Standoff and Retreat

The Wolf Tribe and the Great Boulder Tribe faced off for two days. During those two days, various sounds echoed through the valley of the Great Cliff Ridge — the Wolf Tribe's laughter, the Great Boulder Tribe's curses, the sound of the wind, and the calls of birds, all mixed together like a stew or a chaotic symphony.

The sun rises and sets, casting its light on the cliff face in shifting brightness; the moon rises and sets, illuminating the valley in alternating white and black light. The two groups of people stare at each other, neither willing to yield or back down, like two bulls locked in a standoff, eyes locked and horns pressed together.

Xueya ordered his men to plant the captured Great Boulder Tribe flags on the cliff top, where they fluttered in the wind, a gesture that seemed both a show of defiance and a mockery. He also had several wounded Great Rock prisoners, whom he had deliberately left behind, brought to the edge of the cliff and forced them to shout down at the warriors of the Great Boulder Tribe, demanding their surrender, accusing their leader of incompetence, and calling their warriors cowards. Those who refused were pushed off the cliff, their screams echoing through the valley like the slaughter of pigs, sending chills down the spines of the Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe warriors.

Xueya and Shishan each led their men to occupy strategic locations on the top of the Great Cliff Ridge, where they continued to confront each other. On a flat area at the top of the cliff, where dozens of people could stand, Xueya stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the people of the Great Boulder Tribe with a cold and sharp gaze.

Shishan also stood on a high ground not far from the cliff top, looking over here. His face was ashen, like a piece of rusty iron. His fists were clenched so tightly that they cracked. He wished he could rush over and fight Xueya to the death. Their eyes collided in the air, like two knives clashing together, sparking, or like two bolts of lightning meeting in the air, emitting a silent roar.

Xueya instructed Xueshou, "Have the brothers roast the wounded horses of the Great Boulder Tribe and bring them out to show the Great Boulder Tribe people. Also, bring out the captured armor and weapons and show them to the Great Boulder Tribe people. Let them see that their people are dead, their horses have been eaten by us, and their weapons have become our spoils of war. Let them see what happens when they fight alongside the Great Rock and the Wolf Tribe. Let them see that the people of the Great Rock are all useless, cowards, and just there to die."

For the past two days, Xueshou had been following Xueya's orders to provoke the people of the Great Boulder Tribe. He hung roasted horse meat on the cliff edge, skewered with branches, row upon row, like clotheslines, so the Great Rock Tribe could see it but not eat it, smell it but not touch it. He stuck the captured bronze weapons into the ground, row upon row, like tombstones, gleaming coldly in the sunlight, hurting the eyes of the Great Rock. He hung the captured leather armor on trees, which swayed in the wind like hanged ghosts. He also had people shout slogans, the content of which became increasingly vile, vicious, and unbearable, even cursing their ancestors for eighteen generations.

"You cowardly turtles of the Great Rock, your horse meat smells delicious! Want to come up and have a bite? Smell this aroma, doesn't it make your mouth water? Come on up if you want some!"

"Your bronze weapons are excellent, thank you! We just need some! Do you have any more? Send some more up!"

"We tried on your leather armor, and it fits us quite well! Your craftsmanship is excellent, but you guys are too cowardly!"

"That coward Shishan is hiding down there, too scared to come up! If you've got the guts, come up and fight me one-on-one! I'll give you a handicap!"

"Warriors of the Great Rock, what are you waiting for? Your leader doesn't care about you anymore, why are you still fighting? Surrender, and you'll get meat and wine!"

Shishan was enraged by the Wolf Tribe several times, his face turning ashen like rusty iron, his eyes bulging like copper bells, his eyeballs almost popping out, filled with bloodshot veins, red like rabbit eyes, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his knuckles turning white, and his veins bulging like earthworms wriggling under his skin.

