Chapter 204: You kneel on the ground and let me step on you

"Not bad."

Xiao Dabao stared coldly at Wang Hai.

In fact, from the moment Wang Hai had approached just now, he had recognized him.

The other party was the person who had pelted him with snowballs in childhood and even set dogs on him and Xiao Liujin to drive them out of the village.

Unexpectedly, the other party had actually become a Captain in the Yuan Family Army.

Wang Hai scrutinized Xiao Dabao, a mocking smile appearing on his face.

"I truly didn't expect it; the beggar who came to my house to beg for food back then has actually become a Deputy General in the Beijiang Army."

"It seems your Prince of Northern Suppression lacks judgment when selecting his confidants."

"Shut your dog mouth," Xiao Dabao barked deeply. "How the Prince employs his men is not for you to point fingers at."

Wang Hai laughed out loud and said to the Yuan Family Army behind him.

"See that? This Deputy General of the Beijiang Army once came to my house to beg for food and even begged me to give him sweet potatoes to eat."

"In their Beijiang Army, there is no one left to use; any Tom, Dick, or Harry can become a general."

After finishing, he turned his head and looked at Xiao Dabao mockingly.

"Tomorrow, when the two armies engage, you won't win."

"However, in consideration of the fact that you once came to my house to beg for food, I will give you a chance."

Xiao Dabao asked in a cold voice, "What exactly do you want to say?"

Wang Hai smiled. "As long as you bring your men and surrender to me now, I will go beg General Yuan to let you avoid being sent to Shangyang City for hard labor and instead serve under my command as a groom."

Xiao Dabao chuckled. "As a groom, a groom to lead your horse?"

Wang Hai patted the white horse beside him.

"This horse of mine is a Sweat-Blood Horse, worth ten thousand gold; having a beggar lead it would be beneath my status."

"It is to have you serve as a footstool for me to mount; every time I want to ride, you must kneel on the ground and let me step on you to get on the horse."

"A beggar is a beggar; what flows in your bones is the blood of a lowly person. Even if you join the Beijiang Army, it cannot change your lowly origin."

Once his words were finished, the Yuan Family Army behind him burst into laughter.

With Xiao Dabao's lowly origin exposed, the crowd all around looked at him with strange expressions.

Gaze after gaze of mockery, disdain, and contempt... all focused on Xiao Dabao.

Daliang's class hierarchy is strict; even if a lowly person joins the military, they can at most reach the rank of Centurion. It is impossible to become a general, let alone a Deputy General by the side of the Prince of Northern Suppression.

Wang Hai's father served as a small leader in the Yuan Family Army, which is why he was able to become a Captain.

That a lowly person of beggar origin could actually become a general was truly looked down upon.

Xiao Dabao's face turned livid; he clenched his fists in anger, opened his mouth, but could not speak.

He was usually slow of speech, and now that he was being ridiculed in public, he didn't even know what to say to curse back.

At this moment, Xiao Moting spoke coldly.

"Captain Wang, do you know the saying: heroes are not judged by their origins, and are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born with noble blood?"

"Xiao Dabao is indeed of lowly origin, but the military merits he has achieved will never be less than yours."

These two sentences were what he had learned while scrolling through videos on the Tablet Computer that Bai Wei had sent.

As soon as the words fell, the Beijiang Army immediately erupted in cheers.

"Prince, well said!"

Xiao Moting raised his Long Blade and pointed it at Wang Hai.

"Doesn't your Yuan Family Army have many talented people? I now challenge you to a duel of generals; come up and accept the fight."

As soon as his words were finished, Wang Hai's expression changed slightly.

A duel of generals before the battle is when the opposing sides send out generals to fight before the lines, which can both display strength and boost morale.

This is a rule of war; if the side challenged does not dare to take the field, they will be considered weak, and it would be extremely shameful if it got out.

Not far away, in front of the Yuan Family Army, Yuan Canghai held a Telescope and saw this scene through the lens, frowning with some dissatisfaction.

"I told Wang Hai to go shake the morale of the Beijiang Army; why is he provoking Xiao Moting?"

"Xiao Moting has a flaw: he is extremely protective of his own. As long as they are his people, whether they are grooms or foot soldiers, he will protect them all."

Wang Hai's face turned from green to white.

He knew Xiao Moting's strength; if he had to take the field and fight him, he would definitely lose.

Hearing Xiao Moting call for a duel, the Beijiang Army was in an uproar, one after another raising their Long Swords and Long Blades, shouting loudly.

"Prince, go up and behead him."

"Kill him!"

The sound was like a tide, one wave higher than the next.

Seeing that Xiao Moting had ignited the morale of the Beijiang Army, Wang Hai panicked even more. How could he dare to fight the "Beijiang War God"?

Wang Hai gritted his teeth and cupped his hands while mounted on his horse.

"Fourth Prince, your status is noble; this subordinate cannot offend you."

"How about letting Xiao Dabao take the field instead!"

"He is your Deputy General; he wouldn't lack this bit of courage, would he?"

Xiao Moting turned his head to look at Xiao Dabao.

"Xiao Dabao, how has the sword technique I had you practice been going these past few days?"

Xiao Dabao also shuddered, not expecting the other party to actually target him.

"This... this..."

Qin Zhan walked over and patted him.

"Dabao, in front of two armies, you must not lose face for the Beijiang Army."

Xiao Dabao's face turned green.

He was only good at shooting, never missing a target from a hundred paces away, but close-quarters combat was his weakness, and he had no desire to go onto the field to fight Wang Hai.

However, in front of over a hundred thousand soldiers, if he acted like a coward, it would not only be embarrassing but would also bring shame upon Xiao Moting.

Seeing his expression, Qin Zhan knew he was chickening out again and immediately kicked him.

"Xiao Dabao, you eat so much usually; at a critical moment, don't you dare let me down."

Not far away, the sound of Wang Hai's mocking laughter came.

"Deputy General Xiao, you are the right-hand man of the Prince of Northern Suppression; surely you aren't afraid to come up?"

"As expected, base people are unreliable; they don't have a shred of loyalty or courage."

Xiao Dabao gritted his teeth, "I'll go!"

In any case, the worst outcome was nothing more than death!

As long as he didn't smear the Prince's reputation, what did death matter?

"Not bad." Qin Zhan finally relaxed his brows and patted him with a smile, "It's all up to you now."

"I, I'll prepare myself."

After saying this, Xiao Dabao hurried back into the ranks, busily and clumsily preparing himself.

Wang Hai turned his horse's head and shouted toward the Yuan Family Army.

"Bring me my saber!"

Two soldiers immediately brought his saber over.

Yuan Canghai sat on his horse and spoke leisurely.

"Wang Hai, go up and kill Xiao Moting's deputy general to crush their spirit."

"This subordinate obeys." Wang Hai cupped his hands and took the Thick-Backed Saber.

He was a martial practitioner who later followed his father into the Yuan Family Army and possessed great skill.

Wang Hai could tell at a glance that Xiao Dabao was simply not cut out for close combat; just looking at that round, chubby physique, it was clear he hadn't practiced martial arts much.

Therefore, he didn't take Xiao Dabao seriously at all.

The soldiers on both sides were stirred to high spirits and cheered them on.

The war drums began to beat, the sound shaking the heavens.

Xiao Dabao finished dressing, took his Long Sword, and charged forward on horseback.

Wang Hai glanced at him, let out a disdainful sneer, and spurred his horse forward.

The two steeds drew close!

Wang Hai let out a great shout and raised his saber to hack at Xiao Dabao!

The wind of the blade was fierce, fast as lightning!