MHNEB 23 (2/2)

Book 2: Generals die after a hundred battles; heroes return after ten years’ time.

Chapter 23: The First Sunrise [Part 2 of 2]

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Because she is from modern times, she cannot understand the sentiments of veterans who think like: "I want to handover the crops and grains as much as I can produce" and "I want to give Your Majesty the most qualified warhorse”.

However, Hua Father's character is still very respectable, and He Mulan doesn't think that he talks in a naggy way. 

"Mulan, your armour is good, and your bow is also good. That is, Father is old after all. I am too old to draw the bow." He seems to still remember the touch of Hua Mulan's armour that "illuminates the night". The armour was praised by him constantly for its excellent quality. The bow power of that good bow had also caused him to secretly admire her bow. 

He gave Hua Mulan both his armour, his bow and his arrows of that year. But, Hua Mulan had been in the army for twelve years. He hadn't known how many bows and arrows were swapped out. The leather armour also looked worn. Rumours had it that the LuShuihus caught a lot of villagers in the next township to take hostages, so he had to retrieve the armour and bow that his daughter had put in her big house to use.

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To be able to successfully deter the Hu-rens, Hua Mulan's treasure armour and divine bow had a part to play in it.

In this sort of countryside places, an old general suddenly appeared wearing his armour so shiny that it was able to blind people's eyes while displaying the valour of the army. These LuShuihus had come to kidnap the villagers to threaten the Wei Emperor, and not to risk their lives. To them, there’s not a problem if they catch a few villagers lesser. Therefore, they naturally waited outside of the wall to first observe. 

"The mingguang (2) armour was bestowed to me by Your Majesty. The bow was taken from the hands of a great Rouran general from Tuyuhun (3). He was a general of the Rourans, and the bow was crafted by a Gaoche famous craftsmen. Naturally, it would be a good bow. But the bow was not very strong. Later, my chief commander, General Xia, and the weapon craftsman in the military replaced my bow’s bowstring with a heavy string, so, father, you are not able to draw my bow.” He Mulan thought for a moment and had a little impression of this armour and this bow. So, she spoke of how this armour and bow came about. 

"Good armour, good bow! Good Chief Commander!" Hua father praised three times and drank a glass of wine satisfyingly.

If he didn’t snatch the loots of his subordinates, this chief commander will obviously be a broad-minded man. His family’s daughter met a good boss, how could he not empty his glass in a swallow(4)?

He Mulan smiled and did not say that no one in the bow army could draw her bow, so it was logical for the bow to be returned to Hua Mulan.

Seeing that Hua family’s old father was currently basking in happiness, she decided to keep matters as it were if he was happy. 

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A few days ago, He Mulan brought the Lushuihus horsemen who were relaying the news back fleetingly. She stopped the Lushuihus who shouted to enter the village. They were ordered by her to gather their troops to return to Gai Wu who was in the worn-down temple. 

He Mulan had only hurriedly talked with Hua Father and she learned that the people in the township were all unharmed. She immediately took the soldiers that the county magistrate assigned to her to visit other townships to inspect the situation.

Although the LuShuihu-rens were all cruel and cunning, they are unexpectedly trustworthy. Gai Wu's mighty show of power might also be contributing reasons. Wherever the small white flag went, the LuShuihus gathered and left with it, and the bound villagers were all left in place. The villagers did not seem to have suffered much.

After He Mulan ran around Yu City’s four townships, soothed the frightened villages in the townships and returned to the Qiuyuan Temple outside Yu City, a night had already passed.

A day and a night without sleep while she was running around, even Hua Mulan who had a strong body can't stand it. After all, she is already a woman in her thirties, and she is not a young person. 

