Chapter 566 – Merciless Slaughter in the Northern Border (3)
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward hesitated; how often does one see such exquisite steeds in a lifetime?
But thinking of the Sweat Blood Horse’s staggering price of around 500,000 to 600,000 guan, he recoiled in shock, shaking his head like a rattle drum.
This thing is too expensive; I can’t buy it!
“It’s not that I don’t want to buy it, it’s just that this price… is simply too high. It’s really not worth it, honestly not worth it.”
The Merchant Guild Leader scoffed at his stinginess while secretly finding it amusing.
Some people may have money, but they’re merely local tycoons, lacking vision and understanding, and definitely don’t think about the bigger picture.
Is 500,000 to 600,000 guan for a Sweat Blood Horse expensive?
Sure, it’s pricey, but consider these Sweat Blood Horses as exceptional stallions!
Any horse farm that acquires such a top-notch Sweat Blood Horse can breed countless high-quality war horses, creating value far exceeding that price in just a few years. The Northern Border’s war horses are highly sought after precisely because of their relentless efforts to improve horse bloodlines.
With a large number of quality war horses, the Northern Border’s combat strength has surged so rapidly.
Thus, from the Merchant Guild Leader’s perspective, the Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward was truly short-sighted and of little use.
With this judgment in mind, the Merchant Guild Leader felt even more at ease with the Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward.
Feeling happy, he blurted out, “I see you really have a fondness for good horses. I have a few hybrid Sweat Blood Horses. Although they’re not as pure as those from Shalan Kingdom, they’ve been carefully bred over two generations and are of excellent quality. Would you like to take a look? But do keep in mind, if you want to buy, you can only buy one. These good horses are all registered, and there are very few—hard to account for.”
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward’s heart trembled. Is he trying to smuggle me a steed??
Such a good deal, of course, I’ll accept!
The vast Northern Border produces top-quality steeds, and the Royal Court keeps a close eye on all horse farms.
However, there are always those who take risks for profit. The Great White given to Jiang Pengji by Liu Zhi was smuggled; it was meant to be offered to the Northern Border Royal Court’s king, but the local officials intercepted it and sold the Great White instead, while they sent the king a slightly inferior horse.
Now that the situation is tense, good horses can’t be bought and sold randomly, and horses that can be privately traded certainly have something shady going on. For instance, farm owners may quietly cut corners, reporting newborn foals as stillborn or dead, and then sell them for a high price after raising them privately.
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward looked at the few steeds mentioned by the Merchant Guild Leader; they were all young and already displayed potential.
He nervously swallowed, moaning with obsession. Compared to the slender-necked, delicate-structured Sweat Blood Horses, he preferred hybrids of the Sweat Blood Horse and the Northern Border native breed. They possess the strengths of the Sweat Blood Horse—great power, swift speed, and strong endurance—while also having the merits of native horses: explosive power, strong load-bearing capability, light steps, and robust physiques. What man wouldn’t like that?
Shalan Kingdom’s Sweat Blood Horses are good everywhere, but there’s one flaw—they’re a tad too lean.
However, after two generations of hybridization, these bloodline-improved horses before him are truly divine creatures!
The Merchant Guild Leader was very pleased with the Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward’s infatuated reaction, speaking in a slightly proud tone, “Are you satisfied with what you see?”
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward nodded vigorously, flattering him, “Absolutely, I’ve never seen such handsome horses in my entire life. I really have to thank you this time; otherwise, how would I have the luck to witness such magnificent steeds?”
The Merchant Guild Leader was quite satisfied and said, “If you like, feel free to pick one. We have an old friendship, so I’ll give you the best price.”
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward didn’t know much about horses, but he understood that these dozen or so horses wouldn’t be so valued by the Merchant Guild Leader if they weren’t good.
So he didn’t need to worry about the quality; he just had to select the one that looked the best.
Yes, he is a connoisseur of looks!
These steeds boasted pure colors. Among the brown, chestnut, yellowish-brown, and pure black horses, he immediately spotted the entirely snow-white horse, free from any blemishes, light-bodied and sprightly, a true beauty among horses!
“What a gorgeous young girl, I’ll choose this one.”
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward reached out to stroke the big horse’s mane. It snorted but didn’t resist, showing a very gentle temperament.
The Merchant Guild Leader fell silent for a moment, puzzled.
“This is a male.”
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward: “…”
A male?
He raised an eyebrow, asking, “Is this horse gelded?”
The Merchant Guild Leader replied, “This horse hasn’t been gelded yet…”
What does “gelded” mean? In simple terms, it means being castrated.
Male war horses are typically gelded, known as “gelding horses.” These males have a milder temperament, making them easier to tame and have no mating season. After all, anything can happen on the battlefield. If a male horse goes into heat, who can handle it?
The horses used for riding are all gelded, while each farm keeps the best quality males as sires to breed excellent offspring.
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward’s expression grew even more peculiar as he exchanged glances with the horse.
A strong male that hasn’t been gelded has such a good temper?
The horse seemed to smirk, mocking him for his ignorance.
The Merchant Guild Leader unhesitatingly said, “This horse hasn’t been gelded; its temperament is unpredictable and not easy to tame. Do you want to choose another one?”
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward shook his head, “I like white, and this is the only one that’s white—it looks so beautiful; I’ll choose it!”
Oh, if you like it, that’s fine…
The Beijiang Ju Bao Zhai Steward took the Great White Horse and the payment was directly deducted from the smuggled “Tian Gong Liuli.”
At the end of September, the heavens showered a sweet rain, finally bringing moisture to the parched northern lands.
On the day it rained, Dian Yin, that rugged man, rushed into the administrative hall with wild joy.
“Lord—Lord—it’s raining! The heavens have finally blessed us with rain!”
Jiang Pengji lifted her eyelids, put down her brush, and got up to throw on a cloak nearby.
“So what if it’s raining? Why so surprised?”
That said, a faint smile still graced Jiang Pengji’s words.
In this era, the weather dictates living; previously, artificial rain could be created, but now it’s impossible.
As autumn harvest approached, there were no signs of improvement in weather; the dug water channels were gradually drying up, and the people’s hearts were wavering. Jiang Pengji was troubled about how to reassure the common people when unexpectedly, the heavens showed generosity by starting to rain without warning.
First, it was a gentle drizzle, then it turned into large droplets, splattering down.
The common folks of Fengyi County were overjoyed, rushing out with all kinds of pots and pans to catch the water.
Those farmers worried about their fields were even more ecstatic, diving into the rain and laughing heartily.
Jiang Pengji stood on the city wall in a raincoat, watching the jubilant commoners below, and she couldn’t help but show a warm smile on her face.
