Zhuang Rui had just overheard Timur and Batel's conversation and still felt it was all incoherent. He wanted to figure out what was going on before making a decision.
Batel interrupted, saying, "Let me tell you. It's like this: a while ago, while I was herding livestock, I discovered a herd of wild horses in a mountain hollow. Although it wasn't very large, there were still over a hundred horses. However, the lead horse of that herd was extremely fierce, and I couldn't tame it. After disturbing the herd, they left the hollow, so we need to go out and look for them..."
It's clear that Batel still harbors some resentment about not being able to tame that herd of wild horses. For grassland herders, taming a herd of wild horses is an unparalleled honor and a huge fortune.
Although the widespread use of automobiles in modern society has reduced the role of horses to a minimum, and the days of horses galloping and conquering territory with unparalleled might as well be gone, a horse is still quite expensive.
The most common domestic horses are currently priced between 4,000 and 8,000 RMB, Mongolian horses around 5,000 RMB, and Ili horses around 6,000 RMB. Half-blood horses, which have some Akhal-Teke blood, can cost 40,000 to 50,000 RMB each.
As for the purebred Akhal-Teke horse that the Turkish president gifted to China, it is extremely rare and expensive. Some wealthy horse enthusiasts in the world have offered tens of millions of US dollars, but none of them have been able to purchase one.
So if Batel can tame those wild horses, even if they are of average breed, more than a hundred wild horses could fetch several hundred thousand RMB, which is equivalent to his entire current net worth.
On the day Zhuang Rui and the others arrived at the grassland, Batel led his brothers out to search for the wild horses, only to find that the herd had vanished without a trace when they reached the mountain valley.
Wild horses are almost extinct now, so such an opportunity is rare and hard to come by. If someone else manages to tame them first, Batel will regret it.
If it weren't for accompanying Zhuang Rui and the others these past few days, Batel would have already gone out to look for wild horse herds. However, out of courtesy, he couldn't leave his guests behind, so he decided to take Zhuang Rui and Peng Fei with him.
"So that's how it is..."
Although Batel didn't say it explicitly, Zhuang Rui understood that their arrival had affected Batel's horse-taming plan, which was a very important matter for the grassland people.
“Alright, Brother Batel, let’s go find these wild horses together…”
Zhuang Rui finally nodded, because he knew that if he insisted on not going, Batel and Timur would probably not go looking for the wild horse herd, but would stay and accompany him to find the tomb.
Sure enough, upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Batel's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Alright, Brother Zhuang, I'll pick out a horse for you that's gentle and fast..."
As they spoke, the group arrived at Batel's horse farm. It was called a horse farm, but it was actually just a grassy area enclosed by wooden fences on the grassland. Sixty or seventy horses were leisurely grazing inside, but they became slightly agitated upon seeing Zhuang Rui and the others.
"Neigh..."
Chi Xue, who had been obediently following behind Batel, suddenly sneezed, raised its head and neighed. The horse farm immediately fell silent. Several mares, who were clearly females, even came to the railing and stuck out their tongues to lick Chi Xue's raised neck.
"Battle, have we had guests?"
Next to the gate of the horse farm, there was a simple wooden hut. The people inside came out after hearing the commotion outside.
"Father Urgenda, bring out six saddles, we're going away for a few days..."
Batel smiled and replied, and the old man nodded without saying anything more, then turned and went back into the house.
Many domestic tourists come to the grasslands to ride horses and experience this primitive and unrestrained sport. Therefore, horse farms are equipped with complete sets of horse gear, which of course come at a price.
"Brother Zhuang, this horse is called Yellow Spot. It's a mare, just four years old, very gentle, and quite fast. You can ride it..."
Batel opened the gate to the horse farm, went inside, and led out two horses.
Leading the way was a mare about 1.4 meters tall with yellow spots all over her body. However, the mare didn't seem to give Batel much face and immediately clung to Chi Xue's side as soon as she came out.
"Timur, Kikige, you two go and choose your own horses..."
Timur and Qiqige were very familiar with their own horse farm, so they didn't need Batel's help in choosing horses. After giving instructions, Batel looked at Peng Fei and asked, "So, are you choosing them yourself, or should I do it?"
Peng Fei's horsemanship was taught by Batel. Although it was not as good as those of him who grew up on horseback, it was still quite good. Therefore, Batel did not make any decisions for Peng Fei.
"I'll do it myself, riding a mare is so boring..."
Upon hearing this, Peng Fei gave Zhuang Rui and Dr. Ren a rather arrogant look. Since leaving Beijing, Peng Fei had always felt invisible in front of these intellectuals, but now he finally had a chance to show off.
"You brat, you'll be in for a world of hurt when you fall down..."
Zhuang Rui jokingly scolded Peng Fei, took the saddle from Old Man Wurigengda, and with Batel's help, fitted it onto Huang Dian'er.
