Chapter 27

Liu Ling's death was like a crowbar, pushing Xie Fang, Zhao Yingqi and Liu Fan to make different choices and move towards the fulcrum of their fate with their own thoughts.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, the case of the Huainan King and the Hengshan King's rebellion had been basically settled under Liu Che's thunderous measures, and was gradually coming to an end.

The result of the liquidation is naturally that those who should be killed will be killed, those who should be punished will be punished, and those who should be released will be released.

Those who were attacked by Liu Ling were also comforted by Liu Che's attitude. They felt relieved and no longer panicked. They praised the emperor for his wisdom and applauded those who were executed.

Bah, a bunch of traitors, dragging me down with them before they die. Serves you right!

The panic in the capital had subsided, but the discussion about the treason case had not stopped.

Even Huo Qubing couldn't help but sigh, "Men like Zhang Cigong and Lei Bei, with their martial arts skills, would have been better off devoting their energy to fighting the Xiongnu instead of getting entangled with a woman and dying over it. What a shame."

Liu Ju curled his lips. "It's a pity for them, but what about Yin Liu? What about the people of Yunfeng Village? What did they do wrong? Who forced them to do it, Lei Bei or Zhang Cigong? Didn't they bring this upon themselves?"

Huo Qubing was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "It's indeed what I asked for."

Liu Ju sighed like a grown-up and patted his hands. "So they say the land of gentleness is also the grave of heroes. You should take this as a warning!"

Huo Qubing: ???

None of his business!

Liu Ju raised his eyebrows and said, "Don't you know how much girls like you now? On the day the army returns to the capital, there will be more than a basketful of silk handkerchiefs, sachets and flowers thrown at you.

"The few times we've left the palace, we've taken this route out of the city. I don't know how many girls I've seen secretly glancing at you, their cheeks flushed, their eyes casting amorous glances at you."

Huo Qubing rolled his eyes. "What does it have to do with me if they like what they like? It's not like I like them. Why are you paying attention to these things at such a young age? Stop worrying about it. Am I, Huo Qubing, the kind of person who would waste my thoughts on a woman?"

Liu Ju tilted his head and said, "Other women are fine, but you have to marry a wife. If you don't even bother to think about your wife, then why did you marry her?"

Huo Qubing snorted lightly: "Who wants to get married? It's so troublesome."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone looked at them sideways.

Zhu Yi's eyelashes trembled unconsciously.

Liu Ju blinked. "But I heard that many families have approached my aunt, wanting to discuss marriage with you. My aunt even came to see my mother and asked her opinion, hoping that she would choose a good one for you."

Huo Qubing immediately looked at Wei Zifu.

Wei Zifu nodded: "It is true."

Liu Che on the side laughed heartily: "You are not young anymore. I said that if I could confer upon you the title of Marquis of Guanjun, I should also give you a Guanjun Marquisate, but you refused. Now it seems that I have to prepare it for you. You can't use it now since you are all alone, but you will need it when you get married."

He immediately made the final decision: "It is decided. I will have the mansion renovated someday and have Wei Qing prepare all the servants for you."

Huo Qubing could no longer sit still: "Your Majesty, I never said I wanted to get married. How can I have a family if the Xiongnu is not yet defeated?"

Liu Ju rolled his eyes fiercely and said, "Don't make excuses. You made excuses when your father gave you a mansion, and you made excuses when he asked for your marriage. Are the Xiongnu just bricks that can be moved wherever they are needed?

"My uncle is married. How can he cope with your words? It seems that as long as the Xiongnu remain, the good men of the Han Dynasty will not be able to settle down, right?"

"You're the only one who talks too much!" Huo Qubing bared his teeth and glared at him. "You heartless little thing! I've been so nice to you all the time, but you can't stop saying a few words. You're deliberately trying to trick me, aren't you? From now on, I won't take you horse racing. I'll take Buzhi with me!"

Wei Buyi was the second son of Wei Qing and was born in the same year as Liu Ju.

Liu Ju curled his lips. "That's all you know." "You're amazing if you can race horses."

"Well, if you don't want to take me, then don't take me. I'm already working on my horse's equipment. Once it's done, learning to ride will be easy. I'm sure I can learn it quickly. And when I do, I won't need you to take me with me. I'll run on my own."

Huo Qubing scoffed, "Horse equipment? Easy? Horseback riding relies on talent and hard work. Do you think that just getting some so-called equipment can solve the problem? Haha."

"I'm not looking down on anyone. I'll definitely make it for you to see."

