The Great Luwei Tribe Waited and Watched
News of the Wolf Tribe's autumn attack, which wiped out two core subordinate tribes of the Great Boulder Tribe and greatly increased their strength, quickly reached the Great Luwei Tribe, like a Shitou thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples. The Great Luwei Tribe is adjacent to the Great Boulder Tribe, the two tribes are neighbors not far apart, and are old rivals in some aspects, often seeing each other frequently. Previously, Lusheng, the leader of the Great Luwei Tribe, had promised Dashi, the leader of the Great Boulder Tribe, that the two tribes would join forces to attack the Wolf Tribe, launching a pincer attack from both sides and blocking them from the front and back. However, seeing the Wolf Tribe's successive victories over the Great Boulder Tribe and their growing strength, the Great Luwei Tribe began to hesitate, like standing at a crossroads, unsure of which way to go.
Although the Wolf Tribe had caused trouble within the Great Luwei Tribe's territory when they first arrived—killing, robbing, and setting fires— Wolf Tribe actions were confined to the outer edges of the Great Luwei Tribe's domain, not its core areas. The smaller tribes wiped out by the Wolf Tribe were not core subordinate tribes of the Great Luwei Tribe; their relationship with the Great Luwei Tribe was weak, so their losses were insignificant. Now, while the Wolf Tribe's strength has increased rapidly, they haven't yet attacked the Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe's core territory, haven't struck at their weak points, and haven't crippled their core. The Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe currently doesn't want a death battle with the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe, doesn't want to become mortal enemies, doesn't want a protracted war, and doesn't want a stalemate. Both sides suffered heavy losses. The relationship between the Great Luwei Tribe and the Great Boulder Tribe was neither good nor bad, neither close nor distant. Normally, the two tribes lived their own lives, neither helping the other nor paying attention to the other. Now, the Wolf Tribe launched a fierce attack on the Great Boulder Tribe, like a hungry wolf pouncing on its prey, like a tiger descending a mountain. Many smaller tribes between the Great Luwei Tribe and the Wolf Tribe were either coerced by the Wolf Tribe, wiped out by the Wolf Tribe, or joined the Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe, seeking refuge and protection. The Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe's strength had also increased; its population and warriors were more numerous, and its confidence was greater. Naturally, the Great Luwei Tribe chose to observe first, wanting to see how things developed, to gauge the winds of change, and to see who would win between the Wolf Tribe and the Great Boulder Tribe.
Inside the council hall of the Great Luwei Tribe, the firewood in the hearth crackled and sparks flew, making the room warm and inviting, almost drowsy. Several animal hide maps hung on the walls, drawn in charcoal with the distribution of the Great Rock and the Great Luwei Tribe, as well as the location of the Wolf Tribe. The maps were crooked and distorted, like earthworms crawling, but one could roughly discern where the mountains, rivers, and tribes were. In a corner lay a pile of bronze weapons, gleaming in the firelight.
Lujian stood in the center of the council hall, reporting to Chief Lusheng and other high-ranking Great Luwei Tribe the latest developments regarding the Wolf Tribe's disturbances within the Great Boulder Tribe's territory. He wore thick, sturdy leather armor, a bronze sword at his waist with simple patterns engraved on its scabbard, and a longbow on his back with a sinew-stringed bow. His quiver was full of arrows with sharpened bronze arrowheads. His expression was solemn, his brows furrowed slightly, forming a small knot, and deep creases etched on his forehead.
His voice Chenwen and clear, as if reciting a book. "Chief, esteemed leaders, the Wolf Tribe's strength has greatly increased. Their forces are now estimated to be over five thousand, including more than five thousand cavalry. A vast, dark mass stretching as far as the eye can see, and almost entirely composed of cavalry, each rider on horseback, moving like the wind. After the autumn harvest, the Wolf Tribe, having gathered many able-bodied men, swiftly annihilated the last two core vassal tribes of the Great Boulder Tribe. The Great Boulder Tribe pursued the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe, but in direct confrontation, they gained no advantage. The battle ended in a draw; neither side won nor lost. This time, the Wolf Tribe also plundered a great deal of resources and increased their forces..." The Wolf Tribe has a considerable number of warriors, strong and well-equipped. Once the Wolf Tribe has trained and tamed these young men, sharpened their weapons, fed their horses, and perfected their ranks, if they were to cause trouble for the Great Boulder Tribe again next year, the Great Boulder Tribe Great Boulder Tribe certainly be no match for the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe. They wouldn't be able to defeat them, nor could they stop them. Currently, the Great Boulder Tribe Tribe's prestige has plummeted, and its influence among its subordinate tribes is rapidly declining. No one listens to the Great Boulder Tribe now; they can't summon anyone, and their orders are ignored. Next year, gathering manpower to resist the Wolf Tribe will likely become increasingly difficult; they might not be able to muster a single person. People from the smaller tribes will all avoid the Great Boulder Tribe.