These horses were all tamed, and they didn't feel any discomfort after being saddled. Zhuang Rui gently pulled the reins, and Huang Dian'er followed behind him.
"Brother Zhuang, what do you think of my horse? Doesn't it look like a prince on a white horse?"
About ten minutes later, Timur and the others had also chosen their horses. Peng Fei chose a white horse, but it had some yellow stubble on its hooves and underside. However, it still looked quite magnificent, far superior to Zhuang Rui's yellow-spotted horse.
To be honest, Peng Fei is quite handsome, and sitting on this horse, he really does look like a prince on a white horse.
"Prince Charming? I'll tell Zhang Qian about it when we get back. Don't get cocky, or you'll get thrown off..."
Although Zhuang Rui spoke with disdain, he was secretly a little envious. The horse he was riding was really too ordinary.
"Let's go, Brother Zhuang, Dr. Ren, you two follow behind and get familiar with the area slowly. Hold the reins tightly, keep your legs close together, and don't run too fast..."
After everyone mounted their horses, Batel explained the essentials of horseback riding to Zhuang Rui and Ren Chunqiang. Although they were riding the most docile mares, there was no guarantee that something might go wrong.
The reason they weren't allowed to walk in front was because a horse king like Crimson Blood wouldn't be content to follow behind. If they chased and made a ruckus, kicking the two horses a few times, it might startle them.
Given Zhuang Rui's and his colleague's skill level, if the horse were truly startled, it could be fatal. You know, the forearm of the most respected premier in the early days of the People's Republic of China was permanently disabled due to a startled horse.
"Brother Batel, don't worry, I've ridden horses before..."
Zhuang Rui lightly tapped the horse's belly with his feet, and the yellow horse under his crotch immediately started trotting, closely following behind Batel.
Although Zhuang Rui didn't particularly like going to clubs or similar places, the manor he inherited from Ouyang Jun had a horse farm, and he had ridden a few times there. Of course, the experience of riding a horse in that kind of place was completely different from riding on the vast grasslands.
"Impressive, you've really got some skills. I underestimated you, Batel..."
Zhuang Rui's skillful movements caught Batel's eye, but when he turned to look at Dr. Ren, his brows furrowed again.
Compared to Zhuang Rui, Dr. Ren's movements were quite unsightly. Riding on his horse, he was hunching over with his neck tucked in and his back bent, gripping the reins tightly with both hands, as if afraid of being thrown off by the slow-moving horse.
"Brother Ren, this...this won't do. At this rate, when will we ever find that herd of wild horses?"
Although Batel had been very polite, at this moment, the straightforward and honest nature of the Mongolians was revealed.
Chapter 1135 Wild Horse Herd (Part 2)
"This...this, I can't help it..."
Dr. Ren spent his entire education, from elementary school to doctoral studies, in school. Although he had ridden camels during archaeological expeditions, that was a completely different experience from horseback riding. He had barely uttered those few words when he was already swaying precariously and nearly fell off the horse.
"Brother Ren, I think... why don't you stay? You can come to the horse farm to ride horses whenever you have free time these days. It's better than suffering with us..."
Seeing this situation, Zhuang Rui didn't dare let Ren Chunqiang follow. If he fell and got seriously injured, he wouldn't be able to explain it to his teacher and Dr. Ren's family.
Moreover, apart from Ren Chunqiang, the team is now quite strong and well-equipped. Not to mention that several of the grassland people grew up on horseback, Peng Fei has also received rigorous wilderness survival training.
Take Zhuang Rui himself for example. Even if he didn't ride a horse and kept up, given his abnormal physique, aside from the initial burst of speed where he couldn't keep up with the horse, after traveling several dozen kilometers, he probably wouldn't even be able to keep up with the horse...
"Well... alright, I'll wait for you at the settlement..."
Although Dr. Ren was unwilling, he also understood that he was falling behind the team. If he tried to force himself to do so, he would be the one who would suffer a fall. It was a simple matter to calculate the consequences.
Trembling, Ren Chunqiang turned his horse around and rode back the way he came. He glanced back and shouted, "Zhuang Rui, don't forget to film it when you spot the wild horses. I'll show it to my son when we get home..."
After Dr. Ren left, the group's pace quickened considerably. Although Zhuang Rui's riding skills were average, his horse was very obedient. As long as he slightly squeezed the horse's belly or pulled the reins, Huang Dian'er would consciously speed up or slow down.
Anyone who has ridden a horse knows that the most bumpy ride is when the horse is trotting, but once the speed picks up, it becomes quite stable.
The strong wind blowing in his face and the grass receding behind him made Zhuang Rui feel extremely comfortable, but when he looked at the few people in front of him, his face couldn't help but fall down again.
Zhuang Rui had no experience riding horses, so he didn't dare to go too fast. In addition, the yellow-spotted horse he was riding was not as good as the horses chosen by the others, so he could only follow behind them and get covered in dust.
