Chapter 153
Book 14 Chapter 07 – Exchanging Pointers On The Duelling Ground
Four young lads were riding handsome horses and entered the a.s.sembly ground from the east. When they arrived at the centre of the grounds, they picked up speed and strung an arrow to their bow at the same time. It was a neat formation and the crowd of ten thousand people is cheering for them. Just as everyone expected them to shoot their arrows at the target boards, the four men actually flipped upside down and fire their arrows while they were positioned under the horses’ belly. Zng! All the four arrows managed to hit the centre ring of the target board while one arrow nearly hit the bull’s eye. While the arrows are still quivering on the target board, the four men have flipped back onto their saddles and rode across the grandstand, saluting Xiao Pan and Zhu Ji. The crowd burst out into loud cheering and applause.
Most of the crowd were seated on the slope between the a.s.sembly ground and the royal tents. As they are looking down from a higher place, they actually enjoy a better view compared to those at the stands.
After the four riders have left, everyone was still fascinated by their amazing performance. Since no one is confident of performing a better show, the stage was unoccupied for the time being.
Xiao Pan stood up from his grandstand and threw four arrows down to the four riders.
The four men are mad with glee. They leapt down the horse and picked up the arrows. They proceeded up the grandstand to receive their rewards from Xiao Pan.
Xiang Shaolong, his three wives, two maids, Teng Yi, Qin Qing and the Eighteen Guardians were seated on the slope and watching the activities from afar. They are finally beginning to understand the importance of this hunting fair to the people of Qin.
It is equivalent to the Olympic Games of the modern world.
Every ambitious man will use these three days to showcase his talent so as to win military promotions and gain the favour of the royal family as well as the various high ranking officials.
The really capable ones will even win the affection of girls from prestigious families like Ying Ying and Lu Dan’er. They will stand to benefit in their love life and career paths.
The annual hunting fair is a highlight of Qin. But not everyone is eligible to partic.i.p.ate. Except for the royal family and families of high ranking officials, other partic.i.p.ants must go through a selection by their various departments before they can take part in the hunting fair.
Among his three wives, Wu Tingfang is the most boisterous. She clapped and shouted nonstop at the performances.
Xiang Shaolong was about to say something to Teng Yi when he noticed his brows furrowed. Curious, he implored: "Is something bothering Second Brother?"
Teng Yi composed himself and replied in a deep voice: "I was just wondering – Lu Buwei has such a confident demeanour; isn’t he concerned that Lu Gong, Xu Xian and you might summon the Qin army to annihilate him? Although he is protected by first rate fighters, they are only numbering around one hundred. Even with a few more Guan Zhongxie, he is considered careless about his personal security."
Xiang Shaolong guessed: "I think he is sure that I cannot manipulate the palace guards to attack him. Moreover, the Crown Prince will protect him as the new Premier Mentor and he knew that we will not act hastily."
Teng Yi shook his head: "This is unlike Mo Ao’s usual methods. From the start, they have always been one step ahead of us while we are struggling to defend ourselves from them. In such a crucial juncture, it is less likely that they will be neglectful."
Xiang Shaolong agreed that his words make sense and began to think deeply too.
Teng Yi stared at the grandstand opposite them where Zhu Ji and Lu Buwei are sitting and s.h.i.+fted his gaze to Prince Dan and Tian Dan beside them. He mused: "It is such a grand occasion. Why is Tian Dan’s favourite general Dan Chu absent?"
Xiang Shaolong gestured Wu Yan Zhu and Wu Shu to his side and instructed them to spy on the Qi people, smiling: "It is no use thinking about it. Let’s spy on them and see what is going on."
On his other side, Wu Tingfang elbowed him: "That’s great! Hubby! Look! It is Little Jun!"
Xiang Shaolong and Teng Yi were rejuvenated and looked down to the a.s.sembly ground.
Under Jing Jun’s leaders.h.i.+p, a few hundred cavalry soldiers rode out. Half of them are from the Wu Family Elite army. Everyone has a lance in their right hand and a s.h.i.+eld in their left hand. Using only their legs to control their horses, they performed a variety of stunts and poses.
Jing Jun is even more imposing. Barking command after command, he directed his men with utmost confidence, evoking loud cheers and whistles from the crowd.
The female warriors were squeezed on one side of the crowd and they acted as Jing Jun’s cheerleaders under the leaders.h.i.+p of Ying Ying and Lu Dan’er.
On the grandstand, Lu Gong and the other military leaders nodded their heads in acknowledgement and praise. Once in a while, they will pa.s.s favourable comments.
In these warring times, only a well-trained army can gain their attention.
Zhao Zhi happily cried: "Little Jun is really something!"
Suddenly, the soldiers split into two groups and carried out a mock attack on each other. As the horses brush past each other, sounds of weapons clas.h.i.+ng can be heard. After a few exciting demonstrations, everyone in the crowd has shouted until their voices were hoa.r.s.e.
After the final clash, both groups combined into one group and face the grandstand resolutely. At the head of the group is Jing Jun armed with a s.h.i.+eld and a lance. He first stood up on his saddle and executed a somersault over the horse’s head. While in mid air, his s.h.i.+eld was moving rapidly to protect his body while he pierced his lance several times at an invisible enemy. When he finally landed, he kneeled down in a swift motion and paid his respects to Xiao Pan. It was a fluid movement altogether and there was no sign of breathlessness from him.
The crowd exploded into their biggest cheers and applause since the beginning of the night performances. Even the cold Qin Qing could not hold back and cheered for Jing Jun too.
Xiao Pan saw that he is Xiang Shaolong’s sworn brother and is highly-skilled at the same time. Delighted, he actually jumped up, withdrew his personal sword and threw it down to the ground.
Jing Jun picked up his sword joyfully and howled another command. The cavalry troops marched neatly out of the a.s.sembly ground while he himself ascended the grandstand to claim his reward.
Xiang Shaolong could see that the crowd is still high after Jing Jun’s performance. He turned his head to Ji Yanran and suggested: "If Talented Lady Ji will perform her incredible spear technique, I guarantee that the crowd will cheer loudly for you."
Ji Yanran and Qin Qing looked at him at the same time. With two of the world’s most beautiful faces looking at him simultaneously, Xiang Shaolong was aroused.
Ji Yanran batted her eyes at him: "Yanran only needs Hubby’s love and not the crowd’s cheering."
Xiang Shaolong s.h.i.+fted his gaze to Qin Qing. She