History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 150 Fairness and Loyalty

Wei Mao didn't reply, wondering to himself, "Could it be that even Wu Ji has seen through my feelings for my fellow disciple Yao?"

Do you think those rumors about Yao Tong are true?

So that's what it was about. Wei Mao countered, "What did you hear?"

"Oh? You don't know? There are rumors going around... saying that Yao Tong comes from a humble background, so what's the use of studying poetry so hard? It's all for fame, so she can become a concubine in a high-ranking or powerful family in the future. Ugh, anyway, the rumors are really nasty."

"You also agree with those rumors? You think it's wrong for her to study hard?" Wei Mao put down Wu Ji and looked directly at the other person.

Wu Ji became anxious: "Of course I don't think that way! I just think that Yao Tong can get first place in both the small and large joint exams. She must have studied very hard. If she works so hard, she might end up as someone else's concubine. Wouldn't it be better for her to be mediocre and marry an ordinary man from the same background as her? Hey, Wei Mao? Wei Mao!"

Anger raged within Wei Mao, burning across the mountains and fields! It seared his limbs and bones!

Wei Mao knew that Wei Yao had become a disciple of Confucius and a formal student of the Xunyi Academy, and that she had the reputation of being the "top poet" would arouse jealousy from others. Furthermore, Wei Yao's family was a protected family of the Wei clan, and for various reasons, rumors of contempt for her would never cease.

This is normal, so Wei Mao has heard some rumors these days, but he didn't take them to heart at all. He was angry at the time, but he let it go.

It seems that he was the only one who didn't believe the rumors!

Wu Ji and Wei Yao were considered to have a good relationship as fellow disciples, but unexpectedly, they were also misled by rumors and even lied and said, "Of course I don't think that way." What nonsense! If they didn't think that way, why would they utter such a ridiculous statement as "it's better to be mediocre"?

Yao Tongmen always gets first place based on her own abilities, so why should she be mediocre!
Wei Mao moved with lightning speed, searching for Wei Yao in the crowd. If he could hear the rumors, and Wu Ji had heard them too, then Wei Yao probably knew as well! He was so angry; how heartbroken and resentful she must be!
"Wei Yao, where are you? I'm looking for you, please appear quickly! Wei Yao, I want to tell you, you don't need to be afraid, there's no need to hate. If you dare to be a pine tree on the mountaintop, I will be the solid ground beneath your feet!"

"Ayao—"

Wei Mao's heart skipped a beat. He looked in the direction of the voice, but it wasn't Wei Yao.

He continued walking. The ranch was too big. Would she go to practice archery first, or go to the military training ground first? Wei Mao chose the direction of the military training ground.

He made the right choice.

As soon as Wei Yao and her companions arrived at the training ground, several groups of people were gathered around. Each group was explaining how to learn martial arts and distributing weapons to the students who had signed up for the training.

Another military officer stepped into a prominent position and called out, "We'll speak from here too."

Wei Yao and her six companions quickly arrived.

After the military officer and others surrounded two circles of people, they began to speak: "Do you see those low walls? During the military exercise, it is not allowed to climb over them or spy on the surrounding military situation from above the walls."

"The passageway between the walls is riddled with pits of varying sizes, invisible from the surface. Smaller pits are marked with horse manure; if you step into one, it means you're crippled, and you must use the strips of cloth you're issued to tie that foot together before you can continue. What are you laughing at?! Is it that funny? On the battlefield, the enemy will bury poison in traps, even hidden in tree branches. Contact with it will result in flesh and bone being ripped out! Even a tiny bit in your eyes will have your eyeballs gouged out!"

Cui Wanwan was timid, and upon hearing this, she gripped Cui Ying's hand tightly.

