Chapter 8: With a strong bow, shoot the white deer

Are there really white elk? Zhao Yang felt a surge of joy in his heart and could not help but stand up to gaze into the distance

However, the one who suffers the most in his heart is the schemer Zhao Shuqing. If he had known earlier that riding alone on horseback had such marvelous uses, why would he have exerted himself to give Zhao Wuxu advice? It is truly lamentable to toil year after year only to end up making someone else’s wedding dress

At this moment, the advantage of Zhao Wuxu riding alone on horseback became evident

Moreover, he is only thirteen years old, and his body has not yet fully developed. After drawing a stone bow more than ten times in succession, his arms began to feel sore, and his rhythm gradually slowed down. Reflecting on the later emperor of the Mongols, who shot three hundred rabbits in a single day and was humorously referred to by historians as the "Rabbit Shooting Maniac," Aisin Gioro Xuanye, Zhao Wuxu felt that he was truly far behind.

Indeed, every year the spring gathering, summer planting, autumn hunting, and winter hunting are all conducted during the agricultural off-season. This is also a way for the lords of spring and autumn to train in archery, horsemanship, and chariot driving. Everything must be conducted with rules and order: not violating agricultural seasons, not collecting bird eggs, not killing pregnant female animals, not harming young animals, not destroying nests, and during encircled hunts, leaving some leeway...

The three brothers, Bo, Zhong, and Shu, who arrived later, were completely taken aback as they gazed at the rugged hills, the pebble-strewn riverbed, and the thicket-filled woods

The sovereign has decreed that those who capture the white deer shall be granted a fine bow

The fierce cold wind rises, the mournful clouds drift, in the early winter of October, the temperature is cool, and the earth is a desolate yellow, exuding a sense of bleakness

The right wheel moved, and the steadfast Zhongxin, who had always believed in the unparalleled nobility of chariot warfare, supported himself against the railing of the chariot, secretly vowing to capture more prey than Zhao Wuxu, so that that arrogant and base-born scion would understand what it means to be a truly dignified noble army

Therefore, for the Zhao family, the significance of this place, Mian, and the - map - book goes beyond this

From a distance, the Zhao soldiers who once harvested the left ears and heads of enemy troops on the battlefield have now become hunters in the countryside, preparing to capture prey that has been nourished by the earth for a whole year, becoming plump and strong.

That is speed

However, Yu Xi and Mu Xia, being born as stable servants, lack experience in large-scale hunting, and their archery skills are limited, which means their auxiliary role is actually quite minimal. It seems that winning the top prize in this competition is indeed not an easy task

... ...

At last, Zuo Ju also moved. Zhao Wuxu rode on horseback, carrying a horn bow, accompanied by his two deputies, Yu Xi and Mu Xia, urging their horses as they entered the hunting grounds. Behind them were seventy-two apprentices wielding bronze short swords to scare and drive away the beasts, along with several carts responsible for carrying the game.

Zhao Wuxu's gaze was like a torch, wielding a strong bow and shooting arrows to the left and right, with every shot hitting its mark. Unfortunately, most of the targets in the left quadrant were small game. After a short while, the supply cart behind was filled with about ten wild rabbits; although the number was considerable, their weight was evidently insufficient

However, the white doe seemed to have anticipated this, as it nimbly leaped to the side, unexpectedly evading the arrow that had been shot. Both Yu Xi and Mu Xia could not help but let out a sigh of regret

Zhao Yang stood at the railing on the high platform, and with a grand gesture of his hand, he proclaimed, "Send the order down: whoever can capture that white deer will be rewarded with this lacquered bow bestowed by the Son of Heaven!"

Yu Xi and Mu Xia prepared to draw their bows and take aim, but just as they had not fully drawn the bowstrings, a white deer entered the shooting range of their young master. Zhao Wuxu, who acted decisively, did not hesitate to draw his bow in response.

The galloping horse drew closer and closer to the elk ahead, and Zhao Wuxu could even see the dark white spots on its body

The white deer is akin to the position of the family heir, with four sons vying for it, yet in the end, only one will return with the prize.

The three individuals were quite unwilling to accept their fate and expanded the search area. To their surprise, they did not find the elk, but instead discovered a large creature on the other side of the forest, along with a disheveled traveler who was confronting it.

From a high vantage point, the first to move on the field was Bolu's central army. Although Zhao Bolu had a gentle disposition and was reluctant to contend over many matters, he sometimes found himself compelled to fight under the pursuit of several younger brothers and the encouragement of some loyal vassals. Now, with the assistance of the family general, he wielded a bronze axe, commanding the entire convoy, and by changing formations, drove the prey into the clearing in the woods for slaughter

Zhao Zhongxin looked incredulously at Zhao Wuxu and his three companions riding away on horseback. He ordered the coachman Cheng He to forcefully advance, but the wheels got stuck on obstacles in the riverbed and bushes, making it impossible to move forward. This self-important gentleman had no choice but to swallow the bitter fruit of failure, angrily throwing his bow and arrows to the ground and stamping on them in frustration.

"The fawn, it is a white fawn!" someone shouted loudly

However, if there is no supervision, excited young people are unlikely to pay much attention to these rules

However, Zhao Wuxu and his companions did not have as smooth a journey as outsiders imagined. After the three riders charged into the woods, they were frequently hindered by branches and thorns, unable to compare to the elk that thrived and multiplied in this forest. Before long, the white deer vanished from sight, its tracks concealed by the carpet of withered yellow leaves.

