Legend of Great Tang’s Twin Dragons

Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Li Shimin, Ba Fenghan, Hou Xibai, Yuchi Jingde, Zhangsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Qin Shubao, Duan Zhixuan, Wang Xuanshu and the others sat around the table, discussing the great plan [orig. large scale program of lasting importance].

After reading the secret letter from Chang He word by word and phrase by phrase to everybody, Kou Zhong put it down and concluded, “The information sent by Chang He confirms that our guess is unmistaken. Jiancheng and Yuanji already set a comprehensive plan to ambush us at the Xuanwu Gate, but there is no mention of the Tujue, so it can be seen that Jiancheng is still hiding this from Chang He.”

Li Shimin said, “From Change He, we more or less grasp the enemy’s battle plan, so that we can make arrangement unhurriedly. Tomorrow, not only we will fight three beautiful victories, we also have to try not to disturb the common people as much as possible, in order to avoid stirring up panic. Therefore, the peaceful settlement after the incident is equally important.”

Clearing his throat, Du Ruhui said, “Guarding against people’s heart, we cannot do without, although Chang He and Shaoshuai’s friendly relation is deep, himself is a person who understands reason, but Chang He has always been Taizi’s man, and he is loyal to Huangshang even more. It’s hard to fathom a person’s mind, if in the open he defects to our side but in secret still vows loyalty and devotion to Taizi, then this secret letter is a trap.”

Fang Xuanling caught on, “Ruhui’s remark is not without any reason, because the person who handed the secret letter to Shaoshuai is Xiao Rang, which makes people even more suspicious. Xiao Rang has always belonged to Li Xiaogong’s unit, although he has friendly relations with Chang He, but this kind of betraying Taizi, betraying Huangshang – big matter, Chang He should not have dared to reveal it to him.”

Li Shimin smiled and said, “Two gentlemen qingjia [high ranking official/term use by the emperor for his subjects], no need to worry in humble respect. He is what he is today is entirely due to Huai’an Wangshu [uncle king] recommending him to Fuhuang. Wangshu has assured me even more that he can be trusted, but we indeed should be on guard against people’s heart.”

Duan Zhixuan said, “Although Chang He is the commander on duty at the Xuanwu Gate tonight, but under him there are still Jing Junhong and Lu Shiheng, two deputy commanders, all are men loyal and devoted to Huangshang, when the time comes, they may not be willing to stand on our side.”

Kou Zhong laughed aloud and said, “First of all, I can guarantee that there will be no problem with Chang He. In the past, in my disguise as the ugly divine doctor I treated Zhang Jieyu, together with him, we experienced Jiancheng’s avoiding responsibility and faithlessness, hence today, if under the circumstances he is still loyal to Jiancheng, he is a big idiot. Besides, even if he is still wavering, as long as the military tally and the imperial orders letter arrives, he will know what to choose. As for the officers and soldiers under his command, they are not enough for us to worry, the military tally is in hand, who dares not to obediently follow and execute the order?”

Ba Fenghan laughed and said, “Finally, it’s the main issue! The key to success or failure depends on whether we can control Huangshang, control the imperial palace and the imperial city. At that time, Xuanwu Gate’s Changhe’s imperial guard, Liu Hongji’s city defenders, will all fall into our hands, others no longer be enough to worry about.”

Kou Zhong patted Xu Ziling’s shoulder beside him, he sighed and said, “Whoever obtains the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house can obtain the world! I never thought that we wander and stroll around, in the end we still return to the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house, this old road.”

And then he spoke cheerfully to Li Shimin, “Now we give you the treasure house, therefore, the world is yours. Ha!”

The crowd burst into a roar of laughter, immediately the atmosphere became relaxed, not as tense as before, returning to Kou Zhong and the others’ usual employing the troops with chatting and joking, facing death in a relaxed manner – style.

Kou Zhong smiled and said, “About tomorrow, as far as I’m concerned, it’s just a game of chess abundant involving life and death. Relying on the Duke Yang’s Treasure-house, we will launch the using man to play the sword, using sword to play the enemy – technique, to gain the initiative by striking first, to grasp the fortunate timing. The enemy will be led by us by the nose. There is one important thing that I haven’t told gentlemen, Dage. Before I went to see Shigong, Li Xiaogong talked to me in private, advising me to leave the city immediately. I persevered and on the contrary, laid out the pros and cons thoroughly. It seems that he has been moved by me. Naturally Xiaodi did not dare reveal the secret to him, however, when the situation develops to a certain situation, I guarantee that he will turn to our side.”

