Undercurrents in the Tiger Tribe
The Tiger Tribe's council hall, situated on a high ground on the east bank of the Fish River Mouth, is the most magnificent building in the entire Fish River Basin, resembling a giant tiger crouching on a hillside. The entire wooden house is constructed from single red pine logs, with the thick main pillars requiring two people to encircle them. The logs are arranged side by side, bound together with vines, and plastered with mud, making them both sturdy and warm. The roof is covered with thick thatch, pressed tightly to prevent wind, rain, and sunlight from penetrating. Four enormous wooden pillars stand at the entrance, carved with images of tigers descending the mountain, their eyes wide open and Liaoya bared, lifelike as if they might pounce from the pillars at any moment.
Over a hundred years ago, the Tiger Tribe was a medium-sized tribe with a population of only a few thousand. Later, a large tribe to the north that possessed bronze technology disintegrated due to internal strife, and one of its branches— the Great Copper Tribe —fled south and sought refuge with the Tiger Tribe. The Tiger Tribe's leader took them in, and they acquired bronze-making technology, causing their power to expand rapidly.
Over the next century, the Tiger Tribe successively annexed the White Salt Tribe, the Rice Tribe, the Great Pottery Tribe, and the Cloth Tribe, expanding step by step until it became the overlord of the Fish River Basin. After becoming powerful, the Tiger Tribe began to expand outwards, frequently clashing with the Wuyue Tribe to the east and the Shu Tribe to the west. These two tribes were also quite powerful, each with hundreds of thousands of people, and they were also skilled in bronze weapon manufacturing.
Thirteen years ago, the previous leader of the Tiger Tribe was seriously wounded during a campaign against the Wuyue Tribe to the east and died upon his return. Before his death, he entrusted his five-year-old eldest son to the Grand Elder, who would assist him in succeeding to the throne. The Grand Elder was from the Great Copper Tribe and was also the new leader's maternal grandfather. The new leader was young, and the power was held by the Grand Elder, which aroused strong dissatisfaction among the three brothers of the previous leader. As a result, the Tiger Tribe fell into a struggle that lasted for more than ten years, seriously hindering its external expansion.
Now, the new leader is eighteen years old and has begun to slowly consolidate his power. In recent years, he has tried to ease relations with the Shu Tribe to the west of the Tiger Tribe, greatly reducing the military threat. At the same time, he has also begun to ease internal conflicts and strengthen oversight of the Fish River Basin —the sanctions against the Valley Tribe were his doing.
Currently, the Tiger Tribe is jointly managed by the five elders and the Great Tiger Tribe. The Great Tiger Tribe usually inherits the position of chief, and the other five elders also participate in decision-making, but the Great Elder still wields considerable power. In the Tiger Tribe's council hall, the firewood in the hearth is burning brightly. It's not ordinary firewood; it's the finest pine, burning with bright flames and producing a clear, fragrant smoke that fills the room, making even breathing feel pleasant. The firelight reflects off the enormous animal skins hanging on the walls—tiger skins, bear skins, leopard skins—all from wild beasts hunted by the Tiger Tribe's past chiefs. Each skin hangs like a battle flag, and behind each skin lies a thrilling story, a history of blood and fire.
At this moment, the Tiger Tribe's council hall was packed with people, a sea of black faces.
Seated at the head of the table was a young man, Hu Zheng, the eighteen-year-old leader of the Tiger Tribe. He was tall and slender, with a resolute and angular face, and his eyes shone brightly, carrying the sharpness unique to youth, like two unsheathed swords. He wore an exquisite black linen robe, the edges embroidered with lifelike tiger stripes that gleamed in the firelight. A wide leather belt was tied around his waist, from which hung a bronze short sword, its scabbard inlaid with a blood-red gemstone, like a drop of congealed blood. His hair was neatly combed and held in place with a copper hairpin, not a single strand out of place. His face carried a certain air of authority, but deep within his eyes lay a barely perceptible weariness and helplessness.
