bookrebus Chapter 356 Setting a Trap for the Rock Sheep
Chapter 356 Setting a Trap for the Rock Sheep
Just like catching wild ibex, catching ibex requires setting up hooves in areas where ibex frequently appear.
So Li Ju'an devised a plan, choosing a time before dawn, when the breeze was gentle and people were few and far between, to silently lurk not far away and wait for the edge of that mysterious circle.
Himalayan blue sheep are not easy prey. Their alertness is like that of the most keen scouts in the forest, and their speed is enough to leave even the most agile hunters in the dust. Even seemingly foolproof lasso traps often turn into false alarms in the face of their nimble movements, as they easily leap away from the brink of death.
Li Ju'an possesses an innate predatory instinct. He can always sift through complex clues at crucial moments to capture the elusive movements of the argali sheep. He knows the habits of every herd of argali sheep inside and out; their patterns of appearance, migration routes, and even the most subtle emotional fluctuations cannot escape his eyes.
Changes in weather and the scent of nearby predators can alter the climbing routes of ibex.
Chen Xiangqian followed Li Ju'an, traversing the bare rocks of the Gobi Desert, and said, "How do we lasso these bharal? They're definitely different from leapcats, they're so big."
Li Ju'an laughed and said, "Being big is not a problem. The main thing is to keep track of the tracks and set traps."
In Wangxingtun, he followed the experienced Lao Qin and learned the wisdom of hunting, including unique techniques for setting traps for argali sheep. Lao Qin's words vividly described the habits of argali sheep, which are completely different from the docile and endearing nature of elk and roe deer. Argali sheep prefer to walk leisurely along steep cliffs, and the steeper the cliff, the more they like it.
The hooves of the blue sheep enable them to miraculously carve out paths across the seemingly pathless Gobi Desert, traversing bare rocks as if walking on flat ground. This unique physiological structure makes the blue sheep the travelers of the Gobi, able to find a way out and cross the bare rocks sideways.
Hunters often looked up and saw several ibex strolling leisurely on the slippery, large rocks. Some of these rocks were so smooth that even hunters couldn't climb them with ropes, let alone set traps.
This makes catching argali sheep much more difficult than catching other wild animals such as elk, deer, and sheep in the mountains.
In that simple yet resource-scarce era, pheasants, rabbits, and the occasional wild boar became rare delicacies on the farm table, adding a touch of flavor to ordinary days.
Li Ju'an has been catching pheasants and rabbits more and more frequently lately, and rabbits are appearing on his dinner table more and more often. He is also becoming increasingly dissatisfied with these wild game.
Wild boar meat has an unmistakable gamey smell, and its texture is tough and dry, making it difficult to stew. Even with added seasonings, it's hard to completely tame that flavor. As for argali sheep, they have a unique muttony aroma, which may not appeal to everyone, but stewing them with angelica root creates a distinctive flavor.
The pelts of the Himalayan ibex are highly sought after in the market, enough to feed a family for several months.
One day, Li Ju'an's gaze fell upon a magnificent male ibex. Its horns, like pine trees standing tall among the rocks, exuded resilience and pride. He acted decisively, first swiftly removing the horns, and then, together with his neighbor, Grandpa Zhao, they slowly straightened the heavy ibex's body.
Next, he took out the flat-bladed knife, its blade gleaming in the setting sun. He began skinning the sheep from the top of its head, peeling off the entire hide.
This unprocessed raw hide still needs to undergo a meticulous air-drying process, then be carefully dipped in a special liquid, and undergo a transformation before it can be transformed into a raw hide product that can be traded in the market. To fetch a good price from merchants in the south, it takes more than half a month to process it into a finished hide before it can be sold well and its value can be maximized.
Several years later, when the policy direction has completely changed, these carefully crafted tanned leathers are expected to cross mountains and seas, embark on the journey of foreign trade, and be sold overseas, earning more considerable profits than they could in China.
Grandpa Zhao, panting heavily, said to him, "Li Pao, let me tell you, try flying the eagle out in a bit. The eagle can spot these sheep, and that will be more effective than a dog tracking them."
Li Ju'an's eyes lit up.
Without tall trees to provide shelter, this area is the home ground of falcons.
He untied the thin iron chain wrapped around his right arm, and the two falcons, poised to take flight, seemed to break free of their restraints. One after the other, filled with irrepressible excitement, they soared into the sky, their high-pitched and sharp cries piercing the air and echoing endlessly.
The two falcons were already burning with impatience from the intense, bloody scent of the ibex. The instincts of the king of hunters flowed through their veins, and the desire etched deep in their souls made them eager to spread their wings and soar, carefully scanning the vast mountains and desolate Gobi Desert around them with their sharp, hawk-like eyes.
Eagles have extraordinary eyesight; they can see everything within a ten-kilometer radius without missing a thing.
With clear skies now, it's the perfect time for eagles to hunt.
In the distance, herds of argali sheep were struggling to climb the rugged Gobi Desert. In the eagle's sight, they were like clearly discernible black shadows. No matter how they hid, they could not escape the eagle's eye.
Suddenly, the eagle let out a high-pitched cry, having already locked onto a flock of sheep on the shady slope.
Another falcon cried out loudly in the same direction, signaling to the hunter and his companion that there was prey in the area.
Chen Xiangqian excitedly reached for Grandpa Zhao's cannon, ready to charge and fire.
Li Ju'an grabbed him and shouted, "Don't be so naive, let's set a trap."
This desolate salt flat has been devoid of the graceful movements of argali sheep for a long time. A fresh, pungent scent of male argali blood quietly permeates the air, like a silent alarm from nature. The signal is so strong that even those of the same species, upon smelling it from afar, become wary and avoid this potentially dangerous place.
This saline-alkali area, due to this sudden change, was no longer suitable for setting traps. Li Ju'an looked up, his gaze piercing through the open space, locking onto the falcon circling in the sky. Its sharp eyes could penetrate the clouds, spotting the new herd of argali sheep, guiding him quietly toward the shady slope.
The well-trained hunting dogs stayed close to the slippery, exposed rocks, their noses almost touching the ground, carefully sniffing the uneven surface. Before long, they actually managed to catch the faint traces of a herd of blue sheep passing by in a hurry.
Following the eagle's location, Li Ju'an led the hunting dogs to correct their course. Based on these clues, he accurately returned to the spot where the argali sheep had passed.
Li Ju'an located the salt flats and knew that this area was the final destination of the herd of argali sheep.
Animals often come here to lick salt because they need it for sustenance.