The Great Luwei Tribe's Obstruction

Inside the council hall of the Great Luwei Tribe, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the sky before a storm. Outside, the sun shone brightly, and the warmth of spring seeped in through the cracks in the door, drawing golden streaks of light on the wooden floor. But inside, the air seemed to have solidified; no one had the mind to appreciate the warmth. Today, almost all the high-ranking members of the Great Luwei Tribe were present. Chief Lusheng sat in the main seat, his hands resting on his knees, his body slightly leaning forward, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, and the corners of his mouth turned down. In front of him was a wooden tablet with a few simple markings—a message sent back by scouts. His gaze fell on the tablet, then swept over everyone present, as if waiting for someone to speak first.

The First Elder sat to his right, the Second Elder sat opposite the First Elder, and Lujian sat near the door, leaning slightly forward as if ready to stand up at any moment. He wore a dark brown leather armor, with a bronze dagger hanging at his waist. The hilt of the dagger was wrapped with fine hemp rope and polished smooth. His gaze was sharp and intense, like a suppressed fire that could burst forth at any moment.

The other leaders and elders were also present. Some were deep in thought, some were exchanging glances, and some were whispering among themselves. An uneasy atmosphere permeated the council hall, like a string stretched too tight, ready to snap at any moment.

Lusheng cleared his throat and said, "I'm sure everyone has heard the news. The Wolf Tribe recently appeared in our tribe's territory with two thousand ponies. They didn't send anyone to warn us beforehand; they just barged in like that. By the time the sentries spotted them, the group was already less than half a day's walk from the nearest hunting ground."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces, and continued, "Now, what should we do? Anyone have any ideas? Let's hear them."

There was a brief silence in the council chamber, as if everyone was still processing this sudden news.

Lujian's voice was filled with anger, as if he had been holding back for a long time. He was the first to speak, "The Wolf Tribe wiped out the Great Boulder Tribe last year, and this year they're just swaggering through our territory. It shows they don't take our Great Luwei Tribe seriously at all. They're bringing so many horses through our territory this time; I don't know what they're up to. But I heard they only brought two hundred warriors—few men, many horses—which is a perfect opportunity for us to make a move. Our tribe is short of horses; our recently expanded cavalry hasn't had enough. If we're lucky, we can capture these ponies. Anyway, we have a grudge against the Wolf Tribe. They attacked our vassal tribes before, and now they're acting so arrogantly on our territory. It's only natural for us to retaliate; it's justifiable anywhere."

The elder slowly raised his head, glanced at Lujian, and said with the Chenwen and caution characteristic of an old man, "This Wolf Tribe is not easy to deal with. Last year, they were able to destroy the Great Boulder Tribe not by luck, but by strength. Xueya is ruthless and cunning. If we take his horse, what will we do if he comes back with a large army to retaliate next time?"

He paused, then turned his gaze to Lusheng and said, "Although our Great Luwei Tribe is not afraid of war, we cannot drag the entire tribe into an endless struggle for the sake of two thousand horses."

The Second Elder, however, had a different opinion. He waved his hand, as if to brush aside the First Elder's concerns. "We are adjacent to the Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe, which is not far to our north. The Wolf Tribe dares to attack the Great Boulder Tribe but dares not attack us. Why? Because the Great Boulder Tribe is far from the Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe, while we are close to it. They are afraid that attacking us will provoke the Tiger Tribe's intervention. Even if we seize their horses, the Wolf Tribe won't dare to say much. Even if they come after us for trouble, with our two thousand ponies expanding our strength, we are in no way inferior to them."

The two elders' opinions clashed sharply, and the air in the council hall grew even heavier. Lujian nodded in the direction of the Second Elder, as if to show his support, while glancing at the First Elder without saying a word.

Lusheng listened quietly without interrupting. After the Second Elder finished speaking, he remained silent for a while, his gaze shifting back and forth between Lujian and the First Elder, as if weighing the weight of the two options in his mind.

After a moment, he finally spoke, his voice more steady than before. "The First Elder is worried about the long term, while the Second Elder and Lujian are thinking about the immediate opportunity. I understand both sides' reasons."