The crowd burst into a roar of cheers, their spirit was greatly aroused. Li Xiaogong was the head of the imperial guards close to Li Yuan’s side, if he surrendered, it would be akin to successful control of the imperial palace.

Greatly delighted, Li Shimin said, “Shaoshuai can persuade Liu Hongji, naturally he can move Hejian Wang [lit. king of Hejian (between the rivers), must be Li Xiaogong’s title].”

Hou Xibai sighed and said, “This is our Shaoshuai Kou Zhong’s bending men and soldiers without fighting – charisma.”

Kou Zhong laughed and cursed, “I don’t need you, Xibai, this kid to pat my horse’s butts.”

Li Shimin said, “Whether we can succeed tomorrow depends on whether we can create a situation where people have no choice but to turn to our side, so I want to put the attack on Yin’s mansion last. After the Imperial Guards dealing with the Shao Shuai and the Song Family allied armies are under control, we will use the city-defenders army to heavily surround the Yin Mansion, and the 3,000 elite troops led by Ma Chang will assemble at the Yeting Palace, so that we can have the superiority in military strength, and defeat the Changlin Army and the Tujue in one fell swoop.”

Kou Zhong nodded and said, “Qin Wang‘s words are very true. The so-called ‘having no other choice’ is to let everyone know that there is only one choice, and that is to rely on you, Qin Wang, the Senior. To accomplish this point, we must kill Jiancheng and Yuanji without negotiation, so that for Huangshang, there is also only one option left.”

Xu Ziling said, “The smaller the surface of the strike, the more limited the scope of the battlefield, the fewer casualties, the possibility of stirring up turmoil is also smaller, the more we will be able to maintain our strength, to use it to deal with the allied armies from beyond the Great Wall going down south.”

Fang Xuanling said, “Weichen [this small official/humble servant] and Ruhui can first make a draft of various styles of imperial decrees and official call to arms. When the time comes, as long as Huangshang put his seal and signs them, major event can succeed.”

This moment Pang Yu and Li Jing came together to report the latest situation.

Pang Yu said, “Chen [I, your servant] got in touch with Liu Hongji, he agreed that no matter what happens in the palace, he will hold back his troops without moving. He also sent reconnaissance riders to secretly monitor the movements of Lin Shihong’s troops, waiting for further orders from Qin Wang.”

Ba Fenghan spoke cheerfully, “This is a gargantuan good news.”

Li Jing said, “Ma Chang’s troops are distributed across the twelve strongholds in the city, waiting for the best time to attack the Yin Mansion.”

Li Shimin asked Pang Yu, “Any unusual activity on the enemy’s side?”

Pang Yu replied, “The situation is normal. It’s just that after dark, Cheng Mo gathered a unit of about 6,000 imperial guards in the guardhouse northwest of the Imperial City. They should be the imperial guards to be used to deal with Ma Chang’s troops. As for Taizi’s side of the East Palace, Changlin’s army is still assembled at the Changlin Gate as before, Taizi’s high-ranking military officers, one after another quietly entered the East Palace to prepare for tomorrow.”

Ba Fenghan asked, “Any news about Bi Xuan?”

Shaking his head, Pang Yu said, “Tujue people’s movements are still unknown, the most likely place for them to hide should be Yuanji’s Qi Wang’s Mansion at the Western Inner Garden.”

Li Shimin asked, “What time is it now?”

Zhangsun Wuji replied, “The seventh quarter of the zi hour [11pm – 1 am].”

Li Shimin said, “We still have half a sichen to prepare, everyone should get a good rest. After we enter the palace via the secret passage, the overall situation here will be under Li Da Jiangjun’s command. After this matter is accomplished, I, Li Shimin, will evaluate everybody’s merit and bestow rewards accordingly.”

Everyone responded with a thunderous roar, the one who shouted the loudest was Kou Zhong.

Li Shimin signaled with his hand, the crowd of generals stood up and left, leaving only Kou Zhong, Ba Fenghan, Xu Ziling, Hou Xibai, Wang Xuanshu, Yuchi Jingde, Zhangsun Wuji and Li Shimin.

