"I am Sun Longzhi, Northern Central Lang General. Who are you?"
While Sun Longzhi, the Northern Central Lang General of the Flying Bear Army, was drilling his troops, Zhou Fugui was chattering incessantly from the side, disrupting the training. Thus, Sun Longzhi rode his horse to Zhou Fugui and coldly asked,
"Beijiang (subordinate general) Zhou Fugui..." Zhou Fugui pointed to the waist token at his waist and replied, "I am currently a guard under the Grand Commander. Didn't you see?"
"I know you are a guard, Beijiang Zhou Fugui..." Sun Longzhi asked coldly, "Why have you come to disturb my training?"
"Is it considered disturbing just to take a look?" Zhou Fugui said with a grin, "Oh, even if I am disturbing you, can't I comment if the training methods are not effective?"
"Oh? The training methods are not effective?" Upon hearing this, Sun Longzhi's pockmarked face twitched and he asked, "I, Sun, would like to learn how Beijiang Zhou trains his troops."
"There are cavalry and infantry, as well as spearmen, swordsmen, archers, charioteers, and sailors, among other types of soldiers. Swordsmen practice swords, spearmen practice spears, archers practice shooting. Is this not how it should be? But they are just fighting chaotically like this, what is the point?" Zhou Fugui replied.
Upon hearing this, Sun Longzhi's pockmarked face twitched again. He wished he could whip Zhou Fugui across his face.
Sun Longzhi was a drillmaster in the army. Did he not know the different types of soldiers in the army? Did he not know that swordsmen practice swords, spearmen practice spears, and archers practice shooting? But combat training is fundamental, regardless of the type of soldier.
Regardless of the type of soldier, they must train in combat. Combat emphasizes confrontation and carries a certain degree of danger, but combat can train physical fitness, combat ability, and an indomitable will, all of which are indispensable for training soldiers.
Sun Longzhi knew that Zhou Fugui had also led troops before. How could he not understand this principle? Zhou Fugui said these words simply because his old subordinates were disheveled on the training ground, and he was causing trouble here.
"I have heard of Beijiang Zhou's reputation. You are Dayan's Yang Youji, the foremost archer of our Dayan, capable of hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces. However, Beijiang Zhou, what would you do if your archers were engaged in close combat?" Sun Longzhi then asked with a cold laugh.
"Haha, since I am a divine archer, how could you get close?" Zhou Fugui laughed heartily.
Zhou Fugui's archery skills were superb, but his swordsmanship was mediocre. If he encountered a fierce warrior engaging in close combat, Zhou Fugui truly wouldn't know how to respond. Otherwise, Zhou Fugui wouldn't have been bitten by the white bear of Feixiong Mountain and fled in disarray, nearly losing his life. Fortunately, Yuan Meiyu arrived with her men and saved Zhou Fugui. Otherwise, when Zhou Fugui was in Guangling Commandery, he would have been nearly killed by a fat monk from the Lesser Vehicle Sect.
This kind of close-quarters combat with heavy armor and sharp weapons is not grappling. The opponent wears heavy armor, and the joints are protected by armor. Kicking the opponent's joints would be useless. Moreover, in front of Tutis, Zhou Fugui's grappling skills might not even be effective.
Zhou Fugui knew this, but how could he back down now? At least not verbally...
Zhou Fugui's fellow townsmen and friends had disgraced themselves terribly. At this moment, Zhou Fugui could not back down, otherwise, they would not be able to hold their heads up in the army.
"Oh? Unable to get close?" At this moment, from the watchtower, Hu Yan Sheng, who had been watching Sun Longzhi, Zhou Fugui, and the others, suddenly spoke.
Everyone turned their gaze towards Hu Yan Sheng.
"Go and test him," Hu Yan Sheng then turned to Tutis, the head of the guards, and said.
Upon hearing this, Tutis bowed and saluted, then descended from the watchtower and walked up to Zhou Fugui. He said nothing, merely looking coldly at Zhou Fugui.
"What do you mean? Test what?" Zhou Fugui also looked at Tutis and asked.
"The Grand Commander said to test your archery skills," Tutis replied indifferently.
Tutis spoke Chinese, but his pronunciation was rather stiff, yet Zhou Fugui could understand him.
"How shall we test?" Zhou Fugui asked again.
At this moment, Zhou Fugui felt a hint of regret. They were training their own troops, why did he have to get involved? Now, if he injured Tutis, it would be improper, and if he injured himself, it would be even more serious.
Wasn't this asking for trouble? Zhou Fugui lamented inwardly.
Tutis was imposing and tall, with well-developed muscles, appearing to be full of strength. The scar on his face further indicated that he was no easy opponent. Therefore, Zhou Fugui had no confidence facing him.
Tutis remained silent. He drew the great sword from his waist, then picked up a round shield from the ground and held it in his hand, testing its weight. It felt somewhat manageable.
The round shield was not large. If it protected the upper body, it couldn't protect the lower body, and if it protected the lower body, it couldn't protect the upper body. The edge of the round shield had a sharp blade.
And the great sword that Tutis held tightly in his right hand was a massive sword, both heavy and long, about three feet in length and weighing around ten pounds. It was cruciform in shape, with a long, bright, and thick blade that shone dazzlingly in the sunlight.