He stood up, took a few steps in the council hall, stopped in front of a window, and gazed at the Luwei outside. After a moment, he turned around, his gaze falling on Lujian, and said, "Lujian, gather two thousand cavalrymen and come with me to intercept the Wolf Tribe."

His tone hardened. "I'm going to see for myself what they're up to. If they're just passing through and mean no harm, we can let them go—but we'll have to take some of their horses as toll. If they have other plans or are disrespectful, we won't let them pass so easily. The Great Luwei Tribe's territory isn't a place anyone can just walk into."

Upon hearing this, Lujian's eyes lit up, and he seemed to be ignited with energy. He stood up abruptly, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Yes, Chief! I'll go and muster the men right away! Two thousand cavalrymen can be assembled within half an hour!"

After he finished speaking, he turned and walked out, pushed open the door of the council hall, and quickly disappeared into the sunlight outside. The First Elder's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but after looking at Lusheng's expression, he ultimately did not speak. The Second Elder nodded slightly to Lusheng, which was considered as an expression of agreement. Lusheng sat down again, looking in the direction where Lujian had left outside the door, his eyes carrying a profound meaning.

That evening, the Wolf Tribe's procession was marching along the dirt road by the riverbank. Two thousand ponies moved through the twilight, their coats taking on warm shades of color in the setting sun. Their hooves kicked up a light dust on the muddy road, which looked like a thin layer of pale gold mist in the slanting sunlight. Some of the warriors in the procession swayed slightly on their horses, some talked in hushed tones, and some scanned their surroundings warily.

Xueya rode at the very front of the group, his back straight and his eyes fixed straight ahead. The day's journey had left him looking a bit dusty, but he didn't show any signs of fatigue. He squinted slightly, as if he were surveying the terrain ahead.

Just then, Yexiao spurred his horse up from behind. His horse galloped swiftly, the rapid, rhythmic hooves standing out against the backdrop of shouts and neighing horses. He practically hunched over as he rode to Xueya's side, slightly out of breath, his voice low but filled with urgency. "Chief, our scouts have just reported that a large number of the Great Luwei Tribe cavalry have been spotted ahead, a dark mass heading in our direction. Judging by their numbers, there are at least two thousand men. The leader seems to be an important figure, carrying a flag; it looks like the Great Luwei Tribe's chief has come in person."

Xueya listened without speaking, his face expressionless, only slightly narrowing his eyes. After a few breaths, he slowly spoke, "The Great Luwei Tribe has been expanding its strength recently. They only have about three thousand cavalrymen in total, yet they've sent two thousand of them. It seems they take us quite seriously."

His lips twitched slightly, and he continued, "Let's go, take some men and meet them. Since they're already here, it's good to see them and see what Lusheng is up to."

He led Yexiao and dozens of cavalrymen to speed up and gallop forward. The two groups met on an open riverbank. When they were about a hundred paces apart, both sides slowly came to a stop. On the Wolf Tribe's side, Xueya reined in his horse, while on the Great Luwei Tribe's side, two thousand cavalrymen under Lusheng's command blocked the Wolf Tribe's path.

The setting sun shone down from both sides, casting long shadows on the grass. The river flowed gurgling in the distance, and the wind blew across the river, carrying a damp scent and a faint smell of Water Grass.

Lusheng spurred his horse forward a few steps, reined it in on a slightly higher spot, and looked down at Xueya. He wore a dark blue linen robe over a leather armor, and a bronze longsword hung at his waist. His horse was chestnut-red with a long Zongmao that fluttered in the evening breeze. His face was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, his eyes were sharp, and his voice was loud as he shouted towards the Wolf Tribe: "Xueya! You've brought so many horses and barged into our Great Luwei Tribe's territory without even notifying us beforehand. You've just swaggered in like this, showing absolutely no respect for our Great Luwei Tribe!"

His voice echoed across the riverbank, carrying an undisguised rage. Xueya spurred his horse forward a few steps, stopping about thirty or forty paces from Lusheng. He rode a black pony with a glossy coat that gleamed in the setting sun. He tilted his head slightly, looking at Lusheng with an expressionless face, his tone as calm as a neighbor greeting someone at their door. "Chief Lusheng, we are merely passing through. We have no intention of opposing you. This road is passable. We will walk our own path, and you will live your own lives. We will not interfere with each other. Please make way, and we will not stay a day longer."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear, carrying on the river breeze, every word distinct. Lujian spurred his horse forward from behind Lusheng, leaning slightly forward, his gaze like a knife fixed on Xueya, saying, "Xueya, you've got a good idea! Your Wolf Tribe wiped out our vassal tribes before, and we haven't even settled that score with you yet! Now you've delivered yourself to our doorstep, so we don't need to search for you. Leave these ponies behind, and our Great Luwei Tribe will pretend the past never happened. Otherwise, you won't be leaving easily today!"