Lusheng, the chief of the Great Luwei Tribe, sat in the main seat. His eyes were shrewd, like a fox's, darting around as if he were sizing something up. He wore an exquisite linen robe with a leather belt around his waist, from which hung a jade pendant, blue and warm as jade.
His voice Chenwen as he continued, "This Wolf Tribe is indeed difficult to deal with; they're like hungry wolves, like mad dogs, like venomous snakes. Our Great Luwei Tribe Great Luwei Tribe remain cautious for now, observing the situation. We shouldn't become mortal enemies with the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe; it's unnecessary for us to mutually weaken each other. Even if the Wolf Tribe occupies all of the Great Rock Great Boulder Tribe's territory and swallows them whole, our Great Luwei Tribe won't be afraid. While the Wolf Tribe is powerful, they are still far inferior to the Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe at the very bottom of the Fish River. Our Great Luwei Tribe isn't far from the Tiger Great Luwei Tribe; we currently rely on the Tiger Tribe 'Tiger Tribe support, leveraging our long-standing relationship with them..." "The Wolf Tribe intends to attack our Great Luwei Tribe, but we are not afraid of them. We have powerful Great Luwei Tribe and support. We have been recruiting and strengthening our forces, and now our Great Luwei Tribe has nearly 20,000 people, with about 4,000 warriors, all strong and healthy. Adding our core and affiliated tribes, the four major tribes, each contributing several hundred people, we can gather five or six thousand warriors. We will buy more bronze weapons from the Great Luwei Tribe Tiger Tribe, improve our weaponry, and arm our warriors. The Wolf Tribe's attempt to annex our Great Luwei Tribe will not be so easy. Our Great Luwei Tribe is not something the Wolf Tribe can easily subdue."
The crowd nodded in agreement. Some stroked their beards, their fingers trembling slightly; some tapped the table, making a thumping sound; some whispered among themselves, their voices barely audible.
Lujian frowned even more, his voice filled with hesitation, uncertainty, and worry. He said, "Chief, the Great Boulder Tribe recently asked us to join forces with them next year to deal with the Wolf Tribe. They want our two tribes to join forces and attack the Wolf Tribe from both sides. How should our Great Luwei Tribe respond? Should we agree or not? If we agree, we're afraid of offending the Wolf Tribe; if we don't agree, we're afraid of offending the Great Boulder Tribe."
Lusheng thought for a moment, then raised his head, his eyes shrewd, as if calculating something or weighing something. He said, "Let's agree for now, but only verbally. We won't give a definite answer or any token. We'll see how things go next year, taking it one step at a time. Although the Wolf Tribe will most likely continue attacking the Great Boulder Tribe next year, focusing their attacks on Great Rock, Wolf Tribe might also go berserk and turn around to attack our Great Luwei Tribe, biting indiscriminately like mad dogs. If we refuse the Great Boulder Tribe now, we'll close the door and prevent any future attacks. If the Wolf Tribe Great Luwei Tribe goes berserk next year, the Great Boulder Tribe will definitely wait and see, and won't come to our aid. They might even take advantage of our Great Luwei Tribe. Let's give the Great Boulder Tribe a vague agreement first, leaving room for maneuver and a way out. We'll decide based on the situation later."
The leaders of the Lujian and Great Luwei Tribe nodded repeatedly in agreement, pecking at rice like chickens, saying "Yes," "That's right," and "That makes sense."
They discussed the Great Luwei Tribe's development plan for next year: continue recruiting as many people as possible; continue purchasing bronze weapons from the Tiger Tribe, buying the best and most, sparing no expense and emptying their coffers; encourage core and subordinate tribes to also recruit people to strengthen their power, providing them with Tiantou, incentives, weapons, and salt; increase the Great Luwei Tribe's defenses by raising fences, digging deeper trenches, setting up more checkpoints, patrolling day and night, and strengthening vigilance; and send more scouts to monitor the Wolf Tribe's movements, reporting any suspicious activity. They chatted for a while, discussing the matter for about half an hour, before gradually leaving.