Trading Insults Before the Battle

Not long after Xueya of the Wolf Tribe, leading over five hundred cavalry, two hundred infantry, and one thousand support personnel, left the Marsh Tribe and headed towards the Fish Tribe, he became Xueya with the slow-moving army.

He rode up to Shichui and said:

"We're moving too slowly together. The scouts from the Pottery Salt Tribe have spotted us and spread the word. Other tribes have received the news and retreated. The Fish Tribe must have gotten wind of it too. I'm going to take 400 cavalry to the Fish Tribe and catch them off guard. You take the remaining 150 cavalry and 200 infantry to escort 1,000 support personnel here. We absolutely have to take down the Fish Tribe this time, or we'll have lost out!"

Shichui Hammer said, "Don't worry, Chief, I will bring men here as soon as possible!"

After giving a few more instructions, Xueya led 400 cavalrymen towards the Fish Tribe in a whirlwind! The sound of hooves thundered across the wilderness as the four hundred dwarf horses galloped with all their might, raising clouds of dust, like a yellow dragon rolling across the plains.

Xueya rode at the very front, crouching low and whipping his horse's rump with all his might. He had only one thought in his mind—faster! Faster!

The scouts of the Pottery Salt Tribe spotted them, and the news must have spread. The Marsh Tribe fled, and the Beast Taming Tribe, Hundred Crafts Tribe, and Fish Tribe must have also received the news. If they manage to gather all the grain into the camp and organize their people, then this trip to the Wolf Tribe will have been for nothing!

No! Absolutely not!

"Hurry!" he shouted, turning around. "Everyone hurry! We must get to the Fish Tribe as soon as possible!"

The cavalrymen shouted in unison, urging their horses on with all their might. The infantry and logistics troops behind them had long been left far behind, but Xueya didn't care. As long as the Fish Tribe was captured, anything was worth it.

The next morning, Xueya led four hundred cavalrymen and finally approached the territory of the Fish Tribe. He reined in his horse, panting heavily. The horse was also exhausted, covered in sweat, and foaming at the mouth.

"Chief!" A scout galloped up, dismounted, and shouted, "News from the front!"

Xueya's eyes lit up. "Speak!"

The scout was a lean young man with dark skin and exceptionally sharp eyes. He knelt on one knee and quickly reported.

"Chief, the Fish Tribe is harvesting rice! From a distance, we can see they've already harvested about 20% of it. There are people everywhere outside the camp—some cutting rice, some bundling it, and some carrying it into the camp."

He paused, then continued, "A few of us brothers tried to approach and harass them, but the Fish Tribe dispatched over a hundred cavalry to drive us away. We are outnumbered and dare not fight head-on, so we can only fight and retreat. Please, Chief, send reinforcements!"

Xueya's eyes flashed with a cold light after hearing this.

"Alright!" He waved his hand sharply. "They're still harvesting, which means they're not ready yet! Brothers, charge with me!"

Four hundred cavalrymen shouted in unison and spurred their horses to gallop again. At noon, the Fish Tribe's camp finally came into Xueya's view. In the distance, Xueya could see the golden rice fields, which were at least three thousand acres in size, more than twice the size of last year. The paddy fields stretched as far as the eye could see, and there were dark figures everywhere in the rice fields, busy harvesting.

Further away was the Fish Tribe's camp, a huge village surrounded by high wooden fences and moats. Inside the camp, one could see the roofs of many wooden houses, with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys. Xueya's gaze fell on an open space between the rice paddies and the camp.

There, a chase was taking place, with about a hundred Fish Tribe cavalrymen frantically pursuing several Wolf Tribe scouts. The scouts were riding their horses and running as fast as they could, with the pursuers close behind.

"You're asking for death!" Xueya roared, drawing his bone knife and shouting, "Brothers, charge with me!"

Four hundred cavalrymen swept towards the open space like a flood bursting its banks. The sound of their hooves was like thunder, shaking the earth. The Fish Tribe's cavalrymen quickly noticed the commotion. The leader—whom Xueya recognized as Shentan Pool, the Fish Tribe's leader—changed his expression and immediately shouted loudly.

"Retreat! Retreat now!"

As he shouted, he ordered a few men around him to run towards the camp, clearly to report the news. At the same time, he led the remaining men to slow down and begin a slow retreat. However, they retreated in an orderly fashion, maintaining their formation as they went, ready to turn back and fight at any time.

