Volume Two: The Battle of Hulao Pass Chapter Fifty-Four: Trump Cards Revealed?

Dou Jiande was not far away; he heard everything clearly. He saw among the Tang army a formidable general, his helmet adorned with coiling dragons, his armor marked with the mythical qilin, riding a green steed, bow in hand, unrivaled in archery—he truly resembled Li Shimin!

At this moment, Dou Jiande’s heart was pounding with excitement. Li Shimin had indeed come! Victory or defeat would be decided here and now. If he could kill or capture him, triumph was within reach!

He shouted loudly, “Men! Send me another three thousand elite soldiers—capture Li Shimin alive! Bring him to me dead or alive! Whoever captures him shall be rewarded with ten thousand gold pieces and granted a title of marquis over a thousand households! Whoever takes his head shall receive the same reward!”

Where heavy rewards are offered, brave men will rise. The chance to ascend instantly was right before their eyes; Dou Jiande’s promise inflamed his soldiers, their eyes bloodshot. Each urged their horse forward, waving their blades, howling in excitement.

Both sides clashed fiercely. The Black Armored Army charged repeatedly, aiming for Dou Jiande’s central banner, while the Xia troops sought to halt their advance, surging like waves toward the black-clad Tang soldiers.

For a time, the sky echoed with cries and the clamor of battle. Soldiers fell wounded, horses toppled. Yet the Tang elite—superior in morale, training, and equipment—pressed forward, led by peerless warriors like Yuchi Gong, Cheng Yaojin, and Qin Qiong. Though Xia’s numbers were several times greater, the Black Armored Army seemed an unstoppable black dragon, roaring through the sky, breaking through the tide of enemy troops, advancing slowly but relentlessly.

After Li Shimin revealed his identity, the battle immediately reached a fever pitch. Blood splattered, limbs flew. The air was filled with shouts, the clash of weapons, the screams of the dying, and the mournful neighing of riderless steeds. Both sides fought like madmen, stabbing, hacking, wrestling each other off their mounts, rolling on the ground, biting, choking—doing everything possible to kill the enemy.

Gazing at the deadlocked battlefield ahead, Dou Jiande hesitated. He still had six thousand elite troops; should he commit them all?

If he could crush the Tang army in one blow, all would be well. But if not, he would have no reserves left. Perhaps it was best to wait, let the Tang tire themselves out, then send in the whole force for a decisive victory.

While he pondered, a scout galloped up with urgent news: “Your Majesty! The rear army reports that birds are circling above the dense eastern forest, refusing to land. Shadows move within the woods—it appears Tang troops lie in ambush! Three waves of scouts have been sent in, but none have returned!”

“Hm?” Hearing this, Dou Jiande felt somewhat relieved, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.

At this moment, Dou Jiande and Li Shimin were like two gamblers locked in a duel. Dou Jiande had the advantage in numbers and had revealed his hand, while Li Shimin seemed to have the weaker cards, but his trump was yet to be played. Until the final moment, the outcome remained uncertain.

Dou Jiande believed he had fully grasped Li Shimin’s plan. He had always thought Li Shimin, cunning as he was, would not dare face a hundred thousand troops with only a handful; it would be suicide—utter folly.

Sure enough, Li Shimin had arranged a backup plan, hoping to strike his rear when the battle reached a stalemate, causing his army to collapse. Hmph! Luckily, he had discovered it in time and could prepare accordingly. Now that the ambush was exposed, he was eager to see what other tricks Li Shimin might have.

Thinking this, Dou Jiande burst out laughing, “Ha ha ha! Li Shimin, you thought you had a clever scheme! But you’ve been uncovered! It seems Heaven favors me—I am the one destined to rule! Men! Send orders to Zeng Shou to hold the rear army steady—do not advance rashly. As for the ambush in the woods, Duan Hong! I grant you three thousand elite horsemen—destroy the enemy completely!”

“Yes, sir!” The messenger received the order and rode off at full speed.

“Yes, Your Majesty, rest assured! I swear not to return unless the enemy is wiped out!” Duan Hong saluted, gathered his three thousand men, and boldly rode toward the area where the ambush had been reported.

Duan Hong, leading his three thousand troops, rushed without pause to the rear army.

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The rear army consisted of raw recruits who had not yet seen blood or battle. Dou Jiande had deliberately placed them at the rear, fearing that exposure to the carnage of battle might break their spirit and disrupt the entire army.

Duan Hong arrived at the rear with his elite cavalry, confronted the commander, and barked, “Where are the Tang troops in ambush? Any movement?”

Zeng Shou, knowing Duan Hong was the king’s confidant and himself only a commander of recruits, dared not be slow. He pointed in the direction and replied, “They’re two miles east of the main force, inside the dense forest.”

Duan Hong looked east—both the eastern and southern flanks were covered by lush, tall woods. He asked, “Why are you sure the ambush is east, not south? The southern woods are higher, the trees sparser—better for cavalry, and directly opposite the rear. If I were the Tang commander, I’d set an ambush there; just a few hundred cavalry could cut the rear army in half.”

