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　the　Russians　and　the　Japanese　had　occurred　nearby　to　the　north。　Toward　the　end　of　the　war；　the　Olon—bulag　had　been　the　primary　military　artery　for　the　　Russo…Mongolian　army　into　Manchuria。　Even　now　there　were　deep　ruts　left　by　tanks；　as　well　as　the　hulks　of　Russian　and　Japanese　tanks　and　armored　vehicles。
　　Nearly　all　the　old　herders　owned　Russian　or　Japanese　bayonets；　can—teens；　spades；　helmets；　binoculars；　and　other　military　equipment。　The　long　chain　Gasmai　used　to　tether　calves　came　from　a　Russian　army　truck。　But　of　all　the　military　equipment　left　behind　by　the　Russians　and　the　Japanese；　binoculars　were　the　herders’　favorite　and　had　bee　an　important　tool　for　production。
　　The　herdsmen；　who　treasured　things　they　could　not　produce　them—selves；　usually　took　the　binoculars　apart　to　make　a　pair　of　“telescopes；”　for　the　reduced　size　made　them　easy　to　carry　and　doubled　their　usage。　“These　have　helped　us　in　hunting；”　Bilgee　said；　“and　have　made　it　easier　to　find　lost　horses。　But　the　wolves’　eyesight　seems　to　have　improved；　and　if　you　observe　a　wolf　through　one　of　these　things；　sometimes　you’ll　see　that　the　he’s　looking　right　back　at　you。”
　　One　day　after　Chen　had　been　living　in　the　old　man’s　yurt　for　six　months；　Bilgee　took　a　telescope　out　of　the　wagon　box　and　handed　it　to　him。
　　The　Russian　telescope　was　old　and　the　copper　nonskid　surface　had　been　worn　smooth　in　places；　but　the　powerful　lens　was　of　the　highest　quality。　Chen　treasured　the　gift；　which　he　wrapped　in　red　silk；　using　it　only　when　he　was　helping　cowherds　run　down　strays　or　horse　herders　find　lost　horses；　or　when　he　went　hunting　with　Bilgee。
　　Chen　surveyed　the　area　through　his　telescope；　his　latent　hunting　instincts　were　awakened　as　he　looked　through　his　“hunter’s　eye。”　These　hunting　instincts　had　awakened　too　late　in　his　life；　he　felt；　and　he　was　saddened　to　have　been　born　into　a　line　of　farmers。　Farmers　had　bee　as　timid　as　sheep　after　dozens；　even　hundreds；　of　generations　of　being　raised　on　grains　and　greens；　the　products　of　farming　munities；　they　had　lost　the　virility　of　their　nomadic　ancestors；　going　back　to　the　legendary　Yellow　Emperor。　No　longer　hunters；　they　had　bee　the　hunted。
　　The　wolf　pack　still　showed　no　signs　of　attacking；　and　Chen　was　beginning　to　lose　patience　over　their　extraordinary　ability　to　hold　back。
　　“Are　they　going　to　plete　the　encirclement　today？”　he　asked。　“Are　they　waiting　until　it　gets　dark　to　attack？”
　　“War　demands　patience；”　the　old　man　replied　softly。　“Opportuni—ties　present　themselves　only　to　the　patient；　man　and　beast；　and　only　they　take　advantage　of　those　opportunities。　How　do　you　think　Gen—ghis　Khan　was　able　to　defeat　the　great　armies　of　the　Jin　with　so　few　mounted　warriors？　And　all　the　nations　that　fell　to　him？　Displaying　only　the　power　of　wolves　isn’t　enough。　You　must　also　display　patience。　Even　the　largest　and　mightiest　armies　can　stumble。　If　a　mighty　horse　stum—bles；　it　is　at　the　mercy　of　even　a　small　wolf。　Without　patience；　you　are　not　a　wolf；　you　are　not　a　hunter；　and　you　are　not　Genghis　Khan。　You　are　always　saying　you　want　to　get　an　understanding　of　wolves　and　of　Genghis　Khan。　Well；　then；　lie　there　and　be　patient。”
