Tang Tiehan understood Zha Wan's meaning perfectly. He cried out in terror, "You mustn't touch my sister! I really don't have any Record of Fine Steeds! Look, I have fifty thousand taels in banknotes redeemable at any branch of the Mingfeng Trading House. I'll give you the banknotes if you let us go." Tang Tiehan had come to the Yong Capital on a diplomatic mission, but he also had some private plans. He intended to take this opportunity to visit the Horse Market and procure a batch of fine northern steeds, making money while fulfilling his assignment from the Imperial Court. That was how he had become acquainted with the Black Hu merchant Zha Wan. Tang Tiehan loved his drink, and while discussing business with Zha Wan, he had drunk too much and carelessly let slip the secret of the Record of Fine Steeds. The book meant little to ordinary people, but to horse traders and judges of horseflesh, it was priceless. It had been written five hundred years earlier by Bo Chongxi, known as the Heavenly Master of Horse Appraisal. Besides descriptions and a catalog of the world's various magnificent steeds, its most important sections concerned judging and training horses. Although Zha Wan was one of the Hu people, he understood the value of the Record of Fine Steeds, and greed stirred in his heart.
After arranging Tang Tiehan's abduction, Zha Wan found that he refused to tell him anything, no matter what. So he devised another scheme: he would lure Tang Qingxuan here as well and use her safety to force Tang Tiehan to submit. Little did he know that Tang Tiehan's supposed Record of Fine Steeds had been nothing but idle boasting. He had only heard his father, Tang Wenzheng, mention it and had never seen it