The Chain Reaction Among the Other Tribes
The warning from Jia Li, the chief of the Pottery Salt Tribe, about the resurgence and bloody expansion of the Wolf Tribe was like a stone thrown into a calm pond, its ripples quickly spreading to several interconnected tribes in the surrounding area. Faced with a common potential threat, an unspoken yet self-serving race for expansion quietly began in the chill of approaching winter.
The Hundred Crafts Tribe is renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship and relatively tight organization. Within the small circle surrounding the Fish Tribe, it is recognized as the strongest tribe besides the Fish Tribe, with a population of about eight hundred. The Wu Xiong, Wu Xiong, is sturdy with calloused hands. After receiving Jia Li's message, he did not immediately respond but instead dispatched his most capable scouts to verify the information in the area where the Wolf Tribe was active.
A few days later, the scouts brought back concrete and disturbing news: the Wolf Tribe had indeed absorbed several tribes in an extremely violent manner, its numbers had surged, and its methods were more ruthless than ever before.
Inside the council chamber, the fire blazed brightly. Wu Xiong summoned the core members, including "Kaishan," the warrior leader who had previously led troops to support the Pottery Salt Tribe.
"The wolf cubs aren't quite dead; in fact, they've become even more insane," Wu Xiong said in a low voice, briefly explaining the scout's report.
Kaishan stood with his arms crossed, his face twitching, and said in a deep voice, "Chief, what are we afraid of! Last time in Pottery and Salt, didn't we cut them down so badly they ran away? If we come again, we'll cut them down just the same way!" He was quite confident in the fighting strength of his tribe's warriors.
Another elder in charge of weapons manufacturing was more cautious. "Kaishan is indeed brave and fierce, but times have changed. The Wolf Tribe's numbers are probably far greater than before, and their methods are even more ruthless. We cannot let our guard down. I've noticed that the Pottery Salt Tribe and the Fish Tribe have been quietly recruiting more people to strengthen their forces. Our Hundred Crafts Tribe cannot lag behind."
"Yes, we still need to be strong ourselves," another elder who managed the warehouse chimed in. "We have skills and grain reserves; attracting some small tribes to join us and strengthening ourselves is always better than being caught off guard when things come to a head."
Listening to the discussions, Wu Xiong had already made up his mind. The Hundred Crafts Tribe's advantage lay in its technology and organization, while its population was a weakness. Faced with an opponent like the Wolf Tribe, which expanded through violence, and the obvious expansionist tendencies of the surrounding tribes, being conservative meant being passive, and might even lead to marginalization in the future.
"Kaishan is right, we're not afraid of fighting," Wu Xiong finally decided. "But we can't just sit here and wait to be beaten. Pass down the order: lower the bar for entry! Anyone who is strong, willing to follow the rules, eager to learn a trade, or capable of fighting is welcome in our Hundred Crafts Tribe! We'll arrange food and lodging! We need to get our tribe's manpower up before the snow!"
The orders were swiftly executed. The Hundred Crafts Tribe's good order, relatively affluent lifestyle, and the allure of "learning a craft" held considerable appeal for many small settlements and scattered individuals struggling under the threat of winter and war. Before the first heavy snowfall of winter closed the mountains, the Hundred Crafts Tribe's population successfully exceeded 1,200, and the Warrior Team were significantly expanded. Wu Xiong looked at the increasingly busy, crowded, yet more vibrant camp and felt somewhat relieved, but he also understood that managing so many newcomers would be a major challenge after spring arrived.
The leader of the Beast Taming Tribe Muye, Mu Ye, was a middle-aged man with a wiry build and sharp, eagle-like eyes. Upon receiving Jia Li's message, he also attached great importance to it. The Beast Taming Tribe had a population of about 550, and their fighting strength was not weak. They were especially skilled at using their tamed dogs and some wild beasts to assist in combat and guard duty, but their population base was always small.