"Okay, we'll have a duel then. Don't accuse me of bullying a kid like you. I allow you to find helpers. No matter who you find, how many, or what the duel is, I'll accept the challenge."

Liu Ju rolled his eyes: "You said that!"

"That's what I said." After a pause, Huo Qubing continued, "But we agreed that this must be done immediately."

Liu Ju slammed the table and said, "Deal."

Liu Che looked at his son, full of heroic spirit, and could not help but whisper a warning: "Take it easy, your cousin will soon become invincible. Even if you ask your uncle for help, your uncle may not lose, but he can't guarantee victory."

Liu Ju raised his chin slightly, full of confidence: "I won't look for my uncle. Once I have the equipment in hand, I will find a way to deal with him. Father, you can rest assured."

Liu Che: ...I'm not entirely reassured. I'm afraid you'll over-boast and end up hurting yourself, then throw a tantrum and ask me to smooth things over for you.

Huo Qubing laughed heartily. "You think you can defeat me with just the equipment you have? You're so arrogant! There are countless weapons in this world, and I, Huo Qubing, have never been afraid of them. As the saying goes, force can defeat skill. As long as I have strong Kung Fu skills, I can withstand any weapon the enemy uses."

Humph, I'll let you look down on me. There will be a time when you will come to beg me!

Liu Ju clenched his fist and gritted his teeth: "Just wait."

Huo Qubing raised his eyebrows, not afraid at all: "Okay, I'll wait."

Liu Ju held his breath and immediately got busy, tinkering with something unknown. He was mysterious and furtive every day.

When others asked about it, he just said: This is a secret.

He didn't even tell Liu Che, but asked him for a favor and wanted to go to Shanglin Garden.

Liu Che looked at him for a long time, wondering what this kid was up to. At the same time, he thought that he hadn't been to Shanglin Garden for a long time, so he decided to go.

July 20th. The trip to Shanglin Garden begins.

As a royal hunting ground, Shanglinyuan covered a vast area, spanning five counties and covering an area of ​​300 li. It contained palaces and its westernmost point was just outside the Zhicheng Gate of Chang'an.

The accompanying team was huge and the guards were numerous.

The presence of General Wei Qing and Huo Qubing as companions has been standard in recent years, with other generals and the children of the royal family and dignitaries also being permitted to join. This time was no exception.

Since they were entering the garden nearby, not far from the Zhicheng Gate, they arrived quickly. After a short rest, Liu Ju allocated a venue and prepared for his "competition" with Huo Qubing.

It’s not horse racing, archery, or hunting, but rather—playing polo!

Polo, also known as horseback riding, is played on horseback and requires skill. So, it's called horseback riding, absolutely correct!

In the field, two teams raced against each other. Each man, horse, and pole, they galloped back and forth. One team, clad in red silk, was led by Huo Qubing, followed by many nobles; the other team, clad in blue silk, was led by Cao Xiang and the Chief of the Imperial Guard, followed by the people of E and other counties.

Speaking of Cao Xiang, he was also Liu Ju's cousin. He was the son of Princess Pingyang and her former husband, Cao Shou, Marquis of Pingyang. After Cao Shou's death, Cao Xiang succeeded him to the title of Marquis. He was now sixteen years old.

The two sides on the field were fighting fiercely, and the audience outside was talking about it.

"What kind of new game is this? It's like Cuju, but not like Cuju."

"I heard that it was His Highness who came up with the idea and called it polo."

"It's a ball played right away, which is quite appropriate. It looks more interesting than Cuju, but it's more difficult."

"Isn't it? This requires not only good ball skills, but also strong horsemanship. You can't play without any of them. Hey. What are those princesses riding on horseback? Why do they have it, but others don't?"

"Yeah, what is that? Why put a cushion on the horse? Doesn't that increase the weight on the horse's back? It's weird, how can it be comfortable?

"Oh, that's not right. Cao Xiang learned riding from Marquis Guanjun, and Princess Wei Chang was taught riding by His Majesty himself. She's not inferior to men. I know these two. But Princess Eyi and Princess Zhuyi seem to be good riders too."

Eyi was the second among the imperial daughters, between Wei Chang and Zhuyi. She was not born to Queen Wei, but her biological mother was Li Ji.

"Your Majesty is a martial artist, so it's not surprising that the princesses are skilled in horseback riding and archery. Although there aren't any top-notch individuals in this team, the overall level is quite good.

"Especially Cao Xiang and Princess Wei Chang, they work together very well, and they also have the support of the two princesses of Zhuyi and Eyi. The Marquis of Guanjun was clearly a last-minute recruit, and many of them are unfamiliar with the rules. Therefore, the outcome is uncertain."

