Chapter 4: Conflict

Shiniu split one after another.

He gradually mastered the force; each strike knocked the wooden stake down just right, wasting no strength.

When he split the twentieth stake, a commotion came from the training ground entrance.

A squad of soldiers walked in, apparently from another battalion.

The leader was a bearded big man wearing the uniform of a Hundred Household Officer.

That Hundred Household Officer walked straight up to Li Cheng, clasped his fists and said: "Vice General Li, I heard Chang's Personal Guard has a new talent who can eat five people's worth of rice in one meal; the brothers are curious, so we came to have a look."

Li Cheng frowned and said: "Hundred Household Officer Zhao, we are training."

Zhao Baihu smiled, his gaze swept over the field, quickly settling on Shiniu, after all, in the whole training ground, only he was splitting wooden stakes.

"Yo, it's this kid, he doesn't look strong either! I heard you can lift a three-hundred-jin stone lock." Zhao Baihu walked over, looked Shiniu up and down and said.

Shiniu stopped his motion and looked at Li Cheng.

Li Cheng said with a stern face: "Zhao Xiong, what do you want?"

"Nothing much, just curious, kid, lift one for a look? If you really can lift it, I, Zhao Xiong, will treat you to a good meal." Zhao Xiong gave a hehe laugh, pointed to a two-hundred-jin stone lock nearby and said.

The soldiers he brought started to clamor.

Shiniu looked at Li Cheng.

Li Cheng hesitated a moment, then nodded.

Shiniu put down the wooden sword, walked to the stone lock, lifted it with one hand, and raised it over his head.

The smile on Zhao Xiong's face froze, but he still said: "Two hundred jin is nothing; over there, three hundred jin!"

Shiniu walked to the three-hundred-jin stone lock and likewise lifted it with one hand.

The training ground fell silent.

Zhao Xiong's complexion changed; he suddenly pointed to the largest stone lock nearby, a four-hundred-jin one that normally no one uses, just a display.

"That one, lift that one!"

Li Cheng shouted: "Zhao Xiong, that's four hundred jin!"

"What, can't lift it? If you can't, just say it straight, no shame." Zhao Xiong stared at Shiniu and mocked.

Shiniu glanced at the stone lock, then at Li Cheng.

Li Cheng gritted his teeth and said: "Shiniu, don't show off, that stone lock…"

Before he finished speaking, Shiniu had already walked over.

He bent down, grabbed the stone lock's handle with his right hand, took a deep breath—actually he didn't need to inhale, but he felt it more formal that way.

One lift.

The stone lock left the ground.

Another lift.

The stone lock was raised over his head.

The whole field fell dead silent.

The color drained from Zhao Xiong's face bit by bit.

The soldiers he brought also widened their eyes.

Shiniu held it for three breaths, then steadily set it down.

The stone lock landed with a "thud" and dust flew up.

He brushed the dust off his hands, looked at Zhao Xiong and said: "Lifted it, then… you said you'd treat me to a good meal, still counting?"

Zhao Xiong's face flushed then paled, after a long while he choked out: "... count... counts!"

At this moment Li Cheng walked over, coldly stared at Zhao Xiong and said: "Had enough? If you've had enough, get lost! We still have training."

Zhao Xiong gave Shiniu a fierce glare, turned and left with his men.

Reaching the training ground gate, he turned back and glanced again, muttering: "Damn, what monster…"

The farce ended, training continued.

Shiniu finished splitting fifty wooden stakes, then went to practice archery.

He had never used a bow; the first arrow missed, the second grazed the edge, the third hit the bullseye.

The veteran archery instructor's eyes widened, unable to help but exclaim: "You kid… really never practiced?"

"No, just feel that's how it should be shot." Shiniu said honestly.

The veteran clicked his tongue in amazement.

At lunchtime, Shiniu again became the focus.

He held a five-person portion of rice; the Firehead Soldiers were already used to it, directly giving him a wooden basin to eat from, sitting in the corner.

