Chapter 1: The Youth of the Ancestors

Uncle Hong asked curiously, "Young Master, this saddle and stirrup do not seem to be made by the Hu people, and I have not seen such items in Youzhou. Could it be that they are new inventions from the Central Plains?"

Uncle Hong, feeling anxious, chuckled twice and was about to speak when someone among the attendants managing the prey nearby exclaimed joyfully: "Look, this is a pair of heavenly eye corners"

Everything was meticulously arranged, and the sun had just passed its zenith. From morning until now, the group had been on the move continuously, having traveled a distance of at least forty to fifty li since leaving Xu Wuyi. Both the people and the horses showed signs of fatigue. As the oldest member of the group, Uncle Hong suggested taking a short break here to drink some water and eat some provisions before continuing on their journey. The young ones had no objections, so the group settled down in twos and threes, finding suitable spots to rest, while allowing the horses to leisurely graze on the hay nearby

Over the past seven years, he has been constantly preparing for the arrival of chaotic times. In his younger years, aside from being dutiful and respectful to his elders, treating those above and below him with courtesy, and adhering to the teachings of Confucianism and legalism, his capabilities in other areas were quite limited. Fortunately, the northern border regions are known for their fierce and martial spirit, and with his background from a military family, he had ample opportunities to practice martial arts alongside his studies. By utilizing modern training methods, he has managed to develop considerable physical skills. Fortunately, the northern border regions are known for their fierce and martial spirit, and with his background from a military family, he had ample opportunities to practice martial arts alongside his studies. By utilizing modern training methods, he has managed to develop considerable physical skills

Amidst the cheers of the entourage, the young man slowed his horse as he approached the spot where the antelope had fallen. However, there was no expression of pride or joy on his face; instead, he furrowed his brow, appearing quite contemplative, occasionally lowering his head to inspect the peculiar saddle he was sitting on. After dismounting, the others rushed forward to gather the prey, while the young man merely cast a casual glance at the antelope, which was still gasping for breath, and then turned away without much concern, beginning to adjust the saddle on his horse's back.

Very well, the young man laughed heartily as he returned the ram's horn to his attendant, and said cheerfully, "Today I am happy; aside from this pair of heavenly eyes which I will honor my grandfather with after returning, all other game we have hunted shall be given to everyone to share equally"

The string vibrates, the bow trembles, the arrow sings

At this point, he has reached the age of discernment, which for ancient people signifies a certain capability in speech and conduct. In the coming half year, he will naturally focus his efforts on addressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion

How should the road ahead be navigated, when there are so many unknowns?

Young Master Cheng is concerned. A few days ago, my father just visited my great-uncle, who mentioned the character 'Ping'. As he carefully put away the water bag, Zuji respectfully replied.

The young man continued to examine the seating, gestured with his hand at the stirrup ring, and shook his head slightly, saying: "The dimensions are incorrect; it needs further improvement"

The arrow, glinting with a cold light, sliced through the air with a whoosh and struck the abdomen of an adult antelope.

Stop being so verbose and quickly take care of the sheep

On the hills outside the northern suburbs of Xu Wuxian, a cavalry of more than twenty riders galloped from west to east. The knights were dressed in simple yet sturdy attire, some wielding longbows, others carrying lassos, and occasionally someone shouted to drive a group of panicked antelopes fleeing ahead of the cavalry. The leader was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old, who, unlike the others behind him, wore a soft leather short armor on his upper body and was equipped with an unknown peculiar saddle on his horse.

With a mournful cry from the antelope, the herd scattered, abandoning their injured member. The wounded antelope staggered and continued to run for a distance, ultimately collapsing to the ground in despair

At this moment, a previously similar-aged attendant took out a round, plump water pouch and jogged over to Zuzhao. Zuzhao snapped back to reality from a myriad of thoughts, took the water pouch, tilted his head back, and took a hearty drink. He wiped his mouth and let out a satisfied sigh.

Antelope horn is originally a traditional Chinese medicine, while the medicinal properties of Tianyan horn are superior to those of ordinary antelope horn. Although Tianyan horn has not yet reached the level of being extremely rare, it at least represents a good omen for hunters

The eldest son truly possesses remarkable archery skills

The only misfortune is that he arrived in the wrong era, the fourth year of the Xiping era under Emperor Ling of Han, and today, seven years later, is precisely the sixth year of the Guanghe era. The Yellow Turban Rebellion, which will bring about the collapse of the Han Dynasty, is about to take center stage in history

Uncle Hong appeared somewhat awkward, yet he still inquired, "Is what the young master said true?"

Seeing Uncle Hong's evident concern, the young man smiled again. He held no intention of blaming him; as the steward of the ancestral family's horse farm, Uncle Hong devoted his utmost effort to anything related to horses. Such dedication and loyalty are indeed commendable. However, it was not convenient for him to say much at the moment, as he had invented the saddle and stirrups ahead of time, and the emergence of new things would inevitably face some skepticism.

Zu Zhao sat down on a ridge, allowing the bright sunlight to bathe his face. He squinted his eyes and gazed towards the distant horizon where the sky met the earth, and a few strands of sentiment began to arise in his heart

Zu Ji smiled warmly for a while, unable to hide his own fondness for the name "Zu Ping".

