Chapter 2: Encounters on the Way Home

Other attendants arrived one after another. Uncle Hong was the first to rush over after dismounting. He first checked the other party's breath and then carefully examined the injuries. Frowning, he said, "There is still breath; there is hope for survival. Judging from the wounds, they must have been inflicted by a Hu knife, as only a Hu knife can create such fine and deep cuts." Having lived for a long time on the border, he inevitably had to deal with the Hu people, thus he had a certain understanding of the various Hu tribes.

Azhong, Ahe, you two stay behind to assist Uncle Hong in taking care of this person. The rest follow me.

On the side, Zu Ji, upon hearing Zu Zhao's words, also gritted his teeth in agreement, saying: "Those barbaric thieves, when I encounter them, I will make sure they know the might of the men of the Han dynasty"

The itch beneath the boot is of little consequence, yet it is a provocation and an insult to the supreme authority of the Han nation

I ... ... we encountered bandits ... ... robbery ... ... asking for help from my family ... ... the young lady ... ... is still ... ... '' The other party struggled to open their eyes a crack, vaguely seeing the surrounding situation, and then stammered out half a sentence. Before the words were finished, the person fell back into a state of confusion, their eyelids weakly collapsing down.

Where were you attacked?" Most of the people around did not react in time, but Zu Zhao had already made a rough guess and immediately bent down to ask urgently.

Following closely behind Zu Zhao, Zu Jixing eagerly stepped forward and said, "Eldest Young Master, show us your skills once more."

Uncle Hong sighed and immediately instructed the two attendants who stayed to help, saying: "Azhong, you hurry and make a trip to Lulong Sai"

Upon hearing this, Zu Zhao furrowed his brow slightly. For a hunter who has been hunting for many years, judging prey from a silhouette is as routine as daily life. Why, then, was he so hesitant at this moment? Although he felt puzzled, he could not rule out the possibility of genuinely not being able to see clearly, so he said nothing more and simply focused his gaze on the "prey" to the north.

Before long, a soft exclamation suddenly came from the end of the line: "Everyone, look, there seems to be a deer over there"

"Damn beast!" In a moment of frustration after a failed attempt, Zu Ji let out a curse. However, just after he cursed, he suddenly witnessed a strange scene. He had expected the "prey" to panic and flee, but it remained in place, merely shaking violently for a while. After hesitating for a moment, he felt that something was amiss and quickly turned back to shout, "Eldest Young Master, Uncle Hong"

At this point, Zu Zhao has consistently exhibited a very radical stance. On one hand, this is due to his deep-seated hatred for the nefarious individuals who threaten stability; on the other hand, it stems from the needs of his future development plans. With his family situated on the border of Youzhou, it is essential for him to establish a stable rear base if he wishes to venture into the Central Plains during the impending chaotic times. Therefore, from a young age, he has often demonstrated animosity towards foreign tribes within his family and clan. His ancestors, having served as border defense generals, naturally supported this position.

Since Emperor Wu's northern campaigns against the Xiongnu, the northern ethnic minorities have remained in a state of disintegration. However, as time passed, by the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, domestic conflicts became numerous, providing many ethnic minorities with a breathing space. Although these minorities were still not at a level to contend with the Han Dynasty on equal footing, they frequently invaded the borders, committing acts of arson and plunder. While the pain was not directly felt, it was nonetheless a source of constant irritation, preventing the Han borders from enjoying a single day of peace.

Arriving at the mound, he leaped off his horse and rushed to the man's side in a few quick strides. He saw that the man was lying face down, with a neat gash on the back of his shoulder, seemingly caused by a blade, which had cut deep into the flesh, staining a large area of the shoulder with blood; there was also another fresh wound on his left shoulder, a mark left by the arrow that had just grazed him.

Zu Zhao smiled casually. Although he was not in a hurry to return to Xu Wu, it was not difficult to guess the true thoughts of his excited cousin from his expression. Therefore, he directly said: "Zu Ji, how about you give it a try this time?"

Zu Zhao exchanged a glance with Uncle Hong, and then led the group forward on horseback. Upon reaching Zu Ji's side, Zu Ji pointed in the direction of the "prey." Zu Zhao did not utter a word; he nudged his horse's belly and urged it to gallop ahead. The others, too, silently tensed their nerves and followed closely behind.

