Chapter 190: The First Strong Enemy
Chapter 190 The First Strongest Enemy
Xiao Xia held two stone bows in his hands and carried a quiver on his back. He glanced at the drummer next to him, who was sitting next to him with two drumsticks in his hands, ready.
The invigilator waved his hand, and the drummer immediately beat the small drum. "Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!" The drum beats were dense. This was the requirement of the fixed target. Five arrows had to be shot within fifty strokes.
Xiao Xia drew his bow and shot arrows one after another like a string of pearls at the wooden target a hundred steps away. Every arrow hit the head. By the time the drum sounded halfway, all five arrows had been shot.
"Stop the drums!"
The invigilator shouted, and the drummer stopped beating and looked at Xiao Xia in surprise. It was the first time he met an archer who could shoot so fast.
"All five arrows hit the head!"
The invigilator shouted loudly, and all the officials realized that a master had arrived. The other officials who were sitting nearby to rest stood up and walked forward.
More than a hundred candidates also gathered around, ready to watch Xiao Xia's next moving target test.
"Mobile target ready!"
The invigilator shouted, and a human-shaped target was erected in the trench a hundred steps away.
As the red flag waved, a soldier ran in the trench holding a moving target. There were only twenty steps in total. As soon as the soldier ran out, Xiao Xia shot an arrow, "Pah!" It hit the moving target's forehead.
"Good archery skills!" The surrounding soldiers cheered.
Immediately afterwards, a soldier ran out from the opposite side of the trench, also holding a human-shaped target, and met the previous soldier in the trench. Xiao Xia shot his second arrow at the same time.
"Pah!" The second arrow hit his forehead just as accurately.
There was applause all around, and more and more warriors came over after hearing the news. Xiao Xia's third arrow also accurately hit the target's forehead. Xiao Xia had already scored 19 points, and he still had two arrows to shoot.
Unless both arrows missed the target, he must be a master with a score of over 20 points.
When the fourth arrow started, the scene was silent and everyone was looking at Xiao Xia.
At this point Xiao Xia could no longer keep a low profile, just like an elephant could no longer hide behind a small tree.
He calmly drew out the fourth arrow, drew the bow like a full moon, and shot an arrow like a meteor. "Pah!" Another arrow hit his forehead, and cheers rang out all around. It was already twenty-two minutes.
Will there be a full score?
"The last arrow!" the invigilator also shouted excitedly.
Xiao Xia pulled out the fifth arrow and pulled the bow to its full length. His aim with the fifth arrow was the target's chest, as he wanted to leave a little room for maneuver.
But at the moment he released the bow, he suddenly changed his mind. If he wanted to gain the respect of others, he had to respect himself first. He raised the tip of his arrow slightly and shot an arrow. The arrow was as fast as lightning and accurately hit the head of the running target.
Hundreds of people who had been holding their breath suddenly burst into jubilation, and many of them jumped up excitedly. Twenty-five points, the first full score appeared, and they witnessed a miracle with their own eyes.
The surrounding officials congratulated Xiao Xia one after another. Xiao Xia raised his bow and arrow and waved to the hundreds of people around him, which drew even more enthusiastic applause and cheers.
At the gate of the military camp, a young warrior was listening to the report from his subordinates. This young warrior was Pei Xingyan, also known by his courtesy name Yuanqing. He was from the Pei family of Wenxi in Hedong. He looked a year or two older than Xiao Xia. He was tall, with a broad back and a square face with clear features.
Pei Xingyan's father, Pei Renji, was a fifth-rank military officer in the Han Palace, and was granted the rank of General Mingyuan. Pei Xingyan had been living in Hedong and only came to Chang'an in June this year. He had ninth-rank internal strength and was extremely powerful. He wielded a pair of 120-jin plum-blossom silver hammers, and was outstanding in both swordsmanship and archery.
As soon as he arrived in Chang'an, he was highly regarded by Han King Yang Liang, who appointed him as his left guard. In this military examination, Yang Liang even wanted to promote Pei Xingyan as the top scorer.
In fact, this kind of military examination was child's play for Pei Xingyan. If he was not unaccustomed to the imperial bows and arrows and the first arrow did not hit his throat or head, he would have definitely scored full marks.
He scored 24 points, one point away from the full score. Pei Xingyan did not take it too seriously at first, but when he heard that a young warrior actually got full marks and surpassed himself, Pei Xingyan suddenly felt a little disappointed.
