Ming Dynasty: pacifying the rebellion and defending the border, dominating the world

Chapter 2: Lanzhou Experiences, the Greatest Hero

What the old man said is all in the past.

No matter how shocking something is, it will gradually fade away with the passage of time.

Therefore, the old man's words only shocked the young man leading the horse. The young man, who was just starting out and wanted to go out into the world, was yearning to do so, but he did not receive much attention in Jiayuguan.

After all, no matter how shocking the legend is, it cannot withstand the storytellers in teahouses and taverns. They tell it every two or three days, day after day for years, and people are tired of listening to it.

"If I remember correctly, Prince Su has been an adult for less than five years!" The shock revealed in the pupils of the young man leading the horse could not be suppressed, even though he had heard about this matter a long time ago.

But it is still far less shocking than being there in person, standing at the place where Prince Su once fought, and listening to his amazing achievements in the past.

Although the world is vast and the Nine Provinces are broad, the immortals on land are already the ones standing at the pinnacle of the human world.

Three land immortals joined forces to attack the gate and survived the near-death experience, as their opponent was just one person.

And that person
"yes."

"It hasn't even been five years since Prince Su came of age. This year is only his fourth year since he came of age."

The old man looked up at the sky. What he and many others had been trying to avoid and unwilling to mention was the age of Prince Su, the man who had suffocated the Liao Dynasty, the Mongols, and the two powerful countries.

Back then, he was just a young boy who had not yet reached adulthood!

Six years ago, an eighteen-year-old boy, with three thousand soldiers, wiped out most of the Ming Dynasty and single-handedly repelled the three continental immortals.

The appearance of Prince Su told the world what a true peerless genius and unparalleled prodigy is.

In front of him, no matter whether you are the Living Buddha of the Third Reincarnation, the Reincarnation of Zhenwu, or the Great Master of All Ages, you are nothing but a joke.

"Little kid, why do you want to venture into the martial arts world?"

After sighing for a while, the old man at the bookstall stroked his beard and asked with a smile.

The heroic young man at the stall, upon hearing this, showed a longing for the Jianghu: "I want to be a hero who fights evil and upholds justice."

"Become a chivalrous hero?"

The old man was stunned for a moment, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes, before he burst into laughter. "Hahaha, you're quite ambitious, little kid. But this world of martial arts isn't just about fighting and killing; it's also filled with countless temptations and dangers. It's a joyous avenging of vengeance, but also a treacherous hell. I hope you can always stay true to your original aspirations and never forget them."

How many passionate young men, with their yearning for the world of martial arts, plunged into this endless vortex.

Some succeed and become famous, some are trapped in fame and fortune and live a mediocre life, and more are buried in the wilderness, with no one paying attention to them.

But ah~
Aren’t these knights who have been heroes for thousands of years just these groups of young people who are just starting out?
"Hehe, young man, if you want to be a true hero, why not come with me to participate in this year's Tiance Army selection? Only those who join the army for justice and protect their country with guns are true heroes!"

While the two were talking, a girl dressed simply, carrying a hunting bow on her back and waving a red tasseled spear in her hand, came over. The girl was only in her prime, but her words revealed a sharp edge.

For the people of Shaanxi and Lanzhou, the so-called rivers and lakes are not worth their yearning, and the high position in the government is not what they seek. The annual selection of the three guards is what they desire.

The so-called "heroes" are the Ming Dynasty soldiers who can protect their safety, not those so-called heroes who break the law with force.

"Eh? Isn't leading troops in battle a man's job?"

The young man leading the horse showed a look of astonishment: "Does the Ming Dynasty allow women to join the army?"

"Tsk!" The girl curled her lips. She knew that this was the consensus of the world, but she still felt a little unhappy in her heart. Who said that women are inferior to men?
However, when she thought of Prince Su and the Tiance Mansion, her face couldn't help but reveal admiration. "Don't you know that General Xuanwei of the Tiance Army in Suzhou Wei is a woman? The 8,000 Wandering Dragon Cavalry under her command once defeated 70,000 armored troops, making the small country of Western Xia tremble in fear. And those 8,000 Wandering Dragon Cavalry are all women with unfortunate fates."

"Haven't you heard that Commander Yan of the Black Armor Cangyun Army is also a woman?"

In the past few years, whenever there was a war on the border, the Youlong Cavalry was a surprise force that always defeated the enemy. In recent years, they have killed and intimidated countless foreign barbarians and have long been regarded as idols by many women in Lanzhou, Shaanxi.

The girl in front of me is one of them.

Not to mention Changsun Wangqing, the legendary Yan Shuai who was a woman but served as the commander of the Cang Yun Army, commanding hundreds of thousands of Cang Yun Xuanjia soldiers alone and dominating the border.

Moreover, anything is allowed unless prohibited by law. The existence of the Youlongqi shows that Prince Su is also willing to accept women into the army. It's just that it is said that the battlefield is dangerous, and the selection of women to join the army is more strict than that of the other three guards.

"Hahaha, little girl, you do have lofty ambitions, but do you know what the first selection criteria set by General Xuanwei for the Youlongqi are?"

Passersby were also attracted by the conversation between the few people. Several Tiance soldiers who were patrolling and wearing Yaowu armor and carrying spears and longbows stopped when they heard the girl's words.

"Humph, I know."

The girl snorted unhappily, then said confidently, "Within a quarter of an hour, you must draw the three-stone bow into a full moon five times, and then draw the five-stone bow once. If you pass, you will be registered as a Wandering Dragon Rider."

One stone is 120 catties, and if you can pull 120 catties with strength, anything more than that is considered tiger strength.

A three-stone bow weighs three hundred and sixty pounds.

To be able to open the five stones, one needs at least seven or eight hundred kilograms of strength. Among the major armies of countries around the world, they are absolute aces and elites.

But this is only the qualification for the Dragon Riders.

How can one not be shocked?

However, the old man and the Tiance soldiers patrolling the streets were not surprised at all when they heard the girl's words.

If it weren't for this extremely high threshold, the Youlongqi would not have expanded significantly after several years. The people in Shaanxi are tough and brave. If the threshold of Youlongqi was low, it wouldn't take long for it to expand to 100,000 cavalry.

"What I long for is to follow His Royal Highness Prince Su. I hope that in the future I will be lucky enough to ride on the horse and conquer Dadu, or shoot a shot and capture Bianliang. Only then can I say that I have lived up to my youth!" The girl stood with a gun, her eyes burning. Her family has lived on the border of the Ming Dynasty for generations. To her, being able to join the army to protect the country means both life and death.

"It seems that the Dragon Riders will have some good seedlings this year!"

Several Tiance soldiers who were patrolling here all nodded to the girl.

It can be regarded as an advance wish for her to enter Tiance as she wishes.

"This girl has a good heart and great ambition."

Although the young man leading the horse was shocked by the confidence of the young girl, anyone who could draw a five-stone bow would definitely be the best elite and sharpshooter in the armies of various countries. However, in the Dragon Cavalry, it was only the minimum standard for women to join the army.

The girl is so confident, obviously she has the ability.

But what shocked him even more were the few Tian Ce soldiers who were stationed there. Although they did not show their edge, they gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.

Just a few border soldiers made him, a first-class master of the third level, feel dangerous?

(End of this chapter)