Upheaval and choices
Just as the Fire Tribe was enthusiastically welcoming and assimilating the influx of new tribesmen, news of the Wild Boar Gully's great victory over the Wolf Tribe spread like Jushi across a calm lake, creating ripples that quickly reached every corner. The Bison Tribe camp, located about two or three "sunsets" away from the Fire Tribe, finally received the definite news as well.
That evening, several hunters who had been sent to scout the Fire Tribe returned, travel-worn and with lingering shock and a hint of inexplicable fear on their faces. The news they brought back instantly caused a huge uproar among the high-ranking Bison Tribe.
"Did you see clearly? The Wolf Tribe... really suffered such a crushing defeat?" Chief Jijiao sat on a stone seat by the fire pit, his brows furrowed, his hand unconsciously stroking his signature heavy Shichui, the one topped with a bison Niujiao.
"Chief, it's absolutely true!" The lead scout's voice was hoarse, as if he still felt lingering fear as he recalled what he had seen and heard. "We dared not get too close, but we could see many corpses lying on the ground outside Wild Boar Gully, all dressed in the tattered furs of the Wolf Tribe. Later, we risked getting closer and saw the Fire Tribe people cleaning up the battlefield. Just from what we saw, there were at least eighty wolf cub corpses! They were driving away with the cattle that had been stolen from us, along with other livestock and grain, swaggering off!"
Another scout added, "We also managed to contact a herb-gathering villager living in the mountains near Wild Boar Gully. He said he saw it with his own eyes that day while hiding on the mountain ridge! The Fire Tribe people seemed to spring out of the ground; both sides of the hillside were covered in people. The most terrifying thing was... he said he saw the Fire Tribe's leader, Jianshi, personally engage in battle, fighting Xueya of the Wolf Tribe one-on-one. In just a few rounds, he beat Xueya so badly that he coughed up blood and collapsed, almost being killed on the spot! Later, the Wolf Tribe people desperately fought their way back, and the entire group was thrown into chaos, chased and killed by the Fire Tribe, running all over the mountains..."
"Xueya... was beaten to the point of vomiting blood?" Jijiao leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had fought Xueya before, and although it was that so-called "competition," Xueya's ferocious brute strength and cunning fighting skills had left a deep impression on him. He figured that if it were a fair one-on-one fight, he could probably only barely hold on to avoid defeat, let alone seriously injure his opponent!
But Jianshi... actually defeated Xueya head-on, and severely injured him?
"How many people did the Fire Tribe send out? What were their casualties?" Jijiao pressed.
"The exact number is unclear, but they definitely outnumber the Wolf Tribe, and their equipment is frighteningly good! Everyone is wearing that kind of rattan armor, and the Wolf Tribe's Shimao Shifu don't seem to do much against them. As for the Fire Tribe themselves... I heard that only a few people suffered minor injuries, and no one died!"
"What?!" Mangu, the tribe's foremost warrior who had been sitting silently to the side, couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "The Wolf Tribe lost dozens of people, while the Fire Tribe suffered almost no casualties? This... how is this possible?"
The elders and leaders exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with shock and disbelief. This casualty ratio was simply outrageous!
"It should... be pretty much true." An elder, responsible for external liaison and well-informed, spoke slowly, his voice bitter. "I just received news from people who fled from a small tribe over there. They were also eyewitnesses that day, and their accounts are largely the same. Moreover, in the past few days, several small tribes near our tribe have moved their families to the Fire Tribe. If the Fire Tribe hadn't demonstrated overwhelming power and provided a strong sense of security, these people wouldn't have fled so readily."
A deathly silence fell over the council chamber, broken only by the crackling of the Mucai burning in the hearth. A complex emotion filled the air: a sense of satisfaction at the devastating blow the Wolf Tribe had suffered, but more so, a profound shock, unease, and even a hint of indescribable... loss and defeat at the sight of their former neighbors suddenly becoming so powerful and unfamiliar.
Once upon a time, the Fire Tribe was a tribe of similar size to the Bison, White Pig, Deer, and Green Sheep tribes, perhaps even poorer due to their more remote location. The Bison Tribe, with its large and powerful oxen and brave warriors, was a force to be reckoned with in the region. But how much time has passed? Two years? Three years?
The Fire Tribe has not only experienced a population explosion (as confirmed by various sources), but also boasts an astonishing amount of food, has domesticated a large number of livestock, produced exquisite pottery, and possesses a massive fleet. Now, on the main battlefield, they have crushed the infamous Wolf Tribe's main force with an almost overwhelming force!
