Chapter 24: The Ill-Intentioned Hunter

Jiang Yi escorted his wife to the foot of Niutou Mountain and instructed her to wait for his return at home. He suspected that the assassin sent to kill him was Ma Xu, the governor of Hanzhou, who was acting under the instigation of Cao Zhang. Jiang Yi would not let their plans succeed; he chose to endure for now, aiming to accumulate wealth. With money, he could recruit soldiers and horses to develop his own power. First, he would take Hanyang, and then bring the entire Hanzhou region under his control. By equipping his army with firearms, he could gain an overwhelming advantage over the Liang army. To achieve this goal, he needed substantial financial resources. Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yi picked up his bow, arrows, and blade to return to the cave.

"You should know where the black bear is. I’ve made it clear: after we hunt the bear, I want one hundred strings of cash."

"As long as you perform well during the hunt, you might get even more."

As for how much money Jiang Yi would actually receive, that was entirely up to Cui Peng. A short while later, ten more men arrived; they were part of Cui Peng’s gang. With twenty-one men now hunting the black bear, it should be an easy task. Cui Peng stood up from the stone slab and said, "Everyone is here. Let’s go."

Yesterday, they had discovered a hibernating black bear in a cave. As it happened, the governor needed a pristine bear pelt and a tiger skin to send to Haojing in a few days as a gift for Emperor Yongkang. The group arrived outside the cave where the black bear was hibernating. There were wild boars foraging in the vicinity. Although wild boars are highly territorial, they maintain a symbiotic relationship with black bears. During the bear’s hibernation, the boars act as sentries, and when the bear wakes, it protects them.

"There is a black bear in that cave, so why are there so many wild boars nearby? Shouldn't they avoid living in the same area?" Jiang Yi asked, feigning ignorance.

"That’s where you’re wrong. Wild boars are active during the day, while black bears are mostly active at night. They help each other, and their diets differ slightly," replied Cui Peng. As an experienced hunter, he knew the habits of wild beasts like the back of his hand. If not for the challenge of fierce beasts like bears and tigers, hunting would be a simple task for them.

"I see. So, tell me, how shall we proceed with the hunt?" Jiang Yi was well-versed in the habits of black bears but continued to play the part of a novice. He wanted to see what tactics Cui Peng and his men had in store, knowing full well that they had ill intentions in involving him.

"We’ll drive the boars away, then enter the cave to kill the bear as quickly as possible. Remember, try to keep the pelt intact." Ma Xu had specifically ordered that the bear pelt be kept flawless to be presented to the Emperor for the New Year. As long as Jiang Yi died under the bear’s claws, Cao Zhang’s henchmen could complete their mission and perhaps even earn a promotion.

"The bear is hibernating, but the slightest movement will wake it. We need a few people to draw its attention while the others strike at its vitals."

Cui Peng, as the hunting captain, had the authority to assign tasks. He ordered Jiang Yi and four others to attract the bear, while the rest would take the opportunity to snare its limbs and neck. Cui Peng repeatedly emphasized causing minimal damage to ensure a perfect pelt. No one voiced any objections, and even if Jiang Yi had, it would have been useless.

*They will definitely push me toward the bear,* Jiang Yi thought to himself. *But it remains to be seen who is actually playing whom.*

Some of the hunters began to drive the boars away; those that refused to leave were shot with arrows. Once the bear was dealt with, they would return to collect the wild boar carcasses. Most of the boars were driven off, and a few were killed. Leaving the carcasses where they lay, the entire group entered the cave to hunt the bear.

"The cave is so small; shouldn't we lure the bear out?" Jiang Yi asked.

"Blocking it inside prevents it from escaping." This was how they had always hunted bears, restricting the animal's range of motion.

The group crept into the cave, but the bear caught the scent of strangers and quickly scrambled to its feet. Moments later, it saw the crowd before it and let out a roar. Sensing the number of intruders, it realized the odds were against it. While the roar was intimidating and effective against most beasts, it was useless against these hunters, who were determined to finish the job.

Following the pre-arranged plan, Jiang Yi and the four others moved closer to the bear. Yang Liu stood behind Jiang Yi, waiting for the right moment to shove him. As long as Jiang Yi died under the bear’s claws, they would receive a generous reward. Of course, they were wary that their employers might try to silence them, but Cui Peng had a way to get paid while ensuring his own safety. Though he didn't know what grudge the mastermind held against Jiang Yi, the bounty was simply too high. Even before the mission was complete, both had already received a ten-tael deposit. Yang Liu also caught a glimpse of Jiang Yi’s beautiful wife and was already scheming to make her his own.

Though Jiang Yi stood in front of Yang Liu and the others, he remained constantly vigilant. The rest of the group circled behind the bear, ropes in hand, ready to snare its neck. According to the plan, Jiang Yi and his group were to provoke the bear into a rage. Cui Peng’s method was conservative to preserve the pelt and the valuable bear gall bladder, but it was highly risky given the bear’s immense strength and speed.

The black bear flew into a rage, attacking the closest targets. Rising to a height greater than a man, it lashed out with its massive paws, roaring in fury. Yang Liu and his companions shivered in fear, and Jiang Yi pretended to be terrified as well. Being a former soldier, he was not afraid of such dangers, but he could not afford to appear too calm lest they realize he was not the inexperienced hunter he portrayed.

"Don't be afraid! There are many of us. Yang Liu, you lot, distract it!" Cui Peng shouted, ordering the men behind to throw the snares. The bear was already enraged by Yang Liu and his group, who scrambled to dodge, none wanting to be struck by a paw. As the bear flailed, chaos erupted.

Yang Liu shoved Jiang Yi from behind, hoping to feed him to the bear. Jiang Yi nimbly dodged, causing Yang Liu to stumble and fall directly in front of the beast. He scrambled backward, but the bear’s sharp claws swung down. If not for his quick retreat, he would have been crushed; instead, he was left with a deep gash on his shoulder.

"Jiang Yi! Why did you push me? I have no quarrel with you!" Yang Liu roared, clutching his bleeding right shoulder.

"You pushed me! I only dodged, and you stumbled into the bear’s reach. You were clawed—how can you blame me?" Most of the men had seen that it was Yang Liu who had pushed Jiang Yi.

"Enough! Just kill the bear. Yang Liu, go outside and bandage your wound." Yang Liu was lucky to be alive, but he glared at Jiang Yi with hatred, frustrated that he had missed his chance to kill him.

One of the hunters threw a rope, successfully snaring the bear’s neck. Several men pulled back hard, but the bear whipped its body, shaking the rope and throwing the men off balance. The bear was not unintelligent, and it sent several hunters flying, though they held tight to their ropes. Having hunted bears before, they were experienced. More hunters grabbed onto the ropes, determined to strangle the beast.

"Throw another snare! Pull from both front and back! Don't let it escape! Some of you, guard the cave entrance!" Cui Peng commanded, ensuring the hunt went smoothly. Jiang Yi felt a sense of impending danger; his life was truly under threat.