The days grew colder day by day. After the winter solstice, everything hibernated, agricultural activities gradually ceased in the fields, merchant caravans became scarcer, and even officials had to close their books, preparing for the arrival of the twelfth month and the coming of the new spring.
However, the outskirts of Jinyang were not calm.
As the sky barely lit up, a troop of soldiers and horses appeared in the mountain valley. The soldiers were well-armed, with flags and spears, making them imposing and intimidating.
Today marked the first winter hunting event organized by the Duke of Liang. Not only the three armies from Shangdang but also the elite forces from Jinyang were fully deployed, eager to compete in prowess.
Standing on a small hill not far away, observing the well-armored soldiers and the multitude of flags and banners below, Liang Feng nodded slightly. Reviewing the troops was the best way to assess the quality of his soldiers. However, this autumn coincided with the sudden death of the former emperor, and he had to focus on the mourning rituals and the imperial examination. There was no time for the autumn review. Therefore, the originally scheduled military parade was postponed to winter and carried out under the name of winter hunting.
In the Zhou ritual, the emperor and feudal lords conducted seasonal hunts, known as spring searching, summer sowing, autumn hunting, and winter hunting. This was originally a means of performing ancestral sacrifices and practicing military formations. However, this winter hunting held a significance beyond the usual.
“Spread the command to begin the maneuvers,” Liang Feng ordered.
With the command issued, the flag bearers by his side immediately waved their flags, and the war drums resonated. It was not the lively drums and music of a celebration but a deep and resounding beat. The large army below began to move in response to the solemn drumming. The soldiers in the front row raised their wooden shields, shields half their height concealing any sightline, and then, with a buzzing sound, a deafening roar tore through the frigid air. Behind the wooden shields, thousands of arrows and crossbow bolts swarmed out!
The actions were too fast, and no one could clearly see how the soldiers below held their crossbows or received commands. In the blink of an eye, the imagined enemy formation in front was filled with feathers from the arrows. However, the arrow barrage did not stop; the second round, the third round… five consecutive volleys were shot, and within three hundred paces, there was no place to hide.
If enemies were standing in front of the formation?
No one had time to contemplate this question as the arrows and crossbows disappeared, and gleaming spear tips emerged within the formation.
“Kill! Kill! Kill!”
With the bloody and intimidating shouts, uniform and disciplined, it startled the birds in the mountain forest, causing them to take flight. The military formation began to advance, step by step, with the resounding drumbeats, perfectly organized and undisturbed. This was not just one formation; it was three formations advancing simultaneously. Maintaining such formation at this scale was truly impressive.
However, the intimidation did not end there. As the infantry moved forward, a cavalry unit swiftly charged from the flank. Thousands of warhorses thundered with hooves, yet their movements were remarkably agile, akin to farmers wielding sickles. The angles were slightly tilted as they pierced into the enemy formation. Spears and long knives danced in the air, and in just a moment, the enemy formation was cleared.
This was not the typical review, lacking the dazzling and staged melee. In a brief span of time, the formation changed three times, robust enough to face any adversary without falling behind. Only through such real and intense maneuvers could the might of this army be fully displayed.
Under Liang Feng’s command, ripples of discussion spread. This winter hunting event saw the participation of both military and civilian personnel, with a significant portion belonging to the noble families. How many of them were witnessing the might of Liang’s three armies for the first time?
Someone began praising, “With such elite forces, nothing can withstand them. It is truly a fortune for the province to have such powerful troops under the Duke!”
This praise was just the beginning, and a chorus of admiration followed. Liang Feng did not need more accolades; what he desired was the reverence behind these voices.
After being appointed Duke of Shangdang, numerous high-ranking families flocked to the province. Among them were opportunists. Liang Feng knew well that, for many, the military strength he commanded was more worthy of respect than the title of Duke. Given this, he wanted to showcase his strength at the right moment. Hence, he replaced the traditional year-end hunting with winter hunting. In times of chaos, military power was always a dependable support, and the stronger it was, the more reassuring it became.
With a slight smile, Liang Feng announced, “The maneuvers are over. Today’s hunting will also serve as a test for the military’s capabilities.”
As soon as these words were spoken, young commanders like Linghu Kuang, who were waiting on the sidelines, became excited. The military formation demonstrated earlier was that of the three armies of Shangdang, and since they had already displayed their formation, they would not be participating in the hunting. The subsequent field hunting would be an opportunity for these young commanders to showcase their abilities.
