Chapter 73: The Military Tournament (Part I)

Early the next morning, the parade ground was bustling with noise and excitement. Officers of all ranks from the Jiankang Army, as well as those at the level of battalion commander or higher from the Shenwu and Tianxiong Armies, had gathered. With military banners fluttering in the wind, the scene was truly imposing.

Emperor Li Jing of the Great Tang stood on a pavilion, watching the soldiers while whispering to his brother, Li Jingsui, the Prince of Qi. Empress Zhong stood nearby, nodding continuously; in her eyes, the soldiers appeared spirited and vigorous. Li Hongji stood slightly behind them, feeling perplexed as to why his father had organized this, as he had been under the impression that they were here for a hunt.

Yang Lian, standing amidst the crowd, kept scanning his surroundings. He suspected the person who had ambushed him yesterday was likely from within the military, yet he had no leads. A deep sense of crisis grew within him. Having experienced too much recent success, Yang Lian had—though not to the point of arrogance—lowered his guard. That sharp arrow had served as a wake-up call; the road ahead was long, and he could not afford any negligence.

Lin Renzao stood beside Yang Lian, quietly conversing with Chen Tie behind them. Both had been delighted by Yang Lian’s impressive haul of game the previous day. However, the ambush on Yang Lian had been far too suspicious, and no matter how they racked their brains, they could not discern the assailant's identity or motive.

Possessing keen hearing, Yang Lian caught their private conversation and whispered, "This is not the place to talk."

Lin Renzao realized his mistake, straightened his posture, and faced forward, acting as if nothing had happened. Chen Tie chuckled and turned his gaze to the front.

At this moment, Li Jingsui stepped forward and loudly announced that the hunting activities were suspended in favor of a martial arts competition. Though called a competition, it was more of a tactical exercise. According to the Prince of Qi, each of the three armies was to select two hundred elites to be led by their respective commanders in a mock battle on the parade ground. Whoever remained standing at the end would be the victor.

This decision was so sudden that many officers exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fathom the Emperor’s or the Prince’s intentions. A martial contest usually required thorough preparation; without it, how were they to compete? Li Hongji was equally surprised, wondering what his father was planning.

The announcement caused a stir among the soldiers, many of whom began rolling up their sleeves, eager to display their prowess. Yang Lian narrowed his eyes, watching Li Jingsui. What was the Prince’s endgame? It seemed the Emperor was merely using the spring hunt as a pretext to reorganize the Imperial Guard. It appeared there was more to this than met the eye.

Li Jingsui raised his hand to signal for silence. With the help of the generals and commanders, order was gradually restored. The Prince then announced that each unit would have half an hour to select their men, followed by a drawing of lots for combat pairings. All soldiers were ordered to remove their spearheads or wrap their weapons in cloth to minimize casualties.

The objective for the two opposing sides was to capture the enemy’s command flag, a task that tested not only the soldiers' bravery but also the leadership of their commanders.

Bian Hao gathered his commanders. The Shenwu Army was the elite of the Imperial Guard, and despite a recent defeat, Bian Hao hoped his men would rally, sweep away their gloom, and restore the army’s reputation. He insisted they select the best soldiers and strive for victory.

As the others dispersed, Yang Lian had his own ideas. This contest was less about individual martial arts and more about leadership—the very thing he suspected the Emperor wanted to observe. Talented generals were harder to find than an entire army. Men like Feng Yanlu, Li Zhengugu, and Chen Jue were scholars at heart and unsuited for military command. In the Southern Tang, which clung to a corner of the realm, literature flourished while the status of military officers remained low. Only figures like Liu Renzhan and Lin Renzao were considered true masters of war, while men like Bian Hao and Li Zhengugu suffered defeat after defeat—a testament to the Emperor’s poor judgment in personnel.

Behind Li Jing, Li Hongji suddenly stepped forward and bowed. "Father, I wish to participate as well."

"You wish to join? But swords have no eyes," Li Jing replied.

"Father, I have practiced martial arts since childhood and am skilled in archery and horsemanship. I shall not be injured," Li Hongji insisted.

Empress Zhong added, "Your Majesty, since Hongji has such a desire, why not let him try?"

Li Hongji looked eager, but Li Jing hesitated. "As a prince, if you participate, the troops may not dare to show their full strength."

"Father, I shall mask my face so that no one will recognize me," Li Hongji quickly promised.

