Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 209 Senior Colonel
In December, the wind in Lishicheng is like a knife wrapped in ice shards, stinging your face.

In the western fields, the snow, trampled into an icy shell by countless military boots and horses' hooves, reflected a white light.

A huge, dark-colored banner, used for military strategy, fluttered wildly in the north wind.

Beneath the banner, a tall command platform stood, upon which Zhang Xian, who had come from Jinyang to inspect the military affairs of Lishi, sat.

The Bingzhou Army, which usually had a senior colonel every two to three months when there were no major battles, became even more lively with his arrival.

Below the stage, the military formations were imposing and clearly defined.

On the left flank were Zhao Yun's elite cavalry, all clad in silver armor and white robes, their long spears forming a forest, their silence exuding a chilling killing intent honed through countless battles.

Zhang Liao's heavy infantry, clad in iron armor, wielding a long sword and a large shield, were as imposing as mountains.

The right wing, on the other hand, is somewhat mixed.

Lu Bu's three hundred Bingzhou wolf riders, all clad in black armor, exuded a fierce and wild aura as they campaigned across the western grasslands of Bingzhou.

Especially on the lead horse, a fiery red steed, Lü Bu held his double halberds, his eyes looking down with disdain.

Behind him, Gao Shun, Song Xian, Wei Xu, and other generals who originally belonged to Ding Yuan stood respectfully with their hands on their swords.

They were only temporarily transferred, but their hearts had already been won over by He Zhang Xianjun.

Among the ranks, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei stood out.

All three were dressed in full-fitting armor of the Wandering Warriors, their expressions calm, their gazes sweeping across the solemn training ground, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension and excitement.

Guan Yu's phoenix eyes were slightly closed, and he stroked his long beard, his arrogance restrained.

Zhang Fei's leopard eyes widened as he surveyed his surroundings. When his gaze swept over Zhao Yun's imposing figure on the left flank, he let out a heavy snort, his thick beard trembling slightly with each heavy breath.

The words "What an arrogant official!" at the gate of Jizhou camp and Zhao Yun's indifferent response were like a fishbone stuck in his heart.

Today, as a senior colonel, he was determined to show that pretty boy Zhao Yun the true abilities of Zhang Yide, a man from Yan!

On the command platform, Zhang Xian stood up and walked to the front of the war drum.

He personally picked up the drumsticks and struck the heavy cowhide drum.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three resounding war drumbeats thundered, drowning out the howling cold wind.

The whole place was suddenly silent, and you could hear a pin drop.

Zhao Gou strode to the front of the stage, cupped his hands, and asked for instructions.

Zhang Xian put down the drumsticks and nodded to him.

Zhao Gou was not particularly tall or strong, but his voice was deep and powerful, resounding throughout the entire training ground.

"Military law is as firm as a mountain! Comrades share the same fate! Today, Colonel, anyone who is negligent, cheats, engages in private fights, or disobeys orders, regardless of who they are, will be punished equally! Colonel! Begin!"

"Roar—!" Thousands of soldiers responded in unison, their roars overwhelming and igniting their fierce fighting spirit!
The spacious training ground was divided into several roads, and dozens of straw targets clad in leather armor stood in the distance.

The first thing to do was a simple skills assessment.

The generals in the army set an example first.

Lu Bu was the first to ride out! His crimson warhorse was like a burning meteor, its hooves churning up a cloud of snow mist.

He was on horseback, his body as steady as a mountain. He raised his huge iron bow with one hand, and without even looking, three heavy arrows were already nocked!

"Thump! Thump! Thump!" The bowstring made a dull, thunderous sound!

Three heavy arrows tore through the cold wind like three black lightning bolts! In an instant, the heads of three straw dummy targets a hundred paces away were simultaneously pierced and exploded!
Clipped grass mixed with ice shards flew everywhere! The arrow, still carrying momentum, was deeply embedded in the low rammed earth wall behind it, its fletching still humming and vibrating!
"Clap—!" The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry erupted in thunderous cheers.

