Chapter 66: The Fire Chi Brightlight Armor!

"Haha, Yulang, you are both scholarly and martial, possessing extraordinary courage and insight. You will surely achieve great things and become a pillar of the state. However, the battlefield is fraught with peril; one cannot survive without fine armor and weaponry. Here, I shall grant you a set of armor and a weapon to aid you in your campaign!"

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

"Remember this, Yulang: once you arrive at the northwestern frontier, you must listen and observe diligently. Learn the art of war from the General of the Cavalry and strive to command your own post as soon as possible. Furthermore, keep me informed of the situation on the northwestern front at all times. I grant you the authority to submit secret memorials directly to me."

Li Longji spoke with earnest exhortation, his tone sharpening significantly on the phrases "listen and observe," "General of the Cavalry," and "keep me informed."

Having reached this point, if one could not grasp the Emperor's true intent, one would have wasted decades of life in vain!

Li Zhao immediately replied, "Rest assured, Your Majesty. Once I arrive in the northwest, I shall learn well from the General of the Cavalry and strive to earn military merit as soon as possible. Please, Your Majesty, take care of your health and await the good news."

He, too, placed deliberate emphasis on "General of the Cavalry" and "good news."

Li Longji and Li Zhao exchanged a glance, a smile appearing on both their faces. Dealing with intelligent men truly makes communication effortless!

In truth, Li Zhao did not relish the task the Emperor had assigned; spying on others was not a noble pursuit. Yet, he did not resist it, for he understood the Emperor's anxieties. Throughout history, countless generals had rebelled, leading to regional chaos or, worse, nationwide turmoil, suffering, and countless deaths. The Hou Jing Rebellion during the Southern Liang, the uprising of General Cui Huijing of the Southern Qi, and the Rebellion of the Three Governors at the end of the Northern Zhou—were these not the finest examples?

To prevent generals from revolting and to ensure the stability of the realm, it was only reasonable for an Emperor to employ such minor stratagems. Li Zhao even secretly hoped that Li Longji would maintain this vigilance, dispatching more spies and eyes to keep a close watch on the regional military governors of the northern frontiers—especially that fat barbarian in the northeast. If so, it would be a blessing for the world and all its people!

But enough of that; let us return to the story.

It was already the third watch. With his worries set aside, a heavy drowsiness washed over Li Longji. He yawned several times and retired to his chambers to rest. Li Zhao did not leave the palace; instead, under the arrangements of Gao Lishi, he spent the night in a side hall.

The next morning, after breakfast, the attending eunuch, Chen Bin, arrived to lead Li Zhao to select his armor and weapons.

In his youth, Li Longji was a renowned sovereign of the saddle, possessing formidable martial arts skills, especially in swordsmanship. Otherwise, he could never have personally led the Longwu Army to launch a coup and seize the throne! To hone his skills, a dedicated armory had been built within the palace, housing a vast collection of weapons and armor—some crafted by master artisans, others gifted by regional officials, and some inherited from previous emperors.

The armory, located in the northwest corner of the palace, was managed by a gray-haired old eunuch who, upon hearing the request, immediately opened the gates and led Li Zhao inside.

"Please look, Chengfeng Lang. This armory is vast, divided into rooms for blades, armor, bows, crossbows, and horse barding... I remember when His Majesty was young, he would come here every few days, never letting a sword leave his hand. Later, as His Majesty aged and grew busy with state affairs, he came less frequently, and now, it has been a full ten years since he last set foot here. Ah, forgive my chatter. Chengfeng Lang, everything is here. Please take your time to select what you need."

"Thank you!"

Li Zhao first entered the armor room. Hundreds of suits were displayed: Mingguang armor, Guangyao armor, fine-scaled armor, mountain-pattern armor, chainmail... the variety and styles were enough to host an exhibition. After careful comparison, Li Zhao chose a suit of dark red Mingguang armor, weighing about fifty pounds and composed of over 1,500 fine steel plates. It featured circular heart-protector mirrors on the chest and back, which reflected a dazzling light under the sun. On the shoulder guards were two ferocious, majestic beast heads—not lions or tigers, but one of the ten ancient beasts of legend: the Fire Chi!

The Fire Chi is said to be one of the nine sons of the dragon, fierce and pugnacious by nature, often feeding on wolves, tigers, and leopards. The ancients used it to decorate armor to signify prowess and martial spirit. Thus, the full name of this armor was the Fire Chi Mingguang Armor. It came with a purple-gold helmet topped with a long tassel, folded ear guards, neck protection, and a hidden fine steel mask inside that could be lowered to protect the face.

