"Sir, won't you watch a little longer? This arena will be set up for three days, and it seems quite a few people are going up there." Li Daikui followed behind Tang Huan, showing great interest in the competition.

"What, you want to go up and try?" Tang Huan asked back.

"Hehe, if it were Da Kui, he might be able to hold out for a while, but I don't think it would be easy for him to beat that A Da," Xue'e laughed.

Li Daikui was somewhat unconvinced. "I don't think so. That big oaf may be strong, but he doesn't seem to have any brains. Maybe I can outsmart him. Besides, there's no rule against using weapons in the arena. If he pisses me off, I'll just shoot him..."

"Da Kui, it's not good for you to start acting like you're going to die right away," Tang Huan said.

"But that big, dumb guy injured several people and even killed a few."

“You did plenty of this kind of thing when you were a bandit, and besides, those people had already signed a life-or-death contract before they stepped onto the stage.”

Li Daikui continued, "That's right. Since everyone has signed a life-or-death contract, it's no big deal for me to kill him."

Tang Huan squinted and smiled, "If you can kill him without a gun, I won't stop you. But right now, you shouldn't do anything reckless. If people find out we have that thing, we might get into trouble."

So far, only Wu Lanxi and Lin Wan'er know that there are muskets in Qihuai County.

The Empress certainly had no problem with herself, but if this were exposed in the capital, it would be noticed instantly.

The trouble will be far more than just a little bit at that point.

With the emergence of such lethal weapons, they will likely become thorns in the side of others, causing many to lose their appetite and sleep.

"Alright, let that big oaf be smug for a few days."

To their surprise, dozens of people took to the stage in just one day.

More than three thousand taels of silver have already been given out, but the person who received one thousand taels has not yet appeared.

There was no one who could defeat Ah Da and get ten thousand taels.

Those dozens of people were defeated almost instantly after stepping onto the stage; even the strongest among them could only last a few rounds.

It wasn't until late afternoon that news came from Zhengyang Street again.

After defeating 45 people in a row, Ah Da directly shocked everyone.

For half an hour, no one went up on stage. In response, A-Da coldly shouted and mocked Daqing for being devoid of talent, saying that all the men in Daqing were cowards who didn't even have the courage to go up on stage.

These words provoked public outrage, and more than a dozen people went on stage in anger, but the result was predictable.

When Tang Huan heard the news at his residence, he shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Gongyang Tingbai has gone a bit too far. Isn't he afraid of angering others by doing this in the capital?"

Xue'e pondered, "The fact that they dare to do this shows that they have nothing to fear."

"Yes, mocking Daqing right under the emperor's nose, could it be that they, from the Northern Region, gained an advantage on the northern battlefield?"

Tang Huan was unaware that her guess was correct.

But he could never have guessed that a conflict would directly lead to an imbalance in the north.

"Daqing has suffered a complete defeat today, losing all face," Li Daikui cursed angrily. He wasn't allowed to go on stage, so he could only hurl insults.

"What do you think, sir?" Xue'e asked curiously.

Tang Huan pondered, "He won easily today because many people were still observing. But after his taunts, many experts will take the stage starting tomorrow. If they go any further, the military might have to step in."

Just as Tang Huan had guessed, news of the arena incident had already reached the ears of all the civil and military officials that very night.

The civil officials were disappointed and angrily rebuked him in their respective residences.

The military generals were furious and wished they could personally take to the field and teach the Northern Region a lesson.

Inside the Imperial Study in the Imperial Palace.

Wu Lanxi asked with a grim expression, "How's things going on Zhengyang Street?"

Before her, Eunuch Shen knelt trembling, "Your Majesty, until curfew, that man named A-Da defeated a total of fifty-nine people, and no one could even draw with him..."

"Fifty-nine people?"

Wu Lanxi waved her hand, knocking the inkstone on the table to the ground.

"Fifty-nine men, all defeated by one opponent—what a disgrace! Daqing has utterly lost face!"

Grandpa Shen dared not utter a sound. He was angry about it, but there was nothing he could do.

Rumor has it that the man called A-Da is as mighty as a mountain, and can fight fifty-nine people single-handedly without breaking a sweat. This kind of person is not someone Xiao Shen can challenge at all; he doesn't even dare to look up at him.

"Tomorrow, someone must fight him to a draw!"

“Your Majesty, this…” Xiao Shen hesitated.

Wu Lanxi angrily rebuked, "What, you servant think you can't win? Starting tomorrow, have all the officials send their guards to the arena. If you still can't win, then send the best soldiers from the army."

We cannot allow the Northern Region to continue its arrogance.

Every extra quarter of an hour they stand on the stage, every one more person they defeat, brings Daqing more prestige.

If we don't stop them, we'll only end up losing face.

"This servant understands."

"Get out of here and tell those who are unwilling to do their part what I have to say. It is time for them to do something for Daqing."

Eunuch Shen left the Imperial Study with trepidation. He didn't even dare to get up and crawled out on his hands and knees.

As soon as he stepped out of the Imperial Study, Xiao Shen let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

As for his back, it was already soaked.

He didn't bother to go back and change his clothes; he left the palace that very night and, during curfew, delivered His Majesty's orders to many people.

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