Reborn in the 1980s: I made my fortune hunting wild game in Changbai Mountain

Salman was pleased to see Hamid's surprised reaction, as he had finally grasped something that the other party did not know.

Before this invitation to China, Salman and Hamid had mostly been on the side of relatively closed information channels, and were used to this unconventional guy's maverick and flamboyant personality.

“I couldn’t believe it until I saw it with my own eyes, but it really is true!” Salman said calmly as he sipped his coffee.

Hamid pressed on, "What exactly happened? Could you elaborate? Gyrfalcon breeding isn't as simple as most people think!"
Even here, we've only figured it out in a few years! It took a huge amount of manpower and resources to achieve this!

If I remember correctly, China is still in the early stages of economic development, and in some places, even the poorest people can't get enough to eat!
Where did they get the spare money to set up a project to study raptor breeding?

Salman waved his hand again: "What you said is basically correct! I want to clarify one point: their successful breeding record was achieved by a young falconer who is even younger than us!"

In fact, these two baby gyrfalcons were obtained from him!

During my recent trip to China, I was invited to attend a Chinese falconry culture exhibition they held in Beijing. Two fairly well-established falconry culture clubs had just been established there!

"What did you get in exchange?"

“Yes! With Haz and Ryder! We had to add extra money before they reluctantly agreed to the exchange! This deal was only made possible with the help of my Chinese friend!” Salman nodded and stated the facts.

Upon hearing the names Haz and Ryder, Hamid was stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Are they the two best hybrid falcons from the Bahrain-Sulman Falcon Breeding Centre two years ago? The two you got through bidding after you asked a friend to put in a good word for me?"

Salman nodded: "Indeed, those two hybrid falcons have now settled in China!"

"Damn it, that's the best hybrid falcon in the entire Middle East! I only gave up the bid because of a friend's intercession and our personal relationship! And you just gave it away to someone else like that?" Hamid was quite agitated when he heard the news.

Hybrid falcons, with their superior strength, heat resistance, and large size, have become a new favorite among nobles in the Middle East for falconry.

Things are valued for their rarity. Hybridization technology has only been successful for a short time, and hybrid falcons are extremely rare. Even Hamid himself only has two.

Seeing his friend so excited, Salman reached out and gently pressed down on him.

"Don't get so excited. Before I went to China, I had the same thoughts as you. In fact, my original intention for going was to cause trouble at the exhibition!"

After seeing the difference in person, I decided to switch to the Falcon!

"Are those two white gyrfalcons purebred or hybrids? Do they possess any special magic?" Hamid continued to ask.

“Of course, otherwise why would you arrange a private meeting and then come to me?” Salman said with a smile.

Only after being reminded did Hamid finally realize what was happening.

His initial purpose in coming here was not to inquire about the whereabouts of the hybrid falcons; his aim was to ask more about the hunting of white falcons.

"Okay, I got a little excited! Now can you tell me what's so special about those two white falcons?"

Salman said with a smile, "They are produced by the Chinese Falconry Division. Their training methods and the performance of the finished products are far superior to our traditional falconry training!"

For example, the most crucial data on the flying pattern!
In China, when falconers train to fly and soar with lures, the eagles fly at altitudes ranging from a few meters to tens of meters, with very few exceptions, unless they are using a much smaller peregrine falcon!

However, these two white gyrfalcons are trained to fly at altitudes starting from over 100 meters!

We used to have a misconception that falcons only needed to fly at a certain altitude, and that flying too high was useless!
As it turns out, altitude determines the upper limit of a falcon's full-force strike when it swoops down!

My two hybrid falcons worked together in a field performance in China, and it took them more than ten minutes to exhaust a red fox and complete the hunt!
In contrast, a Chinese eagle only needs to swoop down from a height of over 100 meters and knock down a larger male red fox with a single kick, rendering it unable to resist!

In my recent hunting trips with my new eagle, I have successively captured spotted bustards, red foxes, and adult mountain gazelles!

Currently, we have almost unlocked all the medium and large-sized prey commonly found in the hunting grounds!
My next goal is to hunt adult male sand gazelles in more remote desert hunting grounds!

In the Middle East, there are several species of large gazelles.

Arabian gazelles, also known as small gazelles, weigh around 20 kilograms and are smaller than roe deer; mountain gazelles are medium-sized, weighing around 25 kilograms.