Today, this blessed land has once again revealed its divine presence, has the long-awaited auspicious sign finally appeared

He drew the compound bow into a crescent shape and aimed an arrow at the moose's neck

The skill of encirclement in hunting lies in the act of surrounding, driving the prey to a designated hunting ground, which not only enhances the efficiency of the hunt but also carries significant implications for military training

Although there had been a brief period of disorder previously, Zhao Yang is now very satisfied with the performance of the Zhao clan's convoy. However, the Yu people sent to search for Gu Buziqing reported back that no one was found near the tomb of Jie Zitui, which greatly disappointed him

For the honor bestowed by the lord, and also for the unseen struggle for the family heir among the honor.

However, among the old noble families of the Jin state, especially the Zhao and Wei clans, whose ancestors had once followed Duke Wen of Jin, Chong'er, during his exile to various states, there was not as much respect for Jie Zitui.

The Zhao family's chariot formation was gradually unfolding from the rear

Zhao Wuxu showed no hesitation; he squeezed his legs together and skillfully guided the horse to briskly cross the small river, traversing through the woods, closely following the tracks of the white deer

The white deer no longer gave Zhao Wuxu any opportunity, as it nimbly leaped onto a small hill with its four hooves and dashed towards the dense forest.

After Zhao Wucheng came of age, a grand ceremony known as the Great Review was held in Mian by the new generation of hegemony, Duke Dao of Jin. During this Great Review, he promoted Zhao Wu and officially conferred upon him the position of Xiaoqing, marking the beginning of the revival of the Zhao clan after many years of silence

His armor was covered with a white silk ribbon, stained with specks of blood. Zhao Wuxu was not punished, which truly surprised him. Filled with resentment, Cheng He shook the reins violently, causing the horse to feel pain and gallop away with the heavy chariot.

Zhao Bolu sighed, remaining silent, and directly instructed Yu Rong to turn the vehicle around

Those who capture the white deer, be granted the bow of jade

At least up to this point, he is still the most likely to inherit as the legitimate eldest son of the family

The exhilarating hunt belongs to the youth, while Zhao Yang and Le Qi sit atop a high platform, toasting each other with cups in hand as they watch this chase between man and beast.

Eighty years ago, a calamity known as the "Downfall of the Zhao Clan" nearly led to the extinction of the Zhao family. Fortunately, Zhao Wu, the "Orphan of the Zhao Clan," was able to survive, allowing the family lineage to continue.

The formation is no longer important; the three main and subordinate individuals gradually surpassed the large group and charged to the forefront of the convoy

At that moment, as the wind blew and the grass swayed low, a rare white elk appeared before the crowd, eliciting waves of astonishment.

However, on the face of Uncle Qi, who had a white face and no beard, the smile had vanished. He had schemed and plotted, intending to sow discord between Wuxu and Zhongxin. Although the current situation was somewhat similar, Wuxu's performance today not only overshadowed Zhongxin but also left him, who had been merely observing, far behind. It was akin to a fisherman waiting for the crane and clam to fight, only to suddenly discover that the crane was not trapped by the clam at all, but instead had devoured everything and was about to soar into the skies!

The panting foot soldiers and the fully loaded carts of prey arrived one after another, but all came to a halt.

Is Zhao Shuai, who followed Duke Wen of Jin, really a treacherous minister? He excelled in diplomatic rhetoric, winning the favor and assistance of three hegemons and quasi-hegemons: Duke Huan of Qi, King Cheng of Chu, and Duke Mu of Qin. His contributions were not less than those of Jie Zitui, who, apart from cutting flesh to provide a meal for Chong'er, had no other contributions.

He urged the vehicle to veer right, striving to hunt fiercely, fearing that he would once again fall behind Wu Xu and become a useless person in his father's eyes

Thus, the Zhao family regarded Mian as a land of fortune. When the Hetushucomcom office declined and the six ministers desperately divided the territories of the Jin state, Zhao Yang made every effort to incorporate Mian and its surrounding areas into his own jurisdiction.

During the Spring and Autumn period, when the various states of the Zhou Dynasty engaged in warfare or hunting, the right side was considered the position of honor, while the left side was of slightly lower status. Nevertheless, this position remained significant overall. Zhao Wuxu understood that he had crossed a threshold and had officially received the first recognition from Zhao Yang, allowing him to be included in the ranks and compete alongside his half-brothers.

Yet the chariots of his three elder brothers, no matter how skilled their martial techniques or how loud the crack of their whips, could not match the swiftness of a lone rider

For foreign visitors who have traveled from afar, Mian is the site of the tomb of Jie Zitui, the loyal minister who selflessly cut his flesh to feed his lord. However, his fate was to be tragically burned alive in a man-made fire after retreating into seclusion. His story, filled with tragic elements, has spread throughout the nine provinces.

As the deer horn sounds, the creatures in the hunting grounds begin to leap and flee among the sparse grass, including hares, colorful chicks, spotted deer, elk, and geese. Their chase and death will bring the nobility a thrilling and bloody sensation.

The envoy conveyed Zhao Yang's orders, one after another, and the entire Zhao clan's convoy immediately descended into chaos

Zhong and Mu Xia could not help but cheer softly for their master

When the opportunity arises, he must seize it, for only by taking the position of the family heir and becoming the successor can he change the fate of the Zhao family and his sister Ji Ying

The clever white creature sensed the impending crisis, swiftly leaping and darting through the grass, resembling a white spot of light flickering on the yellow-green earth

At that moment

Under the leadership of the four gentlemen, the central army, the right flank, and the left flank all accelerated their pace, beginning to encircle from three sides