The speed of this rise and the strength it has demonstrated have completely exceeded the understanding of the Bison Tribe.
"Jianshi... I used to only think of him as brave and steady, a good hunter and leader." Jijiao sighed, his tone complex, "I never imagined he would have such courage and methods. To be able to unite so many newcomers from different tribes so quickly into such a strong army... I admire him, I truly admire him!"
He felt a profound sense of powerlessness, and a desolate feeling of being left behind by the times. "Looks like I'm really getting old..."
"Father!" Mangu clenched his fists, his face filled with resentment and urgency. "The Fire Tribe has grown stronger, but our Bison Tribe is no weaker! We have warriors, we have bulls! As long as..."
"As long as what?" Jijiao interrupted Ji Zi, his gaze sharpening as he looked at him. "As long as we expand like the Fire Tribe? As long as we train all our men to be soldiers ready to fight at any time? As long as we exchange everything we have for technology and build large ships?"
He shook his head, his voice low and somber. "We can't do it. The Fire Tribe is desperate to climb to the top, at any cost. We... are used to living by following the Water Grass and pasture, used to relying on cattle and hunting, used to our current way of life. Asking us to suddenly be like them is too difficult."
The elders nodded silently. They had envied the Fire Tribe's wealth, but when they learned about the Fire Tribe's strict discipline, heavy labor, and almost universal conscription, they hesitated. Accustomed to a free and easy life, accepting such a highly organized lifestyle would probably be more difficult for many tribesmen than starving.
"Then... then what do we do?" Tiejiao asked in a gruff voice. "Although the Wolf Tribe was crippled, Xueya is still alive, and Wolf Tribe stronghold is still in High Pointed Mountain. They suffered such a huge loss; what if they recover but don't dare to seek revenge on the Fire Tribe, and instead turn around and extort us? We don't have the Fire Tribe's wealth or their formidable strength!"
This is also the most pressing issue. The Fire Tribe's victory only temporarily relieved the Wolf Tribe's threat, not eradicated it. The Wolf Tribe is like a wounded, hungry wolf, retreating to its den to lick its wounds. No one knows when it will bare its Liaoya again, and its target may very well be the relatively "softer" tribes like the Bison and White Pig.
After pondering for a long time, Jijiao said slowly, "The Fire Tribe is currently at its zenith, far surpassing us in strength. We can't stop their smaller tribes from joining us, nor should we; otherwise, we'll offend the Fire Tribe and invite trouble."
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes. "But our Bison Tribe also has its own pride and traditions. Right now, we don't want to completely merge into the Fire Tribe, lose our autonomy, and adapt to their strict rules."
His gaze swept over the crowd. "For now, there's only one way—strengthen ties with the White Pig Tribe, as well as the Deer Tribe and the Green Sheep Tribe, and stick together for mutual support. No matter how fierce the Wolf Tribe is, they'll have to think twice before facing the combined power of our tribes. We don't pursue expansion and absolute power like the Fire Tribe, but at least we must be able to protect ourselves, protect our cattle, and protect our way of life."
"A coalition?" Benniu frowned. "The White Pig Tribe's Zongmao... Last time the Wolf Tribe came, he pushed us out to take the hits while he hid in the back. Afterwards, he even wanted those smaller tribes to share the losses. He's not very reliable."
"We have to rely on them, even if they can't!" Jijiao said firmly. "Now is not the time to worry about these things. Survival is the most important thing. Send people to the White Pig Tribe, as well as the Deer Tribe and the Green Sheep Tribe, to convey my message. Our tribes must sit down and have a serious talk, establish a defensive alliance, and agree that if one tribe is attacked, the others must send troops to help! We must share intelligence, hold regular hunting meetings to exchange information, and strengthen our ties. Only in this way can we protect our own territory in this increasingly turbulent world!"
The group exchanged glances, and finally nodded slowly. This seemed to be the only viable way out besides joining the Fire Tribe. Although the road ahead was still difficult, it was better than sitting and waiting for death, or being forced to give up everything to integrate into a completely different and powerful group.
"Furthermore," Jijiao added finally, his tone tinged with weariness and helplessness, "Maintain polite friendliness towards the Fire Tribe. They are powerful now, so don't provoke them. If they have any trade needs, it can proceed as long as the conditions are right. But remember, they are tigers, and we are Bison. Nod to each other from a distance, but don't get too close."
With the decision made, the ancient Bison Tribe, under the pressure of drastic external changes, began to painstakingly adjust its survival strategy. Meanwhile, in the more distant White Pig Tribe, Deer Tribe, and Green Sheep Tribe, similar news, debates, and choices were unfolding.