if we had only known of the extraordinary nature of the egg , of your objections , this situation would never have arisen - `` `` now , however , you are well aware , '' yongxing said , `` and the insult remains : lung tien xiang is still in harness , treated little better than a horse , expected to carry burdens and exposed to all the brutalities of war , and all this , with a mere captain as his companion .