When He Mulan returned to the Qiuyuan Temple, the rescue troops that were stationed here under the command of Liang County Prefecture Chief had also arrived in Yu City, and they are currently in confrontation with the Lushuihus. Behind Gai Wu is a group of cavalrymen returning from various townships. The Northern Wei Dynasty had always had a governance system of three prefecture chiefs and three prefectural governors, and each province had a Han prefecture chief and two Xianbei prefecture chiefs. Each county also had one Han prefectural governor and two Xianbei prefectural governors. That was why the horses are in a mess, reflecting the underlying arguments and noise outside the Qiuyuan temple. 

You Ke and the soldiers of Liang County are still watching over Gai Wu. You Ke’s cavalry is surrounded by the LuShuihu’s cavalries, and the LuShuihu cavalries are surrounded by the troops that hurried down by orders to “suppress bandits” from the prefectural governor. Under the encirclement of many soldiers, it was unknown how Gai Wu who had hurt his ribs and the glib and sharp tongue Bai Ma was feeling. 

Cui Lin had suffered serious injuries to his face, and he had been brought back to Yu City Governor’s Manor by the Cui family for treatment. Many wandering swordsmen who were curious about the conclusion to this issue had waited outside the encirclement as they slightly stretched their necks and heads. When He Mulan took a dozen calvaries as she rode over, momentarily, cheers as loud as thunder were heard:

“General Hua! Heroine Hua!” 

At this time, it was dawn, and the different troops each had fire torches. When they heard Hua Mulan, who came back from inspecting the retreat of the Lushuihus came back, at this moment, flares of firelight lit up the sky as the men rejoiced. 

A dozen horsemen can be seen riding towards the worn-down temple, and the outer most soldiers who were in the encirclement shifted left and right, while a lone rider rode towards the encirclement. Many of Hua Mulan's subordinates joined the local troops as a guard after the disarmament, including her old unit. At this time, when they saw their chief commander, they all dismounted and shouted "General Hua" as they saluted her. 

He Mulan felt sourness in her heart. She nodded her head as a sign that she was entering the encirclement. She dumbly said to You Ke and Liang County troops in a husky voice: "The LuShuihus retreated. Except for 10 over people who had resisted had light injuries to the flesh, no one had died. The Yu City encirclement can be absolved."

She didn't sleep for a day and a night, and she was running all over. She had to appease everyone and call out for the Luushuihus. Her original voice was hoarse. Now, as she was tired, her voice became more hoarse. This made You Ke who was listening felt unsettled in his heart. 

“This lowly one had gone to the village and bothered General Hua and had caused you to be so tired.” 

“It is not a problem. If not for you calling me down, if not I would still be in the village fretting, and not knowing what the situation outside would be.” He Mulan jumped down from her horse, as she patted on the steed who was also very tired. 

"Since Gai Wu is trustworthy and has kept his promise, Magistrate You must not forget your promise."

Although so many people were alarmed, Cui Lin was not a court official after all. These defence troops had come to prevent the LuShuihus from causing chaos, and they were not here to rescue Cui Lin. At this point, the encirclement had to be absolved. Since the local magistrate is willing to risk shirking his responsibility to let go of these Lushuihus, the defence troops here will not risk forsaking their lives.  

With the Hua Mulan’s valiant reputation and the popularity of the county magistrate, the LuShuihus guarded their leader with a broken rib, Gai Wu, as they were escorted by the Wei Army to Liang County.

The sunlight started to creep in, as it reflects shiningly on the Wei Army’s sharp blades, and thousands of iron hoofs fell on the ground, akin to a force that could shake the earth and move mountains.

In any case, no one died.

Gai Wu made such an oath, so no other turmoil should be caused out of it……probably. 

That’s great. 

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(2) mingguang: bright light, or illuminating. 

(3) Tuyuhun: also known as Azha. A kingdom established by the nomadic peoples related to the Xianbei in the Qilian Mountains and upper Yellow River valley, in modern Qinghai, China. 

(4)  empty (one’s) glass in a swallow (idiom): drink his wine happily. 

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Fleur's Corner:

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