After throwing down all their weapons, everyone continued following the group forward. They walked for roughly another two li before finally spotting a simple camp. Bonfires burned inside, and quite a few calcium carbide lamps hung around it, illuminating the entire camp as brightly as broad daylight.
Some of the Xin Tribe militiamen were seeing calcium carbide lamps for the first time and couldn't help marveling at them. Even those who had seen them at the emissary group had never seen so many lamps together before. They were just as astonished and envious. Life in the Han Tribe was truly good—even a simple military camp had so many calcium carbide lamps!
By then, plenty of tent materials had already been prepared at the camp. The bamboo poles had just been cut, and the tent canvas was ready as well. Once the militiamen entered the camp, the officers began organizing everyone to set up their own tents and rest.
Some of the militiamen were anxious and uneasy, while others were full of novelty, looking this way and that. Overall, though, things were still good. At the very least, the Han Tribe had prepared lodgings for them instead of simply herding them into some vast wilderness. Otherwise, it really would have felt like a mass execution.
Brother Xun also led his people in setting up the tent for their camp, then called two men to follow him. Before long, they returned carrying four large buckets. One was filled with cool boiled water, another with corn cakes, and there was also a small jar of mountain pepper fish sauce. The stuff wasn't worth much, but it went well with food.
Only after the militiamen in this tent saw so much food did they finally relax completely. The Han Tribe had arranged lodgings for