Chapter 89 Chapter 89 is the only genuine version...
Gu Zhizhuo couldn't tell anything from her face. When it came to hexagrams and lines, she was best at using the compass.
Gu Zhizhuo simply took out the compass, and if anyone asked, he would say that he was checking the feng shui of the military camp.
The golden compass was only the size of her palm and felt extremely light in her hand. Gu Zhizhuo's long hair fell over her shoulders, and she gently fiddled with the compass with her thumb, her eyes like clear springs reflecting the cause and effect of the world.
Gu Yican didn't quite realize his sister's Daoist studies were real. He stared at her with great interest, while also paying half his attention to Jiang Zizhou's words: "The Fifth Army Commander-in-Chief withheld more than just food and fodder. My Lord, we only have 30,000 arrows left. Gong Hai is just trying to control us. If we let him get a handle on us because of Sun..."
"Brother."
Gu Zhizhuo placed the compass on his knees and spoke with a smile.
When the word "brother" came out, Gu Yican shuddered. It was very rare for his sister to call him so seriously.
"When will the July rations arrive?"
"The fifth day of July."
The fifth day of every quarter is the day for delivering food and money. This batch should actually have been delivered on the fifth day of April.
"That's easy."
Gu Zhizhuo clapped his hands and said, "We just happened to discover a small path leading to the northern suburbs today. If July's rations don't arrive on time, we can just rob them. A few more times, and I think the Five Military Commandery will be quiet."
"The Fifth Army Battalion is Gong Hai's 'own son'. Even the horses' chews are top-notch alfalfa."
Hmm.
What a cruel girl.
They were silent for a moment, but these words made people feel relieved.
Qi Fu and Gu Zhizhuo were the most familiar with each other, and they responded excitedly. He hooked his arm around Jiang Zizhou's shoulder and said, "Don't dither. If we don't bother with them, they'll just think we're easy to bully. The eldest lady is right. If we rob him a few times, he'll behave himself."
Their young lady does things in a very evil way, but it also makes people feel very happy.
Qi Fu excitedly pressed his knuckles until they crackled, feeling quite eager to try.
"Miss, what is the gossip you are talking about?" Li Qing couldn't help but ask.
Gu Yican didn't understand his sister's intention, but it didn't stop him from tacitly echoing her. He said, "It's a very hidden path. We accidentally discovered it today and even walked it on purpose."
Gu Yican raised his hand to show them his sleeve, which had been torn by thorns, and said casually, "My sister and I have been walking for a whole day. The path is at least wide enough for two people to ride together. Now, it would be fine if the Five Armies Commandery behaved itself, but if they still want to use food and fodder to control this prince, huh."
Gu Yican made a nasal sound.
Huh? Gu Zhizhuo's fingertips gently slid across the compass's inner circle, and the stationary needle began to spin again.
"My Lord, where is the trail?" Li Qing thought for a moment and then said calmly, "I think we should go there again and calculate the round trip distance. Since we're robbing food, we can't let anyone catch us."
Gu Yican crossed his fingers and said casually, "I'll take you there in two days. We'll just grab some food and mobilize three to five hundred men."
"My Lord."
A soldier outside the tent reported, "Captain Sun said that the military rules respect the strong. He acknowledges that he is not as good as the prince, but as a woman, the eldest lady should not enter the camp. Unless the eldest lady is better than him, he will not acknowledge her and will never leave the Qianji Camp."
Gu Zhizhuo smiled. The man surnamed Sun didn't want to return empty-handed, so he used her as a shield.
What's there to compete with her for, fortune-telling or drawing talismans?
Of course he could just throw the person out, but Gu Zhizhuo still stood up with interest.
Captain Sun is a newcomer.
She too.
Captain Sun wanted to establish his authority.
Of course she does too!
Her surname is Gu, and everyone in the army respects her.
But only strength can make the entire army respect and trust her.
Seeing that his sister was happy, Gu Yican did not stop her. He stood up and followed her out.
