The fall of the Green Vine Tribe

As the last rays of sunset were about to disappear from the horizon, Xueya led a group of over nine hundred people to the vicinity of the Green Vine Tribe. This was an open hilly area with gentle undulations and excellent views. A winding river flowed from east to west, with grasslands and some farmland on both banks.

The camp of the Green Vine Tribe was built on a gentle hill on the south side of the river. From a distance, you could see that the camp was surrounded by a reinforced wooden fence. What was even more eye-catching was a large fence on one side of the camp, which was densely packed with horses.

"At least a hundred." Duyan squinted his single Duyan, greedily eyeing the shadows of the horses. "All adult ponies, fine horses!"

Xueya remained silent, observing quietly. The scouts had thoroughly investigated the area. The Green Vine Tribe had a population of just over six hundred, with about one hundred and twenty able-bodied men and over one hundred and twenty adult ponies. This tribe primarily raised horses and maintained close ties with the Horse Tribe Horse Tribe, paying tribute to them annually in exchange for protection. Because of this, the Green Vine Tribe was fiercely loyal to the Horse Tribe in the north and would never easily submit.

"We must be careful in this battle," Yexiao Owl whispered. "They are highly Jingjue, they have horses, and they are only six or seven days' journey from the Horse Tribe —the cavalry can reach Horse Tribe in three days at full speed."

Xueya nodded; of course he knew.

A few days ago, when the Wolf Tribe only had a little over six hundred people, he wouldn't have easily clashed with such a tribe, but things are different now.

There were over 900 people, including over 300 veterans of the Wolf Tribe, over 600 young and strong men, and over 200 cavalry.

"No attack tonight," Xueya ordered. "Hide and rest in the woods over there. No fires, no noise. We'll move out before dawn tomorrow."

The order was given, and the troops silently disappeared into a Mulin to the southeast. As night fell, no fires were lit in the camp. The soldiers took out their rations and ate silently with cold water. No one spoke; only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional snorting of horses could be heard.

Xueya leaned against a large tree, closing his eyes to rest. He wasn't sleeping; instead, he was mentally rehearsing tomorrow's battle. The Green Vine Tribe's wooden fence was sturdier than those of the previous tribes, and a direct assault would result in losses. The best course of action was to first use cavalry to raid the stables, seize control of their horses, and prevent their escape, before launching a frontal assault...

Just then, Shichui approached.

"Leader," Shichui lowered his voice, "Let me lead the charge tomorrow! I promise I'll be the first to break in!"

Xueya opened his eyes and looked at him. In the firelight, Shichui's eyes gleamed with excitement—a bloodthirsty thrill, a long-suppressed desire.

"Alright." Xueya nodded. "Tomorrow you'll lead two hundred men, focusing on the frontal assault. Remember, don't linger. Once you're in, go straight for the able-bodied men and kill them. Don't let them organize themselves."

"Understood!" Shichui grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth.

"Duyan," Xueya turned to the other side, "You take a hundred men and, together with Shichui, flank them from the side. The key is the stables; take control of their horses first."

"Alright," the Duyan man replied with a sinister grin.

"Yexiao," Xueya said to the most cautious leader, "You take all the cavalry—we have over two hundred horses now—and spread out to the perimeter of the camp. If anyone tries to escape, kill them on sight."

Yexiao paused for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Chief, this time... are we still going to try to persuade them to surrender?"

Xueya did not answer immediately. In the past, when dealing with tribes with few able-bodied men, he would usually try to win them over without a fight. But the Green Vine Tribe was different. They had too deep a relationship with the Horse Tribe and it was impossible for them to truly submit.

and...

Xueya glanced at the newly recruited young men in the woods, more than six hundred in number. Most of them had never seen real blood. They needed a thorough and unreserved massacre to completely extinguish the last trace of kindness in their hearts.

"No surrender," Xueya said coldly. "At dawn, slaughter all their able-bodied men, the elderly, women, and children... Let the new recruits do it."

Yexiao felt a chill run down his spine, but said nothing more.

"Go and prepare." Xueya waved his hand.

Just as the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, Xueya opened his eyes.

"Stand up."

Two simple words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up a thousand ripples. The warriors rose one after another, put on their leather armor, checked their weapons, and the team of more than nine hundred people, under the cover of the morning mist, silently made their way towards the Green Vine Tribe camp.

Xueya rode at the head of the group, stopping his horse three hundred paces from the camp.

"Yexiao, lead the cavalry to spread out and make sure to block all exits."

"Yes." Yexiao waved his hand, and the cavalry quickly dispersed, forming a loose encirclement.

"Duyan, lead your men to flank and seize the stables."

"Understood." Duyan led a hundred men, silently circling around to the east side of the camp.

"Shichui," Xueya, looking at the man's excited face, "Take two hundred men and launch a frontal assault. Break through the fence and head straight for the able-bodied men's barracks."

"Yes!" Shichui gripped his Shifu tightly, his eyes flashing with ferocity.

Xueya took a deep breath and pulled out the Niujiao horn from his pocket.

"Waaah--"

The deep, mournful sound of a bugle broke the tranquility of the morning.

"Kill!"

