The moment Qin Ming heard the words “three hundred taels,” his eyes lit up.
He immediately turned toward the notice board.
Sure enough, just as the crowd had been discussing, it was an official announcement recruiting hunters to track and kill dangerous beasts:
“Official Notice from the County Yamen:
In order to eliminate a major threat and protect the people, repeated incidents of black bears attacking residents have recently occurred throughout the county’s jurisdiction, causing widespread fear among the populace…”
“…Any individual possessing exceptional hunting skills, expertise in trap setting, or proficiency with bow hunting, regardless of origin, should report immediately to the county yamen for registration…”
“Anyone who successfully captures or kills a black bear shall be rewarded with three hundred taels of silver…”
“…Applicants must form teams of no fewer than five members. Necessary hunting equipment may be provided as appropriate…”
“…For inquiries, contact County Clerk Qian Jiang.”
Three hundred taels!
A surge of excitement shot from Qin Ming’s feet straight to the top of his head.
Hunting pheasants and rabbits barely provided enough food to survive. Saving up the hundred taels required for military service exemption felt impossibly far away.
But three hundred taels?
That was a fortune falling straight from the heavens.
Not only would it immediately cover the military levy hanging over his head, but it would also allow him to repay the tremendous favor represented by Yang Yulian’s gold bracelet.
The remaining two hundred taels would even be enough to purchase a respectable house in the county seat and finally escape the quagmire that was Qin Family Village.
In his eyes, that black bear had become a ladder to a completely different life.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Ming turned and strode directly toward the county yamen.
“Who goes there?”
As soon as he approached the entrance, the guards stationed at the gate stepped forward to stop him.
“I’m a hunter here to register for the beast-hunting recruitment. This is my hunter’s badge.”
As he spoke, Qin Ming handed over his identification token.
“Come with me.”
The bailiff glanced at the badge, then examined the arrows slung across Qin Ming’s back before leading him into the yamen.
A short while later, Qin Ming was brought into one of the offices.
“So you’re Qin Ming, the hunter here to register for the beast hunt?”
After checking his badge, the official responsible for registration frowned slightly.
“That’s right.”
Qin Ming nodded, then asked politely,
“May I know how to address you, sir?”
“I am Qian Jiang, the county clerk.”
Qian Jiang looked him over before asking,
“You came alone?”
“Yes, alone.”
“Nonsense!”
Qian Jiang slammed his palm onto the desk, causing the brush stand to rattle violently.
“The notice clearly states that the bear is ferocious and that teams of at least five are required! Do you think you’re digging rabbits out of their burrows? Going alone is no different from seeking death!”
“My family has been hunters for three generations. The craft has been passed down from father to son. I am confident I can kill the beast by myself. I hope Lord Qian will grant me a chance.”
“You overestimate yourself! This is suicide!”
Qian Jiang shot to his feet and shouted.
Just then, a calm yet authoritative voice came from the doorway.
“Since this young man possesses such courage and has inherited his father’s skills, why not give him a chance?”
A man in his fifties, dressed in official robes, stepped into the room.
“Magistrate Lou!”
Upon seeing him, Qian Jiang immediately bowed respectfully.
“Greetings, Magistrate Lou.”
Qin Ming quickly followed suit.
The elderly official before him was somewhat stout and wore the expression of a kindly elder.
According to the memories left behind by the original owner of this body, this man was none other than Lou Changfeng, the magistrate of Heishan County.
Lou Changfeng had earned the title of provincial graduate in the twelfth year of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
He had served as magistrate of Heishan County for more than six years.
Because of his integrity and fairness in handling cases, the people affectionately called him “Magistrate Lou Qingtian,” comparing him to the legendary incorruptible officials of old.
His reputation throughout the county was extraordinarily high.
Under his governance, the people of Heishan County enjoyed a stable and peaceful life.
Although the imperial court continued to impose countless taxes and levies, neighboring counties had already begun suffering large-scale famine, with horrifying reports of cannibalism emerging from some regions.
