“Director Shi, just ahead is the Li family army’s camp. Today happens to be a cavalry training session, and the Commander specifically invited you to watch.” The deputy directed the vehicle into the camp grounds; the guard post at the front gate checked his credentials before raising the barrier to let them through.

All along the way, the Li family army’s camp was orderly and uniform, with strict discipline — a rare and genuine professional military force.

It was hard to imagine how a man of Li Yongqi’s strategic brilliance and commanding presence could have produced a son as worthless as Li Haotian. The old saying about mighty fathers and capable sons was clearly just a flattering platitude.

Guided by the deputy, Shi Ting and Yan Qing walked toward the training grounds. Before they had even drawn close, they could already hear the thunder of hooves — a sound that rolled toward them like peal after peal of drums, sweeping and magnificent.

Upon arriving at the training grounds, Yan Qing saw dozens of horses racing around the track, their riders wearing expressions of stone-faced intensity, brows tightly drawn.

Because of the recent snowfall, drifts of snow still piled up around the perimeter of the training grounds, leaving the surrounding area a vast expanse of white.

“Seventh Young Master, welcome, welcome.” Li Yongqi strode toward them in full military uniform, his face carrying a smile, giving nothing away.

Shi Ting said, “I heard from the deputy that there’s a cavalry training session today — this will certainly be a treat.”

“Just a routine drill.” Li Yongqi said, then narrowed his eyes toward Yan Qing. “This must be Miss Yan? Your name has certainly reached my ears.”

Yan Qing smiled. “Commander Li flatters me.”

“Since Miss Yan has come, please, both of you — come and sit. It’s cold out here. Have some hot tea.” Li Yongqi ushered them both into a tent set up to one side.

This temporary tent had been pitched on the viewing stand, and from where they sat, the entire training grounds were visible.

Without drawing attention to it, Yan Qing stole a glance at Li Yongqi. His expression was calm and entirely composed — if she hadn’t already known that Li Yongqi was long aware of Li Haotian’s situation, she might have thought he’d been kept completely in the dark.

For Li Yongqi to have risen to the rank of commander, and to have trained a force as formidable as the Li family army — he was clearly no ordinary man. His manner of handling things was also entirely unlike those who had clawed their way up through flattery and ingratiation.

Yan Qing was curious. She wondered what exactly this Commander Li was playing at.

Once they had all taken their seats inside the tent, the deputy poured tea for everyone before stepping aside to stand at attention.

Meanwhile, the several dozen horsemen had withdrawn to the edges of the training grounds, and only four horses remained in the ring. Seeing a red line strung across the far end, Yan Qing guessed they were about to stage a race.

And indeed, with the crack of a starting pistol, four warhorses burst forth, their hooves throwing up a swirling cloud of yellow dust as they tore across the ground.

Li Yongqi took a sip of his tea and said unhurriedly, “In modern warfare, cavalry are indispensable. Their rate of advance is several times that of infantry — whether reinforcing a front line or covering a retreat, they are a presence that cannot be done without.”

Shi Ting nodded. “In terms of both mobility and the ability to project force, cavalry are without equal among any branch of arms. The Li family army is famed precisely for its iron cavalry. Seeing it firsthand today, the reputation is entirely justified.”

“Seventh Young Master is too kind.” Li Yongqi let out a hearty laugh.

As they spoke, the contest on the training grounds had already produced a winner. The soldier who had crossed the finish line first reined his horse in sharply, then abruptly turned and rode toward the tent where they sat.

Yan Qing watched him approach, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she grew alert.

The man rode up to the tent, then swung nimbly from the saddle and rendered a salute.

Li Yongqi said, “This is Li Ruizhen, commander of the cavalry battalion. This gentleman is Director Shi of the military police division.”

“Director Shi.” Li Ruizhen’s voice was clear and resonant.

Shi Ting said, “Battalion Commander Li’s riding is truly impressive — a rare sight to behold.”

“Does Director Shi ride?” Li Ruizhen asked in his booming voice.

“I did practice some equestrian skills when I was abroad, though I’m not particularly skilled.” Shi Ting replied with modest courtesy.

“Commander, I’d like to race against Director Shi.” Li Ruizhen fixed his gaze on Li Yongqi, eyes bright with purpose.

Li Yongqi frowned. “Nonsense. The roads are slippery in winter — a horse race is no child’s game. If something were to go wrong, how would I answer to the Marshal?”

Li Ruizhen’s expression took on a faint air of contempt. “If comfort is the priority, there’s nothing more comfortable than sitting inside a motorcar.”

Just as Li Yongqi was about to respond with displeasure, Shi Ting said evenly, “Since Battalion Commander Li has the inclination, I’ll oblige and make a poor showing.”

Yan Qing had never seen Shi Ting ride a horse. Looking at Li Ruizhen now — his skin dark and weathered, his hands calloused and rough — it was obvious he was a man who had spent years in the saddle. To call this a contest was being generous. It was a provocation.

Seeing that Shi Ting had agreed, Yan Qing couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Losing the race wouldn’t matter — but what if something went wrong during the race itself? After all, they had come to what amounted to a feast laid in their honor with hidden dangers beneath.

“Director Shi, are there any horses here that catch your eye?” Li Ruizhen gestured toward the various horses tied in a row at the edge of the grounds.

Every horse in the Li family army was a fine animal — personally selected by Li Yongqi from regions renowned for producing excellent horses.

Good horses, like good rifles, were what allowed the cavalry battalion to perform at its full potential.

As they were speaking, a burst of whinnying erupted not far away. It came from a chestnut-red horse — slightly smaller than the others.

Li Ruizhen said, “That Wild Grape is acting up again.”

“Wild Grape?” Shi Ting found the name intriguing. “How did it come by that name?”

“Wild Grape is a wild horse. Last time we were buying horses, it somehow mixed itself in with the herd and followed us all the way back. I thought its build was quite good and wanted to train it properly, but it turned out its wild nature was too deeply ingrained. Every time it’s brought to the training grounds, it throws a fit — no one can tame it. Just look, it’s making a scene again right now.”

Shi Ting allowed a faint smile. “Then I’ll choose Wild Grape.”

Li Ruizhen stared at him in surprise. “Does Director Shi mean that?”

Shi Ting said nothing. He slipped off his overcoat and placed it into Yan Qing’s hands. Hidden from the others by the coat, he quietly gave her hand a small squeeze as a quiet reassurance.

“Seventh Young Master, I’d advise you to think carefully,” Li Yongqi spoke up. “This horse has a fierce temperament and doesn’t take to people easily. If it throws you and you’re hurt, I’ll have a difficult time explaining myself.”

“Commander Li, don’t worry. If I can’t handle it, I’ll simply concede to the horse.”

His lighthearted tone left Li Yongqi with nothing more to say. He could only let out a sigh. “Then it’s the Seventh Young Master’s choice to make.”

As Shi Ting walked out onto the training grounds with Li Ruizhen, Yan Qing couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Li Yongqi. His eyes gleamed with sharp calculation, unfathomable.

—