He desperately wanted to rush up and fight the Wolf Tribe, and he wanted to cut off Xueya's head and use it as a football. He drew his bronze sword, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight, and was about to charge forward with his men when Shizhua stopped him. Shizhua was calmer and more Chenwen than him. He grabbed Shishan around the waist like he was holding a big tree and dragged him back.

"Chief Shishan, we can't go! Last time Shi Ya charged in and fell into an ambush, so many of our Great Boulder Tribe died! We can't fall into the Wolf Tribe's trap again!" Shizhua's voice was urgent and pleading, almost begging, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Shishan struggled like a bound Bison, a trapped tiger, his face flushed red like a piece of red-hot iron, veins bulging like snakes writhing beneath his skin. He roared, "Let me go! I'll kill them! Kill these sons of bitches! Let them know what I'm capable of! Let them know that Shishan is not someone to be trifled with!"

Shizhua clung tightly to him, refusing to let go, his fingers digging into Shishan's flesh. He said, "Chief Shishan, our reinforcements are almost here! Once we've joined forces, we'll make the Wolf Tribe pay for our fallen brothers' deaths! The chief said before we set off that we'd hold off the Wolf Tribe until our core forces from the Great Boulder Tribe arrived, then we'd surround and annihilate Wolf Tribe! We can't let the Wolf Tribe provoke us; they're deliberately trying to provoke us. We can't fall for their trap! It's their scheme, their trick!"

Shishan was panting heavily, his chest heaving like a bellows, panting like a cow. His eyes were bloodshot, like two balls of fire, as he stared intently at the Wolf Tribe's flag on the cliff top. The flag fluttered in the wind as if mocking him. After a long while, he calmed down, like a tamed beast, pushed aside Shizhua, and walked back to the camp, his steps heavy as if filled with lead.

"Are we just going to let the Wolf Tribe keep insulting us like this?" Shishan roared angrily, his voice echoing like thunder through the valley, causing rocks to fall from the cliff face. "When have we, the Great Boulder Tribe, ever suffered such humiliation? When have we ever been insulted like this? When have we ever been so shamed? We, the Great Rock Tribe, have been in this place for decades, and we've always been the ones insulting others. When has it ever been our turn to insult others?"

Shizhua spoke, his voice Chenwen like a Shitou or an old tree. "We'll lead our men and hurl insults back! The Wolf Tribe has committed countless atrocities; we could curse them for three days and three nights and still not finish! They slaughtered many of our vassal tribes, killed many of our people, and robbed us of countless possessions! These crimes are too numerous to recount in three days and three nights! They only won against our Great Boulder Tribe this time through a sneak attack. If they have the guts, let's fight a fair and square battle! When has our Great Boulder Tribe ever feared anyone? Every warrior of our Great Rock is a hero, a paragon of virtue!"

Shishan immediately sent men to shout curses back. The warriors of the Great Boulder Tribe were full of anger and had been wanting to curse for a long time. They shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices rising higher and higher, like the tide and like thunder.

"Wolf Tribe bastards! All you do is hide up there and throw Shitou! You only know how to ambush! If you've got the guts, fight me fair and square! Come and fight me three hundred rounds!"

"What kind of skill is it to kill the elderly, women, and children? If you're so capable, fight our soldiers! What kind of hero bullies the old and children?"

"You wait, our reinforcements will be here soon! Then we'll chop you all into mincemeat and kick your heads around like footballs!"

"Xueya, you coward! If you've got the guts, come and fight our leader one-on-one! Come on! Come on!"

"Wolf Tribe warriors, are you still fighting for Xueya? He'll only send you to your deaths! Surrender!"

The morale of the Great Boulder Tribe, which had been slowly declining, began to rise again. The warriors of the Great Boulder Tribe cursed for a while, and felt a sense of relief, as if Shitou had been removed from their chests. Their backs straightened, and they were no longer hunched over. Their eyes regained their light, no longer as dim as before. They were no longer dejected, but instead held their heads high, puffed out their chests, and waved their fists at the Wolf Tribe like a group of fighting cocks.

