My brothers are all warriors capable of taking on ten thousand men; I'll roam freely in the Thr

In the study in the east wing of the Grand Marshal's mansion, Ji Xuanyuan was sitting opposite Xun Yu, flipping through a newly made "Map of Shuntian Prefecture".

The map, outlined in vermilion ink, clearly marks the mountains, cities, granaries, and strategic passes of the five prefectures of Youbeiping, Guangyang, Yuyang, Zhuojun, and Shanggu.

"My lord." Xun Yu traced his finger across the northern border of Zhuojun.

"This place is adjacent to the Xianbei. Although there are border troops stationed here, the Murong and Queju tribes have been frequently spying on us from the south recently. General Yongzeng's forces are less than 30,000. If we are attacked from both sides, there may be risks."

Ji Xuanyuan stared at the map and pondered, "After the wedding, we can send Zong Xing with 5,000 cavalry north to assist in the defense. Zong Xing is skilled in spear-riding and highly mobile, which is perfect for grassland warfare."

Just then, hurried yet steady footsteps came from outside the door.

Dian Wei's gruff voice rang out from under the eaves: "My lord! Someone outside the manor requests an audience, claiming to be Huang Zhong of Nanyang, carrying a letter personally written by Physician Zhang of Zhuo County!"

"Huang Zhong?!"

Ji Xuanyuan suddenly stood up, and the map scroll in his hand slammed onto the table with a "thud".

Xun Yu was also taken aback. Huang Zhong was not well-known at the time, and Xun Yu had obviously never heard of him. But Ji Xuanyuan's reaction clearly showed that he knew this person.

Ji Xuanyuan strode towards the door, saying as he went, "Wenruo, have you ever heard the saying, 'In Jingnan there is a tiger, unparalleled in archery and horsemanship'? That refers to Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng! He possesses the courage of ten thousand men and the skill to shoot an arrow through a willow leaf from a hundred paces; he is a top-tier archer of his time!"

He was overwhelmed with excitement; after Jia Xu, Huang Zhong had come to join him!

What will my fortune be like these next few days?

Top strategists and unparalleled generals have come to join us one after another!

Outside the mansion gate, Huang Zhong, dressed in dusty, coarse cloth, carried a longbow wrapped in coarse cloth on his back, yet his back remained ramrod straight.

His face showed the weariness of a long journey, but his eyes shone with anxiety and anticipation.

As soon as the gates opened, a young man in dark robes with an astonishing appearance strode out. Although Huang Zhong had never met Ji Xuanyuan before, he knew who he was just by observing his demeanor and bearing.

He knelt down with a thud, holding a letter aloft with both hands: "This humble subject, Huang Zhong, pays his respects to the Grand Marshal! I thank the Grand Marshal for saving my life!"

His voice was strong and clear, though slightly hoarse.

Ji Xuanyuan stepped forward and helped him up with both hands: "Hero Huang, please rise! You're too kind to me!"

He took the letter; it was written in Zhang Zhongjing's handwriting. It briefly explained Huang Xu's illness, treatment plan, and Huang Zhong's background and martial arts skills.

The letter ended with the line: "This man possesses the talent of a national hero; I hope my lord will make good use of him."

After reading the letter, Ji Xuanyuan looked up at Huang Zhong and said gently, "You have had a long and arduous journey. As for your son, Mr. Zhongjing has already explained in his letter. Rest assured, the hospital will do its best to treat your son. You need not worry about the cost of the medicine."

Huang Zhong's eyes welled up with tears, and he bowed again: "I will never forget the kindness of the Grand Marshal! I have nothing of value but my martial skills and a strong bow, and I am willing to serve the Grand Marshal with utmost loyalty to repay your life-saving grace!"

These words, though simple, came from the bottom of my heart.

Ji Xuanyuan grasped his hand, feeling the thick calluses on his palm, and sighed inwardly.

This is Huang Zhong, the old general who killed Xiahou Yuan at Dingjun Mountain in history. He was in his prime at the time, but his life was wasted because his son was seriously ill.

"To have General Huang is like having a flying general!"

He stepped aside to lead the way: "General, please come into the residence for a detailed discussion."

We took our seats in the hall, and a maid served us tea.

Huang Zhong briefly recounted the hardships he had endured over the years in seeking medical treatment for his son. When he spoke of Huang Xu's critical condition, the tough man's voice trembled slightly.