The largest is the sand gazelle, with the largest adult male weighing over forty kilograms.

Further up are the Arabian oryx, with horns over a meter long. Those creatures weigh over 80 kilograms and were extremely rare at this point in time.

It is currently extinct in the wild and is only kept in captivity and protected in a royal private reserve, making it extremely difficult to hunt.

It's fair to say that Salman's attempt to unlock the sand gazelle's hunting skills has hit Hamid right where it hurts; in the Middle Eastern falconry community, this is practically the ultimate goal.

"Can a falcon flying at such a high altitude really cause so much damage to a gazelle? It must have been exhausting for it to complete the hunt, right?" Hamid felt a pang of sadness, but he still pressed on with more questions.

Salman shook his head: "No! For small gazelles, the cartilage behind the ear is their vital spot! Being struck by a swooping falcon can cause dizziness and internal bleeding!"

Furthermore, my two falcons possess a hunting technique you've never seen before!

"what?"

"Blinding! The two falcons can work together and then look for an opportunity to peck out the eyes of their prey!"

"Having lost my sight, even the largest antelope would have to obediently submit to my control!"

Upon hearing the word "Blinding Eye Pecking," Hamid fell completely silent. Before coming here, he had considered many possible scenarios, but he had never dared to think about a skill like "Blinding Eye Pecking."

Both gazelles and red foxes have the ability to attack falcons. The gazelle's sharp horns and the red fox's teeth can injure or even kill a falcon. Traditional falconry techniques in the Middle East have not been attempted or passed down in this regard!
Seeing Hamid's thoughtful expression, Salman's lips curled up slightly: "Now, do you still think those two hybrid falcons are precious?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm even thinking of arranging for someone to purchase two falcons made in China! Is blinding a skill that all eagles over there can master?" Hamid put away his previous arrogance and his attitude became noticeably more humble.

Salman shook his head: "This skill is most likely an innate talent from the Falcon bloodline."

I was just as shocked as you when I first saw this live performance. Later, I asked the falconer, who told me that the falcon had learned this technique on its own in actual combat!
Later, the fledgling eagles followed the hunting team and learned this skill from their parents' actual combat experience.

Recently, I had Nasser try out Chinese-style falconry training methods. If it's successful, perhaps in the future your falconry base can also come and participate in skills training!
Based on our personal relationship, I can waive all your tuition fees!

"Learn skills from your falcon?" Hamid felt a distinct sense of absurdity upon hearing this.

"Haha, I told you this is just the beginning of the experiment. If you want to learn the blinding skill, at least a few eagles need to become close and familiar with each other. Increasing their affinity takes a very long time! Otherwise, releasing them all at once won't be learning; it will become a disaster!"

"Okay! If it's feasible, my main combat falcon will be trained by your people. The conditions are negotiable!"

……

A private meeting ended in a resounding victory for Salman.

Hamid learned a lot of new knowledge from Salman, such as new falconry techniques and information about the current state of falconry in China.

However, Salman didn't say everything. Regarding the Black Hawk, Salman remembered his agreement with Evan and didn't bring it up.

As for whether Hamid will gather new intelligence through other channels after the meeting, that's not Salman's concern. He's already done his job well by keeping his word.

……

Upon returning home, Hamid immediately summoned his housekeeper.

"Dear boss, what brings you here?" The butler, who was in his forties, bowed respectfully as he entered the room.

"Karim, I need you to help me gather detailed information about falconry in China! Do our current partners have any wild falcon supplies from China?" Hamide asked in a very calm tone.

After a moment's thought, the butler, Kadom, replied, "Chinese falcons? I'm not sure about that right now, but I can ask them later!"
Since we started cooperating with breeding farms in North America and the UK, the number of wild-caught saker falcons has decreased significantly! Perhaps there are only a few left!

As far as I know, the saker falcons produced in Northwest China are of far superior quality to those from ordinary breeding farms!

"Go investigate now, don't worry about the cost, just get the latest information!"

Also, there seem to be some pretty skilled falconers in China. Could you ask someone to help me find out more about them?
If possible, I'd like to go to China before the falconry festival begins!

"Good boss!"

The butler, Kadom, left the room, leaving Hamid alone inside.