"The Wolf Tribe holds grudges," Muye said to the assembled tribal elders and Beast Taming trainers. "Last time in Pottery and Salt, our Liequan team suffered a loss against them. If their strength truly increases significantly, they might very well seek revenge. Moreover, both the Pottery Salt Tribe and Hundred Crafts Tribe are increasing their manpower, not to mention the Fish Tribe. If we stagnate, we might even struggle to protect ourselves in the future."
An elder in charge of animal training worriedly said, "Chief, our tribe relies on our Beast Taming training skills and teamwork. Blindly recruiting too many outsiders could lead to spies or unruly individuals infiltrating, which would only cause trouble."
Muye nodded. "That's right. So we need to be selective when recruiting people. We should prioritize those who already know something about taming fur, or those who are strong, have Chenwen temperament, and are willing to learn how to live with wild animals. We don't need to be greedy for numbers, but they must be reliable."
Under Muye's cautious strategy, the Beast Taming Tribe selectively absorbed a number of suitable smaller tribes. They valued quality over sheer quantity. Nevertheless, before the heavy snowfall, the tribe's population steadily grew to about eight hundred people, and the number of domesticated dogs and animals that could be used to assist in defense also increased, thus improving the tribe's overall defense and early warning capabilities.
The Marsh Tribe lives near water and is skilled in fishing, hunting, and utilizing aquatic resources. Their population is about six hundred. Their leader, Cangbo, is relatively mild-mannered, but not indecisive. After receiving a warning about the Wolf Tribe, he convened his tribesmen for discussion.
"The Wolf Tribe is becoming increasingly unscrupulous. Although we have no direct conflict with them, in chaotic times, who can remain unscathed?" Cangbo said worriedly. "Moreover, the Pottery and Salt, Hundred Crafts, and Fish Tribe are all expanding. If we stand still, our voices in this area will likely carry less and less weight in the future."
The younger generation of warriors in the tribe were more inclined to strengthen their military. "Chief, we need to recruit more people! Build more boats and train more warriors! We can't always rely on others for protection!"
Ultimately, the Marsh Tribe also decided to join this wave of population absorption. They used their own fishing resources and relatively stable living environment to attract many scattered people who were also skilled in water work or seeking stability. By the time the winter froze, the population of the Marsh Tribe had increased to about nine hundred people, and the new labor force was put into expanding fishing and hunting, building Muzhou, and strengthening the defenses along the river.
Unlike the tense atmosphere in other tribes, the Green Grain Tribe reacted relatively calmly. This tribe is known for its agriculture, especially its expertise in grain cultivation and storage. With a population of about 750, they live a relatively prosperous and peaceful life. Their leader Ji Bo, is a kind-faced old man who is devoted to farming.
Upon receiving the news, Ji Bo simply convened a few elders in charge of agriculture and warehouses for a brief discussion.
"The Wolf Tribe? They were afraid of the Fish Tribe before, and now they probably wouldn't dare to cause trouble near the Fish Tribe." An elder stroked his beard, seemingly unconcerned. "Our Green Grain Tribe is peaceful and content with our lot. We just focus on cultivating our land and storing our grain. Fighting and killing are neither our desire nor our forte."
Another elder was slightly more pragmatic. "However, I've heard that other tribes are increasing their manpower to cultivate the land. Our Green Grain Tribe is based on agriculture, so having more people to cultivate the land is always a good thing. You can never have too much food."
Ji Bo finally made the decision. "Our Green Grain Tribe does not engage in fierce competition or violence, but only seeks to fill our granaries. We only need to recruit some honest and hardworking farmers who know how to cultivate crops; we don't need too many. As for the population, increasing it to around 850 is sufficient. The key is to expand the rice paddies next spring and cultivate them intensively."
Thus, the Green Grain Tribe symbolically absorbed about a hundred refugees skilled in or willing to learn farming, increasing their population to around eight hundred and fifty. Their expansion was purely and clearly aimed at food, not force.
The Wolf Tribe's bloody expansion, like Jushi thrown into water, not only stirred up a wave of refugees but also inadvertently stirred up the undercurrents of regional politics, forcing surrounding tribes of all sizes to examine their own strength and take action.