Shichui led the first charge out, like a raging Bison, carrying a giant log on his shoulders and slamming it against the wooden fence. The fence shook violently, creaking under the weight.

"Open up!" Shichui led his men in another fierce charge, and the soldiers behind him shouted in unison, exerting their strength together.

"Boom!"

The wooden fence collapsed with a crash, and the Wolf Tribe warriors surged into the camp like a flood bursting its banks.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Finally, someone from the Green Vine Tribe reacted. Several young men on guard duty shouted desperately, but their voices were quickly drowned out by the shouts of battle. Duyan's side made rapid progress. He led his men into the stable, and several grooms who tried to resist were instantly cut down. More than a hundred ponies neighed in fright, but they were quickly brought under control by the skilled driving of the Wolf Tribe warriors.

Shichui led his men straight to the barracks of the able-bodied men. The able-bodied men had just woken up from their sleep, and many of them hadn't even put on their clothes or touched their weapons before they were hacked down in pools of blood. A few brave able-bodied men tried to organize a resistance, but they were too few in number and too poorly equipped. Faced with the tide of enemies, they were no match for them.

Xueya led the remaining troops to sweep through the area while calmly observing the battle. The Green Vine Tribe had about 120 able-bodied men. In Shichui's first wave of attacks, at least 40 of them were killed on the spot. The rest hastily fought back, but they were divided and surrounded by the Wolf Tribe and fought separately, making it impossible for them to form an effective resistance.

The battle lasted less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. After the last few young men who put up a stubborn resistance were felled by Shichui and axe, only terrified old people, women and children remained in the camp. They were driven out of the various thatched huts and wooden houses by the Wolf Tribe warriors and herded like livestock to the open space in the center of the camp. The old people trembled, the women cried, and the children screamed, huddling together in a ball.

Xueya rode his horse around and saw the corpses scattered on the ground, the controlled stables, and the mountains of supplies. He was very satisfied!

"Young women, pick them out," he said casually.

The Wolf Tribe warriors immediately rushed into the crowd and dragged out dozens of young women. They cried and struggled, but under the pressure of the blades, they were quickly subdued. What remained were more than four hundred elderly people, women, and children, who huddled together, their eyes filled with fear.

Xueya turned and ordered several of the Wolf Tribe's Xiaotou to lead their men to coerce the able-bodied men into raising their knives and attacking the old and weak!

During this process, Xueya silently observed everyone. He kept in mind those who showed "bravery," as these people could be trained to become Xiaotou in the future, while those cowards who were still crying could only be used as cannon fodder.

The massacre lasted for half an hour. When the last scream stopped, the camp of the Green Vine Tribe had become a living hell. More than four hundred corpses lay scattered in pools of blood, and the air was filled with a heavy stench of blood.

Most of the newly recruited young men were slumped on the ground, some still crying, some with blank stares, and some muttering to themselves. Xueya didn't disturb them; he knew that they needed time at this moment. Once they recovered, they would be completely transformed into warriors of the Wolf Tribe.

"Take inventory of the supplies," he said, Xiaotou to his foreman.

The spoils were quickly inventoried.

Xueya listened to the numbers being called out, a smile gradually appeared on his face.

Horses: More than 120 adult ponies and more than 30 foals.

Grain: More than 50,000 catties of rice, as well as a large amount of dried meat and dried fish.

Livestock: more than 1,000 sheep, more than 20 cattle, and more than 10 pigs.

Other items included leather armor, a number of stone and bone weapons, and a large quantity of animal hides, linen, and coarse pottery.

Xueya took a deep breath. This was a huge win, especially with those 120-plus adult ponies. Combined with the Wolf Tribe's existing cavalry, his cavalry force could now expand to over 300 men. If he could take down two or three more tribes like that...

He suppressed his excitement and ordered, "Pass down the order: eat as much as you want at noon, and eat as much as you want to eat in the evening! Enough meat!"

Cheers erupted in the camp. The new recruits, who had just been trembling during the slaughter, now showed a look of longing in their eyes when they heard that there was plenty of food.

Xueya then ordered, "Those young men who have performed well and made great contributions will each be rewarded with a young woman to play with!"

This was a long-established rule: the warriors of the Wolf Tribe, as long as they were brave enough, could enjoy the best spoils of war—including women.

A dozen or so young men were called out by name. They were initially stunned, but then their faces lit up with unbelievable joy. One young man from the Firewood Tribe even knelt down on the spot and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Chief! Thank you, Chief!"

Xueya patted him on the shoulder. "Keep up the good work, there will be even better things to come."

He turned and left to continue counting the supplies. The women who had been given as gifts were dragged into the straw shed, and soon suppressed sobs could be heard. Xueya did not turn back. He stood in front of the stable, looking at the more than one hundred ponies. These horses were better than he had expected, with smooth coats and strong limbs, clearly well-bred.

"If we raid a few more tribes like that," he muttered to himself, "the Wolf Tribe's cavalry will number five hundred."

Five hundred cavalrymen were already a force capable of changing the course of events on this land. At that time, even if the Horse Tribe attacked in full force, he would not be afraid! As the sun gradually set in the west, bonfires were lit in the camp, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air. The warriors of the Wolf Tribe gathered around the fire, eating and drinking heartily.