Chapter 84

This Flying Horse Ranch was established by the late Jin Dynasty general Shang Xiong, who led his subordinates and clan members south to avoid the war, and by chance founded it!

The ranch is composed of various clans such as Shang, Liang, Liu, Tao, Wu, Xu, and Luo. Each generation's ranch owner is surnamed Shang. After more than a hundred years of reproduction, many towns have been built around the ranch, developing into a place similar to an independent kingdom.

Due to its strong military power, not only do bandits dare not provoke it, but even roving armies generally do not dare to cause trouble here!

Liu Zongdao led five people to the reception hall, and from a distance, a woman came to meet them!

It was none other than the ranch owner, Shang Xiuxun. Liu Zongdao had already informed her. For Xiao Ran, whom even Du Fuwei could not handle, Shang Xiuxun showed great respect and personally came out to welcome him!

Shang Xiuxun was dressed in a light green martial outfit, with her long hair not overly adorned, hanging straight down to her shoulders. Her skin was tanned to a bronze color, her phoenix eyes deep and unfathomable, and her beauty was captivating!

Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling, upon suddenly seeing a beauty no less stunning than Fu Jun'e, were momentarily speechless. Li Jing, being in the prime of his youth, was also captivated by Shang Xiuxun's beauty!

Even Xiao Ran, who had seen many beauties and had considerable resistance, was still stunned by her beauty!

Indeed, she is a beauty in the original story who can rival Empress Wu.

Compared to Yao Yue, she has more human warmth; compared to Feng Wanqiu, she has more warmth.

Shang Xiuxun was also surprised by Xiao Ran's youth. Although Du Fuwei's rumors said that Xiao Ran was young, seeing him, Shang Xiuxun still found it hard to believe.

This is a young man, absolutely no more than twenty years old, who could actually defeat the invincible Du Fuwei?

Even the three great masters probably couldn't do that at his age!

But despite the surprise, Shang Xiuxun still maintained social etiquette and bowed to Xiao Ran and the others: "I did not know that the Dragon Subduing Hand would grace us with his presence, I failed to welcome you properly!"

Xiao Ran's face froze, then he smiled bitterly: "Ranch owner, just call me Xiao Ran, Ran Ge, or Mr. Xiao, anything but the Dragon Subduing Hand..."

Shang Xiuxun was slightly taken aback, not understanding why Xiao Ran said this!

At this moment, Kou Zhong laughed strangely: "Ranch owner, don't be so formal. I think our Ran Ge probably feels that this nickname isn't impressive enough or doesn't sound good!"

Xu Zeling also chuckled: "Given Ran Ge's personality, he might prefer nicknames like Sword Immortal or Exiled Immortal. Young Master Zhong, you shouldn't speak nonsense!"

After saying this, the two looked at each other and burst out laughing!

Fumu and Liu Zongdao behind Shang Xiuxun felt that these two young men were a bit impolite, but Shang Xiuxun was not bothered. The people in the ranch always treated her with respect, and those who did business with her also treated her with courtesy!

Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling's casualness made her feel close and interesting!

Xiao Ran was a bit annoyed: "The last time I met Master Liaokong of the Pure Thought Zen Sect, I asked him a question!

Master, Master, I always dislike my brothers lately, they are too noisy and too annoying...

Master Liaokong practices the silent Zen, so he didn't speak. He handed me a wooden stick, and I casually broke it.

Then Master Liaokong gave me two more sticks. After a moment's thought, I said, Master, I understand. Your point is that one person's strength is limited, and I need to unite with my brothers to have strength!

Just like these sticks, if there is only one, it is easy to break, but if they are together and not separated, no one can break them. Unity is strength!

Is that right?"

Everyone was puzzled as to why Xiao Ran suddenly talked about this and mentioned Master Liaokong!

Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling were somewhat moved, but then Xiao Ran changed his tone: "Who knew that Master Liaokong snatched the sticks from my hands, hit me with one, and made me spit out three pints of blood. He broke his silent Zen and shouted, 'If you bother me again, I'll beat you to death!'"

After saying this, he raised his hand as if to hit Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling with a stick!

Kou Zhong and Xu Zeling shouted and dodged, calling out, "Xiao Ran, you traitor..."

Shang Xiuxun, seeing the three of them playing, laughed softly and said after a while, "The three young masters are truly interesting!

Master Liaokong is highly respected and a leader of the righteous path. Xiao Ran actually jokes about him!

These two young masters are..."