Lu Bu reined in his horse and laughed loudly: "Hahaha! Wolf Cavalry generals, show your skills!"

He glanced disdainfully at the three hundred wolf riders he had brought.

Song Xian, Wei Xu, and others were also honored, and straightened their backs and loudly agreed.

Zhao Yun followed with a calm expression. He gently spurred his horse, and the white steed accelerated suddenly like a silver lightning bolt!
On the back of a galloping horse, the rider's body seems to merge with the horse's, the rhythm of its movements perfect.

He did not use a powerful bow, but only a standard cavalry bow.

Drawing the bow! Nocking the arrow! The movements were fluid and fast, almost dazzling!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Five arrows in quick succession!
There was no earth-shattering display like Lu Bu's, only five cunning and unpredictable silver lines! Drawing subtle arcs in the air! Five arrows, with unparalleled precision, pierced the throats of five straw targets at different distances and angles! The arrow holes were small, yet utterly deadly!

A collective gasp filled the air! Everyone present knew that to fire five arrows so precisely and in such a continuous and tricky manner from a light bow while riding at high speed required an unparalleled mastery of power, timing, and archery skills!

Zhang Fei stared wide-eyed at the sight, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

He prided himself on his exceptional strength, but Lu Bu's terrifying power to hit three targets with a single arrow terrified him, and Zhao Yun's masterful rapid-fire arrows put him under even more pressure.

"Hmph! All flash and no substance!" he thought to himself.

Next, generals such as Zhao Gou, Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Song Xian, and Wei Xu took turns to demonstrate their strengths.

Zhang Liao's archery skills were steady and profound, with every arrow hitting the bullseye.

Zhao Gou was slightly lacking in archery skills, but he was able to hit the target with every arrow.

Gao Shun was as solid as a rock. His horse was not fast, but every arrow he shot was carefully planned and seemed to have the force of a thousand pounds, sending the straw target flying backward.

Song Xian and Wei Xu also demonstrated skillful horsemanship and archery, which, while not top-notch, far surpassed that of ordinary soldiers.

Soon it was Junhoutunqu's turn for the skills assessment.

Guan Yu took the lead, riding a strong yellow horse.

He slightly opened his phoenix eyes, his demeanor calm and composed. He steered his horse at full gallop, drew his bow like a full moon, and sent the arrows flying like shooting stars! All three arrows struck the bullseye of a straw man a hundred paces away, the shafts penetrating deep into the wood!
Zhang Fei could no longer contain himself. He suddenly spurred his horse, and his long arms stretched out, pulling the iron-boned bow so hard it creaked!

"Go!" A thunderous shout rang out!
An arrow was shot out with a piercing whistle! The straw target a hundred paces away was shattered into pieces by this arrow!
Zhang Fei reined in his horse, looked around triumphantly, and especially glared defiantly at Zhao Yun, his leopard eyes filled with a knowing look.

Zhao Yun remained calm, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

This calmness only fueled Zhang Fei's anger.

Liu Bei's archery skills were solid and reliable, with all three arrows hitting the target. While not spectacular, they were still quite solid.

The horsemanship and archery test simultaneously examined the horsemanship and archery skills of the generals and soldiers. These two skills were essential for soldiers serving in border regions and could not be neglected.

After archery and horsemanship, it came down to foot combat.

The huge training ground was divided into dozens of squares for soldiers to practice their skills.

The rules are simple: you can use your bare hands or a wooden weapon to knock down your opponent or make them surrender.

Soon, the entire training ground transformed into a boiling arena! Shouts, the sounds of fists and feet clashing, the clanging of wooden weapons, the thuds of people falling to the ground, and cheers rose and fell in waves!
Zhang Fei was like a tiger among sheep! He discarded his wooden sword and went straight for the fight with his bare hands! In a single exchange, he sent a garrison commander, known for his strength, flying! He then went on to defeat several other challenging military officers!

His punches and kicks were powerful and heavy, and his moves were wide and sweeping. He relied entirely on brute force to overwhelm his opponents and was invincible! Soon, the square where he stood was surrounded by people, and cheers were deafening.

