Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 586 - 584: Farewell

In splendid attire and furious pace, Xiao Chong, along with a few household slaves, rode on the official road, evidently choosing the more arduous route for swiftness.

The Kunlun slave, Ali, crouched beside the pavilion and stood up to gaze into the distance as soon as the sound of horses’ hooves appeared. Upon discovering the visitor was Xiao Chong, he told Lin Wanwan in the newly learned clumsy Mao County dialect, "Xiao is coming."

Then he himself spread his arms and ran towards the official road.

Xiao Chong quickly noticed the Kunlun slave, usually found beside little Qingyu, and pulled the reins to slow his speed.

At this time, Sun Chuyao also ran over, bowing deeply to greet and loudly said: "Xiao Mingfu, my lady has feelings."

Xiao Chong sat on horseback, looking down at the two blocking the way, glanced again at the pavilion covered with curtains, pondered for a moment, dismounted, and walked towards the pavilion.

Lin Wanwan had already lifted a corner of the curtain, waiting for Xiao Chong.

After greetings in the pavilion, Xiao Chong looked at the warm little wine on the stone table and said, "Cousin, you specially wait here to bid farewell to Xiao. I am deeply grateful and troubled."

His words lacked the intimacy of before, conveying instead a sense of distance. Yesterday, Lin Wanwan’s doubts had indeed stung his heart.

Lin Wanwan lowered her gaze and reached out, saying, "Cousin, please sit. This wine is my treasured fine wine."

Bought in modern times, Liang Zhu yellow wine, best served warm on cold days, surely among the favorite of wine lovers.

"Alright, I shall accept graciously then."

Being fond of wine, Xiao Chong had already caught a whiff of its fragrance. He casually sat on the stone stool, while Lin Wanwan picked up the warmed wine and filled Xiao Chong’s cup, "Cousin, please."

Xiao Chong lifted the cup, sniffed, then downed it in one gulp, praising, "Indeed, fine wine."

After drinking three cups, Xiao Chong put down the cup, stood up tall, and said, "I’ve had the wine, received your kindness. The journey is long, and Xiao needs to be on his way, so I’ll not delay further. Cousin, until we meet again."

"Cousin, there’s still half a pot of wine, won’t you finish before leaving?"

Xiao Chong said, "No need, getting to drink these three cups is already fortunate, having more might lead to mishaps."

"Alright, driving under the influence is dangerous, if cousin doesn’t wish to drink, then don’t."

Lin Wanwan took out an embroidered pouch from the cloth bag hanging at her waist and handed it to Xiao Chong, "Cousin, this is something I specially prepared for you, wishing you a smooth journey."

Xiao Chong glanced at Lin Wanwan with an inscrutable look, chuckled, and accepted it, "Thank you, cousin. Farewell."

After speaking, he turned decisively, lifted the curtain, and strode away briskly without any hesitation.

Lin Wanwan stood at the curtain’s edge, lifting a corner, watching Xiao Chong mount his horse and gallop away, never looking back.

Her heart was filled with loss, and only after Xiao Chong’s splendid attire and furious pace disappeared from sight did she drop the curtain, sigh, sit alone in the pavilion, and pour herself a cup of wine from the pot, drinking it in one go, only to choke, almost bringing tears.

Once she managed to stop coughing, Lin Wanwan addressed the surrounding servants, "Pack up, return to the city."

"Yes."

On the other side, Xiao Chong galloped all the way and entered Luoyang City before the gates closed.

Luoyang City, crafted by Yang Guang at immense costs as the accompanying capital and central station of the north-south Grand Canal, with its one hundred and nine neighborhoods and three markets, was no less flourishing than Chang’an.

Yet having rushed through the journey, Xiao Chong had no heart to admire its sights. Upon entering the station, he went straight to his room.

This food lover today had no appetite for a grand meal at the restaurant, showing how indescribably bad his mood was.

Shu Qi was the one least able to comprehend Xiao Chong’s change, having secured the matrimonial grant, fulfilled his wishes, with Village Lady Le’an even coming tenderly to send him off today, why was the man still utterly joyless?

"Leave then, let me be alone for a while, instruct them to prepare a warm pot."

"Yes."

With only Xiao Chong left in the room, he took out the embroidered pouch given by Lin Wanwan from his pocket, momentarily hesitant about opening it.

But he was not one to be indecisive, after a brief pause, he resolutely opened the pouch and saw, as expected, a folded piece of paper inside.

He unfolded it to reveal a design drawing, showing a horse, horse hoof-shaped iron bars, and textual instructions.

Horse Shoes, also known as horseshoes, are iron hoof-shaped items nailed to horse hooves, mainly to delay hoof wear. Essential for long-distance riding horses, they are quality footwear for steeds.

The first wish of Xiao Chong is to become a Great General. Upon seeing the drawing, he soon associated it with military campaigns.

Inhibiting the development of Great Tang cavalry, aside from money, is horses. He almost instantly realized if the drawing’s claims are true, what this would signify.

Each year, the military loses over ten thousand horses due to hoof wear and, on the battlefield, financial loss is minor, whereas delayed operations are significant.

Horse hooves as horse’s toenails, equipping horses with iron shoes, changing them once worn out, is it truly so simple?

If true, it would solve a timeless dilemma plaguing cavalry. The significance of this matter far surpasses the savings of ten thousand military coins annually for the court.

"Cousin, oh cousin, with your talent you truly were born into the wrong gender," Xiao Chong quietly lamented, if Lin Wanwan were one who pursued power, by this alone, she might obtain an Imperial Concubine position, but instead must keep a low profile.

At this moment, Xiao Chong wished to verify its authenticity and was so eager that he neglected dinner, promptly stepping out.

Xiao Chong remembered that to the west of the station in the same neighborhood was a blacksmith shop.

Since Han Wudi’s era, iron smelting has been strictly controlled. At the onset of Tang, iron mines have not been entirely monopolized by the government, with some Gate Valve families having privately inherited iron mines.

For these private iron mines, the court imposed a 20% tax annually and mandated the sale of their output to officials first before selling the surplus to civilians. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The court thus controls the flow of steel, and civilians seeking to buy ironware must obtain endorsements from village chiefs or market supervisors.

Xiao Chong went to the blacksmith shop, instructing the blacksmith to forge four horse shoes shaped like horse hooves, also pledging his County Magistrate seal for approval.

After a busy night, six pairs of horse shoes were formed. Xiao Chong ordered the blacksmith to nail them onto the hooves of the three horses he brought, then without hesitation, he rode out briskly as soon as the gates opened at dawn.

The distance from Luoyang to Chang’an was seven hundred miles. Yesterday Xiao Chong had been riding fast all day, and today he continued tirelessly with two household slaves.

The sound of horse shoes striking the official road produced a distinctively crisp sound, making Xiao Chong on horseback appear particularly majestic.