To his left sat an elderly man with gray hair—Elder Tongding. Tongding was the leader of the Great Copper Tribe and also Hu Zheng's maternal grandfather. He was sixty-five years old this year, but he was vigorous and his back was ramrod straight, like an old pine tree. His eyes were unfathomable, like two ancient wells or two deep pools of water, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. He wore a dark brown linen robe, embroidered with the image of Tongding, simple and solemn. He held a bronze cane in his hand, the top of which was carved with the image of a Tongding, and the body of the ding was engraved with dense patterns. His fingers were thin and bony, but his hand holding the cane was very steady, like an iron clamp.
To his right sat the Second Elder, Yan Feng; the Third Elder He Man; the Fourth Elder Tao Shan; and the Fifth Elder, Zhi Jin. Yan Feng was lean and capable, his eyes gleaming with a shrewdness like a fox's, darting around as he scrutinized everyone. He wore a white linen robe embroidered with scattered salt grains. He Man a round face and a gentle demeanor, like a kind farmer, a smile always playing on his lips, though it never reached his eyes. He wore a yellow linen robe embroidered with... The pattern of rice ears was heavy. Tao Shan was a burly man with a face full of fat, like a blacksmith. His large hands were rough and strong, with thick knuckles. He wore a brown linen robe embroidered with a pottery jar pattern, rugged and simple. Zhi Jin was the only woman among the five elders. In her early fifties, she still had a charming appearance. Her eyes were bright and clear, and she spoke softly, like a spring breeze. She wore a colorful linen robe embroidered with brocade patterns, vibrant and gorgeous.
Further down were the twenty leaders of the Tiger Tribe, arranged according to their respective tribes' seating order. The leaders of the Great Tiger Tribe sat on the left, each with broad shoulders and muscular builds, their eyes fierce; the leaders of the Great Copper Tribe sat on the right, lean and capable, their gazes sharp; the leaders of the White Salt, Rice, Pottery, and Cloth Tribe followed in order, some burly, some lean, some Chenwen, some impatient. Each had a bowl of wine and several pieces of meat in front of them, but no one touched them; the wine had gone cold, and the meat had gone cold too.
In the center of the council hall stood a young envoy from the Bear Tribe. He wore worn-out leather armor, the plates worn white in places, and a bronze sword hung at his waist, its scabbard made of animal hide, worn and frayed. His face bore the weariness of a journey, his eyes were sunken, and his lips were chapped and Baipi. He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a salute, and was reporting to the chief and elders of the Tiger Tribe. His voice was hoarse, as if he had sand in his throat, and his throat was almost burning.
"Chief Hu Zheng, elders, our scouts from the Bear Tribe have personally witnessed the Fire Tribe docking at the Valley Tribe's pier with a ship that can carry 100,000 jin. The ship is enormous and can be seen from afar. There are also dozens of other ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, of various sizes, forming a vast and imposing procession, like an army."
A low murmur arose in the council chamber, like the rustling of leaves in the wind. Some whispered to each other, some frowned in thought, some stroked their beards, and some tapped their fingers on the table.
Hu Zheng frowned slightly, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the edge of the table, producing a crisp sound. The chatter immediately ceased, and all was silent. His voice was not loud, but very clear, like a knife slicing through silk.
"You just said that your Bear Tribe people saw the Fire Tribe transporting grain to the Valley Tribe in a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, and that the Fire Tribe also sent dozens of ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin?"
