"War horses?" Randolph shook his head, "Lord Zakar, what I really want is more than just 'buy more horses'. Since the day you became a warlord, I have followed my master's orders, communicated with you, and traded a large number of horses for countless supplies. I don't deny that they are all excellent horses, but they have been castrated-"

"Stop, I've heard the same thing many times, don't you just want a stallion? And what I mean by opportunity"

"Oh?" Randolph's hand shook, and the jade-white wine in the bowl shook violently, thanks to the fact that he didn't fill it, otherwise he would have splashed his luxurious silk clothes. Randolph froze and asked, "Could it be that Lord Zakar is finally willing to endure the pain of parting his love?" ”

"Then it's up to you." "I'm not going to break the rules of the tribes, I'm going to sell you a chance," Zakar said. He touched another bowl with Estheau, got up to get the jar, and found that it had bottomed out, so he could only sit down regretfully.

"What chance?"

"When I first occupied this place, I found a herd of ownerless wild horses in the depths of the steppe - listen, friend, not one, but a herd!" Zakar got up excitedly and left the table, walking around the tent, his words brightened, "The head horse at the head is the only god horse I have ever seen in my life!" I saw him chase the wolves of the steppe and bite them, kick their heads with his hooves, trample their waists, and then have the strength to mate with every mare in the herd. If you can use it as a stallion, the foal will be unbeatable! In time, its bloodlines spread across the steppe, and our spears against the cavalry will only make the enemy even more fearful! He slapped his thigh unwillingly, "It's a pity, the habitat of the horses is just between me and Juda, and that old boy wants to covet this group of wild horses - in fact, in order to follow the traces of the horses, our scouts have clashed several times." I heard the news that Judah had sent a force of nearly 400 men to this side, and I guessed that he wanted to surround the wild horses and then sweep them all in, and show me his strength by the way. ”

Eshua slowly put down the wine bowl thoughtfully. At this time, Zakar also finished his speech, sat down next to Randolph, and put his arm around his shoulders intimately: "My friend, I can't muster so many people right now, would you like to lend me a hand?" ”

"The opportunity that Lord Zakar is talking about is—" Randall's heart beat suddenly, he vaguely guessed Zakar's intentions, but his reason resisted for a moment to make a judgment.

"Friend, I want to hire your troops - not to ask them to fight Zhu Da's men head-on, you and I still have a gap with the other side in the current troops, but as long as the leading Zhu Da lackeys have some scruples, then there is room for negotiation."

"Are you sure? After all, it's hard to say if it will turn into a large-scale war between you and the 'saboteurs'. Randolph asked cautiously, the stakes were too high, and he did not dare to make any hasty decisions. Rashly involved, but the benefits are just an ominous "opportunity"? Randolph was a businessman, not an adventurer, and even less a gambler.

"If Zhu Da personally led the team, then I would definitely not touch his moldy head." Zakhar's tone was lighthearted, "Ever since his only son died in the North, no one on the steppes has been able to fathom the old fellow's temper. I can't talk to him, but this time it's just one of his warlords who is in charge, and he's given the order to bring back the herd, but if I do fight, he'll either spend two or three days asking Juda's opinion, or I'll negotiate with me on the spot, and decide where the horses belong according to the rules of the tribe. ”

"What rules?"

"Both sides send the best horse trainers to try to tame the head horse, and whoever can successfully ride the head horse will take the herd with him. If I win, I will choose the best male foal from the herd and give it to my friend as a stallion. However, if you have a good hand in this area, you can also participate. Zakar glanced at Randolph and smiled meaningfully, "If a friend's man tames the head horse, then the herd will naturally belong to the friend, but to take them out of the prairie, I will have to collect some tolls." ”

"What if—" Randolph stopped. Zakar saw his hesitation and waved his hand generously: "If there is any case, I will release those Noldor captives unconditionally." ”

It turns out that the so-called opportunity is this. Randolph smiled helplessly and began to think in his heart. Do you want to follow Zakhar's thrilling gamble and hand over the escort of your caravan to the other party as a bargaining chip? The "warlord" Zakar who rose in the southern part of the steppe and the "saboteur" Juda who occupied the northern part of the steppe for many years have not officially begun to collide yet, but the sparks splashed when they rub around a group of ownerless wild horses have a faint tendency to burn the prairies. Randolph knows that no matter whether Zakar wins or loses in this herd battle, he will be rewarded with a lot of money, and the standard is not a loss. But what he really worries about is that the two sides will fight. It's okay for his mercenary to help Zakar grow stronger, and if he fights with real swords and guns, thirty Cato hussars will be enough to break up the formation - unless Aldalian and Baranduk are willing to fight.

As for the possibility of taming the head horse on his side, Randolph simply didn't count on it. Although his caravan was staffed by several of Daxia's veteran horse trainers, they were too old to take on a grumpy horse himself—no, wait.

Randolph's eyes drifted to Eshy, he had long since sensed that Baranduk's attention had been on his side and Zakar's, and he was obviously also keen on the wild horses. Also, after all, he is the new lord of Ravenston, and he is very desperate to need the strategic resource of war horses, and he can keep it to form a powerful armed cavalry, which can be sold to obtain funds, and given to other lords can help him quickly integrate into the northern political arena. And the intelligence seems to say that he is very good at taming horses?

"My lord, it's a deal!" Randolph made up his mind, "But I have some personal matters to attend to. Lord Barandoke, please follow me outside the tent. ”

"No, you can just talk in the tent, and I'll go out and count the manpower. And, friend, remember to exchange those mercenaries with long pipes for other weapons, that thing is called a 'musket', right? The movement is too loud and easy to frighten the horses. ”

"No problem, Arnold, you go ahead and do it. If Lord Zakar has any extra arrangements, follow his orders. Randolph agreed, and he winked, and his attendant got up and left the tent with Zakhar.

Randolph took a deep breath and turned to Eshyus: "Lord Baranduke, I know you're interested in that group of wild horses too, why don't we talk about a deal?" ”