PNB Chapter 349 Taming Falcons with Live Animals
Chapter 349 Taming Falcons with Live Animals
As the two chatted idly, Li Ju'an whistled. The two eagles, which had been circling in the sky, reluctantly landed on Li Ju'an's arm after a series of urgent whistles.
Chen Xiangqian noticed that in the areas of Li Ju'an's arms not covered by the leather cover, his coat was torn open.
He stared intently at the eagle's sharp, blade-like talons, a chill creeping into his heart. He involuntarily gasped and muttered to himself, "Brother Li, look at those eagle talons, they're incredibly sharp! If it were summer and the eagle was being trained, it could probably tear its skin off easily."
For falconers, training with eagles and being accidentally scratched by their sharp talons is commonplace. Just like the dog trainer Lao Tao, when training fledgling hunting dogs, he often suffers from the little guys who don't know any better, leaving bloody marks on his hands or palms.
Whenever this happened, Lao Tao would rush to the clinic for a quick tetanus shot, a rather meticulous and thorough treatment. Dog trainers generally didn't get tetanus shots; people in the village didn't care about such things back then.
Li Ju'an laughed and said, "If you're afraid of pain and trouble, then don't train eagles. If you want to train eagles and get benefits, you have to endure this hardship."
Chen Xiangqian clicked his tongue in amazement, his eyes never leaving the two falcons on Li Ju'an's arms.
He gave a thumbs-up in admiration and said, "Now I know why my dad doesn't let me go hunting in the mountains. Even if he gave me a well-trained eagle, I probably wouldn't dare to use it. If it bites you, it could gouge out your eyeballs, and that's no joke."
Li Ju'an laughed heartily and said, "That depends on how you raise him. If you raise him well, he'll treat you like a brother and won't bother with you."
Two majestic eagles gently landed on his shoulders, and he quietly handed over two carefully prepared pieces of dried meat.
These jerky pieces come from pheasants and agile falcons caught earlier in the day. Their meat is carefully cut off, hung from the rafters, and slowly air-dried, specifically to nourish these soaring falcons.
If a wild boar is caught during a hunt, the boar's heart becomes the exclusive reward for the lead dog, signifying its role in leading the pack. The lungs and liver are distributed among the helper dogs. He will select a portion of the boar's internal organs, dry it in the shade, and use it as rations for the falcon as a reward.
Only after the falcons respond precisely to the melodious whistle are they entitled to this precious piece of jerky, a testament to their obedience and wisdom. Rewards and punishments are clearly defined: good behavior earns a feast, bad behavior results in hunger, but seeing one's brethren brings a reward.
The way to train eagles is no different from training hunting dogs; it all comes down to fairness and incentives. In this way, as soon as the falcon hears the whistle, it will develop muscle memory, know that following the whistle is associated with a reward, and will be happy to do it.
The two sat together again, eating sticky rice cakes, cornbread, and corn pancakes, and drinking water drawn from the stream. They chatted for a long time.
Li Ju'an slowly recounted that falcons can hunt rabbits, capture pheasants, and even fight wolves alone. They circle low in the sky, and when the wolves are exhausted, they suddenly swoop down, their sharp talons like lightning, accurately pecking out the wolves' eyes. What is particularly amazing is that after catching their prey, these falcons do not rush to eat it. Instead, they emit a clear cry, as if announcing their victory to their master, rather than eating it immediately.
Furthermore, the docile falcon has become an indispensable guardian of the herders' homes. Whether it's a cunning wolf, a nimble fox, or any other wild beast that attempts to disturb the flock, it will be pecked away by the falcon. In this way, hunting and herding are mutually beneficial.
"That's why a good falcon is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold."
Chen Xiangqian's eyes lit up as he listened, and he exclaimed, "That's absolutely amazing! If we could use eagles as hunting falcons, riding horses and hunting with eagles, my life in the mountains would be complete!"
Li Ju'an smiled and shook his head.
This kid probably doesn't know that his dream of hunting generals will likely only last a few days. In later generations, falcons will be listed as a Class I protected animal, a bird that will land you in jail for life, and you can't catch them privately. Even if he wanted to fly falcons back then, being the son of a division commander wouldn't have mattered. In later generations, we have to protect wild animals.
He counted the days on his fingers. After this year, it would be 83, and then various policies would be gradually relaxed. There would be more room for maneuver then.
The two chatted for a while when suddenly there was a noise coming from the rabbit hole.
A commotion arose from the direction of the rabbit hole. The barking of hunting dogs suddenly rang out, tinged with excitement and alertness. It turned out that a plump rabbit had emerged from its hole and inadvertently stepped into a trap set at the entrance. Its leg was firmly caught in the snare, and it was struggling in vain, whimpering in pain.
Upon hearing this, Li Ju'an immediately stood up and strode towards the source of the sound, his eyes flashing with the keenness and composure of a hunter. The two eagles perched on his arms sensed the sudden vitality below and instantly became active.
This is just like the big yellow cat that Lin Mei's family keeps. When it sees a sparrow hopping on a branch, it gets excited, arches its back, and flicks its tail repeatedly, just waiting for the opportunity to rush up and hunt.
When an eagle observes a rabbit, it's like a cat observing a bird; its feathers stand on end, its back arches in an elegant curve, and the air is filled with a hunting instinct about to erupt.
The eagle's gaze was fixed on the helpless, struggling hare—a gaze born of ancient instinct, both cold and powerful. They seemed to be waiting for the perfect moment to strike, restless and excited.
Li Ju'an grabbed the jumping cat by the ears, opened the spring clip, and lifted the jumping cat off the clip.
He unfastened the eagle leg chain from his arm, blew a whistle, and shouted, "Go!"
Two excited falcons flapped their wings and took flight, driven into the air. Their eagle eyes were fixed intently on the leaping cat, unable to look away.
A high-pitched, sharp cry of an eagle echoed from the sky.
In Li Ju'an's hands, the fat, terrified Jumping Cat kicked desperately with its two unusually strong hind legs, as if it might escape from his grasp at any moment. He easily lifted Jumping Cat, flipped it over, and mounted the chestnut horse. With a gentle nudge of its flanks, the horse understood and carried him toward the edge of the grassland, where the view opened up.
On the vast plains, as far as the eye can see, there is only a boundless expanse of white. In the sky, two eagles circle, their high-pitched cries piercing the air.
Without hesitation, Li Ju'an released his grip. The leaping cat seemed to be propelled by an invisible force, transforming into a brown lightning bolt as it fled into the depths of the grassland. He then blew a series of clear and loud whistles, the sound echoing across the grassland.
The jumping cat seemed to sense a threat to its life. It ran with all its might, at a speed so fast that it almost flung its soul out of its body, leaving only a blurry shadow that desperately streaked across the grassland. Its life was hanging by a thread, and it was enough to scare half its life away.
But the falcons were faster. Two falcons, one large and one small, swooped down from two directions to surround the rabbit, spreading their sharp talons to snatch it as it ran and screamed wildly.