Chapter 8: Mulan was Sought for a Marriage[Part 2 of 2] -x.x.x- Although not everyone must become a “heroine”, they should at least understand her. For thousands of years, there have been few female generals and “heroines”. However, it is because of these n.o.ble and great women who have erected a banner, countless women can feel proud of the freedom and strength women deserved and allow women to work together towards a happier and freer future. These women, who defy the regulations of the era, are the true warriors. He Mulan can understand how these cowardly, idle men are able to vilify Hua Mulan. But towards women, (who faced such discriminations together), she is unable to understand their mentality. For a person like Hua Mulan, as a person of the same gender, it will be courteous if they should portray that they support her or agree not to comment on it, instead of spreading rumours, twisting facts and spreading false facts. n.o.body will comprehend He Mulan’s heart-wrenching feeling. As she was not from this era, nor will she succ.u.mb from to people from this era. This ultimately determined that the her who replaced her (Hua Mulan) body, will suffer more than anybody. For the sake of her idol Hua Mulan, and for the sake of countless “heroines” that may have met many fearful events and have thus, suffered over the years. He Mulan was not in a good mood. Hua father’s head was lowered to a very low level. The positions in the Xianbei army were pa.s.sed down hereditarily. The descendants do not have any other options other than to be a soldier, nor were they allowed to choose to take up another career. It was his parentage that caused what occurred to his daughter today. To this old field officer who was silent (about this) for ten over years, his silence represents his greatest pain. Hua mother did not say much. The gentle woman faced the wall, as wiping her tears is the only thing she knows how to do now. When Hua Mulan subst.i.tuted her father to enlist in the army, she was actually secretly relieved. But this feeling of relief had tormented her for ten over years. Hua Mulan was, after all, her daughter. It would definitely be fake if over so many years she wasn’t guilty or upset. The atmosphere in the house was extremely depressing. It was like a substance that was unable to flow. It was so heavy and dense that it seemed as if it was clogging into the eyes, ears, and nose of the people in the house. Hua Mulan had become the backbone of the house now. Whether it was finding for her a life partner or fretting over her being childless, it was all because the family members hoped that they could make up for the many years lost for Hua Mulan and hoped that she could be blissful in the future. That was why, when she is happy, they were all happy; when she is feeling down, they would all feel down. Just as the atmosphere in the house was so pressurizing that Yuan-shi wanted to escape the place, Fang-shi who was carrying the kids and a few villagers suddenly frantically rushed into the house in a lost, saying: “General Hua, Old man Hua, suddenly, there was a group of troops entering the village, heading towards us! They rode on horses, moved in carriages, asking around where General Hua stayed at&h.e.l.l ip;…” He Mulan was stupefied. Huh? Someone looking for Hua Mulan? For revenge? For Grat.i.tude? Or was it for the sake of sending a gift to her? He Mulan was just feeling angry and upset. As these villagers announced what they had said, her attention was immediately diverted. Hua father frowned, he subsequently spat out a string of words: “Are they dressed like Han-ren or Xianbei-ren? Are there any armoury or weapons on their body? Are they using military horses or fleet horses? How many people do they have in rows and columns? Is the carriage a horse-pulled carriage or a bull carriage?” The few villagers who came to report about this incident were bombarded with questions until they had a full face of sweat. Hua younger brother and Hua Mulan stared at this old man who was usually silent throughout the day, as both were taken aback by his actions. “They have both Xianbei-ren and Han-ren……they wore armoury and carried weaponry, were there weapons?” one villager questioned his companion. “It seems like I didn’t see it, but they probably had swords?” He was unsure about it too. “So, did they utilize military horses or fleet horses?” “There is a brand on the b.u.t.t of the horses, it’s probably a gelding?” “It’s military horses? It should be military horses, right? That many majestic steeds……” “It was a horse-pulled carriage, not a bull carriage!” When he heard the words of the