The Ultimatum!
With a disdainful glance at the Native American warriors in front of him, who were armed with primitive and outdated weapons such as bows, arrows, and spears, the middle-aged white leader with a full beard raised his head and spoke loudly in an arrogant tone as he saw that the chief, who was wearing an eagle feather crown, had also arrived.
"This is the territory of our American Fur Company! We've already been merciful enough by allowing you to exchange furs for valuable supplies, and you savages dare to resist?!"
This team leader had dealt with Native Americans in the Missouri Forest for decades and spoke fluent Native American languages. However, his words were anything but friendly; instead, they were filled with a condescending and aggressive attitude, as if he were bestowing a handout.
"Now, I'm giving you one last chance. Take out five hundred beaver pelts as compensation for your previous refusal of our American Fur Company's offer, and from now on, you must provide at least two hundred beaver pelts each month for trade!"
The middle-aged white man's words made all the Lakota tribe warriors present grit their teeth, widen their eyes, and glare fiercely at him.
However, the white leader ignored the murderous glare of the Native American warriors and didn't even look at Chief Geronimo's reaction, continuing to speak in his condescending manner.
"If you agree, you can continue to live here. But if you choose to refuse, your tribe will cease to exist in the Missouri Forest after today!"
Faced with this blatant threat, not only were all the Native American warriors present furious, but even Chief Geronimo, who had maintained a stern and expressionless face, couldn't help but feel a flash of anger in his eyes. A hint of red gradually appeared in his eyes and then spread outwards.
Ever since his last transaction with Chen Mo, where he exchanged the furs he had accumulated since his recent trade with the American Fur Company for a large quantity of very useful new supplies, Chief Geronimo had been eyeing the fresh items in Chen Mo's possession.
Having kerosene lamps did bring them a lot of convenience. Even on windy and rainy days, they didn't have to worry about being lost in the forest because of the lack of light, or being unable to do anything but sit helplessly in their tents like blind people.
A kerosene lamp can illuminate a considerable space. In the forest, it can clearly illuminate the path, and inside a tent, it can make the entire tent brightly lit, without any worry about it easily igniting the tent like a campfire and causing danger.
These kerosene lamps are also very durable. A full fill of kerosene can last for several days, so you don't have to worry about them going out during nighttime hunting trips.
A bottle of kerosene is enough to last a long time, and only five beaver pelts are needed, so they can use it freely without any hesitation, unlike other expensive consumables they used to buy, which they were reluctant to use.
Chief Geronimo was even more satisfied with Chen Mo, feeling that Chen Mo's prices were fair, unlike the American Fur Company which ruthlessly oppressed and exploited them.
Meanwhile, Chief Geronimo was also looking forward to Chen Mo's return, so that he could use the large amount of fur he had just accumulated to continue trading with Chen Mo.
However, before Chen Mo could return, he was met by the acquisition team from the American Fur Company.
With Chen Mo offering a wide variety of high-quality, low-priced goods at fair prices, Chief Geronimo was naturally unwilling to continue trading with the vampires of the American Fur Company.
Previously, there was no choice. The American Fur Company monopolized the fur trade in the entire Missouri region, and apart from their purchasing teams, no other fur traders dared to risk entering this vast forest to trade with them.
So even if the other party drives the price of furs down to an extremely low level, they still have no choice but to trade with them in exchange for some useful supplies.
However, unlike other tribes, the Lakota tribe does not drink alcohol, so they have no need for consumables such as liquor. They simply exchange furs for daily necessities such as blankets, utensils, and knives.
The Lakota tribe hunters are considered very skilled throughout the Missouri region, catching a considerable number of animals every day. Even though the American Fur Company has driven down the price of furs, they have already traded enough for sufficient supplies.
Unlike other tribes that enjoy drinking and smoking, and have a continuous demand for consumables such as liquor and tobacco, their tribe no longer needed the goods that the American Fur Company traded with them. In order to limit the strength of the Native Americans and prevent them from rebelling, the American Fur Company did not exchange weapons such as Musket with them.
Therefore, the Lakota tribe doesn't actually need to trade with the American Fur Company much now. In the past, it was just out of habit and to make use of waste. After all, they only need a limited amount of fur, and they usually use large pieces of fur such as bison hides to make clothes and tents. Smaller pieces of fur such as beaver and mink are actually not very useful to them.
Before Chen Mo, these furs were useless to them, so they simply exchanged them for some daily necessities. Now that they have Chen Mo and the useful and cheap new items he brought, they naturally will no longer continue to trade with the American Fur Company.
However, even if they didn't need it, these tyrannical guys wouldn't allow them to stop trading in furs.
So, after being refused when they came to buy furs last time and ultimately getting nothing, the American Fur Company quickly organized a larger team to warn and retaliate. They had to let these Native American know who was in charge of this territory!
Faced with the warning from the middle-aged leader of the American Fur Company, Chief Geronimo's eyes blazed with fury.
If it were any other tribe, they might have given in to these thirty-odd gun barrels under such circumstances. However, this is the Lakota tribe, a powerful and renowned tribe throughout the Missouri region. Their warriors are among the bravest and strongest warriors in the surrounding dozens of tribes, and even in the entire Missouri Forest. Their faith and pride do not allow them to fear or submit!
If they choose to accept the terms offered by the American Fur Company out of fear, they will live in humiliation forever and never be able to hold their heads high. It is better to World War I death than to do that!
The warriors of the Lakota tribe will only die in battle, never surrender!
Faced with the ultimatum issued by the armed forces sent by the American Fur Company, Chief Geronimo took a spear from a tribesman beside him, stepped over the tribal warriors confronting the enemy, and came to the front of the group.