Ba Fenghan was still looking at Kou Zhong; laughing involuntarily, he said, “Qin Wang evaluating everybody’s merit and bestowing rewards makes you so excited? Do you want Qin Wang to bestow you an official title to give you a taste of what it is like to be an official?”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Precisely. But if Qin Wang is willing to bestow me the opportunity to report the old age and returning to the farm [i.e. retire], that is more than Xiaodi could wish for.”

Li Shimin spoke cheerfully, “You beat back the allied armies from beyond the Great Wall for me, everything else can be discussed.”

Everyone roared in laughter, the atmosphere was relaxed. If there were outsiders present, they would never have dreamed that in a while, these men would go from the cradle to the grave, in order to accomplish the grand plan of unifying the world.

Hou Xibai said, “Should we go back to our room now to sit in meditation and rest, to preserve and nurture our spirit?”

Li Shimin smiled and said, “If you want to rest, wait until we get to the imperial study room to rest! Fuhuang assembling the imperial guards to deal with Ma Chang’s men and horses, to us there are a hundred benefit without a single harm, because to maintain the outer defense of the palace city and the imperial city it cannot need less than two thousand men, therefore, the current imperial palace defense will be greatly reduced, which is beneficial to our operation. The exit at the Yin Mansion is already sealed, now we immediately sneak into the imperial palace, After the arrangement of imperial study room is done, Xibai can sleep peacefully without any worry until Fuhuang graces us with his presence.”

Kou Zhong laughed aloud and said, “I will wake him up then.”

Looking at the living wall separating the two secret passages, gasping in amazement, Kou Zhong said, “All along I was never able to figure out how to make use of Duke Yang’s Treasure-house to plot a rebellion, because even if a large number of troops could be brought in from outside the city, and in terms of military strength they still have absolute superiority, but to make a breakthrough into the imperial palace is still more difficult than ascending to heaven, not to mention that there was no chance that Yang Su could surpass Yang Jian in military strength. Now of course I understand clearly, simply because from the treasure house we can enter the imperial palace directly. The most wonderful thing is that Yang Jian, just like Shimin’s zunweng [your honorable father], thought that this entertainment secret passage can only be opened from the inside, therefore, he could sleep peacefully without any worry every night.”

Li Shimin said, “Wen Di’s [Emperor Wen] natural disposition was suspicious, he was unwilling to trust people. This secret way to enter and leave the imperial palace was built under this mentality. At that time Yang Guang knew the facts, hence he conspired with Yang Su to connect this passage with the treasure house. If their plan to deal with Yang Yong failed, he would raise his troops in rebellion. Ay! I have a bit of feeling that history is repeating itself now, only at that time Yang Guang did not know how to implement it, that’s all!”

Under the illumination of the flame, Li Shimin’s face revealed bitter anguish, apparently because it occurred to him that he was taking Yang Guang’s position, a conflicting feeling of dealing with his father and brothers, so he was downhearted in his heart!

Shaking his head, Hou Xibai said, “This is not history repeating itself, rather, Yang Guang’s evil seed bore virtuous fruit. What Qin Wang is doing is not for your own honor or disgrace, but to save all the people from the water and fire.”

In order to alleviate the sorrow in Li Shimin’s bosom, Kou Zhong laughed and said, “To be successful in big things, how could one worry about minor matter? Struggling for survival is absolutely fair and reasonable even more. Ha! Let me, this divine hand in mechanism, be in charge of opening the door bolt and releasing the wall.”

Hearing that, Yuchi Jingde and Zhangsun Wuji scrambled forward, they separately pulled open the heavy steel door bolt locking the living wall from the left and right.

Kou Zhong’s pair of palms pressed on the living wall and slowly pushed the living wall open. When he revealed a gap about a chi wide, Xu Ziling’s tiger-body suddenly trembled slightly, he cried in low voice, “Not good! Someone is coming!”

Kou Zhong also heard a barely audible unusual noise coming from the direction of the imperial palace over yonder. He thought about the exit of the Yin Mansion being sealed. When he cried inwardly, ‘Not good!’, Xu Ziling flashed out and fast like a demon and ghost, he flew towards the exit of Yin Mansion.

And then Kou Zhong rushed forward and cried in low voice, “Fire stick!”

Hou Xibai lighted up a fire stick and followed closely behind the two, pursuing them out.

