A two-shi bow

Then came a voice full of laughter. "Third Brother, look at all these arrows scattered over the ground. Why has only one hit the target?"

"What's so hard to guess? His archery is so poor that the rest missed." A young man with sharply cut features, a hooked nose, and thin lips smiled. "Sixth Brother, he's even worse than you."

A burst of laughter rose around them.

Amid the laughter, Jia Heng's expression remained unchanged. He stood composed, without the slightest sign of anger at their mockery.

With his youthful face and tender years, he truly had something of the bearing of one who "did not grow angry at unprovoked insult, nor startle at sudden calamity."

As the laughter subsided, those on horseback cast curious looks at him, including the woman on the white horse.

"Say, young fellow, which family are you from? Why are you practicing archery here?" the young man asked, reining in his smile.

Jia Heng had little desire to engage with these sons of nobles, but he did not want to invite needless trouble over a few words either. He was just about to speak.

Just then, Feng Ziying suddenly rode forward and asked in delighted surprise, "Are you Jia Heng, Brother Jia?"

As he spoke, Feng Ziying swung down from his horse and approached with a smile. "Brother Jia, fate truly brings people together across a thousand miles! We met on Ningrong Street this morning, and here we are again this afternoon. We must have a couple of drinks later."

Jia Heng looked at Feng Ziying, knowing he was helping him out of an awkward situation, and cupped his hands. "Brother Ziying, it is indeed a coincidence. I never expected to meet you here. Have you just returned from hunting?"

"Indeed we have," Feng Ziying said with a smile. "The autumn sky is high, the air is crisp, the grass is lush, and the rabbits are fat. I accompanied a few distinguished personages on a hunt. Are you practicing archery, Brother Jia?"

The people behind him were all of considerable standing. He was merely there to accompany his royal betters, like a companion attending the crown prince's lessons.

One was the reigning emperor's third son, Chen Ran, Prince Wei; the other was his sixth son, Chen Wei, Prince Liang. Both held the rank of imperial prince.

The two women were Chen Zhi, Princess Xianning, and Li Chanyue, Commandery Princess Qinghe, the daughter of the Princess Royal.

In naming its imperial sons, Chen Han had, in fact, borrowed partly from the preceding Ming dynasty, generally choosing characters with radicals associated with the five elements. The practice was not as rigid as it had been under the Ming, however, when Old Zhu's multiplying descendants had eventually necessitated the invention of new characters.

In ancient times, emperors would generally change their own names to obscure characters upon ascending the throne, making it easier for everyone under heaven to observe the naming taboo. This counted as an act of benevolent government by an enlightened ruler.

Worried that the youth before him might unknowingly offend the distinguished people behind him, Feng Ziying gave him a meaningful look by way of warning.

Jia Heng had already guessed something of their identities, but Feng Ziying's warning still warmed his heart. One of the four gallants of the Red Chamber-he really does have good character. He's worth befriending.

He therefore explained, "Yes, this place is open, so I've been practicing mounted archery here. I've only just begun, though, and my aim is poor."

Feng Ziying brightened and praised him. "No wonder your fighting skills are so impressive, Brother Jia. Such diligence in honing your martial prowess truly commands admiration."

The two men listening on horseback exchanged a glance and smiled. "Second Son Feng, aren't you going to introduce this Brother Jia?"

Feng Ziying smiled. "Look at my memory! Your Highnesses, this is Jia Heng, a descendant of the Duke of Ningguo."

As he spoke, he took Jia Heng by the arm and led him closer.

Li Chanyue tilted her head, studying Jia Heng curiously with eyes as clear and lustrous as glazed crystal.

Princess Xianning, Chen Zhi, remained cool-faced. She glanced at the bow in Jia Heng's hand, her phoenix eyes flickering, and spoke in a voice like cascading water flowing over jade. "That bow has a draw weight of two shi, doesn't it? To use it for mounted archery-you're certainly strong for someone so young."

Princess Xianning herself was only eighteen or nineteen, but addressing Jia Heng with a keen sense of her exalted status, she sounded rather like a worldly elder.

Li Chanyue blinked her bright eyes and turned her lovely head. "Cousin, what draw weight do our bows have?"

Chen Zhi shot her giggling younger cousin a glare. A faint blush flashed across her exquisite face and vanished. "You little imp, you know perfectly well!"