Xueya's provocation hadn't fully achieved its intended effect; it hadn't enraged the Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe to the point of madness, nor had it sent them to their deaths. However, it still had some effect. At least the Wolf Tribe's own morale had improved significantly. They realized that the once-feared Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe could be defeated, that their people could die, that their weapons could be captured, and that their horses could be eaten. Many of the Wolf Tribe's new warriors were no longer as afraid of the Great Boulder Tribe as before. Their eyes had changed, becoming confident, resolute, and like wolves, their eyes gleaming and smiles playing on their lips.

Xueya immediately ordered his men to continue provoking the Great Boulder Tribe, keeping them from having a peaceful time. He had his men deliberately create a commotion at night to keep the Great Rock Tribe from sleeping. After two days of this standoff, the four core affiliated tribes of the Great Boulder Tribe arrived with a total of eight hundred cavalry to assist in the battle.

Eight hundred cavalrymen, eight hundred horses, marched in a mighty procession, their hooves thundering and shaking the earth, raising clouds of dust. They wore leather armor, carried spears, Shifu, and bone knives, their faces filled with murderous intent and their eyes blazing with fury, like a group of vengeful ghosts. The leaders rode up to the Shishan, dismounted, and clasped their hands in salute.

"Chief of Shishan, we are late! Please punish us!"

Shishan nodded and said, "It's not late, it's good that you're here."

The strength of the Great Boulder Tribe instantly reached about 1,800 people, and other affiliated tribes followed, one hundred, two hundred after another, continuously arriving like streams flowing into a great river, like tributaries flowing into the sea. The number of people in the camp increased, as did the number of tents and campfires, like stars in the sky, densely packed and countless.

Although the Wolf Tribe previously had 1,800 cavalry, they lost dozens of men in the previous attack on Shi Ya, and now only have a little over 1,700 left.

Two days later, after Xueya and his men continued to block the exit of Great Cliff Ridge, they saw that the surrounding tribes of Great Rock were also coming to Great Rock's aid in the battle. One group after another came, some on horseback, some on foot, some driving oxcarts, and some carrying loads. The Great Boulder Tribe now had more than two thousand people, a dark mass that stretched as far as the eye could see. The camp was bustling with noise, like a market, and flames were shooting into the sky, as if it were on fire.

Xueya knew he couldn't wait any longer. If he continued to wait, the number of people from the Great Boulder Tribe would only increase, reaching three or four thousand, like a snowball rolling downhill, growing bigger and bigger. If they were then outflanked and surrounded, it would be troublesome.

That evening, Xueya summoned Yexiao and whispered, "Yexiao, take a cavalryman with one horse and some supplies, and quietly leave first. Don't light torches, don't speak, and don't make a sound. Wrap straw around the horse's hooves, put a bridle over its muzzle, and don't let the horse neigh. Retreat along the mountain path towards Stone Ridge Mountain. Once you reach Stone Ridge Mountain, settle the supplies and prisoners, organize the defenses, and wait for our return."

Yexiao nodded, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Rest assured, Chief, I will definitely bring the person back safely."

Yexiao turned and led the majority of the Wolf Tribe to a quiet retreat. Xueya and Xueshou, with five hundred men and two horses each, remained at the exit of Great Cliff Ridge to continue providing cover and misleading the Great Boulder Tribe. They had their horses walk back and forth, raising dust to make the Great Rock Tribe's scouts think they were still there. They had their warriors walk around on the cliff top, making the Great Rock's people see figures moving about and think they were still holding out.

Two days later, the number of people from the Great Boulder Tribe began to increase, reaching three thousand. The tents in the camp were densely packed, like mushrooms, one after another. Shishan could not wait any longer. He was afraid that if he waited any longer, the Wolf Tribe would escape, and he was afraid that the duck that was about to be eaten would fly away. So he led his men to launch an attack on the top of the cliff of the Great Cliff Ridge.

