Andrew Thompson presented the bow. A Tang general pulled it and laughed, “It’s the same as mine, a seven-stone bow, but this is a poor-quality one. Can it really kill forty men?”

“Reporting to the general, what killed the Tujue cavalry wasn’t my bow and arrows, but my courage.”

The general threw his head back and laughed, “Well said!”

His laughter stopped abruptly. He leaned forward slightly, squinting as he pointed at himself and asked, “Do you know who I am?”

“I do not, sir.”

“You really don’t know?”

The general raised his eyebrows proudly and said, “Let me tell you, I am the Deputy Protector General of Anxi, Commander of the Four Garrisons of Anxi, Chris Howard.”

“So you are Chris Howard!”

Andrew Thompson blurted out, startling William Sutton. “Qilang, don’t be rude!” he scolded in a low voice.

But Chris Howard didn’t mind. He smiled, turned, and beckoned to his personal guard. The guard raised a large bow, and the general handed it to Andrew Thompson, saying, “This was made by the best craftsman in the capital, named ‘Hundred Beasts.’ Try it and see if you can draw it.”

Andrew Thompson took the bow, exerted strength with both arms, and drew it. This was also a seven-stone hard bow, but its power was even greater, and it felt very comfortable in his hands—far superior to the bow and arrows he had bought in Bahuan City for five guan.

Seeing that he could draw the bow, Chris Howard nodded in approval. He indeed had some strength. Chris Howard then casually lifted a helmet with his sword and said to Andrew Thompson, “Go a hundred paces away and shoot this helmet.”

The garrison commander of Bahuan, Charles Bennett, was shocked and quickly tried to dissuade him, “Deputy Commander, this is too risky.”

Chris Howard ignored him. Seeing that Andrew Thompson hadn’t moved, his face darkened and he snorted, “Are you afraid?”

“If the commander does not fear death, why should I?”

Andrew Thompson turned his horse and rode to a hundred and fifty paces away. He drew a long arrow, aimed at the helmet on Chris Howard’s sword. At that moment, Chris Howard suddenly tossed the helmet to the left, and Andrew Thompson’s arrow shot out, flying straight at the helmet in midair. Before the helmet hit the ground, the arrow pierced right through it.

The Tang soldiers erupted in cheers, “Great archery!”

Andrew Thompson rode forward and cupped his hands, “I am fortunate not to have failed my duty!”

A personal guard picked up the helmet and presented it to Chris Howard. Chris Howard looked at it and saw the words ‘Ling Mountain Blood Arrow’ carved on the arrow shaft. He laughed, “Since you wish to be the Ling Mountain Blood Arrow, I’ll give you this nickname.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Commander.”

“It’s just a small nickname, nothing much.”

Chris Howard pointed at the bow and arrows in his hand and smiled, “This set of bow and arrows is yours now. From this moment, you are my personal officer.”

The Tang soldiers at the garrison gasped in surprise, all looking at Andrew Thompson with envy. Andrew Thompson had actually become Commander Gao’s personal officer.

Andrew Thompson cupped his fists in salute, “Thank you for your promotion, Commander. I would like to bring a few subordinates with me, if you would permit it?”

“Granted!”

Half an hour later, the large group set out, heading south in grand procession.

……

“Boss, are we really going to Kucha City?” On the road, the excited Brian Foster asked in a low voice. He was lucky enough to be brought along by Andrew Thompson.

“What, you don’t want to go? If you don’t, you can go back.” Andrew Thompson laughed.

“No! No! No! Why wouldn’t I want to go? I’ve had enough of that wretched garrison.”

“What about Old Brooks?” Andrew Thompson turned to ask Eric Brooks.

Eric Brooks sighed, “Of course I’m happy. If I stayed at the garrison, sooner or later I’d die at the hands of the Tujue.”

“You think they’ll retaliate?”

Eric Brooks nodded, “The Tujue are extremely vengeful. Even if they don’t target the garrison directly, they’ll often invade. Ling Mountain will know no peace.”

“Don’t worry! Commander Gao has already made arrangements.”

A young Hu officer appeared nearby. He was tall, fair-skinned, handsome, and strong, as if he was brimming with untapped energy. His bright blue eyes sparkled with a peculiar light.

His smile was very warm and approachable. “Commander Gao has already made arrangements. The garrison will be increased to a hundred men, and the defenses will be strengthened. In addition, five hundred troops will be stationed at Dashicheng, ensuring the Tujue will never return.”

Andrew Thompson took a liking to him and cupped his hands with a smile, “Then I’m relieved. May I ask your name, brother?”

“I am John White, formerly a prince of Kucha, now a member of the Tang army.”

“A pleasure to meet you! I hope Brother White will look after me in the future.”

“General Thompson…”

“Brother White, just call me Qilang.”

John White nodded and smiled, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Qilang, I’ve already witnessed your archery—it’s truly superb. To shoot through a helmet at a hundred and fifty paces is worthy of being called the best archer in Anxi. But I wonder, how are your literary skills?”

Andrew Thompson felt a bit embarrassed. He hadn’t even read the Analects, so how could he talk about literary talent?

“Sorry, I can only read. I have no literary talent at all.”

John White threw his head back and laughed, making Andrew Thompson blush with embarrassment and a bit of annoyance. “What does a soldier need so much literary talent for?” he retorted.

John White stopped laughing and apologized, “Qilang, you may not know—when we Anxi soldiers speak of ‘literary skills,’ we don’t mean reading and writing, but polo. I was asking how well you play polo?”