With the help of several young eunuchs, Li Zhao donned the armor. He moved his limbs, finding no discomfort. He caught his reflection in a bronze mirror—he looked handsome, imposing, and undeniably dashing. Heh!

Next, he entered the weapon room. The selection here was even greater: sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, forks, whips, maces, hammers, claws, staves, lances, cudgels, and meteor hammers. Anything with a point, an edge, a barb, or a hidden spike was available.

After careful consideration, Li Zhao decided to choose a Horse Lance.

A Horse Lance is a heavy long-range weapon, similar to a spear or pike but heavier and sharper. Ordinary chainmail, lamellar armor, or leather armor could be pierced in a single strike. However, while powerful, few used them because the manufacturing cost was immense and the process incredibly complex.

The shaft is a composite made of wood—Zhe wood being the finest, followed by mulberry, oak, or rattan, with bamboo being the worst. The wood is split into strips, soaked in tung oil, dried, and soaked again—a process that alone takes at least a year. Once the strips are stable, they are glued together with high-quality lacquer, wrapped tightly in hemp rope, coated with more lacquer, and wrapped in ramie cloth. This layering continues until the shaft, when struck, emits a metallic sound—a sign it will neither break nor split. Only then is a qualified shaft complete.

Once the shaft is finished, it is fitted with a fine steel tip and a bronze butt-cap, with the balance carefully adjusted. A qualified lance, when suspended two feet from the butt, must remain perfectly level, allowing the rider to maintain the point forward with one hand without excessive effort.

Li Zhao began his selection. He picked up a golden-nail Zao-Yang lance, weighing about forty pounds—too light. He tried a golden-topped mountain-cleaving lance—still too light. He picked up a Yu-Wang divine lance, twelve feet long and over eighty pounds—the weight was right, but the design was too strange for his taste.

He tried over a dozen lances, but none felt right.

*Hm, what is this?*

Searching the deepest corner of the armory, Li Zhao discovered a long stone chest wrapped in rotting ropes and sealed with aged, decaying strips. Driven by curiosity, he cleared away the debris and forced the chest open. Inside lay a Horse Lance. The blade was three feet long, shaped like a short sword with six beveled edges, honed to lethal sharpness. The shaft was eight feet long, as thick as a man's wrist, decorated with ancient, dragon-like patterns. Near the blade, dozens of wolf-tooth spikes were embedded! The butt was a one-foot-long, three-edged piercing cone.

"A fine lance, truly a magnificent weapon! How could such a divine blade be sealed in a stone chest? A waste, a terrible waste!" Li Zhao touched it and was surprised to find it was made entirely of metal, weighing over eighty pounds. He swung it; the length, weight, and balance were perfect, as if custom-made for him. On the shaft, he found five characters: *Heavenly Slaughter Wolf-Tooth Lance*. What a fierce and domineering name!

Just as he was admiring it, the white-haired old eunuch scurried over, his face pale with terror. "Chengfeng Lang, put it down! That Wolf-Tooth Lance must not be touched!"

"Oh? And why is that?"

"It is a cursed weapon. You must never use it!"

"A cursed weapon?"

Having finally found a weapon that suited him, Li Zhao was unwilling to let go. His curiosity was piqued: why was this Heavenly Slaughter Wolf-Tooth Lance considered cursed? Seeing his resolve, the old eunuch began to explain.

"Chengfeng Lang, do you know of Xue Ju, the Tyrant of Western Qin, one of the eighteen rebel kings at the end of the Sui Dynasty?"

"I do."

Xue Ju was a man of imposing stature, skilled in archery and chivalry, who had spent his family fortune to befriend heroes, earning great prestige among the local youth. When the Sui Emperor Yang grew tyrannical, the world fell into chaos. Seizing the opportunity, Xue Ju led his kin in revolt, slaying officials and raising the banner of rebellion. He occupied the Longyou region and declared himself the Tyrant of Western Qin.

His most glorious moment was the Battle of Qianshuiyuan in the first year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty, where he defeated the Prince of Qin, Li Shimin. In that battle, the Tang forces were decimated, and Li Yuan even considered abandoning Chang'an to escape Xue Ju's advance. But fate is fickle; less than a month after the battle, Xue Ju died of an inexplicable illness, ending his brief but brilliant life. His followers fell into disarray and were soon destroyed by the Tang. Later historians often remarked that had Xue Ju lived another ten years, the world might not have belonged to the Li family.

He had the talent of an emperor and the strength of a king, but not the mandate. A pity!

But the question remained: what did the long-dead Tyrant of Western Qin have to do with this Heavenly Slaughter Wolf-Tooth Lance?