Qi Fu and the others fell behind, and Jiang Zizhou asked quietly: "...Qi Fu, how are the young lady's skills?"
Skills?
Qi Fu thought about it and felt it was hard to say.
In terms of skill, she was far superior to the average person, and when she needed to strike, she was never slow or hesitant, her movements light and agile, making ordinary practitioners no match for her. If there was one thing she lacked, it was probably strength.
The guy surnamed Sun is quite strong and is said to be best with guns.
Gu Yican walked side by side with him, and when their eyes met, he asked with the tacit understanding that was unique to the two of them: Have you figured it out?
Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyes: Of course!
She already knew who it was, at least with about 70% certainty.
Walking out of the tent, Gu Zhizhuo immediately saw the dusty Captain Sun. There were red marks on his face and footprints on his chest armor.
The Thousand Machines Camp had been under the Gu family's control since Emperor Taizu, making it difficult for an outsider to establish themselves there. That was why Captain Sun used Gu Zhizhuo as an excuse. After all, it was Gu Yican who had brought a woman into the camp. He hadn't expected Gu Yican to be so arrogant and willful. If he were driven away like this, even if he returned to the Fifth Army Camp, he wouldn't have a place to stay.
Captain Sun clasped his fists and said, "My Lord, you said that the strong are respected in the army. I believe that Miss Gu should not enjoy special privileges simply because of her last name. If I can defeat her, I will be qualified to stay in the Qianji Camp."
Gu Zhizhuo was dressed in a flamboyant red riding suit and riding boots, and his eyes and eyebrows were full of heroic spirit.
Children of military families have an innate heroic spirit.
She smiled and said, "What if Captain Sun loses?"
"I will leave immediately."
"Then I'll suffer." Gu Zhizhuo folded his arms across his chest and said with a smile, "Winning or losing won't benefit me, so why should I accept the fight?"
Captain Sun said firmly, "If the young lady wins, she can stay in this camp."
Gu Zhizhuo sneered and asked, "Who won't let me stay?"
Captain Sun choked and said after a long while, "Miss Gu, don't you dare?"
"Provocation doesn't work on me." Gu Zhizhuo said slowly, "Disarm."
Demobilization means that he has retired from the army.
As soon as these words came out, Captain Sun felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head. He suddenly raised his head and looked over, only to see a smiling face.
Gu Yican didn't interrupt from beginning to end.
In the army, it is completely different whether these soldiers obey her because her surname is Gu or because they respect her.
Captain Sun pursed his lips tightly, then gritted his teeth and said, "Okay!"
If he went back in disgrace today, he would never be reused again, so he might as well give it a try.
He has been to the battlefield, killed enemies, and made military achievements.
His military rank was indeed supported by his family and promoted by Admiral Gong, but he also fought hard to get it.
He just didn't believe that he would lose to such a delicate little girl.
Captain Sun looked around the training ground, his eyes moving from the axe to the knife, and then to the spear. When his eyes fell on the spear, he was about to speak when he suddenly felt a thorn in his back. The prince's eyes were as sharp as a knife, reminding him of the kick on his throat just now.
"Run and shoot."
Gu Yican made the final decision.
Running archery is the process of shooting arrows at the target continuously while riding a horse at a gallop. It does not involve the innate difference in strength between men and women. The victory or defeat depends only on riding skills and archery.
Obviously, if he insisted on relying on his superiority to compete with Miss Gu in swordplay, spears, and fist fighting, Master Gu would definitely not agree.
Captain Sun had no choice but to agree. He couldn't help but look at Gu Zhizhuo and saw that she remained calm, tied her long hair into a ponytail with a hair tie, and asked the prince for a bow with a smile.
Picking up the bow, Gu Zhizhuo raised his eyelids slightly and said cynically, "Captain Sun stared at the sword and spear for a long time just now. Could it be that he wanted to see blood? In that case, there is no need for a target. We can use each other as the target and shoot three arrows in total. How about that?"
Captain Sun's expression froze. He was not surprised that she saw through his thoughts.
