Chapter 4: Riding Alone on a Horse

He pulled Mu Xia up and patted his sturdy shoulder, saying: "Xia, as a dignified man of seven feet, do not always lie on the ground. You are my deputy, not my cattle or horses. Let us put an end to such matters in the future"

He simply squeezed his legs together and shook the reins, and the steed began to trot forward. Yu Xi and Mu Xia were not novices either; they closely followed their new master, straightening their backs for the first time in front of others, both feeling a bit excited

After the saddle is completed, as for the horseshoes, stirrups, and spurs, he does not plan to make this entire set of horse gear at the moment

It seems that she was also scolded and insulted by the legitimate wife for this matter

Mu Xia's expression surprisingly appeared very disappointed This is the ingrained nature of being a long-term servant and subordinate

The young gentleman has returned

Yu Xi and Mu Xia exchanged a glance, yet their eyes were filled with melancholy

After being thrown into the stable, Zhao Wuxu did not remain idle. Inspired by a whim, he recalled the appearance of high-arched saddles he had seen in later times and sketched a design. He then sourced materials on-site, finding some cowhide, rubber, and discarded copper and tin, and directed the stable's "craftsman" to create several simple saddles.

Zhao Wuxu quietly waited for the ceremony to conclude, and then carefully received the "quality" marked by the blood handprints of the two on the stone slab. Although he felt somewhat out of place, he understood that as a feudal lord, the scholar-officials had their own vassal subordinates, which was the survival rule of the Spring and Autumn period

Upon seeing Zhao Wuxu take out the *map* and *book*, the clever Yu Xi quickly stepped forward, kneeling on one knee to fasten the short sword at his waist. The simple-hearted Mu Xia then lay down on the ground, arching his broad back and saying: "My lord, please mount."

Zhao Wuxu slightly shook his head; no matter what, he still had his principles and integrity, and he could not treat people as livestock or as a bench to step on

At present, it is only for emergency use

Moreover, considering the snail's pace of technological dissemination in this era, Zhao Wuxu felt somewhat reassured. For instance, in the Jin and Lu states, which have a long-standing agricultural tradition, oxen and plows had already emerged; however, it would take another three hundred years until the Han Dynasty for these innovations to reach the southern regions of Chu and Yue.

Commoners and servants mostly have only a given name, without a surname, and are referred to as Yu Xi and Mu Xia according to their professions

In the Spring and Autumn period, people placed far less importance on a single horse compared to heavy chariots, thus even someone of no significant status could command a few horses. As for the stable keepers and shepherds, their status was far inferior to that of the noble grandson of the charioteer, Sun Qi; they were not even considered formal household retainers, so how could they dare to truly manage Zhao Wuxu

The Spring and Autumn period was a class society, and the Yu and Mu families were at the very bottom of the social hierarchy, serving as slaves and servants for generations, dealing with cattle and horses. If they were to become the first batch of "Deputy Officials" under Zhao Wuxu, they would naturally follow him to the fief to serve as his vassals, and their status would rise accordingly

Before long, Yu Xi and Mu Xia led three fine horses, ready to serve the new master with the newly invented "saddle" waiting outside the stable. The stable boys and herdsmen pieced together a complete set of unpatched attire for the two. Although his small faction was somewhat constrained at the moment, Zhao Wuxu could not possibly form a "Beggar Knight Order" to make a fool of himself.

My foolish younger brother, you are about to cause a great disaster again

At this moment, Ji Ying was weaving silk in her boudoir, using the finest Lu State mulberry silk purchased from Taoyi and the pure white cashmere collected from the wild, with the sound of the loom resonating in her ears. She intended to make a winter garment for her younger brother Wuxu, embroidered with the beloved black bird totem pattern of the Zhao family, so that he could wear the new clothes to attend the winter solstice feast, as well as the subsequent sacrificial rites and grand archery ceremony

Zhao Wuxu waved his hand and said, "Xi, Xia, come here."

The horses that Zhao Wuxu saw in the stable already had reins and bits, but were only equipped with a mat made of coarse cloth, with ear-shaped flaps hanging down on both sides. Although simple, this design helps riders avoid chafing their thighs. This item is called a saddle, and is it not mentioned in the later poem "Mulan"? "In the eastern market, buy a fine steed; in the western market, buy a saddle."

Although he is currently nothing more than an illegitimate son with no possessions, after some years, relying on the Zhao family's name, he will at least be able to attain the status of a county official, equivalent to a landholding knight in the Western Middle Ages

... ...