Seeing the eager spirits of the commanders, Liang Feng did not stop them and declared the hunting officially underway. Since ancient times, field hunting has been a beloved aristocratic activity. This trend became even more prevalent during the Wei and Jin periods. However, this hunting competition focused on the coordination of military formations, and thus, it did not involve the usual hunting dogs and falcons used by aristocrats. It solely relied on soldiers forming squads and cooperating. This added a significant level of difficulty to the event.
Despite that, the enthusiasm of the crowd remained unabated. Not only the military generals leading the troops but also the civilian officials in the provincial governor’s mansion eagerly joined the mounted hunting. The martial spirit of Bing County had always been strong, especially in such an opportunity to showcase themselves in front of the Duke.
Before long, roars of tigers and bears echoed from below. This was Longshan outside of Jinyang City, and it was not lacking in fierce beasts. Liang Feng specifically ordered the hunting grounds to have three releases for every one caught, following both ancient customs and preventing excessive harm to the wild animals.
Sitting by his father’s side, Liang Rong was also excited. While he had participated in field hunting several times, this large-scale event was a first for him. Seeing the little one peering around, Liang Feng couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Rong’er, are you willing to hunt some game for your father?”
In such a large-scale hunt, Liang Feng couldn’t risk personally participating. It was not just about stealing the limelight from his subordinates; the main concern was safety. The scene was too vast, and his equestrian skills were only average. How could his trusted courtiers and ministers dare to let him take such risks?
But Liang Rong was different. As the only son of the Duke, if Liang Rong could demonstrate his archery skills at this moment, it would send a strong political signal. The health and martial prowess of the heir represented the future prosperity of the family, making it an excellent stage.
Upon hearing this, Liang Rong happily stood up and said, “This child is willing to hunt for Father!”
He had practiced archery for so long; how could he miss such a good opportunity?
Liang Feng smiled and said, “Boyuan, go with Rong’er.”
Being entrusted with such a responsibility by the Duke was something many people could only dream of. However, Yiyan just cupped his hands and replied, “This subordinate obeys.”
Liang Rong looked at the tall and sturdy Jie general and felt a bit disheartened. Did Father not trust his hunting skills? Determined in his heart, Liang Rong mounted his horse and, escorted by Yiyan and about ten attendants, headed towards the mountains.
Field hunting was different from ordinary hunting, where soldiers continuously drove the wild animals and presented them in front of the officials and nobles. Not running far, Liang Rong’s eyes brightened, and he pulled the reins of his horse. Before him stood a deer, not too far away, seemingly unmoved, perhaps shocked by the commotion.
Liang Rong hastily took down his recurve bow, preparing to shoot. Unexpectedly, a hand pressed on his bow, and a voice said, “Young Master Rong, let this deer go.”
Why? Liang Rong turned his head in astonishment, looking at Yiyan.
“The deer becomes pregnant in autumn and gives birth in the following summer. Therefore, during winter hunting, it is forbidden to shoot pregnant animals,” explained Yiyan.
Is there such a rule? Liang Rong quickly lowered his bow. He also knew the courtesy; in field hunting, there were certain rules, such as not capturing young animals and refraining from killing pregnant ones, practices that had been established since ancient times.
Seeing Liang Rong heed the advice, Yiyan’s lips curled up slightly, and he whistled. Several soldiers nearby immediately chased after the startled deer, driving it away in the direction without nets.
Without any prey, Liang Rong collected himself and continued riding. Before long, he encountered a group of scurrying wild rabbits. This time, he didn’t miss the opportunity, immediately bending his bow and shooting. The first two arrows didn’t even graze the rabbit’s fur, but by the third arrow, he managed to hit one gray rabbit’s front leg. The soldiers around him immediately stood up and cheered, “Young Master Rong is mighty!”
Liang Rong was extremely pleased. This was the prey he had obtained during his first hunting trip. The struggling rabbit was tied up by someone, its hind legs hanging from the horse. With this auspicious start, things went more smoothly. Shortly after, he encountered a flock of pheasants. Naturally, Liang Rong shot one after another, claiming victories.
Having hit another pheasant, Liang Rong suddenly came to his senses and asked, “General Yi, why aren’t you hunting?”
He had seen Yiyan’s archery skills before, witnessing his remarkable feat of single-handedly dealing with a leopard. However, today during the hunt, Yiyan hadn’t drawn his bow once, as if intentionally avoiding stealing Liang Rong’s limelight.
