Guide to traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 1183 Postscript 39·Learning to ride a horse is similar to learning to drive a car

This Zhang Jiulang is named Zhang Xianqing, with the courtesy name Chunchen.

He is neither a descendant of Zhang Guangdao nor a descendant of Zhang Tong, but a descendant of Zhang Gen, the founding prime minister and father-in-law of the country.

During the reign of Zhu Guoxiang and the early reign of Zhu Ming, the emperor had been deliberately suppressing the Zhang Gen family because there were a large number of officials in Jiangxi and the Jiangxi nobles obstructed the land tax.

In the middle of Zhu Ming's reign, the officials in Sichuan, Shandong and Shaanxi were too powerful to be removed, so Zhu Ming relaxed his control over the Zhang Gen family and Jiangxi officials.

Until the crown prince Zhu Yang succeeded to the throne, in order to consolidate the throne, he naturally had to promote his grandfather's family.

So, Zhang Xian, the son of Zhang Tao, the uncle of the emperor, soon became the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhang Tao should have been the second place in the eighth year of Zhenghe in the Northern Song Dynasty, because Prince Zhao Kai personally took the exam and squeezed Zhang Tao out and became the third place.

This person is extremely capable and selfless.

Historically, when the Southern Song Dynasty was in the most difficult financial situation, Zhang Tao took the initiative to donate his own wet copper smelting field to the court. In this time and space, Zhang Tao also donated half of his own copper field to the Ming Dynasty court.

After Zhu Ming released the suppression of Jiangxi officials, Zhang Tao became the Minister of Works.

Zhang Tao's son Zhang Zhen was only an average person, but his advantage was that he was stable. Zhu Yang promoted Zhang Zhen to be the prime minister, but he didn't cause any trouble. Except for some changes in the cabinet personnel, his administration has always been in line with the rules.

As for the descendants of Zhang Guangdao and Zhang Tong, they each split into several branches and scattered in various provinces across the country. But their main clan left in Luoyang is all gone!

When Emperor Dingtai was in his forties, in order to reorganize the army, he stripped the fourth-generation grandson of Zhang Guangdao of his title and exiled him, and confiscated all the property of the main clan of the Zhang family. The charges were very serious: disobeying the emperor's order, granting military positions privately, colluding with civil officials, embezzling military funds, reselling military supplies, using the army for business, falsely reporting military intelligence, nurturing the enemy, seizing civilian land, bullying and dominating the market...

The direct descendants of Zhang Tong were killed by Empress Dowager Ye and Prime Minister Deng because they supported the coup of Prince Yong.

Of course, only the main branches of the two families in Luoyang were killed, and the collateral branches scattered around were not implicated. Zhang Tong has a descendant who is now serving as the Guizhou Education Envoy; Zhang Guangdao has a descendant who is now serving as the Deputy General of Korea.

Zhang Xianqing's attitude was very enthusiastic. He first introduced himself and then said, "Xie Xueshi, just call me Jiulang. My family has been studying both arts and sciences for generations, and there are many people who specialize in academic research. I am also studying mathematics, astronomy and physics, but unfortunately my talent is limited and I have never published a paper in a journal."

They are all science students, so they can get close to each other.

Xie Yan smiled and said, "My courtesy name is Chaozong. I am the sixth in my family. Jiulang can call me by my courtesy name or my rank."

"What a good name, what a good courtesy name," Zhang Xianqing, a science student, could write articles fluently. "The rites of Yao and Shun have spread all over the world, and the changes of Cheng Yu will last for thousands of years. The seventeen-year-old scholar Furong will surely become a great scholar in the future. Your doctrine should be able to carry on the past and open up the future, spread all over the world and last for thousands of years."

Xie Yan was very happy to hear this. So my name is so particular?

Yan: Water rises to the sea.

Xie Yan asked curiously, "What allusion did Jiulang just talk about?"

Zhang Xianqing said, "The words and sentences in the Book of Documents. I studied liberal arts for a few years before, and studied the Book of Documents. Later, like my brother, I also switched to science. Alas, I know a little about everything, but I am not good at anything."