"Look, Princess Wei Chang scored a goal!"

…

The other side.

Liu Ju and Shi Yi each held a small flag and shouted at the top of their lungs, "Sister! Sister! Sister!"

"Goal, goal. Sister scored again!"

The brother and sister hugged each other excitedly, and the sound of "Ahhhhh" pierced the sky and hit people's eardrums. Then they separated and shouted even harder: "Sister, sister, sister!"

Liu Che glanced at the two of them, feeling both amused and helpless. He opened his mouth to stop them, but in the end he didn't say anything.

Whatever, it’s rare for a child to be so happy, why should he spoil the fun?

Perhaps it was because the two of them were too passionate and their surging blood was so contagious that many of the young men and women who were watching in the field joined in.

"Champion Marquis! Champion Marquis!"

"Princess, Princess!"

Before long, the two sides took the initiative to form a confrontation, with supporters on both sides waving flags and shouting loudly.

It was even more lively outside than inside, and the entire polo field was almost lifted up.

Liu Che: ...The smile gradually froze.

It was his mistake.

But at this moment, scolding and ordering people not to shout would be beneath the emperor's demeanor and would also be beneath his dignity.

Liu Che glanced at Liu Ju and Shi Yi, gritted his teeth and remained silent.

He endured it.

"Ahhh, Champion Hou scored a goal."

"Marquis Pingyang also scored a goal."

"Hey, did they win? Did the Marquis of Pingyang and the princess win?"

When I looked at the score, I saw that we had won. It was a narrow victory with a single goal.

But a narrow victory is still a victory. So, Huo Qubing lost?

How could the champion Huo Qubing lose?

Some were surprised, others couldn't believe it, and even exclaimed, "It's impossible!"

The polo match ended and everyone dispersed. Huo Qubing naturally followed the guards and the others, heading in the direction of His Majesty. No one dared to follow. So the others were surrounded.

"How did you lose? The princess's side is mostly women, and you have the champion marquis on your side, so how could you lose? Did you deliberately give in because she is the princess?"

"Even if I want to give in, you have to give me a chance. Look at the situation on the field. The princesses are so aggressive and skilled. Do we really need to give in? If it weren't for the champion marquis supporting us, we would have been defeated."

"A real man should be like this. If you lose, you lose. You can win it back next time."

"Yes, we'll win it back next time. This time we lost because it was our first time playing polo, and although we understood the rules, we weren't proficient enough. After practicing a couple of times, we'll be more familiar with them, and we'll naturally win it back."

"I think polo is quite interesting. It's more fun than other games. We can get more people together and play more. Even if we can't come to Shanglin Garden, Chang'an is not the only place to play."

"Yes, it's settled."

…

Before the Saint.

When Wei Chang won, Shi Yi immediately danced with joy and wanted to fly away.

Looking at her like this, it was obvious that the frustration and sadness brought by Caiqin had disappeared. Liu Ju felt relieved, thinking that it was worth it for him to organize this polo match, and he also started to sway.

Seeing everyone leaving, Liu Ju couldn't wait to raise his eyebrows at Huo Qubing and asked, "How's it going?"

Huo Qubing glanced at him without saying anything.

Liu Ju was so proud and arrogant, and Shi Yi wanted to tell the whole world: "Sister, you beat your cousin. You actually beat your cousin!"

Who is my cousin? He's the champion! Can anyone win? Oh, oh, oh, my sister is so strong!

"This result is beyond my expectations." Liu Che laughed heartily and looked up at Huo Qubing. "You've never lost in all your life, whether it's riding, hunting, horse racing, or playing Cuju. This is the first time. How does it feel?"

The words are full of teasing and joking.

Huo Qubing touched his nose, his arrogance undiminished: "I can afford to win, and I can also afford to lose."

Liu Ju snorted. Huo Qubing couldn't help but bare his teeth at him. Liu Ju stuck out his tongue slightly, perfectly embodying the meaning of "getting carried away by success."

The guard couldn't stand it anymore and reached out to grab him, saying, "Don't be so cocky. We won because of our superior equipment and coordination."

"We are all familiar with each other, and you even told us the rules of the game privately in advance, which allowed us to practice twice and naturally cooperate well.

"My cousin just learned the rules today. Besides him, the others have varying abilities and are of varying quality. They don't quite understand each other's strategies, and there have been many coordination errors and fouls.

"If not, we won't be able to win."