"Hahaha! That was exhilarating! Who else?!" Zhang Fei pounded his chest, his voice echoing across the land, his gaze sweeping once more toward Zhao Yun, who was instructing his soldiers on combat techniques not far away.

Zhao Yun noticed the provocative gaze.

He did not leave the field, but continued to instruct the nearby soldiers.

Zhang Fei stared intently at him, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

After several more rounds of fighting, he had defeated all the military commanders and magistrates in his area.

After a short rest, he couldn't bear it any longer and jumped out of the sand circle to run to Zhao Yun.

"Squad Leader Zhang Yide has come to challenge Colonel Zhao!"

After joining the Bingzhou military faction, Zhang Fei and his companions became well-versed in military law and also incorporated some of the trends of the nomadic army.

So even if he was a fool, he held back at this moment, only wanting to see who was truly superior in the fight! Zhao Yun turned around, looked Zhang Fei up and down, and asked, "Aren't you going to rest for a bit?"

He did not refuse. The forces of the Youyi Army were quite strong, and no general would refuse a challenge.

Zhang Fei sneered, "That was just a warm-up; it's really getting hot right now!"

"Alright, what do you want to compete in?" Zhao Yun nodded slightly.

"If I, Zhang Fei, am to become a great general, I'll compete in mounted combat!"

"Alright, let's go to the Central Training Ground then."

On the reviewing stand, Zhang Xian watched with great interest.

He beckoned, and his personal guard, Ashan, stepped forward to await orders.

“Brother Yun’s horses are superior; take my Mo Ying to Zhang Fei.”

"promise!"

Ah Shan scratched his head, accepted the order, and stepped down from the stage.

The center of the training ground was quickly cleared.

Zhao Yun was still that magnificent white steed, wielding a long spear made of ash wood.

Just as Zhang Fei was about to mount his horse, a loud neighing of a horse rang out.

A dark figure arrived swiftly, and immediately Ashan shouted, "Squad Leader Zhang Fei, listen to my command!"

"Here!" Zhang Fei was momentarily stunned, not understanding why.

Ashan dismounted and said, "Lieutenant Zhao's horse is still superior. To avoid an unfair victory, our lord has specially lent me this magnificent steed. I hope you will strive to do your best!"

A gasp rippled through the crowd; they all recognized it as Mo Ying.

Zhao Yun's lips curled up slightly; his brother Xian had increased his strength again.

Zhang Fei was very excited and immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "I will certainly not disappoint my lord!"

He excitedly switched to Mo Ying, and after a short adjustment period, the two horses faced each other.

The cold wind howled, stirring up the snow on the ground.

The two men stood thirty paces apart, reining in their horses and facing each other.

"Zhao Zilong! The humiliation suffered in front of the Jizhou camp, I, Zhang Yide, will avenge today!" Zhang Fei's voice boomed like a bell, his fighting spirit burning fiercely.

Zhao Yun remained calm, simply holding his wooden spear level with the tip pointing at Zhang Fei, and making a gesture of invitation.

"Giddy up!" Zhang Fei spurred his horse, and the dark shadow shot forward like an arrow! He swung the heavy wooden spear with one arm, tearing through the air with a whooshing sound, and with a simple, unadorned strike, he smashed it down on Zhao Yun's head! The force was so great that it seemed he would smash Zhao Yun and his horse into a pulp!

The area around the training ground held its breath instantly! Even Lu Bu narrowed his eyes.

He acknowledged the power of that spear!

Faced with this overwhelming attack, Zhao Yun moved! The white horse nimbly darted half a step to the side!

At the same time, Zhao Yun's body tilted to the side as if it had no bones! The powerful spear whistled past his shoulder armor!

Just as Zhang Fei's moves were running out of steam and his new strength hadn't yet been generated, Zhao Yun's body, which had been leaning to the side, suddenly snapped back like a taut bowstring! Using the combined force of his horse's forward momentum and his body's rebound, the white ash wood spear in his hand transformed into a blurry white shadow!

