Seven Reforms

With the idea of reforming the tribe for better development, Shen Can and Huo Tang began a comprehensive investigation of the entire tribe.

They would first clarify the various situations within the tribe before proceeding with improvements one by one.

On the city wall.

A dozen tribesmen were gathered, looking at the plague prevention wooden spears, beast oil, bows and arrows, and other items that had been crafted previously.

This was just the reserve from one location; there were over a hundred wooden spears.

To put it bluntly, no two of the hundred-plus wooden spears were the same.

Some were large, some small, varying in thickness, and their surfaces were roughly polished.

The small jars holding beast oil ranged from half a foot to two feet tall, varying in height, width, and girth.

The few bows were all single-piece wooden bows, and even these varied in size. The beast sinews used for bowstrings differed in thickness, leading to inconsistent draw weights for the wooden bows.

The arrows were even more chaotic. The feathers at the arrow fletching varied in size and density, the arrow shafts also differed in thickness, and there were arrowheads made of bone as well as iron.

Looking at the leather armor worn by the accompanying martial artists, the styles were all over the place.

Everything the Blazing Flame Tribe ate, wore, and used was made by the tribe collectively. Simply put, it was like eating from a communal pot.

Many arrows and pieces of leather armor used by martial artists and the young and strong were ground and sewn by their own wives, so the styles naturally varied.

It was normal for small tribes to operate this way.

However, this created a problem: a lack of standardization. If they hunted and patrolled as before, with martial artists providing their own weapons, it was naturally fine.

But if they were to experience something like resisting the Possessing Plague Worm, or engage in more intense combat, then it would become an issue.

If their own weapons, armor, and bows and arrows encountered problems, and they had to borrow from fellow tribesmen, they would find that the wooden bows had draw weights that were either too strong or too weak, or the arrows were not suited to their grip.

It wasn't that they couldn't be used, but if they were made to be more standardized, they could be used at any time.

The tribesmen were not all geniuses with divine bodies. Ordinary weapons couldn't unleash their full combat potential; they needed to be equipped with specialized weapons.

Most tribesmen were actually quite similar. When hunting outside, to capture more powerful desolate beasts, they also hunted cooperatively.

Standardized weapons with a more stable supply were more suitable for mass equipping.

For several days, Shen Can and Huo Tang conducted investigations throughout the tribe, from the various households within the tribe to the treasury reserves, from martial arts enlightenment for children to field cultivation, leaving no stone unturned. They recorded all the problems they observed.

In the ear cave where the lamplight flickered.

Shen Can was writing on the beast hide scroll, while Huo Tang paced beside him, speaking.

From time to time, the two would discuss matters.

After a long while.

Shen Can put down his brush and said, "Clan Leader, based on our investigations these past few days, the improvements for the tribe's issues are all written here. Please take a look."

Huo Tang snatched the beast hide scroll.

"One, establish a Clan Elder system to clearly divide responsibilities for various aspects of the tribe, precisely defining divisions of labor for farming, crafting, gathering, production, and taming desolate beasts.

Two, establish a Clan Treasury to guard against natural disasters and strengthen the reserves of medicinal herbs, beast oil, and weaponry. Appoint dedicated Clan Elders to regularly maintain these resources.

Three, establish a reward and punishment system, with rewards and punishments entering and exiting the Clan Treasury.

Four, under the current conditions, establish a martial arts cultivation system that is more suited to the tribe's situation, selecting and cultivating the best talents.

Five, based on the martial arts cultivation system, establish an elite group of martial artists detached from tribal affairs, responsible for the tribe's safety, external patrols, and reconnaissance.

Six, change the name to address the chaotic naming conventions within the tribe.

Seven, absorb capable external refugees who can integrate into the tribe."

Huo Tang read the contents of the beast hide scroll, becoming more and more excited as he read. How could he not have thought of these things?

He had ideas before, but they were vague. Now, they were becoming more concrete.

"Good, good, good."

"Clan Leader, for the tribe to develop, the haphazard ways of the past won't do."

Shen Can spoke. The tribe essentially lived off a communal pot, chaotic and disorganized. As long as they could survive, they maintained the status quo.

But there were differences between communal pots. From now on, the tribe would also guarantee the basic sustenance of the tribesmen, ensuring no one went hungry.

"Alright, we'll do as you say."

Huo Tang replied without looking up, his mind still on the beast hide scroll.

These proposed improvements for the tribe were not entirely comprehensive; they were written after only a few days of investigation.

For the tribe to establish itself, its martial arts strength was primarily needed to ensure stable development. Only then could the various auxiliary measures proceed smoothly.

Similarly, stable food, clothing, housing, and transportation would allow the tribal martial artists to cultivate without worry.

These regulations were not set in stone.

There were seven items today, but perhaps next month there would be ten, or maybe they would be reduced to six. The increases and decreases would depend on the actual situation.

There were no eternally effective systems. As long as they operated, new problems would arise.

