Chapter 6, Drawing the Bow Left and Right

According to Li Chongjiu's inquiries over the past few days and casual conversations with Wang Junkuo, it is clear that ancient martial arts do indeed exist in this era. However, as Li Chongjiu has deduced, the practice of ancient martial arts imposes extremely stringent requirements on the practitioner's physique, aptitude, and comprehension. Furthermore, these arts are taught exclusively in the form of family secrets and are never disclosed to the public

At this thought, Li Chongjiu couldn't help but feel a sense of eagerness for ancient martial arts deep within his heart. In his previous life, he had been busy in the business world, spending most of his time in the office and flying all over the country. He had almost no leisure time. This had caused his once fit body from university to become flabby by the time he reached his thirties.

In addition to the usual guidance from Wang Junkuo, Li Chongjiu has also received some instruction, which gives him a certain foundation. Among the seven thousand stronghold, Li Chongjiu can barely be considered a skilled individual.

Oh!

The bandits transformed their fists into palms, moving in unison with a single stroke. The morning sunlight slanted down upon the bandits' bronze-like skin, with beads of sweat rolling off their solid muscles. The roar and shouts of a hundred men reached Li Chongjiu, stirring his heart involuntarily

The second formula

According to the narrative, if the two engage in a confrontation without any prior meeting, they would be struck down and fall from their horses

Gazing at his sun-kissed, wheat-colored muscles, Li Chongjiu could not help but feel grateful for having a good physique in this lifetime. Although he was only fifteen years old and his body had not yet fully developed, he already stood nearly 1.7 meters tall

After he returned to the room, he took the three-stone bow from the bag and weighed it in his hands. Then, Li Chongjiu exerted all his strength, tightening both arms, and pushed the bow with all his might

Note 1: In the Sui military system, a school officer oversees 300 men. A brigade leader commands 100 men. A squad leader is in charge of 50 men, and a fire leader supervises 5 men

Now, when Li Chongjiu stood up, he felt particularly relaxed. After several days of recuperation, his body had fully recovered to a state of health. The alarming bruise on his chest had also faded, leaving only a red mark.

Although the muscles in the limbs are not as exaggeratedly developed as those of Wang Mahang, they still contain considerable strength. They far surpass the physique of a desk worker from a previous life. The boys in this village have been training since the age of six. Li Chongjiu has also received guidance from Li Hu, practicing some rudimentary skills, and at the very least, he trains his strength every day

The young men of the frontier, for the most part, learn archery and horsemanship from a young age, mastering the art of combat. When called upon to serve in campaigns, they can earn a distinguished reputation. At home, if bandits come to raid, these youths can gather together to defend themselves. Thus, it was quite common for the young men of the northern regions to practice martial arts from an early age

This year, in order to confront Goguryeo, the Son of Heaven has mobilized the local garrison troops from various regions

By now, Li Chongjiu has inherited this body and is using a two-stone bow. As for his archery skills, although they can only be considered average within the bandit camp, he can still achieve a level of hitting the target six or seven times out of ten. This is quite a pleasant surprise for Li Chongjiu. It is worth noting that before his transmigration, he could barely draw a one-stone bow, and his knowledge of archery was virtually nonexistent. This is indeed a significant gain.

What is most remarkable is that, it is said that Li Chongjiu is able to shoot arrows with both his left and right hands, which is a talent for shooting with both hands.

According to Uncle Li Er, this bow was used by a general of the Sui army, weighing three stones, and is a rare weapon among the Sui forces, utilized by top-tier commanders. It was once purchased by the fourth master, Su Su, during his journey to Liaodong, having been acquired through a series of transactions from a merchant, ultimately bought from the Mohe people for three bolts of silk and five strings of cash. It is said that during the Kaihuang era, when the Sui army was campaigning in Liaodong, it belonged to an unknown general who left it behind in a foreign land.

Li Chongjiu, after listening to these, decided to still focus on hetushu.com, which is looking at the present.

