The Northwest Protectorate.
"What should I do next...?"
Huang Feihu sank into thought.
The provisions from Jiepai Pass had arrived, and the residents of the North Sea now had enough to eat and keep warm.
He had already sent men to visit Gui Fang.
The reports said that Gui Fang was both poor and weak. Many of its people would probably freeze or starve to death this autumn and winter.
Although nomadic peoples did not farm and supported themselves by raising cattle and sheep, that did not mean they had no fixed territory.
Raising cattle, horses, and other livestock required pasture rich in water and grass. In the barren north especially, there were only so many such pastures.
Yet the territory occupied by Gui Fang had only one large pasture, nowhere near enough for the tribe.
Gui Fang wanted to expand its territory, but farther west lay Tu Fang.
Tu Fang was powerful and occupied several pastures. Gui Fang was lucky enough that Tu Fang did not come to plunder them.
That was why Gui Fang had stirred restlessly during the North Sea rebellion.
But even that had only been a show put on by its chief, using the appearance of preparing for action to ease internal tensions. Wu Ding had long since beaten the courage out of Gui Fang. They dared not actually make a move.
After the Northwest Protectorate was established, they became even more timid.
Upon hearing this, Huang Feihu had visited Gui Fang himself.
Holy shit, people could actually be this miserable?
Their clothes were in tatters. Even the better-off people wore nothing more than untreated animal hides.
Their living standards seemed stuck several centuries in the past. They painted patterns on their faces with animal blood, their medical care was alarmingly poor, and who knew