You Understand Horse Language? A True Oddity!?

The County Lieutenant blinked, still unable to process what he had just heard. How could a person say something so shameless?

He must be insane!

He had nearly pierced a clerk's skull with an arrow just a moment ago, and now he claimed his archery was divine? And that there wasn't a single bow in the world capable of bearing his strength? Why didn't he just fly up to the heavens while he was at it!

This statement was so bizarre that it made the County Lieutenant feel as if his very soul were being torn apart.

"You—you wait a moment!"

He called out to Zhao Cheng, caught between anger and amusement. Finally, he suppressed his temper and offered some advice, "Archery practice is a serious matter, and a difficult one at that. You have never touched mounted archery before, so it certainly won't be easy for you, but the rewards are immense."

"You are gifted with extraordinary talent and have a boundless future. The more you refine your mounted archery skills now, the greater your ability to achieve merit on the battlefield, and the higher your chances of survival."

He spoke with earnest gravity, "The battlefield is no place for child's play. A single lapse in judgment can cost you your life. It doesn't matter if your archery is mediocre, but if your horsemanship is poor, one slip could see you trampled into the ranks of the army. That is a death sentence. You would be better off serving as a common infantryman than losing your life like that."

"Therefore, do not be overly hasty with your horsemanship. Calm your heart and strive to communicate with the horse. This mount is already considered docile; the fine steeds and wild horses used by the cavalry are truly difficult to tame."

"Communicate with it..." Zhao Cheng sensed the County Lieutenant's high expectations. Not wanting to cause him further worry or misunderstanding, he lowered his head and said, "Lift your left leg!"

The County Lieutenant laughed in exasperation, "You brat, just like that..."

Before the words had even left his lips, the horse actually lifted its left hind leg!

Until the horse's hoof touched the ground again, the County Lieutenant remained frozen. He stared blankly at the horse's leg, tilting his head as his mind raced at lightning speed.

A massive question mark emerged in his thoughts, but there was no answer to be found.

He looked at Zhao Cheng, convinced this must be a coincidence.

Who would have guessed that Zhao Cheng would look dissatisfied and remark, "The front left leg! I told you this stupid horse couldn't showcase my horsemanship."

To his shock, the horse lowered its head in shame and then decisively lifted its front left leg!

As if to prove it understood its master's intent, it even held the pose for quite a while before setting it down.

The County Lieutenant's eyes widened, staring at the scene in utter disbelief.

Then, he fell into a profound silence.

He scrutinized Zhao Cheng, then the horse, then the soldiers training nearby, as if trying to confirm something.

A moment later, refusing to believe his eyes, he said, "You—you do it again, let me see."

With that, he fixed his tiger-like eyes on the horse's leg.

Zhao Cheng asked with a smile, "Which leg does the Lieutenant wish to see?"

The Lieutenant pointed at the front left leg with a glare.

Zhao Cheng gave a hum, "Lift the left leg."

This time, the horse grasped his meaning perfectly and accurately lifted its front left leg!

"Gasp!!" The County Lieutenant was startled. Now that it had actually happened, he found it even harder to believe. He exclaimed, "You actually speak the language of horses!?"

"What a strange man you are!?"

Zhao Cheng was left between laughter and tears, "It is not speaking the language of horses; I am simply proficient in horsemanship."

The County Lieutenant asked in shock, "You have never ridden a horse before, how can this be?"

Zhao Cheng replied, "I have been working very hard this past month."

The County Lieutenant was stunned. Was this something that could be achieved through hard work? And in only one month? You must be joking!

He found it difficult to accept.

Having become a County Lieutenant at the age of thirty, and holding such a critical position, he had seen his fair share of storms and achieved countless merits, holding the rank of Gong Dafu.

No matter how skilled a rider was, he believed he had seen them all, but he had never witnessed such a bizarre scene.

Still in disbelief, he had Zhao Cheng repeat the feat several more times.

Zhao Cheng played along for a while longer, leaving the County Lieutenant increasingly astonished.