Ji Xuanyuan listened quietly, offering words of comfort from time to time.

After Huang Zhong finished speaking, Ji Xuanyuan slowly said, "Now that Hansheng has come to serve, Xuanyuan will naturally give him an important position. However... I wonder if Hansheng is willing to take on an important task?"

Huang Zhong solemnly replied, "Grand Marshal, please give your orders!"

Ji Xuanyuan said solemnly, "Now that the Emperor has gone on a northern hunt to Shuntian, I, Xuanyuan, have been ordered to re-establish the Imperial Guard, which is called the Yuling Army, and is dedicated to protecting the capital and guarding the Emperor's carriage."

He paused, then looked at Huang Zhong: "The Imperial Guards' archery and crossbow division is still lacking an instructor. Han Sheng is a perfect candidate, a godsend. The Imperial Guards' archery and crossbow instructor holds a rank equivalent to two thousand shi (a unit of grain), and is in charge of the training, assessment, and tactical development of fifty thousand Imperial Guards' archers and crossbowmen. General... are you willing to take on this important responsibility?"

Huang Zhong was stunned.

Coach?

Two thousand stones?

He originally thought that being given the position of captain was already a great honor for someone who had just arrived.

Who would have thought that Ji Xuanyuan would directly appoint him as one of the three giants of the Imperial Guard, placing him on par with grandmasters like Tong Yuan and Li Yan!

What incredible trust!

Huang Zhong suddenly stood up, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands above his head, and said in a trembling voice, "Huang Zhong... will never fail my lord's high expectations! I will do everything in my power to train an army of divine archers!"

Ji Xuanyuan helped him up again and said with a smile, "It is good that the general has such aspirations. In addition, if the general misses his son, he can return to Zhuo County to visit him at any time. After his son recovers, Xuanyuan can arrange for him to study at the Zhuo County School. After he completes his studies, whether he pursues literature or martial arts, Xuanyuan will personally arrange his future."

This was a well-considered statement, granting Huang Zhong the freedom to visit his family at any time while also paving the way for his son's future.

Huang Zhong's eyes were filled with tears. He clasped his hands tightly together and said nothing more.

Such kindness and righteousness can only be repaid with death.

The next day, at the Imperial Guard camp.

On the drill ground, 50,000 imperial guards stood in formation.

After three months of training, these originally innocent young men have shed their naivety and gained the fierceness of soldiers.

On the high platform, Ji Xuanyuan stood in black armor, covered by the robes of a Grand Marshal, with Tong Yuan, Li Yan, and the newly arrived Huang Zhong standing beside him.

"All generals and soldiers."

Ji Xuanyuan's clear voice echoed throughout the training ground: "Today, I will introduce you to a man named Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng from Nanyang. From this day forward, General Huang will serve as the Imperial Guard's archery instructor, in charge of your archery training and combat tactics."

A slight commotion arose in the audience.

Many soldiers looked up and sized up Huang Zhong.

This man was over forty years old, with graying temples. Although he was tall and straight, compared to Tong Yuan's profound and imposing presence and Li Yan's eagle-eyed and wolf-like gaze, he seemed to lack the demeanor of a grandmaster.

Huang Zhong remained expressionless and took a step forward.

Ji Xuanyuan continued, "An archery instructor should possess unparalleled archery skills. Today, let General Huang demonstrate them so that you may all be convinced."

He looked at Huang Zhong: "Hansheng, should we make preparations?"

Huang Zhong shook his head and took the longbow off his back.

The bow had a trunk made of mulberry wood and a string made of ox sinew. The bow was dark and shiny, clearly indicating that it had been rubbed for many years.

He tossed the bow in one hand and said to the audience, "Bring two stone bows."

The guards quickly presented a standard two-stone bow.

Huang Zhong refused to accept it, and instead said, "Hang the target, one hundred paces away, and then take another helmet and place it on a wooden stake one hundred paces away."

The soldiers below the platform made arrangements as instructed.

A moment later, an archery target was erected a hundred paces away, with an iron helmet atop a wooden stake on the other side, its red tassel swaying gently in the wind.

Huang Zhong first tried the standard bow and frowned slightly: "The bow is a bit weak."

He put down the bow and picked up the cloth cover of his old bow.