The military officer continued, “If you step into the pit with your other foot, it won’t count as a death in action. You can either find a hiding place and hide inside, or your comrades can carry you through the exercise. Do you think either of these options will only be a burden to your comrades? No, when the unit is outnumbered, you can use your crippled bodies to shield your comrades from arrows and bullets! You can use your hands to hold onto the enemy’s legs and buy your comrades time to escape! As long as you are brave, what does it matter if you are crippled?”

The students' blood boiled at that moment! Including Wei Yao, everyone imagined themselves as soldiers who were about to step into the battlefield to defend their country, following the military officer's narration.

"If you fall into a deep pit, it means you are killed in action. You must immediately raise the banner and retreat from the training ground."

"The third type of trap is also a small pit, filled with straw residue similar to horse manure. There are only two of these pits. Stepping into one means you must immediately switch sides! Even if you have comrades who have gone through thick and thin with you, they will no longer be your brothers. Soldiers who step into the straw residue will receive double the merit, whether they kill or capture the enemy." After this rule was explained, loud shouts of condemnation and questioning immediately erupted from the surrounding crowd.

"Isn't this inciting rebellion?"

"What if this person keeps hiding his identity as a traitor and uses camaraderie to lure his comrades one by one to places with many enemy troops?"

"The worst thing is when two traitors appear in one team! It's impossible to guard against them all!"

Yuan Jingrong looked at Wei Yao with a serious expression: "If I fall into this trap, I would rather kill myself than betray you."

Guo Yun, Liu Zhenzhu, Cui Ying, and Cui Wanwan immediately huddled together, wary of Yuan Jingrong: "Got it, so she can betray the four of us!"

Wei Yao covered her mouth and chuckled, pointing at the military officer, indicating that they should continue listening to the rules first.

Just then, someone else asked a question. It was Zhou Tai, who had come over with Xi Jiao and his group. "If we find out who the traitorous soldier is, will it count as double the merit?"

The military officer shook his head: "No."

Yuan Heng protested, "That's not fair!"

The military officer replied, which was also the answer to all the indignant students: "It is unfair, but that's war. If every soldier is concerned with gains and losses, with fairness and unfairness, then what's the point of fighting!" He pulled down his collar, revealing the numerous scars on his chest. "Each of my scars has cost me at least one enemy head! You tell me... is that fair or not?"

Choi Young sobbed, and Choi Wanwan, thinking her friend was scared, gently shook her arm to comfort her. Choi Young sniffed and whispered, "He didn't say how much pain he was in when he was injured. We're concerned about the merits of the military exercises, but this warrior's injury is the real achievement."

A surge of heroic ambition welled up in Wei Yao's throat, causing her voice to tremble slightly. She said as if making a vow, "If I step on any grass, I will immediately commit suicide and never betray the team!"

Guo Yun: "Me too." She grasped her friend's hand.

Liu Zhenzhu placed her palm over the backs of their hands again: "I will do the same!"

Cui Ying: "Including myself, I would rather lose my life than be loyal to my team."

Cui Wanwan nodded vigorously. At this moment, her childishness faded, and she firmly stretched out her hands.

Yuan Jingrong couldn't help but hug her friends, but when she raised her eyes in gratitude, she was met with five pairs of questioning and veiled sarcasm in her eyes.

She quickly explained, "Of course I am too!"

Wei Yao and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The rules of the military exercise were now being explained: Arrows and spears were blunt; if struck, the wounded soldier was required to use the provided cloth strip to secure it. A wound to the chest or back was considered a death in action. Concealing injuries or violating the rules of death in action would result in a deduction of merit points from the entire unit. Those issued bamboo shields were only permitted to use them for defense, not for throwing. Each unit had to have at least three bamboo shield soldiers. Each unit had to have three medics; the death of any medic would result in a deduction of three times the merit points.

"Now divide into teams, Team A, come to my side," a military officer called out.

Wei Mao finally arrived before the teams were divided. He saw Wei Yao. The surroundings were chaotic, and she had many companions with her. He didn't call out to her for the time being, but watched which team she chose.

(End of this chapter)