Chapter Sixty: The Arrival of the Martial Examination

“Giddy-up!”

Pei Min pressed his heels lightly against the horse’s sides, reciting the archery verses taught to him by Xue Ne: “Swift as chasing the wind, eyes like flashing lightning; draw the bow fully, release the arrow tightly; do not blink your eyes, sit upright and firm; maintain your speed, release the arrow like a thunderclap.”

As the horse galloped at full speed, Pei Min stood tall in the saddle, gripping his bow firmly.

If one has never practiced mounted archery, one cannot fathom its difficulty.

Only after training did Pei Min realize that foot archery and mounted archery are entirely different arts. Foot archery, at its core, is simply drawing and shooting a bow while standing still. Even this seemingly simple skill demands years of rigorous practice to master. Mounted archery, however, is far more complex: no matter how steady a galloping horse is, it inevitably bounces up and down. To minimize this jolt, riders usually stand slightly in the stirrups, lifting their hips just off the saddle, shooting from a semi-standing or standing posture. This alone is a tremendous test of horsemanship. Yet even so, the rider cannot avoid the constant vertical motion, making it impossible to aim as steadily as one would on foot. Moreover, one must also manage the instability caused by the excessive force needed to bend the bow while shooting. Mastering all these elements simultaneously is the only way to shoot accurately. The difficulty of mounted archery compared to foot archery is beyond simple explanation.

For more than twenty days, Pei Min trenchantly honed his skills, practicing day and night except for meals and rest. Such dedication would be impossible for most. Unlike studying, which demands mental perseverance, martial training drains one’s physical strength and stamina, and every body has its limits—beyond which even the strongest cannot endure.

Yet Pei Min was fortunate to have Liu Shenwei, a healer of extraordinary skill, by his side. Since the passing of the legendary Sun Simiao, no one in Tang had matched Liu’s mastery of medicine. Though different from his mentor—Sun Simiao was a polymath excelling in acupuncture, pediatrics, trauma, internal medicine, herbalism, and even gynecology—Liu Shenwei specialized in acupuncture and herbal medicine, and in these areas, he rivaled his master.

As Pei Min’s personal therapist, Liu Shenwei administered acupuncture thrice daily to invigorate the blood, massaged his weary muscles, and prepared medicinal baths each night to restore his strained tendons and muscles. Thanks to this care, Pei Min’s body remained in peak condition, ready for relentless training.

In just twenty-three days, with Liu’s assistance, Pei Min’s training volume surpassed that of most martial artists over half a year.

Day after day of practice, coupled with medicinal baths, strengthened Pei Min’s sinews and increased his power dramatically. Even his chest and abdominal muscles began to take shape—impressive for a youth not yet eighteen.

As his chestnut horse reached its top speed, Pei Min steadied his posture, plucked an arrow from his quiver, and aimed at the target fifty paces away. He employed the Xue family’s unique ancestral shooting method: the forward hand grasped the bow grip, with the other side resting against four knuckles, the thumb flat to support the arrowhead, and the index finger deliberately retracted so as not to interfere with the bowstring. This technique was developed by Xue Rengui, who refined the mounted archery methods of the nomadic peoples. These horsemen, having trained from childhood for generations, wielded their bows with unmatched efficiency and power, incomparable to Central Plains archery. The Tang dynasty, ever open and inclusive, never clung stubbornly to tradition. When Xue Rengui drilled his troops, he invited his Turkic generals to teach the steppe archery arts. Observing closely, Xue integrated their essence into his own style and passed it down.

“Twang!” The bowstring sang sharply.

The arrow shot like a meteor, striking the target. Mounted archery did not demand hitting the bullseye; merely striking the target counted as passing.

“Eight out of ten! Such rapid progress would shame my unworthy descendants,” Xue Ne exclaimed, growing ever more pleased with Pei Min’s results. His praise was not for talent alone but for perseverance and patience. Pei Min’s keen intellect and ability to infer beyond what was taught were indeed exceptional, but mounted archery was a craft of sheer hard work, not mere brilliance. It required tireless drilling until skill became second nature. Pei Min had achieved this, never once leaving the Pei estate in twenty-three days save for a Ministry of Personnel retest, wholly devoted to mastering mounted archery. Such determination moved Xue Ne deeply.

Dismounting, Pei Min approached Xue Ne with a grateful smile. “All thanks to your guidance, sir.”

Xue Ne, a man of strict principles, scorned flattery and sniffed coldly. “Do not be too proud. Your archery appears to reach a certain level, but in truth, you have not yet tapped even half of your true potential.”

Pei Min accepted this without complaint, nodding sincerely. “You speak rightly. I know well that mounted archery requires years of accumulated practice. My current skill stems from relentless daily exercise and the extraordinary muscle memory I’ve built. Should I cease training even briefly, that muscle memory will fade, and my true level will show. Like rowing against the current, if you do not advance, you will fall back. As a martial artist, I understand this plainly. Rest assured, even after tomorrow’s military exam, I will not neglect mounted archery practice. I do not aspire to match your level, but at least when I ride into battle, I shall be able to spur my horse and shoot down enemy chieftains...”

Xue Ne was even more satisfied. Learning mounted archery was not merely for battlefield slaughter but for strengthening the body. He had always despised wandering rogues because, to him, a man who possessed martial skills yet lacked the will to defend his homeland and expand its borders was no better than a worthless wretch.

“Tomorrow is the military exam. Today, I will teach you some crucial lessons. Come, follow me to the Western Market!”

Meanwhile,

Chang Yuankai paid another visit to Dou Chen, the deputy official of the Ministry of War responsible for the military exam.

As a father, he wished nothing but the best for his son. Yet his younger son was hopeless—he had squandered the success of passing the imperial examination and even made an enemy of Pei Min.

Ever since rumors spread throughout Chang’an that Pei Min had relations with Princess Taiping, Chang Yuankai fretted greatly. His fate was tightly bound to hers: their fortunes rose and fell as one. Offending the princess’s favorite would surely bring trouble, and he dreaded any future sabotage. Amid his unease, Lu Cangyong approached him with a plan to deal with Pei Min and revealed the rumors.

Only then did Chang Yuankai breathe easier. Not wanting Pei Min to rise further under the princess’s favor, he found common cause with Lu Cangyong. Together, they contacted Li Ci, who introduced them to Dou Chen.

Dou Chen had toiled for five years as a middling official in the Ministry of War without promotion and saw this as his chance.

Confidently, upon Chang Yuankai’s arrival, Dou Chen declared, “General, rest assured. Everything has been arranged. Tomorrow, we will ensure that Pei Min fares poorly!”