Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 360 Another Hunt (Part 1)
[Empire, Castilian Peninsula, Royal Palace, Hunting Grounds]
As the great hunt of the Red River tribe came to a close, on the other side of the Shaded Mountains—the Castil Peninsula, thousands of miles away—another hunt was reaching its climax.

Compared to the spectacular scene of the White Lion's roar and 30,000 hunters sweeping across the wilderness in the Red River Tribe, the Empire's hunt seemed rather small-scale, with fewer than a thousand attendants and servants involved.

However, this perception is simply due to the "comparison".

For the Castilian nobility, even the annual Ascension Mass was not as important as the Grand Hunt.

Twenty years ago, on the eve of the imperial civil war, when the situation was turbulent and the various warlords who held heavy military power remained silent.

He was the first nobleman from the Castile Peninsula to openly stand under the banner of [Henry Sun], and he fought bravely in the subsequent War of the Succession, achieving great military exploits.

To honor the loyalty and bravery of the Castilian nobles, after the crown was decided, the royal family held a grand hunting event on the Castilian peninsula every winter.

Even the emperor himself would personally attend the hunting ceremony, and he had never missed a meeting in the past twenty years, nor had anyone else do it on his behalf.

So every winter, the nobles of Castile, large and small, would flock to the royal palace from all over the peninsula, like schools of fish migrating upstream, donning their most magnificent hunting attire.

Even landless knights and commoners who were not qualified to participate in the hunt still scrambled to enter the hunting grounds and catch a glimpse of the emperor.

It should be noted that the Castilians were known for their bravery, strength, and stamina, but they also had a reputation for being unruly, savage, and easily angered.

The Castile Peninsula is geographically far from the imperial center.

Being situated in a remote corner of the world led to a natural lack of awe for the emperor's authority among the Castel people.

Therefore, during the reign of the Mad King Richard alone, there were no fewer than seven rebellions of varying sizes on the Castile Peninsula.

After their outstanding contributions in the War of the Succession, the Castilian nobles became even more arrogant and difficult to control.

It was only thanks to the emperor's skillful handling that the Castilian faction was neither allowed to grow too powerful nor become unbalanced.

During the twenty years of the new emperor's reign, there was not a single rebellion on the Castile Peninsula.

Therefore, the Grand Hunt was not only a good opportunity for the younger generation of Castilian nobles to show off their skills and win the emperor's favor, but also an important occasion for the royal family to maintain the loyalty of the Castilian nobles and demonstrate their favor and goodwill.

Especially at this time of year.

when?
When the Beihai shipping route opened.

Before the conquest of the northern kingdoms, transport ships from the empire's far western colonies could dock at the Castilian Peninsula and then transport goods such as gold, silver, slaves, tobacco, and sugar to various parts of the empire by land.

With the growth of trade along Western shipping routes, the shipbuilding industry also flourished on the Castel Peninsula.

The continuous influx of wealth brought unprecedented prosperity to the Castilian Peninsula, and the Castilian nobles gradually began to live a life of luxury and enjoyment.

They built luxurious palaces, bought the finest and most magnificent Freman horses, decorated their tables with exquisite gold and silver utensils from Venetta, and wore only the most beautiful twill fabric from the foothills.

And what supports all these expenses are Western air routes.

Now, the lion of the North has been subdued by His Majesty the Emperor.

The northern shipping route fell into the emperor's hands, and the two oceans were thus connected.

Transport ships no longer have to pay exorbitant transit taxes when passing through the Narrow Sea, nor are they ever intercepted by Northumbria pirates.

The wealth from the far western colonies no longer needed to rely on the incredibly costly land transport, but could instead be transported directly by ship to the east coast—closer to the heart of the empire.

The rise of trade routes can bring prosperity, while their disappearance can lead to decline.

Some far-sighted Castilian nobles were already feeling uneasy, and they couldn't help but think that although the emperor bestowed all sorts of honors upon the Castilians, he rarely accepted them into the center of power.

The Castilian nobles participated in the winter hunt with gloomy moods, and at this moment they were even more eager to see a goodwill gesture from the emperor.

But some people just won't believe this superstition.

Inside a tent in the hunting grounds, Prince Monta [Richard] is trying to persuade another blond man.

The blond man ignored the prince and silently put on his protective gear.

