Chapter 25: The Hawk and the Goose

In May of 884 AD, on the official road fifty li southwest of Bianzhou (modern-day Kaifeng)The next morning, Li Kuang called several of his generals together.

Li Ke used to look at Cheng Huixin: "Bingyi, although I went to the antique shop to negotiate, I was afraid that Abiao would make a deal in broad daylight and sneak attack secretly! Today, you still have to guard the city firmly, don't neglect it in the slightest!"

Cheng Huixun nodded: "Your servant obeys!"

Li Kuang moved his gaze to Zhou Dewi and Li Cunxin, Li Cunzhang, and several others: "Zhenyuan, Silaro, Palaro, you few follow me to negotiate."

Zhou Dewei and Li Cunxin and Li Cunzhang together bowed: "Yes, sir!"

Li Kuang used to Li Cunzhang: "You go to the Ya'er army first, and select one hundred cavalry. Wait at the North Gate."

Li Cunzhang cupped his hands and bowed to express his farewell before leaving.

Li Ke used lastly to Li Siyuan said: “Miao Ji Lie, must help good assist the righteousness guarding the city. If there is a large army of Khitan people coming to attack the city, do not open the gate to meet battle.”

Li Sizhen clasped his fists and replied, "My son obeys."

Li Ke used stood up and thought for a moment, then said to Cheng Huixin: "Bingyi, come with me to the city wall and take another look at the situation."

A group of people left the yamen and headed for the city wall of Yunzhou.

At this time, the old shop was bustling with activity as Abaoji was busy making arrangements. He ordered Yelü Deguang to lead 3,000 soldiers to encircle the small village, and Zhenruyue to lead 1,000 cavalry archers to wait at Yuhe River. Once Li Keku arrived, they would immediately rush to the old shop, putting psychological pressure on Li Keku.

Yelü Bei expressed some reservations about his father Khan's arrangements, saying, "Father Khan, the purpose of negotiations between the two sides is sincerity. If there is no sincerity, I fear the talks will be ineffective."

A Bao confidently said, "You're talking about sincerity Then let me test you. What's the most convincing thing"

Yelü Bei was pressed for an answer, and had to bow his head: “Please, Khan, enlighten me.”

Abu patted his knees and burst out laughing: "It's bows and arrows! And horses! As long as you have bows and arrows, and horses, whatever you say, everyone will obey! Negotiations Haha!"

Yelü Deguang also smiled: "Your Majesty is wise! Your son only likes to speak with bows and horses!"

"A-Bao looked at his second son and sighed: "You only have a bow and arrows, and a horse! By the way, how is your lion horse Is it badly injured"

Yelü Deguang gritted his teeth immediately: "Damn Sha Tuo people, they actually used bed crossbows! My Chase the Wind Lion Horse was scratched an inch of flesh by the sharp sword at the end of the bed crossbow! It won't be able to fight in the short term."

At this time, Yelü La Ge walked in, clutching his chest and said to A Bao Ji, "Khan, they have arrived."

Abe scanned the horizon. All that could be seen were dark, sun-blocking clouds.

Ah Bao, dressed in a long robe, asked: "How many people"

"There are only over a hundred people," La Ge smiled.

Yelü Daguang immediately said, "Even if these one hundred people were all warriors, they..."

Abo interrupted him: "Kill them Not to mention that my reputation would be ruined forever, but what about the money we were supposed to get" He beckoned to Zhao and said as he walked, "My second son is truly a butcher."

Li Ge just shrugged. "Most men on the prairie are like that."

They hadn't gone far when they saw Li Kuang with a line of men. Abo immediately beamed and strode toward Li Kuang: "King Shatuo!"

Li Ke dismounted and strode forward, bumping shoulders with Aboluo: "Khan!"

"I see Li Ke using his hundred cavalry," Abo laughed, "I say King Shatuo, with just a few horses, can you really escape my ironclad net"

Li Ke used a very calm tone: "The upper and lower reaches of the Yi River, as well as its surroundings, are all within Yunzhou's territory. If you want to set up a skynet and earthnet, it should be in my Hedong!"

Abao's heart skipped a beat: This man said he had set up a heaven and earth net After yesterday's experience with the horse pit trap, he knew that this man in front of him was not only cruel but also cunning. The fact that he only brought a hundred men showed that he was absolutely confident, and it would be difficult for Abao to kill him immediately.