He was surprised that Miss Gu had such courage?!
The prince's martial arts were indeed exceptional, and he had never been defeated. But Miss Gu had been raised in seclusion, and had never seen a dead person, let alone a battlefield. A shooting match? Would she dare? Perhaps she thought that with Prince Gu around, he would give in.
Gu Yican clenched his fists nervously.
He had never been so nervous when he was asked to defeat a larger force with a smaller one and ambush an enemy force of 3,000 with only 200 men.
But this was my sister's suggestion, and I couldn't embarrass her.
Gu Yican nodded slowly, and Gu Zhizhuo rode on the jade lion, holding a bow in his left hand, and rushed into the training ground first.
"My Lord." Qi Fu was a little nervous and wanted to ask if he should have the archers wait, but Gu Yican didn't give in. He looked at Gu Zhizhuo in the field and raised his hand and said, "Beat the drum."
My sister wants to establish her authority.
He let his sister establish his authority.
Boom!
The military drums sounded, and the dense drumbeats resounded throughout the military camp.
The rhythm of the military drum has different meanings. The one being beaten now means assembly. Except for the soldiers on patrol and duty, everyone else immediately runs out of the tent and comes to the parade ground after hearing the drum.
It took no more than a hundred breaths from the time the drums sounded to the time the entire camp assembled. Footsteps came from all directions, and other than that, there were no other superfluous sounds.
Captain Sun was somewhat shocked by the strict military regulations.
The dull beating of the war drums made his heart tremble, but at this point, he couldn't retreat and could only bravely enter the training grounds. Meanwhile, Miss Gu, rumored to have grown up in seclusion, was unfazed, as if she belonged there naturally.
The two men rode their horses, facing each other, at the two ends of the parade ground.
The sound of war drums stopped.
It was quiet all around.
Gu Yican stared at his sister closely and raised his arm.
The war drums struck again, and after three "dong, dong, dong" beats, the two men spurred their horses into a gallop. They needed to run towards each other at the same time, without stopping, retreating, or changing direction.
Gu Zhizhuo placed a long arrow on the bowstring and pulled it to full string. The arrow she used was black and was also given to her by Gu Yican.
whoosh!
Captain Sun was the first to release the bowstring, and the arrow flew towards Gu Zhizhuo's head with a sound of breaking through the air, and the sharp arrowhead reflected the light of the setting sun.
Shameless! Qi Fu was so angry that his teeth itched.
Captain Sun was a stocky fellow, with arms as thick as barrels. He wielded a two-stone bow, which had a much longer range than the young lady's five-stone bow. This meant he could already fire at someone before she even entered her range. This was the difference in strength; unless a woman was exceptionally strong and had practiced diligently, it would be difficult for her to wield a bow weighing more than one stone.
"This kid is quite cunning." Jiang Zizhou also said, "He just wanted to compete with the young lady in swordplay. He's totally shameless."
Qi Fu's heart was in his throat. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he patted Jiang Zizhou's shoulder. He cheered in surprise and praised, "Quick, quick, quick, look! Look! Look! Miss, your archery skills are simply amazing."
On the training ground, two feather arrows fell to the ground. Gu Zhizhuo's first arrow was aimed at the opponent's feather arrow. Captain Sun's arrow missed, and the second arrow was shot again almost instantly.
Gu Zhizhuo did the same thing and missed the target again.
Captain Sun didn't care that his two arrows failed in succession.
He only had one arrow left, and Miss Gu also had only one arrow left. Even if the third arrow was the same, it would be a draw.
It's not shameful for me.
As a woman, Miss Gu was ultimately inadequate. As long as she wasn't within her range, she wouldn't be able to do anything to him.
No matter how good her archery skills are, the arrows can't hit her.
If it comes to running and shooting, it is hard to say who is better.
But in a shootout, I will definitely win!
Captain Sun solemnly placed the last feather arrow on the bowstring and aimed it at Gu Zhizhuo.
It’s the same as pulling and releasing the strings.
