Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Eaglets (Part 2)
Jiang Shaohua lingered at the foot of the mountain for three more days.
During these three days, the trusted aides continued to split into groups to enter the mountains, not for hunting wild beasts but to specifically search for newly hatched eagle chicks.
With more people, there was greater strength; surprisingly, within three days, they found four nests of eagle chicks. Adding the nest found earlier by Li Tianxi, there were a total of twenty-two eagle chicks.
Jiang Shaohua specifically called Li Tianxi over, handed all the eagle chicks to him, and encouraged him with a smile: "Raise the eagles well; if you can tame a single eagle, I, the Commandery Princess, will have a reward for you."
Li Tianxi: "..."
"The Commandery Princess has such high regard for you, yet you remain speechless. Quickly express your gratitude," Liu Hengchang promptly reminded his nephew, who would also be his future son-in-law.
Li Tianxi finally came to his senses and repeatedly expressed his gratitude with clasped hands.
After retreating to his military tent, the young Li Tianxi’s face nearly wrinkled into a bitter expression: "Uncle, what should I do about this!"
"I’m alone; how can I possibly raise so many eagle chicks! My father at his best raised only two eagles, and eventually, even one of them died. Now the Commandery Princess has given me twenty-two eagle chicks... I wanted to speak up earlier—why didn’t you let me, Uncle? I really can’t manage it."
Liu Hengchang glanced at the simple-minded Li Tianxi: "Do you think the Commandery Princess is unaware of something so obvious?"
Li Tianxi suddenly realized: "Of course, this is something evident; how could the Commandery Princess overlook it? So why did she still assign such a task to me?"
What a silly boy.
Liu Hengchang secretly sighs and patiently advises: "You can’t raise this many chicks alone, so naturally, you need to find help. The Personal Guard Camp has many people if nothing else."
Li Tianxi finally understood clearly: "I get it. The Commandery Princess wants me to teach the eagle-raising skills to other trusted aides."
"But... this is a family skill of the Li family. My grandfather passed it only to my father, and my father only to me. Before coming to Nanyang County, my father specifically instructed that it should not be passed on."
Liu Hengchang said calmly: "That depends on what choices you want to make."
"Your father relied on these skills to become a fifth-rank military officer in the border army. You are currently just an ordinary trusted aide; if you want to be promoted, you must earn merit. Da Liang is relatively peaceful now, and within Nanyang County, it’s even safer. If relying on regular methods, you might just muddle through to a minor position after working in the Personal Guard Camp for twenty to thirty years. But are you willing to struggle year after year like this? Do you want to shine with your skills, gain the Commandery Princess’s favor, and have a splendid future?"
"Of course, I want to!" Li Tianxi blurted out and then scratched his head: "I’m just afraid my father will be so furious he’ll hit me. At that time, Uncle, you must plead for me."
Liu Hengchang chuckled, reached out to pat Li Tianxi’s shoulder: "Don’t worry, I’ve planned it all out for you. Write a letter to your father first; wait for his agreement before accepting apprentices. By then, I’ll select some bright and intelligent ones from the Third Camp and form another team, and you’ll be the captain."
In the Personal Guard Camp, a team consists of fifty people, and all captains are exceptional, mostly around thirty years old. The youngest is the Divine Archer Xiao Tian from the Second Camp, followed by the Divine Power Giant Tao Da from the First Camp.
If Li Tianxi is also promoted to captain, he will be the youngest captain.
Li Tianxi, invigorated and full of joy, said: "I’ll follow Uncle’s guidance."
Liu Hengchang was quite satisfied.
He had only one daughter, who was four years younger than Li Tianxi. When she was born, he had already arranged a betrothal with his cousin Liu; Li Tianxi was now eighteen, and his daughter was only fourteen, not yet of age. He had also set the marriage date for two years later.
In his heart, Li Tianxi, who was both his nephew and future son-in-law, was like his own son.
Li Tianxi wasn’t exceptionally clever but luckily had the skills of raising and taming eagles. The Commandery Princess doesn’t favor sycophants; she values those with true abilities. That’s why he brought Li Tianxi to Nanyang County to seek a good future.
"I’ll write this letter," Liu Hengchang said with a smile: "Your father knows the situation; he will agree."
To master both literary and martial arts is to offer service to the imperial family. The Commandery Princess is like the ruler of Nanyang County, and calling her the local emperor wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Since Li Tianxi’s father agreed for him to come to Nanyang County, he must have been mentally prepared long ago.
Li Tianxi put down another burden in his mind and nodded repeatedly.
Liu Hengchang had mastery of both literary and martial arts, not only possessing excellent martial skills but also having a fine hand in writing.
Li Tianxi ground ink at his side while Liu Hengchang wielded his brush, writing swiftly yet gracefully, soon completing a thick letter to be sent to the Li family.
...
"To report to the Commandery Princess, Commander Liu wrote a letter and had it sent to the Li family," Meng Sanbao quietly reported.
Jiang Shaohua glanced with a smile: "Alright, it’s an open and proper matter, no need to be so sneaky."
Meng Sanbao gave an embarrassed smile, then felt it was a bit wrong: "The Commandery Princess asked me to keep an eye on Commander Liu’s actions; shouldn’t I be a bit sneaky?"
On the side, Yin Zhu couldn’t help but glare at Meng Sanbao: "Don’t you even use your head? Commander Liu is making his actions known to let the Commandery Princess see!"
Meng Sanbao suddenly realized, clasping his hands to Yin Zhu: "Thanks for the guidance, Silver Vermilion Sister."
Yin Zhu was slightly embarrassed, glared at him, then apologized shyly to the Commandery Princess: "The maid was too talkative, please forgive me, Commandery Princess."
Jiang Shaohua resisted the urge to drive both of them out: "Alright, there are no outsiders here, so why act so coy."
Yin Zhu and Meng Sanbao’s faces both turned red.
Jiang Shaohua pretended not to see, opening her mouth to give orders: "Announce my command; the Personal Guard Camp will set out immediately."
As for this camp here, naturally, it will remain for future visits to the mountain, providing a place for settling. Even villagers entering the mountains can rest here.
...
Jiang Shaohua usually traveled on horseback, but now with Little Flower, she rode in a carriage. Chen Sheren rode with the Commandery Princess in a carriage, both taking care of the young tiger.
Even the mother goat specifically feeding the tiger was settled in the carriage behind, being fed with premium fodder daily.
Little Flower had a good appetite, drinking milk five to six times a day. Luckily, the mother goat’s milk was plentiful.
"Commandery Princess, Little Flower is full," Chen Jinyu said with a smile, petting Little Flower’s back. Little Flower, feeling comfortable being stroked, gave a small growl and snuggled closer to Jiang Shaohua’s embrace, instantly melting anyone’s heart.
No wonder young girls like to keep cats and dogs; it’s indeed amusing.
Jiang Shaohua pursed her lips in a smile, reached out to play with Little Flower’s paws. Little Flower stretched out its small paws to catch Jiang Shaohua’s fingers.
Jiang Shaohua played while casually joking: "Sister Jinyu, we’ll reach Bowan County tomorrow. Feeling nervous about returning home?"
Mentioning Bowan County brought thoughts of her mother to Chen Jinyu, giving her a headache: "Let’s talk about tomorrow’s matters tomorrow; for now, don’t mention it. At least let me enjoy another day."
Jiang Shaohua was amused and burst into laughter.