A Vicious Scheme

Back at the makeshift and rather rudimentary camp, Xueya's frustration was almost overflowing. He looked at his subordinates, some sitting and some lying down, their expressions no longer as excited as when they first arrived, and especially at the bewilderment and unease that began to appear in the eyes of the new faces, which made him even more furious.

A forced attack? The Duyan's probing had already proven that it would be a bloodbath. He could disregard the lives of the newcomers, but he couldn't ignore the consequences of a failed attack, heavy losses, and nothing gained. More importantly, the biggest variable, the Fish Tribe, remained like a crocodile hidden beneath the river's surface, elusive yet constantly sending chills down his spine.

"If we can force Jia Li and his men out... I don't believe Jia Li can be a match for our Wolf Tribe in the wild!" Xueya thought through gritted teeth.

Not long after, Xueya summoned Duyan and gave him a new order: take fifty men to the outside of the Pottery Salt Tribe's camp and use every means to insult, provoke, and mock them to provoke them, as long as they can trick them into opening the camp gate and luring them out! He himself, along with the remaining main force, ambushed inside the Wolf Tribe's camp, waiting for the Pottery Salt Tribe members to lose their patience and rush out, then swarm them and settle the battle in the open.

Duyan accepted the order and left. Soon, foul language and insults rang out outside the walls of the Pottery Salt Tribe's camp, going to extremes in their insults, cursing everything from Jia Li's ancestors to the cowardice and incompetence of every warrior in the Pottery Salt Tribe.

At first, the sudden insults shocked and enraged the soldiers on the camp wall, especially a few hot-blooded young soldiers who were so angry that their faces turned red and their blood boiled. They grabbed their weapons and were about to open the camp gate and rush out to fight to the death.

"Halt! No one is allowed to move!" Jia Li's roar rang out just in time. His face was ashen as he personally led his men to stop the impulsive young men and severely punished them on the spot. "This is a wolf cub's trick! They just want to lure us out! Whoever opens the camp gate is a sinner against the tribe!"

After forcibly suppressing the internal unrest, Jia Li quickly organized a counterattack. He selected several dozen loud and quick-witted tribesmen, climbed the camp wall, and began hurling insults at the Duyan tribesmen. The people of the Pottery Salt Tribe were merchants who had been engaged in trade for many years, and their tongues were not weak. At this moment, they poured their anger and accusations against the Wolf Tribe's atrocities into the verbal battle.

For a time, spittle flew everywhere inside and outside the camp walls, a cacophony of slang, curses, and taunts filling the air. Duyan and his group initially relied on their superior numbers to hurl insults, but as time went on, their mouths became dry and their throats parched. Meanwhile, the opposing side took turns unleashing a variety of insults, their morale rising with each exchange. On the other hand, the Wolf Tribe's voices gradually subsided, leaving only listless repetitions and increasingly frantic panting.

Seeing the situation was dire, Duyan sent someone back to Xueya for help. Xueya watched this absurd and infuriating scene from afar, knowing that his plan had failed again. As night fell, he could only reluctantly call the Wolf Tribe's men back to camp, his anxiety growing even stronger.

The next morning, Xueya, who had barely slept all night, woke up early. The first thing he did was summon the Tujiu responsible for guarding the area near the Fish River.

"Any movement from the Fish Tribe?"

The Tujiu shook his head. "Chief, my men have been watching the direction of the Fish River and the paths leading here day and night, but so far, they haven't seen any sign of the Fish Tribe's large ships, nor have they detected any indication of them gathering their troops."

"Hmph, that old fox Canglan." Although Xueya a slight sigh of relief, the feeling of being spied on by a third party still lingered. He walked out of the camp and looked towards the Pottery Salt Tribe.

In the morning light, the outline of the Pottery Salt Tribe's camp was clearly visible. There seemed to be more people patrolling the camp walls than yesterday, and the defense remained unwavering. Inside the camp, the rooftops of some wooden houses and thatched huts were faintly visible. Near the camp walls, there appeared to be a small vegetable garden, and further away, livestock enclosures could be seen. Outside the camp, right next to the camp walls, were large fields of newly planted, tender green rice paddies, about 300 mu in size. Beside them were stacks of dried, yellowed straw piled among the harvested rice stubble. Scattered wooden houses remained on the outer perimeter.

Xueya looked at the scene, a Xueya idea, which seemed to break the deadlock, suddenly entered his mind.

His lips slowly parted, revealing a cruel and gleeful smile.

"Old man Jia Li, old man Jia Li... since you like to be a coward, preferring to guard your jars and pots... then I'll help you 'clean up' the outside!"

He immediately summoned Shichui, Duyan, Tujiu, and several other core leaders to his side (Yexiao was guarding Wolf Fang Valley with fifty men).

"Listen!" Xueya's eyes flashed with ferocity. "If they don't come out, we'll force them out! We'll drive them mad!"

He pointed to the wooden huts and haystacks outside the Pottery Salt Tribe's camp wall. "Shichui! You take thirty men, and bring fire starters! First, set fire to all the burnt-out houses outside! After they're burned, find some long wooden sticks or bamboo poles, tie the dry straw to them, light them, and throw them into their camp! Target the areas with the most wooden huts and haystacks! Also, send another thirty men, carrying large wooden shields, to cover the brothers throwing torches, so they don't get attacked by the Pottery Salt Tribe!"

He pointed to the tender green rice paddy, his tone icy. "Duyan! You pick forty men and go uproot all the rice seedlings that the Pottery Salt Tribe just planted! Leave not a single one! We're already mortal enemies, one more won't make a difference!"

Finally, he said to Tujiu, "Tujiu, your cavalry squad continues to keep watch in the direction of the Fish River, keep your eyes peeled! Leave twenty men in the camp to watch over things. Everyone else who can move, follow me, behind the fire brigade! As soon as the Pottery Salt Tribe is cornered and dares to open the gates, we'll charge in immediately and wipe them out in the open!"

After hearing this, the leaders were initially stunned, but then their expressions turned to realization and excitement. Burning down houses and camps, trampling rice seedlings... this was the most devastating and unbearable blow to an agricultural and settled tribe! It wasn't just about destroying property; it was about cutting off their livelihood and hope! No tribe that relied on agriculture could stand idly by and watch their fields be destroyed and their homes burned!

"The leader is brilliant!"

"Let's see if that old man Jia Li can still hold back now!"

"Burn them! Pull them out! Force them to come out and die!"

The leaders readily accepted the order and eagerly began preparations.