Subduing Five Tribes

The afternoon sun slanted into the valley, bathing everything in a golden glow. The light poured down from the western ridge like a giant golden ribbon, spreading across the trees, the fields, and the rooftops of the Sweet Fruit Tribe. The Sweet Fruit Tribe's camp was built on a gentle slope, surrounded by sweet fruit trees. The fruit on the trees was ripe, bright red, like little lanterns hanging from the branches, swaying gently in the breeze. Occasionally, one would fall, landing with a soft thud on the ground, releasing its sweet juice.

The Sweet Fruit Tribe's campsite wasn't large, but it was very clean. The wooden houses and thatched huts were arranged neatly, and the thatched roofs were newly replaced, golden yellow, gleaming in the sunlight. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys and drifted away in the twilight, like a thin veil. The air was filled with the aroma of dinner, the smell of rice porridge mixed with a hint of bitterness from wild vegetables.

Several women were washing things by the stream, chatting as they washed, their laughter ringing out like silver bells. Several children were chasing and playing in the open space, using tree branches as swords, slashing and stabbing at each other, shouting "Kill!" "Charge!" Their laughter and shouts mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere like a festival.

Several elderly people sat under a tree chatting. They talked about this year's harvest, what to plant next spring, whose child had grown up, and whose daughter had gotten married. Everything was peaceful, just like always, just like the past few decades.

Then, the Wolf Tribe arrived. First came the dull thud of hooves from afar, rolling across the land like muffled thunder, growing closer and louder. The ground began to tremble, the leaves rustled, and even the river rippled, spreading outwards in concentric circles. The people of the Sweet Fruit Tribe stopped what they were doing, looked up, and gazed in the direction of the sound. In the distance, dust billowed, like a giant yellow dragon, baring its fangs and claws as it pounced towards them. Through the dust, one could vaguely see dark figures riding horses and wielding weapons, like a horde of demons emerging from the earth.

Someone screamed, the sound sharp and shrill, shattering the tranquility of the afternoon. Someone dropped what they were carrying and ran back to the camp, not even bothering to pick up what they had dropped. Someone blew the bull horn, but it was too late.

Xueshou and Yexiao each led four hundred cavalrymen, flanking the Sweet Fruit Tribe Tribe's camp from two directions. The thunderous sound of hooves shook the earth, raising dust that obscured half the sky. The two cavalry forces, like two sharp knives, plunged straight into the Sweet Fruit Tribe's camp. The Wolf Tribe warriors galloped on horseback, weapons in hand, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust, cruel smiles on their lips. They didn't seem to be there to fight, but rather to hunt, and the people of the Sweet Fruit Tribe were their prey.

Before the Sweet Fruit Tribe could even close the camp gates, the Wolf Tribe's cavalry had already charged in. Their horses neighed, reared up, and slammed their hooves down, kicking up clouds of dust. The cavalrymen reined in their horses, surrounded the camp, and pointed their weapons at the Sweet Fruit Tribe members inside.

"Don't kill anyone! Surround them first!" Xueshou shouted, his voice echoing through the valley like thunder.

The cavalry didn't kill anyone; they simply surrounded the Sweet Fruit Tribe's camp with their horses and bodies, forming an impenetrable wall. Several young men from the Sweet Fruit Tribe tried to resist, grabbing wooden sticks and Shifu and charging at the cavalry, shouting, "Fight them!"

But before they could even reach them, several veterans jumped off their horses and knocked them to the ground with a few punches and kicks. The veterans of the Wolf Tribe had hard and heavy fists; when they hit the face, blood spurted from the nose; when they kicked the body, bones cracked. The young men lay on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen, howling in pain, clutching their heads and curling up in a ball, too afraid to move again.

Seeing this, the others dared not resist any longer. They huddled together, trembling like lambs to the slaughter. Some wept softly, some hugged their children tightly, and some knelt on the ground with their hands clasped together, muttering incantations as if in prayer.

Xueya led the remaining troops slowly into the Sweet Fruit Tribe's camp. He rode on his black ponies, his pace unhurried, the hooves clattering on the ground. His gaze swept over the terrified faces as if he were inspecting a pile of goods.