The young envoy nodded, his tone certain. "Yes, Chief Hu Zheng, the Fire Tribe is a tribe located upstream of the Fish River, not far from the Valley Tribe. They've only risen rapidly in recent years. They now have more and more boats, bigger and bigger, one after another. I've heard their population is over a hundred thousand; they're quite powerful. The pottery the Valley Tribe used to sell downstream of the Fish River all came from the Fire Tribe. They fired and sold that pottery themselves. I've also heard the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe can make salt, and their craftsmanship is excellent. Now, after the Valley Tribe was punished by your Tiger Tribe, they're still secretly selling salt downstream of the Fish River, like thieves, sneaking around. Although our Bear Tribe has received support from the Tiger Tribe and our weapons are much better, we're still being suppressed by the Valley Tribe. This year, our Bear Tribe suffered several defeats at the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp, losing many men. The Fire Tribe is the one causing trouble here, pulling strings behind the scenes; it's the Fire Tribe backing up the Valley Tribe."
The First Elder, Tongding, snorted coldly, the sound squeezed out from his nasal cavity, filled with heavy dissatisfaction and disdain. His withered fingers gripped his cane tighter, his knuckles turning white and his veins bulging.
His voice was old and cold as he said, "The Valley Tribe is becoming increasingly unruly, as cunning as a fox. Our Tiger Tribe was thinking that if the Valley Tribe were to back down, lower their heads, and admit their mistakes, we would let them off the Valley Tribe Tiger Tribe give them a way out, allowing them to continue trading in the lower reaches of the Fish River. We didn't expect the Valley Tribe to pull this stunt, saying one thing to our faces and another behind our backs, engaging in underhanded tactics. It seems we need to teach the Valley Tribe a good lesson, otherwise who in the Fish River Basin will still listen to our Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe? Everyone dares to ride Tiger Tribe over us, everyone dares to play tricks on us."
Hu Zheng remained silent for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. After a while, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and said in a low voice, "This Fire Tribe now actually has ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, and dozens of ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin. Moreover, their population has reached over 100,000. They can also make pottery and salt, and they can manufacture bronze weapons. Although our Tiger Tribe has eased relations with the Shu Tribe to the west and no longer has to fight on two fronts, we still have constant friction with the Wuyue Tribe to the east, and we've fought several small battles. We still can't fully deal with this newly rising Fire Tribe. I suggest that we win over the Valley Tribe, divide them, and then unite with the Bear Tribe to attack the Fire Tribe. We can't let the two tribes unite, we can't let the two tribes work together as one."
The elder slammed his Tongding cauldron on the table with a thunderous sound, causing the wine bowls on the table to jump and spill wine. His face turned bright red, like a pig's liver, with veins bulging like earthworms wriggling under his skin.
His eyes blazed with fury, like two burning flames, as he roared, "That 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship of the Fire Tribe is nothing but a showpiece! It looks big, but it's useless. How can the Fire Tribe's ship compare to the sturdiness of our Tiger Tribe's 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship? Our ship is truly solid; it hasn't fallen apart in countless battles, nor sunk in countless storms. Even though our Tiger Tribe's strength is somewhat tied down by the Wuyue Tribe, preventing us from launching a full-scale attack, sending ten 100,000-jin carrying capacity ships to attack the Valley Tribe and the Fire Tribe is no problem at all!" Ten giant ships sailing onto the Fish River —who could stop them? If we quickly defeat the Valley Tribe and the Fire Tribe, crush them, and bring them to their knees, we can swiftly absorb most of the Fish River's power, seizing their territory, population, food, and weapons—making them all our Tiger Tribe's property. Then, our Tiger Tribe will be greatly strengthened, and our population will soon exceed two hundred thousand. At that time, the Wuyue Tribe and the Shu Tribe combined will not be a match for our Tiger Tribe. We, the Tiger Tribe, will be able to attack whomever we want, whomever we desire!
Hu Zheng wanted to continue, but before he could even finish saying "but," he was abruptly interrupted by the Grand Elder Tongding. Tongding waved his hand, his voice leaving no room for argument, and spoke as if giving a command:
"Alright, listen to me on this matter, it's settled then. The Fire Tribe can't cause any trouble. They've only been developing for a few years, while our Tiger Tribe has been operating for over a hundred years! The Fire Tribe's resources, population, and ships are nothing compared to our Tiger Tribe's! Our Tiger Tribe will prepare well this year and set off next year. We'll first give the Valley Tribe a warning, crush their arrogance, and suppress their haughtiness. As for the Fire Tribe, we'll deal with them after we've dealt with the Valley Tribe. We'll take them one step at a time, no rush."
