Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 73: Horse Riding Instruction!

"Erlang, this is like adding wings to a tiger on the vast grassland!" Cheng Yaojin finally managed to take it from Qin Qiong's hands.

"I don't know if my nephew is willing to sell it." Qin Qiong also knew that Li Shimin particularly liked this thing.

"This kind of thing is priceless, so let it go," Li Shimin said, finding it difficult to speak.

I really want it to be true.

Although I brought a lot of things today, it was all for taking pictures.

Packing their belongings, the group prepared to head to Zhongnan Mountain.

It's actually a bit awkward; you can ride a horse through the mountains, but Xiao Ran's bicycle can't.

So Xiao Ran was just there to make up the numbers.

Li Shimin, Qin Qiong, Cheng Yaojin, Cheng Chumo, Qin Huaidao, and Xiao Ran went.

Empress Zhangsun stayed behind with several princesses, and Zhang Anan did not go with them, staying behind to protect Empress Zhangsun and the others.

In fact, Cheng Tiehuan also wanted to go hunting, but it wasn't appropriate for his daughter to go along.

Xiao Ran was riding a bicycle, and he was noticeably much shorter.

“Let’s ride horses!” Li Shimin suggested. “These horses are docile and well-trained.”

"Okay!" Xiao Ran did not refuse.

A relatively docile horse was chosen for Xiao Ran.

Looking at the horse, Xiao Ran was a little dumbfounded.

I've never ridden one before, and it just feels awkward no matter how I try to get on.

"Go?" Li Shimin looked at Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran gave an awkward smile, "I've never ridden a horse before, I don't know how to mount."

Xiao Ran had previously said he couldn't ride a horse, which Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, and the others thought was just modesty.

"So, what you said before was the truth?" Cheng Yaojin laughed as well.

Horse archery was a skill that nobles of this era had to master; it was acceptable not to know how to shoot arrows, but they had to know how to ride horses.

It's not normal for ordinary people to not have the money to buy a horse.

But Xiao Ran didn't seem like someone who was short of money at all.

The group was quite surprised that they didn't know how to ride a horse.

Li Shimin and his companions could only teach Xiao Ran on the spot.

Cheng Yaojin said with a smile, "Nephew, watch carefully. Hold the reins with your left hand, palm facing inward, and press them firmly against the horse's neck!"

He demonstrated first, his left hand firmly gripping the reins by the saddle bridge, "and step on this iron ring with your right foot, and push hard!"

Li Shimin added from the side, "Don't be afraid, this horse is gentle. I have someone lead it. When you kick it up, lean your body forward, grab the back of the saddle with your right hand, and use the momentum to flip it up."

Xiao Ran tried to step on the stirrup, but his foot slipped and he almost fell. Cheng Chumo quickly grabbed his arm and said, "Young master, don't rush. Make sure you step firmly on the stirrup! It's like climbing a ladder. First, stand firmly on one foot, then step over with the other. Yes, don't stiffen your back, relax!"

Qin Qiong also offered advice: "After you mount, make sure you're seated firmly before letting go. Slightly grip the horse's belly with your legs, but don't pull too hard, or the horse will get scared."

After struggling twice, Xiao Ran finally managed to sit awkwardly in the saddle, gripping the reins tightly with both hands, clearly not used to it.

Cheng Yaojin laughed heartily: "That's right! Let the horse walk slowly first, and then we'll talk about stopping. Remember, if you want to stop, pull the reins and shout 'Whoa!'"

Xiao Ran and the others were quite willing to teach.

I used to think that Xiao Ran had a lot of good things to offer and knew a lot.

Now that he's discovered Xiao Ran can't ride a horse, he actually feels a bit superior.

Cheng Yaojin was worried and personally led Xiao Ran's horse.

Xiao Ran left with the others, carrying a compound bow and a telescope.

Third Sister and the two little princesses all wanted to play with Xiao Ran.

I want to ride a bicycle.