Those around the Imperial Troops furtively glanced.

Wang Gui came over with his bowl, lowered his voice and said: "Shiniu, about Zhao Xiong this morning, you'd better be careful; that guy is petty, you made him lose face today, he'll surely come back for revenge."

Shiniu swallowed the rice in his mouth and said: "But I didn't provoke him."

"Some people, you don't need to provoke them, they'll still find trouble; anyway, from now on your training, meals, stick with us, don't go alone." Wang Gui sighed.

"Yeah! Thanks, Brother Wang." Shiniu nodded.

After lunch, the afternoon was drill and formation training.

Shiniu learned quickly; what Li Cheng taught, he remembered after one go.

Only some rules he didn't understand, such as Obey Orders—he couldn't grasp why hearing the drumbeat meant he must stop.

"Because on the battlefield, not heeding the Command will get comrades killed." Li Cheng patiently explained.

Shiniu thought, then nodded seriously: "I get it, listen to the Marshal, that's protecting comrades."

Li Cheng was stunned, looking at this honest kid's clear eyes, suddenly felt Chang hadn't misjudged the person.

The training didn't end until the sun had shifted westward.

Shiniu was drenched in sweat, but his spirit was fine.

On the way back to the tent, Wang Gui slung an arm over his shoulder and said, "Alright, Shiniu, today you gave our Royal Guard Captain a face!"

A few other Imperial Troops sharing the tent also gathered around, chattering.

"That Zhao Xiong is usually so arrogant; today his face even turned green!"

"Shiniu brother, how on earth did you train that strength?"

…

Shiniu gave a goofy smile, not knowing how to answer.

That night, Chang Yuchun called Shiniu to the Marshal's tent.

Inside the tent, an oil lamp was lit, and Chang Yuchun was looking at a map.

When Shiniu entered, he set the map down and gestured for Shiniu to sit.

"I heard about today's incident, Zhao Xiong gave you trouble; what do you think about it?" Chang Yuchun asked.

Shiniu replied honestly, "I didn't think much; he just asked me to lift the Stone Lock, so I lifted it."

Chang Yuchun smiled, "Your temperament… is quite good."

He paused, then continued, "But the hearts within the army are complicated; those who admire you, there are also those who envy you. In the future, when issues arise, ask Wang Gui more, or come directly to me."

"Mm."

Chang Yuchun asked again about Shiniu's training; hearing that he could master archery at a glance made his eyes shine, "Starting tomorrow, you'll train with the Personal Guard Unit in the morning, and come find me in the afternoon; I'll personally teach you Military Tactics Formation."

Shiniu scratched his head and said, "General, I'm illiterate…"

"Being illiterate, you can learn from this Book of Military Essentials atlas; read it first, and I'll have the clerk teach you ten characters each day." Chang Yuchun said, picking up a thin booklet from the table.

Shiniu took the booklet and, curious, opened it.

Inside were various Battle Formation Diagrams, weapon diagrams, and simple annotations.

He could understand the diagrams, but didn't recognize the characters beside them.

"Thank you, General." he said earnestly.

Chang Yuchun patted his shoulder and said, "Study well; with this strength and your mind, you'll become a great talent in the future."

Shiniu didn't quite grasp what "great talent" meant, but he knew Chang Yuchun meant well for him.

Returning to the tent, the Imperial Troops sharing his cot were already asleep.

Shiniu lay down quietly, the booklet tucked in his arms.

Moonlight slipped through the tent's seams and fell on his face.

He closed his eyes, and those Battle Formation Diagrams floated in his mind.

Strangely, after seeing the diagrams once he remembered them, as if they had always been in his mind.

He also recalled the Hammer Method Diagrams that suddenly appeared on his birthday last year.

"Immortal… if you truly exist, please protect me… don't let General Chang be embarrassed." he muttered softly.

Outside the tent, the night‑patrol clapper sounds rang again.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

It was the fourth watch of the night.