After a moment of thought, Li Jing relented. "Very well, you may try."

Overjoyed, Li Hongji bowed and withdrew. He brought out hundreds of men from his own household, enough to form a unit. They all wore black face masks, leaving only their eyes visible. Clad in black armor and a black helmet, Li Hongji looked like a fearsome specter of death.

Yang Lian scanned his own men, selecting Chen Tie, Li Ping, and Lu Mengjun. With two hundred men in total, he divided them into three groups of sixty led by the three, while he kept twenty as his personal guard. The force consisted of forty swordsmen, forty spearmen, one hundred archers, and twenty cavalry.

Yang Lian chose this composition because the Tang army lacked horses; fighting cavalry with infantry was notoriously difficult. Since the mid-Tang period, heavy cavalry had faded, replaced by light cavalry, making archers the best countermeasure.

After half an hour, the three armies were ready, lining up on the parade ground. The scene was chaotic as soldiers scrambled to find their units and double-check their gear. Yang Lian’s men, however, stood perfectly straight, appearing strikingly disciplined amidst the disorder.

"Whose unit is that?" Li Jing squinted, observing them.

Li Jingsui took a closer look and smiled. "Your Majesty, that is commanded by Yang Lian."

"Oh, is that the same Yang Lian who distinguished himself in the Battle of Su and Chang?" Empress Zhong asked with a feigned tone of curiosity.

"It is indeed," Li Jingsui replied.

"He seems quite capable at leading troops," the Empress remarked, having been the daughter of a military family herself.

Li Jing nodded. "This Yang Lian is indeed a talent worth cultivating, though he still requires tempering."

Li Jingsui agreed, "Your Majesty is wise."

After a short while, the three armies quieted down. The commanders reported their numbers, which were tallied for the Prince. When the count reached Li Hongji’s unit, many were perplexed. The military structure of the Jiankang, Shenwu, and Tianxiong Armies only accounted for fifteen commanders—where did this sixteenth unit come from?

Li Jingsui explained that since there were only fifteen units, they had added one to ensure no one was left out.

The explanation seemed plausible, but Yang Lian found it strange. The unit in black armor was too mysterious, and their leader, wearing a black helmet, kept glancing toward Yang Lian, making him feel that something was amiss.

After the numbers were reported, the commanders drew lots. Whether by luck or misfortune, Yang Lian’s first opponent was Yao Feng of the Shenwu Army. Yao Feng had participated in the conquest of Min but had been demoted to a minor officer after being caught in corruption. He had only been promoted again following the heavy losses at the Battle of Su and Chang. Bian Hao frowned upon hearing this; he loathed the idea of the Shenwu Army fighting itself, but the pairings were fixed.

The soldiers' morale rose as the drums began to beat. Yang Lian, scheduled for the third match, sat on his horse and coldly observed the first round.

As Li Jingsui announced the start, the onlookers retreated to the sidelines. The first round featured the mysterious black-clad unit. A single glance told Yang Lian they were destined to win. They were well-equipped and disciplined, forming up quickly, while their Jiankang Army opponents were sluggish, some even yawning.

As expected, once the order was given, the black-clad unit charged. With a significant number of cavalry, they shattered the Jiankang formation in the first wave. The masked leader, wielding a long horse-lance, was unstoppable.

Lin Renzao frowned. "Where did he get so many cavalry?"

"Only the horse-mounted units would have that many," Chen Tie mused, puzzled, as none of the armies brought many horses.

Yang Lian smiled faintly and whispered, "His identity will soon be revealed. If I am not mistaken, that is Li Hongji."

"Li Hongji?" Chen Tie exclaimed. Lin Renzao quickly covered his mouth, terrified by the audacity of speaking a prince's name so casually. Fortunately, no one else heard.

The black-clad leader led his cavalry straight for the Jiankang command flag. The impact was overwhelming, and the Jiankang Army collapsed instantly, fleeing in all directions.

Li Jing frowned. "Hongji’s victory is not exactly honorable."

"I think it was quite good," Empress Zhong countered.

Li Jing shook his head. "Hongji relied on his superior number of horses to break their formation. If it were infantry against infantry, the outcome would be uncertain. Alas, I did not consider this fully."

Li Congjia, standing behind them, added, "Father, even so, in a real battle, the side with more cavalry would show no mercy."

An attendant arrived to report, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Dongping has won the first round."