Chapter 97
The breeze is not dry. The autumn climate is pleasant. There is no scorching heat in summer, but the breeze brings a slight coolness.
A few days ago, Xie Chen was ordered to come to the Duwei Mansion to participate in the annual autumn archery competition. Dayan was founded on military power, so it naturally attached great importance to repairing armaments and training soldiers. The assessment of officers was also quite strict.
The autumn archery competition required all military officers below the rank of Houguan to participate. There were rewards and punishments, and those with excellent results would be "rewarded with honors". The so-called "labor" refers to the accumulated time. For example, if one is granted labor for fifteen days, when the time accumulates to a certain amount, it can be considered "merit". "Merit" is an important basis for future promotion. If one fails the competition, he or she will be "disqualified," so the entire Northwest Military Town attaches great importance to the Autumn Archery Competition.
Before the competition started, several soldiers from the Duwei Mansion were checking the crossbows and arrows used in the competition. If there were any damaged crossbows and arrows, they had to be registered and labeled and replaced in time to prevent affecting the competition.
Xie Chen was dressed very neatly today, wearing a riding suit with arrow sleeves, his hair standing up high and tied with a green headband, which made him look handsome and heroic.
As soon as he walked out, someone bowed to him and he returned the greeting.
The man said, "I haven't seen you before. Are you from Zhonggu Sui? I am a lieutenant under Wu Houchang, and my name is Wang Xian."
Xie Chen nodded, "Zhongxuan, the Eternal Tunnel."
"Wei Zhongxuan? I've heard of your name for a long time. I've heard that you are an excellent archer and you once shot the eyes of a Xiongnu leader blind and won a great victory. You don't have to worry about today's competition. As long as you hit six arrows, you will pass. I'm not a good archer and I'm afraid I won't pass and will be punished." Wang Xian said worriedly as he looked at the target placed in the distance.
In the autumn archery competition, crossbows are usually used to shoot arrows twelve times, with hitting six arrows as the evaluation standard. Those who hit all six arrows will be rewarded, while those who miss will be deprived of their labor.
Chang Xian didn't wait for his comfort. As expected, he was a man of few words. He pointed at the people who just came out of the Duwei Mansion and said, "Did you see those people?"
Xie Chen looked over and saw several people with defiant looks walking out together.
"Those are the most famous young officers. Did you see the one walking in the front? The one with a ribbon on his head, he is Captain Zhao's nephew. He was the one who won the first place last year. I think it will be him again this year." Wang Xian muttered to himself with obvious envy in his voice.
Before Xie Chen could speak, Chang Xian continued, "Look at him. He has a good family background, good skills, and good looks. I heard that a nobleman in Yandu has chosen him as a son-in-law. No wonder he looks down on people like us."
Xie Chen ignored his sour words, checked his wristband, and prepared to walk towards the venue, but was stopped by Chang Xian, "Why are you in such a hurry? It's not our turn yet. If you ask me, Brother Wei is not worse than him. Why don't you try harder this year and beat that noble family kid?"
Xie Chen glanced at him and said, "Brother Wang, you are too kind. I will go first."
Wang Xian snorted. What were you so proud of? It’s still unknown who will win or lose?
As soon as Xie Chen walked over, an officer came to register his information and checked his quiver. This was to prevent cheating or damage to equipment that would affect the normal progress of the game.
He obediently allowed the officers to check. At that moment, a burst of war drum sounds were heard in the venue. The sound was like thunder and the drum beats were passionate, which made people excited.
The sound gradually stopped. Captain Zhao was wearing armor and had a ring-handled sword on his waist. He held the sword with one hand and spoke in a loud voice. He briefly explained the rules of the competition and announced the start of the competition.
Xie Chen entered the venue, and since it was not his turn yet, he stood outside waiting. The drums started again, and Xie Chen saw a group of people coming in, among whom was Han Jue, the nephew of Captain Zhao whom Chang Xian had just pointed out.
