry was General Wang Wan, adorned in a golden helmet and fish-scale armor, dazzling in appearance. His crimson cape fluttered, and his steed was a magnificent blue horse.

He halted a mile from the gate, loudly taunting the defenders.

“Listen up, Tang brats! Grandpa has only three hundred men—dare you come out and fight?”

“You Tang soldiers are a bunch of cowards—the sight of real men like us has you wetting your pants! Ha!”

“That brat Li Shimin, stop hiding like a turtle—come out and die! Grandpa will fight with one hand tied!”

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“Damn you, Xia third! Is that all you’ve got? I’ll fight with both hands tied!”

“Bull! I’ll fight with hands and feet bound!”

“Both hands and feet? Do you plan to kill Tang soldiers with your private parts? Ha ha ha…”

The Xia soldiers’ words were crude and offensive, but Li Shimin, hearing them clearly, merely smiled. “Dou Jiande’s tricks are spent, trying to provoke us out—I won’t play along.”

The Xia general below was cursing with relish, clearly pleased with himself.

Li Shimin remarked, “That Xia general is indeed brazen—three hundred men flaunting before Tiger Cage Pass. He’s dressed well enough, but I wonder about his skill. That horse… hmm? His steed is a rare specimen!”

Wang Wan’s blue steed had once been Emperor Yang Guang’s mount, later seized by Dou Jiande after slaying General Wang Fubao. With only Wang Wan left as a capable commander, Dou Jiande rewarded him with the prized horse.

The Tang generals gazed at the horse, admiring its robust build and spirited bearing—a true treasure. Warhorses are a general’s legs; they could not help but covet it, though it belonged to the enemy. They lamented, “Such a horse, a pity it’s not ours.”

Mingyu, peering for a long while, knew little of horses, but since the others praised it, he supposed it must be true. Seeing the generals sighing, he mocked, “So what if it belongs to the enemy? What does a master matter? Kill him and it’s ownerless, take it for ourselves! Are Tang men not bold enough?”

His words were glib, but with hundreds below and the commander forbidding sorties, and Dou Jiande’s army pressing from behind, it was hardly so simple.

The generals knew Mingyu was just a child and let it pass. However, Yuchi Gong took offense.

Yuchi Gong had served under Liu Wuzhou, and after Liu’s defeat, surrendered to the Tang. Though many doubted his loyalty, Li Shimin trusted him, letting him command his own troops. Deeply grateful, Yuchi Gong vowed to serve Li Shimin unto death, becoming his most loyal and fierce general. Hearing the commander praise the horse, Yuchi Gong muttered, “Such a steed suits only our commander. That nameless Xia general dares claim it! Watch me fetch it for you, sir!”

Li Shimin hurriedly waved him off. “No, no! The battle is at hand—we must preserve our strength. How can I risk a fierce general for a horse?”

Yuchi Gong, fiery by nature, ignored the protest and charged out, mounting his horse and wielding his spear.

Wang Wan, arrogant and self-important, believed his three hundred men had cowed the Tang into submission. As he basked in his triumph, the gates of Tiger Cage Pass opened, and a single rider galloped forth.

The newcomer’s face was dark as charcoal, his eyes ringed and beard bristling, clad in black, fish-scale armor, astride a black horse, wielding a steel spear—an imposing sight.

Wang Wan, seeing only one rider emerge, assumed Li Shimin had sent a messenger. He shouted, “I am Wang Wan, Dragon Cavalry General under King Xia! Who are you? Are you here to deliver a letter?”

Yuchi Gong, intent on seizing the horse, had no interest in talk. He urged his steed forward, spear raised, and roared, “I am your father!”