The First Great Ancestor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 256 Zhu Xiu learns to ride a horse

The weather in Wonju in October is changeable. The rain and snow that lasted for several days suddenly stopped late one night. When I walked out of the house early in the morning, I saw the golden-red morning glow filling the sky. Not long after, the red sun rose high and the sky turned blue.

The weather was sunny, but the ice and snow had not melted. The white snow around the racecourse reflected a dazzling glare.

More than a dozen horses rushed out of the racecourse fence and ran to a vast grassland covering hundreds of hectares on the west bank of Weirushui near the border of Lingzhou, amidst shouts and shouts.

It has been cloudy, rainy and snowy for days, unable to go out, and can only play cards in a warm room. Although the laughter and laughter are enjoyable, it is inevitable to feel stiff and tired after a long time.

Taking advantage of the rare good weather these days, everyone unanimously decided to go out and enjoy the scenery beyond the Great Wall in the northwest.

This grassland is sandwiched between two mountains, long and narrow from north to south, with a clear water running through it. In summer and autumn, herdsmen often come here to graze, and the horse farm will also drive horses to graze by the river.

After winter, the grassland is yellow and bare. Days of rain and snow have also turned the grassland into mud. Large and small puddles and mud pits can be seen everywhere. Horses run over and splash mud.

Zhu Xiu was riding on the back of a charcoal red horse that had just grown up. He lifted the reins, straightened his back, clamped his legs, and walked in a circle as if to show off.

This horse was put on the market half a year ago and was the best of the lot. After seeing the appearance, Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin agreed that it was a Turkic Jinshan horse with excellent pedigree.

Jinshan was the Altai Mountain in later generations. In the early days of the Tang Dynasty, it was also the dividing line between Eastern and Western Turks.

After Wu Zhou, it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Beiting Protectorate.

Today, it is the territory of the Karakhanid dynasty established by the Uighurs and the Gelulu people, which is also commonly known as the Black Khan dynasty.

Jinshan is rich in mineral deposits, and the Youyi Gold Mine is the most famous. The foothills stretching for more than [-] miles have become excellent pastures for breeding war horses.

This charcoal-red divine horse was caught by Zhu Xiu at a glance, and he was very calm and prepared to stay and use it as his mount.

Zhao Kuangyin was very jealous at first and expressed his willingness to sell the iron to buy it, but Zhu Xiu refused without mercy.

These days, horses are an important strategic resource, and horses with excellent appearance and bloodline are even more priceless treasures. Zhao Daer couldn't afford the high price, so he wanted to get the BMW first, but Zhu Xiu saw through his plan. Thinking, laughing at this guy for wanting to fart.

"Tighten your buttocks. Your waist is too stiff. Relax and look forward. Don't lower your head and look to both sides to avoid dizziness. Yes, very good. Keep it up."

Chai Rong acts as a strict and responsible equestrian coach, providing on-site guidance.

Under his guidance, Zhu Xiu was able to steadily control the charcoal red horse and trot around in circles.

Zhao Kuangyin watched from the side and could not resist the urge to be a teacher: "Lean forward slightly, tighten your jaw, clamp your legs firmly to keep your upper body balanced, and run faster."

Chai Rong shook his head and said: "Beginners only need to have a moderate speed. The most important thing is to learn the art of control first, experience it through long-term riding training, and find a rhythm that suits you. Slow down the speed and adjust your body. Just relax and control the horse at the pace you feel most comfortable with.”

Zhao Kuangyin shook his head to express his disapproval: "I don't agree with Chai Shuai's words. Beginners ride horses with stiff movements, often because they are timid and unable to adapt. It is better to let go of your courage and charge for a while, and then adapt to the bumps and running of the horse. Only when you are intense can you have enough courage to learn skills."