Right now, without even operating, who knew if they would be incompatible with the environment?

Everything needs time to be proven. We can think of specific solutions to improve things once specific problems arise.

Moreover, these are just general regulations; the specific details are far more numerous.

Take the first item, the Clan Elder system. Once Clan Elders are appointed for relevant affairs, they will be responsible for the requirement to unify tribal weapons as much as possible.

There are also unwritten issues like tribal bloodline confusion and marriage customs.

This problem is easily solved.

The only reason for close-kin marriage within the tribe is insufficient tribal progress, preventing external expansion.

As long as the tribe's power strengthens, will the Huo family members of the Blazing Flame Tribe fear not being able to find wives?

With the recent addition of five hundred women, the tribe temporarily has no pressure regarding marriages.

For the next period, I will focus on cultivating internal energy.

The Great Wilderness is vast. While there are no tribes nearby, there are still some further away.

At this moment, at another stone table in the cave, Huo Xian was writing with his head bowed.

"Tribal reforms..."

Like a historian recording tribal history, he wrote down everything he saw at this time on the beast hide scroll.

After finishing, he even nodded with a smile, appearing quite satisfied.

After a long while, Huo Tang reluctantly withdrew his gaze from the beast hide scroll and said, "For a smooth implementation, it would be best to hold a grand ancestral worship ceremony. Through this ceremony, we can promulgate the regulations, select Clan Elders, and arrange various tribal affairs."

"The tribe has experienced floods and plagues. A ceremony would indeed boost the morale of the tribal members."

Shen Can also agreed with Huo Tang's suggestion.

Especially when making major changes to existing living habits, having the ancestors endorse them can effectively resolve many troubles.

In the Great Wilderness, there are no problems that the ancestors cannot solve.

"For ancestral worship, we would need at least one second-tier desolate beast. Finding one now is not easy."

"I'll think of a way to get a desolate beast. I'll also have Huo Shan look around further away to see if he can encounter one." With that, Huo Tang was about to leave.

"Clan Leader, the tribal member concentrated training plan I mentioned to you doesn't conflict with the tribal reforms. We can start cultivating."

"I'll take charge of hunting desolate beasts. The tribe will listen to you."

Before Shen Can could say more, Huo Tang had already left the Ancestral Temple cave.

"A-Tang has rarely shown such eagerness since becoming Clan Leader. Back then, he was still a hunting party leader like Huo Shan."

Huo Xian carefully rolled up the beast hide scroll, his eyes filled with memories.

"If it weren't for the lack of anyone else to lead the tribe, A-Tang would have preferred to remain a hunting party leader."

Shen Can understood immediately. If everyone listened to him, then he would effectively be the Clan Leader.

"Alright, then we'll gather the tribesmen for martial arts training first thing tomorrow morning."

Shen Can muttered and walked towards his earlobe.

After absorbing external tribesmen, the Blazing Flame Tribe currently has 2,433 members.

When Shen Can prepared to gather them for concentrated martial arts training, he realized that if he didn't consider age, gender, and the manpower needed for essential tribal affairs, he could muster 1,800 people.

Regardless of gender, everyone was tall and strong, with sturdy builds.

Seeing that everyone was capable, he decided not to choose.

With over 2,400 people, they would be rotated through his training.

He would see who could handle it and had talent for the Kui Ox Fist.

Those who performed well would stay for further training, and those who didn't would go back to their previous duties.

Clan Elder Huo Yu, carrying pots and meat with his men, arrived at a piece of terraced land enclosed within the city walls during its construction.

They quickly set up large pots and began stewing the meat.

This area had been converted into a three-tiered training ground, becoming smaller with each ascending level.

"A-Can, you're letting everyone eat this much?"

Huo Yu stammered, watching the meat being taken away as soon as it was cooked, finding it hard to bear seeing them eat like this.

This first batch consisted of 300 people, but they devoured a mountain of meat in one go, making Huo Yu feel like they weren't eating meat but his very heart and soul.

The older generation was accustomed to frugality, more like squirrels hoarding food.

Shen Can stood at the highest point of the training ground, smiling as he watched the tribesmen below eating heartily.

The most prominent characteristic of Martial Arts in the Great Wilderness is growing tall by eating meat and practicing fists.

"Eat to your heart's content. Bring me a bowl too."

Regarding the naming issue in the tribal reforms, should there be a large-scale renaming, or should they adopt generational names to distinguish between earlier and later generations? Does anyone have suggestions?

After checking, the practice of generational names was established during the Tang Dynasty's imperial examination era.

New families entering the imperial examinations, in order to consolidate their clans, adopted generational names modeled after aristocratic families.

It flourished in the Song Dynasty, and became solidified and widespread in the Ming and Qing eras, eventually passing down to the present. However, it seems people are not really using generational names much anymore.

Seeking reads, the reads for today and tomorrow are crucial for next week's recommendations. Seeking reads.