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（8）
There　was　an　angry　edge　to　the　old　man’s　ment。　So　Chen　tried　to　cultivate　a　bit　of　patience。　He　trained　his　telescope　on　a　wolf　he’d　observed　several　times　already。　It　lay　there　as　if　dead。　After　a　few　moments；　the　old　man　softened　his　tone　and　said；　“After　lying　here　all　this　time；　have　you　figured　out　what　the　wolves　are　waiting　for？”
　　Chen　shook　his　head。
　　“They’re　waiting　for　the　gazelles　to　eat　their　fill　and　doze　off；”　Bilgee　said。
　　“Are　they　really　that　smart？”　Chen　asked　in　amazement。
　　“You　Chinese　don’t　know　a　thing　about　wolves。　People　aren’t　as　clever　as　they　are。　Here；　I’ll　test　you。　Do　you　think　a　single　wolf；　even　a　large　one；　can　bring　down　a　gazelle？”
　　Chen　thought　a　moment　before　answering：　“No；　you’d　need　three；　two　to　chase　it　and　the　third　lying　in　ambush。　No　wolf　could　do　it　alone。”
　　The　old　man　shook　his　head。　“Would　you　believe　that　one　ferocious　wolf　can　bring　down　a　gazelle　all　by　itself？”
　　“Really？”　Chen　said；　finding　it　hard　to　believe。　“I　can’t　imagine　how。”
　　“Wolves　have　developed　a　special　skill。　In　the　daylight；　a　wolf　will　concentrate　on　a　single　gazelle　but　do　nothing　until　nightfall；　when　the　gazelle　will　look　for　a　place　with　tall　grass　out　of　the　wind　to　lie　down　and　sleep。　That　still　isn’t　the　time　to　strike；　because　even　though　the　gazelle　is　asleep；　its　nose　and　ears　remain　alert。　At　the　first　sign　of　danger；　it　will　leap　up　and　run　off；　and　the　wolf　won’t　be　able　to　catch　it。　So　the　wolf　waits；　all　through　the　night；　lying　nearby。　At　sunrise　the　gazelle　gets　up　with　a　full　bladder；　and　now　the　wolf　is　ready　to　pounce。　A　gazelle　can’t　urinate　while　it’s　running；　so　before　it’s　gone　far；　its　blad—der　bursts；　its　rear　legs　cramp　up；　and　it　stops。　You　see；　a　gazelle　can　run　like　the　wind；　but　not　all　the　time；　and　wise　old　wolves　know　that’s　when　they　can　bring　one　down　alone。　Only　the　cleverest　gazelles　are　wise　enough　to　forsake　the　warmth　of　sleep　to　get　up　to　relieve　them—selves　at　night。　They　never　have　to　worry　about　a　wolf　running　them　down。　Olonbulag　hunters　get　up　early　in　the　morning　to　claim　gazelles　taken　down　by　wolves；　and　when　they　open　up　their　bellies；　there’s　urine　everywhere。”
　　Chen　Zhen　laughed　softly。　“I　couldn’t　have　e　up　with　that　strat—egy　under　the　threat　of　death。　That’s　remarkable。　But　Mongol　hunters　are　crafty　too！”
　　The　old　man　laughed。　“We’re　the　wolves’　apprentices；　so　we　have　to　be。”
　　Finally；　most　of　the　gazelles　looked　up。　Their　“drums”　were　tauter　than　ever；　more　than　a　night　with　a　full　bladder。　Some　were　so　full　their　legs　were　splayed　in　four　directions。　The　old　man　looked　through　his　telescope　and　said；　“They’re　so　full　they　can’t　run。　Watch　closely。　It’s　time　for　the　wolves　to　strike。”