"Jiulang is knowledgeable and talented, I admire him very much." Xie Yan complimented casually.

He was very good at flattering people. When he was delivering food into the community, he could get the security guard to open the door with just a cigarette and a few words.

The two chatted all the way to choose horses, and Li Dunshi followed them with envy.

The so-called horse selection was to rent from the royal horse farm.

Hearing that the eldest princess needed horses, the horse breeder quickly brought two good horses and introduced them: "These two are top-quality Shandan (Shandan) horses, with mixed bloodlines, and are the first choice of war horses for the Ming cavalry. They are easy to be fat, but also easy to lose fat."

This Shandan military horse is a high-quality war horse that was hybridized in the Hexi Corridor decades after the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The bloodline is extremely complex, with bloodlines of various war horses from Central Asia to the Northeast.

The only disadvantage is that it is easy to lose weight during long-distance marches, and its ability to withstand rough feed is not as good as that of Mongolian horses.

The mare that was led to Xie Yan was already well-trained and gentle.

The shoulder height is 1.35 meters.

This height is already considered short, after all, it is used for playing polo.

The Shandan horses of the Ming Dynasty, which were actually used in combat, generally had shoulder heights of more than 1.4 meters, and some even exceeded 1.5 meters.

The horse keeper began to explain the key points of riding: "Before getting on the horse, you should lead the horse for a walk to relax the horse's mood and muscles. By the way, check the harness, especially whether the straps are secure..."

Xie Yan automatically put into practice the knowledge he learned in the driving school. Before getting on the car, he should walk around the car and check whether the car is in good condition. The seat belt must also be fastened.

After walking the horse for a while, the horse keeper helped Xie Yan get on the horse.

"When you get on the horse, lift your feet high, don't kick the horse's butt, the quicker the better. If you are nervous, the horse will be nervous too... Don't pull the reins hard, Mr. Xie, please relax a little, as long as you sit firmly, you won't fall off... Use the front half of your foot to step on the stirrup, yes, yes, yes, that's it... Yes, yes, control the horse to walk slowly..."

"After walking this section of the road, you can pat the horse's neck and say a few words of encouragement to the horse. People and horses can communicate, and the better the horse, the more spiritual it is... Yes, that's it. See, this horse is responding to Mr. Xie, and it is in a good mood today..."

Xie Yan was very nervous at first. After riding a horse and walking slowly for a while, he gradually relaxed.

Especially when he learned to communicate with the horse, the horse actually responded. This greatly increased Xie Yan's confidence and he felt that he could ride a horse and gallop.

It’s not difficult to ride a horse.

I think back then, Xie Yan learned to ride a bicycle and learned it in less than fifteen minutes.

The whole process was extremely rough and simple. I pushed my classmate’s bicycle to the top of the slope and then rode directly down the slope. At first he pressed the brake pedal with his hand to touch the ground, then gradually released the brake and put his feet away. For the first time he rode a bicycle and sprinted downhill.

Although I broke my classmate's bicycle and was bruised and bruised, I learned to ride a bicycle in just fifteen minutes.

"drive!"

Xie Yan imitated Zhang Jiulang and waved his horse whip lightly. The horse under his crotch, which had long wanted to run, gradually accelerated and ran faster and faster.

Feeling the increasing speed in the wind, Xie Yan had the urge to shout excitedly.

So cool.

Men like this kind of excitement.

The horse breeder was so frightened that he rode a horse to catch up and shouted: "Xie, please slow down, this is your first time riding a horse! Hold it tight, hold it tight, gently pull the reins, don't pull too much at once." ruthless……"

Zhang Xianqing and Li Dunshi were also afraid that something would happen to him, so they hurriedly chased him on horseback.

The horse rushed faster and faster. Xie Yan panicked a little, but he didn't dare to turn without authorization. He could only carefully pull the reins and run in a straight line.

Ahead is the unopened area of ​​the cavalry school grounds...

"Stop, stop!"

Seeing Xie Yan rushing towards him on horseback, the two guarding soldiers shouted loudly.

Xie Yan said in panic: "I'm braking, I'm braking, don't dare to brake to death all at once!"