Thinking of this, Bao Ji impatiently said: “You and I are both valiant men, so let’s not waste words! Now, immediately! Settle the score like men, whoever loses, listens to the winner!”

Abao stared at Li Ke with a provoking look in his eyes.

Zhou Dewei felt a sense of relief. Since the loser could still "be obedient," it wasn't a fight to the death. It seemed that the king was at least safe from losing his life. Zhou Dewei always believed that as long as a person was alive, there was always a chance.

Li Ke said in a simple sentence: "Draw it out."

Li Ke used wasn't scared off by himself, which was exactly what Abobo expected. It's just that he didn't even manage to intimidate Li Ke use, leaving Abobo feeling a bit unhappy. Suddenly, he remembered the question he had just asked and immediately decided to use it against Li Ke use:

"King Shatuo, first tell me, what is the most persuasive thing"

Zhou Dewei almost smiled: it seemed that this Khan was also a tough nut to crack. For a moment, swords were drawn and bows were notched, but seeing the threat ineffective, he immediately turned into an exam at school!

Li Ke used his words: "Loyalty."

Abao froze. Loyalty How could this guy say something like that I thought he'd say something about famous horses or swift swords, or strong bows and sharp arrows! This guy's thinking is on a completely different track from mine. But think about it carefully, what he said isn't wrong either. Among men, loyalty is truly the most precious thing, and of course, the most persuasive. In fact, with loyalty, do you even need to persuade As the Han people often say "to be friends, one would insert their ribs into a blade for them," isn't that loyalty

Li Ke uses this fellow, having mixed with the Han people for too long, is no longer like the men on our grasslands.

The eldest son following him, it seems like they are on the same path. In that case, what will happen to the Khitan people and the nomadic Han if the eldest son inherits the throne

Abao's mind whirled with thoughts, but his sharp eyes had already caught sight of a majestic eagle circling in the sky. A gleam appeared in his eyes, but his face remained stoic. "Haha, well said! But even the noblest sense of honor can't match the sharpness of my arrows! Now, let us use our bows to persuade them!"

The eagle is still circling. Poor thing, it has no idea what these two-legged creatures are doing on the ground; it only knows that this isn't food it needs. It dies without ever knowing that it has become a pawn in the hands of these two-legged animals.

Abaoji saw the golden eagle soaring above his head, an opportunity he couldn't miss! He immediately bent his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming carefully. He focused all his attention, holding his breath, and shot the eagle down with a single arrow! The Khitan soldiers roared in cheers, their voices echoing across the plains. Suddenly, a dappled red horse galloped past. It was Princess Zhenyuelü. She picked up the fallen golden eagle and rode her horse over to give it to Abaoji.

"Father, what excellent archery!"

Before Ah Bao could even ask Zhen Ru Yue, a man beside them burst out cheering loudly:

"Khan is such a skilled archer! That's how archery should be done!"

Abaoji glanced over and saw a stern-faced general who had come with Li Ke Use. He was puzzled, wondering why the General of Hedong would praise his archery skills. Shooting down an eagle with one arrow was certainly good archery; but the praise from the General of Hedong made him feel uneasy, as if something was amiss, though he couldn't quite figure it out.

Zhou Dewei was overjoyed. He didn't expect that Aboji's "manly method" would actually be better archery! Wasn't this obviously trying to help the king win Didn't he investigate the Shatuo King before him This Shatuo King, at age eight, shot coins with his arrows; at ten, he shot willow leaves; at fifteen, he became a cavalry commander. When he was displaced and fled to Tatars, in order to intimidate the treacherous Tatar nobles, he even performed the feat of shooting two birds with one arrow, leaving those proud Tatar nobles speechless and almost treating Li Ke use as a god!

He is not a god of thunder, but a god of the arrow!

Otherwise, how could it be a double win

According to Tartar aristocratic folklore, the double-eagle shot has always been a legend, a yearning, and no one ever thought they would witness it with their own eyes today!

And the person who created this myth was just a fifteen-year-old youth!

The Tatar nobles forever remembered the name "Li Ke-yong". They immediately ordered a grand archery competition called "One Arrow, Two Targets Naadam" to commemorate this miracle. That evening, Li Ke-yong attended a lavish banquet held in his honor, watching passionate dance performances. As expected, he got drunk and, predictably, returned with a beautiful woman.

She was his first wife, a Han Chinese woman named Liu Yinping.