Such a great sword could chop and thrust, easily cutting through the enemy's weapons. It could easily penetrate armor, and could even cleave a man and his horse in half with a single blow.
However, this kind of great sword, being heavy and long, required two hands to wield and strong chopping or thrusting motions to unleash its full power and greatly enhance its lethality.
Yet Tutis held the great sword with one hand, and swung it with apparent ease.
"Beijiang Zhou!" Tutis said to Zhou Fugui, holding the great sword in his right hand and the round shield in his left, "Please feel free to shoot."
If he were dealing with ordinary archers, Tutis wouldn't need a shield. His iron armor would suffice for defense, or he could dodge the arrowheads. However, Zhou Fugui, standing before him, was no ordinary archer. He was Dayan's Yang Youji, who had shot and killed the commander of the Yan imperial guards, General Zuo Wei, Pu Yijian, and was already renowned.
Although Tutis didn't quite believe Zhou Fugui possessed such skill, he dared not be careless and still carried a large iron shield, just in case.
If he were shot and killed by Zhou Fugui, it would be one thing, but to be wounded by him would be too embarrassing to face.
"What if we remove the arrowheads?" Zhou Fugui, seeing that the contest was unavoidable, took down his Zhuo Yue bow and another feathered arrow. He glanced sideways at Tutis and asked casually,
"Pfft!" With a sound, Tutis thrust his great sword into the snow, as if to answer.
The great sword didn't have its head removed, so there was no need for Zhou Fugui's feathered arrow to have its arrowhead removed.
"This may not be appropriate?" Zhou Fugui said again, "What if I injure you? It will be difficult for me to explain to the Grand Commander."
Zhou Fugui feigned casualness, but his words betrayed a hint of timidity, which couldn't help but make everyone laugh.
"This person, at such a young age, to have achieved such a reputation can be considered young and promising. His courage is commendable, but is he perhaps a bit too talkative?" Hu Yan Sheng on the watchtower couldn't help but smile and asked those around him.
Those around him also couldn't help but laugh.
"Beijiang Zhou, do not hesitate. Display your archery skills," Tutis drew his great sword, looked at Zhou Fugui, and said indifferently.
"Alright, you said it yourself! If I injure you, don't blame me!" Zhou Fugui said, then walked backward, stopping about a hundred paces away from Tutis.
Bows and arrows are long-range weapons. Naturally, they need to be used at a distance to unleash their full power. Everyone present, including Tutis, understood this. Tutis coldly watched Zhou Fugui run far away without intervening.
Sun Longzhi waved his hand, ordering the border soldiers to retreat, clearing a large open space in the middle. Xu Mancang, Xue Wentai, Suo Dacheng, Pan Jiugui, Li Qing, and the other fellow townsmen and friends stood on the left side, while the soldiers of the Flying Bear Army stood on the right. This contest thus became a contest between Zhou Fugui and his retinue and the Flying Bear Army.
"Brother Fugui, no need to be polite! Give them a taste of your power!" Xu Mancang, having suffered a great loss on the training ground, now wished Zhou Fugui could shoot Tutis to death, so he clenched his fist and shouted loudly.
"Yes, yes, Battalion Commander, no need to be polite!"
"The honor of our White Tiger Battalion is all on you!"
"A bunch of bumpkins, do you know who Zhonglang General Tutis is?"
"Who? Is he an immortal from heaven?"
"Even if he were an immortal, our Battalion Commander could shoot him down..."
"Our Battalion Commander can punch the fierce tiger of Mount Nan and kick the dragon of the North Sea!"
"Haha, you might not be good at fighting, but your tongues are quite nimble!"
"......"
Before the contest between Zhou Fugui and Tutis even began, the two sides were already bickering incessantly.
"Chiyou, go over there!"
The little white bear Chiyou, like a shadow, had been following Zhou Fugui. Seeing someone wanting to harm its master, it planted its four paws on the ground and growled low at Tutis, exuding the aura of a fierce beast.
However, although Chiyou had grown considerably, it was still a young bear. What use could it be in such a fight? Perhaps it could become a great help to Zhou Fugui when it grew up, but now it was still inexperienced. Thus, Zhou Fugui pointed to a spot in the distance and said to the little white bear.
It was unclear whether the little white bear understood Zhou Fugui's words, but having been raised by Zhou Fugui for so long, it understood his gestures. Thus, after casting a reluctant glance at Zhou Fugui, it ran to a distance, but still kept growling low at Tutis.
I absolutely cannot shoot him to death, Zhou Fugui thought to himself as he casually placed two feathered arrows on the Zhuo Yue bow. If I kill my immediate superior with the first shot... or kill a brave general of the Flying Bear Army, then I and my fellow townsmen and friends will not be able to stay in Xue Lin City.
Should I scare him away or injure him? Zhou Fugui thought to himself again.
While pondering his strategy, Zhou Fugui observed the surrounding terrain. To the left was an open area, while to the right and behind were two walls, offering no place to evade.
If the first shot missed or was evaded by the opponent, Zhou Fugui would have to run to the left, gain distance, draw his bow and shoot again, until his arrows were exhausted.
"Zhonglang General Tutis, be careful!" Zhou Fugui saw Tutis advancing with his sword and shield, so he drew the bowstring, then released his right hand. Two feathered arrows flew out, making a "woo woo" sound.