Ba Fenghan spoke heavily, “Someone opened the gateway at the other end.”

Li Shimin, Zhangsun Wuji, Yuchi Jingde, Wang Xuanshu, and the thirty Flying Clouds Guards accompanying them were so nervous that it felt like their heart has risen to their throats, while also secretly called ‘Lucky!’, because if they were a little early or a little late, they would make a mistake from which it would be difficult to come back. It was so coincidental that clearly there was a master in the dark world.

Since the entrance was only a dozen zhang away from the Yin Mansion exit, with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling’s skill, they should have plenty of time to get to the wooden square bar to open the locked mechanism.

Sure enough, within a few breaths, Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong each held a wooden square bar, and after returning to the living wall together with Hou Xibai, Ba Fenghan immediately grabbed the door handle on the living wall and put the living wall back to its previous condition.

Kou Zhong handed the wooden square bar to Yuchi Jingde, and stuck his ear to the living wall, saying, “Ziling, help me!”

After Zhangsun Wuji took the wooden square bar that Xu Ziling was carrying, Xu Ziling pressed Kou Zhong’s back with both hands.

Kou Zhong said, “Add Fenghan will be even better.”

Ba Fenghan did as instructed.

As if he was talking in his dream, Kou Zhong said, “His Niang’s! Not patrolling troops, there is only one person. This person’s skill is not bad. His granny’s! Unexpectedly his steps do not make any noise, but he still can’t hide it from me, someone with better skills than him.”

Although Li Shimin and the others were nervous, they could not help being amused inwardly. Kou Zhong was precisely that kind of a person. No matter how vile and tense the situation was, he was still trifling without respect [idiom: frivolous], loved to joke, and never forgot to entertain others and amuse himself.

A moment later, Kou Zhong said, “He is opening the lock at the exit; the exit is opened!”

Xu Ziling and Ba Fenghan’s true qi was pouring into his body. The three men were accustomed to working together on true qi transmission, so that Kou Zhong’s hearing power was increased multiple times; if it were three different people, even if their inner power was equal to theirs, due to different method, the same effect could never be achieved.

Through the living wall, which thickness reached two chi, the noises inside the tunnel completely entered Kou Zhong’s ear, not a single thread was missed. Suddenly he heard Yin Zuwen’s familiar voice, “How is the situation?”

Another peculiar [orig. yin and yang, weird qi] voice replied, “Everything is going according to plan; is everything going well on your side?”

Kou Zhong was violently shocked; he blurted, “My Laotianye, the one nearly run into and destroy our good deeds is unexpectedly Wei Gonggong.”

Hearing that, Li Shimin and others, none did not look at each other. Wei Gonggong, who has always been loyal and devoted to Li Yuan, deeply obtaining Li Yuan’s trust, was unexpectedly a traitor in collusion with the demonic school.

Ba Fenghan reminded him, “Don’t talk, just listen carefully.”

Yin Zuwen’s voice came into Kou Zhong’s ear, saying, “Shihong’s men are about to enter the city via the underground storehouse passage. Everything is going well. The only problem is that Kou Zhong, little thief’s men are suddenly scattered all over the place, but don’t worry, we will wait in tight formation.”

Wei Gonggong said, “Li Yuan has just summoned the three most beloved imperial concubines to Yanjia Dian [extended auspicious palace hall] to accompany him to pass the night. Yuwen Shang, father and son, You Chuhong, grandmother and grandson, Chu Junming, husband and wife, received order to Yanjia Dian to protect them. Li Yuan may not go to the imperial study room as usual, but stay at the Yanjia Dian, all these are carried out in secret, only Hejian Wang Li Xiaogong and a group of Li Yuan’s trusted aides, personal guards know that Li Yuan is not staying the night in the original Qin Gong [palace to lie down] tonight.”

Yin Zuwen laughed coldly and said, “Li Yuan is really obedient.”

Wei Gonggong spoke cool-headedly, “Because he has to deal with that unit of men and horses of Kou Zhong’s, he has already emptied out the imperial guards. Li Yuan has no guts. Most of the imperial guards in the palace are dispatched to defend him, so the defense in other places is weak, as long as you act quickly, combined with the situation we created, plus with Wan’er and me responding from the inside, we will definitely succeed.”

Yin Zuwen asked, “When should we commence the strike? From which gate should we break into Yanjia Dian?”