Those people had fear, despair, confusion, numbness—all sorts of expressions, but no anger. They dared not be angry. His lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile, a sinister smile as cold as a blade. Behind him followed dozens of guards, each burly and strong, with weapons at their waists and fierce eyes, like a pack of hungry wolves.

Tiantou Head, the leader of the Sweet Fruit Tribe, was dragged out of the crowd and brought before Xueya. He was a middle-aged man in his forties, slightly overweight, with a round face, a short beard, and fair skin. He was clearly not someone who did manual labor. He was wearing a clean linen shirt and a leather belt around his waist.

He was having dinner inside when he heard the commotion outside. He ran out and saw that the camp was surrounded. He tried to run, but his legs wouldn't obey him; they were as weak as noodles. Two Wolf Tribe warriors grabbed him and dragged him over like a chick. At that moment, his face was deathly pale, devoid of any color, like a blank sheet of paper. He was trembling all over, his legs were so weak that he couldn't even stand up. He was supported by the two warriors, hanging on a rack like a sack of flour. His lips trembled; he wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

As the Sweet Fruit Tribe was preparing dinner as usual, a huge, dark mass of people suddenly stormed into the camp. There were at least a thousand of them, and their horses were neighing. The Sweet Fruit Tribe was terrified. Many of them had never seen so many warriors in their lives, let alone such fierce people.

There was no kindness in those people's eyes, only coldness and cruelty, like the biting winter wind. The Sweet Fruit Tribe hadn't encountered anything like this for many years. These people rode on horses, carrying weapons, looking fierce and menacing, as if they wanted to devour people. Everyone felt that even the air had turned icy cold.

Tiantou was also terrified. His heart was pounding as if it would jump out of his chest, his throat was dry, and his palms were sweaty. Fortunately, these people were armed but didn't kill anyone; they only punched and kicked those who didn't cooperate. The few young men who tried to resist were beaten black and blue, lying on the ground groaning, but they were still alive. He breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart was still in his throat. He didn't know what these people wanted—food? Money? Or their lives?

Tiantou was brought before Xueya, and he immediately began to tremble as he asked, his voice shaking like wind blowing through a broken window, or like autumn leaves trembling in the wind. He said softly, "Gentlemen... our Sweet Fruit Tribe has always been friendly and neighborly, never offending anyone. We have a good relationship with the surrounding tribes, visiting each other every year and helping one another. If there is anything we have done wrong, please forgive us." As he spoke, he clasped his hands in a deep bow, his forehead almost touching his knees, like a bent tree branch.

He swallowed hard and continued, his voice growing softer, "We are willing to apologize. Grain, fruit, animal hides—whatever you want, we will give you. As long as you don't harm our people, anything is negotiable."

He wanted to say something nice, like "Warriors, you are wise and mighty" or "Warriors, you are generous and magnanimous," but when he saw Fengshou standing behind Xueya, his eyes widened like two copper bells, his mouth was agape and he couldn't close it for a long time, and his jaw almost dropped to the ground.

"Fengshou Chief?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with shock and confusion, as if someone had doused him with a bucket of cold water. "What are you doing here? Did you bring these people here? Our Sweet Fruit Tribe and the Abundant Grain Tribe have been friendly tribes for many years, exchanging visits and helping each other every year. What do you mean by bringing these people here this time? Has our Sweet Fruit Tribe offended you in any way? Have you forgotten that we lent you grain last year?"

Fengshou stood behind Xueya, head bowed, avoiding Tiantou's eyes like a child who had done something wrong. He wore an old leather armor issued by the Wolf Tribe, stained with dried blood, its owner unknown. A bone knife hung at his waist, its hilt bound with hemp rope, its scabbard made of animal hide. Embarrassment etched on his face; his lips moved as if to say something, but he swallowed back, as if he had swallowed a Shitou. Xueya had specifically brought him out to persuade these tribal leaders. Xueya had said that it was easier to talk to acquaintances, and their advice was more effective. Tiantou knew him and trusted him; his words were a hundred times more powerful than those of strangers.

