Establish Authority, Subdue the Masses

Meng Wei had long since prepared a fine steed for Zhao Cheng and called for someone to lead it over.

A tall, jet-black horse approached with a slow gait, tossing its head from time to time in an attempt to break free from the reins held by the Clerk. The Clerk's face turned beet red before he finally managed to restrain it.

Its coat was sleek and oily, its chest broad, and its legs sturdy. A flicker of intelligence shone in its eyes; it was clearly a superior mount.

Meng Wei said, "This horse has a bit of a temper. You might need some time to adapt, though given your horsemanship, it shouldn't take long."

Zhao Cheng nodded, silently noting Meng Wei's thoughtfulness. Without affectation, he stepped forward to stroke the horse's head before vaulting onto its back.

Strangely enough, the horse, which had been restless and anxious while being led, became eerily docile the moment he touched it. It stood quietly in place, even turning its head to nuzzle Zhao Cheng's palm.

Zhao Cheng patted the horse's head and dismounted, already feeling a sense of familiarity.

The onlookers were left speechless by this scene.

"Forget I said anything." Meng Wei then brought over a half-body armor and a bronze sword, handing them to Zhao Cheng.

"The equipment in the county might be inferior to that of the Central Army, but these are considered high-quality pieces. Use them for now; once you return to the Central Army, someone will naturally assign you new gear. I expect by then, your armor will be far beyond that of a common soldier."

Meng Wei spoke softly, yet his words were heavy with deep expectations.

Zhao Cheng said nothing, merely offering a deep bow.

Meng Wei escorted the requisitioned provisions to the city gates. Once the handover was complete, Zhao Cheng bid him farewell and merged into the silent, black torrent of troops.

Amidst the dull clatter of armor, the great army set out, marching toward the south.

"Han has still not surrendered Nanyang?"

"Over a month ago, Han showed signs of wanting to surrender Nanyang and submit as a vassal. But after several ministers we had turned were exposed and subsequently beheaded, Han shifted into a faction of resistance. The King was furious and applied pressure with a show of force, making Han's defiance even more apparent. As the fighting on the front lines intensified, my father was ordered to lead fifty thousand troops from the Central Army, gathering more along the way to form a force of one hundred thousand for the battlefield."

"If Han will not surrender, so be it. We shall simply take Nanyang by force."

Zhao Cheng was momentarily stunned, feeling as though the course of history had shifted. The problem likely lay with those ministers turned by Qin; a minor influence had triggered a butterfly effect, causing Han to transform from a surrender-prone faction into one committed to a death struggle.

However, Zhao Cheng felt this was actually for the best. If they had simply handed over Nanyang, breaking the Han capital would have been too easy, leaving little room for actual combat.

As things stood, even if Han had become a die-hard faction, they were already at the end of their rope after previous wars and could never withstand the tiger-and-wolf army of Qin.

Meng Tian led Zhao Cheng into the cavalry ranks.

Although he had only been in the army for a few years, his mastery of family-taught military strategy and his grasp of battlefield opportunities had earned him significant merit in numerous small-scale engagements. He was now a Five-Hundred-Man Commander, leading the Assault Cavalry Battalion.

For this campaign, the Central Army had mobilized more than five hundred cavalrymen, but the Assault Cavalry Battalion—an elite unit—consisted of only five hundred, all of whom were battle-hardened veterans.

"Where did this new recruit come from? Why is he being led here?"

"Look at that build; he's quite impressive. Could he have passed the assessment and been handpicked by the Commander to join the Central Army's Assault Cavalry Battalion?"

"Judging by his horse and gear, that must be the case."

"But to have a mere greenhorn enter the Assault Cavalry Battalion directly... that's a bit much."

"I hope he doesn't drag us down."

"We suffered so much to get into this battalion, surviving death countless times to earn our place. How can this recruit just walk right in? It's infuriating."

Seeming to hear that last remark, Meng Tian locked his gaze onto the Decurion.

"Feng Quan, step forward."

"Yes."

Meng Tian pointed at Zhao Cheng and said, "I give you one stick of incense. Defeat him, and you shall be promoted to Centurion, leading fifty men. Otherwise, you will be demoted to a Five-Man Squad Leader, and your position as Decurion will go to him."

Feng Quan looked at the tall, heroic Zhao Cheng and grinned, "Thank you, Commander."

The surrounding men turned green with envy at the sight.

Why did such a golden opportunity for promotion without earning military merit never fall to them?

They were all veterans of a hundred battles; was defeating a greenhorn really a challenge? It was a guaranteed promotion—how could they not be jealous?

A Decurion who was usually at odds with Feng Quan suddenly shouted, "Sir, let me do it! Feng Quan is getting old; he won't be able to beat a young man!"

Feng Quan was furious, "Bullshit! I'll fight him with one hand tied behind my back!"

Meng Tian gave a sharp shout, "Silence!"

"Give it your all, or face military law."

Feng Quan acknowledged the order and dismounted. Though he looked down on Zhao Cheng, his stance clearly showed he had no intention of holding back.

Zhao Cheng also dismounted and cupped his hands toward Feng Quan. Before he could speak, Feng Quan suddenly kicked his toe hard into the dirt, sending a cloud of dust and gravel flying directly into Zhao Cheng's face!

At the same time, Feng Quan shot forward like a bolt of lightning, putting his full strength into a vicious kick aimed at Zhao Cheng's chest and abdomen.

Many of the assault cavalrymen winced, knowing that taking such a kick would result in days of agony.

By the time Zhao Cheng swiped away the dust and gravel from his eyes, that massive foot was already within three inches of his chest.

Anyone watching this scene felt certain that Zhao Cheng was about to be sent sprawling face-first into the dirt.

Even in Feng Quan's own eyes, there was a flicker of joy at his impending promotion.

Yet in that very instant, Zhao Cheng moved.

His right hand, which had just been waving away the dust, suddenly clamped onto Feng Quan's ankle and gave a light flick, sending Feng Quan's entire body drifting upward like a willow catkin.

Zhao Cheng raised his wrist and tossed Feng Quan into the air as if he were nothing more than a wooden stick, sending him spinning in mid-air before striking him lightly and swiftly on the nape of the neck.

With a sharp gasp, Feng Quan rolled his eyes and passed out.

He continued to rotate as he fell, slamming into the ground with a thud that kicked up a cloud of dust.

All the cavalrymen stared in a daze, the silence absolute.

From the moment Feng Quan launched his surprise attack to the moment he collapsed, barely a blink or two had passed.

Yet the sequence of events was so rich and terrifying that no one had managed to react in time.

Was this kid... even human?

With just a single grab, a man as large as Feng Quan had become as light as a strip of cloth, spinning through the air like that??

The man who had previously offered to take Feng Quan's place in the duel shrank his neck, ducking his head deep into the ranks and playing the part of a silent quail.

Zhao Cheng stepped forward, grabbed the back of Feng Quan's clothes, and tossed him onto his horse before patting the animal on the head. "Carry him well and keep up."

Zhao Cheng then vaulted onto his own horse, and the beast actually did as he commanded, steadily carrying the unconscious Feng Quan as it followed behind him.

Zhao Cheng returned to Feng Quan's former position and continued to march with the army, saying nothing further.

However, the expressions of all the cavalrymen behind him had shifted, and his ten subordinates exchanged glances, their eyes filled with shock as they followed him in bewilderment.