Wei Gonggong said, “You must carry out the raid from the east gate precisely at the third quarter of yin hour [3-5 am], set fires everywhere, and create chaos. The military strength of Li Xiaogong’s personal guards in Yanjia Dian is weak. Although there is no ordinary hand among them, you should be able to withstand them.”

Yin Zuwen replied, “Everything will be done according to Gonggong’s instructions.”

Wei Gonggong said, “Not according to my orders, but according to Wan Xiaojie’s orders, now she is the master of the Yin Gui Pai. All right! Lock the cover! I still have to wait upon Li Yuan. Tonight’s password is Tianxia Tongyi, Wanshi Liufang [lit. the world unified, ten thousand generations leave good reputation].”

The cover was closed, the sound of footsteps went far, from a closed door, the exit became one that can be opened from the outside at any time.

Kou Zhong turned around to face the crowd. Leaning against the living wall, he drew out a mouthful of cold air and said, “How dangerous!”

The crowd stared at him blankly.

Kou Zhong said, “Turns out Wanwan’s informer is unexpectedly Wei Gonggong. No wonder Wanwan knows what happens in the palace like the back of her hand. His granny’s! Tomorrow Huangshang will not go to the imperial study room, but will hole up at the Yanjia Dian.”

Everybody’s countenance changed at the same time.

Kou Zhong smiled and said, “There is also good news, which is Wanwan is also in the palace hall [dian], I just don’t know if she disguises herself as a palace maid or a little court eunuch.”

Xu Ziling drew out a mouthful of cold air and said, “Wanwan! If she is there, plus Wei Gonggong, we may not be able to control the overall situation in one fell swoop.”

Kou Zhong said, “Not only there will be Wanwan and Wei Gonggong, Yuwen Shang, You Pozi [old woman/granny], Shenxian Juanshu [immortal couple] husband and wife will all be there, that Yan Li should also be hanging around over there. The scene will really be very lively.”

Knitting his brows, Ba Fenghan said, “Don’t keep listeners in suspense, there is not much time, you haven’t own up the facts?”

Kou Zhong recounted the dialogue between Wei Gonggong and Yin Zuwen one time through, and then said, “This is called the Mandate of Heaven is on me. Listening to a few words is enough to reverse our destiny.”

Muttering to himself irresolutely, Hou Xibai said, “Looking at it this way, Wei Gonggong should be Yin Gui Pai’s man.”

Kou Zhong said, “That’s for sure. Wei Gonggong might be Zhu Hou’s [Empress Zhu] Shixiong [older martial brother] or something like that, otherwise he could not possibly call Wan’er, such an amiable appellation.”

Li Shimin spoke heavily, “We have to change plan.”

Kou Zhong laughed and said, “Not only we have to change plan, we also want to disguise ourselves as Lin Shihong’s men. Only in this way can we enjoy Wan Meiren and Wei Gonggong’s coordinating outside and inside offensives [idiom] to the fullest.”

Blurted out laughing, Ba Fenghan said, “Good plan!”

Yuchi Jingde did not understand, “Why do we disguise ourselves as Lin Shihong’s men?” he asked.

Li Shimin replied cheerfully, “This method is called passing off fish eyes for pearls [idiom: to pass off fake products as genuine], completely shrouding the head, covering the face. Shaoshuai, am I right?”

Kou Zhong laughed heartily without restraint and said, “Indeed my, Kou Zhong’s number one rival. The personal guards defending the Yanjia Dian’s military strength is weak. Five hundred of us will be enough, half will be disguised as Lin Shihong’s bandit army, the other half will be disguised as the imperial guards escorting them. The major event can be staged.”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “The secret passage outside can lead not only to the imperial palace, but also to the armory of the Imperial Guard Station at the southwest of the imperial city, storing armors and weapons. Disguising the Dark Armored Elite Troops as the Imperial Guards is merely the exertion of lifting one’s hand.”

Hou Xibai asked, “Is there any difference in uniforms between the imperial guards of the imperial city and inside the palace?”

Zhangsun Wuji replied, “Only the shoulders’ insignia are different. To become the imperial guards inside the palace, our uniform can be easily modified.”

Li Shimin said, “Time is running out, we must act immediately.”

“At your imperial majesty’s command!’ Kou Zhong responded, “Since arriving in Chang’an, we did not really have a change of fortune until just a moment ago. Ha!”