Chapter 335 Shooting Banquet
Sun Qian and other selected soldiers went south with the fire. The road was difficult, but Zhang Chong could only send it here. He really has a lot going on.
As the leader of a new force spanning both sides of the river, Zhang Chong has too much to do. And these things are no less important than this talent promotion ceremony.
For example, what he will attend next is a martial arts event, the graduation banquet of Taishan Military Academy.
The Armed Forces School has a batch every three months, and today is the graduation day for this batch of Armed Forces students.
As the leader of an army, he must take part in and take exams.
In the rise and fall of a country, neither culture nor military affairs can be neglected.
So after sending off the selected soldiers, Zhang Chong took the eunuchs down to Zhongyang Gate and headed directly out of the city towards the Military Academy by the Zhang River in the south.
The group of people, all wearing big hakama and military bene, were riding pumas and galloped on the road with great force.
In addition to more than 20 high-ranking officials such as Cai Yong and Zhuge Gui, there were also a number of powerful generals in the army accompanying them. Then on both sides of the road were two hundred collision troops wearing helmets and armor, carrying flags and canopies to protect them all the way.
Not long after, the group arrived at the Military Academy.
At this time, the Armed Forces School has been supervised by the left wing of the Central Guard Army, and there are armored men everywhere, every five steps, meticulous.
Because Zhang Chong took the ceremony very seriously, craftsmen and people came here to set up the venue before dawn. When Zhang Chong and others arrived, the entire venue was almost ready.
The entire ceremony was arranged on the grounds of the Armed Forces Academy, and there were busy people everywhere checking for omissions and making up for them.
However, no matter how busy they are, there are still some people who are not as nervous as others, and that is this group of armed soldiers who are about to graduate.
After three months of study, they will graduate today, and then receive from Qu Shuai the brass-handled yellow tassel-ringed sword and a bright yellow ribbon that symbolize their military personnel.
But this doesn't make them nervous, only proud. What they are nervous about is that there will be a bow shooting banquet today.
The Taishan Army prohibits alcohol on weekdays. Alcohol is only served as a reward after a major victory, so there is no alcohol at the graduation banquet of Armed Forces students.
If you don’t have any wine, let’s have something else to cheer you up. Someone suggested that the Han Dynasty's throwing pot could be used, but Zhang Chong thought this was too weak.
Although he won his first pot of gold by throwing pots, Zhang Chong preferred archery compared to the slow-motion pot throwing of scholar-bureaucrats, which was more courageous and more valuable to watch.
But no one really treats this as a game. Military Beishengs like this one know very well that everything they say and do in front of Qu Shuai must be treated with caution, let alone showing off their abilities in archery.
Archery is the most important martial skill for any warrior. If they can't shoot well, how can they become the elite of Taishan Army? Are they embarrassed to graduate from Qu Shuai?
Therefore, everyone is secretly competing, and they all want to make a splash at the archery banquet
The competition is related to the glory of the warriors, not to mention that Qu Shuai will reward the winner with a golden bowl, a gold medal, and the title "champion" in order to increase the chance of winning.
All of the above directly made the armed officers in this period eager to try.
When Zhang Chong and his entourage took their seats, Tao An, the instructor in charge of the activities, signaled the start.
Then, as two powerful men cracked their whips in the audience, fifty armed officers, wearing narrow shirts, belts, and kerchiefs on their heads, lined up and entered the venue in an orderly manner.
Some of these people carry bows, some use crossbows, and any shooting tool can be used as long as they can hit the target.
The shooting range was located just under the field, flanked by collision teams with helmets and armor on both sides.
Some of them were outstanding military officers and were selected into the collision team. Now that they see their juniors being like themselves, they feel a bit like they are revisiting old places.
On the periphery of the collision team, crowded were the students from the last two periods. They all looked up, excited and trembling, because in a month or two, they would be the ones standing there.
Some of the brave ones even secretly glanced at Qu Shuai on the stage. Xu Sheng, who was already a second-year student, was one of them. He didn't dare to look more. He could only vaguely see a person sitting in the sun, whose face he couldn't see clearly.
But that momentum was something Xu Sheng had only seen in his life.
In a corner of the field, there is also a music team. When someone hits the target, they will play a song to liven up the atmosphere.
Soon, the first military officer appeared. He first bowed to Zhang Chong on the stage, then walked fifty steps away from the target and started shooting the first arrow.
After the man took a deep breath, he bent his bow and fired.
"Whoosh"
This arrow hit the bullseye.
The military officer who was on the side of the arrow saw the result and shouted:
"Spot on the bull's-eye."
Then the percussion troupe nearby was shouting and playing, and the atmosphere was lively.
Some of the late-stage military preparation students outside the circle were familiar with this person, and they all cheered for him.
The first shot hit the target, and the military officer was also very happy, but he calmed down and prepared to start the second round of shooting.
