Chapter 35: Wang Jian Lin!

Li Teng bowed with a face full of shame. "I beg the General to punish me!"

There was nothing Li Teng could say to defend himself against this fault.

"The King has already issued an edict."

"This transgression is noted for now. You are ordered to remain in your post under observation. Should there be any further negligence when mobilizing troops, you shall be punished for both crimes combined," Wang Jian said in a heavy voice.

"This general thanks the King for his immense grace!" Li Teng bowed deeply and thanked him loudly.

"Rise."

"Tell me, how is the battle progressing?" Wang Jian waved his hand and stared intently at Li Teng.

Li Teng replied immediately, "Reporting to the General, I have dispatched eighty thousand troops in four routes to pursue and suppress the Han army, while gradually clearing the path to the Han capital. Within one month, I am confident I can completely open the road to the Han capital and bring our troops to its gates."

"Haste makes waste."

"I will give you time, but you must advance steadily. You must not allow any further lapses."

"Within two months, I want to see the destruction of Han," Wang Jian said in a low, commanding voice that brooked no argument.

This placed immense pressure on Li Teng.

"This general will give it his all," Li Teng replied instantly.

"Our Great Qin has been mobilizing against Han for three months now. The territory of Han is not large, and its national strength is not great, but Han has Zhao and Wei as allies. Although relations have grown distant in recent years, they are like lips and teeth—if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. The King of Han has already sent envoys to Zhao and Wei. As soon as Zhao mobilizes, Wei will inevitably follow suit."

"If we destroy Han within two months, everything can be settled. If we drag this out, reinforcements from Zhao and Wei will surely arrive," Wang Jian said with a grave expression.

The destruction of Han depended on a swift campaign.

Although Han's strength was inferior to Qin's, it still had a population of several million and a military of over a hundred thousand.

Though it had been heavily struck by Great Qin, its national strength still remained.

To destroy a nation that had stood in the world for over a hundred years in just five months would be an unprecedented feat.

It was also the inevitable outcome of Qin's eastward expansion and the inevitable path toward the unification of the world.

"This general understands," Li Teng nodded immediately.

After giving his instructions, Wang Jian scanned the area and then asked, "Is Zhao Feng here?"

"Reporting to the General," Li Teng replied immediately, "Zhao Feng is within the military camp, but he is not here."

Wang Jian nodded. After a brief scan, his gaze finally landed on Wang Yan.

"You all wait outside the hall. Wang Yan, stay behind," Wang Jian commanded.

"Yes, sir."

The generals rose one after another, bowed to Wang Jian, and then withdrew from the hall.

Inside the hall.

Only Wang Yan and Wang Jian remained.

"Yan'er."

"Have you made up your mind?" Wang Jian asked, looking at Wang Yan with a face full of affection.

Wang Jian had one son and one daughter.

He doted on this daughter immensely, even going so far as to let her disguise herself as a man to enter the military.

"Father."

"Do I truly have no way to choose my own future?" Wang Yan gazed at her father with a sense of helplessness.

Hearing this, Wang Jian rose slowly and walked up to her.

"Yan'er."

"Our Wang family is not an ordinary family; we are a military clan. Your father holds military power, and your eldest brother holds military power as well."

"Our family is destined to be viewed with suspicion and feared by royal authority."

"And your marriage is not something your father can decide. Everything rests with the current King," Wang Jian said with a bitter smile.

Having reached such a position of power, Wang Jian had little room left to grow. Marriage alliances were one aspect, but more often, they were tools for the royal power to win over or balance against him.

The higher the position, the greater the constraints.

A single misstep could lead to total ruin.

"But... can it really not be changed?" Wang Yan asked with a bitter smile.

Wang Jian shook his head.

"I have received some news."

"The King intends to betroth the Princess of Leyang to your eldest brother. As for you, there may be those in court who propose betrothing you to Young Master Fusu," Wang Jian said slowly.

Wang Yan remained silent, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Once you take off your armor this time, go straight home."

"Though there are voices in the court, the state affairs are currently the priority. The King likely won't intervene in this matter for the time being," Wang Jian added.

Seeing his daughter like this, how could Wang Jian's heart not be stirred? If he were the father of an ordinary family, he would naturally give Wang Yan the chance to choose, but he was not.

Wang Yan said nothing. She turned around and walked slowly out of the hall.

"Sigh."

Wang Jian let out a sigh and also walked slowly toward the hall exit.

However, once outside the hall, the sense of helplessness on Wang Jian's face vanished. He regained his cold, majestic demeanor, no longer showing the tenderness he had displayed toward his daughter.

Surrounded by his generals, Wang Jian walked toward the military camp.

At this moment, inside the camp.

Thousands of elite soldiers were still training.

However, many people were gathered around an archery range. In the middle of the range, Zhao Feng was holding a bow, with three arrows notched.

As the bowstring was pulled, it made a sharp, creaking sound.

The next moment—

*Bang!*

He released the string.

The three arrows on the bow shot out instantly.

Fifty zhang away, all three arrows hit the bullseye.

Furthermore, the arrows even pierced straight through the center.

"Brilliant!"

"Brilliant... truly brilliant!"

"As expected of Sergeant Zhao, incredible!"

"One really cannot compare to Sergeant Zhao; it's infuriating!"

"Only six days ago, it was Sergeant Zhao's first time shooting arrows. And in just six days, he can fire three arrows in succession and never miss within fifty zhang!"

"That's because the target is only fifty zhang away. If it were further, I feel that with Sergeant Zhao's strength, he could shoot even further."

...

As Zhao Feng's arrows landed, cheers erupted all around. The surrounding soldiers looked upon him with immense admiration.

This level of archery was truly profound!

"Sergeant Zhao!"

"I see you haven't missed a single shot within fifty zhang, and you can fire three in rapid succession. Do you want to challenge a hundred zhang?"

"In my Lantian Camp, those who can hit a target at a hundred zhang are all divine archers," Zhang Han said with a smile, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"Since you've gone as far as to ask..."

"Then what's there to say?" Zhao Feng said with a laugh.

Hearing this, Zhang Han immediately grew excited: "Brothers, set up the target! A hundred zhang away!"

Several soldiers immediately picked up a target and ran toward the hundred-zhang mark.

On the other side.

Wang Jian, surrounded by his generals, had arrived at the military camp.

He immediately spotted the large crowd of soldiers gathered at the archery range.

"General, this subordinate will go and gather the soldiers," Li Teng said immediately.

"No rush."

Wang Jian watched with a hint of curiosity and then said, "Go ask what is happening."

"Yes, sir."

Li Teng immediately took the order and commanded his personal guards to fetch a military officer to the scene.

"Greetings, General."

Upon seeing Wang Jian, the officer immediately bowed in salute.

"At ease."

"What is happening here? Why is it so lively?" Wang Jian asked with a smile, looking at the soldiers gathered nearby.

"Reporting to the General," the officer replied immediately. "Sergeant Zhao is practicing his archery. He is currently challenging a target at a hundred zhang."

"Sergeant Zhao?" Wang Jian asked with curiosity and surprise, "Could it be Zhao Feng?"