Chapter 61: Martial Arts Competition (1)
After the grand court meeting, Li Er led the civil and military officials, the imperial envoys and the envoys from various tribes to the parade ground to inspect the troops.
The purpose of inspecting the troops was to test the combat effectiveness of the troops. More importantly, Li Er wanted to show off his military power to the local and various envoys in order to scare away those who had evil intentions.
Li Er originally did not plan to inspect the troops, but because Xueyantuo’s Zhenzhu Khan Yinan actually came to Chang’an in person to participate in the grand court meeting, he changed his mind.
Last year, in the 17th year of Zhenguan, Xueyantuo Khan Yinan wanted to marry a Tang princess, but Li Er refused to marry his daughter to Yinan, the old man, on the grounds that the betrothal gift was insufficient, not sincere enough, and deceiving the Tang Dynasty.
Yinan was naturally upset, thinking that Li Er, the Heavenly Khan, was such a shameless guy. He had clearly agreed to the marriage, but he turned his back on her. Yinan
was furious! He wanted to raise an army to attack the Tang Dynasty, but he was afraid that he could not defeat the Tang Dynasty. After thinking about it, Yinan decided to take the opportunity of the New Year's Day court meeting to come to the Central Plains to personally explore the military strength of the Tang Dynasty.
Yinan's actions naturally could not be hidden from Li Er, so today's military review ceremony took place.
The Tang Dynasty emperor's ceremonial guard, composed of the guide, the driver, the driver, the rear drummer, and the rear guard, escorted the emperor to the parade ground.
Li Er and the princes, ministers, envoys and envoys from various tribes arrived at the parade ground. The Tang Dynasty Imperial Guards, who had been waiting for a long time, lined up in neat formations and were in the best spirits to welcome the arrival of His Majesty Li Er and others.
The troops to be reviewed first greeted the imperialist leader His Majesty Li Er, who then gave them a warning.
After seeing the military appearance and posture of the troops to be reviewed, the Imperial Guards were tested for their military strength.
The test of the Imperial Guards consisted of two parts: a contest on the stage and a horseback archery contest.
His Majesty Li Er sat at the top, and the others sat at the bottom according to their ranks.
With the sound of drums, the contest began, and the Imperial Guards fought back and forth on the stage, making the fight very intense.
"Great Khan! It is such an honor to witness the brave warriors of the Tang Dynasty today! I have an unwelcome request, I wonder if I can tell you." Xueyantuo Khan Yinan stood up and saluted Li Er.
He planned to let the warriors beside him go up and try the strongest fighting force of the Tang Dynasty, the Southern Court Guards of the Tang Dynasty's Sixteen Guards.
This will help him to infer the military strength of the Tang Dynasty, so that he can decide whether to raise an army and seek justice from the Tang Emperor who broke his promise to marry.
Li Er looked at Xueyantuo. He had already talked about Yinan jumping out to provoke, so he naturally would not refuse Yinan's request.
Li Chengqian on the side also looked at Yinan. Putting aside his age, Yinan is a strong nomadic man.
"What do you want, Zhenzhu Khan? You might as well say it!" Li Er said with a slight smile.
"I just saw the style of the Tang warriors. I, the Xueyantuo warriors, am itching to compete with them." Yinan said.
"It's not difficult. Today is a grand event. The Tang warriors can compete with the Xueyantuo warriors and enhance our friendship."
"I graciously approve the proposal of Zhenzhu Khan! I allow the Xueyantuo warriors to compete!" Li Er stood up and continued, "How can a competition without prizes? Whoever wins first will be rewarded!"
"Thank you, Khan!" Yinan said happily, and then winked at the Xueyantuo warriors who came with him.
The Xueyantuo warrior nodded and turned to walk to the stage. The first person to step onto the stage was a muscular man with a braided hair.
"Who dares to come up and fight me!" The man looked around, staring at the Tang Dynasty's Southern Court Guards with a pair of eagle eyes, and shouted loudly, his voice like a bell.
Seeing this scene, Yinan stroked his beard with satisfaction and nodded with a smile on his face.
"I'll meet you!"
A school officer of the Zuotunwei stood up and was about to go on stage. At this time, Li Chengqian said, "Wait!"
Whether it was the Xueyantuo people on the stage, the school officers of the Zuotunwei, and the princes and ministers below the stage, even Li Er and Yinan and others all looked at the prince!
"Chengqian, why are you stopping the two sides from fighting?" Li Er asked.
"Father, I, the soldiers of the Eastern Palace, also want to compete with the warriors of Xueyantuo. Why don't we let the soldiers of the Eastern Palace come on stage to compete?" Li Chengqian said.
Li Chengqian guessed Xueyantuo's intention, and took this opportunity to let the world know that his Eastern Palace is full of talents.
Li Er frowned. The candidates who would compete with the Xueyantuo had already been selected. At this time, the prince came out to interfere. Li Er was worried whether it would affect the situation.
"Please grant your permission, father!" Li Chengqian knelt down hurriedly.
Li Er thought for a moment and felt that even if the prince's men failed in the competition, it didn't matter. The most important thing was that the imperial guards could win.
"In that case, let the people of the Eastern Palace have the first round!" Li Er said, winking at Li Anyan, the general of the Left Garrison.
"Thank you, father!" Li Chengqian stood up, turned his head and looked at the Sixth Officer of the Eastern Palace below the stage and said, "Xue Rengui, the Right Inner Officer of the Crown Prince, haven't you always wanted to compete with the warriors of Xueyantuo? His Majesty has granted your permission! What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and go."
Xue Rengui was startled when he heard this!
When did he say such a thing?
The Crown Prince had spoken, and as the Right Inner Officer of the Crown Prince, Xue Rengui had to stand up without hesitation and bravely go up to the arena even if he had doubts in his heart.
"I obey your command!" Xue Rengui replied, turned around and stepped onto the stage, clasped his fists towards the Xueyantuo warrior and said, "Please teach me!"
While the Xueyantuo warrior looked up and down at his opponent, Xue Rengui was also secretly observing the Xueyantuo warrior in front of him.
Finally, at the urging of Yi Nan, the Xueyantuo warrior attacked Xue Rengui.
The Xueyantuo warrior shouted loudly, and like a tiger pouncing on its prey, he opened his arms and pounced on Xue Rengui, trying to rely on his strong arms to throw his opponent off the stage.
At the moment when the Xueyantuo warrior pounced on him, Xue Rengui hurriedly took a step back and took the opportunity to dodge to the side.
The Xueyantuo warrior missed his move, and immediately turned around and raised his fist to hit Xue Rengui in the face. Xue Rengui bent back and dodged the fierce fist.
Xue Rengui took the opportunity to grab the Xueyantuo warrior's hand and threw him to the ground.
Suddenly, there was thunderous applause and cheers from the audience. Even Emperor Li II nodded with satisfaction.
Xueyantuo Zhenzhu Khan Yinan clenched his hands in anger.
The Xueyantuo warrior got up angrily and attacked Xue Rengui again.
Xue Rengui, who had already figured out the strength and tactics of the Xueyantuo warrior, no longer held back and confronted the Xueyantuo warrior head-on.
Within three moves, Xue Rengui knocked the Xueyantuo warrior off the stage.
"In the first match, Donggong Zuo Nei Xue Rengui won!" At this time, the referee came on stage and shouted loudly.
There were cheers from the audience again, but on the Xueyantuo side, there was a dead silence.