How Much Force Could Such a Small Bow Have?

Dean Bai values his reputation most.

Zhou Wanwan said speechlessly, "What are we even competing in? Are we even going to compete or not? Stop dawdling!"

Dean Bai snorted coldly. The other deans discussed among themselves and said, "Then let's have a competition of three things! Poetry, policy essays, and archery. What do you think?"

Dean Bai looked at the three of them, nodded, and said, "Okay."

Poetry, policy essays, and archery were the three things his three disciples excelled at, so there was definitely no problem with them.

Zhou Wanwan smiled slightly, "No problem, let's start now! Or should I go first?"

Hu Qing said, "Alright, then you can compete with us in archery!"

How good can a child be at archery?

Hu Qing's archery skills are the best at the Yunheng Academy.

Everyone around laughed.

Hu Qing laughed too, "I know there's something wrong with doing this, but you guys made the bet yourselves, so don't say I'm bullying the child."

Dean Bai said, "A bet is a bet, and I believe Yan Mountain Academy understands that."

Dean Zhu nodded and said, "That's right. Yan Mountain Academy will never be one to gamble and refuse to admit defeat, and we hope you will be the same."

Yue Yunxiao said calmly, "That's natural. Let's keep these 1 million silver notes with you all for now, to avoid any disputes later."

Zhou Wanwan also took out a silver note and placed it directly on the table next to her.

They were quick to hand over their money.

Zhou Wanwan said, "Then let's shoot arrows! But my archery skills aren't very good, so please bear with me."

The other two are indeed Zhou Wanwan's apprentices; one is Han Xiuyuan, and the other is Meng Yan.

These two children were orphans taken in by Zhou Wanwan, but they are both extremely talented.

So when Zhou Wanwan was in the mountain village, she often taught the two of them.

Their talents surpass those of Gu Sinian.

Master Zhu said that these two children were born to study, and if it weren't for their family's poverty, they would definitely have achieved great things.

Zhou Wanwan saved them at that time and felt it was a pity for the two of them, so she let them study at the private school in Black Wind Stronghold.

After they had read all the books they could, Zhou Wanwan began searching everywhere for all sorts of rare and unique books.

They also knew Tang and Song dynasty poems by heart.

Is writing poetry a problem?

Policy essays, on the other hand, were incredibly simple.

Han Xiuyuan faced off against Yue Yunxiao.

Meng Yan faced off against Fang Zhongwen, and the two exchanged poems.

The first round was a contest of poetry.

Poems with the theme of battlefield.

Fang Zhongwen pursed his lips and quickly began to write.

Meng Yan naturally started writing very quickly as well.

After the two of them finished writing, Dean Bai picked up Meng Yan's poetry scroll and slowly read it aloud:

"On the Frontier"

The frost and snow on the On the Frontier fallen many times over the years; the soldiers sleep with their weapons as pillows in their tents.

My heart longs for home, carried by the wild geese beyond the clouds; I dare not easily lament my poverty and hardship.

Not bad, not bad, it expresses longing and yearning.

Dean Zhu coughed and said:

"Then I'll recite what's on our side!"

Liangzhou Song

Fine wine in a luminous cup, I long to drink, but the pipa urges me on.

Do not laugh at me, drunk and lying on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles?

Excellent! This poem is both generous and tragic, fully depicting the magnanimous and heroic spirit of the soldiers on the battlefield, their fearlessness in the face of death, and its profound and majestic imagery. It can be considered a timeless masterpiece of frontier poetry!

The renowned scholars around him all nodded in agreement.

Zhou Wanwan scoffed, "There are countless poems like this."

She'll go all out as long as they dare to compete.

In fact, Meng Yan could write poetry himself, but he was also afraid of ruining Zhou Wanwan's big plan.

It directly used someone else's poem.

Fang Zhongwen's face turned pale; he had been slapped repeatedly.

The next piece is a policy essay, "Memorial on Public Security".

With border troubles persisting year after year and regional powers growing stronger, how can we bring peace to the realm?

Han Xiuyuan and Yue Yunxiao started writing, and it took them half an hour to finish.

Xie Guangyuan looked at the two policy essays and said:

"What a brilliant Memorial on Public Security! Its brilliance lies in its long-term vision!"

