About half an hour later, the team slowly arrived at the outside of Xutian Paddock.
A high platform has been erected here, which will be used for sacrifices before the hunt begins.
Xu Huang stood behind Cao Zhang, looking at the altar in confusion, and asked Xiahou Ba beside him in a low voice: "Master Zhongquan, what is the meaning of this altar?"
Xiahou Ba explained: "Since ancient times, emperors of all dynasties have gone out to hunt in the suburbs at four seasons to show their martial virtues to the people of the world. This is the meaning of the paddock."
"Since His Majesty was welcomed to Xudu, a paddock has been built here specifically for hunting by the royal family and Han officials."
"But large-scale hunting will definitely kill and injure a large number of living beings, which will only increase the killing karma! Therefore, before the hunting begins, sacrifices must be held to appease all living beings and pray for the peace of the country and the people!"
"Gongming, you just arrived in Xudu not long ago and you don't understand this custom yet. You will get used to it gradually in the future."
After hearing this, Xu Huang nodded suddenly and stopped talking.
Cao Cao rode his horse to the altar and dismounted.
Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi and the clan generals and guards also dismounted and lined up around the altar, looking respectfully at Cao Cao on the stage.
Cao Cao slowly climbed onto the altar and stood in the center of the altar. In front of him were placed incense tables, incense burners and other objects, as well as sacrificial offerings.
Cao Cao picked up three long incense sticks, lit them and knelt down.
Everyone in the audience also knelt on one knee and followed Cao Cao in the sacrificial ceremony.
Cao Cao raised the incense above his head, bowed to the sky three times, recited the sacrificial motto loudly, and then inserted the incense into the incense burner to complete the worship.
Cao Cao stood up slowly and announced loudly to everyone in the audience: "Everyone, I will now announce the rules of today's hunting!"
Everyone in the audience listened to Cao Cao's lectures with rapt attention.
Cao Cao said loudly: "Today's hunting, you are not allowed to burn down the mountains and forests, trample the surrounding crops! And you are not allowed to disturb the people around the paddock. Everyone is hunting in their own areas, and they are not allowed to cross the boundary to compete for other people's prey! I will wear the sword Qingzhi to the winner of the hunt. A sword as a reward!”
Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard Cao Cao announce that the prize was the Qingzhi Sword!
Cao Cao collected fine iron from all over the world and asked skilled craftsmen to forge two sharp swords. One is the Yitian Sword, which is the weapon Cao Cao currently wears, and the other is the Qingzhi Sword, which is the most coveted weapon for military commanders!
On the battlefield, things are changing rapidly. Having a magic weapon gives you one more chance to win and save your life!
Even Cao Zhi, who valued literature over martial arts, showed eager eyes at this time, which is enough to show how tempting the Qingzhi Sword is.
Hearing that Cao Cao wanted to take the Qingzhi Sword as a prize, Cao Zhang was slightly moved, but then he remembered Xu Shu's instructions and tried to calm down.
However, Xiahou Ba couldn't hide his excitement and whispered to Cao Zhang: "Ziwen, it's the Qingzhi Sword, don't we fight for it?!"
Cao Zhang also lowered his voice and replied: "The strategy has been decided, don't change it at will. It's just a sword, but we will have a chance to get a better one in the future!"
Although Xia Houba felt a little unwilling, seeing Cao Zhang's insistence, he could only nod angrily: "Okay, I'll do whatever you want!"
Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu beside Cao Pi were already eager to try, and whispered to Cao Pi: "Zihuan, don't worry, we will go all out to get the Qingzhi Sword for you!"
Cao Pi responded with a cold face: "As long as Wang Yue can succeed, can others be our opponents? How are you preparing?"
Cao Xiu responded in a low voice: "Don't worry, he took action last night. He had managed to sneak into Ziwen's stable and give his horse..."
Cao Pi raised his eyelids slightly with a fierce look in his eyes: "Be careful, the walls have ears!
Cao Xiu understood and did not dare to say any more. He just nodded: "Anyway, don't worry, it will be absolutely perfect!"
Cao Pi nodded, and then continued in a low voice: "I just don't know how father will divide the hunting area!"
Cao Cao obviously knew what everyone was thinking, and continued to announce loudly: "Next, I will divide the hunting area!"
Everyone raised their heads and listened carefully. After all, the hunting area will directly determine the number of prey eventually harvested.
"Ziwen went to the east of the enclosure; Zihuan went to the north of the enclosure; Zilian and Zixiao (Cao Ren's courtesy name) went to the southwest; Yuan Rang (Xiahou Dun's courtesy name) and Miaocai (Xiahou Yuan's courtesy name) went to the southeast; Wen Ze (Yu Jin's character) and Wen Qian (Le Jin's character) go to the northwest; I will take people to the east side; Zijian will take people to the south side of the paddock!"
Cao Cao loudly announced the area where everyone would hunt.
After listening to Cao Cao's allocation, everyone understood that his preference for Cao Zhi was once again shown.
The south side of the paddock is vast and densely forested, with many wild animals, and is closest to the altar, which gives Cao Zhi a first-mover advantage and significantly increases his chance of winning.
Cao Zhen muttered angrily: "Why should we go to the north? The distance is far, the trees are sparse, and there are almost no wild beasts to fight. Isn't this..."
Cao Pi waved his hand to stop Cao Zhen and said in a low voice: "The first day you knew about my father's attitude towards me and Zijian? There is no need to worry about the victory or defeat of the hunt. I am more concerned about the outcome of the other contest."
"Besides, there are no ruthless people around Zijian. Even if we give him an innate advantage, he may not be able to defeat us!" Cao Xiu added.
After hearing what the two said, Cao Zhen stopped talking and waited patiently for Cao Cao to announce the start of the hunt.
Cao Cao finished his announcement and said loudly: "When the three sticks of incense on the altar are burned, the golden gong will be sounded, and the hunting competition will begin until sunset. You can prepare in advance and perform to your heart's content!"
After Cao Cao finished speaking, he turned around and walked off the altar, heading to his square formation.
After listening to Cao Cao's instructions, everyone began to make final inspections of their horses, weapons, bows and arrows, and were ready to charge into battle as soon as the golden gong sounded.
"Send a signal to Wang Yue, tell him the area where Ziwen is going, and let him prepare in advance!" Cao Pi ordered Cao Xiu.
Cao Xiu took the order and left the crowd. After a while, he turned back and nodded slightly to Cao Pi, indicating that the matter was done.
Cao Pi felt relieved and waited patiently for the hunt to begin.
As the three sticks of incense in the incense burner on the altar burned shorter and shorter, everyone's expressions became more and more nervous. They all held the horse's reins tightly and were ready to sprint at any time.
The war horse under Cao Zhang was extremely excited today. He kept stamping his front hooves on the ground and snoring, looking eager to try!
Cao Zhang vaguely felt that something was wrong with the dismounted horse, but he thought it was too excited and didn't pay much attention. He just waited for the hunting to begin!
when! when! when!
With the sound of a series of urgent golden gongs, the hunting competition officially begins!
Almost at the same time as the golden gong sounded, several square formations around the altar let out loud shouts.
Xilulu!
Accompanied by a burst of war horse neighing, the war horse followed the owner's command to charge, kicked the ground with its hind hooves, raised its front hooves high, and stood upright!
Immediately, several phalanxes were dispatched almost at the same time, rushing forward together.
In an instant, shouts and horses neighed throughout the world!
The earth seemed to be shaken by the momentum of these horses, and began to tremble slightly!
Several square formations and hundreds of war horses quickly dispersed like a rushing flood, rushing towards the dense forests in all directions of Xutian Paddock...
