Fengmou Jiangshan

Chapter 149 Set up a reward to watch the hunt

Before the hunt started, it was already full of strong competition, and everyone in it could feel the fiery atmosphere.

The day passed quickly, and when another day came, it was time to hold hunting activities.

As usual, Gu Qinghua came out in full costume, surrounded by Luan Yiwei, MC, civil and military officials, and Su Jun, the concubine of the imperial concubine, on the Hongtai—a high platform where successive emperors watched relatives and nobles, and elite soldiers hunted and fought.

Originally, the emperor's husband Shao Qing and the side emperor's husband Mu Tiannan were supposed to accompany him, but Shao Qing was disheartened and didn't have such a heart, so she made an excuse to not come; I was by the side, so I also took a leave of absence, and simply ended up at ease in the palace.

Hongtai is built on the top of a mountain called Jingluan Mountain more than 20 miles west of the Yuyuan Palace. Jingluan Mountain stands majestically, broad and towering. The flat land is suitable for building a high platform to watch hunting.

Standing on the Hongtai, one can have a panoramic view of the vast and long valley with lush vegetation in the northwest, and the valley is the center of hunting.As long as Gu Qinghua gave an order, the guard officers and soldiers would beat the beasts and birds that had been chased and surrounded in the nearby valley with gongs and drums, and drive them into the valley like hunting, allowing people to chase and kill them.

In the hunting system of the emperor of Xi Kingdom, on the first day, the young children of relatives, princes and important officials in the court will be off. The emperor can use this to test their bow and horse skills; The purpose of the elite soldiers is also for the emperor to choose the best of them; on the third day, the emperor will go off in person, and he can choose the talents he has chosen in the first two days to accompany him-this is an honor that everyone is proud of.

Therefore, today's relatives and noble young children, the blood in their bodies is extraordinarily boiling, and their minds are extraordinarily hot.

Early in the morning, Gu Qinghua got up, bathed and cleaned his hands, burned incense and prayed to heaven, then changed his riding clothes and rode towards Jingluan Mountain surrounded by Luan Yiwei officials.Taking a rest in the small palace at the foot of Jingluan Mountain, I changed into a deep fiery red dress, embroidered with multicolored silk thread, with big peonies and a phoenix soaring for nine days, a long robe with long sleeves, and a gold thread hook at the collar. The flowing clouds and wishful patterns intersect like water flowing continuously, and the same fiery red cloak is covered, but it is a complicated picture of flying dragon and auspicious clouds embroidered with gold and silver threads. On the head is a dotted emerald golden phoenix crown. In the sky, you may spread your wings and want to fly, or look back and stare at your eyes, with beads in your mouth, lifelike. The pearls are emerald, the golden colors are brilliant, and the golden tassels that are almost as high as the eyebrows move and sway, making the forehead wider and brighter, and the majesty is infinite.

Changed to a small sedan chair for eight people and slowly went up the mountain. The relatives and noble ministers who were dressed in high-end makeup either took sedan chairs, rode horses or walked, and slowly followed behind the imperial sedan chair.

The meandering crowd first boarded Xiaohongtai, a platform halfway up the southeast side of the mountain. Xiaohongtai was built facing the southeast. The floor is paved with Beijing bricks and the railings are carved with white marble. Looking down, it is a broad square. The hunters who are ready to go gather here to accept the last inspection by Her Majesty the Empress.

Although the place of Xiaohongtai is not small, it is still not enough to accommodate a huge entourage, so most of the people rest in place, except for the emperor's personal soldiers, only Prince Li, King Cheng'en, and Minister of the Ministry of War accompanied him , Dali Temple Minister, Minister of Rites, Dian Ge University Scholars and other prominent officials.

Surrounded by Xianglin, Aunt Su and others, Gu Qinghua walked towards Xiaohongtai step by step with his head held high, his footsteps majestic, his fiery red figure and the resplendent crown of gold, jade and beads were particularly dazzling in the bright sunlight.As soon as she appeared, there was a shout of "Long live! Long live! Long live!" that resounded through the sky. The young voice was particularly loud and full of vigor and passion. Armored uniforms, swords, and high-spirited horses made people feel hot and excited. The emotions instantly permeated in the blood.These are Daxi's tomorrow, the fresh blood of the court, and also a force that Gu Qinghua has carefully planned.

Gu Qinghua smiled slightly, raised his arms high and waved them down, and for a while, the voice became louder.The young people raised their heads high, their eagerly following gazes were filled with respect and infatuation. Isn't she the wise king in their hearts?
Gu Qinghua turned his head, not knowing what to order to the side, two eunuchs in sapphire blue tunic round neck satin suits took a few steps forward steadily, one of them solemnly held the ebony tray in front of his chest, and gently held the tray with the other hand. The bright yellow satin cover was gently lifted, and in an instant, a piece of golden light was dazzling. On the plate covered with bright yellow soft satin, there was a machete dagger more than a foot long, and the golden scabbard was inlaid with emeralds like streamlines. , ruby, sapphire, cat's eye, garnet, coral stone, emerald, pearl and other gemstones of various colors are shining brightly, even if you look up from Xiaohongtai, it is also a dazzling golden light.

Everyone couldn't help but gasped.

Another eunuch held his fly whisk in his elbows and threw it behind his shoulder, saying loudly: "Your Majesty has a decree, the one who wins the first prize today will be awarded a red robe and a golden dagger as a tribute to the Western Regions." Bundle!"

