Chapter 241 Bow Horse Competition (18)
The last ten warriors of the previous session were composed of eight imperial guards and two martial arts scholars. However, this time the representatives were much wider. In addition to imperial guards and martial arts, there were also more wing army departments, village soldiers and even the Imperial College. Even imperial guards had many factions.
It is precisely because of the widespread representation that this archery competition involves all aspects of interests. Although Zhang Bangchang, the Imperial College, was very disgusted with the participation of the archery competition in the archery competition in the archery competition, the Imperial College and other officials of the Imperial College did not think so. The Tai students actually won the first place in the rematch and finals. Of course, it was a joy to the officials of the Imperial College and the teachers and students of the Imperial College. A large group of Tai students appeared next to the observation platform, with a total of one or two thousand people. They put out huge banners with four big words "The Imperial College will win", which attracted special attention.
Ten Arrow Warriors held the final draw in the rest greenhouse. Li Yanqing was the first to draw a note. He opened it and took a look. It was "Seven" on it, and he would appear in the seventh place.
Everyone pulled out their own notes, but no one said anything. At this time, an official came and asked, "Who is the first to appear?"
Zhang Qing raised his hand and he drew No. 1. Li Yanqing couldn't help but look at him. He didn't know if Zhang Qing was the true form of Zhang Qing, a hero from Liangshan. He was the commander of the imperial guards, Dengzhou. He was a general of Sun Li, who was riding and shooting, but he could not shoot stones.
Most people in the Song Dynasty named two characters, and ordinary people don’t pay much attention to the names, just keep a simple word, so there are many names like Zhang Shun, Wang Shun, Zhang Qing, Li Ying, and Wang Ying. There are four Zhang Shuns in the Taixue alone.
However, Guan Sheng must be the Liangshan Dao Guan Sheng. He looks very much like Guan Yu, with a lying silkworm eyebrows and a phoenix eye. He also has a Qinglong Yanyue sword. He has outstanding martial arts and outstanding cavalry. He is only twenty-seven or eight years old. He has become the deputy commander of the horse army and is the highest official position among all the arrow warriors.
In addition to Hua Rong, Guan Sheng, Zhang Qing, Yang Zaixing, He Guan and other five people, the ten warriors in the championship also had a pair of brothers, named Zhu Min and Zhu E. One of them ranked fifth, one ranked ninth, and the other named Leng Chao, a palace guard, ranked eighth, and the last one, Li Yanqing also knew Wang Yingjie from the Northwest Army. He lost to Sa Jin in the pot-arrow competition, and he ranked tenth.
At this time, Zhang Qing was already right before the departure line. Since the emperor attended the bow and horse competition today, the emperor believed in Taoism and paid great attention to "sweeping the floor without hurting the lives of ants, cherishing moths and gauzes and lamps." The officials did not dare to use pigeons as targets, so they had to replace them. That is, the kite made of hard paper was slightly larger than the pigeons, and was fired into the sky with a powerful crossbow, which could fly dozens of steps.
This was originally a firearm of the Song army, called the Fire Harrier. It was made of turtle oil cloth or hard paper, and there was a gunpowder bamboo tube at the tail. After being shot into the sky with a strong crossbow, the gunpowder was fired again and then ignited in the air. It could fly up to a thousand steps. The Song army used it to burn the camp, which was very practical.
Today, the fire kite has removed the gunpowder and does not use oil paper to make it. It is just an ordinary paper kite. It does not need to be painted red in order to facilitate the emperor to watch. The paper kite is painted red and is very eye-catching in the air.
The time was extended to fifty drum beats, but today the drum did not count the points, but thirty paper knights were fired out of fifty drum beats. Ten arrow warriors scored based on the number and accuracy of shooting, plus ten left and right additional points, and finally determined the score based on the total score. This required that arrow warriors not only accurate, but also quickly shoot arrows, which was equivalent to not only killing more enemies in the war, but also killing them with one arrow.
The race track is arranged in the middle of the school field. Due to the ample time, the Arrow Warriors are required to run back and forth, and they must return to the starting point with fifty drum sounds. This has a higher requirement for the warriors. They not only have to shoot targets, but also remember the drum sounds. Otherwise, points will be deducted when they return late, and time will be wasted.
‘Day!’ With a bell, Zhang Qing ran out and suddenly boiled around him. Amid the slow and powerful drum sound, the first paper kite flew out and flew from west to east. In fact, there was not much time. At the moment the paper kite flew up, Zhang Qing's first arrow shot out quickly.
In the rest greenhouse, the other nine people were preparing silently, some were checking arrows one by one, and some were adapting to bow strength. After all, they had to shoot thirty arrows in a short time, which was a severe test for everyone's arm strength.