Chai Rong frowned and said, "That's wrong! This horse is a top-grade war horse. It is definitely not comparable to a horse or a spring horse. It's the first time Zhu Xiu comes into contact with it. How can he charge forward as soon as he comes up? If he falls off the horse, he will definitely be seriously injured."

Zhao Kuangyin retorted: "Zhu Xiu has made great progress, but he is a little bit reluctant to let go. Let him speed up the horse to adapt faster."

Chai Rong shook his head and said: "It is precisely because the skills are unfamiliar that we need to be careful and proceed step by step."

"Chai Shuai's method works for others, but for Zhu Xiu, there is no need to follow the steps. Teaching students in accordance with their aptitude is the way to adapt to changes." Zhao Kuangyin argued with reason.

"Your method is too radical!" Chai Rong was dissatisfied.

"Chai Shuai's methods are too conservative!" Zhao Kuangyin was unconvinced.

The two looked at each other, their eyes colliding, as if a series of sparks were aroused.

Zhu Xiu was sweating profusely, dumbfounded and didn't know who to listen to.

It's like entering a driving school for the first time, sitting in the driver's seat and learning to start the ignition. Some instructors say that you should release the clutch quickly to apply more oil to prevent stalling, while others say that you should slowly lift the clutch halfway and then slowly apply the oil, taking small and steady steps.

Li Chongjin came swaggeringly, heard Chai Rong and Zhao Kuangyin's argument, picked his nostrils and snorted disdainfully, raised his hand and slapped the charcoal red horse's buttocks hard, causing the horse to neigh and gallop wildly:

"Haha~ Why are you talking so much? Just go wild and rush!"

Zhu Xiu felt the constant surging force under her crotch when the horse was sprinting with all its strength, and her body bumped and undulated. The wind blew by her ears, and the surrounding scenery quickly receded. She was so frightened that her face turned pale and her heart pounded. Jumping so hard that the internal organs are about to shift.

"You idiot Li! I'm sorry for your grandma~~"

From a distance, Zhu Xiu's sad and angry curses came.

Li Chongjin laughed heartlessly, Zhao Kuangyin gloated, and Chai Rong smiled and scolded him calmly.

Fu Jinzhan and Fu Jinhuan were playing with a pony that was all white and had black hooves by the stream not far away.

Seeing Zhu Xiu's panicked and ugly look, Fu Jinhuan pointed at him unceremoniously and laughed at him, while Fu Jinzhan glared at the little girl angrily.

"Da Lang, help me!" Zhu Xiu's voiceless cry for help rang out.

Shi Xiangwen, who was squatting on the upper reaches of the stream cutting ice, strode over without saying a word. Like a hill suddenly falling from the sky, blocking the horse's path.

Shi Xiangwen opened his arms, and when the horse rushed past him, he suddenly took the reins and pressed the saddle. The charcoal-red horse whined and screamed, and he was pulled hard by him.

Zhu Xiu's ears were buzzing and she could only hear the violent beating of her heart. She supported Shi Xiangwen's arm and jumped off the horse. Her legs went weak and she almost fell over.

"Li Chongjin!" Zhu Xiu was furious, gritted his teeth, pointed in the distance, and muttered to Shi Xiangwen for a while.

A moment later, there was a chase on the grassland. Li Chongjin ran away in panic, yelling as he ran away. Swearing and begging for mercy alternated. Shi Xiangwen stepped forward and chased Li Chongjin like a chicken. He caught him. He was pushed to the ground and beaten.

"Oh, it can't be like this." Chai Rong sighed helplessly when he saw Li Chongjin's nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and he was in a miserable situation under Shi Xiangwen's ravages.Zhao Kuangyin gloated: "Don't worry, Commander Chai, the Black King is thick-skinned and can withstand beatings."

Zhu Xiu shook his robe and regained his calm expression. He glanced sideways and was pushed to the ground. He struggled to resist but still howled miserably. Li Chongjin said calmly: "Shi Dalang was just playing around with him, no?" You will lose your sense of proportion.”

