Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Chienya
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The news of the judgment at Suyuan Station spread across the entirety of Zhangrak Commandery like wildfire on dry grasslands.
The brief hope that the Han people had harbored upon hearing that the hero who beheaded Beigong Baiyu had been appointed as the new Commandery Administrator quickly turned to cold disappointment.
The banquet hall in a Wuhuan noble's mansion in Somuhyeon was shrouded in heavy silence.
"What the hell is this? A Han Commandery Administrator shaming us Han people in front of those barbarians!"
One Wuhuan noble slammed his wine cup down on the table, breaking the silence. Another sighed in agreement.
"That's exactly it. That madman's thinking is completely different from ours. He doesn't even know that blood is thicker than water. 'The people of the Son of Heaven'? He put us on the same level as those barbarians with pretty words like that!"
But the Wuhuan nobles weren't fools. They knew they couldn't oppose Lu Bu with force. Instead, they tacitly agreed to undermine his rule in their own ways.
"The Administrator's just a wild bumpkin from Bing Province who relies on brute strength, isn't he? We need to make him feel to his bones how things really work around here."
"Well said. We'll keep a low profile for now, but every time the Administrator tries something, we'll make it crystal clear that nothing gets done without us."
At the Qiang tribe's camp nestled at the foot of the Qilian Mountains.
The warriors gathered around the bonfire were equally somber.
Anger over losing a hundred horses mixed with bewilderment at the judgment, which was utterly unlike anything before.
"In the end, wasn't it just our Seomu brothers who lost their horses? Can we trust a Han bastard's words? He's a Han Commandery Administrator in the end—he's no different!"
A hot-blooded young warrior shouted, unable to contain his frustration. An old warrior, who had been listening silently, gazed into the flames and spoke softly.
"Does it look the same? If it had been the previous Han Administrator, he'd have chopped off our heads first. But this 'Lu Bu' fellow—he punished us and the Han equally. In my whole life, I've never seen a Han official weigh us and the Han on the same scale."
More voices began to nod in agreement with the old warrior. The Han officials they'd seen until now had all scorned them as 'barbarians.' But the new Administrator was different.
He was Han, and strong enough to suppress them by force, yet he treated Han and Qiang the same.
To them, Lu Bu was an incomprehensible eccentric.
"His strength could uproot mountains, but his thoughts are impossible to grasp. Who the hell is this guy... Better not do anything to catch the Administrator's eye for a while."
The Qiang tribes near Somuhyeon resolved to watch the new Administrator's actions with wary eyes.
Amid the Han fury and Qiang suspicion, only the Di villages were swept up in a different atmosphere.
In Chief Mokta's mud-walled house, Di warriors gathered, unable to hide their excitement.
"Chief! Did you hear? The new Administrator didn't side with the Han against the Wuhuan, nor did he blindly crush the Qiang just because they're Qiang! He only punished violations of the law!"
A young warrior shouted excitedly. Mokta stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming.
"That means—in the Administrator's law, Han, Qiang, Di—we're all equal."
"Exactly! We've never been as wealthy as the Han or as tied to the grasslands as the Qiang; we've always had to watch both sides. But under the new Administrator, don't we have a real chance now?"
To the Di, treated as second-class citizens by the Han and as traitors who abandoned nomadic traditions by the Qiang, the arrival of an Administrator who ignored origins was a golden opportunity.
"Hmm... Lu Bu... Lu Bu..."
Han, Wuhuan, Qiang, and now Di—all eyes were fixed on the new Commandery Administrator's moves.
Since becoming Commandery Administrator, the office had not known a single quiet day. Reports piled up like mountains every day from the counties of Zhangrak Commandery.
"Again."
I glared at the bamboo slips, brush in hand. The contents were always the same.
"Trouble between Han and barbarians—"
In Dijichi County, Han were fighting over barbarians' livestock ruining their fields; in Okran County, barbarians were rising up because Han had seized their hunting grounds without permission.
Even Qiang and Di barbarians were reporting unrest over territorial disputes between themselves.
I shoved the stacked slips aside and summoned Jeonpung and Gaho.
"You've both seen it. Not a quiet day in sight. How should we handle these issues?"
Jeonpung spoke first.
"My lord, handle them strictly by the law. However—"
"However?"
"In the long term, it might be better to side with the Han..."
