Meng Wei had already prepared a fine horse for Zhao Cheng and had someone lead it over.
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A tall, pure-black steed approached at a slow walk, tossing its head now and then as it tried to break free of the official's reins. The official's face reddened as he struggled to hold it, but at last he managed to rein it in.
Its coat gleamed, its chest was broad and its legs sturdy, and its eyes held a spirited intelligence. At a glance, it was clear this was a first-rate steed.
Meng Wei said, "This horse has a rather bad temper. You may need some time to get used to it, though with your riding skills, it shouldn't take long."
Zhao Cheng nodded, silently keeping Meng Wei's consideration in mind. He didn't stand on ceremony; he stepped forward, stroked the horse's head, then swung himself into the saddle.
Strangely enough, the horse had been restless when it was led over, but after Zhao Cheng stroked it a couple of times, it became docile beyond belief. It stood quietly in place, even turning its head to nuzzle Zhao Cheng's palm.
Zhao Cheng patted the horse's head, then dismounted. He already felt completely at ease with it.
Everyone fell silent at the sight.
"Forget I said anything." Meng Wei also had a half-suit of armor and a Bronze Sword brought over and handed them to Zhao Cheng.
"The county's equipment may not measure up to the Central Army's, but these are already considered good quality. Use them for now. Once you return to the Central Army, someone will assign you new gear. By then, I imagine you'll have armor that's no ordinary Elite Soldier's issue."
Meng Wei spoke softly, but his words held deep hopes for Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Cheng said nothing, only bowing deeply.
Meng Wei escorted the newly requisitioned soldiers and provisions outside the city. After the handover was complete, Zhao Cheng parted from him and joined the silent, black tide.
Amid the dull clatter of armor, the army set out and marched south.
"Has Han still not surrendered Nanyang?"
"Over a month ago, Han was gradually showing an inclination to surrender Nanyang and submit. But several ministers we'd turned had their schemes exposed, and all were beheaded. After that, Han became a faction of resistance. The king flew into a rage and brought pressure to bear with a show of overwhelming force. Han's resolve to resist grew ever more apparent, and the fighting at the front gradually intensified. That was why my father led fifty thousand Central Army troops, requisitioned soldiers along the way, and gathered an army of a hundred thousand to march to the battlefield."
"If Han won't surrender, that's no matter. We'll take Nanyang by force."
Zhao Cheng was a little stunned. He felt history's course had changed. The trouble might have started with those ministers Qin had turned: one small influence had set off a butterfly effect, turning Han from a faction ready to surrender into one determined to fight to the death.
Still, Zhao Cheng thought this was better. If Nanyang were simply handed over, taking Han Capital would be far too easy, and there wouldn't be many battles to fight.
In the current situation, even if Han had become determined to fight to the death, it had already been pushed to the end of its rope by the many wars it had fought. It was no match for Qin's wolf-and-tiger army.
Meng Tian led Zhao Cheng into the cavalry ranks.
Though he had served for only a few years, he had earned considerable merit in several small-scale battles through his family's military teachings and his knack for seizing the right moment. He was now a Five-Hundred Commander, leading the Assault Cavalry Battalion.
The Central Army had summoned more than five hundred cavalrymen for this campaign, but there were only five hundred elite riders in the Assault Cavalry Battalion, all veterans who had seen countless battles.
"Where'd this new recruit come from? Why'd they put him here?"
"He looks pretty sturdy. Did he pass the tests and catch the Five-Hundred Commander's eye? Is he being brought into the Central Army's Assault Cavalry Battalion?"
"Judging by the horse and the equipment, that seems to be the idea."
"But he's just a young kid, and they're letting him straight into the Assault Cavalry Battalion? That's a bit..."
"Hope he won't drag us down."
"We suffered plenty getting into the Assault Cavalry Battalion. We've escaped death who knows how many times and fought our way in. How can this new recruit just walk straight in? It's hard not to feel cheated."
It seemed Meng Tian had heard that last remark. His gaze fixed on the Squad Leader who had spoken.
"Feng Quan, step out."
"Yes, sir."
Meng Tian pointed at Zhao Cheng. "You have the time it takes an incense stick to burn to defeat him. Succeed, and you'll be promoted to Platoon Leader and command fifty men. Fail, and you'll be demoted to Wuzhang; he'll take your Squad Leader position."
Feng Quan looked at Zhao Cheng, tall and powerfully built, then grinned. "Thank you, Five-Hundred Commander."
At the sight, everyone's eyes reddened with envy.
Why hadn't such a fine chance to get promoted without earning battle merit fallen to them?
They were all veterans of countless battles. What was so hard about beating a young kid? This alone could earn someone a promotion—how could they not be envious?
A Squad Leader who was usually at odds with Feng Quan suddenly called out, "Sir, let me take him on! Feng Quan's old. He can't beat a young man!"
Feng Quan flew into a rage. "Bullshit! I'll fight him with one hand!"
Meng Tian barked, "Silence!"
"Give it everything you've got, or face military punishment."
Feng Quan took the order and dismounted. Though he hadn't thought much of Zhao Cheng, his stance made it clear he had no intention of holding back.
Zhao Cheng dismounted too and clasped his fists toward Feng Quan. Before he could say a word, Feng Quan's toes suddenly kicked hard into the earth, sending a great cloud of dust and gravel flying straight at Zhao Cheng's face!
At the same time, Feng Quan shot forward, putting his whole weight behind a vicious kick aimed at Zhao Cheng's chest and abdomen.
The Assault Cavalrymen all winced, thinking that a kick like that would leave a man hurting for days.
By the time Zhao Cheng swept the dust and gravel from before his eyes, that huge foot was already three inches from his chest.
Anyone who saw the scene would have thought Zhao Cheng was about to be kicked into the dirt.
Even Feng Quan's eyes shone with the delight of a man on the verge of promotion.
But in that instant, Zhao Cheng moved.
His right hand, which had just been brushing away the dust, suddenly seized Feng Quan's ankle. With a light toss, Feng Quan's whole body floated up like a willow catkin.
Zhao Cheng raised his wrist, flinging Feng Quan into the air as though he were swinging a wooden club. Feng Quan spun overhead, and then Zhao Cheng's hand shot out like lightning, striking lightly at the side of his neck.
Feng Quan gave a croak, rolled his eyes back, and fainted.
Still spinning, he crashed face-first into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Every Assault Cavalryman stared in a daze. Not a sound could be heard.
From Feng Quan's sudden attack to his limp body hitting the ground, no more than a couple of blinks had passed.
But what had happened was so packed with startling, unbelievable detail that no one had managed to react.
That kid... was he even human?
With just one grab, he'd made a grown man like Feng Quan as light as a scrap of cloth, then spun him around in midair??
The man who'd offered to take Zhao Cheng's place shrank his neck and ducked into the ranks, head lowered, silently playing the quail.
Zhao Cheng stepped forward, grabbed the back of Feng Quan's clothes, and tossed him onto his horse. Then he patted the horse's head. "Carry him properly and keep up."
Zhao Cheng swung back into the saddle. Just as he'd said, the horse carried the unconscious Feng Quan steadily and followed behind him.
Zhao Cheng took Feng Quan's former position in the ranks and continued marching with the army, saying nothing.
But the expressions of all the Assault Cavalrymen behind him had changed. His ten subordinates exchanged uncertain looks, shock in their eyes as they followed him.
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