Compared to those places, Heishan County was practically a paradise.
Furthermore, the county sat along the primary route connecting the southern provinces to the northern horse markets.
Every year, large numbers of merchants passed through the area, bringing prosperity and encouraging local trade.
After studying Qin Ming for a moment, Lou Changfeng smiled and asked,
“What is your name, young man, and where do you live?”
“Reporting to Your Excellency, my name is Qin Ming. I am from Qin Family Village.”
“Qin Family Village…”
Lou Changfeng thought for a moment before continuing.
“On the fourth day of the fifth month, three years ago, the county organized a bear hunt in the mountains. Was the man who fired the first fatal arrow, Qin Gandang, your father?”
“It was indeed my father.”
Qin Ming was genuinely surprised.
He had never expected the magistrate to remember his father’s name.
After all, commoners like them were little more than ants in the eyes of most officials.
Yet Lou Changfeng not only remembered his father’s name, but even recalled the exact date of the bear hunt.
His memory was truly remarkable.
“Then why has your father not come to register today?”
“My father was injured by a bear during that hunt. A few days after it ended, his wounds worsened, and he passed away.”
“What a pity…”
Lou Changfeng let out a soft sigh.
“I inherited all of my father’s hunting skills. I am willing to rid the countryside of this menace for the sake of our people. I hope Magistrate Lou will grant me this opportunity.”
“Do you require any hunting equipment?”
Lou Changfeng asked after a brief moment of thought.
“I need several heavy arrows, several bloodletting arrows, and a mountain-cleaving axe.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
“Clerk Qian, take him to the armory immediately and allow him to select the equipment he needs.”
Lou Changfeng instructed.
“My lord, those heavy arrows have shafts as thick as a man’s thumb. They’re normally used with defensive crossbows on city walls. It takes two soldiers to draw those weapons. How could a hunter possibly use arrows that heavy?”
Qian Jiang asked in confusion.
“I see much of his father’s courage in this young man. Prepare what he requested.”
“Understood.”
Qian Jiang acknowledged the order and led Qin Ming out of the room.
In the rear compound of the county yamen, he instructed a group of soldiers to open the armory.
The moment Qin Ming stepped inside, he froze briefly.
The warehouse wasn’t particularly large, but it contained an astonishing variety of weapons.
There were common military arms such as goose-feather sabers, long spears, and shields.
There were also numerous bows, crossbows, and arrows.
The bows and crossbows varied greatly in size. Some were enormous siege weapons designed for attacking or defending city walls, far too large for a single person to carry.
As for the arrows, there were countless types.
In an age without firearms, these were among the deadliest weapons of war.
Ordinary civilians were absolutely forbidden from possessing them. Only those with official authorization could legally carry and use such equipment.
“These are the ones.”
Qin Ming immediately spotted a bundle of heavy arrows stored in a corner and picked one up.
For a long time, ordinary arrows had been unable to unleash the full power of his two-stone horn bow.
But these heavy arrows were different.
They possessed terrifying destructive potential.
Each arrow was exceptionally heavy, with a shaft nearly as thick as a thumb.
Their greatest advantage lay in their tremendous killing power and armor-piercing capability.
At close range, the combination of weight and kinetic force allowed them to punch through armor, shields, and other defensive equipment, inflicting devastating wounds on the target.
They were especially effective against heavily armored infantry, cavalry, and large beasts.
Because of their weight, heavy arrows traveled more slowly and had a shorter effective range, requiring the archer to fire from relatively close distances.
However, in the hands of someone wielding a powerful two-stone horn bow like Qin Ming’s, those drawbacks became far less significant.
The bow’s tremendous draw strength could fully exploit the arrow’s potential and unleash its maximum power.
With his current physical strength, if he drew the horn bow to its limit and fired one of these heavy arrows…
The resulting force would be almost unimaginable.