Charcoal in the Snow and Marriage Alliances
After reaching an agreement with the White Pig Tribe, they passed through the trading area and headed toward the Deer Tribe's relatively quiet camp at the edge of the valley. Compared with those of the Bison and White Pig Tribes, the Deer Tribe's camp looked much simpler, and most of its people wore worried expressions. As the Fire Tribe's impressive party approached, they cast looks mingled with curiosity and hope.
The Deer Tribe's chief was the father-in-law of Dazhuang (Jianshi's third younger brother), and his name was Lu Ming. He was about the same age as Zongmao, but had a gentler disposition, with a trace of worry lingering between his brows. Seeing Jianshi and Dazhuang approach, he hurried to his feet to welcome them, forcing a smile onto his face, though the exhaustion and anxiety behind it were plain to see.
"Chief Jianshi, Dazhuang, you're here." Lu Ming's voice was not as resonant as those of the previous two chiefs, and carried a slight rasp.
"Chief Lu Ming (Father-in-law)." Jianshi and Dazhuang greeted him respectfully. Dazhuang personally presented the gifts-not pottery this time, but a large bundle of thick, soft, carefully tanned deerskins (from the Fire Tribe's own stores), along with a small bag of coarse salt contained in small pottery jars.
At the sight of the coarse salt, Lu Ming's eyes suddenly lit up, and even his breathing quickened. Salt! This was more precious than food! With salt, they could preserve more meat, and the tribespeople would have a little more strength through the winter! With trembling hands, he accepted the salt jars, then felt the bundle of fine deerskins. Most of the worry on his face immediately melted away, replaced by genuine joy and gratitude.
"This... this is too precious! Chief Jianshi, Dazhuang, what are you..." Lu Ming's voice choked up a little.
Jianshi spoke gently. "Chief Lu Ming, we came this time hoping to do some trading with the Deer Tribe. We need some of your specially made wicker baskets and woven-grass wares. We've heard your skill at tanning soft hides is also second to none, and we'd like to trade for some of those as well."
He paused and glanced at Dazhuang. Taking the cue, Dazhuang picked up the conversation in an even more tactful tone. "Father-in-law, there's also... our Fire Tribe is preparing to take in more people this year. We heard the Deer Tribe has some women of marriageable age... might we arrange a few marriages? We would certainly offer generous betrothal gifts, and would never mistreat the young women who married into our tribe."
Ordinarily, the mention of marrying off daughters-especially marriages that might carry the implication of "exchanging them for food"-would surely have displeased Lu Ming. But now, looking at that bag of lifesaving salt and thinking of the tribe's nearly empty granary and its people's sallow faces, that displeasure was instantly suppressed by the urgency of reality. How was this looting a burning house? This was clearly delivering charcoal in the snow!
Almost without hesitation, Lu Ming spoke with a sense of relief, as though a burden had been lifted. "Good! Good! We'll trade! We'll trade it all! Wicker baskets, grass mats, soft hides-take whatever catches your eye! As for the women..." He sighed, then grew resolute again. "There are ten fine young women of the right age in our tribe. If the Fire Tribe doesn't disdain them and is willing to offer generous betrothal gifts, that would be their good fortune! On behalf of them and their families, thank you, Chief Jianshi!" He bowed deeply. Rather than let the young women go hungry in the tribe, perhaps even see their blossoms wither and their fragrance fade in the bitter winter, it was better to let them seek a way to survive and a better life in the visibly prosperous Fire Tribe. For both the tribe and the young women themselves, this was the best choice.
Jianshi hurried to support him. "Chief Lu Ming, you're being far too kind. We will certainly treat every tribesperson who joins the Fire Tribe well."
At this point, Jianshi once again requested guards. Lu Ming had been worrying about having no way to repay them, and immediately agreed. "No problem! I'll send five of our keenest hunters, the ones most familiar with the mountains and forests, with you! They'll make sure you reach the Fish Tribe safely!"
As they left the Deer Tribe's camp, they could clearly feel that the atmosphere throughout the entire tribe had become much lighter.
Finally, they arrived at the Green Sheep Tribe's camp. Its chief was the father-in-law of Dabang (the fourth hunting team's captain), and his name was Wenshi. True to his name, he was a gentle, kindly elder. At the sight of Jianshi and the others, a sincere smile appeared on his face, but worry likewise lay hidden in the depths of his eyes.
"Chief Jianshi, everyone, please, sit down." Wenshi welcomed them, his gaze sweeping over the group before he asked with a trace of disappointment, "Dabang... didn't come this time?"
Jianshi explained, "Chief Wenshi, someone needed to stay behind to guard the tribe. Dabang bears great responsibility, so he didn't come this time. He specifically asked us to give you his regards." As he spoke, he had his attendants present the gifts-much like those given to the Deer Tribe, they consisted of thick sheepskins and coarse salt.
At the sight of the salt, Wenshi reacted exactly as Lu Ming had, his excitement plain to see. "Wonderful! Wonderful! With this salt, we'll be able to store more food!" he said repeatedly.
The negotiations that followed were almost a repeat of those with the Deer Tribe. The Fire Tribe traded dried fish and salt for the Green Sheep Tribe's wool and some distinctive medicinal herbs. At the same time, they also proposed a marriage alliance.
Wenshi stroked the bag of salt, then looked at the Fire Tribe members' vigorous bearing, already understanding in his heart. He sighed, but his tone carried resolve. "Our Green Sheep Tribe also has ten fine young women. If the Fire Tribe doesn't disdain them and is willing to welcome them with generous betrothal gifts, let them go with you. I only hope... they can live well in the Fire Tribe, with enough food to eat and warm clothes to wear." This, too, was a helpless act of letting go, a choice made in desperate straits to find a path to survival for his tribespeople and children.
"Rest assured, the Fire Tribe will never mistreat them," Jianshi solemnly promised.
Wenshi also readily agreed to the request for guards, likewise sending five warriors familiar with the terrain.
With that, the Fire Tribe's negotiations with the four main neighboring tribes had all concluded smoothly. Using plentiful dried fish, precious salt, practical pottery, and hemp clothing, they had obtained large quantities of leather, future livestock, crucial techniques, and twenty-five reliable guards (Bison 10 + White Pig 5 + Deer 5 + Green Sheep 5). More importantly, through marriage alliances, they had secured in advance the addition of twenty women of marriageable age. This was not merely an increase in population, but a further deepening of blood ties and relations with the other two tribes.
Wang Yan had accompanied them throughout, his heart surging with emotion. He had witnessed his father's and uncles' masterful negotiating skills: they had demonstrated the Fire Tribe's strength and sincerity while fully considering the other tribes' dignity and hardships, truly achieving mutual benefit. He also came to understand more deeply that, in this era, alliances between tribes were often built on precisely such practical foundations of supplies, population, and mutual needs.