Swearing to Follow Him to the Death

The rules laid down by the strong inevitably stoked the Imperial Guards' competitive spirit. No one wanted to be the one who came up short.

The vast grounds were now divided into more than six hundred pairs, each spaced some distance apart as two people grappled with each other. Shouts and panting rang without end; fists and feet cut through the air with mighty force, making the scene a dizzying spectacle. One person after another was flung aside, deciding each match.

Nearby, Zhao Jun's men supervised, lest either side get carried away and the whole place descend into chaos.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince and Prince Gong were seated above, keeping watch. Even those who were dissatisfied didn't dare make trouble; they could only glare at the one who had won.

In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, only a little over six hundred people remained.

Shumo spoke up. "Pair off and challenge each other again. As before, the winners stay."

This method wasn't absolutely fair, but it certainly tested some people's judgment and intelligence. Those who truly wanted to stay needed more than strength; they also needed luck and brains.

The people selected this way might not be the strongest in the Imperial Guards Army, but there would certainly be no shortage of outstanding candidates.

With Zhao Jun's cooperation, the contest went smoothly. This round was even stricter, continuing until only three hundred people remained.

Shumo straightened his small frame and looked over the three hundred people before him. "Now, form teams of thirty. Each team must choose a captain. You have the time it takes one incense stick to pick the captain you prefer."

The three hundred men exchanged glances, not expecting the process to still be unfinished. With little time to spare, they couldn't think it over for long. They instinctively hurried toward people they knew or understood, quickly forming ten teams and choosing a captain for each.

"The captains, step forward. His Highness needs a personal guard commander. You have another incense stick's time. You may recommend yourselves, or fight the others for the position. Choose your personal guard commander; from now on, he will lead the Eastern Palace's personal guards." After speaking, Shumo took a step back.

Zhao Jun was surprised. A personal guard commander was practically a confidant; the position couldn't be given to anyone who wasn't trusted and close. Yet the Crown Prince had actually let them compete for it themselves—even encouraged them to fight for the post.

Whoever won this competition would undoubtedly be the strongest of the ten team captains. If he could make the other captains accept him as their leader, he could also effortlessly bring the other three hundred men to heel.

Likewise, the Crown Prince wouldn't have to spend time winning over the hearts of all three hundred guards one by one. He only had to ensure that the commander was loyal to him and that the guards did their duty to protect him.

This swift, effective way of winning people over and leading a team was so deft and practiced that it left Zhao Jun shaken.

Had the Crown Prince come up with this? Or was it the idea of Shumo, his personal eunuch?

Zhao Jun didn't dare think any further.

The order immediately caused a stir. The ten captains' eyes blazed with fighting spirit as they met one another's gazes, sizing each other up as rivals and enemies.

They had come this far. Anyone who claimed not to want to go further would be lying. Besides, men were competitive by nature.

With time short, they didn't dare delay and immediately played to their strengths.

First, they probed carefully, trying to win the others over with words. Sharp exchanges, sowing discord, and attacks on their opponents' resolve followed one after another.

Soon, some admitted they weren't capable enough and withdrew from the competition, choosing instead to support someone else. Naturally, their condition was that, once the other man became commander, he would promote them to deputy commander.

The ten men split into three small factions, leaving three to compete for the commander's position.

There were only three of them, yet Zhao Jun witnessed a stunning display of using another's hand to kill, taking advantage of chaos, and hiding a dagger behind a smile. They even brought out the art of war. For the first time, he realized that his own Imperial Guards were full of hidden talent.

Zhao Jun couldn't help rubbing his chin. Should he follow the Crown Prince's example and try this himself? It would surely be quite a spectacle.

More importantly, it really could uncover talent!

The eventual winner was Huo Zhizhou, the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Weining's Estate. With his exceptional eloquence and fairly decent martial skills, he subdued the other two captains within the time it took one incense stick to burn. He became the personal guard commander without a hint of suspense.

Huo Zhizhou held back his excitement, stepped forward, and cupped his hands toward Shumo. "Little Eunuch, I am Huo Zhizhou of the Marquis of Weining's Estate. I have not failed you; my brothers have chosen me as commander."

Shumo secretly rolled his eyes. A eunuch was a eunuch—why did he have to add "little"? What was so little about him?

He would be the Crown Prince's most capable aide one day, and a very impressive one at that.

"Come with me." Shumo strode off to take him to meet the Crown Prince.

Prince Gong had already seen the selection below. Stroking his beard, he praised, "To decide who stays and who goes by victory or defeat in such a short time may not reveal their virtue, but weeding out the weak and keeping the strong could still prove useful. Not bad, not bad."

Xiao Qianyu smiled without saying anything. This was merely survival of the fittest. As for loyalty, they could cultivate that gradually.

"Your subordinate Huo Zhizhou pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince." Huo Zhizhou knelt on one knee, his face showing just the right amount of reverence and excitement.

He was only in his twenties, with a sturdy but not exaggerated build. He was handsome, with slightly dark skin, and carried himself with a vigorous, heroic air.