Chapter 104: The Hunt
Chapter 104: The Hunt
The thunderous beat of drums resonated through the air.
At the break of dawn, as the sun had just risen, a subtle chill still lingered between heaven and earth.
A vast cavalry formation appeared within the Southern Garden.
Zhu Qizhen sat astride his horse, his gaze sweeping across the scene. This time, he had mobilized ten to twenty thousand troops for the hunt. The outer ranks were manned by the Beijing garrison commanders and cavalrymen, who drove a great number of wild animals forward.
On either side of him stood numerous military officers arrayed in formation, all awaiting Zhu Qizhen's command.
Drawing his bow and nocking an arrow, Zhu Qizhen pulled the string taut with all his strength. The bow was a sturdy weapon—not as powerful as those wielded by some fierce generals in the army, but certainly no child's toy. Years of training, coupled with his growth in stature, had endowed Zhu Qizhen with physical strength no less than that of a common soldier.
With a release of his hand, the long arrow whistled through the air, emitting a sharp, piercing sound.
This was the cry of the signal arrow.
Its shrill whistle was like an order.
Countless hunters surged forward in a mad dash.
Zhu Qizhen, accompanied by his personal guards, charged after them.
He controlled his horse with firm reins, bow and arrow at the ready, surrounded by his attendants.
He occupied the best hunting grounds, and his guards, well aware of their positions, held their bows drawn but never released their arrows, waiting solely for Zhu Qizhen's shot.
Their vigilance was merely a precaution against any sudden attack by fierce beasts.
Yet, in truth, there were no such ferocious creatures within the Southern Garden.
A gust of wind swept past his ears, and he felt as if he and his horse had become one, skimming just above the earth—a sensation akin to flying.
Though he had previously shot at waterfowl in the palace, such trivial pursuits paled in comparison to this grand hunt.
Before his eyes, countless animals darted about—rabbits being the most numerous, along with deer, sheep, wolves, and a variety of other creatures.
All the animals of the Southern Garden had been driven together.
Hence, the unusual sight of herbivores mingling with carnivores.
Zhu Qizhen loosened his grip and shot his first arrow.
He aimed at a rabbit but, lacking experience, missed.
Yet, an arrow from the side flew out and immediately pinned the rabbit to the ground. One of the guards promptly dashed forward to retrieve the prey.
This was no competition against Zhu Qizhen for the spoils.
After all, all the game would be credited to Zhu Qizhen in the end—his attendants’ participation was a tacit understanding.
Zhu Qizhen’s foundation was solid, and with a master like Li Dachuan advising him, he gradually grasped the nuances. Out of ten arrows, five or six found their marks.
Though his targets were mostly rabbits.
Despite the modest accuracy, this was horseback archery, and with Zhu Qizhen’s abilities, he could serve as a competent soldier on the battlefield.
As for why mostly rabbits were hit, it was simply because rabbits were overwhelmingly abundant.
He had to admit many of his arrows found prey by chance, even though various game were present.
But the rabbits’ reproductive capacity was undeniable.
And the Southern Garden was, after all, no deep wilderness; large game was scarce.
After an hour or more of shooting, drenched in sweat, Zhu Qizhen felt exhilarated.
It seemed that in this era, the only pastime comparable to modern computer games was hunting—an activity that fully ignited the primal desire for conquest in every man’s heart.
For a moment, Zhu Qizhen felt a reluctant nostalgia.
However, Li Dachuan stopped him, saying, “Your Majesty, if you continue, it may harm your health.”
Zhu Qizhen replied, “I understand.”
He was well aware that though he appeared an adult, his body had yet to fully mature; overexertion would be detrimental.
Dismounting, Zhu Qizhen returned to camp to tally the game.
There were over eighty rabbits and a single deer; as for wild boars, tigers, leopards, and other fierce beasts, none were found.
It went without saying how many were shot by Zhu Qizhen himself and how many by his guards.
Upon his return, most others had yet to come back.
The reason was simple: this hunt had a special purpose, and they would not return until the afternoon.
