Chapter Ninety-Six: Strange Moves
After more than a hundred exchanges, Xue Rengui was feeling the strain.
Luo Tong was panting as well. “Wait!” He backed away several paces, putting some distance between himself and Xue Rengui.
“What now? Thinking of surrendering?”
“Not at all.”
Luo Tong flung the bright-silver spear behind him and drew his long sword, snorting, “Before this, I held your skill in the highest respect, General Xue, and always thought I could never beat you. But after testing you through more than a hundred exchanges, I’ve come to feel that your reputation exceeds your true ability. You are not as formidable as I had imagined.”
“How arrogant!”
“Now I’ll let the general see what I can really do.” Luo Tong angled his sword and assumed a strange stance.
“Take my spear!”
Xue Rengui paid it no heed, thinking Luo Tong was merely making a show of himself.
He thrust forward at once, his killing intent fierce, a sharp gust of force trailing the spear.
“First Form of the Solitary Nine Swords: Sword-Drawing Stance!”
A low hum rang in the air.
The instant Xue Rengui rushed in, he heard the buzzing at his ear and was startled. He dodged aside.
“What kind of swordsmanship is this?”
Xue Rengui asked in alarm, “As far as I know, the Luo family spear has no moves like that. Where did you learn it?”
“Are you afraid now, General Xue? That slash just now was only the most basic sword-drawing stance, meant simply to force an opponent back. It held no real killing intent. The next sword forms are where the true killing blows begin.”
“Then I’d like to see them.”
Xue Rengui studied Luo Tong anew, and his caution deepened.
Whoosh.
His speed suddenly doubled, shifting back and forth in rapid succession so that no one could easily fix his position.
“Changing form and position?”
“Hmph. Nothing special.” Luo Tong was no slower. He changed his stance at once. “Second Form of the Solitary Nine Swords: Spear-Breaking Stance!”
Clang, clang...
The moment this move was unleashed, even the dust around them seemed to rise. In an instant, the sword carried a whistling force toward Xue Rengui. To any onlooker, its momentum was astonishing.
“This slash of mine is specifically for breaking spears, halberds, serpent spears, and other long weapons. Since the day I learned it, it has never failed me. General Xue, you’d best be careful...”
Clang!
Xue Rengui failed to block in time, and his response turned chaotic.
Seizing the opportunity, Luo Tong kicked him squarely in the chest.
Bang!
“General Xue, you’ve lost...”
“Cough, cough.”
Xue Rengui’s face had gone pale. “I never imagined that the descendants of the Luo family would not only excel in spearwork, but wield swordsmanship of such divine mastery. I admit defeat. This match counts as a victory for the little prince.”
“You honor me.”
Luo Tong walked to the command dais to report back.
Li Shimin stood there, staring blankly, muttering under his breath, “How is that possible?”
He could scarcely believe it.
A fourteen-year-old Luo Tong had actually defeated Xue Rengui.
“Father...” Li Zhi waved a hand in front of his face. “Father, the contest is over. General Xue has lost, and little Luo Tong has won.”
“I can see that!”
“And the wager, then?”
Li Shimin had never imagined that the elite Black Armor Army and the formidable Xue Rengui could be outmatched by a little boy, along with a dozen guards from the Bright Hall.
It was absurd.
It was unbelievable.
After gathering his thoughts, Li Shimin said slowly, “Today’s battle has taught us a lesson. The more renowned and invincible an army appears, the more easily it grows complacent. And the consequence of complacency is utter defeat. Of course, today’s contest was not caused entirely by overconfidence. The combat ability of the Black Armor Army and the Golden Blade Guards is worlds apart and cannot even be compared. Little Luo Tong’s swordsmanship was extraordinary as well, and he utterly bested Xue Rengui. I am fully convinced.”
“Zhi’er, I am the Son of Heaven, and my word is my bond. I will grant your request. But you must tell me who they are.” Li Shimin pointed toward the Golden Blade Guards.
“Reporting to Father Emperor, they are the descendants of the Eighteen Riders. The last time I was ambushed, it was all thanks to them. Otherwise, I would have died beneath a rain of arrows long ago.”
Li Zhi did not conceal the truth.
There was no way to conceal it anyway.
With Li Shimin’s methods, he would learn the truth sooner or later.
Back in the imperial study, Li Shimin praised them at length.
“Luo Tong, do you wish to enter military service? In my view, your martial skill is excellent enough to serve as a vanguard without difficulty.” Li Shimin had already made up his mind to place Luo Tong under Li Ji, so that he might one day command great armies.
However...
Luo Tong refused at once. “In reply to Your Majesty, this subject has no intention of joining the army.”
“And why is that?”
“My family still has an elderly mother to care for. I do not wish to leave home.”
Was that really all?
Li Shimin thought it over briefly and immediately felt that matters were not so simple.
Back then, Luo Tong’s father, Luo Cheng, had been plotted against and killed by Su Dingfang, dying wrongfully at Tong Pass. Later, the court pardoned Su Dingfang and even ennobled him as a duke.
In recent years, the court had continued to favor Su Dingfang heavily, without the slightest regard for the Luo family’s feelings.
Under such circumstances, if Luo Tong were to serve the court, it would seem rather unfilial.
After understanding this, Li Shimin gave a wry smile. “Very well... we shall speak of this another time. Luo Tong, you will accompany the Prince of Jin and protect his safety. Take the Golden Blade Guards with you as well. Going outside the palace this time is not like before. You must be careful and not give crafty men any opening to exploit.”
“Yes!”
Luo Tong answered solemnly.
“Father Emperor, please rest assured. Your son will be fine.” Li Zhi snatched a blank imperial decree from the table beside him.
“You little troublemaker. Wherever you go, I cannot be at ease.” Li Shimin wrote out the decree and, with great reluctance, handed it to Li Zhi.
“Thank you, Father Emperor...” Li Zhi unfolded the decree to look. Written clearly upon it were the words: Imperial Appointment, County Magistrate of Hongnong.
Hongnong County.
It lay close to Chang’an and was linked to Hangu Pass, making it a prosperous and densely populated district.
Traveling merchants and common folk passing through the region often stopped there.
Many people with business sense chose to settle in that place, where they could avoid harassment by local bullies and bandits, while also enjoying a high flow of trade.
“Good, very good... truly a wonderful place!” After leaving the imperial study, Li Zhi held the decree in his hands, delighted beyond measure.
“Is it really that good?”
Luo Tong could not see it at all.
“What do you know? As the seat of Hongnong Commandery, Hongnong County is densely populated and economically developed. It is absolutely the ideal place for advancing agriculture and commerce. If we want to achieve our goal quickly, we cannot do without it.”
Li Zhi had already made his plans.
He would not only raise agricultural production, but also develop trade and the local economy, turning Hongnong County into the number one county under Heaven, with grain reserves and wealth reserves surpassing even those of Chang’an.
“Luo Tong.”
“Yes!”
Li Zhi leaped onto the carriage and turned back. “I won’t be returning to the tavern today, nor to the Bright Hall. We’re going straight to Hongnong. I can’t wait to see it.”
“What?” Luo Tong said. “Your Highness, that won’t do. At the very least, we should go to the merchant guild and discuss how best to make use of Hongnong County. Otherwise, what are you going there for?”
“The plan has already been made. There’s no need to discuss it. Go at once to the Bright Hall. Do you remember those sweet potatoes in the rear courtyard? Take them all and have them transported to Hongnong. We’ll meet there.”
Li Zhi climbed into the carriage.
The Golden Blade Guards drove off.