As soon as he came on the court, cheers rang out immediately. Han Jue smiled confidently, feeling like a young general.
After several people entered the venue and stood still, the referee announced the start of the competition. This time the referee was Zhang Houchang, a capable general under Captain Zhao. He was fair and upright in character and selfless, so he was respected by the soldiers.
Several people stood a hundred steps away from the target, picked up the six-stone crossbow placed next to them, and after calibrating the position, the referee gave an order, and more than a dozen crossbow arrows were shot at the target a hundred steps away.
Suddenly, cheers shook the sky. It turned out that someone hit the bull's eye. Xie Chen looked over and saw that it was Han Jue.
The palms of the military officer who failed to hit the target were sweating, and he prayed silently that the next arrow would hit the target. Arrows were shot one after another, and the cheers from outside the field became louder and louder. Some of the people competing in the middle were happy, while others were nervous.
There was only one arrow left, and everyone watched patiently. Han Jue had already hit eleven arrows. If he hit one more, he would become the first person to hit all the targets today.
Han Jue aimed at the target a hundred steps away, pulled the hanging knife, and the arrow shot out. Unexpectedly, the arrow missed the target and hit outside the bull's eye.
The onlookers sighed one after another. Han Jue's face turned pale. He ignored the people around him, threw down the crossbow and left.
After a few more competitions, no one scored higher than Han Jue.
Xie Chen said nothing, touched his wrist guard, moved his arms a few times, and went on stage.
After so many matches, the military officers and soldiers watching the game had long lost their sense of novelty, and some soldiers were watching the game absent-mindedly.
Xie Chen raised his hand to tighten his headband. His expression was stern, his back was straight, he slowly loaded the arrow, and aimed at the distance with the telescope. At the referee's command, the arrow shot out like thunder and hit the center of the bull's eye.
His military officers in this round were very strong and their first arrows hit the target. Xie Chen loaded the second arrow, and the green headband was blown up by the wind. He raised his arm and continued to pull the hanging knife. The second arrow was shot out, and as expected, it still hit the bull's eye.
Until the sixth arrow, Xie Chen breathed a sigh of relief. The people competing with him also felt as if they were facing a great enemy. If this arrow went through, it meant that they had at least passed the test and would not be "deprived of their labor."
His Adam's apple moved slightly, his eyes sparkled, and he shot the sixth arrow, the seventh arrow, and the eleventh arrow, which hit the target again.
Those who participated in the competition looked at him sideways, and the military officers who were watching also perked up and watched the result of his last arrow.
Xie Chen became more and more courageous as the battle went on, and was slightly excited at the moment. If he could come out on top, he could ask Captain Zhao for mercy. He would have to go back to have dinner with his brother on his birthday, and it would not delay military duties if he went and came back on the same day.
He curled his lips into a smile, stretched his sore arms a little, loaded the last arrow, held the crossbow with one hand, and pulled the hanging knife with the other hand, and with a "whoosh", the arrow shot out like a meteor, with a cold light, and hit the center of the bull's eye.
All twelve were correct.
The venue suddenly erupted in deafening cheers, and Captain Zhao on the podium also stood up and looked at the young man in the distance.
"Is this Wei Zhongxuan from the Zhonggu Tunnel?" Captain Zhao said in a serious tone, but with a look of joy on his face. "I saw that he was very skilled in martial arts that day, but I didn't expect that his archery skills were also so good."
The officer next to him laughed and said, "Young hero, didn't the master also like his ability and want him to go out and gain some experience?"
Captain Zhao stroked his beard and nodded.
"Uncle, someone just reported that there was a problem with my crossbow. I'm applying for a rematch." Han Jue stared at Xie Chen who was surrounded by people on the field, and said unwillingly.
Captain Zhao glanced at him and said, "Ajue, sometimes you don't have to be so competitive. Failure is inevitable in marching and fighting, let alone a competition."