villagers, Hua father’s brows were knitted more tightly. “These b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, they used the military’s carriage which should be transporting impedimenta!” “Sir, it’s now the time to talk about these now……” While they were speaking, the sound of herds of horses sounded from outside the house suddenly. The village where Hua family resided in seldom had other families rearing horses. They stayed in a more remote area and the front and back of their houses had s.p.a.ce for the horses to roam about. The ground was flat, which is why the sound of horseshoe treading on the ground was very loud and clear. From the back of the house, Mulan’s beloved steed “Shadow” raised its head and neighed out of a sudden. Following that, the horses in the backyard hissed in unison, like an unforeseeable omen. Hua family and the villagers who reported the news help each other out of the house in a rush. He Mulan had never heard before such uniform sounds of horse hoofs. He Mulan lifted the curtains, and headfirst out of the door. After the thunder-like sounds of the horse hoofs have pa.s.sed, then came the sound of the horse carriage. About ten feet away from Hua family house, the hors.e.m.e.n slowed down their horses. It was akin to a sort of worshipping posture as they reined their hoses. Behind the hors.e.m.e.n, there were many villagers standing behind them to awaiting to watch what caused the bustle. But they did not see the horse carriage, as some of them were stuck behind the crowd. Gehehehehe&he llip;… Shadow sprinted for about two steps, then, it jumped out of the horse stable through the fence. It was like a gust of wind, as it headed out of the house. The horse riders who arrived at Hua family’s doorsteps are clad in thin black-felt cloaks. Those who are soldiers were dressed in dark military uniforms of the Northern Wei dynasty. The man heading the group was wearing a dazzling and shiny armour, and his hair was adorned with a silver guan (2). There were a total of 14 steeds and riders who arrived. When they arrived at Hua family’s doorsteps, they immediately descended from their horses and they headed towards the stunned He Mulan. Although they did not have many people, each of them was very strong and muscular. He Mulan had a height of around 1.7m+. These men did not have a height lower than He Mulan, along with their mighty presence, it appeared like a thousand soldier army. The fourteen men noticed that Hua Mulan regained a man’s manner of dressing again. It was visible in their eyes that it held delight. The man heading the group wearing the dazzling armour sauntered over from the group of hors.e.m.e.n. His iron boots let out a “clang clang clang” sound, which attracted the group of bystanders who can’t help but notice him. They only saw the heroic male walking towards He Mulan. Then, he knelt on one knee. After he saluted her (3), with a loud voice, he exclaimed: “Lowly General Dugu Nuo has come to seek (your) hand in marriage, hearing that General Hua is looking for a husband!” Dugu Nuo hollered. The other 13 hors.e.m.e.n behind him orderly gave a military salute. They kneeled to propose to her: “Sixth Town’s lowly YuLin General/Yulin"s lad has come to seek (your) hand in marriage, hearing that General Hua is looking for a husband!” Gasps could constantly be heard from in the crowd of bystanders. Hua father’s hot tears gushed out upon the sight. Fang-shi was at a corner coaxing her children to not be afraid while feeling so excited that her whole body started to tremble. This is what Hua Mulan should be! This is what she imagined Hua Mulan’s life should be! These 14 warriors had around a height of eight feet, carried themselves politely, looked extremely handsome, had a fierce and mighty aura and surely are not like the ordinary. Among them, the Han hors.e.m.e.n were not armoured, but they obviously looked like the descendants or the disciple of a famous clan or born in n.o.bility. Their clothing and guan, accessories were exquisite. All of these made the villagers bedazzled. He Mulan had thought that it was Hua Mulan’s former day’s brothers-in-arms that had came to visit. But looking at it this way, other than the general at the forefront, the Xianbei General Dugu Nuo, who had formerly fought together with her in the war, she was not acquainted with the rest of the 13 men at the back. Originally they had not come to address the vengeance or come to repay a debt, but they came to hold up the fort (4) for Hua Mulan. He Mulan did not know whether to laugh or to cry. She helped the head of the group Dugu Nuo, as she shook her head. “Stop joking!”