The bow is visible, its body entirely dark and heavy, the bowstring a dark gold color that gleams coldly in the sunlight.

"This bow requires three stones of force," Huang Zhong said calmly.

"I have been with him for more than ten years."

He drew an eagle-feathered arrow, nocked it, and drew the bow.

The movements were slow, yet as steady as a rock.

The powerful bow, made of three stones, was slowly drawn in his hands. The bow trembled slightly and made a low "creaking" sound.

The soldiers below the stage held their breath.

At a distance of 100 paces, an ordinary archer would be considered quite skilled if he could hit the target, let alone the tassel on the helmet...

"Whoosh—!"

The arrow flew like a shooting star!

Before anyone could even see the arrow, they heard a soft "whoosh" sound, and the red tassel on the helmet on the wooden stake a hundred paces away snapped off and fluttered down!

"good!"

A gasp of surprise erupted from the audience.

Huang Zhong remained calm and took out three more arrows, shooting them out in quick succession.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The three arrows, almost touching each other, left three afterimages in the air before striking the target a hundred paces away.

Right in the bullseye!

"A master archer! A master archer!"

"General Huang is mighty!"

The cheers were deafening, like a mountain roaring and a tsunami crashing.

Huang Zhong, however, did not stop.

He mounted the warhorse brought by his personal guard, spurred it to gallop along the edge of the training ground, and at the same time drew five arrows from his quiver and nocked them.

Despite the jolting motion on horseback, he remained as steady as a rock.

"Swish, swish, swish—!"

Five arrows were fired in quick succession, like a peacock spreading its tail, hitting five targets in five different directions!

"Bang bang bang bang bang—!"

Five muffled thuds, all five targets hitting the bullseye!

The entire stadium fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even more frenzied cheers!

"General Huang! General Huang! General Huang!"

The sound was deafening, startling even birds in the distant mountains and forests.

Huang Zhong reined in his horse, slowly dismounted back on the high platform, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Ji Xuanyuan: "This humble general has made a fool of himself."

Ji Xuanyuan clapped his hands and laughed: "What a brilliant archery skill! What unparalleled horsemanship! Han Sheng's skill is rarely seen in this world!"

He turned to look at the crowd below: "Soldiers, are you convinced?"

"I'm convinced! I'm convinced! I'm convinced!"

Fifty thousand people shouted in unison, their eyes filled with nothing but reverence, no longer harboring any doubt.

Huang Zhong bowed slightly, but felt no pride whatsoever—this was just the beginning.

What he wanted to train was not a mere show-off who could only shoot at targets, but a divine archery army capable of deciding victory or defeat on the battlefield amidst a hail of arrows.

After the presentation, Ji Xuanyuan led Huang Zhong to meet Tong Yuan and Li Yan.

"Master Tong, Master Li," Ji Xuanyuan introduced the two.

"This is Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng, the newly appointed archery instructor. Hansheng, and these two are Tong Yuan, the spear and halberd instructor, and Li Yan, the cavalry combat instructor and halberd teacher."

Tong Yuan sized up Huang Zhong and nodded, saying, "You can draw a bow with a draw weight of three stones and never miss an arrow. General Huang, you are truly skilled."

Li Yan also smiled and said, "I'll leave the training of the Imperial Guards in archery and crossbows to you in the future."

Huang Zhong clasped his hands in a fist salute and said solemnly, "You two masters are renowned throughout the world. I have long admired you. I hope you will give me much guidance when we work together in the future."

Although it was their first meeting, the three of them felt a strong sense of camaraderie and mutual respect.

Ji Xuanyuan felt gratified as he watched this scene.

The instructors of the three divisions of the Imperial Guard were now all in place.

Tong Yuan was skilled in spear and staff fighting, Li Yan in cavalry combat and halberd fighting, and Huang Zhong in archery and crossbow fighting; all of them were top figures of their time.

With these three training them, given time, the Imperial Spirit Army will surely become the strongest army in the world.

More importantly, these three were nominally "instructors of the emperor's personal guards," but in reality... they were all his men.

"The three of you," Ji Xuanyuan said solemnly.

"The Imperial Guards are the Emperor's personal troops, and their safety is at stake. I hope the three of you will work together to train an iron army that is loyal to the Emperor, loves the country, and is invincible, so as to protect the Emperor and bring peace to the world."

The three replied in unison, "We will certainly not fail our lord's trust!"