When he was still six or seven steps away from the restricted area of ​​the school field, the horse finally came to a complete stop, scaring Xie Yan so much that his vest was covered in sweat.

Damn it, I haven’t practiced the right-angle turn in Subject 2 yet, so I went directly to the 100-meter acceleration in Subject 3.

The horse breeder who was a temporary guest coach finally caught up to Xie Yan and was also scared to the point of sweating.

On the polo field, the game has begun.

And it’s a mixed race for men and women.

Today was somewhat of a blind date, with many unmarried men and women coming. If you can look at each other and get permission from both parents, you can ask the matchmaker to take the next step.

There are many people in similar situations to Li Dunshi.

They did not receive a direct invitation from the princess, but were brought in by relatives or friends. Some are to join the circle, and some are to catch a rich husband.

Xie Yan was busy practicing subject two and was not in the mood to watch the game.

He tried to control the horse's speed and make right-angle turns or S-turns while running slowly. It's a pity that this horse can't reverse into the barn.

Gradually, Xie Yan even learned to change gears and was able to accelerate and decelerate more smoothly.

After a polo match, Xie Yan took the opportunity to ride to the audience and shouted to the eldest princess: "Your Highness, I have learned a little bit, but my butt hurts from being bumped!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The eldest princess was amused and laughed happily, and other ladies also laughed.

The eldest princess actually ignored her vulgar words and shouted loudly: "When your butt hurts, just come up and sit down. It's not too late to practice again another day."

Xie Yan did not dare to dismount directly. He waited for someone to hold the horse before he got down carefully.

Then I discovered that not only my butt hurt, but my inner thighs also hurt a little.

Walking onto the high platform with a strange posture, Xie Yan was led behind the eldest princess, where an empty chair had been placed.

Xie Yan sat down crookedly, trying not to touch the painful spot.

Seeing his funny appearance, the eldest princess Fuyan held back her smile and leaned to the side, whispering: "Jiu Mei has a good eye. This Bachelor Xie is very interesting. He is free and easy and has the demeanor of a celebrity."

The eldest princess smiled happily: "Seventh sister, don't praise him, he just doesn't follow the etiquette."

Princess Fuyan said: "Too much etiquette is boring, and the one in my house is very boring. He is polite outside, and he is polite when he comes home, as if he is a guest."

"Brother-in-law is a humble gentleman, seventh sister, please stop showing off." said the eldest princess.

Princess Fuyan also laughed. It seemed that she was very satisfied with her husband.

While the two princesses were talking, Qingluan brought a bowl of drink to Xie Yan and said, "Master Xie, please have a cold drink."

"Thank you sister." Xie Yan opened his mouth.

When he was delivering food, he would call everyone he saw big brother, handsome boy, young lady, or beautiful lady.

Qingluan was shouted and stepped back with a smile.

Xie Yan then carefully looked at the cold drink in his hand. There were raisins, sesame seeds, diced watermelon... and ice cubes!

Xie Yan thought of the various milk teas he had sent.

This cold drink also contains milk, I don’t know if it is goat milk or cow’s milk.

Xie Yan took two sips and it tasted pretty good.

The eldest princess turned over and said, "Do you like this kind of cold drink? If you don't like it, I will change it next time."

Xie Yan said: "It's delicious. Next time I go to the princess's house, I will also show my hand and let the princess taste my cooking."

"You can also cook?" the eldest princess asked curiously.

Xie Yan said: "I have learned it before."

New Oriental does not have a civil engineering major, so Xie Yan is not from a major.

But while he was waiting for his meal to be served, he couldn't even look at some dishes. Even when the cook is overwhelmed, he will help, just to get the meal out as soon as possible and deliver the order.

The eldest princess asked: "When are you free?"

Xie Yan said: "I have been idle."

"Then you come to my house tomorrow and I'll wait to eat the food you cooked." The eldest princess couldn't wait.

“Okay, I’ll go there tomorrow morning.” Xie Yan planned to discuss cooperation with the princess. He couldn’t always rely on his family to pay for his living expenses. He had to start a business as soon as possible to earn some pocket money.