Chapter 8: Perfect Success (Part 4)

  Li Zhen held up his sniper rifle, shrugged and said: "Huang Qianzong, this is your territory, the soldiers standing around the arena are all yours. If I'm teasing you, can you spare me? Can the soldiers spare me? This logic I understand!"

  "Huang Shi Hai suppressed his anger and said: 'No nonsense, dare you accept the challenge?'"

  Li Zhen stretched out his hand to stop him and said, "Don't be in a hurry, I have several questions in my mind. If Huang Qian answers them and still decides to fight again, Li will accompany him to the end."

  Huang Shi Hai nodded after a moment of contemplation and said, "You ask!"

  Li Zhen swung his sniper rifle and asked, "Huang Qian, can you dodge my bullets on the battlefield?"

  Huang Shi Hai showed a scornful expression and said: "You must be hiding!"

  Li Zhen did not refute, his gaze turned to Huang Hu standing under the stage, and instructed: "Huang Hu, you immediately prepare a target board, place it two hundred steps away. Remember, insert an arrow on the red heart of the target board, and hang a copper coin on the arrow shaft. The copper coin is painted with vermilion, facing the direction where I am standing, understand?"

  "Yes, sir!"

  Huang Hu heard and immediately went to execute the order.

  Huang Shi Hai was baffled and couldn't figure out Li Zhen's intention behind his actions.

  But he promised Li Zhen's request and will not stop.

  Not long after, Huang Hu placed a target two hundred steps away, with an arrow stuck in the red center of the target and a copper coin painted with vermilion hanging from the arrow shaft. Li Zhen stared at the target, his expression serious, his palm gently rubbing the sniper rifle in his hand, with the right armpit against the gun butt, the left hand supporting the gun, his eyes close to the sighting mirror, aiming at the copper coin two hundred steps away.

  After a brief pause, Li Zhen pulled the trigger without hesitation.

  "Bang!"

  A gunshot rang out, and in an instant, a crisp "ding" sound was heard.

  After the bullet was fired, it shot straight into the copper coin hanging on the arrow shaft. Li Zhen smiled and asked: "Huang Qianzong, can such marksmanship kill you on the battlefield?"

  Huang Shi Hai's face was strange, but he was extremely shocked in his heart.

  He roughly estimated the distance between Li Zhen and the target, at least 150 meters for two hundred steps. Such a distance has far exceeded that of the best archers in the army, especially with the copper coins hanging on the arrow shaft swaying slightly, making it even more difficult. If Li Zhen were aiming at him on the battlefield, he would be able to shoot him dead with one shot.

  Huang Shi Hai cupped his hands and said: "Lord Li's divine shot, I, a low-ranking general, admire it."

  Huang Shi Hai paused for a moment before continuing: "Lord Li, if you have any questions, just ask directly."

  Li Zhen noticed Huang Shi Hai's change in expression and let out a sigh of relief. The shot just now had a great risk. Because the sniper rifle Li Zhen is currently using has poor performance, it does not meet the standards of the custom-made sniper rifle he used to use, and the bullets fired are also prone to deviation, but Li Zhen had no other choice.

  Li Zhenping calmly said: "I just want to demonstrate that my gun is no worse than Huang Qian's gun."

  Huang Shi Hai stared at Li Zhen with piercing eyes, without saying a word.

  Li Zhen thought for a moment, then continued: "The previous shot was just stating a fact. What follows is what I want to ask. After Huang Qian answers, if he still wants to compete with Li Mou, Li Mou will accompany him. If Huang Qian is unwilling to follow Li Mou's lead, Li Zhen will not set foot in the camp again."

  Huang Shi Hai waved his hand and said: "Please speak."

  A hint of a smile flashed in Li Zhen's eyes as he gradually gained control.

  Li Zhen said in a low voice: "I once heard Wu Canjun mention something, the generals in the Jiangbei Dazheng camp all wanted to control Huang Qian's one battalion of soldiers, and they all ended in failure."

  "You're right, they all failed."

  Huang Shi Hai raised his head and puffed out his chest, a proud expression on his face.

  Li Zhen said, "Huang Qian's way of dealing with past generals must have been the same, intimidating and challenging them before scaring them away. Although Huang Qian succeeded, I don't know what his purpose was in doing so. Is it that he didn't want to give up power or did he want to select even more formidable generals?"

  Huang Shi Hai's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he immediately replied: "Of course, we'll choose an even more formidable general!"

  Li Zhen smiled and said: "If that's the case, as long as we defeat Huang Qianzong, we can take over a battalion of soldiers."

  "Right!" Huang Shi Hai said without hesitation.

  Li Zhen sighed and said, "Huang Qian, from our conversation just now, I have determined that your personality is bold and generous, steady as a mountain, and can execute orders meticulously. You are a standard soldier, but not a qualified commander. Have you ever thought about it? If the person who defeated you is a martial arts master, but a military fool, doesn't understand strategy and planning, doesn't know how to send people to gather intelligence, and doesn't even know how to deploy troops, do you have a future following such a leader?"

  Huang Shi Hai snorted and said, "In any case, at least I'm stronger than the wine sack rice bag in the army."

  "Wrong, they're all stronger than you."

  Li Zhenhao said bluntly, causing Huang Shihai's face to change greatly.

  The soldiers around the arena were even more indignant, making another loud noise. Huang Hu was clenching his fists and cracking his knuckles in anger. Huang Shi Hai suppressed his anger and said: "Lord Li, if you have come to humiliate me, I don't welcome it."

