Chapter Seventy-Two: The Tale of Buying a Horse

Feng Xiaobao spent a day at the Princess’s residence, then hurried back to his small estate outside the city. Together with Tang Tian, he headed west of the city to the horse market in search of a good steed.

The market was teeming with people. The air was filled with the sounds of neighing horses and the clamor of the crowd. Horses galloped back and forth, setting hearts racing with excitement.

Not only horses were traded here—cattle, sheep, and pigs were also sold, and business was booming.

The horse market itself was divided into sections by wooden enclosures. Inside, horses were tethered, while passageways allowed buyers to inspect them. Those interested could take their pick to a circular training arena for testing and riding.

Business was brisk at the market, with a high turnover of horses. The place was well managed; the market official had a team of brightly dressed attendants patrolling constantly, inspecting for old, sick, or injured horses to prevent outbreaks of equine disease.

Tang Tian, as usual, kept her face veiled. She led Xiaobao through the throng to a larger enclosure, where a small crowd and three or four customers were appraising several horses. She called out warmly to a short man, “Uncle Six!”

“Oh, it’s Little Sweet!” Uncle Six of the Tang family came forward with a smile.

His way of addressing her made Feng Xiaobao smile, while Tang Tian herself looked resigned.

Tang Tian introduced them. “Uncle Six, I’ve brought a good friend to buy a horse. This is Brother Da Lang Feng. Xiaobao, greet Uncle Six.”

“Hello, Uncle Six.” “Hello, Brother Da Lang Feng.”

After some polite conversation, Uncle Six, short and sharp-eyed, scrutinized Feng Xiaobao’s build with a shrewd gaze but kept a beaming smile. “A new batch of horses has just arrived. Let Uncle Six show you.”

The Tang family horses fell into two main categories. The first were horses from the Western Regions, such as the Akhal-Teke, later known as Turkmen horses—the legendary “blood-sweating” horses of antiquity, also called Dayuan horses, regarded as the finest. There were also Arabian horses bred by Bedouins from the Middle East, more delicate and swift. The other main category consisted of Mongolian horses. Though often thought of as short and hardy, making them ideal for endurance and sparse grazing, they were excellent for cavalry and, in great Tang tradition, riders would often take two or three into battle.

Since Feng Xiaobao was introduced as Tang Tian’s “good friend,” Uncle Six decided to show his best. He called for a Dayuan horse.

It was pure white without a single blemish, majestic as a dragon, dazzling as the legendary “Zhao Ye Bai.” Truly a horse to make anyone fall in love at first sight.

But Xiaobao shook his head—it wasn’t suitable for him.

Not everyone was fit to ride such a splendid horse. If Feng Xiaobao were a nobleman, riding it through town would indeed make people marvel at the harmony of man and steed—a perfect match.

But as it was, he lacked the rank, and it would be unwise for him to draw too much attention. A man should act within his means; such a horse was expensive, and the cost of keeping it was high. What suited him best was what was right for him.

Noting Xiaobao’s restraint, Uncle Six’s eyes showed approval. He then had six more horses brought out, each of a different color: chestnut, moon-white (white with black hooves), gray, pinto, blue-roan, and black. All were fine breeds at a moderate price.

He introduced each horse with care, explaining their lineage and strengths, and did not hesitate to mention their flaws, treating Feng Xiaobao as a junior of the family, instructing him as one would a nephew.

In the end, Feng Xiaobao purchased a pinto horse for three hundred strings of cash.

The pinto’s shoulders and sides were marked with three distinct colors, as if stitched together from beautiful scraps, and between its eyes on its forehead was a single red spot. Xiaobao named it “Lone Star.”

It had excellent endurance and outstanding speed; its actual value was at least five hundred strings.

The four of them led the horse out of the arena. Feng Xiaobao spoke to it in “horse language,” greeting it.

This “horse language” was a low, rumbling sound, almost as though casting a spell to calm the animal. After a moment, the sound—something like “Huo...Huo” from deep in the chest—would quiet the horse. Others would hold the lead rope taut for a few seconds, and the horse would stand still, gazing at the approaching person.

Feng Xiaobao slowly approached, gently stroked its head, and offered a handful of roasted soybeans.

Attracted by the aroma and salty taste, the horse ate them.

A good start is half the battle. He continued to stroke the horse, then, using the kneeling groom’s back as a step, leapt onto its back.

Lone Star shied a little, but after Xiaobao stroked its forehead again, it calmed down, broke into a gentle trot, and quickly picked up on Xiaobao’s simple commands.

“This horse is so intelligent!” Xiaobao exclaimed as he dismounted, expressing his gratitude to Uncle Six.

“Finding a good horse is your good fortune—congratulations!” Uncle Six replied with genuine pleasure.

Thus, Feng Xiaobao acquired his second horse.

Uncle Six, ever thoughtful, asked, “A fine horse also needs a skilled groom. Do you have one at home?”

“No, I don’t!”

Uncle Six called out, “Little Six Tang!”

“Here!” A tall, thin youth of fifteen or sixteen emerged from the crowd. His accent was not Han, and his features were somewhat foreign.

“Uncle Six, how can we impose like this?” Tang Tian protested urgently, while Feng Xiaobao was still unsure what was happening.

Uncle Six instructed the youth, “From now on, you’ll serve Brother Da Lang Feng.”

“Yes, sir,” the youth replied, bowing his head.

“This isn’t right!” Tang Tian objected, but Uncle Six waved her off. “Do as I say. It’s settled.”

So, the purchase of a horse came with a groom. Good horses are rare, but a good groom is just as hard to find. Without proper care, even the best horse can become worthless, but a skilled groom ensures a horse retains its value.

Uncle Six was a great horse merchant, so the groom he provided could not be ordinary. At first, Feng Xiaobao hesitated, but soon accepted with a smile.

Indeed, the boy was a fine groom. According to Tang Tian, the Tang family named their grooms by rank: for example, Sixth Master Tang’s groom was called Little Six, with the Tang surname attached—making him the highest rank of groom. If he served the Seventh Master, he would be called Little Seven Tang, and so on. Should Little Six Tang grow old, he would be called Old Six Tang.

“So what’s your groom called?” Xiaobao asked.

“I’m eleventh in line, so my groom is called Little Eleven Tang!”

“Ah, that’s quite a naming system.”

The Tang family had built their fortune on archery and horsemanship. Without horses, there would be nothing, so the grooms bore the honorific “Tang.”

These grooms were family retainers under the Tang family’s control, which was why Uncle Six could assign him to Feng Xiaobao.

It was surprising that someone as young as Little Six Tang could already earn this title—his skills in horse care must be considerable.

Tang Tian explained that the previous Old Six Tang had been promoted to manage the stables, so Little Six Tang had only come to the family a year earlier, and now he was being transferred.

On the way back, Tang Tian mentioned that their family sold over five thousand horses a year. At an average price of fifty strings each, that was a business worth over 250,000 strings.

“If you ever need another horse, just come to Uncle Six,” Tang Tian assured him, pointing the way for future dealings.

“Wonderful!”

…

Riding Lone Star back to the small estate, Xiaobao carefully washed and fed the horse, attending to every detail. Tang Tian assisted him, her practiced hands revealing that even a wealthy heiress was skilled in horse care.

“You’re quite handy with horses,” Xiaobao remarked.

“Of course. Horsemanship and archery go hand in hand. If you don’t understand horses, you can’t shoot well!” Tang Tian replied.

“Horsemanship… when you have time, will you teach me?” Xiaobao seized the opportunity.

“Certainly!” Tang Tian answered cheerfully.