"Snapped!"

A crisp explosion!

The spearhead struck the nerve in Zhang Fei's wrist with perfect accuracy! A sharp, tingling pain instantly swept through Zhang Fei's entire arm, and the heavy wooden spear almost slipped from his grasp!
Zhang Fei was both shocked and furious. With a roar, he twisted his waist and unleashed a powerful backhand sweeping attack! Mo Ying also reared up, its front hooves slamming into the white horse!
Zhao Yun's eyes narrowed, and the white horse seemed to understand him, instantly taking a small half step back while lowering its head and body to avoid the horse's hooves.

Zhao Yun's spear followed Zhang Fei's sweeping spear shaft with a deft flick, a deflection, and a twist! A subtle spiraling force traveled along the spear shaft!
Zhang Fei felt as if the spear in his hand was being coiled by a giant python, swinging outwards completely out of control, leaving the central gate wide open!

"Hit!" Zhao Yunqing shouted, his spear flashing like a dragon! A white shadow flashed!
"Thud!" The wooden spearhead slammed heavily into the leather breastplate between Zhang Fei's chest and abdomen! The force wasn't great, but the precision was impeccable, striking the very point where his qi was circulating!

"Ugh!" Zhang Fei felt as if he had been hit by a heavy hammer. His burly body swayed violently, his breathing became erratic, and his face turned red! The dark shadow beneath him also lost its footing due to the rider's loss of control.

The outcome is decided!

The whole process happened in the blink of an eye! Zhao Yun didn't use any brute force; he relied entirely on his superb control of his horse, his impeccable timing, and his unpredictable spear skills! In just a few moves, he had Zhang Fei in a sorry state!
The training ground was deathly silent! Everyone was stunned by the exquisite skill!

Zhang Fei sat on his horse, clutching his chest, which felt tight. His leopard eyes were wide open as he stared intently at Zhao Yun, his face turning pale and then red.

Shame, indignation, resentment, astonishment, and a hint of inexplicable admiration were all mixed together.

Zhao Yun sheathed his spear, reined in his horse, and gave Zhang Fei a slight bow, saying, "Commander Zhang, you flatter me." His tone remained calm.

"I..." Zhang Fei opened his mouth, wanting to say something harsh, but found that he couldn't utter a single word.

The opponent won fair and square, leaving him speechless! The resentment that had been building up in his chest seemed to have been dispelled by that one shot.

"Third brother!" Guan Yu's deep voice came, filled with concern.

Liu Bei also rode closer, looking at Zhang Fei with a complicated expression.

Zhang Fei took a deep breath of the cold air, suppressing his surging blood and complex emotions. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Yun, his voice muffled but no longer defiant.

"Lieutenant Zhao... Lieutenant Zhao, what excellent marksmanship! I... I'm impressed!"

This declaration of submission was more painful for him than death, but it also finally removed the thorn from his heart.

Zhao Yun's lips seemed to curve into a very faint smile as he nodded.

The march continued, with cheers and applause erupting from all sides.

On the platform, Zhang Xian watched quietly, but the blood in his body grew hotter and hotter.

With a whistle, Mo Ying, who couldn't move Zhang Fei, happily neighed and galloped towards the command platform.

Zhang Xian got up from his seat and stretched his limbs.

All the soldiers' eyes were drawn to him.

He loosened his cloak, gathered his sleeves, and swept his gaze across the crowd.

"Lu Bu!"

"exist!"

"Zhao Yun!"

"exist!"

"Zhang Liao, Zhao Gou, Gao Shun, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei!"

"exist!"

He called out names one by one, and then with a single hand, Ah Shan timely lifted the Overlord Halberd into his hand.

He jumped off the command platform and landed steadily on Mo Ying's horse.

"Take up your weapons! I'm going to test your martial skills!"

"Go together!"

"promise!"

Lu Bu, Zhang Liao, and the others showed no surprise, while Guan Yu and Zhang Fei remained stunned for a long time.

How many shots is he going to take? Or is it a group attack?!

(End of this chapter)