Shishan personally led the charge, wielding his bronze broadsword and shouting, "Charge! Kill! Destroy the Wolf Tribe! Avenge our fallen brothers! Avenge Shi Ya! Avenge the Great Black Stone Tribe! Avenge the Black Wood Tribe!"

Xueya led his men in a desperate retreat from the cliff top. As they fought, Xueya saw more and more people swarming towards the Great Rock, like ants, and knew they couldn't fight any longer. If they continued, they would be dragged down there. At night, he gave an order and led his men to slowly retreat from the Great Cliff Ridge towards Stone Ridge Mountain. They rode horses, two horses for each man, and ran very fast, like a gust of wind, like a bolt of lightning.

It took the Great Boulder Tribe quite a while to notice the anomaly. Shishan sent scouts to cautiously investigate the situation. The scouts also went to investigate the area occupied by the Wolf Tribe on the cliff top, only to find that it was already deserted. The Wolf Tribe's men had long since disappeared under the cover of night.

Enraged, Shishan jumped up and down, cursing loudly, "Xueya! You son of a bitch! You just wait! I'll take your life sooner or later! I'll use your head as a football to kick around! I'll tear you to pieces!"

He led his men in pursuit through the night, chasing along the mountain road towards Stone Ridge Mountain. However, the nearly five hundred Wolf Tribe cavalrymen led by Xueya and Xueshou were all riding two horses each, making them fast. Stone Mountain and his men, each on their own horse, could not catch up. Shishan Shishan his men chased all night without even seeing a shadow of the Wolf Tribe. Even the horse manure on the road had gone cold.

When Shishan arrived at the foot of Stone Ridge Mountain with the troops of Great Rock and Great Rock affiliated tribes, Xueya had already made defensive preparations. He dug traps along the mountain path, inserting sharp stakes into them. He piled up Jushi and logs at the crossroads, making a Little Mountain, and tied them with ropes so that pulling the ropes would cause the Shitou and logs to roll down. He built a fence halfway up the mountain, made of logs, more than a person tall, with the logs sharpened like rows of spears. He set up a watchtower on the mountaintop and sent men to watch the foot of the mountain day and night, reporting any disturbances immediately.

The forces of the Great Boulder Tribe swelled to over four thousand, a dense, dark mass that completely surrounded Stone Ridge Mountain. However, looking at the treacherous terrain of Stone Ridge Mountain, which was easy to defend but difficult to attack, they were helpless. The mountain was too steep, as if cut by a knife; the road was too narrow, like a sheep's intestine; there were too many Shitou, like stars in the sky. Charging forward would be suicide, and not charging forward would mean staring blankly.

No matter how much Shishan and his men cursed at the foot of Stone Ridge Mountain, from morning till night, from night till morning, until their voices were hoarse, their lips were cracked, and their saliva was dry, Xueya and his men just hid on Stone Ridge Mountain and wouldn't come out, like turtles hiding in their shells, like snails hiding in their shells. No matter how much you cursed, I just wouldn't come out.

Shishan led his men in several probing attacks, sending hundreds of men uphill each time. But halfway up, they were hit by rolling rocks and logs, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. They didn't even see a few of the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe's shadows, let alone touch a hair on their heads. He had no choice but to give up and stop the assault, setting up camp at the foot of the mountain, hoping to starve the Wolf Tribe out of the mountains.

They wanted to attack the smaller tribes that had submitted to the Wolf Tribe, but without Xueya's warning, the people from these smaller tribes had already taken some food, clothing, supplies, animal hides, tools, women, and children and disappeared into the Dashan. The people of Great Rock searched the mountains for several days but couldn't find a single person.

