History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 85 The Great Hunt

"Screw..." The registrar entered the pavilion and excitedly reported, "There is a woman outside the yamen requesting an audience with the magistrate, Magistrate Yuan. Can you guess who she is?"

She's the female warrior who hunted down your big black bear!

“Oh. An old friend of mine.” Yuan Zhi, with his belly protruding, walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, annoyed that the registrar was following him. He pointed to the pavilion and instructed, “Take away the bronze mirror, and quickly find someone to spray water on the orchids, and the bamboo mats, they’ve all faded.”

Later, when Yuan Zhi brought Zhao Zhi over, he saw that the bamboo mat had been turned over. The registrar had the bronze mirror clipped to his waist, and was holding a bowl of water in his left and right hands. He would take a sip, rinse his cheeks with a "slurp slurp," and then spray it onto the orchid.

“Prefect Yuan! I have done everything you asked me to do, and I have put away the bronze mirror. I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave.”

“Hey!” Yuan Zhi introduced loudly, “This is the chief clerk of the prefecture, a man of the Gou clan. General Zhao, when you see him in the future, just call him Chief Clerk Gou. Why is Chief Clerk Gou still standing here? Go on with your work.”

We sat down in the pavilion.

Yuan Zhi asked, "General Zhao, you are even braver than before. I heard that you hunted a live bear a few days ago?"

"Yes, it's been sent to Cui's academy. The governor also likes bears? Then I'll make another trip to that mountain forest."

Yuan Zhi quickly said, "No need, no need. Let me guess, you've come at this time because of the grand hunt in May?"

"Yes. I think the governor should know about my family's situation. My daughter is not good at riding, and my husband and I are really worried about her traveling so far. But as parents, we can't stop our children from growing up because of our worries."

These words were prepared in advance by Wei Yin, and were so meticulous that they were in case Governor Yuan said something like, "Then let's not go."

Yuan Zhi understood. The Xianbei people's hunting customs included not only hunting animals but also abducting people. This time, the warriors' route passed through Wuchuan Town and headed straight for Junji Mountain within Rouran territory; danger was inevitable. "How about this," he said, "I'll discuss this with General Zhao..."

At this point, both Yuan and Zhao knew that this discussion could easily change due to evolving circumstances. But what a coincidence! They directly crushed the Rouran Khan's family, giving Yuan Zhi an incredible achievement!
After agreeing on the terms, Yuan Zhi first took Zhao Zhi to choose a warhorse, and selected a brand-new bow and arrow and quiver suitable for her strength. In order to conceal her identity, he also selected a set of cavalry tunic, narrow-sleeved robe and fur coat suitable for her height and build, a black two-piece tunic and a chestnut two-piece tunic, a black low-brimmed hat that did not expose her ears and a small warrior's crown.

Zhao Zhi arrived empty-handed and left laden with riches, drawing envious glances from both inside and outside the government office. But Yuan Zhi knew very well that General Zhao never coveted extravagant wealth, nor did she care about empty fame. She was forced to disrupt her peaceful life simply because she loved her daughter dearly.

The next morning, Wei Yao went with her father to the Wei Academy to see the headmaster, Wei Mao, who was also there. The group went to the archery range together. The horse assigned to Wei Yao by the academy was tied up in the stable. She went in to take a look and then stared at Wei Mao in surprise.

Isn't this his "wild horse"?

The two men spoke quietly across the horse's head.

Wei Mao: "The inn is stingy. I inquired and they gave you a small horse, which can't go far at all. You take the wild horse, I want that one."

"No way! I won't."

"Don't worry, you just need to leave quickly. I have a way to get the curator to give me a replacement." Wei Mao certainly didn't lack horses, but he disliked the curator's methods and was determined to prove him wrong this time.

He then told her more good news: "Du Ling is dead. He was killed in a fight with his accomplices. His accomplice was the villain who tripped up Master Duan. He has been arrested and brought to the prefectural government. He was also the one who tampered with the cattle feed."

Outside the stable, Yu Yin called to Yu Yao, "A Yao, have you made your choice?"