What else could they be? Mere five- or six-dou bows.

Chen Han's bow standards followed those of the Ming, which in turn inherited the Song system. From the Song onward, bow draw weights had been measured in shi, dou, and sheng.

For archery on foot, an ordinary adult man could use an eight-dou bow. With training, elite soldiers could reach one shi. Mounted archery required one dou less, or seven dou, while women, being weaker, used another one or two dou less.

Anyone who could draw a two-shi bow could qualify as a formidable warrior even in the army.

Chen Ran, Prince Wei, smiled. "You have a sharp eye, Fifth Sister. I didn't notice it myself just now. This warrior truly has tremendous strength."

He had not expected the youth before him to possess a valorous strength rivaling the mighty warriors of antiquity. His own princely household did have retainers capable of drawing two-shi bows, but they were all around thirty, in their vigorous prime.

Li Chanyue smiled, shallow dimples appearing in her cheeks. "I read in an illustrated book that the famous general Lian Po could draw a two-shi bow at seventy. If an old man of seventy could still draw one, surely it isn't anything remarkable for someone young and strong like him?"

Chen Zhi said in her clear voice, "Lian Po was a renowned general of antiquity, a shield and rampart of his state, a man whose biography was recorded in the histories. Besides, a person's strength begins developing in youth, reaches its peak in adulthood, and wanes in old age... If Lian Po could still draw a two-shi bow at seventy, then imagine this Jia Heng when he is older and stronger. He may well possess the martial prowess of a mighty general!"

Her cousin resembled her mother, with soft brows and eyes and a gentle, quiet appearance, but she was actually full of mischievous ingenuity. She enjoyed reading miscellaneous books, and this hunting outing had been her idea.

Chen Wei, Prince Liang, also smiled. "I was reading the history of the Former Yuan the other day. It said the elite mounted guards of the Mongol Yuan khans drew bows of one shi or more. Even on the steppes, such men could be called warriors and entrusted with guarding the khan's tent. Still, this archery of yours leaves something to be desired."

Chen Zhi said clearly, "Archery is an acquired skill. More practice will suffice. Such prodigious strength, however, can only be heaven-given."

At that thought, she could not help giving Jia Heng a long, searching look.

This youth possesses strength rivaling the mighty warriors of antiquity. Does the Jia Family have someone like this, too?

Chen Ran, Prince Wei, smiled as well. "Your insight is as keen as ever, Fifth Sister. Still, if you want to practice archery at length, it is better not to use a bow that demands all your strength."

As he spoke, he looked at Jia Heng, something inscrutable lurking in his gaze.

Someone from the Jia Family? What a pity...

If he weren't from the Jia Family, a warrior like this would certainly be worth trying to recruit.

Jia Heng listened calmly as they discussed him, each offering a comment. Just as when he had faced their mockery, neither slander nor praise disturbed him; favor and disgrace alike left him unmoved.

This, too, drew murmurs of wonder from the four.

Feng Ziying smiled. "His Highness means that if you want to become a skilled archer, Brother Jia, you must practice more. You could start with a lighter bow, which would let you shoot a few more rounds."

Jia Heng feigned sudden understanding. "That is very true. Thank you for the advice, Your Highness. I came out in a hurry today and took the wrong bow. After three rounds, my arms are aching. I really cannot practice any more today."

Chen Wei, Prince Liang, looked Jia Heng over and chuckled. "Say, are you really from the Jia Family?"

Jia Heng replied, "I am a descendant of the Duke of Ningguo. What guidance does Your Highness have for me?"

Chen Wei laughed. "That rotten noble house of pampered wastrels, the Jia Family-apart from that precious young master born with jade in his mouth, who would have thought it could also produce a Jia Heng? Say, young fellow, do you have any jade?"

A peculiar look crossed Jia Heng's face. Am I supposed to answer that jade is a rare thing, and not everyone can have one?

Chen Ran, Prince Wei, cast Chen Wei a casual glance and rebuked him. "Sixth Brother, don't speak recklessly."

Even if most descendants of the Dukes of Ningguo and Rongguo, among the Four Princes and Eight Dukes, amounted to little, such mocking words were still inappropriate. If they reached their imperial father's ears, a scolding would surely follow.