The only person in the entire empire who could be treated like this by the prince, and who could treat the prince like this, is probably only one—Count Harlan, the Knight of the Golden Fleece, the youngest general in the empire, and the prince's childhood playmate—Sigford of Harlan.

Prince Richard, frustrated and exasperated, turned to another chestnut-haired man after his attempts to persuade him failed: "You're his adjutant! Why aren't you saying anything, Farnan!"

“Because it’s useless,” the chestnut-haired man replied calmly, “Your Highness.”

Perhaps no one in the world understands Siegfried better than Fanan, not even Siegfried himself.

Therefore, Farnan never tried to dissuade Siegfried from the beginning; he simply helped Siegfried put on his greaves in silence.

Siegfried was tall and handsome, and looked even more dashing in his tailored hunting attire. In contrast, Farnan's appearance was not particularly outstanding, but he was capable and composed, which gave people a sense of security.

Prince Richard's tone turned stern: "What do you mean 'useless'? Isn't he the one who listens to you the most?"

“Fanan is right, Your Highness,” Siegfried finally spoke up. “Please don’t make things difficult for him.”

Seeing Siegfried speak, Prince Richard suppressed his anger and tried to persuade him as calmly as possible: "It's just a performance. What good would it do you to defeat those Castiles? You don't need to prove anything anymore. Victory or defeat is meaningless; failure will only bring shame. Do you want to fight this kind of war?"

Siegfried stretched out his arms so that Farnan could use strips of cloth to tightly wrap his wrists, palms, and finger joints.

“Just as you said, Your Highness,” Siegfried said through gritted teeth, “it was just a performance.”

……

[Rewind time to 15 minutes ago]
"Count Harlan?" Duke Tarak, carrying a beast-eared toy, walked past Siegfried with an air of smugness and casually asked, "Aren't you going to play?"

The lords of Castile have always looked down on the "newly rich," not to mention Siegfried, who came from humble origins and was merely the son of a poor knight.

Siegfried seemed not to hear, ignoring Duke Tarak. He held his wine glass, but his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the viewing platform where the royal family was located.

Just as Duke Tarak was about to erupt, Siegfried's chestnut-haired adjutant stepped forward first and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Grace, the winter hunt is a stage for the Castilian warriors to display their prowess. How could the Earl possibly compete with the Castilian gentlemen for the spotlight?"

Siegfried was a favorite of the emperor, and Duke Tarak did not want to cause a real conflict, so he vented his anger on the chestnut-haired adjutant.

Duke Tarak glanced sideways at the chestnut-haired adjutant and asked, "You're Farnan? The 'Shadow of Earl Harlan' they've been talking about?"

"Or to put it another way..." Duke Tarak's tone shifted, becoming sarcastic and lewd: "Count Harlan's male lover?"

Before Farnan could speak, Siegfried turned around and glanced at Duke Tarak.

If Siegfried's face was like a marble sculpture meticulously sculpted by a master craftsman, then the three deep lines between his brows at this moment were the scars left by the craftsman's mistake.

The newly appointed Earl of Harlan spoke coldly: "His Majesty forbids me from taking the stage."

"Is that so?" Duke Tarak smiled and left in a victorious manner as he saw the blond boy provoked. "What a pity."

Siegfried pursed his lips tightly, his left hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his sword.

Suddenly, another hand touched Siegfried's wrist guard—it was Farnan, who looked at Siegfried and shook his head.

The matter should have ended there, but...

“No wonder,” Duke Tarak muttered to himself as he walked away. “The hunt in Castile is too barbaric. How could His Majesty bear to let his male favorite take such a risk?”

……

[Back to the present]
[Hunting Grounds, Viewing Stand]
The Royal Winter Hunt of Castells consisted of four activities: falconry, hawk hunting, dog hunting, and encirclement hunting. Dog hunting and hawk hunting involved horseback chasing, while falconry was a hunt on foot.

After other hunting activities are over, it's time for the highlight of the winter hunt—the encirclement hunt.

The hunting practices of the imperial nobles were similar to those of the Hed people. First, servants and attendants would gather the wild animals scattered throughout the forest, and then the hunting ground would be enclosed with wooden fences and curtains.

Compared to the nearly ten-kilometer-long hunting grounds of the Chihe tribe, the winter hunting grounds of Castil are less than a hundred meters in diameter. Because there is no overlooking point like Qingqiu, the craftsmen build temporary viewing platforms around the hunting grounds.