Zhao Cheng was speechless, "Lieutenant, I suppose my horsemanship can be considered up to standard now?"

"More than just up to standard..." The Lieutenant looked at him, "Stop calling me Lieutenant. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Meng."

This time, it was Zhao Cheng's turn to be surprised, "Uncle Meng... could it be the Meng of General Meng Ao?"

A smile of pride appeared on the Lieutenant's face, "You know of my father?"

Zhao Cheng's smile became even more sincere, "With General Meng's achievements, who in Great Qin does not know him?"

Meng Ao had served four successive reigns: King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Xiaowen of Qin, King Zhuangxiang of Qin, and Qin Shi Huang. He had led armies on numerous campaigns and achieved repeated merits.

He had successively captured over ten cities from Han, over thirty from Zhao, and fifty from Wei, allowing Qin to establish Sanchuan Commandery and Dong Commandery.

It could be said that without this veteran of four reigns, Zhao Cheng, born in Sanchuan Commandery, would not be living in Qin territory today.

But that was not the most important point. It was common knowledge that Meng Ao was the father of Meng Wu and the grandfather of Meng Tian and Meng Yi. Since the County Lieutenant was surnamed Meng and addressed in such a manner, could he be Meng Wu?

One had to know that Sanchuan Commandery was the core stronghold for Qin's eastward expansion, previously under the direct jurisdiction of Lu Buwei.

After Lu Buwei was dismissed, the officials appointed to this strategic location were all generals or civil officials trusted by the King of Qin, intended to replace Lu Buwei's old subordinates with the King's own loyalists.

Yang City is situated right against the critical springboard of Nanyang Commandery, so the selection of the County Commandant here is of the utmost importance; one must possess sufficient military capability to cope with Han's counterattacks or to mobilize troops at a moment's notice to assist in the invasion of Han.

Putting it that way, the probability of it being Meng Wu is not insignificant, though the County Commandant looks a bit too young.

"You brat." The more the County Commandant looked at Zhao Cheng, the more he liked him, yet he still stared at Zhao Cheng's expression and said, "However, my name is Meng Wei, and I am not of the direct Meng lineage. I cannot help you much, so there is no need for you to try and please me."

Zhao Cheng realized the truth upon hearing this, yet he felt no disappointment.

He hadn't been trying to latch onto Meng Wu for status; he just wanted to tag along for some battles. If he hadn't caught him, it just meant slightly fewer opportunities for combat, and with his combat prowess, where would he not be valued?

Thus, he shook his head and said, "I am not trying to please you. General Meng has campaigned several times and repeatedly achieved great merit. Because of him, our Great Qin was able to establish Sanchuan Commandery and Dong Commandery. I was born in Sanchuan Commandery, so I naturally feel gratitude and admiration for the old gentleman."

"As for Uncle Meng, you have already helped me a great deal. I have kept this kindness in my heart, and in the future, if I do not die on the battlefield, I will certainly come to repay Uncle Meng's grace in promoting me."

Meng Wei had been carefully observing Zhao Cheng's expression, and by now, he knew that Zhao Cheng was not a person who clung to wealth and status. He could not help but feel greatly relieved, liking this youth even more.

He happily patted Zhao Cheng on the shoulder, "You brat are truly not bad. You have the vigor of youth, world-shaking talent, and a good temperament. As long as you don't die prematurely on the battlefield, there will surely be a place for you in this Great Qin in the future!"

"Rest assured, although I am not of the direct Meng lineage, I can still give you a boost. Your horsemanship no longer requires me to say anything more. Practice your archery well these next few days; in a few days, Uncle Meng will give you a great gift!"

Zhao Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Actually, my archery is also complete."

"Heh!" Meng Wei glanced sideways at Zhao Cheng and sneered, thinking to himself that this time you've boasted in the wrong direction; that arrow just now went crooked toward someone's head, and I saw it clearly.

The clerk's legs are still trembling right now!

"Come, just stand ten paces away from that target and let me see if you can hit the bullseye!"