You Really Speak Horse? What a Wonder!

The County Commandant blinked, still unable to process it. How could anyone say something so shameless?

Had he gone mad?

Just fired an arrow that had nearly pierced an official's head, and now he was a master archer? And no bow in the world could withstand his strength? Why didn't he just say he could fly?

The words were so outrageous that the County Commandant felt like his whole body was about to split apart.

"You, wait a moment!"

He called Zhao Cheng to a halt, unsure whether to be angry or laugh. In the end, he patiently advised him, "Archery is important, and it's difficult too. You've never tried mounted archery, so it certainly won't be easy for you. But the rewards are immense."

"You're exceptionally gifted, and your future is limitless. The more you improve your mounted archery now, the more capable you'll be of earning merit on the battlefield—and the better your chances of surviving."

He spoke earnestly. "The battlefield is no place for child's play. A moment's misjudgment can cost you your life. It's all right if your archery isn't perfect, but if your horsemanship is poor, one wrong move could send you tumbling into the ranks and leave you with no way out. You'd be better off serving as an ordinary Elite Soldier than losing your life."

"So don't rush your horsemanship. Calm yourself and do your best to communicate with the horse. This one is already quite docile. The fine steeds and fiery stallions used by the cavalry are truly hard to tame."

"Communicate with it..." Zhao Cheng sensed how much the County Commandant expected of him. He didn't want to worry or mislead him, so he lowered his head and said, "Raise your left leg!"

The County Commandant laughed in disbelief. "You little brat, you—"

Before he could finish, the horse really did raise its left hind leg!

Even after the horse lowered it, the County Commandant still hadn't recovered. He stared blankly at the horse's leg, tilted his head, and racked his brains.

A huge question mark popped into his mind, but there was no answer...

He looked at Zhao Cheng, convinced it had to be a coincidence.

But Zhao Cheng looked dissatisfied. "Your front left leg! This just proves a dumb horse can't show off my horsemanship."

The horse lowered its head in shame, then promptly raised its front left leg!

As if to prove it understood its master's intentions, it even held the leg up for quite a while before lowering it.

The County Commandant's eyes widened as he stared at the unbelievable sight.

Then he fell into a long silence.

He looked carefully at Zhao Cheng, then at the horse, then at the soldiers training nearby, as if checking something.

After a moment, unable to accept it, he said, "You, you do that again. Let me see."

He stared at the horse's legs with tiger-bright eyes.

Zhao Cheng asked with a smile, "Which leg would you like to see, sir?"

The County Commandant pointed at the front left leg, eyes wide.

Zhao Cheng nodded. "Raise your left leg."

This time, the horse managed to understand him and raised its front left leg accurately!

"Good heavens!" The County Commandant jumped. Now that it had really happened, he found it even harder to believe. "You actually speak horse!?"

"What a wonder!"

Zhao Cheng laughed helplessly. "How is that speaking horse? I'm just skilled at horsemanship."

The County Commandant exclaimed, "You've never ridden a horse. How can you be this good?"

"I've been working hard this past month," Zhao Cheng replied.

The County Commandant was dumbfounded. Was this something hard work could accomplish? And in only a month? He had to be joking!

He found it hard to accept.

To become a County Commandant around the age of thirty, and to hold such a crucial position, he had seen his share of storms and earned countless merits. He held the rank of Grand Master of Merit.

He'd seen riders of every skill level, or so he'd thought, but he'd never witnessed anything this strange.

Still unable to believe it, he had Zhao Cheng do it several more times.

Zhao Cheng humored him for a while longer, and the County Commandant grew more and more astonished.

Zhao Cheng was speechless. "Sir, my horsemanship counts as good enough now, doesn't it?"

"More than good enough..." The County Commandant looked at him. "Don't call me 'sir' anymore. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle Meng."

It was Zhao Cheng's turn to be surprised. "Uncle Meng... Is your family name the same as General Meng Ao's?"

The County Commandant's face lit up with pride. "You know my father?"

Zhao Cheng smiled even more sincerely. "With General Meng's achievements, who in Great Qin doesn't know of him?"

Meng Ao had served under King Zhaoxiang of Qin, King Xiaowen of Qin, King Zhuangxiang of Qin, and Qin Shi Huang. He had led troops into battle many times and repeatedly distinguished himself.

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

Without this veteran general of four reigns, Zhao Cheng, born in Sanchuan Commandery, wouldn't even be living in Qin State now.

But that wasn't even the most important point. Everyone knew Meng Ao was Meng Wu's father and Meng Tian and Meng Yi's grandfather. The County Commandant was surnamed Meng and had addressed him this way. Could he be Meng Wu?

After all, Sanchuan Commandery was the core stronghold of Qin State's eastward expansion strategy, and Lu Buwei had directly governed it until recently.

After Lu Buwei was dismissed, the officials appointed to this strategic location were all trusted generals or ministers of the King of Qin. The goal was to replace Lu Buwei's former subordinates with the King's own men.

And Yang City County lay right beside Nanyang Commandery, a crucial springboard. Appointing its County Commandant was a matter of the utmost importance. He needed enough military ability to deal with a Han counterattack or mobilize troops at any time to support an attack on Han.

If that was the case, then the chances of him being Meng Wu weren't all that low. It was just that the County Commandant looked rather young.

"You little brat." The more the County Commandant looked at Zhao Cheng, the more he liked him. Still, he studied Zhao Cheng's expression as he said, "But my name is Meng Wei. I'm not of the main line of the Meng Family, so I can't do much for you. You don't need to flatter me."

Zhao Cheng understood, but wasn't disappointed.

He hadn't been trying to latch onto Meng Wu for support. He'd only wanted to fight in battles. If he hadn't found him, he'd simply have fewer chances to fight. With Zhao Cheng's strength, he'd be valued wherever he went.

So he shook his head. "I'm not flattering you. General Meng went on many campaigns and repeatedly distinguished himself. It was thanks to him that our Qin State established Sanchuan Commandery and Dong Commandery. I was born in Sanchuan Commandery, so I'm naturally grateful to and admire the old general."

"As for you, Uncle Meng, you've already helped me a great deal. I'll remember your kindness. If I don't die on the battlefield, I'll definitely repay you one day for taking me under your wing."

Meng Wei had been watching Zhao Cheng's expression closely. Now he could tell Zhao Cheng wasn't the sort to curry favor with the rich and powerful. He felt greatly reassured and liked the young man even more.

Happily, he slapped Zhao Cheng on the shoulder. "You really are something, you little brat. You've got a young man's bold spirit, astonishing talent, and a fine disposition. As long as you don't fall on the battlefield, there'll be a place for you in Great Qin!"

"Don't worry. Though I'm not of the Meng Family's main line, I can still give you a hand. There's nothing more I need to teach you about horsemanship. Spend the next few days practicing archery, and in a few days, Uncle Meng will give you a wonderful gift!"

Zhao Cheng thought for a moment. "Actually, I've mastered archery too."

"Hah!" Meng Wei glanced sideways at Zhao Cheng with a cold laugh. He thought, This time, you're boasting in the wrong direction. That last arrow went so wide it nearly hit someone's head. I saw it perfectly clearly.

The official's legs were still trembling!

"Come on. Stand ten paces from that target. Let's see if you can hit the bull's-eye!"