When Zhu Qizhen reached the camp, Wang Ying immediately approached and asked, “Your Majesty, how was the hunt?”
Zhu Qizhen smiled, “Fortunately, there was some gain. Sir, did you not take a shot yourself?”
Do not think that scholars of the early Ming were physically weak. In fact, after the turmoil of the early Ming, many literati possessed considerable martial skill.
When Emperor Taizong led northern campaigns, many civil officials accompanied him and endured hardships alongside the soldiers.
Men like Yang Shiqi and his contemporaries were skilled in horsemanship and archery.
Although Wang Ying was not as adept as his predecessors, he was still capable of hunting.
He replied, “I am old now and dare not keep pace with Your Majesty in the hunt. Yet today, I too had some success. Would Your Majesty care to hear?”
Zhu Qizhen dismounted, and attendants promptly lowered two folding stools. Zhu Qizhen seated himself on one and said, “Mr. Wang, please sit. Pray tell, what have you come across?”
Wang Ying, accustomed to Zhu Qizhen’s courteous treatment, settled beside him.
For several years, Zhu Qizhen had maintained this demeanor. The entire court knew that though the emperor was young, he was approachable and never vented anger on others. His respect for ministers earned him many supporters.
Wang Ying said, “I heard a story, Your Majesty. About a month ago, you received news of the head of A Dai Khan sent from beyond the northern desert. Today’s hunt was arranged here at Nanhai, where eunuchs have conscripted commoners to hunt, even venturing into the Western Hills to capture tigers alive. Many hunters have perished in the process. Worse still, after capturing the tigers, they are forbidden from letting them starve.”
“But fierce beasts eat meat, and the common people rarely have meat in their diet throughout the year. Now all of it is fed to the animals.”
Zhu Qizhen was shocked. “Is this true?”
Wang Ying replied, “I would not speak falsely.”
Zhu Qizhen looked to Wang Zhen and said, “Wang Dabàn, this matter is entrusted to you. Those who tarnish my reputation thus must not be spared.”
Wang Zhen answered, “Your servant understands.”
Wang Ying added, “Your Majesty is wise.”
Zhu Qizhen replied, “Wisdom is hardly the word—I cannot even manage my own servants.”
The longer he lived, the more Zhu Qizhen realized that relying on eunuchs to accomplish great tasks was unlikely.
The imperial court was a deeply twisted entity.
Once eunuchs rose to prominence within the Forbidden City, when sent on missions outside, they would inevitably exploit imperial edicts to amass wealth, ceasing only when fully sated.
Eunuchs had no boundaries.
Having sacrificed their own bodies for wealth and status, expecting them to have moral principles was futile.
Though the power of life and death lay with the emperor, the collateral damage of eunuch governance was immense.
It was not that all civil officials were virtuous—at least under the rectification of the Three Yangs, politics was comparatively clean.
Corrupt officials existed but were few.
Among eunuchs, those of integrity were rarer than phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Over the years, Zhu Qizhen had observed court politics with detachment and scrutinized eunuchs across the realm, arriving at the conclusion that while eunuchs could vie for power, entrusting them with governing the world was fraught with peril.
Wang Ying said, “Your Majesty, to be fair, it is not entirely their fault. Your Majesty’s hunt today mobilized tens of thousands, a grand spectacle for the sovereign, but it devoured the people’s wealth and labor.”
“Please, Your Majesty, consider this carefully.”
Hearing this, Zhu Qizhen knew Wang Ying was preparing to admonish him.
Zhu Qizhen had always been gentle with his ministers, which earned him a good reputation and frequent counsel.
He was familiar with such situations.
He immediately responded, “Sir, your words are most true. Yet today’s hunt is not for mere game. It is to train the troops and demonstrate martial prowess. Though we have recent victories in the northwest, the army is no longer what it was in the days of Taizong.”
“As the Son of Heaven, how could I not take this seriously?”
The hunt itself was tightly intertwined with military affairs; even the Mongols modeled their warfare on hunting techniques.