Chapter 265.1: Hello Chang'an
Chapter 265.1: Meeting the Chief Instructor
Of course, within the Da Sheng military camp, there were many types of long spears. Depending on cavalry, chariot, and infantry use, their standard lengths varied; spears taller than a person were common.
The remarks mocking Chang Suining for not being as tall as a spear were nothing more than casual taunts.
When someone was weak or overlooked, any object or remark could be used to mock them, regardless of logic.
At this moment, however, there were no more jeers, and no more doubtful glances.
Under the combined weight of visual and psychological impact, a brief stillness settled in the surroundings.
The sound of the girl halting her spear seemed to leave aftershocks, buzzing incessantly in the ears and lingering in the hearts of all present.
“First round—mounted archery and spear drills… Young Miss Chang wins all three bouts!” The voice of the battalion captain rang out, the final tone carrying a subtle tremor.
As the sound landed, everyone’s attention was drawn back to reality.
The area erupted in chatter.
“The spear technique Young Miss Chang just used… did you see that clearly? I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“I wonder who taught her?”
“General Chu… did you teach this set of spear techniques?”
Chu Xing, dumbfounded, nearly dropped his own eyeballs in shock upon hearing this: “…That is a spear technique created by His Highness the Former Crown Prince!”
He had followed Chang Kuo for many years and had once seen the Former Crown Prince use this very technique!
But… how could a girl suddenly execute the Former Crown Prince’s spear technique?!
And she did so with such precision and skill, as if she had practiced countless times!
Or… perhaps, in that moment, Young Miss Chang was possessed by the Former Crown Prince himself!
What was happening? Things seemed to be getting stranger and stranger…
Chu Xing broke into a cold sweat, trembling as he approached Chang Kuo: “General…”
Chang Kuo looked at him and raised a hand, stopping him mid-sentence, his gaze seeming to say: I know you’re panicking, but hold your composure.
Seeing his calm demeanor, Chu Xing’s sense of the bizarre only intensified.
Xiao Min could not help but ask: “General Chang, this spear technique Young Miss Chang used… who did she study under?”
Chang Kuo smoothed his beard and smiled: “I taught her.”
Chu Xing: “?”
When did that happen!
Xiao Min was equally doubtful.
Earlier, Ah Dian had shouted, “This is His Highness’s spear technique!” and many had heard it.
Chang Kuo continued, “Indeed, this technique was created by the Former Crown Prince. I studied it for many years but could never grasp its essence. By chance, I tried teaching it to Chang Suining…”
The rest needed no explanation—everyone could see that Chang Suining, his ‘daughter,’ was a prodigy, learning it with ease.
Xiao Min was struck with realization and moved: “I have long admired His Highness the Former Crown Prince, never expecting in my lifetime to witness his spear technique reappear…”
Chang Kuo sighed: “Indeed.”
Chu Xing’s expression was complicated; he sensed something amiss but could not pinpoint it.
At this moment, there was no time for deeper thought.
Next up was the second round—formation deployment.
In this round, each side needed to command a unit of 200 soldiers for a tactical exercise.
Ordinarily, preparing for this required at least a month of training a full unit in advance.
Chief Instructor Fang, naturally, met this condition. During his time in the capital as chief instructor, his soldiers had undergone thousands of days of training.
Chang Suining, having recently assumed the role of Instructor, had some preparation through her familiarity with training across the camp and had taken command of a unit for practice. As a result, she had already drawn some discontent from other instructors.
However, her participation had lasted only half a month.
Before the exercise, the responsible battalion captain asked if she needed to change or postpone the event. She replied: “No need. Though I cannot guarantee everything, winning this round should be more than sufficient.”
Her haughty words reignited the irritation of the instructors, including Instructor Fang.
At this moment…
As both units prepared, the instructors gathered around Instructor Fang, their expressions complex.
“Chief Instructor Fang…”
“Old Fang,” asked one instructor carrying a wine jug, worried, “are you alright?”
Instructor Fang seemed unable to recover. He stared at the long spear fallen on the ground, his expression vacant.
His palm still trembled, numb.
The shock in his heart had yet to subside.
It seemed absurd, but he had been frightened—by Young Miss Chang’s cold, uncanny spear technique and the commanding presence of her soldiers.
He had watched the spear tip come toward him, and as an experienced chief instructor, he froze in place, unable to respond.
In the blink of an eye, he had lost both the spear in his hand and the prestige of being the foremost of the Seven Chief Instructors.
Three bouts of mounted archery and spear drills, all lost to Young Miss Chang at just seventeen years old…
And lost without dispute, clearly visible to all.
This was a humiliation Chief Instructor Fang had never experienced in his tenure.
It took him some time to barely hear the voices of his companions.
“…It’s alright, there are still two rounds!”
“Even if she is a martial prodigy… what experience does she have in training soldiers? As for strength contests, she can never surpass Chief Instructor Fang!”
Many voices echoed in agreement, yet the initial arrogance had vanished, replaced by solemnity, tension, and focus.
Could she truly never surpass him?
Chief Instructor Fang clenched his numb hand.
Previously, he had believed no one could surpass him in spear technique, yet Young Miss Chang had repeatedly shattered his ‘impossibility.’
The 200 soldiers on each side soon assembled. One instructor noticed several women among the opposing ranks and remarked: “…There are all kinds of people. If one didn’t know, they’d think this was the marketplace rather than a drill!”
His words were partly mocking and partly to ease tension, yet Chief Instructor Fang’s mood could not be eased in the slightest.
He instinctively looked toward Young Miss Chang—his opponent.
Chang Suining was also surrounded by a group, with Ah Dian standing in front, eyes filled with inexplicable urgency: “Xiao Ah Li, how could you…”
Chang Suining smiled: “I’ll explain after I finish my task, alright?”
Ah Dian, anxious, nodded obediently: “Alright, alright, then hurry!”
He immediately stepped aside, watching Chang Suining return to the field, take the unit’s command flag, and climb the temporary wooden platform.
The exercise tested the results of training and the ability to deploy formations. The competitor did not participate directly, only guiding the battle from the side.
Each side had a military flag; the first to capture the opponent’s flag would win.
Chang Suining’s unit was commanded by Battalion Captain Bai, who now led the soldiers from the front.
Several women stood in formation to protect the flag, their posture straight and solemn.
“Form ranks!” From the platform, the girl’s voice rang out clear and commanding as she waved the five-colored flag in her hand.
“Yes!”
The 200 soldiers below, holding weapons, responded in a loud, sharp, and coordinated manner.
Their posture was upright, eyes sharp, and formations precise.
This combination represented both discipline and morale.
High morale inspired themselves and intimidated the enemy.
Facing such noticeably improved morale, the opposing soldiers could not hide their surprise… was this the so-called saying that after three days apart, one should look at them with new respect?
But they had not even been apart three days! Just a short while ago, they had been laughing and eating dumplings together!
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