This made him both worried and a bit puzzled. Logically, imperial envoys should be very safe in Hexi—could it be bandits on the Hexi Corridor? But which bandit group would dare be so audacious as to attack envoys sent by the Emperor himself?

Just then, his personal guard reported from outside the tent: “General, there is a young man from Dunhuang County outside the camp requesting an audience. He says he has a confidential matter to report.”

Richard Martin was pondering the disappearance of the envoy, but upon hearing someone wanted to report a secret, he naturally connected the two matters in his mind.

He nodded, “Bring him in!”

A moment later, two guards led a tall young man into the main tent. The youth was Brian Thompson, who had come to try his luck, wondering if Richard Martin would be willing to see him.

He hadn’t held out much hope, but unexpectedly, Richard Martin actually agreed to meet him, which truly delighted him.

Brian Thompson was brought into the main tent. At the entrance stood four armed guards, eyeing him like tigers. Inside the tent was a single general wearing a golden helmet—this must be the famous Tang general, Richard Martin.

Brian Thompson quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply, and saluted, “Brian Thompson pays respects to General Martin!”

“Who are you, and what business do you have with me?”

“I am a scholar from Dunhuang, and will participate in tomorrow’s martial provincial exam. But someone is abusing their power and has already predetermined the quota for entering the capital. I feel deeply aggrieved and have come to report this to the General.”

Richard Martin was furious—so it wasn’t about the missing envoy after all. He waved his hand, “Throw him out!”

Several guards stepped forward to push him away, but Brian Thompson shouted, “If there is cheating in the provincial recommendation, the recommender will also be implicated! Does the General want his lifelong reputation ruined by three ignorant, dissolute youths?”

Richard Martin was taken aback. “Wait!” he called to the soldiers.

Only then did Richard Martin realize—he remembered he had agreed to write a recommendation letter. If those he recommended turned out to be useless wastrels and angered the Emperor, he would indeed be implicated.

Richard Martin walked up to Brian Thompson and saw that Brian Thompson stood tall and proud, showing no fear at all. He asked coldly, “Are you tired of living? How dare you come here to deceive me!”

Chapter 005: Proving Himself

Only now did Brian Thompson get a good look at Richard Martin’s appearance. The first thing he noticed was a pair of extremely sharp eyes, as if they could see right through him. The man looked to be in his early forties, nearly seven feet tall, with a bristling beard and fierce, tiger-like eyes radiating a murderous aura—his appearance was truly imposing.

Brian Thompson bowed and replied calmly, “I would never dare deceive the General. Every word I say is true.”

He met Richard Martin’s gaze without the slightest fear, his eyes full of confidence. Richard Martin nodded to himself—ordinary commoners would be so terrified upon seeing him that they’d kowtow repeatedly.

But this young man before him was neither servile nor overbearing, his manners proper, and he wasn’t at all intimidated—he truly had some courage.

Brian Thompson left a good first impression on Richard Martin, who then asked, “Why do you say there is cheating in this martial provincial exam?”

“I dare not hide anything from the General!”

Brian Thompson then calmly recounted how James Thompson had approached him, concluding, “Although he is the head of my family, by engaging in corruption and cheating, he is first and foremost disloyal to the Emperor of the Tang, and unjust to the many scholars of Shazhou. Such a disloyal and unjust person—I will never shield him!”

Richard Martin found it amusing. It was the first time he’d seen a youth report his own family head—truly bold. If the family head found out, could he still remain in the clan?

What Richard Martin didn’t know was that Brian Thompson had never had any real connection with his family since childhood. Since the family head James Thompson wanted to sacrifice him, how could Brian Thompson not fight back?

After thinking for a moment, Richard Martin asked, “But you have no evidence. Words alone are not enough—what do you expect me to do?”

Brian Thompson replied confidently, “I am the best evidence. If I am not among the three who qualify for the capital, then the exam is rigged.”

“What arrogance!”

Richard Martin sneered twice, then turned and took his treasured eagle-bow from the rack, handing it to Brian Thompson. “This is a two-stone-five-dou bow. Can you draw it?”

“I am willing to try!”

Brian Thompson took the bow, feeling its considerable weight. He flexed his arms and drew the bowstring with a creak, then switched hands and drew it fully again. Though it was a bit heavier than his own two-stone shadow bow, he could still draw it with ease.

“Forgive my humble skills!”

A look of surprise flashed in Richard Martin’s eyes—not only did Brian Thompson draw his treasured bow with ease, showing great strength, but that unconscious switch of hands revealed that this youth could shoot with both hands.

It’s known that a year of mounted archery training is enough to qualify, but to shoot with both hands takes at least ten years of hard work.

Could this youth have started practicing mounted archery at seven or eight years old? Unlikely! Richard Martin drew two arrows and handed them to Brian Thompson, then ordered his guard, “Bring my Redblood horse!”

Brian Thompson understood what Richard Martin meant—he wanted to see him shoot two arrows with his own eyes before believing his words.

A surge of determination rose within him. He knew whether he could receive fair treatment depended on this moment.

……

The riding and archery field was not far from the central tent. Brian Thompson mounted an exceptionally strong, crimson steed—a Ferghana blood-sweating horse, one of the spoils Richard Martin had gained when he reclaimed Anxi.