Section 067: The Fruits of Taming

Between the horse enclosure and the tribal center lay the villagers’ residential area and farmland. At this hour, the villagers were already up and at work. As Li Zhan passed through the settlement, he saw Old Tang circling his small wooden cabin with great satisfaction, nodding as he inspected it from various angles. Li Zhan approached and greeted him:

“How is it, Master Tang? Are you comfortable with the food and lodging in the tribe?”

Recognizing Li Zhan, Old Tang hurried over, clasping his hands in respect. “Very comfortable! The meals cooked by the women here are far better than what I could make myself—I ate so much yesterday I thought I’d burst. This small cabin is also excellently built: beautiful, clean, and tidy. Most importantly, living with so many other villagers, I no longer feel lonely.”

At this, Old Tang asked, “Chieftain, I’m supposed to start my apprenticeship at the joint workshop in Danyang today, but I’m not sure how to get there.”

Li Zhan replied, “I was just about to mention that. Before you, Craftsmen Wang Hui and Feng Gang from our tribe have already been apprentices at the joint workshop. Every day, the fisherman Zhang Chong ferries them to Danyang by boat and brings them back at night. Starting today, you’ll go with them, and let Feng Gang assist you in developing leather armor.”

Old Tang nodded and followed Li Zhan to the craftsmen’s workshop. Li Zhan introduced Old Tang, Wang Hui, and Feng Gang to each other. Wang Hui and Feng Gang, respecting Old Tang’s skill as a seasoned leatherworker, quickly found common ground with him, and the three soon became engrossed in conversation. Seeing he couldn’t get a word in, Li Zhan smiled ruefully and walked away.

As he passed the fields, he happened upon two plots being sown. Two farmers each guided a wooden plow, with oxen, rings through their noses, obediently pulling the implements forward. Upon seeing Li Zhan, both greeted him and praised the new oxen, saying they were much easier to use than before. In the past, at least two people were needed: one to lead the ox, another to steer the plow—and even then, the oxen would sometimes “go on strike” and refuse to work. Now, a single person could manage the plow, and the oxen pulled straight and true, saving time and effort. All this, they said, was due to the efforts of Li He and Jin Xue.

Li Zhan marveled as well. He recalled how these wild cattle had once terrified the villagers, nearly causing disaster, but under Li He and Jin Xue’s training, they’d lost their wildness and become invaluable helpers. He lingered, watching the oxen work and chatting with the villagers before moving on toward the horse enclosure.

The horse and cattle enclosures were built side by side, separated by logs. Inside the horse pen, Li He and Jin Xue were grooming several wild horses, who were clearly enjoying the attention, shivering with pleasure and playfully nudging their trainers.

Skirting the straw stacked outside the enclosure—feed for the cattle and horses—Li Zhan approached and watched through the thick log fence for a while. Lacking any animal husbandry skills himself, he couldn’t judge the progress of the horses’ training and feared that barging in might startle them.

At that moment, Jin Xue finished grooming a horse and, turning, noticed Li Zhan standing outside. She quickly called out, “Chieftain, is there something you need?”

Li Zhan replied, “Yes, but you two keep working for now. By the way, how are the wild horses’ training progressing? They seem to be doing well.”

Li He, hearing Li Zhan, put down his small wooden rake, turned, and said, “Chieftain, you’ve come at just the right time. I was thinking of showing you our results these days anyway.”

Li Zhan, intrigued, asked, “Results? Do you mean the wildness is almost gone from these horses?”

Li He and Jin Xue exchanged a smile. “More than that—their wildness is almost completely gone, and now they can remember some simple commands: advance, retreat, turn, gallop, walk, even charge.”

Seeing Li Zhan still a bit skeptical, Li He said, “Let me give you a demonstration.” He took up a set of halter and reins, roughly woven from cotton thread. The five wild horses, seeing the tack, seemed to understand and immediately stopped their playful antics, standing tall and still, awaiting their turn. Li He fitted the bridle and reins to one horse, which, watched by its companions, held its head high with pride and followed Li He out of the pen.

Once outside, Li He stroked the horse’s face, then, with both hands on its back, vaulted up in one swift motion. Settling in, he tugged the reins and cried, “Hyah!” The horse immediately began running about the tribe’s grounds, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, stopping and starting at his command. Apart from a bit of awkwardness, it was indistinguishable from a domesticated horse.

The villagers, like Li Zhan, were fascinated by the scene, expressing their amazement. After a lap, Li He returned to the enclosure, dismounted, and Li Zhan nodded approvingly at the results of Li He and Jin Xue’s efforts, also taking the opportunity to review their attributes and skills.

――――――――――
Villager [Male]
Name: Li He
Civilization: China [Yanhuang Tribe]
Title/Position: Animal Trainer
Level: 7
Attributes — Potential: +6, Constitution: 48, Strength: 49, Intelligence: 49, Agility: 9, Loyalty: 97, Approval: 35
―――― Command: 4, Attack: 3+o, Defense: Armor 1+o / Shield o+o, Speed: 1
―――― HP: 97, MP: 98
Skills — Intermediate Animal Training 39% [Main], Basic Cattle Training 42% [Sub], Basic Horse Training 38% [Sub]
――――――――――

Villager [Female]
Name: Jin Xue
Civilization: China [Yanhuang Tribe]
Title/Position: Animal Trainer
Level: 6
Attributes — Potential: +7, Constitution: 47, Strength: 47, Intelligence: 51, Agility: 10, Loyalty: 98, Approval: 37
―――― Command: 3, Attack: 3+o, Defense: Armor 1+o / Shield o+o, Speed: 2
―――― HP: 94, MP: 102
Skills — Potential [Special], Intermediate Animal Training 9% [Main], Basic Cattle Training 29% [Sub], Basic Horse Training 30% [Sub]
――――――――――

Having finished his inspection, Li Zhan asked Li He, “In your opinion, how much longer will it take before ordinary villagers or soldiers can handle these wild horses?”

Li He handed the horse to Jin Xue and replied, “Wild horses have a much fiercer temperament than wild cattle, and training them isn’t as simple as preparing them for farm work. So, to be safe, I think it will take at least another half a month before we can begin allowing the villagers or soldiers to interact with them.”

Li Zhan acknowledged this with a nod. At that moment, Jin Xue led the horse back into the enclosure, removed its harness and reins, then returned to Li Zhan and asked, “Chieftain, didn’t you say you needed something from us? What is it, exactly?”