"you?"
Pang Conglong looked Tang Huan up and down with a questioning and suspicious gaze, and finally shook his head.
“You, a scholar, are not even as good as your bodyguard Li Daikui. At least he has experience fighting against A Da and might have a chance to win.”
Tang Huan thought for a moment and smiled, "It's the same if A-Da goes on for the second round, but of course I should do this kind of show-off thing myself."
Showing off?
Pang Conglong didn't understand what Tang Huan meant. The outcome of the competition was still uncertain, and he might even be seriously injured like Xiao Yuanshan, yet Tang Huan was talking about showing off.
Does he really have that much confidence?
Tang Huan didn't try to persuade Pang Conglong, but instead smiled at the Empress, "Your Majesty, do you still remember the shot Li Daikui fired at Zhao Kai outside Qihuai County?"
"A gun?" Pang Conglong asked in confusion.
Wu Lanxi's thoughts raced as she recalled the events outside the city that day.
At that time, Qihuai County regarded Xiao Yuanshan and his group as bandits, and the two sides were in a standoff.
Suddenly, Li Daikui took out a strange object from his body, followed by a deafening bang.
If Tang Huan hadn't reacted quickly and pushed Li Daikui's arm up the stage, it might not have been Zhao Kai's hat that got smashed, but his head.
"Those are weapons that I have developed in Qihuai County over the past few years. They are extremely powerful, a hundred times stronger than bows and crossbows."
Pang Conglong pressed further, "A weapon a hundred times stronger than a bow and crossbow, is there really such a thing? If you could produce it, Daqing would already be invincible on the battlefield, so why would it be allowed to flaunt its power in the Northern Region?"
Tang Huan sighed and said helplessly, "It's precisely because I know this thing is too powerful that I'm unwilling to use it. Once this thing is widely adopted, it won't just be used in wars; many people will die at its hands in the future."
He looked earnestly at Wu Lanxi and said, “I hope that after I win the competition today using this weapon, Your Majesty will not ask me to hand it over. Unless absolutely necessary, this weapon should never be used in war.”
"I agree." Wu Lanxi hesitated for a moment before giving her answer.
She knew very well what the effect would be if the army were fully equipped with the guns Tang Huan had mentioned, but she couldn't force Tang Huan to do so.
Only after convincing Wu Lanxi to agree to this point did Tang Huan feel completely at ease and participate in the competition without reservation.
The departure of the group had already attracted a lot of attention, and as soon as the three returned to their positions, people couldn't help but ask them questions.
"Your Majesty, what did you say to General Pang and Lord Tang?"
Many people looked over curiously, all paying close attention to how the competition would unfold. Seeing the Empress taking the two away to discuss things privately, they guessed it was related to this matter.
Even though she had already agreed to Tang Huan's request, Wu Lanxi still didn't know how to bring it up.
Should we tell everyone to let Tang Huan participate in the competition?
It all sounds like a joke.
"What else can we say? We've discussed it, and I, the schoolteacher, will take the stage for the second round of the competition."
Tang Huan sat in a chair, crossed his legs, and spoke leisurely.
"What?"
The ministers were immediately shocked.
"Your Majesty, no! Tang Huan's participation in the competition is tantamount to admitting defeat. Daqing has already lost a match; we cannot treat this so lightly."
"No, General Pang should be brought out for the second battle no matter what, so that he can turn the tide for Daqing."
"If Tang Huan plays, Daqing will lose completely, with no chance of a comeback."
At this moment, everyone, whether they had previously been at odds with Tang Huan or had been friendly to him, stood on the same side.
Everyone unanimously opposed this and disagreed with Tang Huan's participation in the competition.
Even Cui Renshi couldn't help but speak up: "Your Majesty, we all know that you value Lord Tang, but as he said, he is now just a schoolteacher, a scholar. How can he fight on stage with someone? Even if you don't care about winning or losing this match, aren't you worried that he might die on stage?"
Not only the ministers heard the news that Tang Huan was going to join the war, but the people in the rear also heard it, and for a time the crowd was abuzz with discussion.
Soon, a loud laugh came from the northern region.
"Has Daqing run out of talent? They've sunk so low as to send a poet to compete. Are they already preparing to send Tang Huan to his death?"
Gongshan Liqun spoke arrogantly and dismissed the matter with disdain.
Tang Huan retorted sarcastically, "General Gongshan, underestimating the enemy is a major taboo. Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Does the Northern Region think that just because I am a scholar, I am extraordinary? Be careful not to capsize in a ditch."
"Of course not. This matter concerns the Northern Region. Even if Lord Tang really decides to take the stage, we will not hold back. The Northern Region will send A'da in the next battle."
In the first battle, the Daqing side took the lead, and in the second battle, it was the Northern Region's turn.
At this point, after Gongshan Liqun revealed who the other party was going to make a move, the crowd began to discuss the matter even more.
"Let the great poet go fight that big oaf? Can he even win?"
"Forget about winning or losing. If the Poet Immortal goes on stage, he might get beaten to death."
"This won't do. The Poet Immortal absolutely cannot be harmed."
"I'm afraid it's difficult. It seems that the Poet Immortal has already made up his mind..."
In the unassuming crowd, everyone was talking about it.
Xue Qi looked ahead, listening to the people's discussions. "It sounds like Tang Huan is planning to participate in the second competition himself. Perhaps we should find someone else."
In Xue Qi's view, this was an act of suicide.
It's a pity for the remnants of the Qin Dynasty. They had just found a place to shelter them, but before they could even settle down, it was all about to end.
Qin Yuyang's expression was complicated; she also didn't understand why Tang Huan wanted to show off.
Although she had lived in Qihuai County for a long time, she had never seen Li Daikui or Tang Huan use a pistol, and she did not know what Tang Huan planned to do.
"Does a poet really have the confidence to win?" Xue Qi asked again. "It seems that Pang Conglong's injuries are quite serious, and he may not even be able to participate in the competition."
This news brought Xue Qi a sliver of joy, for it was Pang Conglong who led the troops to conquer the Qin Dynasty.
This grudge is something the Qin Dynasty can never forget.
Qin Yuyang shook his head vigorously. "He's an incomprehensible person. You never know what he's thinking. But I'm very clear about one thing."
"What?"
"Tang Huan would never let himself get into trouble. He cherishes his life and is very frugal. He would never let himself die before he had spent all of his vast assets in Qihuai County."
"Go for it, sir!"
Before long, the break was over. Tang Huan had just gotten up when she heard Li Daikui speak excitedly.
Apart from him, everyone else looked at Tang Huan with deep concern, even Xue'e was no exception.
Tang Huan turned around and smiled, "What's with everyone looking like this? I'm here to win."
He strode into the square and beckoned to A-Da from the Northern Region.
"One move, and I can defeat you! I only need one move!"
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