Li Chongjiu thought to himself, in this world, those who can draw a six-stone bow are already formidable warriors. Could there really be someone who can draw a nine-stone bow? That would require a strength of a thousand pounds, and for an ordinary person, even to think about it seems like a far-fetched tale. However, Wang Junkuo solemnly reminded himself at that moment. Just because there are things in this world that I cannot imagine does not mean they do not exist; it is merely a matter of insufficient fortune and not having encountered them. Throughout history, there have only been one or two heroes capable of drawing a nine-stone bow. Just because there are things in this world that I cannot imagine does not mean they do not exist; it is merely a matter of insufficient fortune and not having encountered them. Throughout history, there have only been one or two heroes capable of drawing a nine-stone bow.

Li Chongjiu thought carefully. In his previous life, his martial arts were beyond question. In this life, he cannot die a cowardly death at the hands of petty villains. No matter what, he must not waste this strong physique.

Call!

This is why, in times of chaos, heroes emerge in abundance, whereas in peaceful eras, those who violate the law with martial prowess are all subjects under government supervision

After a night, Li Chongjiu noticed a slight headache. He had no idea how much alcohol he had consumed in the company of those men over the past few days, and he himself was somewhat intoxicated. After all, this body was not the same as in his previous life; if it were, he would definitely not have been able to get drunk.

Oh!

In this era, many individuals have ascended to nobility and titles through their exceptional martial skills, frequently entering the halls of power. A warrior with remarkable martial prowess is valued more by emperors than a scholar who, despite being a mere peasant by day, may find himself in the emperor's court by night. The heroes of Yan and Zhao are known for their blood and valor in combat. Historically, they have been on the front lines against the northern nomadic tribes, leading to the saying that the soldiers of Yan and Zhao are the strongest in the world. The region of Yan and Zhao is a mix of various ethnicities, with a fierce and bold culture. Since the founding of the Sui Dynasty, there have been campaigns to the east and west, with battles occurring almost every year.

Finally, Wang Junkuo mentioned the Nine Stone Bow

At that moment, Li Chongjiu thought of the horn bow made in the eighth year of the Kaihuang era, which hung on the wall of his home

Meanwhile, Wang Junkuo stood by with his thick eyebrows furrowed, watching intently. He urged everyone to practice martial arts, and if anyone showed any signs of slackness, the whip in his hand would show no mercy

At this moment, the sky has not yet brightened, but it is only the fifth watch of the night. There is just a hint of dawn hanging at the edge of the sky. However, Li Chongjiu observes that on the training ground, there are already over one hundred muscular men, bare-chested, striking the pose of the Black Tiger Prowling the Heart.

However, these past few days have also been quite fruitful, as I have mingled with several bandits, including Wang Mahān. The interpersonal skills I mastered in my previous life are now being applied in practice, transforming the previous image of being harsh and ungrateful in the eyes of others.

Regarding today's heroes, Wang Junkuo stated that apart from the aforementioned famous generals, most have already passed away, and those still alive are quite old and lack strength. Speaking of the six-stone bow, it is likely that only Zhang Xutuo, the Prefect of Qijun, can draw it. Additionally, Duke Li Yuan of Tang is also a rare marksman, but it is unknown whether he can draw the six-stone bow

The direction of the training ground suddenly resonated with a thunderous call. Such a vigorous and powerful sound made Li Chongjiu, who had just woken up, tremble inwardly. Li Chongjiu immediately donned his clothes, got out of bed, and walked out of the courtyard.

If he were a bit more diligent and enrolled in a crash course for Taekwondo or Muay Thai, he wouldn't have been sent to this era by a few petty thieves... However, now...

The Third Form

For instance, Wang Junkuo, as the strongest practitioner of the Seven Thousand Stronghold's martial arts, is responsible for teaching the bandits their skills. However, Li Chongjiu understands that what Wang Junkuo imparts is merely some superficial techniques, while the true martial arts worthy of the imperial family can only be passed down through generations. Even a life-saving grace of such magnitude would not be sufficient to persuade Wang Junkuo to teach.

Nevertheless, Li Chongjiu was well aware that he was far from being a match for Wang Junkuo and Wang Mahuan. Even Li Sanniang, who was of a similar age, could easily knock him down with a single palm. Given how formidable these individuals were, one could only wonder how skilled the heroes still in the wilderness, such as Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, and Yuchi Jingde, might be.

