The Idle Man of Zhenguan Intercepts Wu Zetian at the Start

When Lao Cheng fired the arrow, not only were Du He and the others startled by the bow's immense power, but even the seasoned generals in the command tent widened their eyes.

This bow is only half the size of an infantry longbow, and it seems to require less effort to draw than the horn bow used by cavalry. Although it was only a dozen meters away from the wall, it pierced through a cast iron shield. If it were ordinary iron armor, it would not be difficult to penetrate it even from thirty or forty meters away!

The men in the vegetable melon team initially thought that Changsun Dan was just being lazy and had only mentioned having a small bow at home as a joke. They never expected that he actually had one, and that its power far exceeded all the bows and arrows currently in the Tang army.

Li Ruhui's dark face broke into a wide smile:

"Old Pang, did you see that? I said yesterday that this kid was a bit strange, and this bow of his was something he made himself using materials he got from the Duke yesterday!"

Pang Lütou kept his lips tightly closed, thinking to himself: When it comes to judging people, none of us are as good as Lieyang!

Changsun Dan kept his eyes closed, only feeling a cold wind brush past his ear. After all, he had died once before. Although his heart was pounding, his expression remained unchanged, and he dared not move an inch. Cheng Yaojin was taken aback:

"You've got some guts, kid!"

He then burst into laughter, strode forward, and slapped him hard on the shoulder with both hands:

"You've done a great service this time, but you can't use this bow anymore, and you're not allowed to make your own. If you can't draw the bow, then don't. Just ride horses in my camp and practice your combat skills."

Changsun Dan was finally relieved. The events had unfolded exactly as Chun Chan had predicted. It seemed he could now set his own terms. Therefore, he made a difficult decision:

"The boy loves archery, so why won't you let me practice it? As for combat skills, with my current physical condition, I won't make any progress even if I continue training. Horseback archery is much more suitable for me!"

Cheng Yaojin slammed his hand on the table, his brows furrowed and his eyes wide with anger as he roared:

"You brat, as a county magistrate of the Great Tang, you've been privately manufacturing weapons. Do you intend to rebel? I've said they can't be used, and that means they can't be used. Furthermore, you must write down the bow-making techniques, which our guild will then submit to His Majesty for mass production for military use!"

Changsun Dan knew that Emperor Taizong (Li Er) had always wanted to personally lead an expedition against Goguryeo. If the archers and cavalry used these recurve bows, increasing their strength by twenty jin (approximately 30 kg), they could achieve a kill range of at least thirty to forty meters beyond that of the Goguryeo forces. If they launched a surprise attack, what Emperor Yang of Sui had failed to accomplish in his three campaigns against Goguryeo could very well be achieved by Emperor Taizong in one go. This would be an immense honor in history and among the people—who could resist such temptation! With this thought in mind, Changsun Dan said with a grin:

"I owe my bow-making to the Duke's strong support. The Duke is determined to improve the Tang army's combat power and encourage all soldiers to upgrade their weapons. How could I have made it on my own? However, as a reward, may I arrange the military training myself in the future? I assure His Majesty that he will be satisfied when I leave the camp."

As soon as Changsun Dan uttered his words, all the soldiers in the camp fell silent. Was he negotiating with Duke Lu? Who didn't know that this troublemaker was a ruthless man who had even dared to imprison the Emperor!

But Cheng Yaojin heard it differently. "That's right! I provided the materials for this bow. It's not that I'm trying to steal his credit, but later when I'm drinking and bragging with those old guys, I can say this bow was made in my camp—who would dare disrespect me!" His eyes darted around, and he laughed heartily.

"Suit yourself, as long as you train in my camp every day, train however you want. If that doesn't work, at least get a tan before you go back. With your sickly appearance, don't even mention me, Old Cheng, if Li Jing came, you'd still be crippled!"

The copper bowl in Cheng Chuliang's hand clattered to the ground, and he was extremely resentful.

"No, Grandpa, back then I was so sick I could barely walk. You didn't say that. You said as long as I didn't die from training, I should train like crazy until I became the bravest warrior in the army..."

Old Cheng's vision blurred. This idiot! He had just pleaded for Changsun Dan, and all the goodwill he had painstakingly earned had been ruined by this fool. He glared at him and kicked him in the leg.

"Changsun Liulang is well-versed in military strategy and possesses the talent of a strategist. His Majesty doesn't have high requirements for him; he just needs to be able to ride a horse and be physically strong. You, you little rascal, are the one who will be charging into battle. How can you compare to him?"

Du He almost threw up his lunch. When did Cheng Laohei learn to teach according to aptitude? He wouldn't have to charge into battle in the future!

Li Dejian stared wide-eyed, looking utterly honest—no wonder his mother was willing to entrust the senior sister she had carefully trained to Changsun Dan. Just based on the skills he had displayed these past few days—taming horses, making bows—not to mention this vegetable-growing team, who in the entire Zhenbei Camp could compare?!

While he was still in a daze, Cheng Yaojin slapped him on the head:

"You little brat, you just threatened me, saying that even if your mother came, let alone Hong Fu Nu's maids... never mind, I can't beat her, but I can beat you!" After saying that, he slapped him on the head a few more times.

Li Dejian shrank his neck, thinking to himself, "Where did I say something wrong? My mother always said that when Sister Dong gets ruthless, she's fearless! She's a born suicide squad."

Unconsciously, Wei Shuyu shifted his buttocks back a few times while holding the bronze bowl. Of the three who pleaded for Liu Lang, he was the only one who hadn't been beaten yet. It would have been better if he hadn't moved; as soon as he did, Cheng Yaojin saw it and slapped him on the head.

"You slack off during training, and you run faster than a dog while carrying wine and meat. You should learn from your grandfather; at least he has a straight spine."

Changsun Dan wanted to laugh but dared not. It seemed that Lao Cheng was in a good mood today. Those who could take a few hits from him were the ones he liked. He had already achieved his goal. If no one interfered, he would start with running. Even developing a military training program for college students would be much better than this beating.

Cheng Yaojin strolled around, even giving Qin Huaidao a few slaps. He was in a truly good mood today. These lads would surely become pillars of the Tang Dynasty in the future, and each had their merits. Thinking of the countless bloody battles he fought alongside His Majesty, it was all worth it! His eyes glanced at the braised beef on the table, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"You tricked me out of a cow's leg yesterday, and this is all you brought me?"

Changsun Dan smiled and casually replied, "Duke, give it a try. If you like it, I'll also give you the secret recipe."

Cheng Yaojin had already cut and eaten several slices of beef, and had been thinking about how to get him to reveal his method of cooking the meat. He was overjoyed that Cheng Yaojin had brought it up himself, and laughed heartily.

"Close the gates, let's drink and eat meat! The vegetable and melon team did a great job today, so they get a half-day off!"

Wei Shuyu, whose head was still ringing from being hit a few times, couldn't wait any longer when he heard that there was meat to eat and he could rest. He leaned forward, ready to grab a few big pieces as soon as Cheng Laohei gave the order.

This time, however, Old Cheng was much more refined. He insisted on distributing the meat fairly, treating all his soldiers equally.

The aroma of wine and meat filled the air, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. Even the usually stern-faced Pang Lutou couldn't help but say something to Li Ruhui:

"It's a pity this kid wants to start his own business; otherwise, being a scout would be perfect!"