Compared to Zhuang Rui's upright posture on horseback, Peng Fei, Batel, and the others were truly riding horses. Even the little girl Wu Yunqiqige bent her body so low that she was almost touching the horse's back.
Seeing that Zhuang Rui had fallen quite far behind, Batel and the others slowed down their horses and began to trot slowly across the grassland.
After Zhuang Rui caught up, Peng Fei looked at Batel and said, "Old Batel, it's been a long time since you've raced a horse. How about a race today?"
Just now, Peng Fei felt that the white horse under his feet was not running at full speed and was not quite satisfied. In addition, he had not raced with Batel for several years and was quite itchy.
"Alright, but your horse is a bit weak. I'll let you run for one minute first, and then whoever runs the farthest within three minutes wins, how about that?"
Batel readily agreed. His Red Blood Horse was superior to Peng Fei's chosen White Horse in both age and strength, which is why Peng Fei was allowed to go first.
Three minutes?
Peng Fei raised an eyebrow. "Alright, Lao Ba, but if you lose, you have to let me ride Crimson Blood..."
Batel was unimpressed by Peng Fei's words and said with a smile, "You kid, beat me first before you talk. I'm keeping track of the time, you can run away now..."
"You'd better not regret it, get ready!" Peng Fei shouted, tightened his legs, and shot out like an arrow. In Zhuang Rui's eyes, it was like a white light streaking across the grassland. The passion generated by that speed made Zhuang Rui feel a surge of excitement.
Keeping his promise and remaining where he was, Batel's face suddenly darkened when he saw the man and horse galloping ahead. He said irritably, "That brat, why is he whipping the horse? I'll teach him a lesson later..."
"Brother Batel, isn't this riding whip used to whip horses?"
Zhuang Rui, who was standing to the side, was a little confused. He had just complained that his yellow horse was running too slowly and had even whipped its rump a few times. What's the point of having a whip if you don't whip the horse?
“Brother Zhuang Rui, we grassland people don’t use whips. Horses are our brothers and sisters, how can we whip them…”
Sitting on a horse even taller than Huangdian'er, Wuyun Qiqige also had a dissatisfied expression. Every time Peng Fei cracked the whip, a hint of reluctance would appear on the little girl's face.
"Alright, I'm going to chase after that kid. Timur will explain things to your sworn brother..."
Batel glanced at his watch, squeezed his legs together, and a red shadow flashed past. By the time he uttered the last word, the man and horse were already twenty meters away.
Despite his tall stature, Batel was as agile as a monkey on horseback. He pressed his entire body against the horse's back, his head close to the horse's head, reducing wind resistance and quickly closing the distance with Peng Fei ahead.
“Zhuang Rui’an replied, ‘We grassland people train horses by emphasizing the unity of man and horse. Through long-term interaction with the horse, a tacit understanding develops, so there’s no need for a whip; the horse understands your intentions…’”
As Timur explained, Zhuang Rui discovered that Batel, who was galloping on horseback, had indeed never used his whip, but his steed, Chi Xue, was still accelerating and was about to catch up with Peng Fei.
"Ah, we've caught up! Brother has caught up..."
Suddenly, Wu Yunqiqige clapped her hands happily.
"Oh no, Chi Xue is in a bad mood! Brother Peng Fei's horse is going to get spooked..."
Timur, who was explaining the essentials of horsemanship to Zhuang Rui, suddenly shouted and rode off on his horse.
In less than three minutes, Chi Xue had already overtaken Peng Fei, who had started earlier. But just as Chi Xue was overtaking Peng Fei, an unexpected incident suddenly occurred.
As it passed Peng Fei's horse, Chi Xue suddenly raised its head and neighed at the white horse.
As the lead horse in the herd, Crimson Blood undoubtedly held great authority. His neigh startled the white horse, which was already feeling resentful after being whipped several times.
The white horse, which had been running fast but steadily, suddenly started doing somersaults, its body constantly bouncing, desperately trying to throw Peng Fei off.
Don't be fooled by their seemingly docile appearance; horses are actually very strong-willed animals, and their intense competitive spirit is unmatched by other animals.
Horses have a tenacious spirit in competition with their peers, never admitting defeat even when exhausted. Perhaps many people don't know that in war, many horses don't fall in the hail of bullets, but rather die of exhaustion on the battlefield from running so hard.
So, under the tyranny of the Horse King, the white horse, after being provoked and not daring to retaliate, vented its anger on Peng Fei on its back, constantly changing speed and jolting as it ran, becoming increasingly violent.
But who is Peng Fei? At the age of eighteen or nineteen, he had carried out a secret decapitation operation alone on the Sino-Indian border. How could he be willing to be defeated by a horse? He immediately wrapped his arms around the horse's neck and let the white horse struggle up and down.
Batel, who was ahead, was also startled by the white horse's frenzy. He quickly slowed down, turned the horse around, and shouted to Peng Fei, "Feizi, take your feet off the stirrups, jump off, hurry up..."