History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 133 Pursuit of the Hu Family
Zhao Zhi, carrying the governor's token, entered with a government official. Upon seeing Zhao Zhi's swift gait and ruthless killing intent, Yuan Zhi immediately recalled how she had discovered the Rouran people's tracks when they ventured deep into Zhuoxie Mountain during the Great Hunt.

Yuan Zhi understood that the Hu family branch in Anding was finished.

He waved his left hand behind his back twice. This was the code he had just discussed with the registrar and military advisor Huli. It meant that he would allocate warhorses and trusted warriors to Zhao Zhi. Since he wanted to repay Zhao Zhi's favor and it involved the lives of noble families, he had to do things properly.

Huli, the military advisor, immediately went to allocate personnel. Just as he left, the prison warden, Shi Guanxian, arrived.

Guan Xian, who was always oblivious to the situation, exclaimed, "Oh no, oh no! I heard Wei Jing and the Lu family lads say when they left that they were going to ambush the Hu family, saying they were going to get that Miss Hu... Are there guests? I'll come back later."

The Yuan governor glared at Guan Xian until he felt a chill run down his spine, then turned and fled.

Zhao Zhi then clasped her hands in a respectful greeting and explained her purpose: "What a coincidence, I was also looking for the Hu family. The Hu family's daughter instigated trouble and caused my daughter to be beaten. Originally, I should have gone to the Yi family's young master who beat my daughter to demand an explanation, but I heard that the Hu family is not a local and wanted to flee after causing trouble. I hope Brother Yuan can help me find out where the Hu family lives and whether they are still in Pingcheng?"

He called him "Brother Yuan" for the first time! Yuan Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and he wished he could take Zhao Zhi to the Hu family himself.

Seeing his superior's incompetent and cowardly appearance, Chief Clerk Gou quickly took over, saying, "The governor is already aware of this matter and is investigating. General Zhao, please sit down. There's no rush. Besides, the Hu family is large, and they will definitely bring enough troops and weapons on their long journey. We need to plan these things carefully to ensure everything goes smoothly."

Zhao Zhi: "So what if they have hundreds of warriors?"

How arrogant! Her abilities justify this arrogance! Yuan Zhi bit his lip.

While pouring tea, Clerk Gou used the act of pouring tea to hide the official's obsequious manner and said meaningfully to Zhao Zhi, "The general is in charge of killing, but he is also in charge of burying the dead."

Zhao Zhi understood and sat down.

There are so many ignorant and incompetent officials these days.

A military officer rushed in, panicking: "Oh no! Young Master Heng has taken the tiger beast away and brought a whole bunch of cronies with him..."

Clerk Gou glared at him: "You dare to say anything more."

Yuan Zhi waved his hand, dismissing the military officer, chuckled twice, and told Zhao Zhi, "My cousin, Heng, is also at Cui Academy. He often reads poetry with Wei Yao. I'll introduce him to the general another day."

Huli Yelang arrived, dressed in a wide robe and wearing a low-brimmed hood. He reported the situation in detail: "We have found out the Hu family's movements. They left the city before noon, taking the southeast gate."

"In addition, several groups of teenagers gathered in the city, including Xi Jiao, Yuan Zizhi, Zhou Tai and Hai Yeren who had just finished their punishment. Each of them was riding a horse, carrying bows and arrows, and accompanied by hunting dogs. In addition, a hundred Qihu warriors from the Erzhu tribe also gathered, carrying weapons and accompanied by hunting dogs."

"According to the patrolmen's observation, these groups of people first met at an inn near the state academy, which was the residence of Hu Guozhen and his family from Chang'an. After that, they rode out of the city through the southeast gate."

"Your subordinates are ready, and all the troops are waiting at the side gate, ready to follow General Zhao at any time."

The southern suburbs of Pingcheng.

Pingcheng to Luoyang is almost a straight north-south route. No matter which city gate you exit from, to travel safely, you must take the "Bingzhou Avenue".

Hu Guozhen wasn't stupid. Since he had decided to flee to avoid disaster, he had to guard against the pursuit of the Yi, Wei, and Lu families. His daughter absolutely could not travel at the same speed as the slow-moving supply wagon.

Pity the parents of the world.