Thus, Li Hu gave this bow to Li Chongjiu. Of course, it was not meant for Li Chongjiu to actually use this three-stone bow; rather, it served a greater purpose as an encouragement, reflecting a heartfelt desire for his son to succeed. In any case, within the stronghold, no one else could wield this bow, so it was temporarily left with Li Chongjiu

Only those such as Yang Shuang, Han Qinhut, He Ruobi, Yu Juluo, and Shi Wansui, who are renowned founding generals, are said to be able to draw the Six Stone Bow. Of course, there is also Changsun Sheng, who achieved the remarkable feat of killing two birds with one arrow and instilled fear in the Turks

Li Chongjiu set down the three-stone bow, and indeed found his strength insufficient, managing to draw only a small portion. This three-stone bow could be fully drawn by a person, and among the entire Qianqian Zhai, only Wang Junkuo was capable of wielding it. Unfortunately, Wang Junkuo did not favor using bows, rendering the three-stone bow merely a decorative item

In recent years, the possession of this three-stone bow, along with the inspiration from Wang Junkuo's tales of archery and the conferral of titles to kings and generals, has indeed yielded significant results for Li Chongjiu. Who says that mountain bandits lack ambition? Before his time travel, the young leader Li Chongjiu was solely focused on enduring hardships and diligently honing his archery skills

Boom

It is impossible for Li Chongjiu, who has been given a second chance at life, to be completely disconnected from martial arts simply because of his inferior aptitude and Wang Junkuo's refusal to impart skills. If in his previous life, Li Chongjiu had some martial arts skills, he would likely have preserved his life and not have died unjustly. If in this life, Li Chongjiu had slightly better martial arts, he would not have been struck down and left bleeding by Li Sanniang upon their first encounter, nearly losing his life. If in his previous life, Li Chongjiu had some martial arts skills, he would likely have preserved his life and not have died unjustly. If in this life, Li Chongjiu had slightly better martial arts, he would not have been struck down and left bleeding by Li Sanniang upon their first encounter, nearly losing his life.

Such a powerful bow can only be crafted by the artisans of the Ministry of Works of the Sui Dynasty; it is beyond the capabilities of the common folk. The Mohe people are far from mastering the art of bow-making, and even the Goguryeo people, who regard archery as their national skill, cannot produce it. It is important to note that the bow used by the infantry of the Sui army, as depicted in the *Tu* *Shu*, weighs one and a half stones, allowing a strong soldier to draw two stones, while the southern infantry are relatively weaker and can generally only draw a one stone bow.

When speaking of these individuals, the consistently highly skilled Wang Junkuo displays a face full of reverence. He states that such great generals are the result of a momentous selection, arising during the founding of the dynasty under Emperor Gaozu, when the dragon's fortune converged, aided by a group of extraordinary ministers and valiant generals. During the years of peace, encountering such figures is indeed exceedingly difficult. It was precisely with the support of these fierce generals that Emperor Gaozu subdued the Southern Chen, struck against the Turks, and dealt with the Tuyuhun, thereby stabilizing the realm.

Masters of these ancient martial arts, during times of peace and prosperity, remain inconspicuous, much like Confucian scholars who pass down their knowledge through farming and study. However, once chaos ensues and fires of war ignite, they step forward, utilizing their martial skills to serve various feudal lords, seeking military achievements, and martial men can attain the rank of marquis.

Of course, the image must be gradually improved; it cannot be achieved overnight. In the eyes of others, a good person can turn bad in just one day, but a bad person becoming good takes ten years

Those who can draw a three-stone bow are all capable warriors, either well-versed in ancient martial arts or naturally strong, and they are sure to be valued in the Sui army. Of course, beyond that, there are six-stone bows and nine-stone bows

This simple routine, consisting of just a few movements, is clearly a form of martial arts. After observing for a long time, Li Chongjiu also grasped it clearly and felt a slight disappointment. Such a martial art is akin to the military exercises of later generations, beneficial for strengthening the body, but it cannot be considered an ancient martial art.

Certainly, for someone like Wang Junkuo, Li Chongjiu after his time travel naturally holds a different perspective. It is said that at the founding of a nation, there must be a convergence of dragon's luck. However, during the transition of dynasties, as old systems are reformed and new ones established, the competition for talent among various nations becomes intense, leading to the emergence of capable individuals. If it were a time of peace and prosperity, with a rigid system that devolves into an era of nepotism, such a formidable general might merely be a humble groom.