Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne-Chapter 148 - 130: Competition

In the face of absolute strength, whatever you do is useless. Even with all four of them, Zhang He and his friends were thrown to the ground by Ding Shan in an instant.

Seeing that even the four of them together were no match for Ding Shan, Shen Hu and his companions finally realized that Ding Shan was stronger than they had imagined.

"Convinced?" Zhao Yao asked.

Zhang He and his friends glared hatefully at Zhao Yao, "We’re convinced by him, but not by you."

"Since you’re convinced by Ding Shan, apologize to him," Zhao Yao said, his expression suddenly turning stern, "You’re not planning to renege on your debts in front of everyone, are you?"

Shen Sen and the others got up and said, "We won’t renege; we accept our loss." Although it was embarrassing to apologize, they accepted their defeat wholeheartedly.

They walked up to Ding Shan and apologized earnestly, "Sorry, we shouldn’t have spoken to you like that earlier."

Ding Shan didn’t expect Zhang He and his friends to apologize and was momentarily stunned, then looked to Zhao Yao for help.

Zhao Yao smiled at him, "They called you a bumpkin just now, so it’s only right they apologize to you."

"Master, I am a bumpkin after all, they’re not wrong," Ding Shan scratched his head in confusion.

"Though you’re from the countryside, that’s no reason for them to insult you," Zhao Yao said, "Accept their apology."

Although Ding Shan felt it wasn’t necessary, he listened to Zhao Yao.

"Alright, I accept your apology."

Zhao Yao looked at Zhang He and his friends, "Don’t judge people by their appearance in the future." He didn’t expect the four of them to actually apologize, indicating they weren’t outright arrogant after all.

"Hey, your name’s Ding Shan, right?" Zhang He was now thoroughly convinced by Ding Shan. He had never met someone so strong growing up, not even his father was this strong.

"Yes, my name’s Ding Shan."

"I’m Zhang He," Zhang He asked, "What’s your surname?"

"My surname is Shi."

Song Jicai and the others each introduced themselves to Ding Shan.

"Were you born with your strength?"

"Yeah, I’ve been strong since I was a kid," Ding Shan said with an honest smile, "No one is stronger than me."

"What do you eat to be so strong?" They looked about the same height and build, but their strength couldn’t compare to his at all.

"I eat a lot, I can eat more than a dozen bowls in one meal."

"More than a dozen bowls?!" Zhang He and his friends exclaimed, "You eat more than my dad!"

"Ding Shan, sit down and continue eating your lamb stew."

"Yes, Master." Ding Shan obediently sat down and lowered his head to eat heartily.

"Hey, squirt, I’ll buy Ding Shan from you. Name your price." Zhang He took a liking to Ding Shan and wanted to buy him from Zhao Yao.

"Not for sale," Zhao Yao said, "I don’t need money, no matter how much you offer, I won’t sell."

The words Zhao Yao said left Zhang He speechless.

"You little squirt..."

But Chu Huan thought quickly, "Squirt, we’re convinced by Ding Shan’s strength, but not by yours."

Shen Sen echoed Chu Huan’s words, "What skills could a little squirt like you have, daring to look down on the four of us?"

Zhang He also chimed in, "Yeah, what right does a squirt like you have to look down on us?"

Song Dekang said, "No one has ever dared to look down on us."

"Squirt, do you dare compete with us?" Chu Huan deliberately taunted, "If you win, we’ll do whatever you say. But if you lose, you have to give us Ding Shan."

Zhao Yao shook his head gently, "Ding Shan is my person, not a bargaining chip, I won’t use him to bet with you."

Zhang He sneered, "I think you’re scared, squirt."

Zhao Yao retorted, looking at Zhang He and his friends disdainfully, "You big kids want to compete with a six-year-old like me, don’t you have any shame?"

Uh... right, they were several years older than the squirt. If they won against him, they’d be accused of bullying a kid.

"Forget it, I won’t give Ding Shan to you." Zhao Yao looked at Zhang He and his friends, suddenly getting an idea, and smiled, "But, I can compete with you."

"You really want to compete with us?"

"You’re the sons of a Great General, you must know how to ride and shoot arrows, right?"

Shen Sen said, "Of course we do, you’re not thinking of competing with us in horseback riding and archery, are you?"

Song Jicai and Zhang He laughed out loud, "Squirt, we’re best at riding and shooting, and you want to compete with us in that?"

"Squirt, if we compete in that, it would be too easy on you." The squirt in front of them was too naïve to want to compete in horseback riding and archery.

