Chapter 234 Calling a Deer a Horse
"Boom, boom, boom..."
In the military camp, the sound of drums became lower and lower until it disappeared.
The steady voice of the white-robed officer, the son of the Duke of Zhenguo and respected as "Little Master", echoed clearly in the parade ground.
At the same time, a group of middle and lower-level military officers also echoed the general, saying in unison:
"Please invite General Zhao to demonstrate his martial arts skills!"
The air froze for a moment.
In an instant, the gazes of countless soldiers in the square formation of thousands of people were all focused on him, with strange excitement in their eyes.
Zhao Duan faced the gazes of countless pairs of eyes with a natural expression and a barely noticeable smile on the corners of his mouth.
His eyes fell on Tang Ping, who was holding the iron bow in front of him, and his polished armor. He smiled at the two people beside him with a look of surprise:
"Can someone explain what tradition this is?"
Beside her, Mo Chou also looked extremely unhappy.
Her gaze passed from Tang Ping's armor to the commander of the Shenji Camp. She looked at him unkindly and said slowly:
"Commander Shi, won't you explain? I'm also very curious about this so-called tradition."
ton!
Shi Meng, who was as burly as a small mountain, had his Adam's apple rolling and swallowed hard. He clearly sensed the murderous intent in the eyes of the "Female Prime Minister":
"I……"
The autumn weather was no longer hot, but he suddenly broke out in a sweat.
There was only one thought in my mind: This is bad!
When Xue Shence called him over, he specifically told him not to give Zhao Duan any handle. After he came back, he repeated this order again and again.
This also includes this young master, who has been given instructions.
Unexpectedly, the senior generals were still obedient, but this group of middle and low-level military officers rebelled.
Thinking of this, Shi Meng felt a surge of anger in his heart, and his eyes looking at Tang Ping became a little gloomy.
He realized that he had been too lenient with this young man of military honor in the past, and to the extent that he had lost his dignity.
"Tang Ping, who told you to talk like that? Come, drag him away!"
Shi Meng scolded in a deep voice.
Beside them, a group of senior generals' expressions suddenly changed, and they were about to take action immediately.
"etc!"
Zhao Duan raised his hand to interrupt, he was smiling, and seemed not to be angry at all.
In the army, still calm and composed:
"General Shi, why are you so angry? I'm here today to perform my duties in the Shenji Camp. I'm a member of the army. There's no need to be shy about discussing any traditions. Ha, I'd like to hear about them."
As the deputy commander, he was barely worthy of the title of "general".
Shi Meng looked embarrassed and had to explain:
"There is indeed an old rule in the army that when a new general takes office, in order to demonstrate the military spirit of Dayu, he must conduct a military exercise with the entire army... Practice archery and horsemanship...
However, this outdated custom has been abandoned for many years and is just an unwritten rule... Zhao Chenshi does not need to pay attention to it."
Mo Chou's expression changed, and she then remembered that there was indeed such a rule.
It's just that no one has mentioned it for many years.
Therefore, no one had expected that this group of military officers who deliberately wanted to embarrass Zhao Duan would actually bring up this outdated rule.
It caught everyone off guard.
"Hmm, is that so..."
Zhao Duan nodded, looked at the white-robed captain with a strange look, and said with a smile:
"Tang Ping... I know you. Is the Duke of Zhenguo your father?"
Hearing this, the young military officer wearing a silver helmet and holding a strong bow slowly raised his head.
Tang Ping's eyes were sharp. Although he considered himself a minor general, his eyes and demeanor were comparable to Zhao Duan's.
His eyes were full of scrutiny, and it was obvious that this was his first time meeting the famous Zhao Duan.
His expression was full of arrogance, with a hint of contempt hidden in his eyes:
"Reporting to Zhao Chenshi, I am Captain Tang Ping. There are no sons of dukes among our army. If you do not wish to demonstrate martial arts, I will withdraw and not be an eyesore in front of you, the superiors."
Every word is cold and unfamiliar.
Every sentence is firm.
Just as Mo Chou said, the military discipline of Dayu is strict, so even if this "young master" was intentionally targeting him, he would use methods that are in accordance with the rules.
At this moment, he was even taking a step back to advance, with an appearance of submission.
However, everyone present knew that in front of these thousands of soldiers, if Zhao Duan really refused to abide by tradition and ordered this group of young military officers at the lower level to retreat.
In no time, this newly appointed deputy commander will become the laughing stock of the entire army.
Cowards are never welcome in the army!
After Tang Ping said this, he saw Zhao Duan was silent. He shook his head, the disdain in his eyes became more intense, and he turned to leave.
I thought that this famous Zhao was indeed as despicable as those officers and soldiers said.
Yes, it’s unbearable!
As the son of the Duke of Zhenguo, Tang Ping is a pure soldier.
He was not interested in the struggles in the court at all.
But after all, they are a family of military honors, so they are not so short-sighted as to look down on civil officials.
In fact, even during the period when Zhao Duan's reputation was at its worst, Tang Ping did not have much ill feelings towards him.
Because... I look down on you!
Yes, in his eyes, although he was just a mere thousand households for the time being, he never felt that the empress's favorite was worthy of attention.