If Xiao Ran were at home, Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, and the others would try riding bicycles.

I won't touch it if Xiao Ran isn't around.

Princess Li Lizhi, also known as Princess Yuzhang, possessed this level of refinement.

The courtyard was suddenly much less crowded. There was no one to work today, and no one needed to prepare meals.

Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya also had some free time.

Empress Zhangsun was not pretentious or arrogant; she was also approachable.

Zhang Jinhe was quite talkative, while Zhang Erya was a little reserved at first, but gradually opened up.

Li Lizhi and Cheng Tiehuan were quite familiar with each other.

Empress Zhangsun held up a persimmon cake and said, "I heard from Fifth Sister that the village is preparing persimmon cakes, right?"

“Yes, now every household is busy. The young master is teaching the method to the other people in the village without reservation. Now the two neighboring villages are also preparing.” Zhang Erya said with a smile.

Speaking of Xiao Ran, I feel very proud.

Although Xiao Ran and his family are not related by blood, they are still family in name only.

Zhang Erya knew very well that Xiao Ran was now fully capable of going independent, but Xiao Ran didn't mention it.

"This price is indeed good. Do you have any connections when you sell them?" Empress Zhangsun looked at the persimmon cakes. "I think it was said before that you shouldn't eat too many persimmon cakes."

“Madam, it’s already agreed. I’ll take as many as you have. My father is a merchant in the West Market of Chang’an. He used to sell roasted chestnuts, and from now on he can sell persimmon cakes.”

"That's really good, it's convenient for everyone." Empress Zhangsun nodded.

"Go out for a walk and take a look around the village."

Li Lizhi gently helped Empress Zhangsun up, and the others also quickly stood up.

"Jinniang and Erniang, you should talk to the people in the village and ask them to keep the persimmon frost," Empress Zhangsun brought up the matter again.

"Don't worry, Madam. The young master already said that the white powder on the persimmons will be scraped off before selling the persimmon cakes."

I took my three little girls and went to visit other houses.

Xiao Hei didn't follow Xiao Ran; instead, he played with the three little ones.

Because Xiao Ran was not familiar with horseback riding, he slowed down.

The others voluntarily gave up their seats, with Li Shimin in front and Xiao Ran next to him.

"How do you feel?" Li Shimin smiled.

"Quite interesting."

“Nephew, you’ve just been riding a horse, so I’m afraid you’re not very good at archery!” Cheng Yaojin smiled.

Shooting arrows while standing on the ground is different from shooting arrows on horseback.

"It's probably not going to work. I'll just take a look and not participate." Xiao Ran wasn't interested in hunting; he only bought the compound bow because he thought it looked nice.

This thing cannot be used indiscriminately in later generations; it can only be used in training grounds, and it is easily confiscated in other places.

At first, it felt novel, but after a few days it became just a decoration.

If Li Shimin and his companions hadn't gone hunting this time, Xiao Ran wouldn't have touched the composite bow.

"Nephew, what kind of pulley system is this? And what kind of wheels are there?"

“An eccentric wheel!” Xiao Ran said.

Li Shimin nodded, "Yes, yes, could this also be made in the Tang Dynasty?"

"Unrealistic! Very difficult!" The materials for Xiao Ran's composite bow are something the Tang Dynasty could not possibly have.

It is very difficult to make this kind of compound bow.

"What about the telescope?" Actually, Li Shimin wanted to ask about a telescope, not a composite bow.

"It's theoretically possible, but it's also very difficult."

To put it simply, it's about burning glass.

Xiao Ran knew how to heat glass, but he had never done it before and didn't know if it would work.

"Is it because you can't make the kind of plastic you're talking about?" Li Shimin pointed to Xiao Ran's binoculars.

"This plastic can't be made, but that's not important. What's important is the glass inside, which is similar to crystal."

"Glass?" Li Shimin knew about this. "Is this the core of the clairvoyant system?"

(End of this chapter)