"Tiantou Chief," Fengshou began, his voice hoarse, as if he had walked for a long time in the desert, his lips chapped and his throat parched, "These people are from the Wolf Tribe. They've been planning to make a fortune lately, so they called us out. Now, the able-bodied men of our Abundant Grain Tribe are working for the Wolf Tribe. They say there will be meat to eat and wine to drink, and things will be much better than before."

Fengshou's words completely stunned Tiantou, leaving his mind blank, as if it had been hollowed out. The Wolf Tribe? Of course he had heard of them. Not long ago, they had slaughtered several tribes in the vicinity, killing many people and stealing a lot of grain. None of the slaughtered tribes were spared, not even the children. He looked at the menacing Wolf Tribe warriors around him, and then at the leather armor on Fengshou's body, and he understood seven or eight parts of the situation.

He asked cautiously, his voice so low it was almost inaudible. "The Wolf Tribe? The Wolf Tribe that caused such a stir a while ago?"

Fengshou nodded, his voice tinged with helplessness and advice, "Yes, Brother Tiantou, the Xueya chieftain of the Wolf Tribe has already arrived at your tribe. You should join the Wolf Tribe like us. Many tribes that rebel don't fare well." He didn't say it directly, but Tiantou understood Fengshou's meaning. Rebellion didn't end well. How so? They died, were killed, their tribes were slaughtered, their people were wiped out, their possessions were looted, even their houses were burned down, leaving not even ashes.

He looked at the menacing Wolf Tribe, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust, like a pack of hungry wolves eyeing their prey. Then he looked at his terrified people, huddled together like startled chickens. Some were holding children, some were supporting the elderly, and some were clinging to their wives. He knew that if he disagreed now, his people would suffer a terrible fate. Disagreement meant death! Agreeing meant temporary survival, and as long as they lived, there was hope.

Xueshou grew impatient seeing Tiantou remain silent. He stepped forward and shouted, his voice like thunder, making Tiantou's ears ring and his head spin. "Our Wolf Tribe is planning something to make money. Do you agree to join us? Nod if you agree, shake your head if you disagree. Think about the consequences of shaking your head. I'll count to three, one, two..."

After saying that, he brandished his weapon, staring at Tiantou with Tiantou, fierce eyes, as if he wanted to devour him.

Tiantou trembled with fright, as if struck by lightning, and nodded frantically, like a chicken pecking at rice, saying, "Agreed! Agreed! Our Sweet Fruit Tribe is willing to join the Wolf Tribe! We are willing!"

Xueya immediately smiled happily, the scars on his face smoothing out like a wriggling centipede. He said, "That's more like it! Since the Sweet Fruit Tribe is willing to join our Wolf Tribe to get rich together, then we're family." He dismounted swiftly and walked to Tiantou, patting him on the shoulder with such force that Tiantou staggered and almost fell.

"Go and bring out the best food and drinks so everyone can have a good time. Slaughter a few fat sheep and pigs. Don't be stingy; isn't your Sweet Fruit Tribe's sweet fruit wine famous? Bring it out so everyone can have a taste."

He paused, his gaze softening slightly, but his voice remained cold and sharp, like a winter wind. "Come with us in a couple of days. As long as you follow our orders, we guarantee you'll eat and drink well. You won't have to worry about winter this year. Our Wolf Tribe never mistreats its own people; we share both good times and bad."

Although Tiantou felt a pang of heartache, as if being cut by a knife, bleeding profusely, he could only nod in agreement. He turned around, waved to his tribesmen behind him, and said in a hoarse voice, as if he had sand in his mouth or a fishbone stuck in his throat, "Go, bring out the grain and meat, slaughter sheep and pigs to entertain the guests, and bring out the wine, the best wine."

The people of the Sweet Fruit Tribe began to busy themselves. They carried grain out of the warehouse, and pulled sheep and pigs out of the pen. The sheep bleated, and the pigs squealed, their cries mournful, as if they were howling. They lit fires to cook, and smoke rose, carrying the aroma of meat that filled the air, mingling with the fragrance of sweet fruit wine, making people's mouths water. The able-bodied men were called over and sat next to the Wolf Tribe warriors, eating meat and drinking wine together.

