Chapter 74

Qutu Tong set up a banquet at his residence and gave the eunuchs a generous amount of money as a gift. These were things that Xia Hongsheng should have done, but since Xia Hongsheng was not from Luoyang and had no money, Qutu Tong took care of everything for him. The guests at the banquet were all officials from Luoyang. Xia Hongsheng did not know the exact rank of his title, "Kai Guo County Male, with a fief of 300 households in Jingyang, a rank of Fifth Grade Lower," but since he was young, he greeted everyone with respect. Being a Fifth Grade Lower, he assumed it was not a very high rank, but this made both Qutu Tong and the Luozhou Prefect, as well as other officials, feel that Xia Hongsheng was humble and polite, forming a very good first impression of him. Even after the banquet ended, Xia Hongsheng still felt a sense of unreality, as if it were all a dream.

In the future, he often saw how difficult it was to become an official in ancient times. After traveling through time, he saw how the students at the academy spent a lot of effort to secure a good future. Even those with extraordinary talent like Bai Jianzhi and Xu Qixian had to use every means possible. Yet, he, through a series of coincidences, was unexpectedly ennobled.

It felt like a dream. Xia Hongsheng had never thought he would so easily enter the noble system of the Tang Dynasty. The salt-making method and the horseshoe, in his eyes, were not particularly impressive. He had seen many horseshoes and did not think they were valuable, so he did not feel much when he handed them over. Because of this, when he heard about the rewards, he did not think much of it, only hoping to get some money to help his sister-in-law open a snack shop. So when he heard that he was ennobled as a County Male for these two items, he felt that the title came too easily and seemed unreal.

What he did not realize was that in the future, these methods were already outdated and obsolete, only found in remote and poor areas. Therefore, he subjectively thought they were not significant, but he forgot that this was the Tang Dynasty, a thousand years in the past. These outdated methods were actually very advanced in the Tang Dynasty.

Xia Hongsheng was unable to sleep all night, wondering how this sudden ennoblement would change his future. However, one thing was certain: he would not be able to live a carefree life as a simple farmer.

Unable to sleep, Xia Hongsheng got up early and went to the back yard of Qutu Tong's residence to express his gratitude. He did not know what to do after receiving the imperial edict, and Qutu Tong had taken care of everything for him, which was a favor he could not ignore. Of course, there was another reason. To ensure that Qutu Tong would protect him, he had added some details to the letter he wrote to him. He thought that even if he did not come to see Qutu Tong today, the old general would come to see him.

It did not take long for Qutu Tong to get up. After washing up, he came out to the yard and saw Xia Hongsheng waiting.

"Boy, you know nothing. If it weren't for the Duke of Jiang, you wouldn't know what to do. I thank the Duke of Jiang!" Xia Hongsheng bowed deeply and thanked Qutu Tong respectfully.

"Haha, no need to worry. I have spent my whole life in the military and have a deep connection with it. You have done a great service to the military, and I am very grateful! Don't be so formal, as I said, just call me Uncle!" Qutu Tong waved his hand and smiled, then said, "I have something to discuss with you. Let's eat while we talk."

Breakfast was simple: a bowl of sesame porridge, a few pancakes, and some small dishes, a common morning meal in the homes of Tang Dynasty nobles, though more refined and delicious than outside. For commoners, breakfast was usually noodles, or a soup with flat noodles.

"Do you know about your ennoblement?" Qutu Tong asked, tearing a pancake and soaking it in the porridge to soften it before eating it.

"I was just about to ask Uncle!" Xia Hongsheng shook his head. "I know nothing about it."

"In our dynasty, there are nine ranks of nobility: 1. King, First Grade; 2. Successor King, Duke of a Commandery, Second Grade; 3. Duke of a State, Second Grade; 4. Duke of a Commandery, First Grade; 5. Duke of a County, Second Grade; 6. Marquis of a County, Third Grade; 7. Earl of a County, Fourth Grade Upper; 8. Viscount of a County, Fifth Grade Upper; 9. Baron of a County, Fifth Grade Lower. You have been ennobled as a Baron of a County, the ninth rank. Since your fief is in Jingyang County, the imperial edict states that you are the Baron of Jingyang County." Qutu Tong smiled and took a sip of porridge, explaining the ranks to Xia Hongsheng, then asked, "Do you know the emperor's intention?"

