Luo Chong prepared a whole batch of "deadly gift packages" and delivered them straight to the Wolf Pack.
That noon, he first rode Hui Shan to the edge of the forest and threw out some animal offal, such as cow hooves, antelope hooves, lungs, and some Terror Bird remains. These "chicken ribs"—with no meat to eat yet too wasteful to discard—were meant to numb the Wolf Pack's vigilance.
By evening, the second feeding consisted of the real "deadly gift packages": Thorn Vine wrapped in a shell of ice and pig fat. Several large baskets' worth were scattered across the edge of the western forest, ensuring that most of the Gray Wolves would take the bait.
After finishing all this, Luo Chong had the tribesmen standing guard on the wall keep watch over the edge of the forest, then returned to the cave.
Spring was almost here, and the Han Tribe still had many things to do. The most important tasks at hand were spring plowing and salt gathering. Previously, the Han Tribe had only sixteen Blue Antelopes, but only Wuda and Ximen could be used for plowing. The others were either too young or pregnant females.
Moreover, because antelopes had little strength, the plows Luo Chong had designed and made back then were small, single-bladed plows. Now that the animals pulling them had become wild oxen, their output was entirely different. The plows had to change as well, and a wooden-frame mechanism fitted with two plow blades gradually took shape in Luo Chong's mind.
While Luo Chong was studying the new bronze plow, Big Mouse, who wanted to act as a middleman and profit from both sides, also began his commercial journey.
The Chestnut Tribe had a population of more than 230. Their territory contained a vast Chestnut Forest. Although