The warriors of the Wolf Tribe, Sweet Fruit Tribe, and Abundant Grain Tribe began to feast. Xueya sat in Tiantou's wooden hut, with the finest food laid out before him: roasted whole lamb, stewed pork, rice, and sweet fruit wine, filling the table to the brim. The roasted whole lamb had a golden-brown, crispy skin, while the inside was tender and juicy; the juices flowed out with every cut. The stewed pork was soft and flavorful, falling apart easily with chopsticks. The rice was plump and piled high, and the sweet fruit wine, poured into a bowl, foamed with fine bubbles and emitted a delightful aroma.

Tiantou stood by, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. His lips curled upwards, but his eyes drooped downwards, like a distorted mask. Inside, he was crying, crying uncontrollably, like a river bursting its banks. He picked up his wine bowl and offered it to Xueya, his hand trembling. Some wine spilled, splashing onto the table and spreading in a small patch.

"Chief, our Sweet Fruit Tribe will follow you from now on. Please feel free to give us any orders."

Xueya took the wine bowl, drank it all in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said, "It's fine. As long as you obey, you'll reap the rewards. If you don't, you know the consequences."

That night, Xueya led everyone to rest well at the Sweet Fruit Tribe. The next morning, before dawn, Xueya got up and stood at the camp gate, watching the warriors who were assembling. The young men and women of the Abundant Grain Tribe and the Sweet Fruit Tribe were sandwiched in the middle of the formation, with veterans from the Wolf Tribe in front and behind them.

Xueya mounted his horse and waved his hand, shouting, "Let's go!"

The caravan of over a thousand people marched towards the White Bone Tribe. As the sun rose, golden rays streamed into the valley and onto the ever-growing procession. The horses' Zongmao gleamed in the sunlight, and the sharp edges of the swords were dazzling.

In the afternoon, Xueya led his men to the vicinity of the White Bone Tribe's camp. The White Bone Tribe was built on a patch of white rock, surrounded by barren hillsides, devoid of any vegetation, like a white scar stuck to the earth. The camp was not large, but it was very sturdy, surrounded by a tall wooden fence, outside of which were trenches dug, filled with sharpened wooden stakes, densely packed like rows of gleaming white teeth.

Now, Xueya and his men weren't here to plunder, but to coerce these tribes. Without even needing a sneak attack, they directly surrounded the White Bone Tribe's camp. Over a thousand men, a dense, dark mass, completely surrounded the camp, preventing even a fly from getting out. The White Bone Tribe members, seeing those outside, turned pale with fright, quickly closing the gates and hiding inside, like a group of turtles huddled in their shells.

The two leaders, Fengshou and Tiantou, were summoned to the front. Xueya pointed to the camp and said to them, "Go, talk to your acquaintances about the benefits of joining our Wolf Tribe. Speak politely, don't scare them."

The two nodded, walked to the camp gate, and called out to those inside. After a while, Baichi, the leader of the White Bone Tribe, peeked out from behind the fence. He was an old man in his fifties with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles, like a cracked riverbed. He wore an animal skin coat and had a bone knife hanging at his waist. He knew Fengshou and Tiantou. The three families lived not far apart and had visited each other every year, and they would also visit each other during festivals.

"Fengshou? Tiantou? What are you doing here?" Baichi's voice was full of shock, his eyes wide open as if he had seen a ghost.

Fengshou sighed, a long and heavy sigh, and said, "Brother Baichi, we've all joined the Wolf Tribe. The Wolf Tribe leader said that as long as we work for them, we'll have meat to eat and wine to drink. It's much better than farming. You should join too. Don't resist. Those who resist never have a good ending."

Tiantou also urged, her voice tinged with urgency, "Yes, Brother Baichi, the Wolf Tribe has too many people; we can't defeat them. Joining them will at least protect our people. If we don't join, look at what happened to those rebellious tribes! Not a single one was left alive!"

Baichi fell silent. He looked at the dark mass of the Wolf Tribe warriors outside, then at his terrified tribesmen—old people, women, and children—huddled together like lambs to the slaughter. He knew that resistance was pointless; they couldn't win, and they couldn't escape. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, a sigh filled with helplessness and sorrow.

"Alright, we'd like to join the Wolf Tribe too."