Tong Xi was angry to see Shen Sen and the others belittling Zhao Yao and retorted, "It’s not certain who will bully whom, none of you are a match for Master." The riding and archery skills of his young master were the best among the princes.

"Hahahahaha...," Zhang He and his friends laughed as if they had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"You..." Tong Xi was about to step forward and confront them, but Zhao Yao stopped him.

"Master, let me go beat them up." Even the slow-witted Ding Shan noticed Zhang He and the others were mocking Zhao Yao, and he was very upset.

Zhang He and his friends immediately stopped laughing when they heard Ding Shan’s words, showing a trace of fear on their faces.

Zhao Yao shook his head at Ding Shan and the others, then said to Zhang He and his friends, "I dare to compete with you, are you afraid to accept?"

"Why would we be afraid, but don’t cry if you lose and say we bullied you."

"Don’t worry, I won’t say you bullied me," Zhao Yao said, pretending to be a bit impatient, "Are you going to compete or not, you four slowpokes?"

"If you insist, then let’s do it," Chu Huan asked, "How do you want to compete?"

"I can compete alone against the four of you," Zhao Yao said with a smile, "riding to see who’s faster, archery can be on fixed or moving targets."

"Then let’s do it this way," Song Jicai said, "There’s a racetrack at the West Market. Tomorrow morning at the time of Si, we’ll compete there."

Zhao Yao nodded slightly, "Alright, tomorrow at the time of Si, we’ll meet at the racetrack in West Market."

He added, "Whoever loses must agree to do something for the winner. Of course, giving away Ding Shan is not allowed."

"No problem," said Shen Hu, worried Zhao Yao might back out at the last minute, and extended his hand to Zhao Yao, "A handshake to seal the deal; no one is allowed to back out. Whoever does is a dog."

Zhao Yao walked up to Shen Hu, raised his hand, and shook it. A light smack resounded.

"Whoever backs out is a little dog."

After arranging the competition for tomorrow, Zhang He and his friends left first.

"Yao Yao, are you really going to compete with them tomorrow?" After Song Jicai and the others left, Liang Run quickly asked.

Zhao Yao nodded slightly, "Yes."

Liang Run felt a bit uneasy, "Yao Yao, they are the sons of several Great Generals. Although they’re a bit unruly, they must have learned horseback riding and archery from a young age, and they must be good at it. You haven’t been learning these skills for long, how can you be their match?" Yao Yao only started learning riding and archery at the beginning of the year; how could he be a match for the four little bullies?

"Uncle, don’t underestimate me," Zhao Yao said confidently, arms crossed, "My skills in riding and archery are quite formidable." Although he had only been learning for a few months, that didn’t mean he wasn’t good enough.

Nearby, Tong Xi nodded in agreement, "Master’s riding and archery skills surpass those of his brothers," he almost blurted it out, quickly changing his words.

Hearing Tong Xi’s endorsement gave Liang Run temporary peace of mind, though he still didn’t quite understand.

"Yao Yao, why do you want to compete with them?"

Zhao Yao answered seriously, "I want to recruit them as little brothers." He had just realized that they were the youngest sons of General Zhang and the others, with no obligations to inherit family businesses, and befriending them wouldn’t involve any interest entanglements. Moreover, as they were carefree, playing with them could better disguise him.

Liang Run was taken aback by Zhao Yao’s words, "Recruit them as little brothers?"

"Yes, it should be fun to have them as little brothers."

Liang Run suddenly understood what Zhao Yao was getting at and became somewhat excited, "Yao Yao, so that’s what you’re planning..." He didn’t continue, showing a look of "I get your intent." Previously, Yao Yao wanted to place people in the camp, and now he wanted to get to know the sons of the four Great Generals. It turned out Yao Yao was planning... "Yao Yao, you’re truly thoughtful."

Zhao Yao didn’t correct Liang Run’s misunderstanding.

Liang Run smiled meaningfully, "They are the pampered youngest sons of the four Great Generals; recruiting them as little brothers is indeed wise." Truly, Yao Yao was clever, "So this is why you want to compete with them."

Tong Xi understood Liang Run’s words and looked at Zhao Yao in shock, "Master is wise!"

Liang Run continued, "Although these four little bullies are a bit unruly, they kept their word after losing to Ding Shan, showing that they are trustworthy. Yao Yao, as long as you beat them, they will submit to you as your little brothers."

"To defeat them in what they do best, riding and archery, would make them wholeheartedly convinced."

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