The bowstring was pulled at the fingertips, and the feathered arrow flew out with a sharp whistling sound.
The sound of drums beating.
Captain Sun laughed heartily; he won.
But the next moment, his pupils suddenly shrank. The arrow he had shot flew towards him at an extremely unbelievable angle, gradually approaching in his pupils, and shot towards his head, which was not covered by armor.
He loosened the reins and placed his palms together on his forehead.
whoosh!
The arrow pierced his palm, and the remaining force knocked him off the galloping horse.
Captain Sun's eyes were filled with disbelief.
He lost!
He actually lost!
Boom boom boom!
The sound of war drums became more passionate and intense.
Gu Zhizhuo drew his longbow, and the jade lion marched on the training ground. Accompanied by the sound of drums, it shook its mane and proudly raised its long neck.
Cheers and screams erupted all around the parade ground.
"Hey, did you see clearly?" Qi Fu asked, "Speak, speak, speak."
Qi Fu was busy secretly cursing the boy surnamed Sun for being despicable and cursing him to fall off his horse, so he lost his focus for a moment, and the boy surnamed Sun really fell off his horse.
Jiang Zizhou glanced at him and whispered, "The eldest lady's third arrow missed Sun's arrow, and Sun was hit by his own arrow."
When the third arrow was shot, the distance between the two was already quite close. The eldest girl calculated the angle well, and this arrow not only deflected Sun's arrow, but also added extra force, making the arrow shoot towards Captain Sun.
Sitting on horseback, Gu Zhizhuo had his black hair tied up, his long eyebrows reaching his temples, and his eyes were sharp and heroic.
She rode a few paces, then suddenly pulled the reins, charging into the wind and heading for the weapons rack at the edge of the training ground. Gu Zhizhuo raised his hands and picked up two red-tasseled spears, the red tassels on the spear tips fluttering in the wind like blazing fire.
When she returned, she threw one of them in front of Captain Sun, and the red tassel swept across his face.
Gu Zhizhuo held a spear, his gaze blazing. The tip of the red-tasseled spear pointed at him, gleaming a cold, cold light in the setting sun.
Captain Sun stared at his own reflection on the tip of the gun, looking dusty and disheveled.
"Captain Sun wanted to challenge me to a duel of spears just now?"
"Get your gun."
Captain Sun's breathing quickened as he met a pair of sharp, phoenix eyes, their glare blazing like a blazing flame. She looked down at him, her pride and arrogance looming over him like a shadow. His palms, pierced by the arrows, suddenly throbbed with intense pain, and at that moment, all his fighting spirit vanished.
He lowered his head, his face full of dejection, and said with difficulty: "I... admit defeat."
The soldiers around waved their arms.
"Big girl! Big girl!"
A few soldiers who had been to Xiliang with Gu Zhizhuo were also among them, boasting to their comrades, "You still don't believe me when I tell you, but our eldest daughter is amazing! When we were in the Western Frontier, she beat every one of those barbarians with one punch, leaving them begging for mercy."
You guys all say something different every time, so of course I don't believe it. His comrades may grumble, but that doesn't stop him from yelling.
Gu Zhizhuo raised his hand effortlessly, and the training ground suddenly became quiet, leaving only the sound of war drums. Every drumbeat hit the heart and excited everyone.
A light laugh escaped from the corners of her curved lips: "Captain Sun, don't forget to take off your armor."
She gave the horse a push, and the Jade Lion rushed towards Gu Yican like a flash of lightning. Gu Yican was waiting for her, and raised his arm to let her borrow some strength. Gu Zhizhuo jumped off the horse with a quick and decisive move, and his posture was heroic.
On the training ground, only Captain Sun was lying on the ground, motionless.
The sound of war drums stopped, and thunderous cheers broke out all around again.
Strength is respected in the military.
After three arrows and one gunshot, the soldiers' eyes lit up, and what was reflected in their pupils was the eldest girl, not the "sister" who looked very similar to the prince!
"Young lady, do you know how to use a gun?" Qi Fu asked with a burning gaze.
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