It was not until recent months, when Zhao Duan rose to prominence, that this name came into my sight, but I only knew about it.
What really caught his attention was that many of his comrades in the army had mentioned this person in recent times.
The words revealed many dirty things about this person.
Being cruel and ruthless, and seeking revenge for every grievance is nothing.
Tang Ping was never a moral saint.
I just heard a lot from my colleagues that this person relied on his body to get to the top.
His cultivation level barely made him a mortal, but he became a favorite just by relying on his face. It is inevitable that he would feel ashamed.
What really made the young officers of the Shenjiying angry was the imperial edict of promotion.
He jumped from the sixth rank to the fourth rank, and was airlifted to the Shenjiying to take up a temporary position.
This news instantly ignited the anger of the young officers.
Since ancient times, anyone who could serve as a fourth-rank military officer had to have made meritorious service in the army, or be proficient in military tactics, or at the very least, be outstanding in martial arts.
How could it not make people unbalanced that a mortal of the first rank, without any military merit, could crush a group of military officers by relying on his so-called "merits" of catching rebels and fighting against court officials?
A group of restless young military officers immediately found the young master to express their dissatisfaction.
As a descendant of a family of military honors, Tang Ping naturally shared the same hatred for the enemy.
This is why he was able to show his power to the entire army today.
…
At this moment, Tang Ping shook his head and turned around, about to leave, but was suddenly stopped.
"Since it is a tradition, there is no reason for this general to not abide by it." Zhao Duan said with a smile.
Tang Ping paused and turned around in surprise.
I was surprised that this embroidered pillow with low cultivation level actually dared to take it.
Mo Chou was also stunned, frowned, and wanted to say something, but held back.
She wanted to remind people that the iron-framed bows in the army were different from the ordinary wooden bows and were not on the same level at all.
On the battlefield, life and death are at stake, and the bows used by soldiers are all labor-saving and light.
As for the large bow used in martial arts performances, it is difficult to pull it apart without extraordinary physical strength.
Even if you pull it, it is difficult to control the accuracy due to lack of training.
Although Zhao Duan also served in the imperial guards at the time, he was a guard in the imperial palace.
I know how to use a bow and arrow, but to say I'm really good at it... not that good.
She was worried that Zhao Duan would not be used to using the iron-framed bow and would make a fool of himself in public, so it would be better for him not to accept the challenge.
"Mr. Zhao, don't be angry with him..."
Shi Meng wanted to dissuade him, but was stopped by a look from Zhao Duan.
The next second, Zhao Duan stepped forward and took the iron bow, which was almost half a person's height, from Tang Ping's hand with one hand.
As soon as he started, his wrist sank gently!
You can see its weight.
I can’t even hold the bow... Tang Ping shook his head, took a few steps back, and glanced back.
Immediately, the young officers who followed him ran out and set targets at fifty steps away, one hundred steps away, one hundred and fifty steps away, and two hundred steps away.
"General, please."
The young master in the white robe and silver helmet took a few steps back, raised his hand to make a gesture of invitation, and said even louder:
"Cheer for the General!"
"Boom, boom, boom..."
Immediately, the low drum sound was heard again.
In an instant, the atmosphere on the training ground became serious, and thousands of soldiers looked at each other with burning eyes.
Zhao Duan just smiled, his expression still as usual, and casually pulled out a wrought iron arrow with pure white tail feathers from the quiver.
Draw the bow and draw the arrow.
“Crack—”
A low, sharp sound was heard, and the bow and arrow slowly opened a semicircle - this was the normal level for an ordinary warrior.
"Buzz."
Zhao Duan shot an arrow, and the arrow left an afterimage due to its powerful kinetic energy.
But it was a high arc, in full view of everyone, brushing the edge of the target a hundred steps away and piercing the ground straight away.
With a puff, it sank halfway in, and its tail feathers vibrated slightly.
Miss the target.
At this moment, the drumbeats suddenly stopped, and the warm atmosphere on the training ground was also extinguished!
The young generals who were watching the show were also stunned.
It seems that no one expected that this useless person's archery skills would be so mediocre.
It's only a hundred steps. Not to mention hitting the center of the target, it's impossible to even get on the target.
That’s it?
Are you qualified to be a fourth-rank commander?
"laugh……"
Faintly, someone in the crowd seemed to be laughing.
Mo Chou and Shi Meng's expressions also changed slightly. They didn't feel gloating, but only had a headache.
I don’t know how this will end.
Tang Ping was also stunned for a moment, and he looked at Zhao Duan with contempt, but he did not sneer.
But suddenly I felt that all the trouble I had gone through to make this show of power seemed a bit unnecessary.
Such a mediocre person...
However, in the eyes of countless people, some were contemptuous, some were mocking, some were dazed, and some were confused.
Zhao Duan calmly put down the iron bow and asked with a smile:
"How about my arrow?"
“Pah…Pah…”
In the silent atmosphere, Hou Renmeng and Qian Kerou clapped their hands and cheered at the same time, their expressions serious:
"Your Excellency has hit the bull's eye with one arrow. What a brilliant talent."
(End of this chapter)
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