The higher the viewing platform, the more prestigious the status of the audience members.

Members of the royal family and nobles each had their own independent viewing platform, while lower-ranking nobles who were not entitled to sit either stood or rode horses, making it clear at a glance that everyone's status was high and low.

The largest tiered stands were reserved for the women of each family, a special privilege for ladies.

At that very moment, on the highest viewing platform, a little girl was complaining softly, "It's so boring, Dad. Do they really have to torture those poor wild boars?"

"Watch your words." The speaker's voice was soft and pleasant; she must have been a noblewoman: "Elizabeth."

The girl pouted: "Dad didn't say anything."

The girl's attitude further displeased the noblewoman who was disciplining her: "Where did you learn this mannerisms? Your father spoils you too much; you're practically becoming a wild child."

The girl blinked, adopting an expression of helplessness like a cub, and looked longingly at the man on the throne: "Daddy..."

The man on the throne smiled slightly: "You angered your mother yourself, don't expect me to help you."

"father!"

"You're always like this, always like this." The gentle-voiced noblewoman was angry, but also a little heartbroken: "Always thinking of using your father..."

"Alright." The man on the throne looked at the noblewoman to his right.

The soft, mature female voice abruptly stopped.

The girl secretly raised her eyebrows as if celebrating a victory.

This utterly ordinary conversation took place among the most distinguished families in the empire.

The young girl who was being affectionate with her father was the Emperor's eldest and most beloved daughter, Princess Elizabeth. The noblewoman who reprimanded Princess Elizabeth was Queen Diana.

The man sitting between the princess and the queen needs no introduction; his entire title would require 646 characters to write down.

Therefore, he usually uses a simpler title:

Henry III, by the grace of the Lord, the sole rightful monarch of the Empire, Tanaria, Castile and Northumberland and their territories, Protector of the Catholic Church, and Supreme and Glorious Emperor.

At this moment, the emperor appears strange to those unfamiliar with him, for he has lost his majesty and divinity.

Those who actually served in the palace would not find it strange, because only when the emperor was with Princess Elizabeth did he become a mortal.

So you see, while everyone else sat quietly and barely dared to breathe, Princess Elizabeth could move her seat next to the Emperor's throne, lie on his lap, and complain about how boring the hunt was.

The latest round of performances has just ended, and young Castilian nobles riding steeds are circling the hunting grounds, receiving cheers and flying kisses.

The emperor nodded, and the royal flags on the viewing platform were waved three times to show their appreciation for the gladiators.

After receiving approval, the young nobleman dismounted beside the carcass of his prey. He drew his dagger, cut off the prey's ears and tail, and walked down to the viewing platform to bow to the emperor.

Princess Elizabeth muttered under her breath, "What's so interesting about a fight between a group of men and a group of wild boars..."

"On the contrary, Your Highness." Duke Lothair smiled as he walked onto the viewing platform: "The most interesting part of the Castilian hunt is the duel between man and beast."

……

Why did the Duke of Tarlac say that the Castilian hunt was “savage”?
The reason is simple: the main event of the Castilian winter hunt has never been the "hunting" itself, but rather the one-on-one duel between man and beast.

When the flame of civilization was still a sliver, hunting wild beasts was a skill that humanity had to master. In the murals that survive from ancient civilizations, one can see numerous scenes of humans fighting wild animals.

As civilization developed, humanity gradually moved beyond the stage of eating raw meat, living in caves, and using wood for shelter. Although hunting wild animals was no longer a necessity for survival, humanity retained it as a way to demonstrate bravery.

Therefore, records of ritualistic battles between humans and wild animals are common in the early histories of various civilizations.

Going back a thousand years, gladiators fighting wild beasts was a bloody form of entertainment for citizens of ancient empires.

Three hundred years ago, hunting wild beasts was one of the duties of feudal nobles, and even native lions were killed to extinction.

However, to this day, on the continent where the empire is located, the only place left that still regards "fighting wild beasts" as a form of entertainment and a way to prove one's bravery is the Castilian Peninsula.

The disappearance of the animal fighting custom was due, on the one hand, to the decreasing number of wild animals, and on the other hand, to the protracted attacks by the Catholic Church.

