Li Shimin remained silent. After a while, he said, “What are the odds of success?”
“Sixty percent.” This number made Li Shimin frown even more deeply. Sixty percent was neither high nor low—abandoning it would be a pity, but using it would be too risky.
“I observe that the soldiers don’t look well, most are nearly exhausted. Although the mountain terrain helps with concealment, Yuwen Zhiji has so many men that under a thorough search, I’m afraid few could escape. Moreover, this place isn’t far from Jiangdu City. If he wishes, he could easily summon tens of thousands more troops. By then, not to mention living people, even a fly would find it hard to escape.”
What Du Ruhui said was exactly what Li Shimin had been worrying about all along. Taking a step back, even if Yuwen Zhiji didn’t summon reinforcements, he could have people guard the mountain paths and then set fire to burn the entire forest clean. Then all of them would die here with no way to escape.
Li Shimin was not one to drag things out. He quickly made his decision. “Very well, let’s do as you say. The urgent matter is to first find where Yuwen Zhiji’s main force is, then act according to the plan.” As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Duan Zhihong behind him and said, “Immediately take a team of soldiers skilled in reconnaissance to search for the enemy’s main force!”
“Your subordinate will go at once.” After Duan Zhihong left, Li Shimin began making arrangements one by one. During this time, several more Sui army soldiers found them, but fortunately they were all killed in time. However, more and more soldiers were finding them, clearly indicating that their distance from the Sui army was getting closer and closer. It was indeed time to take the gamble.
Not long after, Duan Zhihong returned with his men. The former had several wounds bleeding on his body. Li Shimin was startled and was about to ask when Duan Zhihong said first, “Second Young Master, don’t worry. These were all scratched by tree branches—it’s nothing serious.”
Hearing this, Li Shimin felt relieved and turned to ask, “How was it? Did you find them?”
Duan Zhihong nodded, “Found them. They’re at a mountainside less than five li away from us. Those soldiers are searching for us in all directions.”
Li Shimin nodded, “Good. March immediately in their direction. Every so often, plant some banners. If there aren’t enough…” He thought for a moment, “Tie clothing of similar colors to tree poles—I think they won’t have the mind to look closely.”
“Yes.” Duan Zhihong had already heard about Du Ruhui’s plan. Although risky, it was indeed worth trying.
The two sides were originally only five li apart, so after a rapid march, they quickly arrived. They could see Yuwen Zhiji and others in the distance. Li Shimin quietly made a hand signal, and Duan Zhihong nodded knowingly, leading a team of men to carefully circle around from the side, forming a kind of encirclement.
Yuwen Zhiji still didn’t know that the person he was looking for had already arrived nearby. Hearing group after group of people return saying they had found nothing, his anger flared up, and he kept glancing at Liu Wen beside him. The latter’s forehead was covered with a layer of bright sweat—he could see that Yuwen Zhiji’s patience had nearly reached its limit. If they still couldn’t find Li Shimin’s group, he would probably really lose his head.
Amitabha, may heaven bless us—quickly find the Second Young Master so I can smoothly complete the task assigned by the Crown Prince. It was also strange—when he left the camp, he had been very careful and had instructed others to cover for him, yet Li Shimin had still discovered him and hidden in these deep mountains beforehand. If not for the fire signal, he would still be completely in the dark.
When a deputy general was making his report, he looked around with a puzzled expression. Yuwen Zhiji noticed his behavior and asked, “What are you looking at?”
The deputy general quickly replied, “Reporting to the general, when your subordinate left, I clearly brought twelve men, but now only eleven have returned. The other one is still nowhere to be seen—he must have gotten separated along the way.”
Hearing this, Liu Wen approached and said, “General, your subordinate remembers that someone else also reported incorrect numbers when returning earlier. Could it be… that those missing men actually discovered traces of Li Shimin but were killed before they could report back?”
Yuwen Zhiji said with a half-smile, “Is that so? But how does this general feel that you’re simply deceiving me?”
“General, you…” Before Liu Wen could finish his defense, thunderous battle cries suddenly erupted from both sides, followed by the sight of many soldiers waving large banners, stretching from the mountainside almost to the mountain peak—a truly frightening sight.
Yuwen Zhiji looked around in panic, not understanding how so many soldiers had suddenly appeared to surround them completely. At a rough glance, they seemed to outnumber his own forces.
After a personal guard read the characters on the banners clearly, he whispered in his ear, “General, it’s the Li Family Army.”
As he spoke, Yuwen Zhiji also saw Li Shimin standing on a small hill. Wasn’t it said that Li Shimin only had two thousand men? Why would there suddenly be so many? This… this simply didn’t make sense.
Li Shimin looked at Liu Wen, whose face showed anxiety, and said with a smile, “Liu Wen, you did very well. Rest assured, I will definitely honor my previous promise and promote you three ranks.”
Liu Wen was completely confused, “Second Young Master, you… what are you saying?”
“You fellow, how did you suddenly become confused? Didn’t we discuss this beforehand? You would pretend to betray me, lure Yuwen Zhiji out of the city in pursuit, and finally use beacon fire as a signal to draw him into these mountains and annihilate him in one stroke. Once Yuwen Zhiji dies, with Yuwen Huaji’s capabilities, he simply cannot control Jiangdu. At that time, I’ll lead fifty thousand troops charging into the city and occupy Jiangdu!”
Liu Wen’s face changed dramatically, and he urgently said, “You’re talking nonsense! When did I ever say such things to you? I… I…” He wanted to say that he had been sent by Li Jiancheng to use Yuwen Zhiji’s hands to take Li Shimin’s life, but these words were inconvenient to speak aloud. After all, so many people were present—even if he survived and returned, Li Jiancheng would never forgive him. He could only reluctantly give up.
But this appearance of his, in Yuwen Zhiji’s eyes, seemed like guilt. Yuwen Zhiji glared at him with vicious eyes and said, “After going around in such a big circle without seeing any trace of Li Shimin, I felt something wasn’t right. You really are a spy!”
“No!” Liu Wen said urgently, “General, don’t listen to his nonsense! He’s deliberately trying to sow discord between you and me. I know better than anyone how many troops Li Shimin has—all together, no more than two thousand. How could he annihilate you? How could he occupy Jiangdu? You mustn’t believe his lies.”
Li Shimin deliberately said, “Liu Wen, what’s wrong with you? Yuwen Zhiji has already taken the bait—why are you still saying these things? Come over here quickly!”
Liu Wen hated Li Shimin intensely. The latter had really dug a huge trap for him. What “come over”? He was afraid that before he could even move, Yuwen Zhiji would already act. No, he absolutely couldn’t just wait for death. Li Shimin only had two thousand soldiers—it was impossible for them to become fifty thousand. He must be bluffing. While thinking this, he raised his eyes to look carefully. Upon closer inspection, he indeed discovered something suspicious—apart from the people actually surrounding them, for the rest, only banner poles were visible but no people, which was clearly fishy.