"Long live! Long live! Long live!" In the place where the silver light shone, people's heads surged, and everyone raised their fists and shouted at the sound of the mountain, all clearly showing their complacency and eagerness to try.

Rewards are rare, and even more rare is this much-anticipated glory!As soon as he entered the Habayashi Army, he was personally appointed by the emperor as the third-class bodyguard. How many people can get such an honor?What's more, there is also a priceless dagger brocade robe!
Gu Qinghua nodded slightly, and in the background of cheers and rocks, she shook her head lightly, and the phoenix crown and jewels were trembling. She turned around neatly and gracefully, and slowly left Xiaohongtai surrounded by everyone, boarded the imperial sedan chair, and continued on. Go to Hongtai on the top of the mountain.

The Hongtai is divided into two parts, the front and the back. The first half is half-moon-shaped, facing the valley in the northwest, surrounded by intricately carved marble railings, and the second half is a large rectangular square with large square blue bricks spliced ​​seamlessly. , flat and wide, behind the square, a space for taking a nap was built with juan gauze and satin, chairs, tables, bottles, stoves and cups are all available, and there are freshly bloomed lilies in Ru kiln flower pots, which are fragrant and elegant .

The surrounding area of ​​the square was already full of Habayashi guards with sabers at their waists, and when they saw Gu Qinghua and his party coming up, they all bowed neatly and knelt down on one knee, bowing their heads in worship. Walk to the shaped stands.The accompanying officials Luan Yiwei and the palace attendants stood in their respective positions under the guidance of the commissioner of the Ministry of Rites who came first. Only Prince Li, Prince Cheng Enjun and other high-ranking and close ministers were able to accompany Gu Qinghua.

With slender hands of ancient Qinghua, he gently caressed the naive stone lion carved with the head of the white marble railing. Looking up at the distant mountains, he saw thousands of mountains rolling and rolling, and the trees were green and deep like ink. In late autumn, there are also crimson, The leaves of Yin Huang, dark purple, orange and orange are rendered and embellished, and they are like flowers and brocades. On the contrary, they are more dignified and gorgeous than spring days.Looking down at the vast valley that can't be seen at a glance, the autumn grass is paved, swaying in the autumn wind, it seems silent, it seems that there is sound, under the sun, there is a piece of silence.In the silence, there is a little chill hidden.

"It's a beautiful scenery!" Gu Qinghua smiled slightly, and lightly raised his hand to brush the broken hair on his forehead. The mountain wind blew the wide sleeves and robes and danced like butterflies.The king of Cheng'en County turned a deaf ear and raised his eyebrows slightly.

"My great breath, the mountains and rivers are picturesque, it is a beautiful scenery!" Prince Li echoed with a smile, which attracted Cheng'en County King to look sideways.

"What Uncle Huang said is true!" Gu Qinghua laughed.

Prince Cheng'en's face changed slightly, and he couldn't help but glanced at Gu Qinghua and Prince Li. This was the first time he heard Gu Qinghua call this poor man whom he had never paid attention to before.He couldn't help feeling sour and choked up in his heart, and couldn't help thinking, after all, he was still the uncle of Gu Qinghua's direct relative, so why did Gu Qinghua have more than the slightest respect for him?The more he thought about it, the more he thought about it, the king of Cheng'en County became more and more blocked, his face became tense.

Gu Qinghua and Prince Li were unaware of the strange expression and complexion of Prince Cheng'en, they looked at each other and smiled, Gu Qinghua and Su Jun smiled again, turned their heads to look up at the eunuch Si Li and said with a smile: "What are you waiting for? Let's get started! Let me take a good look at the demeanor of our Daxierlang!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch in charge of ceremonies replied respectfully, then turned around, and shouted to the square with his head held high: "Your Majesty has an order, the hunting begins! Show off your demeanor!"

Immediately, there was a loud shout that resounded through the sky: "Your Majesty has a decree, the hunting begins! Show off your demeanor!" The loud and clear voice echoed from the empty valley, stirring back and forth, drumming the eardrums.

Immediately, a distant and long horn sounded in the sky, and amidst the roar of salutes, thunderous drums gradually came from the nearby valleys and mountains.Thousands of horses are neighing and galloping, thousands of people are shouting, swords are clanging, the sound is getting louder and getting closer, and Gu Qinghua looks down, and he can already see riding horses, servants surrounded by relatives and noble children carrying quiver With a bow and arrow in hand, the horse galloped towards the valley, and the rising dust and mist silently told the imminent chill.

In the valley in the distance, the figures of birds and beasts that were released from the valleys on both sides and startled by the thunderous drums were already running wildly in panic.From time to time, the sounds of birds and animals full of fear came along with the echoes in the valley.

Gu Qinghua and Su Jun looked at each other, and they both smiled.

Gu Qinghua raised his hand lightly, and Xianglin knowingly took the monocular telescope from the West from the brocade box held by the little eunuch at the side and gave it to Gu Qinghua.Gu Qinghua took it and looked into the valley, but saw elk, muntjac, gazelle, mountain otter, wild donkey, pheasant, hare, golden pheasant, fox and other large and small birds and beasts running around without thinking. The thunderous drums in the four-walled valley made them dizzy, and the sound of horses' hooves, shouts of people, and barking of hounds behind them seemed to add fuel to the fire!

(End of this chapter)