When they heard the Chieftain's words, everyone was eager to give it a try.
They were terribly lacking in experience. Many of them had grown to adulthood without seeing outsiders from other tribes more than a few times, let alone encountering a strange tribe that possessed so many wonderful things.
The Young Chieftain soon led his tribesmen to the shore. He took a careful look at the boat, and only then got a clear view of the other side's attire.
All the Han Tribe members aboard the boat were young, strong men. There were no women in sight. They had tied their hair on top of their heads and wore padded cotton clothes, even cotton pants on their legs. Their feet were all clad in Leather Boots. No one knew why these people were so wealthy.
The Young Chieftain inwardly grumbled sourly before stepping forward and asking Shi Quan aboard the boat,
"Are you here to trade? The things you were carrying just now—what do you want in exchange?"
Although the two sides could not understand each other's language, Shi Quan understood their intentions from their reactions. He immediately had someone lay a plank from the boat to the shore, then brought the members of his squad flag ashore with various goods.
The soldiers of the squad flag did not go far inland. They set up a street stall right there by the river.
There were pots, bowls, and all sorts of kitchenware, large and small; Water Buckets made of Sheet Metal; Iron Pots and Iron Spoons; pure table salt sealed in wooden barrels; intact sheepskins; felt blankets from the grasslands; and many other tools, though the other side might not necessarily have any use for them.
Take Iron Shovels, for example. They did not farm, nor did they dig