Chapter 26: Father's Sweat

rode freely among the Sparrow Army. He fixed his gaze on the fearless youth leading the enemy troops with unwavering intensity.It's you! Use your head as the seal for my official position in Pu State...A Baoji heard Li Ge say that he still had to continue the archery competition. He timidly raised his eyes to look at him, because this feeling of "trepidation" rarely appeared in himself. So, a comical expression of grievance appeared on his face. At this moment, where was the mighty Khan of the Khitan who shook the world

Li Ke said coldly: "Such a breach of faith, Khan, are you not afraid that the heroes of the world will laugh at you"

Li Cunzhang was also furious and rushed forward, shouting: "You don't dare to admit defeat in a gamble, are you still men You are nothing but scoundrels!"

Zhou Dewi was very kind. He brought the dead hawk to Abomiji and compared it with this pitiful bird: "Khan, if this is not considered a victory for our master, Zhou would rather never shoot an arrow again!"

Looking at the dead hawk and goose in front of him, Abau was completely embarrassed, beads of sweat starting to appear on his cheeks. He looked at Li Ge, his expression saying only one thing: "Brother, you killed me!"

Li Ge actually laughed and said, "Haha, please calm down, two generals. What I said should not be ambiguous, especially after General Zhou presented the dead hawk, there's nothing more to say: a wild goose and an old hawk, flying at different heights, with different speeds, different habits, and temperaments! Even when shooting arrows, the targets they see are big and small!" He picked up the dead goose and dead hawk and presented them to everyone: "Since there are so many differences, this archery competition is unfair! Besides, hitting a hawk is not comparable to hitting a wild goose Who doesn't know that hawks fly faster than geese If we don't compare fairly, I can only declare that Khan wins!"

The

Liao soldiers were a chaotic mess, and the Khitan generals began to shout in response:

"Unfair!"

"Li Ge said it right, the Khan has already won!"

"We should play again!"

Yelü Deguang took a step forward and said, "King Shatuo, since you are confident in your archery skills and not afraid of another competition! Could it be that you were just lucky before Haha!"

Although Abaoji is very ashamed, he has to admit defeat. This is not a matter of losing face for himself, but a major issue that affects the outcome of this military campaign! If he were to return to Nandou, how would the Yaolian tribe view him If his prestige is tarnished, will the various Khitan nobles continue to obey and submit If it leads to infighting or even civil war, regardless of the outcome, wouldn't his ten years of hard work be in vain!

Although Shatuo Wang's archery skills are remarkable, I still have a chance. It's better than admitting defeat now! Alright, as Li Ge said! Let's have another round!

Skin It's nothing compared to profit!

After he'd thought it through, Abo's expression returned to that of the all-powerful Khitan Khan. However, he remained silent, simply listening quietly as Zhegu spoke at length.

Too much talking leads to mistakes. That's A Bao's life experience.

As a Khan, all he had to do was observe the situation quietly and not intervene until the crucial moment.

Li Ke used a defiant tone: "I'm not afraid to race again; let them lose convincingly. It wouldn't hurt." He added, "But I should raise the stakes. If I win again, then Abo-ji should pay up – perhaps with a thousand warhorses."

However, he was in no rush to take a stance. Now it was Zhou Zhenyuan's time to perform.

If there's a chance for subordinates to make achievements, why not seize it Li Ke was delighted at the prospect. Even if his own archery skills were exceptional, anything could happen. Being able to stop comparing himself would be the best solution.

Both bigwigs tacitly retired to the second line, letting their subordinates engage in verbal sparring.

Zhou Dewei naturally understood that subduing an enemy without fighting was the highest level of military strategy. Now, Your Majesty had already won in archery skills, but that small-eyed Khitans had belittled him to nothing. No, I must give him a good scolding and denounce his identity, stripping him of his representative qualifications.

Zhou Dewei sneered: "I wonder who you are, and who gives you the right to speak on behalf of the Khitan Khan"

Abaoji spoke, "Yelü La-ge is the fourth brother of our Khan. He's now the Tiyin of Khitan, which you call prime minister."

Zhou Dewei, upon hearing this, took another look at the young Khitan man who was in his thirties. He saw that he had three braids hanging from his chin and a mustache shaped like an eight. His two sword-shaped eyebrows were high, but beneath them were two eyes that were always squinting together. He held back a smile and said:

"So it was Yelü La Geti."

Yelü La Ge Yang Mei puffed out his cheeks, rolling his eyes toward the sky. Since his eyes were small, even under strong sunlight, not much could penetrate his eye sockets. So he often rolled his eyes up to the heavens. Over time, it became a habit of his.