The Tatars were a culture that revered heroes. From then on, no one dared to plot against Li Keyong. On the contrary, when Li Keyong borrowed imperial edicts to prepare for a southern campaign against Huang Chao, the Tatar nobles even provided him with tens of thousands of Tatar cavalrymen. These horsemen became one of the foundational forces for Li Keyong's resurgence.

Beyond archery, Li Ke ranked second, the first place remained eternally vacant!

Zhou Dewei also understood that, compared to archery, this was indeed a good way for men to decide the victor. It wouldn't result in injury and would showcase a man's courage and bravery. However, he was brimming with confidence; he knew the King would win this match! What he had to do was prevent Abaoji from backing out. So, when praising Abaoji, his emphasis was on the last three words: archery skills.

Abo naturally didn't know about Zhou Dewei's secret thoughts. After successfully shooting down the eagle, he was in high spirits. He looked at Li Kuang and said with a smile: "Oh, I didn't notice. King Shatuo doesn't have good eyesight. Perhaps we shouldn't compare archery skills after all"

Li Ke used did not speak, although his left eye was not good, he had sharp hearing. At this moment, he heard the call of geese coming from afar. He immediately looked up and saw the geese flying south in a "person" shape. Thinking that it would be difficult to shoot two geese with one arrow, he said: "Khan, look at the third goose on the left! Its eyes!"

Abobo was astonished: to shoot down a wild goose was already considered a draw, but to hit its eye Impossible!

At this time, Li Ke used took the falcon-shooting bow given by Li Cunzhang. As he drew the bow, he had already aimed. With a whoosh, an arrow broke through the air. Everyone saw it streak across the sky like a meteor. The goose was now falling awkwardly.

Li Ge, in a flash, galloped away. He picked up the dead goose and discovered that it was indeed shot in the eye! He shuddered inwardly: sure enough, worthy of being the king of Shatuo! By grabbing the dead goose first, he wanted to make an issue out of the arrow wound. If not for the arrow through the eye, Li Ge would have had room to distinguish the situation. Now what should he do Before he could think of a solution, Zhou Dewei and Li Cunxin also arrived on horseback in a hurry. Li Cunxin even reached out to take the dead goose.

Li Ci smiled faintly, handing the dead goose to Li Cunxin and watching as he ran back shouting:

"The King's Arrow Technique is divine! He truly hit the goose in the eye!"

Li Ke's troops of Ayi were initially intimidated by the sight of the Khitan Khan shooting down a hawk with one arrow. As thousands of Khitan warriors cheered, Li Ke's men couldn't help but feel anxious. While they knew their king was an expert archer, the Khitans currently held the lead. If he started feeling pressure, his performance might suffer. Hearing the king boast about shooting out a goose's eye only increased their unease. Some thought he was putting himself under unnecessary pressure; hitting the goose would have been a tie, why make things harder When they heard the king actually hit the goose's eye, a collective gasp of amazement turned into thunderous cheers. Although there were only a hundred of them, their voices, hoarse from shouting, rivaled those of the Khitan warriors.

Abao was stunned. There were actually such archery skills in the world Although it was a bit embarrassing, driven by curiosity and self-interest, he couldn't help but take the dead goose from Li Cunxin's hand. He stared at the arrow that pierced through the goose's eye, shaking his head in disbelief.

At this time, Li Ge also rode his horse slowly back. He immediately bowed to Li Ke and said: "King Shatuo, excellent archery!"

Li Kuai casually bowed to Ah Baoji and said, "I have only one thing to say: Where do the Khitans come from, and where do they go"

In just nine words, the pride of a victor is condensed.

Nine short words left Abao speechless.

"Li Gong!" Li Guang chuckled. "The things you and the Khan shoot are different, how can we compare the results Hmmm"

Li Ke was startled and took a good look at La Ge. Seeing his small eyes, he couldn't help but laugh: "I have one small eye, and people call me 'Cyclops.' You have two small eyes, what should you be called A 'Earth Dragon'"

Although Li Ge had small eyes, he hated being ridiculed about them. Hearing Li Ke use his small eyes to tease him, Li Ge immediately felt anger rising. But he was cunning and didn't show any anger. Instead, he said to Aboji: "Khan, now you can officially compete in archery!"

Abao was surprised: even though he lost, he could still compete again Li Ke used was just busy fighting with Zhou Gong. He completely ignored Cao Yu'e's calls. Seeing this, Cao Yu'e burst into tears. At this time, a shout from Zhou Dewei came from outside the door: "Ma...