Xueya smiled upon hearing the result. He spurred his horse forward and said to Baichi, "That's right. Go, bring out all the good food from your tribe and let everyone have a good meal. Don't be stingy; from now on, we're all one family."

That night, in the White Bone Tribe's camp, the campfire burned brightly, illuminating half the sky. The Wolf Tribe warriors and the newly joined young men of the White Bone Tribe sat around the fire, eating meat, drinking wine, and laughing loudly. Baichi sat next to Xueya, a smile on his face, but his heart was bleeding.

Over the next two days, the Little Star Tribe and the Full Moon Tribe were subdued one by one by Xueya and his men. The same methods and the same rhetoric were used: they surrounded them, sent acquaintances to persuade them, and if persuasion failed, they threatened them. Neither tribe resisted. When the tribal leaders saw the Wolf Tribe's imposing presence, their legs went weak, like noodles. How could they dare to resist? Fengshou, Tiantou, and Baichi took turns, each praising the benefits of joining the Wolf Tribe to the skies.

In just five days, the Wolf Tribe's ranks rapidly expanded by five hundred men. This greatly excited Xueya, Xueshou, and Yexiao, filling them with excitement and fervor. Everything had gone unexpectedly smoothly, making it more effective and more willing for them to persuade the tribe with the help of people they knew than to talk themselves hoarse for ages.

The newly joined tribal leaders were less afraid when they saw familiar faces in the group, and less resistant when they saw that these familiar faces were doing well.

When Xueya led his men to subdue the Full Moon Tribe Full Moon Tribe, they temporarily settled there. The Full Moon Tribe was built on a circular valley surrounded by rolling hills, like a moon fallen to earth, embraced by the hills. The camp was filled with bonfires, making it as bright as day, with shadows moving and laughter echoing.

Yexiao found Xueya, and the two sat by the fire. Yexiao picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, wiped his mouth, and asked with a hint of pride and excitement, "Chief, our manpower expansion is progressing very smoothly. In just a few days, our Wolf Tribe will have two thousand men outside. We've acted very quickly and secretly; the Great Boulder Tribe probably hasn't discovered us yet. By the time they find out, our Wolf Tribe will already have two thousand men. At that point, it'll be hard to say who's afraid of whom."

Xueya nodded and said, "Yes, that's why we need to speed things up. We not only need to quickly expand our force to two thousand people, but we also need to get these new recruits into combat force as soon as possible."

He paused, then continued, "How do you quickly build up combat power? You have to be baptized in blood to grow rapidly. Without blood, you'll always be a rookie. Only by seeing blood can you become a wolf. Only by seeing blood can you know what life and death are. Only by seeing blood can you understand what ruthlessness is."

He looked up at the Yexiao, the firelight reflecting off his face, making the scar flicker. "These five hundred new recruits haven't seen blood yet. They're with us out of fear. We need to get them blood on their hands. Once they've stained their hands with blood, there's no turning back. They'll be true members of the Wolf Tribe."

Yexiao Owl nodded in understanding. He had seen it too many times, from High Pointed Mountain to Stone Ridge Mountain, from coercion to massacre. Every time it was the same: newcomers who hadn't seen blood were never one of their own; once they had seen blood and killed people, they could never go back.

Xueya continued, "Everyone, get a good rest tonight. We'll set off for the Yellow Stone Tribe early tomorrow morning. This tribe is a semi-subordinate tribe on the outskirts of the Great Rock, and they have some connection with the Great Rock. They're the Great Rock's lackeys. This tribe only has about five hundred people, so it'll be a good opportunity for these newcomers to practice. Only when their hands are stained with blood will they be considered true members of the Wolf Tribe."

After saying that, Xueya seemed to recall that scene, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a cruel smile, as cold as a blade. He seemed to see the massacre tomorrow, to see those newcomers trembling in pools of blood, to see their eyes change from fear to numbness, from numbness to ferocity. He chuckled coldly, his laughter sinister, like the hooting of Yexiao, like the howling of a wolf.

Xueshou and Yexiao understood as well, and they joined in with wicked laughter. The three of them laughed in the night wind, like howling wolves, sending chills down one's spine and making one's hair stand on end. After a while, the two went to give orders for preparations.