Speaking of Teng Gong Xia Houying's embarrassment, Lu Pheasant couldn't help but smile.
No wonder Xia Houying looked gloomy all day long. When he was young, he served as the stable chief of Peixian County, and later served Liu Ji as a chariot troop. He knew horses well and loved them as much as his life.
If we talk about his understanding and importance of Ma Zheng, I am afraid that no one in the entire dynasty can match him.
"This time, I'd like to trouble Taifu to go deep into the border county with us for Duke Teng to conduct on-the-spot investigation.
Check how much wealth is left in each pastoral garden, and also consider how to organize and reform in the future. "
Before Zhang Liang could answer, Liu Fei said first,
"My son, I think that my mother does not need to worry too much.
I heard that even if you don't count the foals born this spring, there are at least 20,000 strong horses in the pastures under the jurisdiction of Liu Mu. It must not be too difficult to select some military horses from them. "
Seeing how optimistic he was, Lu Zhi was too lazy to think about whether he was sincere or pretending to be stupid, so he could only wipe out the young man's enthusiasm and interest. After waiting for a moment, Fang slowly said,
"Luoyang and Longxi are two thousand miles apart, Ada, you'd better see it and believe it.
Besides, horses are different from each other.
The Huns have four-color sacred horses, namely white horse, green partridge (máng) horse, black Li (lí) horse and red horse (xīng), each of which is as fast as wind and lightning and invincible.
Alas, I don’t know if our horses from the Central Plains can compete with them. "
Until today, Liu Fei had never thought about the difference between good and bad breeds of horses. He was stunned and speechless for a moment.
In just a moment, Zhang Liang understood the implication of her words and replied,
"Although the "Bole Xiangma Jing" has been lost, I was lucky enough to read it by chance, and I still remember a few things about it.
During this trip, the old minister will observe carefully to find out the character of our horses. By the way, he will also review the art of judging horses.
As for whether Huma needs to be introduced from outside the territory, please wait for news from the veteran. "
Lu Pheasant couldn't help but nod, feeling a sense of mutual sympathy and sympathy.
And Liu Fei, listening to the seemingly incoherent conversation between the two, suddenly jumped from the art of judging horses to introducing Hu horses, and he was really confused.
***
Zhang Liang was obviously well prepared when he said goodbye. As soon as he opened his mouth, he mentioned two crucial points, one was Longxi and the other was Huma.
The Longxi mentioned by Lu Pheasant generally includes the area west of Longshan, north of Qiang River, east of Taoshui, Huangshui and south of Liupan Mountain.
Since Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, Longxi Pastoral became a crucial government-run pastoral area in the Sui and Tang Dynasties due to its abundant land, abundant water and grass, and the people's good pastoral skills. It raised more than 100,000 high-quality official horses all year round, and had general jurisdiction over other pastoral areas. It was an important part of many frontier pastoral areas. The head of Junmu Garden.
It's just that he never expected that Zhang Liang in the early Han Dynasty would also choose Longxi County as their base among the herdsmen on the northwest border that stretched thousands of miles. The true hero saw the same thing.
And Huma.
During the chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty Li Yuan started his army in Taiyuan. He purchased 500 fine Turkic horses from the mutual market between Taiyuan and the Turks to serve as elite cavalry.
Among the six horses of Zhaoling, Teqinqiao and Shifachi, who accompanied Taizong Li Shimin on his expeditions south and north and made great military exploits, were also Hu horses from the Turks.
Especially Te Qin Piao, a divine horse that Taizong would never forget and often talk about in his life.
I heard from Taizong that the special Qinqin's coat was gold with white in it, and it shone brightly in the sun, as if it were made of pure gold.
And it was even more courageous when galloping, traveling four hundred miles a day without getting tired. It once carried Taizong in and out of the enemy's formation, and flew into the air in response to the divine help.
Later, the source of Huma gradually expanded and stabilized. It came not only from mutual trade, but also from tribute from various countries. The variety was dazzling.