Chai Rong smiled bitterly and could only turn his head and turn a blind eye.

Yan Ping led the charcoal-red horse to the stream to wash himself. Zhu Xiu spread out a large sheepskin mat and the three of them sat on one side.

"Brother Xiu, such a good horse should gallop on the battlefield. It's a pity to put it in your hands. You should sell it to me!" Zhao Kuangyin still didn't give up.

Zhu Xiu shook his head and said: "After the training just now, I have established a deep relationship with Honghai'er. We feel very suitable for each other and regard each other as relatives. I dare to ask Brother Zhao, how can money be measured between relatives?"

Zhao Kuangyin was startled, and noticed a hint of joking in Zhu Xiu's eyes, and said angrily: "If I am willing to pay a thousand dollars, are you willing to sell it?"

Zhu Xiu thought about it for a moment and stretched out two fingers: "Two thousand strings, our relationship will be broken immediately, and Honghaier will be sold to you!"

Zhao Kuangyin was very angry and glared at him: "The royal horse in the Dian Stable Department is only worth this price!"

Zhu Xiu spread his hands: "Then there's nothing we can do. Brother Zhao should find another good horse and don't take advantage of the red boy again."

Zhao Kuangyin was so angry that he pulled out a piece of weed, held it in his mouth, chewed the root, and looked indignant.

Chai Rong smiled and said, "You named this horse Honghaier? It's interesting. Does this name have any allusive meaning?"

Zhu Xiu said with a smile: "The Records of the Western Regions of the Tang Dynasty records that Master Xuanzang traveled westward to Tianzhu during the Taizong period. I plan to use this as a background to write a fantasy novel, in which Red Boy is the character. When it is completed, Send the book to Chai Shuai for reading."

Chai Rong was full of anticipation: "We have seen your poems and articles before, but we haven't seen your biography in the story book. After it is written, we will send it to Kaifeng immediately. I must read it as soon as possible."

Zhao Kuangyin shouted: "Send someone to give me a copy too."

Zhu Xiu cast a contemptuous glance, this guy seemed to like to take advantage of him.

"Chai Shuai is stationed in Chang'an. I'm afraid he won't be able to return to Kaifeng for a while, right?" Zhu Xiu heard some hidden meaning in Chai Rong's words and asked doubtfully.

Chai Rong said: "I have decided to write to the court immediately after returning to Chang'an, requesting to be transferred back to Kaifeng to serve."

After a pause, Chai Rong looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "The situation in the imperial court has been turbulent recently. The battle between the official family and the auxiliary ministers has become more and more intense. The father commander lost the military power of the Tianxiong Army and stayed in Kaifeng, sandwiched between the official family. Between Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin and others, I still feel uneasy."

Zhu Xiu's heart thumped, her expression became complicated, she lowered her head and remained silent.

Zhao Kuangyin echoed: "Before coming to Yuanzhou, I received a message from my father at home. Talking about the current situation in the court, my father also sighed, saying that in the current court, Li Ye, the uncle of the state and the third envoy, and Nie Wenjin, the military commander, The newly appointed Feilong envoy Guo Yunming and Xuanhui Beiyuan envoy Wang Jun are known as the four hidden ministers. The official family uses these four people to fight for power with the auxiliary ministers. The entire court is divided into two factions around these two factions. They are incompatible with each other and the fight is inevitable. Make a deal.

Shi Hongzhao and Yang Bin were self-reliant ministers who cared about their orders, had arbitrary power and had serious conflicts with the officials. Su Fengji, an old fox, had long since joined Li Ye and his gang. Guo Shuai was caught between Shi Hongzhao, Yang Bin and the officials, and had to deal with Li Ye and others. Suppression makes life really difficult~"

"Because of this, I want to return to Kaifeng as soon as possible. Even if I can't help him solve his problems, I can still be by his side. If there are any troubles and difficulties, my father and my son will bear them together." Chai Rong sighed.