Uncle Hong need not worry, I will assess the situation myself. Once we have taken care of the injured, we can certainly send Azhong and Ahe to Lulong to request assistance. For now, we should first investigate the circumstances said Zu Zhao calmly. After speaking, he did not wait for Uncle Hong to persuade him further, and with a flick of his whip, he urged his horse to gallop towards the northwest.

Zhu Ji immediately broke into a broad smile, nodding repeatedly in agreement: "Good, good." After saying this, he casually took down the long bow from behind him

Zhu Zhao quickly made a deduction; given the mobility of the injured person, it was certain that he could not have traveled more than five miles. In other words, the location of the attack was within five miles to the northwest. He was not unfamiliar with the terrain of the forest in this area; the forest was not large, and three miles to the north led out of the woods. Further north lay the vast plains at the southern foot of the Yanshan Mountains, which were also an important trade route for commerce between the Han and the Hu. Because it was a border trade route, it was frequented by Hu bandits.

Uncle Hong did not say much, but reached out to lift the injured person's shawl, intending to treat the wound and first sober the person up. The dried blood had stuck the shawl to the wound, and pulling the shawl inevitably tugged at the injury. The injured person seemed to feel the pain, suddenly stirring slightly, and a groan escaped from their nostrils.

The others are all descendants of prominent families, and to varying degrees, they have been influenced by the Han-Hu conflict; at this moment, none are without an expression of resentment.

Zhu Zhao, without any hesitation, decisively made arrangements and then rose to return to his mount, skillfully leaping onto the horse's back

Following closely behind, there was an air of grandeur.

Zu Ji had already ridden away on horseback. In order not to startle the prey and to avoid the trees, his speed was not fast. When he approached within a hundred steps, he carefully drew his bow and aimed. Holding his breath, everything seemed to be under his control. Unfortunately, at the very moment he released the bowstring, a hoof stepped on a branch, causing a slight imbalance. The arrow flew off the string and merely grazed the edge of the "prey".

Others did not hesitate any longer and quickly mounted their horses. Most of those accompanying the hunt were young and strong; the frontier men were all devoted to martial pursuits and eager for battle, their blood boiling with fervor, leaving no room for any other considerations

At that moment, a follower at the end of the line shouted, "That doesn't seem to be a deer; it's a horse! No, wait... it doesn't seem to be a horse either... it looks like a bear, but it's a bit too small."

As he drew closer to the "prey," Zu Zhao's expression grew increasingly severe. Soon, he realized that the "prey" lying motionless behind a mound of earth was actually a person, who appeared to be an animal from a distance due to the brown shawl draped over them. Thoughts began to stir in his mind; earlier, when he passed through this forested area, he had lingered here for quite some time and had shot three or two birds. At that time, he had not noticed anyone else around, indicating that this person must have arrived not long ago.

"Young Master, we cannot rashly proceed; if the bandits are numerous, it may endanger ourselves. Less than twenty miles to the east lies Lulong Pass. It would be better to send someone on a swift horse to Lulong Pass to report first, and then go together with the reinforcements." As the only elder and scholar in the ranks, and also one of the stewards of the ancestral home, Uncle Hong had to be more cautious, ensuring the safety of the Young Master above all else

After walking for seven or eight miles, they arrived at a grove they had passed through before. The large leaves retained their green hue, though they had already lost much of their moisture; swaying in the wind, they caused the patches of light and shadow reflected on the ground to shift unpredictably

The speed of the line of horses involuntarily slowed down. At the front of the line, Zu Zhao followed the gaze of the crowd and looked towards the northern edge of the forest. There, about two hundred paces away, a dark shadow was swaying, though the movement was not very pronounced. Due to the great distance and the many trees in between, it was difficult to discern clearly for the moment.

The injured person could not utter a single word, yet with the last ounce of strength, pointed towards the northwest direction of the forest.

"Rest assured, we are Han people." Uncle Hong spoke to soothe the injured, fearing that they might struggle and move about in panic.

Zuzhao cautiously turned the injured person over. The individual appeared to be in his forties, and from his well-ordered attire, he seemed to belong to a family of some standing. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and his expression gradually turned displeased as he coldly remarked: "Once again, it is the Hu Yi causing trouble. Do they truly think there is no one in the Great Han to stand against them?"

After a break, Zu Zhao decided to return to the county. Today's hunting focused on testing the saddle and stirrups; a morning of rushing around was already sufficient, and the meager catch of prey was disappointing. With autumn nights falling early, it was always appropriate to return to the county sooner. A group of more than twenty people mounted their horses in succession and jogged back along the same path they had come.