　　Chen　tensed。　The　pack　was　slowly　tightening　the　semicircle；　there　were　now　wolves　to　the　east；　north；　and　west　of　the　gazelles。　A　line　of　mountains　lay　to　the　south。　Chen　assumed　that　wolves　on　the　other　side　of　the　mountain　were　waiting　for　the　main　body　to　drive　the　gazelles　toward　where　they　lay　in　wait；　and　the　slaughter　would　begin。　Herds—men　had　said　that　wolves　often　employ　this　tactic。　“Papa；”　he　said；　“how　many　wolves　are　there　behind　the　mountains？　Enough　to　close　the　circle　on　all　these　gazelles？”
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（9）
“There　are　no　wolves　behind　the　mountain；”　the　old　man　replied　with　a　sly　smile。　“The　alpha　male　wouldn’t　send　any　over　there。”
　　“Then　how　will　they　close　the　circle？”　Chen　asked　doubtfully。
　　“At　this　time；　in　this　place；　they　can　get　more　with　a　　three…　sided　encirclement　than　a　full　circle。”
　　“Then　I　don’t　understand　what　they’re　doing。”
　　“One　of　the　biggest　and　best…known　snowbanks　on　the　Olonbulag　is　on　the　other　side　of　that　mountain。　The　grazing　land　here　is　a　windward　slope；　and　during　a　blizzard　the　snow　is　blown　to　the　other　side　of　the　mountain；　turning　it　into　a　basin　with　snow　from　a　depth　of　waist…　high　to　higher　than　a　flagpole。　Pretty　soon　the　wolves　will　drive　the　herd　to　the　other　side　of　the　mountain。　As　they　press　forward；　they’ll　tighten　the　circle。　What　do　you　think　it　will　look　like？”
　　Everything　turned　dark　for　Chen；　as　if　he’d　fallen　into　a　snowdrift　that　kept　out　all　light。　If　he’d　been　a　Han　soldier　in　ancient　times；　he　was　thinking；　he　could　not　have　seen　through　this　strategy；　this　trap。　Now　he　began　to　understand　why　the　great　Ming　general　Xu　Da；　who　had　driven　the　Mongols　back　onto　the　grasslands；　had　won　every　battle　he　fought　south　of　the　Great　Wall　but　had　seen　his　armies　annihilated　on　the　grassland。　He　also　understood　why　the　other　great　Ming　general；　Qiu　Fu；　with　his　hundred　thousand　soldiers；　had　driven　the　Mongol　hordes　to　the　Kerulen　River　in　Outer　Mongolia；　only　to　be　ambushed。　When　he　was　killed；　his　army’s　morale　plummeted；　and　all　the　Han　soldiers　were　taken　prisoner。
　　“In　war；”　the　old　man　said；　“wolves　are　smarter　than　men。　We　Mon—gols　learned　from　them　how　to　hunt；　how　to　encircle；　even　how　to　fight　a　war。　There　are　no　wolf　packs　where　you　Chinese　live；　so　you　haven’t　learned　how　to　fight。　You　can’t　win　a　war　just　because　you　have　lots　of　land　and　people。　No；　it　depends　on　whether　you’re　a　wolf　or　a　sheep。”
　　The　attack　was　launched。　The　wolf　with　the　gray　neck　and　chest　led　two　large　wolves　on　the　western　flank　in　a　lightning　assault　on　a　hilly　protuberance　near　the　gazelle　herd。　This；　obviously；　was　the　final　gap　in　the　three…　sided　encirclement。　By　occupying　this　hill；　the　wolves　pleted　the　encirclement。　This　sudden　action　was　like　sounding　the　bugle　for　all　three　sides　to　charge。　The　wolves；　which　had　patiently　lain　in　wait　for　so　long；　rose　up　out　of　the　grass　and　charged　the　gazelles　from　the　east；　west；　and　north。　Never　had　Chen　Zhen　witnessed　such　a　terrifying　attack。　When　men　charge　the　enemy；　they　shout　“Charge！”
　　or　“Kill！”　Dog　attacks　are　acpanied　by　frenzied　barking　to　intimi—date　and　instill　fear。　But　when　wolves　attack；　they　do　so　in　silence—no　shouts；　no　wolfish　howls。　Warrior　wolves！