Zeng Shou answered respectfully, “What you say makes sense. But please look, though the south is elevated and suited for an ambush, it is eerily quiet. By contrast, the eastern woods are alive with birds startled into flight, circling and refusing to land—clearly men and horses are hidden inside! I sent three waves of scouts to the east, but none have returned, likely captured by the Tang. So I am certain the ambush is to the east!”

“Hm?” Duan Hong looked as instructed and saw it was just as Zeng Shou had described. He nodded, “Ah, you’re right! You do have some skill. Come, let’s go meet the Tang troops in the east!” With that, he led his three thousand cavalry, full of swagger, toward the eastern woods.

“Bah! What nonsense!” Zeng Shou spat once the arrogant Duan Hong was out of earshot. Then his face darkened and he barked at his troops, equally resentful of Duan Hong’s arrogance, “Didn’t you hear the king’s orders just now? Stand at attention! Damn it! If you lot weren’t useless, unfit for battle, would I have to suffer Duan Hong’s arrogance?”

Duan Hong, convinced by Zeng Shou’s reasoning, proceeded cautiously. Before entering the woods, he observed carefully; indeed, the birds were startled and circling.

The trees were densely layered, their foliage thick, obscuring visibility. Yet if he listened intently, he could faintly hear shouts and neighs from within.

Duan Hong was prudent. He first sent a few scouts into the woods. After a while, there was no news.

He sent another fifty men, and this time, before long, cries of battle rang out, and only half the fifty returned, battered and fleeing.

“What’s the situation inside? How many are in ambush?” Duan Hong demanded.

The twenty-odd survivors, wounded and disheveled, replied, “General, the woods are dense, sight is poor, and we couldn’t make out the numbers. We barely entered, found the bodies of the previous scouts, and as we dismounted to investigate, Tang soldiers shouted and appeared from behind trees, shooting arrows. More cavalry attacked from behind. We fought our way out and reported to you.”

“Hm?” Duan Hong frowned, pondering. The Tang had few troops; even if there was an ambush, it couldn’t be more than three or five hundred. He had three thousand elite cavalry—were the Tang relying on the woods to even the odds, unwilling to come out?

He ordered, “Leave five hundred cavalry outside the woods. The rest, follow me in. The woods are dense; stay alert for ambush!”

Leaving several hundred outside, Duan Hong led over two thousand into the forest, proceeding cautiously, probing ahead as if every sound and movement could be an enemy.

They advanced several hundred paces without seeing Tang soldiers. Duan Hong was puzzled; he called the scouts who had escaped, “Where were you ambushed?”

The scouts surveyed the terrain and answered, “Not far ahead, just past that dead tree.”

Duan Hong waved and sent a squad of over a hundred cavalry ahead to investigate.

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As they neared the dead tree, suddenly a whistle sounded, and several dozen Tang soldiers sprang from behind the trees, firing arrows.

With the element of surprise, the Xia troops lost twenty or thirty men. The Tang, seeing their opportunity, unleashed a rain of arrows, felled dozens, then melted back into the woods.

Duan Hong was furious, “You scoundrels! Where are you running?” He sent riders to give chase. At first, they saw traces of the Tang, but the trees were many and directions confusing; unfamiliar with the terrain, they soon lost all sign of the enemy.

Suppressing his anger, Duan Hong ordered the troops to search everywhere, wary of falling into another Tang ambush.

Suddenly, a Xia soldier cried, “Here! Tang troops found! Many men and horses!”

Duan Hong rallied his troops toward the sound. Ahead, the trees were dense, blocking the sunlight, making it hard to see. Yet he could make out shadows—perhaps one or two hundred cavalry standing in the woods.

With the dense trees and uncertain enemy strength, Duan Hong dared not advance rashly, fearing a Tang trap.

He devised a plan and shouted, “You Tang soldiers! Your ambush has already been discovered by our king! Your Prince Qin, Li Shimin, is surrounded by tens of thousands—his death is imminent! I advise you to surrender; resistance is futile!”

Duan Hong’s speech was twofold: he hoped the Tang ambush, once discovered, would panic and surrender, saving him a fight. If not, any reply would reveal their location, allowing him to rain arrows or lure them out for battle.

But after his impassioned plea, the Tang remained silent.

Within the woods, the Tang soldiers uttered not a word, seemingly resolved to fight to the death. Only the restless snorts of their horses and impatient pawing of hooves broke the silence, thickening the tension.

Seeing this, Duan Hong knew a fight was inevitable. He signaled his cavalry, who spread out in a crescent, surrounding the Tang. Quietly, they readied their bows, aiming into the woods.

Duan Hong kept up his “gentle persuasion,” and when he saw his troops prepared, he suddenly shouted, “Since you ignore my advice, then prepare to die!” He raised his hand, and over two thousand arrows were released in a chaotic volley; the sound of arrows hitting flesh and horses’ cries filled the air.

Then the Xia troops shouted as one, “Kill!” They spurred their horses and leveled their spears, charging into the woods.

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