In the Middle East, a world teeming with the wealthy, a gazelle is worthless, but a falcon that can hunt gazelles can fetch an astronomical price!
Falcon holds a very important position in the Middle East. Social interactions, business negotiations, and competitions are almost all related to it. Even in daily small talk, Falcon is the most frequently used and easiest topic to build rapport.

Having a top-of-the-line falcon is a source of great prestige for the owner, symbolizing absolute power.

If Yue Feng had the same status in the domestic falconry circle as he does in the Middle East, he would be treated with great courtesy by princes and nobles wherever he goes.

……

Just as North American breeding farm operators and Middle Eastern tycoons were beginning to understand Chinese falconry, Yue Feng was enjoying himself immensely.

Xiao Tao's wedding is now completely over. The leaves are rustling on the mountain, and in a little while, when it starts to snow, the winter hunting season will begin.

A breeding farm on the mountain.

Wu Keji and Zhao Dashan, the two old brothers, each carrying a single-barreled hunting rifle, strolled back from outside with Canglong and Meiqiu by their side.

Yue Feng's motorcycle was parked in the open space inside the gate. When the two old brothers returned, they glanced at it and immediately grinned.

"Xiaofeng has brought us supplies again! He hasn't left yet!" Wu Keji said with a smile.

Zhao Dashan nodded: "It's getting late. Let's stew the duck and roe deer for lunch and have Xiaofeng have a bite with us!"

"I think it's a good idea!"

Soon, the two pushed open the door to the north room, and Yue Feng stood up with a smile.

"Grandpa, Master! What good stuff did you hunt today! I knew you'd gone for a stroll in the back mountain since you weren't home!"

Zhao Dashan waved his hand: "I caught two fat ducks and this half-grown roe deer in the pond to the east! Boil some water and pluck the ducks' feathers!"

"A mallard! These things are really plump in the fall! If we clean this up properly, it'll be delicious stewed with some dried chili peppers!" Yue Feng said, peeking out from the doorway and glancing at the prey.

Zhao Dashan picked up his teacup, took a sip of the chilled tea, and said with a smile, "Last night I was chatting with your Uncle Wu, and we were talking about how there are still wild ducks that haven't gone south for the winter yet. He insisted on arguing with me, saying that the leaves have almost all fallen and the wild ducks should have left long ago! I took him for a walk this morning, and now he's not arguing anymore, is he, Old Wu!"

Wu Keji grinned and chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.

As soon as Yue Feng saw Grandpa Wu's reaction, he immediately knew what was going on.

Yue Feng grinned and said, "Is it possible that my uncle was craving wild duck meat and just told you directly, but you thought it was too low-class to bother with it, so you deliberately used a provocation tactic!"

Upon hearing his apprentice's words, Zhao Dashan was taken aback and turned to look at Wu Keji, just in time to see Old Wu's triumphant smile.

"You damn Wu, you only just realized it? You were trying to provoke me, weren't you?" Zhao Dashan said to Wu Keji with some anger.

Wu Keji picked up the thermos from the side and poured it into the teacup to heat up the cold tea. Then he pushed it in front of Zhao Dashan and coaxed him gently, saying, "It's not that complicated. We just got carried away with the conversation."
"Don't listen to Xiaofeng's nonsense. With our brotherly relationship, it's just a couple of ducks, is it really a big deal? Your tea's already cold, why are you drinking this!"

"You're smart! I also think you didn't intentionally instigate me!"

Zhao Dashan took the teacup and took another sip of the hot tea, which made him relax a little.

Yue Feng found the two old people's childlike words and reactions quite amusing, and stood aside laughing heartily.

Wu Keji curled his lips and squinted at Yue Feng, saying in an annoyed tone, "What are you laughing at? Didn't you hear your master tell you to boil water and clean the wild duck feathers?"
"Don't eat the duck when it's served! That brat's trying to sow discord! Do you think a few words can shake the bond between you and your master? Isn't that right, Old Zhao?"

Zhao Dashan: "That's for sure!"

Yue Feng grinned: "Hey, grandpa, I'll boil some water right away! Let's have a drink together at noon!"

Wu Keji picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, then looked up at Yue Feng: "Having some tea is just what I wanted! There's something I'd like to hear your opinion on, since the time is almost up!"

"What's up?" (End of Chapter)