Xia Hongsheng nodded and replied, "Naturally, it is to encourage me to continue serving the Tang Dynasty and the emperor with all my heart."

Qutu Tong nodded and said, "That is true, but... do you know where Jingyang is?"

Xia Hongsheng smiled bitterly and shook his head. "The farthest I have been is Luoyang."

"Jingyang is under the jurisdiction of Yongzhou in the Guannei Circuit, located north of the capital Chang'an, less than 200 miles away. It can be reached by fast horse in a few hours, or by carriage in half a day. It is a key area near the capital. Since the emperor ascended the throne, the ennoblement has been strictly controlled, and very few new nobles have been created, especially in areas close to Chang'an. If I am not mistaken, the emperor has ennobled you and placed your fief near Chang'an to test you, to see how far you can grow. After all, in our dynasty, no one has entered the bureaucracy and been ennobled at the age of thirteen except you. I believe the emperor has a fondness for talent and wants to see how far you can go." Qutu Tong explained. Xia Hongsheng was taken aback, but Qutu Tong smiled and said, "I will say no more. You must understand."

What is there to understand! It's already clear. Li Er is just like Yan Shigu, both planning to keep an eye on him. If he behaves well and contributes to the Tang Dynasty, it will be fine, but if he shows any signs of trouble, he will be crushed without a trace.

Xia Hongsheng quickly stood up, took a step back, and bowed to Qutu Tong. "Thank you, Uncle, I will remember it in my heart!"

Qutu Tong nodded with a smile, knowing that Xia Hongsheng had understood, and said no more.

"Uncle Qutu, as I mentioned in the letter yesterday, the horseshoe will greatly improve the speed and impact of warhorses. Therefore, I will present a new type of saber for the cavalry. I will draw the design and have it forged, then present it to you!" Xia Hongsheng said to Qutu Tong.

"Very well." Qutu Tong nodded and said no more, focusing on finishing his breakfast.

Xia Hongsheng, while drinking porridge, carefully recalled the design he planned to have forged.

To ensure that Qutu Tong would help him, since he was not very familiar with Qutu Tong and had only met him through Prince Zijian, Xia Hongsheng was unsure if Qutu Tong would still help him after receiving the horseshoe method. After all, Qutu Tong was a Duke and held a high position. Therefore, to ensure his help, Xia Hongsheng mentioned in the letter that he had a complementary item to the horseshoe that he needed to hand over to Qutu Tong, but was detained by the Chief Secretary's son for saving three women from his harassment. This way, Qutu Tong would likely intervene to get him out of the Chief Secretary's hands.

The item Xia Hongsheng remembered was the Mongol saber. After horseshoes were nailed to the hooves, the hooves were protected, allowing the horses to run faster and grip the ground more firmly, significantly increasing their impact. With faster horses and greater impact, a heavy saber was no longer suitable for cavalry, as it was too cumbersome. The Mongol saber, with its wide back and thin blade, was heavier, which was beneficial for cutting. However, with the increased speed and impact of the horses, a heavy saber would make it difficult for the cavalry to change their saber techniques in time. The Mongol saber, with its smooth lines and slightly curved handle, was easier to control and less likely to slip from the hand. It was also lighter and thinner, making it easier to handle with one hand while controlling the horse with the other. The lighter weight and thinner blade allowed the saber to be manipulated more easily, and the speed of the horse provided the necessary force for cutting. The sabers seen in war films from the future were based on the Mongol saber.

The handle of the Mongol saber had a guard to protect the hand from enemy weapons, and the curved blade provided an advantage in mounted combat. When charging, the cavalry would hold the saber horizontally, blade forward, and use the speed of the horse to cut into the enemy. The curved blade would slide along the enemy's body, increasing the length and area of the wound. It was also less likely to be knocked out of the hand when hitting armor. In contrast, the straight swords used in military formations before the Song Dynasty did not have these advantages. They required more force to achieve the same effect, and their longer length made them harder to control and change techniques. The advantage of the curved saber was its speed, which was crucial for cavalry. Cavalry would charge through enemy lines like arrows, cutting down enemies as they passed, without lingering in the formation. Speed was everything for cavalry.

The Mongol saber was exactly what the Tang army needed after the widespread use of horseshoes.

Of course, it would have a new name, such as the "Tang New Style Saber."