　　The　wolves　flew　out　of　the　tall　grass　like　torpedoes　armed　with　the　sharpest；　most　fearsome　teeth　and　menacing　glares；　heading　straight　for　the　herd。
　　Stuffed　from　overeating；　the　gazelles　were　thrown　into　a　panic。　Denied　their　primary　weapon—speed—they　were　now　little　more　than　sheep；　nothing　but　meat　on　the　hoof。　Chen　imagined　their　great　terror。　Souls　had　probably　already　fled　from　most　of　them　and　were　on　their　way　up　to　Tengger。　Many　merely　stood　where　they　were　and　quaked；　others　crumpled　to　the　ground　as　if　kneeling；　their　tongues　out；　their　short　tails　twitching。
　　

狼图腾（英文版）　2（10）
Chen　was　witness　to　the　wolves’　intelligence　and　patience；　their　organi—zation　and　discipline。　Faced　with　a　bat　opportunity　that　came　around　only　once　every　few　years；　they　were　still　able　to　wait　patiently；　keeping　their　hunger　and　their　appetite　in　check；　then　disarm　the　enemy—the　herd　of　gazelles—with　ease。
　　Now　he　understood　how　the　great；　unlettered　military　genius　Genghis　Khan；　as　well　as　the　illiterate　or　semiliterate　military　leaders　of　peoples　such　as　the　Quanrong；　the　Huns；　the　Tungus；　the　Turks；　the　Mongols；　and　the　Jurchens；　were　able　to　bring　the　Chinese　（whose　great　military　sage　Sun…tzu　had　produced　his　universally　acclaimed　treatise　The　Art　of　War）　to　their　knees；　to　run　roughshod　over　their　ter—ritory；　and　to　interrupt　their　dynastic　cycles。　They　had　the　greatest　of　all　teachers　in　military　strategy；　they　had　an　excellent　and　remarkably　clear　model　of　actual　bat；　and　they　had　a　long　history　of　struggle　with　crack　lupine　troops。　To　Chen；　these　hours　of　exemplary　bat　tactics　had　proven　more　enlightening　than　years　of　reading　Sun…tzu　or　Clausewitz。　He　had　been　smitten　by　the　study　of　history　at　a　very　young　age；　obsessed　over　solving　one　of　the　great　mysteries　of　world　his—tory：　Where　had　the　tiny　race　of　people　who　had　swept　across　Asia　and　Europe　and　created　the　Great　Mongol　Empire；　the　largest　landhold—ing　in　the　history　of　the　world；　learned　their　military　secrets？　He　had　asked　that　question　of　Bilgee　more　than　once；　and　this　old　man；　whose　educational　level　was　low　but　whose　erudition　was　broad；　had　gradually　answered　all　his　questions　by　enlightening　him　on　the　bat　methods　of　wolves。　Chen　felt　a　sense　of　deep　veneration　for　the　grassland　wolves　and　for　the　people　who　worshipped　the　wolf　totem。
　　The　battle　and　the　observation　continued。
　　The　moment　had　finally　arrived　when　the　herd　of　gazelles　began　to　stir。　Only　those　older　members　with　previous　battlefield　experience　and　the　herd　leaders　had　been　able　to　resist　the　seduction　of　fragrant；　mid…winter　grass　and　had　not　eaten　a　quantity　that　would　impede　their　speed；　they　immediately　took　off　running　toward　the　mountains；　at　the　same　time　urging　the　rest　of　the　herd　to　run　for　their　lives。　But　they　didn’t　have　a　chance；　given　their　full　bellies；　the　deep　snow；　and　the　angle　of　the　slope。　It　was　a　bloodbath；　a　punishment　by　the　wise　on　the　stupid　and　care—less。　In　Bil