Dance Of The Dragons
Chapter 79 : The Military Recruitment (1)

Chapter 79: Chapter 79 : The Military Recruitment (1)

"ZHANG FENGXIIIIII...!!!"

A shrill cry echoed in the Longjing Palace as soon as Zhang Zhiyuan returned home that day. Even the birds that perched on the branches outside of the main building scattered away from fright.

The door was forcefully opened and Zhang Zhiyuan barged into his son’s room.

"You... you... unfilial son!!!" Zhang Zhiyuan pointed a finger at Zhang Fengxi’s face. "Get out and meet me in the living room!!!"

He then slammed an imperial decree on the desk and stomped out angrily.

Zhang Fengxi swallowed hard.

In his past life, he joined the military after his father perished in the war against the demons.

His mother was heavily against it, but she could not do anything to oppose her son’s decision. Not so with Zhang Zhiyuan, who still bore the title "Longjing Palace Master".

"Kneel...!!!" Zhang Zhiyuan shouted as soon as Zhang Fengxi arrived.

The latter did as he was told.

Zhang Zhiyuan raised his leather whip to punish his son, but then Lady Song rushed into the room and cried out, "My dear! Why are you so agitated in the morning??? Chengsu, go and bring the palace master a bowl of chicken, red date, and ginger soup, quick!"

Zhang Zhiyuan pointed at Zhang Fengxi with his whip.

"Did you know what your son did???" he cried out.

"Of course!" Lady Song answered confidently, but then a frown appeared between her brows.

Wait, what mischief did Zhang Fengxi cook together recently? Had he not been staying within the Longjing Palace’s four walls and practicing martial arts religiously?

Helplessly, Lady Song corrected her answer, "Sorry, dear. What did Fengxi do, again?"

Zhang Zhiyuan was akin to a volcano on the brink of explosion.

"Your son enlisted himself in the military!"

"WHAT??? Ohh..."

Lady Song swooned to the side.

"My Lady! Please be brave!!!" her maids hurried to take her to the nearby seat before she fell down for real.

"Fengxi, whyyy..???" Lady Song sobbed into a handkerchief that her maid conveniently passed her. "Why must you break your parents’ hearts so?"

"..."

For some reason, Zhang Fengxi preferred his father’s explosive reaction to his mother’s tearful lament.

Zhang Fengxi cupped his hands before his parents.

"Father, Mother, I wish to serve the realm with my skills and abilities. Please allow me to do so."

Zhang Zhiyuan erupted again.

"And must you serve the realm by going to the frontline??? Zhang Fengxi, have you lost your mind??? As a palace master, you will have the chance to serve the realm, don’t you worry! I too have to go down to a battlefield when it is necessary, but I don’t specifically put myself in constant danger of being killed!"

A complicated expression spread on Zhang Fengxi’s face.

"Father, just a few days ago you praised me for being able to obtain the Three Realm Spear. I also won against Jiang Muchen and proved my determination in cultivating the spear art. Why do you not have any confidence in me?"

Lady Song wept as if Zhang Fengxi were already dead and his corpse were talking nonsense.

Zhang Zhiyuan raised a trembling finger at Zhang Fengxi.

"Good! Very good! This is why parents must never compliment their children! Look at how arrogant you have become! Maybe I should let you join one war so you know what a war looks like! See if you don’t come running back to our Longjing Palace with your tail tucked between your legs!!!"

Zhang Zhiyuan then stomped off the room angrily. Lady Song quickly followed after him.

"My lord!!! Please have mercy! Fengxi is just a stupid boy who doesn’t know better! Please talk to the Heavenly Emperor..."

Zhang Fengxi sighed. He rose to his feet with a groan. Just as he was stretching his body, a servant came to the room to pass him a message, "Prince, the Palace Master ordered you to kneel at the Ancestral Hall. You must not leave until you reflect on your flaws."

"..."

Zhang Fengxi sulkingly dragged himself to the Zhang family’s Ancestral Hall.

Apparently, his father took his intention to join the military as an offense to their ancestors.

Zhang Fengxi did not care. He had to join the upcoming war at all costs. His father was going to thank him later. Or not.

After kneeling for an entire day, Zhang Fengxi was finally asked to return to his room.

The Heavenly Empire was going to start recruiting new personnel in a week.

While Zhang Zhiyuan was heavily against his son joining the military, he was even more reluctant to having his son become a limping disgrace in front of the public eyes.

Zhang Fengxi trained hard under Commandant Jiang’s tutelage. His master was thankfully supportive of his choice.

"Not many heirs opt to take the selfless path and dedicate themselves to the good of the realm," Commandant Jiang said, touched by Zhang Fengxi’s decision to join the military.

"In the future, we will be brothers-in-arm. Teacher will take good care of the Prince."

Zhang Fengxi beamed at Commandant Jiang.

Finally, Commandant Jiang was comfortable enough with him to refer to himself as Zhang Fengxi’s teacher. Zhang Fengxi was sick of having people around him refer to themselves as "this subject".

The Heavenly Empire’s military recruitment took place in the form of a competition. All participants were required to display their prowess in eight disciplines*. Good performance in each discipline warranted a high position when starting their military career, while bad performance might disqualify the participants from joining the military.

Other than improving his skills with the Three Realm Spear, Zhang Fengxi also had to study a lot. He had practical experience from his previous life. Alas, it was not enough to guarantee his success in the seventh and eighth disciplines.

Bearing this thought in mind, Zhang Fengxi thus went to seek out the Grand Tutor for some pointers.

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Author’s note :

The eight disciplines that are tested during the military recruitment competition are :

1. Sword

2. Spear

3. Axes

4. Whips

5. Archery

6. Horseriding

7. General Knowledge

8. Military Strategy