I cut off Jeonpung and looked to Gaho, who was just smiling.
"Enough. Listen well, both of you. All matters will be handled by the law. Han or barbarian, all will be judged and punished equally before the law. Proceed accordingly."
Gaho bowed silently at my command, but Jeonpung's face stiffened. I dismissed the other officials, leaving only Jeonpung.
"Jeon Teacher."
Jeonpung flinched at my call, then spoke with uncharacteristic deference for the first time.
"Whatever Teacher Jeon's intentions, will you not follow Lu Bu's will for now?"
At my polite request, Jeonpung stared at me a moment, then relaxed his stiff expression and laughed heartily.
"When my lord declared he would handle Han and barbarians equally by the law, it truly shocked me. It still does. Because... I could never have done it."
"What do you mean?"
Jeonpung sighed and confessed flatly.
"Sigh, Confucianism strictly distinguishes civilized from barbarian. They lack virtue and do not practice it, so they must be civilized. Yet the state's law encourages giving them farmland and making them subjects of Han. When what I've learned clashes with the law, as an official, shouldn't I follow the law?"
Jeonpung bowed deeply.
"Worry no more, my lord. And... why does my lord use deferential speech to a subordinate? Please uphold the rites between lord and vassal."
"Haha, touché. Understood, Teacher Jeon."
With our conversation ended, a weight lifted from my chest. As we finished, Gaho reentered the office.
Gaho had watched us from afar, a meaningful smile on his lips.
Just then, a messenger burst in urgently.
"Administrator! The Qiang chieftains have sent envoys! They invite you to their banquet!"
'My lord! A sudden banquet is suspicious. Please don't attend this time.'
I recalled Jeonpung blocking my path just before leaving the office. But I brushed off his warning and decided to go.
I needed to see if they were testing me or had some other scheme.
I took only Gaho, Zhang Liao, Go Sun, Ma Teng, Wei Sok—five men—and a hundred cavalry toward the Qilian Mountains near the Tianshan Tribe's lands.
"Hm... that must be it."
"Quite a lot."
Endless tents filled the plains, goats, sheep, cattle, and horses grazing everywhere.
As we approached, Qiang warriors appeared, and two men at the front stepped forward.
One was an old chieftain whose wrinkles spoke of years; the other a young hot-blooded warrior.
"I am Takya, chieftain of the Tianshan Tribe. I didn't expect you so soon. The Administrator is decisive indeed."
"Myagon of the Changlang Tribe."
I laughed in response to Takya.
"Hahaha! How could I not rush joyfully when my land's people invite me? As the Master said, 'Is it not delightful when a friend comes from afar?' Joy shared doubles, so arriving late to such merriment would be rude."
The Qiang warriors looked puzzled; Myagon's brow furrowed slightly. Behind me, a faint smile played on Gaho's lips.
Takya opened his mouth to speak, but Myagon stepped forward first.
"Administrator. Our festival usually starts at sunset. You've come early, so preparations aren't ready. Before the banquet, we fill time with games the tribesfolk join. Care to participate?"
"Oh? Intriguing. What kind?"
Without waiting for my reply, Wei Sok jumped in eagerly.
"Kuhahaha! Brother! That's right up your alley—horse and bow! They've hooked you good!"
You simpleton.
Tsking, I decided to escalate since he'd spoken up.
"Hm, that does sound fun."
I grinned, alternating glances at Takya and Myagon.
"But I can't enjoy such fun alone. My hardworking subordinates who came all this way—may they join too?"
Myagon hesitated, but Takya beamed.
"Of course! We invited not just the Administrator. Everyone with you is our Tianshan Tribe's guest! Join freely!"
"Ooooh!"
Qiang warriors cheered, parting the way.
At the end lay a vast open field with targets and untamed wild horses prepared.
But neither horses nor targets caught our eyes.
".........?"
Amid men selecting horses and bows were women in leather garb, just like the men—and not just one or two.
"Wait, aren't those women over there?"
Wei Sok exclaimed in wonder. Murmurs rose from me and my men.
Takya laughed at us.
"Hahaha! Unlike Han, we Qiang don't distinguish men and women so strictly. Martial prowess is survival on these plains—how could we neglect women?"
Zhang Liao, Go Sun, and Ma Teng showed no change; border folk, not overly rigid. Ma Teng seemed used to it, having lived with Qiang.
