Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 63

“The second event: horsemanship!”

“Zhang Qiang and Zhuifeng of the Zhenbei Army’s Tiger Cavalry versus Hachi and Wutuo of Tujue!”

“Quick, quick! Deputy General Zhang is up! Deputy General Zhang is up!”

Xia Heng and Chuqing stealthily shifted to a position with a clearer view.

Deputy General Zhang wore riding clothes and was exchanging salutes with Hachi of Tujue.

Mo Bai and Mo Qing were equally excited.

After the greeting, Zhang Qiang patted the old companion who had followed him for so long.

“Zhuifeng, I’m counting on you today!”

Both men stood beside their horses.

Xia Heng wondered why they were not mounting. Was this not a horsemanship contest?

Then the referee gave the command.

“Hyah!”

“Hyah!”

Both men shouted at once and swung themselves into the saddle.

Only then did Xia Heng realize that mounting was part of the test.

The riders immediately began accelerating.

Wutuo, Hachi’s horse, was clearly larger than Deputy General Zhang’s Zhuifeng.

Xia Heng could see that both the Tujue rider and his horse were broader than their Huaxia counterparts.

That must be what people called an innate physical advantage.

Yet Zhang Qiang did not fall behind in the slightest as he urged Zhuifeng onward.

After they rounded the bend, a group of men carried several frames into the field.

Oh! There was an obstacle course too!

This was Xia Heng’s first time watching a horsemanship contest, and her eyes widened.

After one circuit, Zhang Qiang led Hachi by a full horse length.

They were approaching the obstacles!

Zhang Qiang lifted the reins, and horse and rider leaped gracefully into the air.

Was this not the living version of the Flying Horse of Gansu she had seen in museums?

At last, she was witnessing it for herself!

Zhang Qiang bent his entire upper body low, almost flattening himself against the horse. He was both steady and fast.

Hachi appeared slightly clumsier by comparison. But thanks to his horse’s size, Wutuo cleared the obstacles almost as high as Zhuifeng.

Zhang Qiang rode with uninhibited freedom, man and horse seeming to merge into one. An excited smile appeared on his face.

The riders chased and overtook each other across the field, setting the audience’s blood racing.

Little Fatty of Grand Secretary Liang’s family rushed to the front of the viewing stand. He stared at Zhang Qiang without blinking, breathing heavily with excitement.

Was this the strength of the Zhenbei Army’s Tiger Cavalry?

He turned to look toward Cang Chuli’s pavilion.

Did the general truly believe he could join the Tiger Cavalry?

From his own pavilion, Grand Secretary Liang watched his son’s eyes grow brighter and smiled as he stroked his beard.

Who could resist a young deputy general galloping across the field?

He had known that after today, his boy would change his mind.

The obstacle portion ended with Zhang Qiang still in the lead.

After another circuit, the staff removed every obstacle.

On the final lap, the two riders came charging toward the stands.

The audience saw Zhang Qiang release the reins and lean backward.

“Ah!”

Cries of surprise rose from the stands.

He was lying flat on the horse’s back!

Hachi refused to be outdone. He released his reins, turned completely around in the saddle, and rode backward while waving both hands toward the audience.

Cheers erupted.

Then Zhang Qiang twisted sideways and abruptly disappeared from the horse’s back!

The sight gave everyone a terrible fright. Xiao Yaqing covered her mouth in shock.

Xia Heng clenched her fists and searched the field with wide eyes.

Only after the horse had run farther did the audience realize Zhang Qiang was hanging upside down on its far side, both arms spread as though the position caused him no discomfort whatsoever.

“Excellent! Deputy General Zhang is mighty!”

Little Fatty of the Liang Family finally shouted his praise.

This was the unit he would join in the future!

This was the man who would become his master!

Cang Chuli glanced at him, a trace of amusement appearing on his face.

“Deputy General Zhang looks rather handsome today,” Xia Heng murmured.

Who would have expected it? At the mansion, Deputy General Zhang appeared wooden and went through the day without saying much.

Yet on horseback, he was positively wild.

Exercise truly was the finest cosmetic treatment for a man!

“Handsome?” Chuqing repeated, only half understanding.

“It means dashing, elegant, and good-looking!”

Chuqing nodded in comprehension.

“Zhang Qiang commands the Tiger Cavalry!” Mo Bai said proudly. “When it comes to horsemanship, no one but the general can surpass him!”

“That’s Deputy General Zhang. What are you so proud of?” Mo Qing asked, needling him when he could no longer stand the smugness.

“Why shouldn’t I be proud? He’s one of ours—from the Zhenbei Army!

“There are three events altogether, and the Zhenbei Army supplied contestants for two of them.

“The Imperial Guard begged and pleaded to claim the remaining event!

“If you ask me, we should have taken the archery too!”

Cang Chuli ignored their bickering.

They had been stifled at the Northern Frontier for a long time. They could talk as much as they wished now. Before long, they would be returning.

Seeing the audience’s attention stolen from him, Hachi immediately grew dissatisfied.

With Wutuo still galloping at full speed, he vaulted from the saddle.

Gripping the saddle and reins, he sprinted two steps beside the horse, leaped back onto its back, then dismounted from the other side and repeated the maneuver.

Even Xia Heng found it incredibly intense.

On the final half lap, Deputy General Zhang flattened himself against Zhuifeng.

No one knew how he managed it, but he passed beneath the belly of the galloping horse and climbed back into the saddle!

The two men performed one difficult maneuver after another, dazzling the audience. Applause and cheers never ceased.

When they crossed the finish line, Zhang Qiang still held a lead of half a horse length.

The riders dismounted to rest.

Zhang Qiang stroked Zhuifeng’s mane.

“Well done, Zhuifeng! When we return, I’ll have Uncle Zhao add extra beans to your feed!”

The judges quickly calculated their scores.

“The second event, horsemanship, goes to Zhang Qiang of the Zhenbei Army!”

Applause rolled across the field like a tide.

Even officials, ladies, and young women normally too reserved to show excitement rose to their feet.

This was Huaxia’s first victory!

He had brought honor to the entire realm!

“Well done, Zhang Qiang!”

Mo Qing and Mo Bai rushed to the front to cheer for him. Cang Chuli also rose and walked to the edge of the field.

Zhang Qiang stood in the arena holding his horse’s reins. Once more, he wore the awkward smile Xia Heng knew so well.

She and Chuqing both laughed.

Now he looked like the Deputy General Zhang they saw at the mansion.

* * *

“Elder Brother, how do you think that girl Ah Heng is doing at the General’s Mansion?”

Xia Yun watched Cang Chuli’s pavilion from afar while applauding and speaking to his elder brother.

“If Cang Chuli was willing to bring her here today, she must have made some progress. We’ll find a chance to ask her in a few days and see how the matter is going,” Xia Zhiguang replied.

He hoped his niece would not disappoint him.

If she remained as stubborn and ungrateful as Lang’er claimed, she could not blame him for putting family ties aside.

Xia Zhiguang’s gaze swept across his younger brother, Xia Yun, then returned to the field. His face remained perfectly calm.

Once the horsemanship contest ended, the training-ground staff began preparing the arena.

First, they dismantled the rope barriers marking the racetrack. Then they raked smooth the ground churned by the horses’ hooves.

Finally, they set up the targets for the next event: archery.

In the stands, the officials took the opportunity to rest. Those on friendly terms visited one another’s pavilions to chat.