As he spoke, his right hand was already on the hilt of his sword, his fingers slightly clenched. Yexiao, standing beside Xueya, couldn't hold back any longer. He spurred his horse forward two steps, his voice filled with anger and warning. "What do you want? These ponies are a gift from our Wolf Tribe to the Tiger Tribe! You dare to covet them? Aren't you afraid of the Tiger Tribe's wrath? Don't think that just because you have more men, our Wolf Tribe will be afraid of you! If you dare to lay a hand on us today, the fate of the Great Boulder Tribe will be the example for your Great Luwei Tribe!"

His voice echoed across the riverbank. Lujian was about to retort when Lusheng raised his hand to stop him. Lusheng turned his head and asked in a low voice, "How much of what the Wolf Tribe people are saying is true? Are these horses really a gift for the Tiger Tribe?"

Lujian turned his gaze away from Xueya and whispered in Lusheng's ear, "Chief, even if the Wolf Tribe is telling the truth, we absolutely cannot let Wolf Tribe deliver these dwarf horses to the Tiger Tribe so easily. If the Tiger Tribe accepts the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe, they might turn against our Great Luwei Tribe in the future. We've already made enemies with the Wolf Tribe, and if they gain the Tiger Tribe's support, our Great Luwei Tribe will be in even more trouble. Today is a good opportunity; we can't let them go."

Lusheng listened, then remained silent for a moment. His gaze shifted back and forth between Xueya and the two thousand ponies, as if weighing them on a scale. Finally, he nodded slightly, his voice lower. "You're right, we can't let these horses fall into the Tiger Tribe's hands."

He raised his head and looked at Xueya again, his eyes now changed. His right hand slowly rose. Xueya, who had been watching Lusheng's movements, saw the hand rise, and his pupils contracted slightly. Without waiting for Lusheng to speak or for Lusheng's hand to fall, he abruptly turned his horse around and whispered, "Go!"

Almost simultaneously, Yexiao turned his horse around, and dozens of cavalrymen, as if pulled by the same rope, turned in unison. They rode the finest horses of the Wolf Tribe, their movements swift and agile, far superior to those of the Great Luwei Tribe's cavalry. Their turning and starting were Minjie. Xueya spurred his horse, and it shot off like an arrow. Yexiao and his cavalrymen followed closely behind, covering several dozen paces in the blink of an eye. The Wolf Tribe had been prepared. Seeing their leader's men running back, they immediately urged their horses to retreat. Their tactics were extremely flexible—each rider carried several horses, rotating them, switching when tired, always maintaining top speed. Some riders even flipped from one horse to another without stopping, their movements practiced and efficient.

How could the cavalry of the Great Luwei Tribe catch up? Although they had many men and horses, each man rode only one horse. Not to mention the Wolf Tribe's tactic of rotating ten horses per man. Lusheng led his men and horses in pursuit for a while, watching as the Wolf Tribe's army grew further and further away in the twilight, gradually merging into the dim fields.

For several days in a row, Xueya led the Wolf Tribe's troops and the Great Luwei Tribe's cavalry in circles across the wilderness. Although the Great Luwei Tribe's cavalry had a large number of men, they could not figure out the Wolf Tribe managed to shake them off with agile changes of direction.

A few days later, late one night, the moon was obscured by thick clouds, and the world was pitch black. You couldn't even see your own hand in front of your face. Xueya led his team to rest for two hours in a hollow in the forest. When the Great Luwei Tribe's search party returned to camp exhausted, he gave the order, and everyone silently mounted their horses. Under the cover of night and fog, they crossed the Great Luwei Tribe's blockade through a hunter's trail and quietly disappeared into the northern hills.

By the time dawn broke, they had completely shaken off the pursuers from the Great Luwei Tribe.