The stables and carriage house of the Zhao family are not far apart from each other. When Zhao Wuxu returned here and pushed open the gate of the enclosure, the stable boys and herdsmen who were washing and feeding the horses all stopped their work and greeted him respectfully.

In the era without saddles, riders had to straddle the bare back of the horse, relying solely on grasping the reins or the mane, and using their legs to grip the horse's belly, in order to avoid falling off while the horse galloped. However, this method was quite unreliable; prolonged riding could easily lead to fatigue, and it was also difficult to effectively use a bow and arrow while on the back of a running horse.

Because these things lack technical content and can be easily replicated upon sight, he is somewhat afraid that the wings of his little butterfly might allow the nomadic horse-riding tribes of the north to reap the benefits, thus becoming a significant threat to the Huaxia, which would truly be a great disaster

One of the reasons for the lack of emphasis on single-riding is that during the Spring and Autumn period, there were no saddles, let alone stirrups

"Little gentleman, please stop joking. We are merely lowly servants, not warriors, and cannot board the carriage!"

He can spend his entire life hunting, feasting, and sleeping with his wife in the manor. Occasionally, during the spring plowing and sowing, he pretends to go down to the fields, and in front of the local people and the wild folk, he merely assists with the plow, thus earning the thumbs-up from the three elders of the village, who regard him as a wise and good lord

"Little gentleman, what is it that you wish to tell your servants?"

Moreover, his influence is currently limited to this small stable. Once he takes control of the Zhao family in the future and has gathered the fine horses from Jibei, Yan, and Dai, he will then unleash this grand strategy and fully implement cavalry without delay

Zhao Wuxu's gaze lingered on the two individuals for a moment; after observing them in secret over the past few days, he had identified these two "talents" worthy of cultivation

Yu Xi, the boy who previously curiously asked Zhao Wuxu where the State of Qi was, is a horse herder, resembling a lean monkey, clever and agile. Mu Xia, on the other hand, is a cattle herder, built like a tiger with a strong physique, possessing a loyal demeanor, and is so strong that he can throw a calf to the ground.

I want you to act as my deputy and go to Mian to participate in the hunt

At that moment, her maid hurriedly entered the room with a look of panic and whispered such and such into Ji Ying's ear

Zhao Wuxu did not concern himself with the thoughts of Yu Xi and Mu Xia, and simply leaped onto the horse's back.

It is important to note that commercial exchanges are not as frequent now, and the Rongdi people scattered in the Central Plains do not primarily rely on cavalry. In fact, the ancient meaning of the character "Rong" refers to foot soldiers.

Zhao Wuxu placed his hands on their shoulders and said: "This is no joke. Although I am currently alone, if I become wealthy and prosperous in the future, I will never forget you! A gentleman's word is his bond, and even four horses cannot chase it down!"

Certainly, he is also required to undertake certain obligations, providing military tribute to his lord, namely the head of the Zhao family, and when summoned, to bring the garrison soldiers from his town to serve at the lord's command

In these past few days, the role of storytelling has become apparent; when they saw Zhao Wuxu, it was as if they were meeting an idol, their eyes sparkling with admiration. After more than ten days, Zhao Wuxu had already become a figure who could rally a hundred responses here, and he felt that only by staying here could he truly relax and feel at ease

Upon witnessing Zhao Wuxu's commitment, the two of them immediately knelt down on the ground, biting their fingers to draw blood and smearing it on the corners of their mouths, swearing allegiance to the deity Taiyi and pledging their loyalty to Wuxu. Meanwhile, the other stable boys looked on, filled with various feelings of jealousy and envy.

After the master-servant relationship was established, without any hesitation, he commanded: "Go and select three fine horses, and then bring out the saddles I have made these past few days. We will not take a carriage; we will ride horses instead"

Bound by blood, he is still very grateful to his biological mother in this life

Zhao Yang, known as "Old Daddy" for his frugality, later established a record of swearing allegiance with several thousand scholars in a single event, which later generations referred to as the "Houma Alliance Document"

Therefore, Zhao Wuxu was able to ride a horse at the age of eight and could shoot a short bow from horseback in his teens. In this regard, this body indeed possesses great talent

His horsemanship is quite good, and it is not something he suddenly learned in these past ten days. In the scattered memories of this life, his taciturn mother of Diran, whose appearance has already become vague, often carried him onto the horse's back when Zhao Wuxu was very young, taking him to gallop in the stables.

"What? You said that without any shame, he rode out with two subordinates to the hunting grounds?" Ji Ying bit her rosy lips with her white teeth, and the delicate silk in her hand was twisted into a ball.