Alliance Dispute
After the Fire Tribe's high-level meeting set the strategy, the pace of the entire valley did not slow down after the autumn harvest ended. Instead, it entered a more orderly and goal-oriented busy state.
Most notably, a massive reclamation operation was underway in the flatter, more open area downstream of the stream. Hundreds of able-bodied men, under the command of the Farming Group, wielded newly made wooden plows and stone hoes, cutting down shrubs, clearing rocks, and digging irrigation ditches. Their goal was to create another thousand acres of paddy fields before winter arrived and the land froze!
"Keep up the good work! Once this land is cleared, we can plant 3,000 mu of rice next spring!" The voices of the Farming Group were particularly loud in the slightly chilly air. 3,000 mu! Just thinking about that number filled everyone with enthusiasm. The newly reclaimed land was carefully harrowed, leveled, and ridged, connected to the stream water drawn from the upstream waterwheel, just waiting for the warmth of spring next year to sow the seeds of hope.
Meanwhile, on the slopes near the settlement, the area of vegetable gardens was steadily expanding. Qingye led the women in the Gathering Team to plan how to plant more varieties of vegetables and fruits next year to enrich the tribe's dining table.
Wang Yan devoted a significant portion of his energy to the pottery workshop. With the autumn market approaching, this was not only an important occasion to maintain relations with the Fish Tribe and exchange for food and intelligence, but also a window to showcase the strength and skills of the Fire Tribe to the surrounding tribes.
He inspected the new batch of pottery coming out of the kiln. In addition to the usual pots, jars, basins, and bowls, this time he specially fired a batch of pottery that was larger in size, thinner, and more uniform in shape, intending to use it as a key item in the trade with the Fish Tribe and as gifts. At the same time, he also prepared a batch of sturdy, durable, and affordable ordinary pottery for circulation in the small markets of nearby tribes, further consolidating the Fire Tribe's position as the regional pottery supplier.
"Captain Yan, what do you think of these narrow-necked bottles? They'd be perfect for storing wine or oil." An old craftsman, his face smeared with clay, held up a beautifully shaped ceramic bottle, his eyes brimming with pride.
Wang Yan examined it carefully and nodded approvingly. "Very good! Uniform, no cracks. The Fish Tribe will definitely like such a high-quality product. Speed up production to ensure both quantity and quality."
On the training grounds, the Hunting Reserve Team's training has entered its second phase, incorporating simple formation coordination and combat drills. The newly joined tribespeople are recovering their strength quickly, and with ample nutrition and rigorous training, their spirit and energy are completely different from when they first arrived. The training for the Youth Team has also increased in intensity and skill, with Shibang and Yingmu placing extremely high demands on these future warriors.
The rest of the tribe, regardless of age or gender, were making final preparations for winter. Women were busy sewing thicker hemp clothing and tanned leather coats, while the elderly were leading children to collect the last of dry firewood and grass stalks for weaving. The tribespeople in charge of storage were carefully checking the granaries for sealing and rodent protection to ensure the safety of hundreds of thousands of kilograms of grain.
Just as the Fire Tribe was working diligently and focusing on development, several sunsets away, another small-scale game concerning the regional landscape was also entering a critical stage.
Having endured the double blow of extortion by the Wolf Tribe and the rise of the Fire Tribe, the Bison Tribe and the White Pig Tribe felt acutely aware that they could not cope with future risks alone, and their desire to form an alliance for self-preservation was stronger than ever. After several rounds of diplomatic exchanges, the two sides basically finalized the framework of the alliance:
1. Armed Alliance: If either side is attacked or extorted by the Wolf Tribe or other "evil tribes," the other side must provide all possible military assistance. Joint hunts and drills are held annually to practice coordination.
2. Economic mutual assistance: If one party encounters food shortages or economic difficulties, the other party should provide assistance within its capacity to strengthen economic ties.
3. Trade Priority: Trade between the two tribes enjoys priority and preferential conditions.
4. Strengthening through marriage: Encourage intermarriage between the two tribes to solidify the alliance through blood ties.
The terms seem appealing, but a crucial and sensitive issue has stalled both sides: who is the elder brother? Who is the younger brother?
In this era, the "elder brother" in an alliance signified dominance, influence, and command in joint operations. Jijiao, the leader of the Bison Tribe, believed that his tribe's warriors were more courageous, his buffaloes were an important strategic resource, and they had demonstrated bravery in the fight against the Wolf Tribe (although they lost), thus deserving the title of "elder brother."
The White Pig Tribe leader Zongmao, disagreed. He felt the Bison Tribe was brave but reckless, as evidenced by how easily they had been extorted by the Wolf Tribe. He believed his tribe, with a population comparable to the Bison, was better at management and scheming (in his opinion), and should have more initiative in the alliance, or at least be on equal footing, not the "younger brother."
The two sides' envoys argued back and forth for several days, neither willing to give in. Seeing that the alliance was about to be shelved, Jijiao and Zongmao became anxious. Without an alliance, they both felt uncertain about their future, facing the behemoth of the Fire Tribe and the potential threat of the Wolf Tribe.
Ultimately, the two reached a simple and direct solution: face-to-face meeting! Let's let our results speak for themselves!
Two days later, on an open plain between the Bison Tribe and the White Pig Tribe, each side led fifty elite warriors and arrayed themselves in battle formation.
Jijiao rode the tribe's strongest bull (though not as strong as the ones the Fire Tribe had taken), wielding Shichui inlaid with Niujiao, his gaze haughty. Behind him, warriors like Mangu held weapons, their killing intent palpable.
On the opposite side, Zongmao had no mount, but he wore a relatively complete wild boar hide armor and held a spear. Beside him were skilled warriors from the White Pig Tribe, such as Tunyong and Liaoya, whose numbers were evenly matched and whose momentum was not weak.
A cold wind swept across the open space, swirling up withered grass. Soldiers on both sides glared at each other, the air thick with tension and the smell of gunpowder in their standoff.
"Zongmao! An alliance is a good thing, but there has to be a leader! My Bison Tribe will be the 'elder brother,' and your White Pig Tribe will follow. We will never treat you unfairly!" The Jijiao's voice boomed like a bell.
"Jijiao Chieftain, you can't say that!" Zongmao retorted, "An alliance is about unity, how can you force a distinction between brothers? If we really have to talk about it, my White Pig Tribe is more thorough and better at planning, so this leadership position should be decided through discussion!"
"Hmph! Without sufficient military strength, all your plans are just empty talk!" Mangu, standing beside Jijiao, couldn't help but shout.
"You're just acting like idiots! You didn't manage to stop the Wolf Tribe last time!" Tunyong immediately retorted.
The soldiers on both sides raised their weapons slightly, creating an even more tense atmosphere, as if they were about to start a fight at the slightest provocation.
Jijiao and Zongmao exchanged a glance, both seeing the resolve and a hint of barely perceptible concern in each other's eyes. They didn't want to actually fight and waste their precious strength, but the title of "brother" was related to the future status and interests of the tribe, and they couldn't easily give it up.