He retreated to the second white line, which was now a hundred steps away from the arrow.
To be honest, anyone who can still hit the target here is considered a good archer. But it wasn't over yet. Zhang Chong also set up a third round behind him, which was a hundred and fifty steps away. It's rare to be able to shoot an arrow so far, let alone hit it? It can be seen how much pressure Zhang Chong put on these armed officers.
When he was a hundred steps away from the target, the military officer was obviously a little nervous.
He pulled the bow twice, but felt unsure, so he put it down again. Finally, he drew the bow for the third time, his energy sank in his Dantian, and he shot out with a pinch from his back.
"Buzz~"
The arrow hit the target.
The military officials on the side were also happy and shouted:
"Hit the target, missed by three inches."
Then the wind and drum troupe next to them played golden drums, changing the school field into a killing field.
Although he missed, it was not easy, and the heroes around Zhang Chong nodded unconsciously.
The third arrow is one hundred and fifty steps. In this round, players can choose whether to shoot again.
So the following instructor asked the military officer if he wanted to shoot again.
Feeling the atmosphere of the phenomenon, the man nodded and decided to cum again.
So, in the third round, the 150-step shot began.
Unfortunately, luck did not favor him.
As the arrow chopped into pieces, the military officials shouted:
"Missed the target, the arrow fell."
Then the sound of the golden drum disappeared.
The military officer's face turned red and he lowered his head in shame.
After that, he handed over the quiver and hard bow to the archer, then lowered his head and went forward, ready to receive his ribbon and sword.
During this process, he did not dare to raise his head once, obviously he was ashamed and flustered.
Looking at the young warrior kneeling on the ground, Zhang Chong asked warmly:
"What's your name?"
"The commander-in-chief of Ququ, the last general will be called Han Zhong."
"Well, the accent sounds like you're from Youzhou?"
"Qu Shuai knows clearly that the last general is indeed from Youzhou and is a native of Liaodong."
Seeing that the man was nervous, Zhang Chong comforted him and said:
"This arrow is good, and it doesn't disgrace you Youzhou people. I still need to practice this strength. Later, I will go back to the army and eat more meat. Eating meat will make you stronger. I'm waiting for you to shoot a hundred arrows one day. Fifty steps away." Han Zhong was about to burst into tears. Knowing Qu Shuai's caring heart, he paused heavily towards Zhang Chong and choked out:
"Don't worry, Commander Qu. I will definitely master this shooting skill in the end, so that we will not lose the face of our Military Academy."
Zhang Chong laughed loudly, said some words of relief, personally distributed him a sword and ribbon representing his graduation, and then asked someone to take him down to sit down.
After all, no matter how this shot goes, today is their graduation party after all.
When Han Zhong went down, Ding Sheng on the stage tilted his head and said strange things to Dian Wei beside him.
I saw Ding Sheng tilting his head to watch Han Zhong go down, and said with a smile:
"This guy is also a loser. He doesn't know how much he weighs. He wants to shoot the third round. I don't know what it means."
When Ding Sheng said he couldn't count, Dian Wei glanced at him. After Ding Sheng finished speaking, he said:
"I think it's good. I really like Qu Shuai's words. If a person doesn't even have the heart to draw a sword, no matter how skilled he is in martial arts, it will be in vain. This Han Zhong can shoot the third round in front of Qu Shuai. This is the desire to win. Very good. As Qu Shuai said, if this person eats more meat and practices more, he may not be a good man. "
Ding Sheng never expected that Dian Wei could say this, so he glanced at Li Damu next to him and said in surprise:
"No, you Zuojun Lieutenant have just been renovating in Puyang for a few months. How come you have become so eloquent?"
Li Damu next to him glanced at Ding Sheng and said lightly:
"So, read more. Qu Shuai sent a box of books to our Guan Xiaowei before. They are all the latest rubbings of classics, specially sent to Puyang."
"In addition to our military training, our captain summons us every day to listen to Master's lectures. Are you just like you, joking around all day? We, Lao Li, are also educated people. So, Daqi, you still need to read this book. ”
Ding Sheng was embarrassed and spat:
"Reading? What a waste of time! I've taught you all my talents. Even if you don't study, you can use your brain better than you! Use your brain, do you understand?"
As he spoke, he pointed at the exaggerated muscles of Li Damu and Dian Wei, and then pointed at his own brain.
His meaning is very obvious, you two are so muscular, how can you compete with me, Ding Daqi? Are you worthy? What grade.
Ding Sheng, Dian Wei, and Li Damu were joking there, and Zhang Chong naturally heard it. He was also used to Ding Sheng's lack of humor.
In fact, if you look at the Taishan Army generals in the stands, you can tell that something is wrong.