Hunting animals for amusement undoubtedly disregards human life and safety, and Catholic theologians have always abhorred and fiercely criticized it.

In the end, only the remote and ignorant Castile Peninsula retained this "barbaric" and "ancient" custom.

According to the tradition of Castilian winter hunting, weaker prey—such as deer, roe deer, foxes, rabbits, birds of prey, etc.—would be hunted and killed in the dog hunts, falcon hunts, and eagle hunts of the preceding days.

Wild animals—such as wolves, wild boars, and bears—were carefully reserved for use on the last day of the hunt.

The final day of the hunt takes place at the hunting grounds, and all the nobles who come to observe will attend, including the emperor himself.

The beasts are released into the hunting ring one by one, each one stronger and more ferocious than the last.

The Castilian nobles who participated in the final day of the hunt would also take turns entering the hunting area to engage in one-on-one duels with the wild beasts.

Beast fighting is an extremely dangerous challenge, with injuries and deaths being commonplace, but the Castilian nobles never tire of it.

Savage? Then let it be savage!
This is the deepest thought in the hearts of the Castilians: the more the Catholic Church condemns the "beast fighting" as barbaric, the more the Castilians regard it as a unique symbol.

……

[Hunting Grounds, Viewing Stand]
Seeing that the emperor was in a good mood, Duke Lothair told the princess a story from the past: "Your Highness, you should know that twenty years ago in the Gray Rock Arena, His Majesty personally took to the field and killed a giant wolf, a bull, and a brown bear in succession."

"Huh? Why didn't I know?" Elizabeth suddenly became excited and grabbed her father's arm. "Daddy, really?"

The emperor smiled and shook his head.

“Of course it’s true,” Duke Lothair said with a smile. “And it was under the watchful eyes of tens of thousands of Castiles. I still remember the shocked expressions and deafening cheers of the Castiles.”

Elizabeth pleaded with Duke Lothair, "Please explain in more detail!"

The Duke of Lothair and the Emperor exchanged a smile.

Twenty years have passed, and the once-naive prince is now the supreme emperor. Duke Lothair has also aged—but his handsome charm remains undiminished.

“Let His Majesty tell you,” Duke Lothair said with a smile. “Your Highness.”

Elizabeth looked at her father, just about to use her usual tricks of being spoiled and pleading, when rhythmic horn calls rang out in the hunting grounds—new knights were entering.

Princess Elizabeth noticed her father's brow furrow slightly.

Duke Lothair immediately noticed the emperor's change in mood. He looked at the knight in the center of the hunting ground and frowned as well: "Count Harlan?"

Meanwhile, in the center of the hunting grounds.

Siegfried held the reins in his left hand, carried his lance in his right, controlled his horse with his knees, and kept his eyes fixed on the direction of the stables.

Another horn sounded—it was time for the beasts to enter.

The gates of the animal pen rose, and an enormous wild boar charged toward Siegfried.

[A story about nobles and wild boars that must be told]
On June 26, 1515, at a royal celebration held at the Château de Chambord, a famous hunting lodge in the Loire Valley, King Francis I ordered a wild boar captured nearby to be prepared. He intended to personally wrestle the boar bare-handed for the ladies and other spectators. This idea horrified his mother and queen, who knelt on the ground and pleaded with him. Unable to dissuade him, the king abandoned his plan and instead had wooden dummies set up for everyone to watch as the boar attacked them for amusement.

Unexpectedly, the wild boar possessed incredible jumping ability. After knocking over the dummy, it leaped over the fence and charged into the stands, reaching the King, Queen, and his mother. This seemed to be exactly what François wanted. Five or six attendants tried to rush over, but the King stopped them. In front of everyone, he drew his sword, seized the opportunity, and stabbed the charging boar. His movement was swift and precise, striking a vital spot. The boar ran five or six steps before collapsing to the ground, dead. (Quoted from @Holy Roman Emperor)
[The case of Francis I is a successful example; there are also cases of failure.]
[As for monarchs personally engaging in gladiatorial combat with wild beasts, examples range from Roman emperors to King Charles V/Carlos I of Spain.]
[Carlos I grew up in the Low Countries and was considered a "foreign king" by the Spanish. Therefore, he personally slaughtered a bull during a celebration, thus winning the hearts of many Spaniards.]
[Thank you for reading and voting!]
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(End of this chapter)