After finishing speaking, Tongding suddenly stood up, knocking over his chair with a loud crash. Leaning on his cane, he strode out of the council hall, his back ramrod straight, and walked away without looking back.
The council chamber was eerily silent, like a tomb; you could hear a pin drop. Hu Zheng sat in the main seat, his face ashen, like the sky before a storm. His lips were pressed into a thin line, turning white. His fists were clenched so tightly they cracked, his knuckles white, veins bulging. His eyes were filled with anger and resentment, like two burning flames, but he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a single word.
The other elders exchanged glances, none daring to speak. Second Elder Yan Feng picked up his wine bowl and slowly sipped, his eyes scanning the crowd from side to side. Third Elder He Man expressionless, as if he hadn't heard a thing. Fourth Elder Tao Shan lowered his head, fiddling with his fingers; his knuckles were thick, and his nails were yellowed. Fifth Elder Zhi Jin sighed softly, shook his head, and sighed again.
The twenty leaders remained silent; some lowered their heads to drink, the liquor dripping from the corners of their mouths; some stared at the ground; some pretended to straighten their clothes; and some closed their eyes.
Hu Zheng never expected that the Grand Elder would disrespect him in front of outsiders, in front of the envoys of the Bear Tribe, and in front of so many people. He was silenced and his dignity was trampled underfoot. As the leader, he felt truly aggrieved and humiliated.
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving, trying to calm himself down, like a pot of boiling water slowly cooling. He waved his hand and said in a hoarse voice, "Let's disperse."
Everyone stood up and filed out. The envoy from the Bear Tribe knelt on the ground, at a loss, like a frightened rabbit. Hu Zheng glanced at him and said indifferently, his voice devoid of any warmth.
"You should go back too. Tell your chief, Xiong Lie, that the Tiger Tribe knows, and put his mind at ease."
The envoy hurriedly kowtowed, his forehead hitting the ground with a loud thud, and said, "Yes, yes, thank you, Chief! Thank you, Chief!" He got up and left in a hurry.
In the council chamber, only Hu Zheng remained. He sat in the main seat, watching the flickering flames, motionless for a long time. The firelight reflected on his face, illuminating a young but weary countenance. His eyes were half-closed, as if he were dozing, but a cold, sharp light flashed in the occasional slits they opened.
Eighteen years have passed. He ascended the throne at the age of five and was a puppet for thirteen years, being led by the nose. Now he is eighteen years old, has been an adult for several years, and has grown up, but the Grand Elder still treats him like a child, showing him no respect or dignity in front of outsiders.
He thought of his father, Hu Qingtian, that man of unyielding spirit, that awe-inspiring leader. Thirteen years ago, his father led the elite of the Tiger Tribe on an eastern expedition against the Wuyue Tribe, routing them and leaving rivers of blood. His father himself was severely wounded, struck by an arrow in the chest and stabbed in the back. A few days after returning, his wounds festered, and he developed a persistent high fever, passing away and leaving him and his mother behind. Before he died, his father held his hand, a withered, burning hand, and uttered only one sentence, his voice as weak as a mosquito's buzz. "You've grown up; you must make your own decisions."
He wants to make his own decisions, but who gives him the opportunity? Who truly listens to him? Who truly takes him seriously?
Hu Zheng stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the wooden window. The wooden window creaked, its sound particularly clear in the quiet night. He looked south, towards the direction of the Valley Tribe and also the Fire Tribe, where his adversaries were.
One day, he would let everyone know who the master of the Tiger Tribe was. One day, he would make those people kneel before him and call him their leader with heartfelt obedience. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.