Because not only the Central Guards Corps and the Hou Military Academy Stationed in Yecheng, but also the generals of the Eastern Expeditionary Army and the Western Expeditionary Army were present, and even the Zuo Military Academy Commandant stationed in Puyang also appeared here.
It can be seen that the Taishan Army, which has been dormant all winter, will obviously make a big move. I just don’t know who the prey is.
Below, the archery continues. One by one, famous martial officers entered the stage, all showing off their martial arts.
Some people chose to play the full three rounds, and some chose to give up the third round. There was also a brave man among them, who could even hit a target at a distance of 150 steps, and won a lot of applause.
This person’s name is shouted below:
"Han Dang!"
"Han Dang!"
……
Obviously, this person has great prestige among the juniors of the Armed Forces Academy, and many people will call him out.
But upon hearing this name, some people among the generals in the audience became unhappy.
Yan Gang snorted with a dark face, and then was persuaded by Zhang Zhen:
"Old Yan, it's almost done. Everyone had his own master at that time, and this Han Dang is also a good man."
Zhang Zhen didn't have much ill feelings toward Han Dang, but because he was a member of the Zhang Chong clan and an old brother, he wished that there would be more and more powerful generals in the army.
After all, Zhang Zhen was a senior official. Since he said this, Yan Gang didn't say much, but he would definitely not have a good look at Sun Jian's group of generals who were demoted.
Over there, Han Dang came to Zhang Chong's stage with the impressive results of two arrows hitting the target and one arrow missing the target by two inches.
Zhang Chong looked at this Yanzhao man. There was neither the charm of a historical hero nor the contempt for a surrendered general in his eyes. He just treated him as normal.
He smiled at Han Dang below:
"He's a good man, not bad. Have you thought about where to go next?"
Han Dang was excited, raised his head and said without hesitation:
"The final general wants to join the collision team."
"Oh, for what? Are you doing the same thing for the Taishan Army wherever you are?"
Han Dang didn't expect Zhang Chong to ask such a question. After thinking about it for a moment, he said:
"Commander Qu, I once heard a saying in the Military Academy that those who don't want to be generals are not good soldiers. I, Han Dang, not only want to be a general, but also want to be the best. But I know that I still have a lot to do. I just want to learn from Qu Shuai.”
Zhang Chong laughed loudly, he was indeed a tiger minister of Jiang Biao, and he had the spirit of a tiger.
So, Zhang Chong smiled and said:
"Okay, then go to the collision team. After you take care of the rest, you can report to Azu."
Azu is Guozu, the former second general of Hengha, and now he has become the leader of the collision team.
When his wish comes true, Han Dang sings his promise loudly and then goes down.
Han Dang went down here, and the person who was about to come on looked at Han Dang's back and frowned, then after being urged a few times, he came on the stage.
After this person came on the stage, he quickly fired two arrows at fifty steps and one hundred steps, and both hit the target.
Then, before the instructor asked if he wanted to shoot the third round, the man had already stood at a position of 150 steps. He bent his bow like the moon and hit the target 150 steps away with one arrow.
The whole process went smoothly.
The arrows buzzed and trembled, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the result.
The military officer at the target saw the arrow clearly, took a breath, and then shouted:
"Spot on the bull's-eye."
Then came the sound of the golden drum, and all the military juniors present shouted his name:
"Cheng Pu~"
"Cheng Pu~"
……
At this time, the results from the audience were also transmitted to the stage. Many people were shocked when they heard that the man named Cheng Pu had hit three targets in a row.
Then Guo Mo, who was standing next to Yu Jin, asked Yu Jin quietly:
"Both this person and Han Dang just now were subordinates of Sun Jian?"
Yu Jin nodded, of course he knew these two people, and it was he who recommended these two people to enroll in the Military Academy.
In fact, he was taking quite a risk.
Because although there are many retired generals in the army, Cheng Pu and Han Dang's old master Sun Jian still don't know whether they are alive or dead, so it is definitely risky to recommend them rashly.
But Yu Jin cherished his talents and finally took the risk. Looking at it now, these two people are really good.
Over there, Cheng Pu stepped forward to receive the sword ribbon. Not surprisingly, he also chose to join the collision team like Han Dang.
Cheng Pu's grades were better than Han Dang's, so Zhang Chong naturally agreed to this request.
Then Cheng Pu bowed respectfully.
Behind him, the shooting match continued, but he couldn't care less.
When Cheng Pu came off the field, he looked for Han Dang. Seeing him squatting in a deserted place, he strode forward, grabbed Han Dang, and said angrily:
"Are you crazy? I told you not to have any thoughts of assassination. Why can't you listen? Why do you still want to go to the collision team?"
Han Dang, who had always had a smile on his face, suddenly heard these words and was stunned for a moment. He raised his head and saw Cheng Pu blocking his sunlight, and hummed:
"Hey, you are blocking my sunshine."
(End of chapter)