Xueya led his cavalry in hot pursuit, and the distance between the two sides was getting closer and closer. Three hundred paces, two hundred paces, one hundred paces, and they were about to catch up when a large group of people suddenly emerged from the Fish Tribe's camp. There were at least five hundred people, all of them infantrymen, holding spears, Shifu and wooden shields, and they were arranged in neat rows. The one leading them was none other than the Fish Tribe's first warrior - Julang.

Julang stood at the front of the column, holding a huge Shifu in one hand and a massive wooden shield in the other, glaring angrily at Xueya's side. Shentan led the cavalry and quickly retreated into the infantry formation. The two groups of men and horses merged together, forming a solid defensive line.

Xueya abruptly reined in his horse, and the cavalry behind him also stopped. The two sides faced each other at a distance of about fifty paces. Xueya's gaze swept over the opposing formation: more than five hundred infantrymen plus more than one hundred cavalrymen, outnumbering them. Moreover, this was the Fish Tribe's home ground, and those people were in high spirits and well-equipped.

On his side, his four hundred cavalrymen had been on a long march and were exhausted; charging forward now would not yield any advantage.

"Retreat!" Xueya gritted his teeth and gave the order.

The Wolf Tribe's cavalry slowly retreated, stopping a mile away from the Fish Tribe's camp. There was a high ground there, with a wide view and easy to defend. Xueya had his men rest on the high ground, feeding the horses, giving them food and water, while he himself led several dozen cavalrymen to approach the Fish Tribe's camp again and stopped at a safe distance.

"Julang!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, "You bastard! Your grandpa Xueya has brought men, don't be a coward! Come out and fight me!"

His voice echoed across the wilderness, and the Wolf Tribe's cavalrymen joined in the jeering, bursting into laughter.

"Come out!"

Are you scared now?

"Coward!"

Julang stood at the camp gate, his face ashen with rage. He gripped his Shifu tightly, wishing he could rush out and cleave Xueya in two.

"Leader!" He turned to Canglan, "Let me take my men out! I refuse to believe we can't defeat them!"

Canglan shook his head.

"Don't be impulsive." His voice was calm, but carried an undeniable authority. "They outnumber us, but they're all cavalry. Out there, they can fight whenever they want, and leave whenever they want. We can't catch them."

Shentan also came over and advised, "Julang, bear with it. Xueya is trying to provoke you. If you go out, you'll fall right into his trap."

Julang gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently. Outside the camp, Xueya was still leading his men in hurling insults.

"Julang! You coward! Weren't you chasing after us quite enthusiastically at Yellow Leaf Camp last year? Why are you too scared to come out now?"

"Canglan! You old codger! What kind of skill is it to hide in the camp? If you've got the guts, come out and let's fight one-on-one!"

"Women of the Fish Tribe! Are all your men dead? Let the women come out too!"

The Wolf Tribe's cavalrymen joined in the laughter, laughing so hard they almost fell over. Their foul language grew more and more offensive with each sentence. The Fish Tribe's warriors were furious, but there was nothing they could do. Canglan stood on the watchtower, looking at those arrogant figures in the distance, his face grim.

Xueya was deliberately provoking them, wanting them to go out for a decisive battle. But a decisive battle would be disadvantageous for them. The Wolf Tribe's cavalry were as swift as the wind; if they went out, they wouldn't be able to catch up or attack them, and would only be able to passively take hits. Staying in the camp was the best option.

But...

He glanced at the warriors around him. Their faces showed anger, frustration, and a hint of unease. The morale of the Fish Tribe was declining little by little. This couldn't go on. Canglan took a deep breath, straightened up, and shouted loudly at Xueya outside the camp.

"Xueya! What are you planning to do with so many people you've brought to our Fish Tribe this time?"

His voice was loud and carried far. Xueya paused for a moment, then sneered.

"What do you want to do? What do you think I want to do?"

Canglan continued shouting, "Last year, you wreaked havoc throughout this area, and we wiped out most of you at the Yellow Leaf Camp! Now you dare to plot against our Fish Tribe? Do you have a death wish?"

Upon hearing this, Xueya's expression instantly changed. The battle at Yellow Leaf Camp last year was a pain that would never fade from his heart. More than 400 main forces were almost completely wiped out. The Tujiu leader and many other Xiaotou also died. He himself would have died there if he hadn't run away quickly. Now that Canglan was bringing up this matter in public, it was as if he was reopening his wounds.

"Bullshit!" Xueya roared, his voice trembling. "Last year we were careless and fell for your trick! This time we're here for revenge!"

He pointed at the camp and shouted menacingly, "Canglan, listen up! If you know what's good for you, hand over those two bastards, Julang and Shentan, right now! Let me deal with them! Otherwise..."