"Yes, yes, my father has mentioned more than once that I should definitely learn more from the eldest son." Zu Ji appeared somewhat embarrassed, scratching his head and speaking in a vague tone

Uncle Hong was well aware that the eldest son had been well-educated since childhood and had become increasingly mature and composed in recent years. He treated everyone in the estate with respect, and his words were naturally beyond doubt. Immediately, he nodded in agreement and said: "Indeed, indeed, it was my indiscretion to speak out."

All present were filled with gratitude and cheered loudly. Most of them came from a hunting background; although they did not lack for meat, the rewards given by the host for their catches carried a sense of trust and recognition, which they naturally cherished and felt honored by.

The youth shouted loudly: "In."

Upon hearing this, Uncle Hong displayed a look of doubt, yet he felt it inappropriate to question the words of the young master, as the latter was indeed the heir of the ancestral estate.

"Young Master," at this moment, a middle-aged man approached from behind, leading his horse. He respectfully greeted the young man, "I noticed you were already on horseback early this morning, preparing these items. I wonder what they are? With such a load on the horse's back, could it cause the horse some inconvenience..." As he spoke, his tone inevitably grew a bit more serious.

The young man laughed and said, "When has my ancestor Zhao ever deceived Uncle Hong?"

It is precisely by means of this peculiar seating apparatus that the youth can maintain his body balance solely with his feet, thereby freeing his hands to draw the bow and nock the arrow, even during high-speed movement without any impact.

Today, the reason I am able to ride swiftly and shoot accurately is entirely due to the effectiveness of this saddle and stirrups. There is no need to elaborate further; in the future, Uncle Hong, you will understand the merits and drawbacks of this item once you have personally tried it.

As they pursued, the crowd behind had long been astonished by the youth's agile movements. Among them were many experienced hunters, yet none could manage to swiftly advance while simultaneously drawing their bows and shooting, all the while ensuring exceptional accuracy

Zujì, the twelfth month is the day you will have your hair bound. Has the family invited the elders to give you a good name?" Zuzhāo casually asked the other party while handing back the water pouch. The young attendant before him was of the same clan, but due to being from a branch family, his family circumstances were not affluent, and his status within the clan was not high. He usually helped out in the homes of several elders.

The young man handed the reins of his mount to Uncle Hong and turned to walk towards the crowd gathered around the prey. A companion of similar age hurriedly presented a pair of antlers just extracted from the head of an antelope, with fresh blood still staining both the base of the antlers and his hands. The young man showed no aversion to the bloodstains; he picked up one of the antlers and pointed it towards the sky. Looking through the bloodied base, known as the "antelope plug," he could faintly see the marrow inside, along with a very fine crack extending to the tip of the antler. Considering its solid texture and nearly one-foot length, it was undoubtedly a rare pair of heavenly eye antlers.

In just half a day's time, nine out of thirteen arrows hit their mark, which can be said to reflect the presence of Duke Jinghuan in the world

Look, the eldest son has scored again

Zu Zhao understood that some people are not naturally suited for studying, so he did not nag Zu Ji too much, merely offering a sympathetic smile.

Soon, someone turned back and called out, "Congratulations, young master, you have acquired a pair of heavenly eyes."

The youth smiled ambiguously and then said, "This is something I casually created in the past few days. Unfortunately, it still has flaws. Once I have carefully improved it, I will ensure that everyone in the entire manor is fully equipped."

Having traversed to this era for seven years, it must be said that time flies like a fleeting horse. He has not only fully adapted to the entirely new environment before him but has also inevitably begun to plan for his future survival. Although his luck has been relatively good, having crossed over as the legitimate eldest son of the patriarch of the Zu clan in Xu County, Youbei Ping, Youzhou, his ancestors have served as military officers guarding the borders for three generations, and he is also from the same lineage as the renowned Eastern Jin general who made a name for himself several hundred years later. His family is large and prosperous, making him a veritable local power and noble, living a life of luxury without any issues.

The young man, referred to as the Young Master, smiled calmly and said while patting the seat, "Uncle Hong, how could I not know that you are most particular about these horses? Rest assured, the seat I have prepared is called a saddle, and the ring below is known as a stirrup. These two items not only allow the rider to sit more securely, but they also reduce wear on the horse's spine, truly achieving two benefits with one action"

"Neat and tidy, it is a good name. From now on, you should strive to be a neat person," said Zu Zhao, nodding in approval.

The horns are carefully wrapped and stored in a special bag, while the antelope carcass is securely tied with ropes and loaded onto the horse's back

In ancient times, the general level of education among people was relatively low, and naming children was often done in a perfunctory manner. It was only upon reaching the age of hair binding that, under suitable conditions, a proper name would be given. "Ji" means the smallest, and "Zu Ji" was merely a casual term used among family members. In large and prominent clans like the Zu family, there were not just one or two individuals referred to as "Zu Ji".

You have grown up now, and from now on, you must be more sensible. You should not spend all your time just playing; you need to read some books, understand?" After a brief pause, Zu Zhao spoke again in a lecturing tone. He had a relatively close relationship with this cousin, having practiced horsemanship and martial arts together for several years. He understood that his cousin was straightforward by nature and did not learn much from books, but he was wholeheartedly devoted to wielding swords and spears, making him a trustworthy and reliable person.

In early autumn in northern Liaoning, a subtle chill lingers in the air. The dusky forests and undulating hills intertwine, as a cool breeze gently sweeps by, causing the shadows in the woods to dance, resembling overlapping waves at a glance. The sky is a deep blue and boundless, with a few leisurely clouds drifting and changing shape, creating a scene that is refreshingly serene.