"What's his name?" "Xiao Xia, from Jiangdu!"
Pei Xingyan nodded. It turned out that he was a member of Jiangdu Xiao family. He never thought that Jiangdu Xiao family, which had always been unknown, would produce such a master.
"I know, this is nothing, horseback archery is the key!"
Pei Xingyan turned his horse around and galloped towards Chang'an with several of his men.
The martial arts examination has been ranked in two lists since the third round of selection. This score ranking is very important because the top players on the following lists will be very competitive until the end when the total score list is reached. It is basically impossible for someone to be unknown at the beginning and then suddenly become a strong force.
Even if you get first place in the subsequent riding and archery or carbine, your total score may not be in the top ten. The top list will also have to take the literary examination, and finally the top 20 will be selected after adding up the total scores of civil and military examinations. If you are outside the top 30 in the first round, even if you get first place in the next two examinations, you may not be in the top ten in the total score.
So the top thirty in the first round and the final military scholars are basically among them.
King of Han Yang Liang presented the list of the top 30 in the first round of List A to his father. Of course, Yang Jian only paid attention to List A and was not very interested in List B.
Seeing that Xiao Xia was ranked first, Yang Jian couldn't help but asked with a smile, "Xiao Qilang is ranked first, is he getting any special treatment?"
Although Yang Liang felt uncomfortable, he was not stupid. He would not blatantly falsify information about matters that his father cared about. His father would easily find out that he was playing tricks, and then he would lose more than he gained. In this regard, Yang Liang did learn the lesson from Jiangdu.
Yang Liang said quickly, "Your Majesty, we will rank people based on their scores, with thousands of people as witnesses. It will be open and fair, and no one will be given preferential treatment."
Yang Jian smiled happily and said, "I actually got full marks. Very good. I am very satisfied. This is the last part of the written test. I will personally check the answers."
Yang Liang returned to the Prince of Han's Palace and immediately summoned Pei's father and son. Soon Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan came to the lobby.
Yang Liang asked the father and son to sit down and said, "I met with the emperor this afternoon. The emperor attaches great importance to this military examination. He will also personally preside over the final examination of the literary examination. Judging from today's situation, although Yuan Qing only got second place, it is a bit regrettable, but it is only one point short, so it is not a big problem. As long as he can perform well later, he still has hope of getting the top prize.
The number one scholar is estimated to have the authority to lead 5,000 troops, the second and third place scholars are only entitled to lead 3,000 troops, the other military scholars are entitled to lead 1,000 troops, and the military scholars have no authority to lead troops. The difference is huge, Yuan Qing must not take it lightly. "
Pei Renji pondered for a moment and said, "I have never heard of this Xiao family member. I wonder how good he is at riding, shooting and writing?"
Yang Liang laughed coldly, "He is not a descendant of Jiangdu Xiao's family. He is my own nephew. I was confined for a year because of him. Yuan Qing must not underestimate the enemy!"
Pei's father and son looked at each other in bewilderment. Pei Renji asked in confusion, "He is a royal family, so why is his last name Xiao?"
Yang Liang snorted and said, "He is the son of the King of Jin. Lord Pei should still remember the double king case six years ago!"
Pei Renji immediately remembered the Twin Kings case that had caused a sensation in the court and the public, and suddenly realized, "It turned out to be him. No wonder his last name is Xiao, he took his mother's last name."
"That's right. The emperor thinks highly of him. He is not a novice who has never seen the world. He has made great contributions in the diplomatic mission to Tuyuhun and in suppressing the rebellion of the Liao people. He once led fifty people to defeat 5,000 Turks and killed Datou Khan. He is the grandson that my father thinks most of."
Pei Xingyan looked stern and nodded.
Pei Renji was somewhat surprised and said, "Fifty men defeated five thousand men. How come I have never heard of such a brilliant achievement?"
"The imperial court has always denied that Datou Khan was killed by the Sui Dynasty. Of course, these things will not be announced to the public, so they are relatively secretive."
"What about his literary talent?" Pei Renji asked again.
Yang Liang glanced at Pei Xingyan and saw that he looked calm and composed. This attitude made Yang Liang quite satisfied. He smiled and said, "I don't know a lot of things. I can only say that he will be Yuan Qing's biggest competitor!"
(End of this chapter)