Shizhua spoke up, his voice tinged with helplessness, exhaustion, and anxiety. "Chief Shishan, let's retreat. The Wolf Tribe is hiding in Stone Ridge Mountain and won't come out. We can't do anything about it for now. The mountain is so steep and the road is so narrow; we can't charge up. If we drag this out any longer, we won't have enough food. There are so many people here now, four thousand mouths to feed. How much food will they consume in a day? We've already eaten more than half of the food we brought. Without food, we'll go hungry. If the Wolf Tribe counterattacks, we'll be in trouble. How can we fight on an empty stomach? How can we run away on an empty stomach?"

Shishan gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Are we just going to let this go after our Great Boulder Tribe suffered such a huge loss? So many people died, so much food was lost, so many weapons were lost, and we're just going to let it go like this? How am I going to explain this to the chief? How am I going to explain this to the brothers who died? How am I going to explain this to their families? Where will I put my face?"

Shizhua spoke up, "We definitely can't let this go. This time, the Wolf Tribe wiped out two of our core subordinate tribes, and so many of our people died. Our main force also lost nearly five hundred soldiers. We can't just let this go. We must avenge this! But dragging this out will be very disadvantageous for our Great Boulder Tribe. Our food is almost gone, our warriors are exhausted, and their morale is low. If this drags on any longer, something bad might happen. In that case, we won't even need the Wolf Tribe to fight; we'll collapse on our own."

He paused, then continued, "Let's go back first, then replenish our manpower, train more warriors, and prepare more food and weapons. Next year, we'll fight the Wolf Tribe again. By next spring, when the snow melts and the roads are clear, we'll come back. By then, we'll have more people, more food, and better weapons. Will we still be afraid of losing to the Wolf Tribe?"

He took a deep breath and continued, "As for those Wolf Tribe's affiliated tribes that have hidden in the mountains, we won't let them get away with it either. Next year, we'll send people to harass them constantly—rob them today, burn them tomorrow, kill them the day after. We'll prevent them from farming, hunting, and gathering. When they run out of food, they'll have no choice but to seek help from the Wolf Tribe. The Wolf Tribe will be driven to desperation and will definitely come out to plunder again. At that time, we'll join forces with the Great Luwei Tribe to attack the Wolf Tribe. Two against one, how can we not win?"

He raised his voice slightly and said, "Furthermore, we'll purchase more bronze weapons from the Tiger Tribe at the very bottom of the Fish River. With good weapons, how can we be afraid of defeating the Wolf Tribe? One slash and their leather armor will be as thin as cloth, easily torn apart."

His voice lowered again, tinged with a hint of ruthlessness. "Next year, if the Wolf Tribe dares to come out again, we'll make them pay for our fallen brothers' deaths! We'll have our affiliated tribes on high alert, setting up watchtowers on the mountains and checkpoints along the roads. Any sign of trouble will be reported immediately. Then, if the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe emerges again, we'll be able to detect them instantly and deliver a devastating blow, ensuring they never return and die without a burial place."

Upon hearing this, Shishan could only sigh and say, "Alright, this time I led the troops out, not only did I fail to strike the Wolf Tribe, but I also lost so many brothers and supplies. How am I going to explain this to the chief? How am I going to explain this to the fallen brothers? Where will I put my face? I, Shishan, have never fought such a humiliating battle."

He lowered his head, looking at the ground, like a defeated rooster, or a child who had done something wrong. Then Shishan led four thousand men and slowly withdrew. The column stretched out, like a black python slowly crawling along the mountain road, or like a black river slowly flowing in the valley. The soldiers lowered their heads, their steps heavy, as if filled with lead. No one spoke, no one laughed.

Shishan rode at the head of the procession, his face grim, like the sky before a storm, overcast with dark clouds. His eyes were fixed ahead, but his gaze was empty, as if he had lost his soul, like a walking corpse. Behind him, four thousand men followed him, step by step, like a group of defeated soldiers.

On Stone Ridge Mountain, Xueya stood high up, watching the Great Boulder Tribe's procession gradually disappear into the distance, like a black snake slowly crawling away. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a cold smile. That smile was sinister, as cold as a blade, and like a wolf baring its Liaoya.