As their horizons broadened, the knowledge of the officials of Taipu Temple in the Tang Dynasty also increased day by day——
Although the sweat horses from the Tochar Kingdom and the sweat horses from the Tosho Kingdom are both called sweat horses, their temperaments are very different;
A good horse from the country of Guligan, with a head and neck as strong as a camel and an ox, and the strongest bones and muscles;
But in terms of size, it is still a Jiankun horse from the extremely cold places in the north.
These Hu horses, which were painstakingly introduced by the imperial court and came from different sources, were placed in various pastoral gardens in the border areas. In addition to enriching the military cavalry, the main purpose was to improve the Central Plains horse breeds through continuous crossbreeding.
Selection and improvement are the experiences that later generations have gained from horse breeding for many years, and the Xiangma horse that Zhang Zifang just talked about complements this.
All things in the world have a form, and all forms have a form.
The sky has its phenomena, the earth has its topography, the vegetation, animals, mountains and rivers all have their own characteristics.
Since there are physical appearances, there are corresponding physiognomic techniques, and the technique of physiognomy of horses is the first of the six animal physiognomy techniques.
Horse training is for the purpose of selecting and improving horses, and formulating a set of unified standards that are applicable to all countries.
With the standards, there will be traces to follow. The court can use this set of standards to evaluate the achievements of Ma Zheng without having to be blind to the elephant.
"Actually, not only are horses different, but humans are also different."
Zhang Liangyouyou added.
No wonder Liu Fei felt like he was falling into mist. His words had a deeper meaning.
The location of the six counties in Longxi is prepared to border the Xiongnu, Qiang, Di and other foreign ethnic groups. Their living customs are similar to those of the grassland ethnic groups. They are also good at riding and shooting, adept at martial arts, and value heroes.
The fighting ability of the local Liangjiazi, that is, the clean-blooded households, is incomparable to that of the foreign residents who moved there to strengthen the border.
If a group of young elite soldiers could be recruited from these border counties and trained on the spot together with the war horses, it would be twice the result with half the effort, whether against the Huns or as a reserve of officers for the imperial court.
"Yes, it is said that all things in the world are interdependent and mutually reinforcing."
Lu Pheasant nodded, with uncontrollable expectations in his words.
"If the local good family is as brave and invincible as the rumors say, I'll ask the Tutor to investigate on his behalf."
***
This is a busy season of greetings and farewells. Luoyang City welcomed Han Xin, Zhang Ao, Zhang Cang and Lu Wan, saw off Zhang Cang and Liu Jing, and saw off Zhang Liang and Liu Fei.
Now, Princess Lu Yuan and Zhang Ao are about to set off.
Lu Pheasant went to see his daughter, his eyes full of nostalgia and reluctance, while Bo Ji was busy checking her belongings and kept mumbling,
"When you arrive in the Zhao Kingdom, you will be the queen of the country. You must have sharp ears and eyes, and you must not be ignorant anymore.
You must always remember that Zhao State is different from Luoyang, and it is also different from the old capital of Yueyang where we lived before. "
"yes."
Lu Yuan was not clear about the meaning of these words, but Bo Ji treated her very well and was close to her mother. Her words should always be listened to carefully.
Seeing the confused look on her face, Bo Ji sighed, put down the peacock pattern brocade jacket she was holding in her hands, sat beside her, and said word by word,
"King Zhao treats you well, but Zhang Ao is not the only one in the Zhao Kingdom. You should take a longer view.
Whenever something is in danger, you need to think about it first. Is this matter beneficial or harmful to me, Lu Yuan? "
"What's at stake for me?
Aren’t husbands and wives supposed to be one body? "Lu Yuan was even more confused.
Bo Ji glanced at the queen, a little unsure of how to respond and how thoroughly she should speak.
And Lu Pheasant sighed softly and sat on the couch,
"There is a story that my mother has always wanted to tell you.
That story happened a long time ago, and the protagonist of the story was also a princess. "