Wei Yao and Wei Mao knew that it was actually the curator who was urging them.

"All right."

Wei Yao led the horse out, and just as Curator Wei was wondering, "Something's not right," Wei Mao helped Wei Yao onto the horse's back. With a whistle, the wild horse galloped out of the curator's gate. "I'll look for you after we leave the city the day after tomorrow—" Wei Mao shouted, then smiled at Master Wei Yin before asking the curator, "Where's my horse? Which one is it?"

"You..." You didn't go hunting for a reward! Why should the stable provide you with a horse?

Director Wei looked displeased, but Wei Yin remained standing there, refusing to leave. Resigned, the director pointed into the shed and said, "Choose for yourself."

As for Wei Yao, her mother needed to join the Cui Academy's guards the next day, so Wei Yao had to ride alone through the east and west streets to the Cui Academy. Fortunately, the wild horse was well trained by Wei Mao and was used to running in the city. Soon, Wei Yao was no longer nervous and gradually allowed herself to observe the road and street scenes as she rode.

The first day of May.

At dawn, drums beat throughout the city, and banners fluttered. The main force of the Hengzhou Grand Hunting expedition flowed out from the prefectural capital, various county offices, and district offices. All the teams were to meet at the southern garrison camp in Wuchuan Town before dusk on the third day of the month.

The state army had the most soldiers; before the rear guard had even moved, the front guard had already left the city.

Due to the location of the old palace, the hunters exited the city through two gates: one was the side gate on the east side of the north side of the city, and the other was the side gate on the southwest side of the city.

However, the first campsite for all the troops in Pingcheng was set at Huluhai Camp in Liangcheng County. On the second day of the fifth month, at the same time, they set off again from Huluhai Camp.

The group that Wei Yao belonged to was commanded by Director Cui and Confucius. When she saw that the Cui clan warriors accompanying her numbered at least three hundred, and that the supply wagons, camp wagons, and camels stretched as far as the eye could see, she was ashamed of her lack of knowledge.

It was completely different from the scene she had imagined last night!
Seeing her mentor Kong Wenzhong dressed in warrior's clothes, carrying a quiver and holding a large bow, made Wei Yao admire her mentor even more.

"dong dong dong dong..."

Today, the main streets of Pingcheng resemble a surging python.

Each massive chariot passed through streets and neighborhoods, with its war drums placed over ten feet high, each double-sided drum played in unison by two warriors.

The cavalry included swordsmen, archers, and shieldmen, while the infantry included more spearmen and swordsmen. Archers were the most numerous in both categories.

At 1:15 AM, the vanguard troops all left the city!
Next came the ceremonial procession of the eight imperial clans, and Xi Jiao was among them. Although called a ceremonial procession, it was also part of the vanguard.

Then came the real imperial warriors, who quickly left Xi Jiao and his group of young men behind after leaving the city.

The warriors of the eight noble families took to the streets, in order of power: Mu, Lu, He, Liu, Lou, Yu, Ji, and Wei.

Wei Mao and the other boys were in the middle of Wei Shi's group.

Only after all the Lou clan's warriors have left the city can the state's ordinary warriors line up on the street.

At this moment, Zhao Zhi, wearing a hood and a face mask, led ten shield bearers and ten archers to the main street outside Cui's school. Cui, the schoolmaster, and Confucius, already aware of the situation, each clasped their hands in greeting to Zhao Zhi, addressing her only as "Warrior Zhao," and engaged in no further conversation.

Zhao Zhi led the twenty soldiers past Wei Yao, the mother and daughter exchanging only glances. Zhao Zhi needed to roughly count the number of Cui clan's troops, supplies, vehicles, and logistics personnel.

Inside a grain cart, Yuan Heng and Hai Yeren were hiding. They were unwilling to give up the hunt, so they had put burlap sacks over their heads and hid there the night before.

Ruogan clan: a Xianbei tribe. During the Xianbei surname reform, they changed their single-character surname to Gou.

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(End of this chapter)