Li Yanqing hugged his arms in front of his chest and stared at the flying paper kite. He was looking for the rules of the flying trajectory of the paper kite. At this time, He Guan walked up to him and asked in a low voice: "What did you discover?"
"I found that the flight routes of these paper kites are relatively straight and will not deviate easily. The highest is only ten feet high, and they are basically the trajectory of the sun in the sky in winter."
"The real fire kites in the army are not flying in a straight line like this. Do you know why this is the case?" He Guan laughed.
"Why?" Li Yanqing looked at him in confusion.
"Because we must ensure the absolute safety of the emperor, the paper kite must not fly to the emperor."
Li Yanqing nodded, "So that's it!"
At this time, Zhang Qing was over. He shot twenty-four paper hoists, and his grades were quite good. Zhu Min came on the field.
Li Yanqing felt that something was missing. At this time, Yang Zaixing should have come forward to talk to him, but he did not show up.
Li Yanqing suddenly thought of something. He quickly looked at both sides, but he did not see Yang Zaixing. After searching carefully, he found that Yang Zaixing was sitting in a corner, holding his forehead with his hands, with a little painful expression. Li Yanqing quickly apologized to He Guan and walked quickly to Yang Zaixing.
"What's wrong with you?" Li Yanqing found that Yang Zaixing's face was paler than in the big tent, and his forehead was covered with sweat.
"I'm fine, I'm just a little nervous." Yang Zaixing whispered.
Li Yanqing touched his forehead and felt his forehead beating hot. He was shocked and said, "You are sick!"
Yang Zaixing forced a smile, "It's just that I drank last night and got cold at night, so I might have caught a little cold."
Li Yanqing hurriedly said, "How about you give up! The top ten have been decided yesterday. If you don't participate today, you will be at least tenth."
Yang Zaixing shook his head firmly, "The Yang family will not give up. If I give up, I will have no face to see my ancestors."
"What number are you?"
Yang Zaixing unfolded the note, which said '5'. There was still some time left. Li Yanqing hurriedly asked the examiner to come to find a military doctor. The military doctor followed the competition, but he was afraid that if it was not possible, the military doctor rushed over and gave Yang Zaixing an injection.
At this time, Zhu Min was over, Hua Rong was on the stage below, and cheers were heard all around him.
"Li Shaojun!"
An examiner hurriedly walked to Li Yanqing and whispered to him: "Someone is looking for him outside!"
"Who is it?" Li Yanqing frowned. Who is coming to find him at this time?
"Li Shaojun should go and meet him!"
Li Yanqing seemed to have some understanding. If it were ordinary people, the examiner would have driven him away long ago. He had to turn around and come outside the greenhouse. He saw two people standing outside the greenhouse, a little girl and a young man, and a group of guards were following behind.
Li Yanqing immediately recognized this little girl. It was Zhao Fujin, the princess of Yanqing. She wore a red pomegranate silk skirt today, wore a yellow robe, her hair was combed with a double-ring bun, and a light makeup on her face. She had an extremely pretty face. She hung a string of colorful gem necklaces around her neck, which made her look even more energetic and extraordinary.
But she raised her head a little proudly and waited for Li Yanqing to greet her, but she secretly glanced at Li Yanqing.
Li Yanqing almost forgot about her, so he hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "Li Yanqing meets His Highness the Emperor!"
"Hmph!" Zhao Fujin snorted softly, "I heard that you are quite charming, I guess you have forgotten me a long time ago!"
"The little people have a humble status and should not remember the Emperor!"
Zhao Fujin stomped his feet and said angrily: "So, have you really forgotten me?"
"Of course I didn't forget, just"
"Just what?" Zhao Fujin glared at Li Yanqing fiercely.
"It's just that I'm afraid of meeting the princess, so I'll ask me to change my name again."
Zhao Fujin wanted to laugh on his face, but he didn't laugh, but his face calmed down a lot. She glanced at Li Yanqing and said slowly: "There is no need to change his name. I came here to tell you that this time I bet 500 taels of silver on you. This is the money I saved for a year. Don't let me lose."
Li Yanqing asked with a smile: "How did Emperor Ji know that I want to participate in the bow and horse competition, too?"
"Don't worry about this, I have a way to know!"
At this time, the young prince behind her blushed and said, "Sister, I"
"What are you anxious about? I will introduce it to you."
Zhao Fujin turned around and glared at him, then introduced the young man behind Li Yanqing, "This is my brother, Zhao Gou, the prince of Guangping. He admires your archery skills very much. He must come with me to see you."
Chapter completed!