As the saying goes, happy times are always short. Time passed quickly while we were eating, drinking and wandering around. Soon it was mid-August, and the highlight of this tour to the frontier, the Mulan Autumn Hunt, arrived.
Mulan is originally a Manchu word, which means "shoulu" in Chinese, that is, catching deer. It is usually held between July and August every year, so it is also called autumn hunting. The names of hunting in ancient times were also very particular. In spring, it was called "sou", in summer, it was called "miao", in autumn, it was called "xian", and in winter, it was called "shu".
Of course, Kangxi's autumn hunt at Mulan Hunting Ground wasn't just for fun; it was an event of profound political and military significance. Firstly, he hoped to use this hunting activity to help the Eight Banners maintain their traditional bravery and fighting spirit, hoping to instill in them a vigilant spirit and constant preparedness. Secondly, it was also a way to bring together the princes and nobles of the various Mongol tribes, thereby further consolidating Manchu-Mongol relations and strengthening control over the three major tribes of the northern, southern, and western deserts.
However, it is obvious that these political considerations are not what Yinzuo and his friends care about. They are now surrounding the eldest prince Yinzhen and making wishes.
"Brother, can you help me hunt a fox tomorrow? I want to take the skin back to my mother to keep her warm in the winter."
"Brother, I also want a fox fur, but I don't want a red one. It would be best if you could hunt a silver fox."
"Brother, I don't want the skin. I want a little rabbit to keep for fun. Can you catch one for me when you go hunting tomorrow?"
“Brother…”
Yinzhi felt dizzy and his temples were throbbing from the constant shouting of his elder brother, so he reached out and grabbed Yinzhi, who was jumping the most happily, and lifted him up with one hand.
"Stop, shut up! You still know I'm your eldest brother, don't you think I'm the turtle in the wishing well? It's fine you just want fox fur, but you're even being picky about the color. And you, Yinzuo, can you raise rabbits?"
Yinzuo looked in disbelief at Yinzhi who had lifted Yinzuo up with one hand. It was only then that he remembered what Yinzhen had said to him. The elder brother in front of him was not a good-tempered person. He was a ruthless person who would bully children. Suddenly, he didn't want the rabbit anymore and pulled Yinzhen back several steps before stopping.
"Big...Big Brother, I'm sorry, I don't want the little rabbit anymore. Can you put the third brother down first?"
Seeing Yinzuo who was so scared that he couldn't even speak, it was Yinzhi's turn to be scared. He glanced at Yinzhi who was held in his hand like a little chicken, and quickly put him on the ground. He turned around and looked at his younger brothers who were so scared that they didn't dare to move, and suddenly felt a headache.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong just now. I've made note of what you asked for. I'll pay close attention when I go hunting tomorrow and will definitely bring it back for you."
The frightened brothers no longer cared about what they had asked for. After hurriedly thanking Yinzhi, they turned around and ran out of Yinzhi's tent as if someone was chasing them.
"Li Yu, is your grandfather really that scary? I just gave Third Brother a hand, and he scared them like that. And Sixth Brother, when did that kid become so timid? Was he serious when he took several steps back?"
Not to mention whether Yinzhi's question would be answered by Li Yu, the few people who ran out of Yinzhi's tent ran all the way to the door of Yinzuo's tent before they dared to stop. Yinzhi even looked back again and again out of worry, and only patted his chest with a look of luck after making sure that his elder brother had not caught up with him.
"Fortunately, fortunately, Big Brother didn't chase me. It was really terrifying just now. Although I knew that Big Brother was extremely fierce when practicing Buku, he only threw others. When he picked me up today, I really thought I was dead. Fortunately, there was no danger, but it really scared me to death."
Seeing the Third Prince's relieved look on his face for surviving the disaster, the others fully affirmed his words.
"Yeah, Big Brother was really scary just now, and he has a bad temper. We must be careful not to provoke him in the future..."
Fortunately, although the eldest brother was very scary, he was also very good at hunting. He knew that his unintentional behavior yesterday had scared his younger brothers, so when hunting the next day, Yinzhen did not immediately compete with the prince for the prey. Instead, he took people to hunt what his younger brothers wanted.
"Hatu, give these hunted animals to the younger princes first. Give each of them one of these silver foxes, and give these two rabbits to the Fifth and Sixth Princes."
Yinzhen handed the prey to Hatu, and after watching him ride away, he got back on his horse and rushed to his real hunting ground today with his guards.
The brothers who were left in the camp soon received the turtles from the wishing well, no, it was a gift from the eldest brother of the wishing well. After sending Hatu away, Yinzuo handed the dead silver foxes to Dexi and asked him to take people to deal with them. Then the brothers gathered around the two lively little rabbits and started discussing with each other.
"Although Big Brother is fierce, he is also really amazing. I heard from my master who taught me horseback archery that silver foxes are very cunning and difficult to hunt. But Big Brother not only hunted them, but also hunted several at once. When will I be as amazing as him?"
It was obvious that the Third Prince had forgotten the fear of being dominated by the First Prince last night. His eyes were shining as he fantasized that one day he could be as powerful as Yinzhen.
"This little rabbit is so cute. Sixth brother, do you want to eat some roasted rabbit meat? Should we have someone pick them up and roast them for lunch?"
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