Liu Ju knew this in his heart, but he still refused to accept it: "Who made him look down on me? I said at the beginning that if we could make horse equipment, we could get twice the result with half the effort when hunting on horseback.

"He himself said that horse kung fu requires intensive practice and there are no shortcuts. He also said that strength can defeat skill. No matter how the opponent uses tricks, as long as one's own ability is strong enough, they can still win. So what's wrong with me using some tricks? How can I deny his words?"

Indeed, these were all the words spoken by Huo Qubing. Like a boomerang, it flew out, spun around, and stabbed itself into the body.

Huo Qubing felt a little heartbroken. He looked at the equipment on the backs of the horses led by everyone and remained silent.

At that time, he just thought that Liu Ju was an ignorant child talking nonsense, but he never thought that Liu Ju could really make such a thing, and even made it into polo, which was a clear trick on him.

E Yi looked at Liu Ju, then at Huo Qubing, and hesitantly whispered, "Actually, what the Marquis of Guanjun said is not wrong. If it were a horse-riding hunt, even if we had the advantage in equipment and could find some tricks, we wouldn't win."

Liu Ju curled his lips and said, "He said he doesn't care what I'm competing in, as long as it's horseback kung fu. Polo is also horseback kung fu. It's all the same!"

The same? Of course not. Horseback archery and hunting can be fought alone, but polo truly emphasizes teamwork over individual skill. Huo Qubing was simply dragged down by his "pig" teammates. How can they be the same? Especially since these "pig" teammates were carefully selected for him by Liu Ju.

Everyone present was speechless.

The guard shook his head helplessly and tapped Liu Ju on the forehead: "You speak so confidently and you don't feel guilty."

This was an injustice to Liu Ju. He still felt a little guilty, his eyes rolling around, looking at the sky, the ground, and his toes, avoiding Huo Qubing's sight. He didn't say anything soft, but he finally shut his mouth and stopped showing off.

Liu Che laughed and looked at the so-called "equipment" carefully.

His eyes swept over the horse's back, where there was something like a "cushion", and there was a "stirrup" on each side of the "cushion".

"Is this the equipment you mentioned?"

As an emperor, and one who valued martial arts and was skilled in cavalry, he naturally noticed something was amiss. He looked at Liu Ju and asked, "Did you do this?"

"It was my idea, and Baishan did it."

Liu Ju held his head high, walked to the side of the horse, and patted the "cushion": "This is called a saddle. Placed on the horse's back, it not only fixes the position and makes the rider and horse one, but also helps maintain balance while riding and prevents falls. It is also stuffed with soft material, and the shape fits the human buttocks, which can reduce fatigue caused by long-term riding."

He also refers to the "foot stirrup": "This is called a stirrup. It not only helps people get on the horse, but also supports the rider's feet, maximizing the advantages of riding."

At this point, Liu Ju paused, his lips curled up. "It would free up the cavalry's hands, allowing them to use their feet to balance and charge, thrust, chop, and strike from horseback, greatly enhancing their combat effectiveness."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Che's expression changed. He looked at the saddle stirrups, and his eyes gradually became sharper.

Liu Ju squatted down, looked up and winked at Cao Xiang. Cao Xiang understood, jumped on the horse, pulled the reins to raise the horse's front hooves, revealing the iron block of the horseshoe.

Liu Ju pointed at the iron block and continued, "This is called a horseshoe. It has a significant function. It protects the horse's hooves, allowing them to walk on rugged mountain roads, and effectively prevents them from being damaged if they encounter rocks or sharp objects.

“It also strengthens the structural support of the horse’s hoof, preventing excessive wear and tear, thereby extending the life of the hoof.”

Liu Che:!!!

I knew it wasn't easy, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult.

Just hearing the effect was enough to amaze me.

His heart sank, his face serious: "Are you serious?"

Liu Ju didn't answer, but smiled and said, "Whether it's true or not, and how effective it is, won't you know if you try it, Father?"

Liu Che's eyes flickered. Of course he had to try. But he didn't rush to mount the horse. Instead, he asked, "Are these the only ones? Are there any more?"

There are no more than seven horses on the field in a polo match, which is a little less.

Liu Ju shook his head: "These are the only horses that are equipped. I have a few more sets of unequipped horses on hand."

"Okay, give these to me first. The unequipped ones will be sent to me later."

The final decision is made and requisition is carried out directly.

Liu Ju pursed his lips. Fortunately, he had anticipated this, otherwise he would have been furious to death at his father's self-righteous "take-it-and-use-it" approach.

