Zhutian: Starting from the Space-Time Merchant

Chapter 364 I'm not short of money!

'Snapped! '

Huo Qubing skillfully pried open the beverage bottle cap.

He casually tossed the lid aside, picked up the glass bottle, and gulped it down in one go.

"Whoo~"

As the sweet aroma lingered on his lips and teeth, Huo Qubing let out a satisfied burp.

He was a nobleman's son and had been by the emperor's side since childhood.

Huo Qubing never suffered hardship in terms of enjoying comforts, making him one of the top figures in the entire Han Dynasty and even the world.

Honey water and the like are naturally plentiful.

But he just likes the taste of soda.

"You seem to be having a pretty leisurely time here."

The little pig, who had just gotten off the carriage, saw the leisurely and carefree Huo Qubing and immediately felt a surge of anger.

The young general he valued was destined to roam the grasslands, and his laziness was truly disappointing.

"His Majesty!"

Huo Qubing, who was sitting in a chair, jumped up and greeted the little pig.

The little pig walked over, raised its hand and patted the newly made chair. "This thing is interesting."

He lifted his robe and simply sat down in the chair. "Where are your horses?"

His original intention was to seek help from Huo Qubing and ask his elder brother to resolve the quality issues with the horse armor.

However, the emperor cannot ask for favors, so he had to start with other topics.

Huo Qubing hurriedly ran to the nearby stables and rode over on a horse.

Iron hooves trampled and stomped.

Everyone looked over and saw a warhorse, its coat completely black, as dark as ink, galloping towards them.

This horse is strong and powerful, with a robust frame and extraordinary steed.

As soon as it appeared, it let out a long, mournful cry, like the roar of a dragon.

The little pig suddenly stood up, strode forward, circled the horse twice, and exclaimed in praise.

"What a magnificent steed!"

"Your Majesty," Huo Qubing dismounted, "you didn't say that two months ago."

The piglet was taken aback, and pointed at the horse, "Is this the skinny horse?"

He had seen it two months ago when he was selecting the experimental target; it was a skinny horse.

But the difference between this magnificent dragon steed and the one before me is quite significant.
Huo Qubing immediately summoned the Imperial Stables and made him act as a witness for the Emperor.

"Your Majesty~"

The stables dared not be negligent. "Since February, we have been following and recording every day without ever being negligent."

"This horse is indeed the same skinny horse from before."

This isn't just idle talk; if something goes wrong, it's not just a matter of losing your head.

"What did you eat?"

Reaching out to pat the horse's muscular physique, the pig exclaimed incredulously, "This is too exaggerated!"

Even if they eat concentrated feed every day, they shouldn't grow so strong in just two months.

He really couldn't figure it out.

"That's all."

Huo Qubing brought over some packaging bags, saying they contained growth hormones to promote muscle growth and such. I didn't understand, but I just fed them to him.

After taking the packaging bag and examining it closely, the little pig looked completely bewildered.

I can roughly recognize some of the characters, but when they are put together, I can't understand them at all.

"Any more?"

"Have."

The stable master realized what was happening and quickly brought over the remaining few unopened bags of feed.

I tore open the packaging bag, grabbed a handful of feed, and smelled it.

If you'd like to try it, you can~
The stable master had already grabbed a handful and stuffed them into his mouth.

"It's a little salty, but also has a rich, mellow aroma."

"It smells very oily~"

"It's sweet?!"

Everyone was stunned.

Salt, oil, honey?!

"Is this food for horses?"

"Go and fetch that horse armor!" Little Pig was referring to the horse armor Lin Dao had brought as a sample; it was meticulously crafted from modern materials.

He then instructed Huo Qubing, "Go put on your armor! Put on heavy armor!"

Everyone went off to get busy.

After the full set of horse armor was brought out and put on the horse, the stable master fed the horse a lot of feed and gave it plenty of water.

The little pig, who was already sitting in Huo Qubing's chair, took a few extra glances at him.

Fully armed, Huo Qubing mounted his horse.

He was dressed in full suits of lamellar armor and carried a dagger and shield.

He carried a crossbow on his back, a spear on a sling, a halberd across his horse's rump, and a bow and quiver hanging on one side.

Undoubtedly fully armed.

During the Western Han Dynasty, very few Han cavalrymen wore armor, especially iron armor.

On the one hand, the lack of stirrups and high-bridged saddles limited the use of weapons.

On the other hand, horses have limited carrying capacity.

Of course, the hostile Xiongnu were in an even worse situation, as they had almost no iron armor.

Huo Qubing didn't waste any words and spurred his horse to gallop back and forth on the grassland of the Junmajian.

They continuously drew their bows and shot arrows, wielding various weapons to slash and stab.

After walking back and forth for a while, it gradually slowed down and approached amidst the pig's cries.

The little pig couldn't wait to go forward.

After observing carefully, he reached under the chicken's neck and examined the horse's neck for sweat.

"Huo Qubing."

The little pig stood with his hands behind his back and solemnly instructed, "I need enough horse armor and enough feed to raise strong horses."

"Go and find that Taoist priest, and discuss it with him properly."

Huo Qubing looked troubled. "Your Majesty."

“My elder brother is a generous man; if I ask, he will give it to me directly.”

"But if that's the case, Your Majesty..."

That would make him lose face.

"Hmm." Little Pig is a man destined for great things, but he also values ​​his reputation. He wouldn't do something like having his subjects use their connections to get things.