Hu Guozhen's wife, Huangfu Jing, was physically weak and could not withstand the bumpy ride on horseback. Huangfu Jing held the maid disguised as her daughter and escorted the carriage slowly. On the official road, whenever they encountered a caravan, they would ask for directions and deliberately leave traces of the Hu family's journey.

Hu Guozhen, traveling light with his daughter and a dozen or so entourage, left the supply wagons behind and detoured off the main road towards Bailangdui, a distance of several miles. Yellow dust billowed, and hunting dogs barked fiercely.

Amidst the billowing dust, countless people surrounded the Hu family's supply wagon procession.

The group was unable to move, but that did not mean they would surrender. The Hu family had many retainers and servants, who faced outwards with their bows and arrows and their backs to the carriage where their mistress was.

Huangfu Jing patted her maid Zhi'er's back gently, as if comforting a daughter: "Sit down and don't come out."

"Mother—" Zhi'er, who had been trained in Chang'an, cried out in a shrill voice, which was heard by Wei Mao and Xi Jiao who were nearby.

Huangfu Jing, supported by two other maids, stepped down from the carriage and walked outside the encirclement of the troops. He asked loudly, "Why are you gentlemen surrounding my Hu family?"

Even though Xi Jiao's face was covered by a mask, you could see the injuries on his face. He was speaking even less fluently than he had in the morning, so Wei Mao stepped forward and asked, "Who are you from the Hu family?"

"Hu Guozhen's wife, Huangfu Jing, of the Huangfu clan of Anding."

"Are you Hu Wuwu's mother?"

"Yes."

Wei Mao shouted into the car, "Miss Hu, do you think you can still hide? We don't want to make things difficult for your mother. What happened this morning was all because of you. Come out and come back to the city with us!"

Huangfu Jing shouted into the carriage, "Don't come out." Then she looked at Wei Mao and said, "My daughter is young and has caused trouble. I apologize to all of you gentlemen on her behalf. As for how to compensate her, you gentlemen, please give me an explanation. As long as your explanation is reasonable, even if my family is bankrupt, I will never hold a grudge!"

Wei Mao shook his head: "We don't want your family fortune, we just want to confront Ms. Hu and find out who is right and wrong. We'll make her pay back for the losses she caused us."

“Mother, save me! I’m scared. I won’t go back to the city with them. I’d rather die than go back to Pingcheng.” Zhi’er cried loudly in the carriage.

Huangfu Jing's eyes reddened, and she bowed to Wei Mao and the surrounding crowd: "I apologize to you all on behalf of my daughter. If you have any grievances, strike me back in the face. I will bear them all! Everyone, put down your bows and do not lay a hand on me!"

She gave stern orders to her men, but forbade her maids to follow. She straightened her back and approached Wei Mao and Xi Jiao. "Strike them. Strike them wherever they are, however many times they are, I will accept it. I only ask for one thing: that this grudge be settled today, and that if my daughter ever meets you all again, you must not bring up this old grudge again."

Wei Mao sneered and, in perfect unison with Xi Jiao, stepped back. Wei Mao shouted, "Draw your bows and shoot at this carriage! If the Hu family of Anding dares to retaliate today, all the meritorious officials of Pingcheng—"

Yuan Jingrong followed: "Imperial heir—"

Wei Mao: "I will fight to the death with the Hu and Huangfu families of Anding!"

With a "thud".

Huangfu Jing knelt down, tears welling in his eyes, and begged, "Spare my daughter this once, and I will give you all the supply wagons and all the troops."

Wei Mao made a throat-slitting gesture at her and shouted, "Follow my command..."

Huangfu Jing turned the carriage around: "Get out! Hu Wuwu, show the spirit of the An Ding Hu family, get out of the carriage! Apologize to all the gentlemen!" She was ill and had exhausted most of her energy by doing this. In addition, she deliberately bit her lip, and immediately spat out a lot of bright blood.

It was Hu Guozhen's sister's idea to find a stand-in for Hu Wuwu. Since she was going to be a stand-in, her appearance and figure would naturally be similar. In addition, Zhi'er removed the hairpin from her hair beforehand and deliberately fell when she jumped off the car. With tears on her face and dirt on her face, Xi Jiao and the others, who had not paid much attention to her appearance, could not recognize that she was a "fake".

(End of this chapter)