Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 266, Section 265: Horse Trampling Frost
Ji Heng ultimately refused to grant a one-year tax exemption.

However, he did not refuse outright.

Qin Shi was not in a hurry to get results.

As we all know, when asking your boss for a budget, if they disagree the first time, the best solution is not to present the facts and reasons, or to explain the importance of the money.

Instead, they went back and drew an even bigger and rounder pie.

Living life is all about taking a slow and steady approach. Budgets and tax cuts both involve taking money from the leaders' pockets; they're essentially the same thing.

If she still doesn't agree before spring, she will choose one of Wen Xun's disciples with excellent writing skills to write a biography of the great emperor.

At that time, it wouldn't look good if there weren't one or two truly benevolent policies.
In short, now that the conversation had been recorded, she was overjoyed and said, "It was wrong of me to discuss politics with Your Majesty during the New Year holidays. Your Majesty, are my horses ready?"

Ji Heng was still pondering the details of taxation and land surveying for the coming year when the Queen suddenly changed her tone, causing him to frown again.

But it wasn't unpleasant; it was just very difficult to get used to.

However, what they said makes sense; it shouldn't be done during the holidays.

He nodded and said, “I have already ordered the Imperial Stud to arrange for the Imperial Son-in-Law to be on standby in the Shanglin Garden. The horse that the Queen will ride is naturally ready.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Ju bowed slightly, and the two guards beside him turned and stood still, revealing a ponies that the Imperial Son-in-Law had led over.

That was indeed an ancient Qiang horse.

It has large eyes, a short and straight back, and is clearly well-suited for carrying people or heavy loads. It has a short neck, a long and thick tail, and its mane is groomed to a glossy shine.

Upon closer inspection, it even has a slightly damp feel.

It seems the Queen wanted to learn to ride a horse, so the Imperial Son-in-Law had already ordered the servants to prepare her for it again.

This is a 3-year-old mare who can travel 50 miles a day and carry twice the load of an ordinary horse. She is also unfazed by slippery roads or rugged mountain forests.

Although slightly inferior in physique, it has advantages in every other aspect.

"Does the Queen like it?"

Ji Heng stepped forward.

His tall frame standing beside the horse made the scene strangely comical. But Qin Shi gestured to himself, then looked at the horse—

That's naturally something to like.

The horse before them had no particularly outstanding features; its crimson coat was only distinguished by the absence of any other colors. In terms of appearance, it was quite different from Ji Heng's fine horse from Hequ.

But looking at it this way, it looks even more like an adorable pet at home.

Because the stirrups and horseshoes were only presented to the emperor before the new year, the Imperial Stud had not yet had time to equip the horse with them. The horse itself was docile and steady, possessing a reliable temperament, which made people feel even more at ease.

“Come here.” Ji Heng reached out his hand to her, then guided her hand, gently stroking the horse’s mane on the side:
"A fine horse is a warrior in battle; to get to know one, one must first recognize the horse."

He stretched out his hand, and a servant respectfully presented him with a horsehair comb, which was then handed to Qin Shi, instructing her to gently comb the horse's hair and slowly close the distance from the side.

"Combing a horse's hair is to help it become familiar with your scent, and once this habit of care is formed, it won't be startled if you suddenly leap onto the horse one day."

Qin Shi paused.

Leaping onto the horse?

Your Majesty really dares to dream big!
Two more brown sugar cubes were brought over by a servant, and Ji Heng instructed, "Feed him again."

This was a rare instance of him speaking softly and gently, but unfortunately, he was speaking to such an adorable horse.

Looking into the docile horse's trusting and watery eyes, Qin Shi's heart softened.

Although the king had given her such detailed instructions, she knew that the horses selected by the Imperial Stud must be extremely docile, and mounting them directly would be no problem. However, what if she had to interact with unfamiliar horses later?

Therefore, Qin Shi also studied diligently.

The fragrant brown sugar cube was placed in the palm of the hand. The ancient Qiang horse in front of it flicked its tail slightly, sniffed, and then lowered its head without hesitation.

A wet and soft tongue rolled across her palm, and the square piece of brown sugar was quickly put into her mouth. She chewed it with a horse's mouth, and then, quite unromantically, saliva splashed out.

"Oh dear." Qin Shi couldn't help but chuckle: You little glutton.

Indeed, food can satisfy all kinds of adorable pets, and the ancient Qiang horse is no exception.

The steps for getting to know the horse, starting with feeding it, have been significantly simplified compared to what General Yan taught Ji Heng.

But when he was young, he rode the fine horse of Hequ. Now, this ancient Qiang horse beside him is like a large dog that he can subdue with one hand.

Therefore, Ji Heng was not too worried. After the two became familiar with each other for a while, he said seriously, "Your Majesty, please give it a name."

name……

Qin Shi looked intently at the horse, whose soft and trusting eyes remained quietly fixed on him.

She hesitated for a moment: "Flying Frost."

"It's called Frost."

Ji Heng was somewhat surprised.

Since the horse is entirely crimson and there are no white spots on its body, how could there be any frost?
However, Qin Shi was already smiling at him: "Your Majesty has returned from the hunt, riding a fine horse in the forest, the hooves clattering and crushing the dew on the grass, it is truly captivating."

No one can resist such a vibrant scene; neither men nor women can resist it.

The Imperial Son-in-Law had bowed deeply and was pretending to be deaf.

Ji Heng remained silent for a moment, and his expression softened even more:
"From this day forward, this will be the Queen's Frost."

He composed himself and instructed again: "Now that you are familiar with Feishuang, the first thing you must do is practice mounting and dismounting. In the military training of the men of Qin, we practice mounting horses with great speed."

"But the queen, being a beginner, began from the side."

If there were stirrups, Qin Shi could easily climb onto a horse sideways by stepping on the stirrups with just a little supervision.

But not now, and she's not yet flexible enough to go up there without training.

Ji Heng held his forearm horizontally in front of him:

"I will support the Queen—would the Queen dare to mount the horse and give it a try?"

What's wrong with this?

Putting aside how reassuring Ji Heng's heroic demeanor is, the ancient Qiang horse in front of us is really not tall!
The lack of stirrups made Qin Shi's journey a little awkward, but it wasn't unsuccessful.

Then you need to practice balance, the strength of your grip on the reins, and how to maintain your core strength in your abdomen, waist, and back, etc.

Thanks to the horse's short, straight back, small stature, and gentle, stable temperament, Qin Shi was able to maintain a stable core while riding after just one afternoon of practice, walking slowly without swaying and trotting without falling off.

Riding a horse requires not only engaging your core but also being mindful of the horse's mood. Furthermore, when the horse is running, your body should not be stiff but rather move with its rhythm like a wave.

However, the latter requires long-term effort. If one wants to develop the dashing and heroic bearing of a nobleman on horseback, one needs to practice for a long time.

Qin Shi gripped the reins tightly, eager to try: "Your Majesty, may I also ride a horse at full gallop?"

　Coming!
　　(End of this chapter)