He paused, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes.

"Once our Wolf Tribe breaks into your camp, we'll slaughter all the men! And the women... hehe... let our Wolf Tribe brothers have their fill! We'll burn your camp to the ground, loot all your food! We'll make your Fish Tribe vanish from this world!"

These words were extremely malicious, and the Wolf Tribe's cavalry burst into laughter again. The Fish Tribe's warriors were enraged, and some couldn't help but curse. Canglan, just smiled coldly.

"Xueya, don't be so arrogant!" he shouted. "The reinforcements from the Pottery Salt Tribe are on their way! The Fire Tribe's reinforcements will be here soon too! Do you still dare to stay here? By then, you won't even have a chance to escape!"

Xueya's expression changed slightly. Reinforcements?

If those people really do come to help...

But he quickly calmed down.

"Bullshit!" he shouted. "The people of the Pottery Salt Tribe are too busy taking care of themselves to come and save you! The Fire Tribe is too far away; by the time they arrive, you'll be finished!"

Canglan ignored him.

He stepped down from the watchtower and said to the Julang, "Have the soldiers take turns climbing the wall and shouting back at us. We can't let them overwhelm us with their momentum."

Julang nodded and immediately went to make arrangements. Soon, a series of curses rang out from the walls of the Fish Tribe.

Xueya! Who do you think you are!

"You were chased like a dog by us last year, and you still have the nerve to show your face here!"

Go back to your High Pointed Mountain!

The two sides exchanged insults from noon until dusk. As the sun gradually set and the sky turned a dark red, Xueya stood on the high ground, looking at the Fish Tribe camp in the distance with a gloomy face. He had been leading his men in a shouting match all afternoon, and his voice was hoarse, but the Fish Tribe people just wouldn't come out; they just took turns hurling insults at each other.

The insults, though not as vicious as those from the Wolf Tribe, were overwhelming in number, coming in waves without ceasing. More importantly, they mentioned last year's battle, how he was chased like a dog... These words pierced Xueya's heart like knives.

"Chief," a leader rode up and said in a low voice, "The brothers are tired. Should we retreat for a while and find a place to rest?"

Xueya was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"We can't retreat," he said. "If we retreat, their morale will rise, and besides, Shichui and the others are still behind us; we have to wait for them to arrive."

He paused, then said, "Let the brothers take turns resting. Half of them rest, and the other half continue cursing. We can't let them have it easy."

The leader accepted the order and left. Xueya, mounted on his horse, looked at the Fish Tribe camp in the distance, his eyes flashing with complex emotions: anger, hatred, and a hint of unease.

Will the Pottery Salt Tribe really come to our aid? Will the Fire Tribe also send people?

He didn't know that since he had brought his men here, he had to fight the battle with the Fish Tribe. Only if they won would the Wolf Tribe have more food, more supplies, and more women.

If we don't fight, this trip will have been for nothing. He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the Jiangsheng.

"Just you wait," he whispered. "When my men arrive, you'll be sorry."

In the distance, at the Fish Tribe's camp, Canglan stood on the watchtower, watching this side. He saw that the Wolf Tribe's forces had split into two groups, one continuing to shout and curse, and the other retreating to the back to rest.

"They're waiting for someone," Shentan said in a low voice as he walked over. "There's definitely someone else behind them."

Canglan nodded.

"I know."

He looked into the distance at the path leading to the Pottery Salt Tribe.

"The Langhua have sent Xiaozhou to the Pottery Salt Tribe to deliver the message. Once the news reaches the Pottery Salt Tribe, they will send people downstream, and they can reach the Fish Tribe's dock in half a day. If the Pottery Salt Tribe is willing to come to their aid, they will arrive very soon."

Shentan hesitated for a moment. "Will the Pottery Salt Tribe come? They also need to defend themselves..."

Canglan sighed.

"I don't know, but we can only wait."

He paused, then added, "The message has been sent to the Fire Tribe, but they're slow to arrive; it'll take at least two or three days."

Shentan was silent for a moment, then asked, "If the Pottery Salt Tribe doesn't come, and the Fire Tribe is too late... can we hold out?"

Canglan didn't answer. He looked at the Wolf Tribe cavalry in the distance, at their arrogant figures, and a complex emotion welled up inside him. Could they hold out?

He didn't know. All he knew was that all he could do now was hold out, wait, wait for reinforcements, wait for a turning point, or wait for fate to decide. The sun finally sank below the horizon, night fell, and the two sides were still locked in a standoff.