Yitu, unwilling to accept defeat, claimed that Zhao Yao’s method of archery petition was unfair. He demanded Zhao Yao face him in a straightforward match without any tricks.
Hearing Yitu’s insistence on a fair petition, Zhao Yao found it very amusing and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Hearing Zhao Yao’s laughter, the ministers also started laughing.
Yitu didn’t know what Zhao Yao and the others were laughing about, but he could tell these Great Zhou people were mocking him. His face turned livid with anger as he shouted at Zhao Yao, asking if he dared to pete again.
Of course, Zhao Yao dared to pete again, and he generously allowed Yitu to set the rules for the petition.
The Xiongnu were skilled in mounted archery, often hunting while on horseback. He suggested a horseback archery petition. Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao readily agreed.
Hu Yanping advised Zhao Yao not to rush into acceptance, as Yitu’s mounted archery skills were excellent. If Yitu were to genuinely defeat Zhao Yao in mounted archery, it wouldn’t be an honorable situation.
Wuwei listened to Hu Yanping’s words and inwardly rolled his eyes with disdain. However, as a panion of Hu Yanping, he had to cooperate with him, and he insincerely tried to persuade Zhao Yao not to pete in mounted archery with Yitu.
After hearing Hu Yanping and Wuwei, Yitu’s fleshy face showed a look of pride. He "kindly" advised Zhao Yao that if Zhao Yao admitted defeat now, it wouldn’t be too late; otherwise, he would end up crying after losing.
Zhao Yao snorted at Yitu’s well-intentioned advice. He raised his chin, placed his hands on his hips, and looked at Yitu, saying that Great Zhou people would never concede defeat to outsiders.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Shen Hu immediately voiced his strong agreement.
Shen Hu and the four Great Generals echoed Zhao Yao’s words, saying that Great Zhou people would never admit defeat!
Although Zhao Yao appeared small and frail in front of Yitu, he exuded a presence that was by no means inferior.
He confidently declared that he would not lose; it would be Yitu who would lose. He also mocked Yitu, warning him not to throw his bow and arrows when he lost and not to claim that Zhao Yao had used tricks to win.
If he couldn’t afford to lose, he should stop peting now.
Yitu’s face turned alternating shades of blue, white, and red with anger, his hands clenched into fists, making a creaking sound.
Zhao Yao specifically asked Hu Yanping whether all Xiongnu warriors were so petty and unable to handle losing.
Hu Yanping quickly replied that they were not. He added that Yitu was just joking earlier and wasn’t genuinely angry.
Zhao Yao stated that since Yitu wouldn’t throw his bow and arrows after losing, he was willing to pete again.
Yitu suppressed his anger, glaring at Zhao Yao and saying he would not lose!
The horse arena was right next to the martial arts arena. Soon, targets were set up in the horse arena.
When Yitu and the Xiongnu entered the palace today, they had specifically brought their horses along because they couldn’t do without their warhorses for the friendly sparring with Great Zhou.
The emperor generously allowed them to bring their horses into the palace.
The Xiongnu horses were naturally different from Great Zhou horses. Xiongnu horses were very tall and robust, whereas Great Zhou horses were more "refined" in parison.
Both Zhao Yao and Yitu each had five arrows. Five targets were set up in the horse arena, each at different distances. All five arrows needed to hit the bullseye of each target; missing one would mean defeat. Zhao Yao allowed Yitu to shoot first, and Yitu unceremoniously mounted his horse and began the petition.
Out of five arrows, Yitu hit four, with the final arrow missing the bullseye.
When it was Zhao Yao’s turn, all five arrows in his hand hit the bullseye of each target.
Seeing this, the ministers of Great Zhou cheered for Zhao Yao.
Zhao Yao unabashedly mocked Yitu, saying the mounted archery skills of these Xiongnu warriors were not even as good as an eleven-year-old child like him.
Yitu was so angry his face was contorted, and Hu Yanping, worried that he might lose his posure again and do something impulsive, quickly urged him to step back.
Hu Yanping first praised Zhao Yao, then immediately made excuses for Yitu, implying that since Zhao Yao was a Prince and a child, Yitu hadn’t shown his real strength earlier.
The ministers of Great Zhou found Hu Yanping’s words very disdainful.
Song Dekang directly stated that if the Xiongnu couldn’t afford to lose, they shouldn’t pete. If in future petitions the Xiongnu continued to "hold back" their strength and didn’t dare to genuinely pete with Great Zhou, then they should stop now and quickly pack up and return to the grassland.
Hu Yanping was surprised by how straightforward the Great Zhou people were, which was not what he expected from the Central Plains people.
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