Zhou Dewei's next words made him jump up in anger: "Repeatedly changing, upside down right and wrong, is this also considered the cunning of the Khitan"

Li Ge glared fiercely at Zhou Dewi: "Nonsense! This archery was just a training exercise! The targets were different, it couldn't be considered a competition!"

Li Cunzhang couldn't bear it any longer: "Before the competition, did you say it was just training If my father had lost earlier, would you still say it was just training"

"Yelü Deguang also rushed up: 'It's clearly training, are you afraid of losing or what!'"

Li Cunzhang was not at all intimidated: "Clearly, you are afraid to admit defeat and lose the bet. You're not even a real man!"

Yelü Deguang was furious and shouted, "Do you dare to write a death warrant I'll duel you to the death!"

Li Cunzhang glared at him: "If you are not afraid of dying under Li's steel whip!"

Li Cunzhang would also use a sword, but in this kind of life-or-death situation, of course, he should choose his own weapon.

Yelü Deguang sneered: “I don’t care if you use a knife or a whip, as long as you dare to make a death warrant, you’ll know immediately who the man is!”

Both of them were fearless and valiant generals. They would fight at the drop of a hat, for the reason was simple: as long as they killed each other, regardless of martial arts or arguments, they would win everything.

Li Ke used knew Li Cunzhang was skilled with his steel whip, so he ignored him. He would fight if he wanted to, it wasn't like he hadn't fought before.

Zhou Dewei was secretly annoyed, the negotiation had turned into a duel, he hadn't expected this at all. But he and the Eight Grand Protectors were colleagues, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to intervene. It was just that with two tigers fighting, even if the Eight Grand Protectors won, it would only be icing on the cake. If they lost, things would take a sharp turn for the worse. At this moment, there were unforeseen complications, and the Great Protector was too impulsive.

Even Abang doesn't worry. His second son, if you let him study, he's a waste of space. But if it comes to wielding a knife, the other party always ends up lying down.

When Li Ge saw the situation escalate into a life-or-death struggle, he secretly rejoiced in his heart. This way, at least Kehan didn't have to immediately admit defeat to Li Kuang, and the Khitan wouldn't have to retreat their troops. Besides, Deguang was exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and it was very likely that he could give that black man a blow with his sword. Today's negotiation (by) judgment (martial), it would truly be a draw! If it were a best-of-three series, then at least from the Khitan side, they had already won back a game. The current situation was to create chaos, the more chaos, the better.

A crisp female voice rang out: “Second Brother! You still remember the oath of life and death you made! Did Father have you spar”

Upon looking, everyone saw that it was indeed Princess Zhēnyuè. She was flushed with anger. She felt her second brother was so impulsive, he had overstepped their father's authority and humiliated them in front of outsiders. It was truly embarrassing.

Yelü Deguang said dismissively, "Sister, this has nothing to do with you!"

Li Ge's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said: "No, no, this matter would be too much trouble for the princess."

Everyone was taken aback. Two grown men competing, how could it possibly involve the princess

Li Ge smiled and said to Abo, "Khan, when two tigers fight, one is bound to be injured. Since we are negotiating, it's best not to draw blood. Why don't we still compete in archery"

Abaoji was also dizzy from being tricked by Aguda. He didn't bother to ask any more questions. This younger brother, though he had countless schemes, would definitely benefit the Khitan. Immediately, he nodded casually: "Well, you can set the rules for this negotiation."

Zhou Dewei was about to step forward to explain, but Li Kuang stopped him. Li Kuang only heard the word "negotiation" and suddenly remembered that he was here to negotiate today! If he allowed Li Cunzhang and Yelü Deguang to compete, regardless of the outcome, the negotiation would turn into a funeral. Now that Zhalu suggested returning to the rules of archery competition, he could just shoot one more arrow, and it would be a sure win. Well, let's see what Zhalu has to say.

Li Gejian Shato didn't raise any objections, and secretly smiled in his heart: Little princess, since you want to meddle in this, then there's no choice but to let you take the stage.

Li Ge said to Zhen Ru Yue, “As I just said, shooting a hawk and shooting a wild goose are not the same level! The Shahto King must also know the difference, so he increased the difficulty himself, saying that he wanted to shoot out the eyes of a wild goose. Although his archery skills are good and he completed the task, the unfairness of it all hasn't changed! Now, please, Princess, stand as a target, and let the Khan and Shahto King shoot at the jewelry on your ear!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the Shatuo camp immediately buzzed with activity. Zhou Dewei, Li Cunzhang, and Li Cunxin all turned their attention to Zhen Ru Yue's delicate face, finding her suggestion utterly inconceivable. Yet, Li Kuang observed that the Khitan side showed no dissent, even Yelü Dugu remained composed. Zhen Ru Yue had already begun walking towards the target, and Aboji, brimming with confidence, picked up his bow and arrow, ready to shoot.