While others were only thinking about repelling external enemies, Han Xiuyuan saw through it all at a glance: the strength of the regional powers was the biggest hidden danger within!

He did not forcefully weaken the power of the feudal lords, but rather understood the importance of dividing and conquering them step by step, while also taking into account border defense and land reclamation, planning both internally and externally.

By linking together the three major issues of regional rebellion, border troubles, and public sentiment, this approach is not merely treating the symptoms but demonstrating unique insight and far-sighted vision!

The others picked up Yue Yunxiao's strategy scroll and read it aloud.

His policy proposal only included increasing troops to guard the border, punishing corrupt officials, and pacifying the people—a sound approach.

However, they only focused on the immediate problems and failed to see the deeper hidden danger of the powerful regional princes becoming too influential to be controlled.

All the great scholars nodded in agreement, and even Dean Bai had to admit that Han Xiuyuan's policy essay was exceptionally well-written.

Dean Zhu laughed and said, "Oh my! Xiuyuan is really thinking long-term. In that case, our academy wins this round!"

No one objected.

Dean Zhu said, "If it's a best-of-three series, then let's call it a day!"

Hu Qing shouted, "Why should we call it quits? I haven't even competed yet!"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said:

"Young Master Hu, since I've already won, why should I compete with you again?"

Best two out of three, that's what we agreed on beforehand.

Hu Qing gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, you won with those 1 million taels of silver notes, but I still have 500,000 taels here, which are my own silver notes. Do you dare to compete?"

Zhou Wanwan looked at him and said, "Then let's take it out and have a look!"

Hu Qing quickly pulled out 500,000 taels of silver notes and said, "I'm not going to renege on my debt. These 500,000 taels of silver notes are genuine. I've paid this much, so what about you?"

Zhou Wanwan wasn't stingy either, and quickly pulled out 500,000 taels of silver notes.

Everyone around was shocked.

They hadn't expected a child to spend so much money, especially those from the Yunheng Academy.

"Who is this little boy? How does he have so much money?"

"Who knows where this came from?"

"A whoosh of 1.5 million taels of silver in one go? Who could possibly come up with that much money?"

Zhou Wanwan ignored them, but since Hu Qing wanted to play, she naturally had to play along.

Dean Zhu glared at Zhou Wanwan and said, "Aren't you just being ridiculous?"

Dean Bai, standing nearby, remarked, "It's normal for kids to fight and play around!"

Dean Zhu said helplessly, "Then let them do as they please!"

Soon, they arrived at the arena, where there were many archery targets.

Hu Qing smiled and said, "You little rascal, you've probably never used a bow and arrow before, have you?"

Zhou Wanwan smiled faintly and said, "I've used it before! Back in the day, I even shot Great Qi general on the battlefield."

Hu Qing laughed heartily:

"You're quite the braggart! This is the first time I've ever seen someone so good at bragging, even claiming to have shot and killed a general of our Great Qi."

Who do you think you are?

Do you know who our Great Qi's general is? It's General Qin Yuan, the God of War of our Great Qi."

Zhou Wanwan pouted and said:

"Someone like Qin Yuan doesn't deserve to be called a God of War. I remember he drove his first wife away."

Then they held a lavish wedding banquet and married their new love, but ended up losing a lot of money!

"I'm afraid the Qin Clan is so poor now that they can't even afford to eat."

Hu Qing nearly choked to death.

Qin Yuan's story has actually reached overseas?

He coughed and said, "Regardless of his family situation, he was invincible on the battlefield."

"Oh... didn't he lose the battle he fought against our Great Xia this year?"

Hu Qing retorted loudly:

"Who said we lost? We clearly won. I heard that your Great Xia suffered countless casualties in this battle."

Alright, enough of that, let's start the competition now!

Zhou Wanwan nodded and chose a bow. The bow was small and thin, and looked light and delicate.

Hu Qing saw it, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled, "Oh, such a small bow and arrow!"

He shook his head, his tone dismissive:

How much force can such a small bow have?

Are you sure you want to use this? You probably won't even be able to hit the target!

Zhou Wanwan said, "Whether you can shoot or not is none of your business."

Hu Qing scoffed, "Of course it's related! If you miss, you'll have to pay me 50 taels of silver!"

The people from the Yunheng Academy around burst into laughter.