Xiao Ran shook his head in annoyance: "These three are all my brothers. The two mischievous ones, the stronger one is Kou Zhong, the taller one is Xu Zeling!

The one who doesn't smile is Li Jing!

And this girl is called Susu!"

The atmosphere became lively, and the group became closer!

However, people like Liu Zongdao, who are more mature, felt that Xiao Ran was not serious and probably had no proper business to discuss!

But Shang Xiuxun was not bothered. She led everyone into the reception hall, and immediately someone served tea. Xiao Ran got straight to the point: "I came here to discuss business with the ranch owner."

Seeing Xiao Ran get straight to the point, Shang Xiuxun nodded: "Please speak, Xiao Ran!"

Xiao Ran said, "Does your ranch often have problems with horses' hooves breaking or wearing out?"

Li Jing was surprised upon hearing this. He had learned battlefield strategies and knew about these issues!

Raising horses in Central China is difficult, and the loss of warhorses has always been a headache. Could Xiao Ran actually have a solution?

Shang Xiuxun's usually calm face also showed a hint of surprise. Her family had been raising warhorses for generations and had suffered from the problem of hoof wear and tear, but they had become accustomed to it and never thought there was a solution!

If this problem could be solved, it would be a great blessing!

After a moment's thought, Shang Xiuxun said, "I didn't expect Xiao Ran to have such a wonderful method. What is the price?"

Shang Xiuxun was prepared for Xiao Ran to ask for a high price, but Xiao Ran shook his head: "I will give this method to the ranch owner for free, in exchange for a promise!"

For free? Could there be such a good thing?

Although Shang Xiuxun was young, she was experienced in business and knew that there was no such thing as a free lunch. The more generous Xiao Ran was, the more he must want in return!

She said, "Please speak, Xiao Ran!"

Xiao Ran said, "I only ask that the ranch owner promise to prioritize supplying warhorses to me in the future.

I will pay in full, not a single coin less!"

Xiao Ran's words were like a bolt of lightning, leaving everyone speechless.

Xiao Ran wanted to buy warhorses. In such a chaotic era, buying a large number of warhorses clearly had a purpose, and everyone understood!

Shang Xiuxun took a deep breath: "I didn't expect Xiao Ran to have the ambition to rule the world!

I admire you!"

Xiao Ran said calmly, "Emperor Yang Guang was a man of great talent, with literary and martial prowess.

He pacified the south, subdued the Turks, intimidated the Western Regions, opened the Grand Canal, and established the imperial examination...

All of these are great achievements that will benefit future generations!

But he was high above, so he did not understand the suffering of the people, and did not care about the strength of the common people!

Furthermore, due to his perfectionist nature, he could not accept failure, leading to three invasions of Goguryeo, which caused the country to be in turmoil!

The Sui Dynasty is on the brink of collapse, and it may lead to another era of chaos like the Three Kingdoms. I, though not talented, have the ambition to end the chaos and bring peace to the world!"

In the future, historians have clearly analyzed Emperor Yang Guang's merits and faults. Xiao Ran, born in the age of information explosion, naturally knew a bit about it. But these views were somewhat advanced for this era. Everyone only thought of Emperor Yang Guang as a tyrant, but they did not expect Xiao Ran to have such a high evaluation of him!

But upon careful thought, they found Xiao Ran's words to be quite reasonable!

Li Jing looked deeply at Xiao Ran. He did not expect that this seemingly unserious guy had such keen insight and such ambition, and he fell into deep thought!

The two dragons exchanged glances and remained silent!

After a moment of thought, Shang Xiuxun smiled: "I can make this decision!

Xiao Ran has come from afar, so I will have someone prepare wine to welcome you!"

Xiao Ran smiled and generously explained the method to protect the horses' hooves, not caring if others heard!

It was simply to shoe the horses!

(I don't have the talent to be a jokester, even though I like reading jokes!

I originally wanted to write this world as a farming story, but later I thought that readers would probably prefer to see the battles and conflicts in the martial world, so the farming parts will be brief, just a transition, and then back to the martial world!

Do you want to see if Xiao Ran's Unchanging Yin-Yang Seal is stronger than the Immortal Seal, do you want to see Xiao Ran duel with Fu Cailin, do you want to see if the Nine Swords of Solitude or the Sword Art are superior, do you want to see Xiao Ran fight Song Que, defeat Ning Daoqi, and kill Bi Xuan...

If you do, please give me a couple of votes!)

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