He turned his gaze to the Prime Minister and said, "Go and negotiate."

"I'm not short of money!"

"Here~"

The emperor's orders are naturally the most important matters.

But Lin Dao was not seen that day.

Since Lin Dao had come in the morning and hadn't seen anyone looking for him, he simply left.

With no other option, Huo Qubing simply settled down in the courtyard.

Prime Minister Gongsun Hong was nearly seventy years old, and he was naturally unhappy about having to spend the night in the courtyard.

Especially after he expressed his willingness to at least enter the house, but was refused by Huo Qubing, although he didn't say anything, he had already made up his mind to make Lin Dao suffer a great humiliation in order to relieve his anger.

The next morning, Lin Dao came to check in.

As soon as I arrived, I noticed that there were quite a few people in the courtyard.

After observing, I opened the door and came out.

"Brother~"

"Second brother~"

After exchanging pleasantries, Huo Qubing introduced Gongsun Hong, the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty, to Lin Dao.

Gongsun Hong, who had stayed up all night, was still clearly putting on airs.

Unfortunately, Lin Dao wasn't buying it at all.

He's long past the point where he gets excited whenever he sees a historical figure.

That is to say, Huo Qubing was admired by later generations, and Lin Dao also respected him.

Only then did they give him face, and even become sworn brothers.

After all, no one would refuse to become sworn brothers with Huo Qubing.

As for others~
"Haven't had breakfast yet?"

"Wait."

Lin Dao returned to the wooden house and turned around to find himself in the modern world.

He owns multiple properties in Haicheng, but most of the time he stays overnight at Su Tongtong's house.

The area around her apartment complex has become increasingly lively lately.

Not only are there food stalls open all night, but breakfast stalls also line half the street in the morning.

"Twenty baskets of steamed buns."

"Pack up all the fried dough sticks and sesame seed cakes."

"I'll take this whole bucket of tofu pudding!"

Lin Dao went on a shopping spree and returned with breakfast.

"You're welcome."

He placed the food on the table and said, "Eat whatever you like."

Gongsun Hong looked at the wooden house in astonishment; there was no sign of a fire at all.

Looking at the table piled high with steaming food, I broke out in a sweat.

He had previously thought Lin Dao was just a charlatan.

I never imagined they were truly skilled!

'I came here last night, but I didn't see a fire inside. Could it be that we took a tunnel?'

'But this is Shanglin Garden, where can we buy these kinds of foods nearby?'

Huo Qubing didn't care about any of that; he just picked it up and ate it.

The bucket containing tofu pudding was placed on the ground and opened. Lin Dao took a shovel and ladled a bowl of it for him.

Sugar or salt?

Huo Qubing, who had never eaten this before, was taken aback at first, but then said, "Give me a bowl of each, I'll try them all."

Gongsun Hong then chimed in, "I'd also like to try some."

Unexpectedly, Lin Dao simply placed the shovel on the bucket lid and said, "If you want to eat, help yourself."

Do they all think they're Huo Qubing?
Even if a pig came, it wouldn't have this kind of face!

Gongsun Hong gritted his teeth inwardly, feeling quite angry.

But there was no other way; I needed their help, so I had to pretend to be nonchalant and do it myself.

Everyone ate and drank heartily, and seemed quite satisfied.

"These delicacies are all things I've never seen before." Huo Qubing, having eaten and drunk his fill, took a satisfied breath. "They are all delicious."

Lin Dao, on the other hand, asked him curiously, "Is this tofu pudding savory or sweet?"

Recalling the taste of Huo Qubing before, I thought about it carefully.

Before he could speak, Prime Minister Gongsun Hong coughed and said, "Daoist Lin."

“I have come to discuss this with you on the orders of the Emperor.”

"Find someone else." Lin Dao, sitting in a chair, crossed his legs. "I'm not talking to you."

Gongsun Hong's arrogant attitude was not to Lin Dao's liking.

Moreover, Lin Dao knew that this person was a despicable scoundrel who liked to dig pits and harm people, so he couldn't be bothered to talk to him.

He waved his hand and said, "Get out of here now."

"You—" Gongsun Hong stood up angrily.

He was the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty!
"Prime Minister," Huo Qubing stood up, his expression unfriendly, "you may go back."

Gongsun Hong was furious at being humiliated like this.

His face looked pale, and he was clutching his chest, struggling to breathe.

Being old, and having stayed up all night with internal heat, I couldn't catch my breath and fainted.

When the news reached Weiyang Palace, the little pig's expression was uncertain.

The little pig is now in the prime of his life, full of vigor and ambition; it's not the time for him to seek immortality at the end of his life.

As for Lin Dao, he was just a capable member of the Mohist school, or even a representative promoted by the Mohist school.

He was very displeased that they dared to show such contempt for the authority of the Han Dynasty.

This kind of thinking is normal.

After all, even if Huo Qubing told him that Lin Dao could become invisible and conjure up all sorts of things.

He simply wouldn't have believed it until he saw it with his own eyes.

Of course, if it were thirty or fifty years from now, it would certainly be treated with state honors in the hope of achieving immortality.

The only trouble was that it involved Huo Qubing.

"deliver an imperial order."

The little pig quickly made a decision: "Give the prime minister cattle, wine, and cloth, and order him to rest and recuperate."

"Summon Zhang Tang again, ordering him to quickly conclude the case of the Prince of Huainan's rebellion and go to discuss matters with that so-called Taoist Master Lin."

(End of this chapter)