Chapter 23

"Whether it can be successfully fired, I do not yet know. We can only try."

Hearing this, Hu Yulin had no choice but to let it go.

Just then, the Hu Clan's steward arrived and respectfully said, "Young Master, the caravan has returned."

Ever since coal briquettes and coal stoves had made a name for themselves, the Hu Clan had expanded its caravan, traveling north and south to transport goods.

Joy appeared on Hu Yulin's face. "How did it go?" he asked as he led Rong Xi outside the residence gates.

The caravan manager was waiting outside. When he saw Hu Yulin arrive, his face was filled with grief.

"What happened?" Seeing his expression, Hu Yulin's heart tightened slightly.

The manager was in his forties, yet his eyes were red-rimmed, tears hanging unshed. The sight of him truly made one anxious.

"Young Master, all the goods are unharmed. It is only that the caravan must rest for several days before continuing on the road."

As he spoke, he actually choked up. "Several horses have injured all four hooves and cannot carry goods."

Hu Yulin knew that he loved horses. The manager spent day and night with them and had formed bonds with them, so seeing their hooves injured naturally left him sorrowful and distressed.

"Then let them recuperate for a few days." He sighed softly.

Horses often injured their hooves after long journeys. The manager truly was being overly sentimental.

"Brother Xuan Shi, if horses' hooves are injured from traveling too long, why not nail iron shoes onto them? They could protect their hooves from injury."

Rong Xi suddenly suggested.

Author's note:

A parody skit:

One day, the slimmed-down Rong Dalang returned to the capital with Second Young Master Rong.

When the people of Rong Estate saw Rong Dalang, they all said, "Life at the ancestral home must have been unbearably harsh."

But when they saw Second Young Master Rong: ...

Second Young Master Rong, much rounder than before: (wailing) Elder Brother's cooking is too delicious. I accidentally turned into a fat shut-in...

The area outside the residence fell silent for a long while.

Only after some time did Hu Yulin recover his voice. Looking somewhat agitated, he tugged on Rong Xi's sleeve. "Eldest Brother, let us go inside and discuss this."

The two went to the study.

"Eldest Brother, what exactly are these iron shoes you just mentioned? Can they truly keep horses' hooves from being injured?"

Rong Xi had not known that Great Wei lacked horseshoes. Only after hearing their conversation today did he realize that horseshoes had not yet appeared.

Caravans used horses to carry and pull goods. When horses traveled for long periods, their hooves rubbed against the ground, their horny outer layers wore away, and the flesh beneath would be injured and bleed. This was harmful to the horses.

This was especially true for warhorses. Without horseshoes to protect them, the losses from their deaths and injuries would be enormous.

"They certainly can." He nodded in reply.

Hu Yulin naturally believed him and was overjoyed. He hurriedly asked, "How should they be made?"

"Brother Xuan Shi, do not rush. We will need Brother Shouyuan's help with this matter." Rong Xi smiled helplessly. "We happen to be gathering at Gourmet Pavilion today, so we can discuss it with Brother Shouyuan then."

"Good." Hu Yulin clapped his hands and laughed. "Let us go at once."

He summoned a servant and sent him to the Jiang Clan to invite someone over.

When Rong Xi had parted from Rong Lian earlier, they had agreed to meet at Gourmet Pavilion, so there was naturally no need to seek him out separately.

The two arrived at Gourmet Pavilion, where Duan Changjin received them in a private room.

Before long, Jiang Weiping arrived, and the group took their seats casually.

Hu Yulin came straight to the point. "Shouyuan, I need your help."

The two had been close friends for years, so there was no need for empty courtesies. Jiang Weiping did not hesitate in the slightest. "Tell me."

Rong Xi handed the drawing he had just made to Jiang Weiping.

"This is called a horseshoe. It can protect horses' hooves from wearing down too easily and extend their lifespan."

Duan Changjin and Jiang Weiping were stunned upon hearing this.

Everyone knew that although Great Wei's cavalry possessed considerable combat strength, its warhorse losses were immense every year, and the scale of its cavalry could not be expanded.

The northern tribes had many horses, sleek and stout, and their cavalry greatly outnumbered Great Wei's. If war broke out, Great Wei would certainly lose if cavalry alone were considered.

With horseshoes, warhorse losses would decrease, and Great Wei's military strength would rise to another level!

The more they thought about it, the more their blood surged. Jiang Weiping's hand holding the paper trembled faintly.

If such an achievement were born through his hands, what glory that would be.

"Eldest Brother, what purpose do you have in mind for forging this?" He tried hard to calm his emotions and asked coolly.

Hu Yulin's eyes curved as he smiled. "The caravan's horses were injured, and Eldest Brother happened to hear of it, so he taught me this method."

It had originally been only for protecting the caravan's horses. Yet after thinking it over carefully, they discovered that what Eldest Brother had devised could actually strengthen Great Wei's military might.

The group suddenly fell silent.

Just then, a shop servant reported from outside the door, "Young Master Rong, a young master is waiting outside the shop."

Earlier, Rong Xi had instructed the servant that if a master and servant dressed as scholars arrived, with the handsome young master wearing indigo robes waiting outside, he should inform him.

Rong Xi answered, rose, and went outside. Sure enough, it was Rong Lian and Xi Yan.

"Elder Brother."

"I met with friends today and gathered at Gourmet Pavilion. Come along as well." After speaking, Rong Xi instructed the servant to properly settle the carriage and horses, then led Rong Lian and Xi Yan into the private room.

Rong Lian was puzzled, but showed none of it on his face.

When Elder Brother had been in Shengjing, he had had no friends. Unexpectedly, in Linxi, he had made several good friends.

Looking at the three men in the room, he saw that though they were not sons of noble families, they were plain and sincere. He was truly happy for Rong Xi.

"Second Young Master Rong, I have long admired your name." Hu Yulin clasped his hands in greeting, smiling as the emotions in his eyes remained unreadable.

Duan Changjin and Jiang Weiping also exchanged polite greetings.

Rong Lian returned each greeting in turn, then sat down with Rong Xi.

Rong Xi was already familiar with the others, so he had been sitting rather casually. Now that Rong Lian had arrived, he sat straight as pine and bamboo, upright and proper. The others could not help straightening their backs as well, sitting solemnly and properly.

After learning their identities, Rong Lian showed not the slightest disdain or contempt, which instead gave them a somewhat better impression of him.

Although Rong Lian's literary reputation had not reached Mengshan County, whenever the people of Mengshan mentioned Rong Xi, they would become curious about the other young masters of the Rong Clan.

Traveling merchants from Shengjing had mentioned Rong Lian in their conversations. As word passed from mouth to mouth, the people of Mengshan County all came to know his name.

Hu Yulin and the others had heard of him as well.

Now that they saw him in person, they felt the rumors were true. The Rong Clan's Second Young Master was indeed filled with poetry and books, his bearing lofty and refined.

The group chatted for a long time. By late afternoon, Duan Changjin instructed the shop servants to set out the tables and dishes.

The plates were all filled with new dishes, things Rong Lian had never seen before.