This is a game!

Li Ke suddenly realized. They must often play this game together, father and daughter! Even the Khitan nobles knew this game!

His thoughts were still swirling when Ah Bao's machine shot forward like a bolt of lightning. As expected, the pendant below Zhun Yue's left ear was knocked off, but Zhun Yue's delicate cheek remained unmarked. Her maidservant, Wu Yun Ga, ran over and soon found the pendant on the grass, bringing it back for everyone to see.

Li Ge burst into laughter: "Your archery skills are divine, Khan!"

The Khitan soldiers shouted together: "Divine arrow!" "Truly a divine arrow!" "Too amazing!"

Li Ge continued, "The princess has remarkable willpower and is sure to achieve great things in the future!" Then, with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes, he bowed slightly to Li Ke: "King Shatuo, please."

Zhou Dewei loudly objected: "Just now it was you who shot first, how is it still you who shoots first this time The order is wrong!"

Abao spoke: "It's all the same, shoot first or shoot later. Li Kuyong, come on!"

Only then did the Shatuo generals realize they had fallen into the Khitan's trap. Now, even if the king shot an arrow and hit him, at most it would only be a draw. Lìgē wouldn't give up. Most importantly, this archery competition was facing a living girl in her prime. A slight deviation would result in either her death or her missing the target entirely. What kind of target could that be This archery contest truly puts the king at a huge disadvantage.

No wonder Li Ge always demanded archery practice!

Li Cunxin shouted, "If the arrow is shot, and the princess dodges, what then"

This argument makes sense, after all, when a living person sees an arrow flying towards them, their instinct is to dodge. So the idea of hitting a necklace becomes impossible.

Perhaps only her father, the one she absolutely trusted and who had trained her countless times, would allow her to stand so still.

"Ah Bao, laughing, asked Zhen Ru Yue: 'Zhen Ru Yue, will you dodge'

"

"Just like the moon bit her teeth, Zhenru answered firmly: 'Father, your daughter would rather die than hide! Please hurry and shoot, my legs are tired from standing!' "

It's over, he's been backed into a corner. Even with all of Zhou Dewei's cleverness, he couldn't think of a good plan right now. Li Cunzhang was so anxious that he rubbed his hands and stamped his feet, then glared at Yelu Deguang with hatred. When Yelu Deguang felt it, he immediately glared back. Just as Li Cunzhang was about to challenge the other side, a hand reached out in front of him.

This is also a hand that everyone in the audience was watching.

Li Kuang's hand.

Does Father really want to shoot

But faced with a military order, Li Cunzhang had no choice but to hand over the Eagle Shooting Bow to Li Keku.

Li Ke knew full well the consequences of this arrow. He walked to where Abaoji had just stood.

All eyes, the Shatuo people and the Khitan people, were focused on Li Keyong's hands.

The maid, Wu Yun'ga, did not look at Li Ke Use. She dared not. She covered her eyes with both hands. Compared to the Khan's arrow just now, this was truly a deadly one! An arrow that could kill! Although she knew this Shatuo king was skilled in archery, but... she dared not think further.

Abaoji watched Li Ku use his hand to pull back the bowstring. Suddenly, an unprecedented sense of terror swept over him. The deadly arrow was pointed at his beloved daughter! Could that sharp arrowhead deviate even slightly What if Li Ku, driven by vengeance, deliberately aimed for her heart He was the ruthless Shatuo King, who had just witnessed his divine archery skills.

The faint glow at the tip of the arrow, like the eyes of death!

Ah Baoji was desperate, he could barely control himself! To hell with his food and silver, I only want my daughter! I surrender, okay That's it for the negotiations!

Let me go!

However, he couldn't utter those words, though his lips moved incessantly. He remained unable to speak the plea. As a man, and especially as the Khan of the Khitans, he would never beg anyone! Not even for his daughter's life, not even in the face of imminent danger!

He strained his mouth open, trying to plead for mercy. But though his lips trembled incessantly, the words of supplication wouldn't come out.

He hated his mouth, his throat, for not being able to beg just once. Come on, say it! fear, like following a big kid on an adventure into a cave. He followed cautiously, and when Everett pushed open the door, he eagerly peered inside. 。He was very disappointed, it was empty inside, th...