“Today is Young Master Rong’s first hunt,” Yiyan only said half a sentence, but the meaning was clear. If he took action, it wouldn’t be surprising to capture tigers and leopards. However, if that were the case, who would believe that other prey were caught by Liang Rong himself? Most people would think that the Duke sent Yiyan along just to save face for his son.
Liang Rong was slightly surprised; he hadn’t expected Yiyan to consider things so meticulously. If Yiyan had accompanied him just to avoid stealing the limelight, then did that mean he had lost the opportunity to stand out?
“General Yi can hunt; you don’t need to worry about me…” Liang Rong bit his lip, stubbornly expressing.
Seeing Liang Rong’s appearance, Yiyan smiled faintly, “These are just ignorant beasts. However fierce and cunning they may be, they are no match for the enemies on the battlefield.”
Ah! Liang Rong suddenly understood. Yes, everyone cared about the results of the winter hunt, especially Yiyan. His military achievements were already illustrious; what need did he have for one or two formidable beasts as decorations? Yet, this indifference made Liang Rong’s initial excitement fade somewhat.
Seemingly aware of Liang Rong’s thoughts, Yiyan said, “Hunting in a group is different from other activities. If Young Master Rong is interested, you might as well try commanding formations. It also has its own enjoyment.”
This remark awakened Liang Rong, rekindling his enthusiasm. Indeed, wasn’t field hunting initially for practicing military formations? Since he had brought along so many attendants, it seemed like a good opportunity to use them.
With a clear goal in mind, Liang Rong no longer coveted personally shooting prey. Instead, he directed his attendants at his side to begin encircling the game. Who among those following him was a foolish person?
After more than half an hour, two foxes and a male deer were hanging from the horses.
“Perhaps there are tigers and leopards in the woods…” Liang Rong’s eyes sparkled with excitement. If he could personally command the capture of such ferocious beasts, wouldn’t it bring glory to his father?
He couldn’t help but urge his horse forward, wanting it to move faster. Unexpectedly, Yiyan suddenly shot an arrow like lightning. With a whoosh, the arrow struck exactly under Liang Rong’s mount.
The horse neighed, almost jumping up, but a hand had already grabbed the reins, keeping it in place. Liang Rong, who hadn’t reacted, firmly held onto the reins.
“Be careful, Young Master Rong!” A voice finally reached his ears.
Turning his head to the side, Liang Rong saw Yiyan with a furrowed brow. Looking down, the arrow’s long feather end was a black snake over a foot long. The triangular head had been pierced by the arrow and killed instantly.
This time, cold sweat broke out on Liang Rong’s back. Who would have thought there would be snakes in winter? If the snake had suddenly sprung up and bitten the horse’s leg, it would have been difficult to control the startled horse.
However, at this moment, his mount was firmly restrained by someone, and the snake had long since died. Besides his father, who else would take such meticulous care of him?
“Thank you, General Yi…” Liang Rong whispered.
Yiyan released his hand and gently stroked the horse’s mane, saying, “With me here, Young Master Rong need not worry.”
His voice remained steady, as usual, no different from any other day. The comfort he provided seemed to have reached Liang Rong’s heart. This was the person his father had chosen.
Suppressing his emotions, Liang Rong nodded firmly and continued riding.
After half an hour, carrying the spoils of the hunt, Liang Rong returned to the camp.
“Rong’er has gained quite a lot. What did you hunt?” Liang Feng asked with a smile.
“I personally shot a wild rabbit and two pheasants. I also led the encirclement to capture two foxes, a lynx, and a deer,” Liang Rong replied loudly.
Such an answer was more pleasing than the actual hunted game. It meant that the heir of the county lord could already handle archery and military tactics. This was more valuable than mere bravery.
“Good lad. Today, let’s taste the game you hunted.” Liang Feng smiled, holding the little one in his lap. He then turned to Yiyan, “General Boyuan, are you skilled in roasting wild game?”
Yiyan’s lips curved slightly as he looked up, “Willing to cook for the Lord.”
In his voice, there was a hint of laughter that others couldn’t discern. Watching the two exchange bonded glances, Liang Rong’s hand tightened on his father’s robe. However, soon, that small hand let go. Liang Rong relaxed his body, leaning against his father’s embrace.
Translator’s corner:
Did Little Bun finally accept Yiyan? o(≧∀≦)o