"Uncle, I didn't. If you don't believe me, you can ask someone to check." Han Jue had a stubborn look on his face.
Captain Zhao's face flashed with displeasure, but there was a long-standing convention in Autumn Shooting. If someone was dissatisfied with the score or thought that there was a problem in any link, it must be seriously investigated and the competition must be re-enacted.
The subordinate had already ordered someone to investigate while Han Jue was talking. When he came back, he whispered in Captain Zhao's ear, "Sir, this is indeed the case."
Han Jue looked at Captain Zhao proudly and said, "Uncle, let me try again. I'm sure I can hit twelve arrows this time."
Captain Zhao said in a deep voice: "Go and bring the person responsible back to question him. If this is true, explain everything one by one, so that no one will think that I am partial and have ruined justice."
The officer clasped his fists and said yes, then went down to bring over the soldiers who were responsible for checking the crossbows. Captain Zhao looked at Han Jue with cold eyes, but Han Jue was completely unaware and looked at Xie Chen hatefully.
Xie Chen's side was quite lively. Many unfamiliar officers came over to greet and congratulate him. He responded with a few words casually and then walked out of the venue.
Outside the venue, He Xin and Lao Zhang sat on the ground with dried meat and wine in front of them. They ate and chatted, not showing any sign of worrying about their boss.
He Xin bit the dried meat and suddenly asked, "Aren't you worried that the tunnel leader won't make it through the autumn shoot?"
Lao Zhang took the wine glass and drank with him, "How is it possible? If the archery skills of the tunnel master can't pass it, it must be..."
"Affirmation of what?"
"Someone must want to harm our tunnel chief or he just doesn't want to compete." Lao Zhang said after finishing his drink.
"That makes sense. You said that the tunnel chief should be promoted. With his previous military achievements and if he wins the first place in the autumn archery competition this time, he should be promoted to a higher level." He Xin whispered.
Old Zhang nodded and looked up to see Xie Chen standing in the distance looking at them. He stood up like a somersault.
"Captain, are you done with the competition? How was it? Did you get all the answers right?" He had a sharp eye and had already rushed over while He Xin was still stupidly biting the jerky.
The outfit of the tunnel captain is really impressive and looks good. He should dress like this when he goes to Qingquan. I guarantee that County Magistrate Lin will not let him leave once he sees him.
Xie Chen knew what he was thinking at a glance. He said "hmm" and sat on the ground with them, taking away the jerky that Lao Zhang had just thrown away with disgust.
He Xin handed him a clean piece in a servile manner. Xie Chen wiped his hands before picking it up.
"Yeah, I said the tunnel captain would definitely get them all right. What about the person in front? Didn't he get them all right?" Lao Zhang asked as he sat down and picked up the jerky he had not finished eating.
"No, I'm not sure what happened next." Xie Chen poured himself a glass of wine.
"Captain Sui will definitely win first place." He Xin clapped his hands and said, "But I don't think this competition will end in a short time. Captain Sui, why don't we go to the Duwei Mansion for a stroll? I've never been there."
"Yes, yes. Didn't the tunnel captain say that he wanted to celebrate County Magistrate Lin's birthday? How could there be no gift?" Old Zhang echoed.
Xie Chen didn't say anything, but thought in his heart. Although he gave his brother a picture album, how could he only give him one item for his brother's birthday? He felt a little tempted.
Seeing his expression, Old Zhang knew that he would most likely agree, so he told him all about the fun and delicious places in the Duwei Mansion.
At this moment, some soldiers suddenly came towards this side, and the three of them stood up immediately.
"Captain Weisui, the commander-in-chief asked you to come over and compete again."
"What? Didn't we already compete? Are you suspecting that our tunnel master cheated?" Old Zhang, who was in a bad mood, asked first.
He Xin looked at Xie Chen: "Captain Tunnel, what do you think?"
"Nothing, I'll go over and take a look," he looked at Lao Zhang, gave him a few instructions, and then followed the soldiers.
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