  Without resorting to violence, Huang Shi Hai has already been extremely kind and righteous.

  Li Zhenping calmly said: "Huang Qianzong does not agree with what I just said, so let me analyze it for Huang Qianzong. In the Jiangbei Grand Camp, there are many factions, each general has his own mountain stronghold, and each general's treatment is different. If my guess is correct, the brothers under Huang Qianzong's command have the worst treatment, the least rations. However, when the army encounters difficulties, it is often Huang Qianzong who leads the charge, fighting bravely, turning the tide of battle. Huang Qianzong has lost many brothers, but received the fewest rewards, am I right?"

  Huang Shi Hai's mouth opened slightly and his eyes widened.

  As Li Zhen said, the situation in the military camp was very difficult and helpless. Huang Shi Hai's eyes rolled over and he said disdainfully: "The situation of my brothers under my command is well known to everyone. You go and ask around, you will naturally know."

  Li Zhen's mouth corners rose in a smile, Huang Shi Hai had already taken the bait.

  Li Zhen's eyes swept around the soldiers who were full of expectation, and he said loudly: "Huang Qian's martial arts are strong, undefeated in the army, a real good man."

  However, Huang Qianzong is not good at being an official and does not know how to be one. That's why I say that the generals in the camp are all better than you. Their martial arts skills are only a tenth of yours, but they are smooth and adaptable, knowing how to do things, so their soldiers can live comfortably and train easily, and fighting is just a formality. On the other hand, Huang Qianzong's soldiers have the hardest training, but get the least in return.

  At this point, Li Zhen suddenly raised his voice and shouted to the surrounding soldiers: "You are the most hardworking soldiers, the bravest soldiers, the most admirable soldiers. Are you willing to accept unfair treatment?"

  "I don't want to! I don't want to!!"

  Under the stage, a huge roar suddenly burst out.

  Li Zhen's words have struck a chord in the hearts of these soldiers. They fight desperately on the battlefield and suffer hardships in the camp, yet they receive the least. While others drink wine and eat meat, they can only drink porridge and eat salted vegetables, which is truly unfair.

  Huang Shi Hai's eyes were lifeless, and he muttered to himself: "Did I do something wrong?"

  At this time, Huang Shi Hai was shaken by Li Zhen's words and completely lost his initiative.

  The matter of competing with Li Zhen had been thrown away on the island of Java.

  What Li Zhen mentioned was the problem that Huang Shi Hai encountered, which is a brain-twisting question. Seeing Huang Shi Hai's inquiry, Li Zhen smiled and said: "Huang Qianzong, you are not wrong, you are correct."

  "Huang Hu shouted: 'My family is right, why did we get unfair treatment?'"

  Li Zhenlang said loudly: "The reason is very simple, I just mentioned it earlier. Huang Qian is a standard soldier and a model for soldiers in the army, but he is not a qualified commander. He can lead you to fight bravely, but he cannot plan your future. You lack a commander, lack someone to lead you. Everyone thinks about killing the enemy, but no one considers how to establish themselves in the military, so they will be treated unfairly and isolated in the camp."

  Huang Shi Hai sneered: "Lord Li, after all, you still want to control my one battalion of soldiers."

  The situation became tense again in one sentence.

  Li Zhenhaha smiled and said, "Huang Qianzong, when I stepped into this camp with one foot, did everyone know what my purpose was? To be honest, I really want you to follow me. The soldiers in the camp are all good men, brave and strong. They should have a good life, marry a beautiful wife, this is what they deserve."

  Huang Hu heard this and immediately fell into deep thought.

  The surrounding soldiers were discussing it in a flurry, but they swallowed their saliva and showed an expectant look.

  Huang Shi Hai looked around at the soldiers' expressions, seeing the expectant eyes of the soldiers, and his heart ached secretly. His army originally had more than 3,000 soldiers, but due to casualties in every battle, they became fewer and fewer without replenishment, resulting in their current state. After hearing Li Zhen's words, Huang Shi Hai was also moved.

  But can Li Zhen be trusted?

  Huang Shi Hai was hesitant in his heart and found it hard to make up his mind.

  Li Zhencheng said sincerely: "Huang Qianzong, you must be thinking that I am the same as other generals, saying one thing but doing another. Let me tell you, if you follow me and think that I haven't fulfilled my promises to you or to the soldiers, you can leave with your soldiers at any time, I won't stop you."

  Li Zhen's words were sincere, and he was confident in keeping Huang Shi Hai, and also liked such a brave general.

  Huang Shi Hai took a deep breath, looked at Huang Hu, and the two slightly nodded. Immediately, Huang Shi Hai thudded to his knees on the ground, with the white wax rod spear placed beside him, loudly saying: "General Huang Shi Hai has seen you, sir."

  The surrounding soldiers also knelt down and paid homage to Li Zhen.

  Li Zhen's face broke into a brilliant smile, overjoyed. Li Zhen also understood that this was the first step in subduing Huang Shi Hai, and he had made a perfect start. If he didn't follow through on his promise afterwards, Huang Shi Hai would definitely leave. Li Zhen bent down to help Huang Shi Hai up, jokingly asking: "Huang Qianzong, do you still want to compete with me?"

  Huang Shi Hai smiled wryly and shook his head repeatedly.

  Huang Hu and others stood under the stage, also laughing loudly.