Liu Che ordered all the horses to be led to the designated location, and also sent someone to invite generals Wei Qing, Li Guang and others.

The generals received the imperial order and rushed over immediately. Seeing the horses before them, they were puzzled: "Is this the horse that the princesses used when they played polo with Pingyang Marquis Cao Xiang just now? This thing on the horse's back..."

"I noticed during the polo match that these things are not simple. They must be used to assist with horse riding."

As a veteran and strong general, he naturally had a good eye and had already noticed the clues and guessed a few things, but he just didn't know the full picture.

Everyone looked at Liu Che: "Your Majesty, this is..."

Liu Che repeated Liu Ju's introduction one by one. Everyone stood there in shock, looking at the horse harness with heated and suspicious eyes.

Liu Che waved his hand and said, "Let's run two laps."

No matter how much you say, it’s better to experience it yourself.

After saying this, he turned around and went up, followed closely by Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. The others came to their senses and followed suit.

The group rushed through the forest, crossing the jungle, stepping over the bushes, stepping over the stones, and wading through the stream.

The so-called two laps actually amounted to dozens of miles.

When they returned, everyone was horrified and their hearts were filled with excitement.

Joy, excitement, shock, surprise...

There are all kinds of emotions.

Amazing, so amazing.

Li Guang sighed: "I have been on the battlefield for decades, killed countless enemies on horseback, and hunted countless animals on horseback, but I have never ridden a horse so comfortable."

Everyone nodded. Who said it wasn't?

Li Xi glanced at the saddle and sat down. "Your Highness said the shape fits the human hips. It does, and the padding is good too. It's soft enough but not too squishy, ​​which reduces a lot of bumps."

There are fewer bumps and it is very friendly to the butt.

Gongsun He stepped on the stirrup and gently kicked the horse's belly. He put his hands on the bow and used his feet to control the stirrups to make the horse turn 90 degrees. He bent down and stood sideways to the horse's belly, and shot an arrow, hitting the gray rabbit in the grass.

"It does free up your hands, and in the past, it was inconvenient to ride on rough mountain roads or gravel. If you forced yourself to ride, you had to be extremely careful to avoid damaging the horse's hooves and falling. Now..."

He didn't say anything, just smiled softly. But everyone understood. This concern couldn't be completely eliminated, but it could be largely avoided.

Everyone was talking about the advantages of the harness, saying it really gave them a very good experience and increased their sense of security.

Therefore, they did not hesitate to express their highest praise, and of course also gave corresponding recognition to Liu Ju who made it come into being.

Your Highness... How could Your Highness have such a wonderful ingenuity! What a talent!

Wei Qing slowly approached Liu Che and said, "Your Majesty, these horse harnesses, whether saddles, stirrups, or horseshoes, are extremely important. The craftsmanship seems to be relatively straightforward. I'll need to ask Your Highness about the specific production process and see if it can be mass-produced."

Liu Che naturally understood what he meant. If it could be mass-produced, he should start as soon as possible, the sooner the better, and try his best to let all the cavalry of the Han Dynasty use it in the shortest possible time. Perhaps he could also adjust the cavalry's daily combat training based on this thing.

Liu Che gripped the reins tightly. Having already deeply experienced the advantages of horse harnesses, he knew their function and potential. He immediately turned his horse around and said, "Let's go back."

What are you doing on your way back? To find Liu Ju.

Yes. Liu Ju did not come with me.

After handing all the things to Liu Che and sending him away, Liu Ju found a shady place leaning against a tree by the water and placed a few lounge chairs. Next to each lounge chair was a large enough parasol to block out all the sunlight that came through the branches.

Beneath each umbrella stood a tall, round table, upon which sat a plate of fruit, a plate of pastries, and a glass of grape juice. A straw stuck into the glass, like some modern-day leisurely person enjoying a drink while sunbathing on the beach.

The sun was still blazing in late July, but it couldn't reach him. Shanglin Garden, nestled against the mountains and beside the water, boasted a vast expanse of land, and a gentle, cool breeze blew across the lake, a refreshing relief.

When Liu Che and others came over, they saw this scene.

Liu Ju, Cao Xiang and Wei Chang Zhuyi Shiyi sat side by side on the recliners, drinking juice with straws in their mouths, their eyes slightly squinted in satisfaction.

Liu Ju even took a sip of the drink and praised it highly: "It's so comfortable, I feel like a god."

Shi Yi raised his hand and agreed: "Yes, it's really comfortable, happy as a god."

Cao Xiang nodded, the chief of Wei nodded, and all the townspeople nodded.

Liu Che: ...

Generals: ...