Gaho merely hid intrigue behind his fan.
'Jeonpung would've flipped—'How dare women before men!'
"Alright, let's begin!"
With Myagon's shout, a Qiang warrior mounted a wild horse like lightning, tamed its frenzy in seconds, and charged the targets. Impressive skill.
One by one, warriors and tribesfolk rode and shot; women among them did the same.
Skills varied but were generally even.
'Definitely better shots than Han.'
As I'd felt suppressing the rebellion, in horsemanship and archery alone, few from Bing or Liang Provinces could match them unless specialists.
Watching, one woman stood out sharply from the rest.
Black leather armor clung tightly; long hair whipped in the wind.
Without hesitation, she charged the fiercest black stallion. Gripping no reins, she controlled it solely with her thighs, nocking an arrow.
—Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Three arrows flew in succession, striking dead center.
"Ooooh!"
Qiang cheers erupted. My men stared, awestruck.
Wei Sok swallowed hard, muttering.
"No way... what kind of woman...?"
"Haha, insecure compared to a woman?"
Wei Sok flushed beet red at my tease.
"Brother! Even so, that's not it! I-I can do that much!"
Takya, overhearing, approached laughing.
"Heh, then you go first?"
"Of course! I'll show you what I'm made of!"
Wei Sok boasted, mounting a wild horse. But it bucked viciously; he struggled just to stay on.
He barely nocked and loosed three arrows; one missed wide, the others nowhere near.
"Puhahaha!"
"That's Han skill?"
Qiang laughter rang out. Snickers escaped my men too. Then the woman galloped past Wei Sok, shooting backward.
—Whoosh!
Her arrow embedded right beside his. Perfect mockery.
Wei Sok's face crumpled.
"N-No, what woman does that!!"
Laughter engulfed the area.
"Ahem, we'll give it a go!"
A few soldiers stepped up for honor, but results were the same. She dominated.
I asked Takya.
"Chieftain. Who is that woman?"
Takya smiled proudly, gesturing beside him. She'd already ridden up.
"My granddaughter. Chienya. In Han script, Qianya."
I nodded, eyeing Chienya.
Atop her horse, she met my gaze unflinchingly.
No fear or shyness—just pure curiosity and sharp appraisal.
Chienya spoke halting Han.
"You... hero who felled Beigong Baiyu...?"
"Yes."
Her eyes sparkled brighter. She dismounted lightly, striding toward me.
"Want see hero's skill. Compete... with me."
"What? This wench challenging Brother?!"
I stopped Wei Sok with a hand, smirking down at her.
"Amusing. What'll we compete in?"
"Archery, riding."
"Kuhahaha! Challenging Brother in archery and riding?!"
Wei Sok doubled over laughing. I smacked his head, nodding to Chienya.
"Fine. You first."
"Okay."
She remounted and charged like the wind, no hesitation.
On the galloping horse, she nocked for three targets in sequence.
—Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
All struck dead center.
"Ooooh!"
Qiang cheers. True skill.
She halted before me, proud.
"My turn."
"Brother! Flatten her nose!"
I selected a wild horse from the herd and mounted.
It bucked initially, but thigh pressure tamed it instantly.
"Go!"
—Hiiing!
Wind whipped my face.
Three targets and her arrows flashed by. Balancing atop, I nocked three arrows at once.
'Time to show real skill.'
—Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Spurring past the targets, I loosed, then circled back.
".....??"
Awkward silence fell. Eyes turned to targets... only Chienya's three arrows remained.
"Huh...?"
"※◇＆☆"
Qiang and my men murmured. Then Wei Sok's dumb voice from behind.
"Brother!? You missed too?!"
"Tsk tsk, eyes no good."
—Crack!
A sharp split echoed from the distant targets.
A keen-eyed man pointed, aghast.
"L-Look! The arrows!"
Eyes refocused. Chienya's arrows were there, but damaged: cracks around the tips, fletching torn.
"S-Split in half! His arrows pierced and cleaved hers!"
As truth dawned, cold sweat trickled down everyone's spines.
"....."
Dead silence. I asked the dazed Chienya softly.
"This enough?"
Qiang exclamations of disbelief erupted.
Takya and Myagon gaped, frozen. Chienya stared piercingly—not awe, but something unknowable.