Zhao Kuangyin propped his hands back on the ground, his legs spread apart, and basked in the sun lazily on his back: "It would be best if Guo Shuai could go to Yecheng to sit in the city in the name of leading the army, so that he could avoid the disputes in the court and ensure his military power in his hands." Safety."

Chai Rong smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Of course it's best this way, but the Tianxiong Army has been handed over to Gao Xingzhou. Even if Gao Xing hands over the military power after Sunday on the grounds of serious illness, it is impossible to return to the hands of his father."

"Tianxiong's military affairs are closely related to the safety of Ye City, and Ye City is also related to the safety of Hebei. If Hebei is lost, the imperial court will be in danger! I'm afraid that the body and bones of the old prince Gao will not be able to bear the heavy burden. I hope that the officials will be wiser in the future, even if Guo Shuai is not allowed to lead the army. We must also send a capable person to guard Yecheng. If we send Li Ye, Wang Jun and the like...haha, the Khitan people will probably wake up laughing in their dreams!" Zhao Kuangyin said with a sneer on his face.

"Oh~ I hope so~" Chai Rong sat cross-legged, staring at the undulating ridgeline to the northwest.

Just as Zhao Kuangyin was about to say something, he realized that Zhu Xiu had kept his head down and kept silent, so he stretched out his legs and kicked him: "Hey, what are you thinking about with your head hanging down? Could it be that your heart is springing up, thinking about some girl's body?"

Zhu Xiu blushed and glared at him fiercely.

Chai Rong smiled and said: "Zhu Xiu is young and has always kept a clean mind. I'm afraid he has never seen any warblers or swallows. Don't talk nonsense!"

Zhao Kuangyin joked: "Chai Shuai doesn't know something. In the past two days, a certain person has become a flower protector and a follower at dusk, running to the hidden grass puddle in the west. The man and the woman are alone and they are in their prime of life. , I’m afraid I’ve seen everything that needs to be seen.”

Zhu Xiu was ashamed and furious, and kicked him fiercely, Zhao Kuangyin twisted his waist to dodge, and laughed loudly: "Look, I am so angry that I hit it!"

Zhu Xiu clenched her fists, flushed and glared at him, this filthy bastard.

Chai Rong became interested: "How come I don't know about this? What's the secret behind it?"

"Chai Shuai, let me tell you." Zhao Kuangyin leaned into Chai Rong's ear and whispered.

Zhu Xiu gritted his teeth and looked at the two gossips staring at him with strange eyes and muttering.

"Hahaha~~"

After a burst of laughter, Chai Rong said: "I see. No wonder I see that the relationship between you and Madam Fu Er has eased a lot in the past two days. When we ate roasted snow rabbit last night, she even left a rabbit leg for you."

Chai Rong patted Zhu Xiu on the shoulder and said in an experienced tone: "Women have to be coaxed. If you work harder, you might be able to get married next year. Then invite Duke Wei to Beijing. You and your father will go to the palace to meet the officials and intercede with them to transfer you back to Kaifeng to serve."

Zhao Kuangyin smiled and said: "In this way, our brothers can get together in Kaifeng again."

Zhu Xiu hurriedly argued: "Chai Shuai, please don't misunderstand, things are really not what you think!"

Zhao Kuangyin put his arms around his shoulders and said carelessly: "Don't be shy, kid. In fact, we all think that you and Lady Fu are a perfect match. Your marriage to Lady Fu will not prevent you and Lady Lingyan from having fun with each other. Wouldn’t it be enough to live in the name of concubine again in two years?”

Chai Rong said meaningfully: "I am a concubine in name, but it is not you who has the final say about your status in the family. Shi Jieshuai is reasonable. You can discuss it with him carefully. I believe he will agree."

Zhu Xiu looked at the two of them speechlessly and helplessly: "You guys~"

(End of this chapter)