"It's a competition of archery skills!" Eunuch Liu looked at Yan Liqiang and said in a serious tone, "The specific competition method is to use the most popular and dangerous blind competition in the army!"
"Blind competition?" This was the first time Yan Liqiang had heard of this kind of competition method. "What is a blind competition?"
"You and your opponent stand a hundred steps apart, blindfold yourself, and shoot at each other with bows. Whoever gets hurt first or loses his nerve will lose!"
"If we have this kind of competition, wouldn't it be possible for someone to die if we're not careful?"
"That's right!" Eunuch Liu nodded. "This kind of competition not only tests archery skills, but also courage. It was originally only popular in the military. The soldiers in the army valued this kind of bravery that ignored life and death. This kind of blind competition is closer to the atmosphere of the battlefield. You can shoot the enemy, and the enemy can also shoot you. Lin Qingtian said that only in this way can we see who has real skills, rather than a fancy man. As the archery instructor of the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, you must have real skills!"
"Who is the person that the ministers in the court nominated to be the prince's archery instructor, and how capable is he?"
"The man nominated by the court officials as the prince's archery instructor is Shi Minzhang, son of General Shi Tao of Anbei. He had already advanced to the fifth level of archery last year and is a famous archery master in the imperial capital..."
Shi Minzhang, son of Anbei General Shi Tao
Yan Liqiang had never expected that he had just heard this name in the Heavenly Dao Divine Realm two days ago, and in the blink of an eye, he had an intersection with this person in reality. This person's son actually wanted to compete with him for the position of the Eastern Palace Crown Prince's archery instructor...
"Isn't General Anbei Shi Tao in the Northeast? How come his son is in Imperial Capital?"
"Shi Minzhang has been studying Kyudo at the Feixing Kyudo Academy in the Imperial Capital, and has not been with Shi Tao!"
Yan Liqiang sighed, "Since Shi Minzhang has such an identity and background, and is so powerful, if he were to compete with me in a blind duel, how could I have a chance of winning? In a blind duel, the bow and arrow have no eyes, and life and death can be decided in an instant. If he kills me, it would be because I don't know how high the heaven is and how deep the earth is, and I am courting death. I can't blame anyone. If I accidentally kill or injure him..." Yan Liqiang smiled bitterly and looked at Eunuch Liu, "At that time, I will become mortal enemies with the Shi family..."
"Your Majesty also knows that this matter is difficult for you and may be life-threatening, so Your Majesty did not force you to go, but wanted to see what you think first and let you think about it..." Eunuch Liu also nodded slowly.
"Is that General Shi Tao of Anbei a member of Lin Qingtian's faction and not on the same page with Your Majesty?" Yan Liqiang asked deliberately, even though he knew the answer.
"good!"
Yan Liqiang's brain quickly turned. From the tone of Eunuch Liu, it seemed that His Majesty the Emperor was looking forward to a contest between him and Shi Minzhang. Otherwise, Eunuch Liu would not have asked him if he dared. This was already a bit of a provocation. Why did His Majesty want him to have a life-and-death contest with Shi Minzhang? This question was very interesting. If he died in the contest, then everything would be over. But if he won, then he and Lin Qingtian's party would be completely irreconcilable in the future. This was the token of his loyalty that His Majesty wanted to show himself...
And in this competition, if I win, what can I get
Seeing Yan Liqiang deep in thought, Eunuch Liu said something meaningful in a very calm tone, "Liqiang, you have to know that in this world, no one can rise to the top without any smooth sailing. Killing people and setting fires to get a golden belt, fame and wealth are all in danger. Sometimes, it is not good to look ahead and behind. His Majesty has high hopes for you, and our family also thinks that you are not an ordinary person. Moreover, His Majesty has his own difficulties. How heavy a burden can a person carry on his shoulders, how high a hat can he wear on his head. No matter how sharp the sword is, if it can't kill people, it is useless..."
In just a split second, Yan Liqiang thought of many things. He was thinking not only about the blind competition in front of him, but also about four years later...
Under the silent gaze of Eunuch Liu, Yan Liqiang remained silent for a full minute before he spoke.
"I'm not worried about my own safety, but I suddenly thought of my old father at home!" Yan Liqiang looked at Eunuch Liu, took a deep breath, and said sternly, "This matter concerns your majesty's face. Your majesty has been very kind to me. Even if it's not for myself, just to prove that your majesty will not make a mistake, I am willing to compete for your majesty. The worst that can happen is death. If I die in the competition, then everything will be over. If I win and accidentally kill Shi Minzhang, then I will have a mortal enemy with people like General Shi Tao of Anbei. I am in the imperial capital and have your majesty's protection. It will naturally be difficult for General Anbei to deal with me, and I am not afraid. But my father is in Ganzhou, just an ordinary blacksmith, and it is difficult for him to protect himself. If the Shi family wants to retaliate against me and attack my father, my father will have no power to resist at all, so I would like to make a request to your majesty..."
"As a son, you can still think of your old father at this time. It can be said that you have filial piety. Our family has not misjudged you. If you have any request, please tell us!" Eunuch Liu looked at Yan Liqiang with admiration and asked directly.
"If I win, I would like Your Majesty to let me return to Pingxi County, Ganzhou!" Yan Liqiang suddenly made a request.
Eunuch Liu was stunned. He didn't expect Yan Liqiang to make such a request. However, what Yan Liqiang said made sense. "Ah, you want to go back to Pingxi County, Ganzhou?"
"I am participating in the competition to show my loyalty to His Majesty, and I am going back to show my filial piety. Only if I go back can I take care of my old father and give him someone to rely on and take care of him if anything happens. Otherwise, I will be uneasy!"
"You can definitely bring your father to the Imperial Capital..."
"Father-in-law, my father is already old. As the saying goes, it is a blessing to stay in your hometown when you are old. I can't bear to let my father come all the way to the Imperial Capital at such an old age and live in fear with me..."
"If you win and return to Ganzhou, then your training in Luyuan will be abandoned halfway..."
"As the saying goes, true teaching is a single word, false teaching is a thousand books. Both masters have passed on their true skills to me. What I lack is only time to hone my skills. Even if I return to Ganzhou, I can continue to practice in Ganzhou and will not give up halfway! Moreover, I can also serve Your Majesty in Ganzhou..."
"We can't make the decision on this matter. We can only tell His Majesty what you said and let His Majesty decide..."
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Grandpa!"
"I will go to the palace to see His Majesty and see what His Majesty thinks!"
After saying these words to Yan Liqiang and understanding what Yan Liqiang meant, Eunuch Liu did not waste any more time in Luyuan. Instead, he took Xiao Chunzi and Xiao Lizi with him, asked for a carriage, left Luyuan, and went directly to the palace.
(End of this chapter)