"Huang Zhong?"
Inside Chengde Hall, Liu Hong and the Civil and Military Officials heard the name and a look of confusion flashed across their eyes.
As everyone pondered the name, 司空 Yuan Feng stepped forward and coldly said to Zhang Shihao:
"Marquis of Yiyang, you are probably spouting nonsense. One hundred Imperial Guards cannot even get close? Even if Xiang Yu were alive, he would be no more than this, let alone the skill of hitting a target at a hundred paces."
"This is the imperial court, with Officials as witnesses. If you speak falsely, it is a crime of deceiving the emperor. Marquis of Yiyang, you should think carefully before speaking."
Yuan Feng's sneering voice echoed, startling everyone.
Liu Hong, at the head, frowned slightly and looked at Yuan Feng with displeasure.
The eyes of the Civil and Military Officials all flickered.
Even Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants looked at Zhang Shihao with a sneer.
They had all heard that Zhang Shihao sent Yuan Shao to the Minister of Justice.
Now, the Yuan family was going to make trouble for Zhang Shihao?
However, facing Yuan Feng's sarcastic remarks, Zhang Shihao didn't even glance at him. He cupped his hands to Liu Hong and said:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Huang Zhong is in Luoyang. He can be summoned into the Imperial Harem to fight with the Imperial Guards. If Huang Zhong is as Xiao Haozi says, then Xiao Haozi strongly recommends Huang Zhong as Colonel of the Imperial Guards. If Huang Zhong is not as Xiao Haozi says, Xiao Haozi is willing to relinquish his positions as Regular Attendant, Marquis of Yiyang, and Commander of the Palace Guards, and be demoted to a small guard!"
Zhang Shihao's voice echoed, and the sneers on the faces of Yuan Feng, Yuan Kui, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and others in the hall grew more intense. Only General He Jin frowned, looking worriedly at the confident Zhang Shihao.
"This... alright, then quickly invite Huang Zhong into the Palace!"
Although Liu Hong was unwilling to let Zhang Shihao take such a risk, he couldn't openly speak for Zhang Shihao.
...
Soon, a piece of news caused a stir in the Imperial Harem.
The newly promoted Regular Attendant, Marquis of Yiyang, Commander of the Palace Guards Zhang Shihao, strongly recommended someone to be Colonel of the Imperial Guards.
He said that one hundred Imperial Guards could not get close to him.
He also said that if it couldn't be done, he, Zhang Shihao, would relinquish his positions as Regular Attendant, Marquis of Yiyang, and Commander of the Palace Guards, and be demoted to a small guard!
As the news spread, the Imperial Guards in the Imperial Harem were in an uproar, filled with indignation.
Huang Zhong arrived very quickly.
Outside Chengde Hall, on the stands in the square.
Huang Zhong first glanced at Zhang Shihao, then respectfully bowed to Liu Hong and said:
"This humble commoner, Huang Zhong, greets Your Majesty!"
"You are Huang Zhong. You do seem to possess some strength. The Marquis of Yiyang says you have the courage to face ten thousand men and the skill of hitting a target at a hundred paces. The Marquis of Yiyang is willing to use his own title and official position as collateral to strongly recommend you as Colonel of the Imperial Guards. Below are one hundred Imperial Guards, do you dare to go down and fight?"
Liu Hong, with his legs and hands wrapped in white cloth, scrutinized Huang Zhong's appearance, nodded with satisfaction, and meaningfully prompted him.
"This..."
Hearing Liu Hong's words, Huang Zhong immediately looked up at Zhang Shihao in shock.
"You possess great strength; it would be a pity for it to go to waste. Shihao believes in you."
Zhang Shihao's words were few, but in Huang Zhong's ears, they caused his body to tremble greatly.
His tiger-like eyes were filled with emotion and gratitude.
A few days ago, his son Huang Xu was critically ill and on the verge of death. Thanks to Zhang Shihao's intervention, his son Huang Xu was pulled back from the brink of death. To him, Huang Zhong, he had the kindness of saving his son.
Today, Zhang Shihao again used his own official position and title as a guarantee to strongly recommend him, Huang Zhong, as Colonel of the Imperial Guards, so that his martial arts would not be buried.
He, Huang Zhong, was truly moved, truly touched. Zhang Shihao had shown him great kindness!
After a moment of emotion, Huang Zhong quickly regained his spirits. He had always been concerned about his son Huang Xu's illness, sparing no expense and traveling throughout the Han dynasty seeking famous doctors. However, that didn't mean Huang Zhong had no ambitions in his heart.
Otherwise, what was the point of learning martial arts?
Zhang Shihao, at the cost of his own official position and title, strongly recommended him, Huang Zhong, as Colonel of the Imperial Guards, giving Huang Zhong an opportunity that he should seize.
He had to seize it, to live up to his initial ambitions.
And even more, to live up to the opportunity Zhang Shihao had secured for him.
"Zhong will not disappoint benefactor."
Huang Zhong replied to Zhang Shihao, then turned to Liu Hong and solemnly said:
"Your Majesty, this Huang is willing to try!"
"Good!" Hearing that the big man in front of him actually had the courage to fight a hundred Imperial Guards, Liu Hong couldn't help but cheer and waved his hand, saying:
"Go!"
Huang Zhong cupped his hands to Liu Hong, then again to Zhang Shihao, took the Nine Phoenix Sun-Worshipping Golden Blade that a guard handed him, and turned, striding with powerful steps towards the hundred well-equipped Imperial Guards assembled in the square.
"Ding! Host, Huang Zhong's favorability towards you +7, current favorability 99!"
The notification sounded. Hearing Huang Zhong's favorability once again surge by 7 points, reaching an astonishing 99 points, Zhang Shihao looked at Huang Zhong's imposing back and a deeply meaningful smile appeared on his face.
That day, Zhang Shihao was truly surprised.
This fierce general, Huang Zhong, actually came to him after hearing about his extraordinary medical skills.
When he saw Huang Xu, Huang Xu was already suffering from various illnesses such as cold and pulmonary tuberculosis.
In this era, that was almost a fatal incurable disease, but in front of him, Zhang Shihao, it was not too much trouble.
System sign-in medicine + Bian Que's medical skills.
The critically ill, dying Huang Xu recovered at a visible rate.
Undoubtedly, he, Zhang Shihao, gained Huang Zhong's immense favor.
Today, the Imperial Harem guard official positions were vacant. If his, Zhang Shihao's, people were arranged as Colonel of the Imperial Guards, then throughout the entire Imperial Harem, and even the entire Luoyang, he, Zhang Shihao, would no longer be alone. In fact, he could even command several forces, and he, Zhang Shihao, could extend his reach into this city of Luoyang.
Of course, he, Zhang Shihao, unhesitatingly put forward Huang Zhong.
That was Huang Zhong.
The current Huang Zhong was only in his thirties. At the age of thirty-something, Huang Zhong was truly in his peak period.
Looking at Huang Zhong's powerful, striding back, a fervent glint flashed in Zhang Shihao's eyes.
Name: Huang Zhong
Age: 35 years old!
Martial Prowess: 102 (Five-star potential, already at peak, cannot continue to grow...)
Command: 78 (Three-star potential, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Strategy: 70 (Two-star potential, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Politics: 70 (Two-star potential, not yet at peak, can continue to grow...)
Favorability towards Host: 99!
Talents and Potentials:
Peerless Divine Archer
Old but Vigorous, Super Endurance
Powerful! Extremely powerful!
The thirty-five-year-old Huang Zhong was a five-star peerless fierce general!
Furthermore, his favorability towards him, Zhang Shihao, had reached 99 points!