Wolves and Bears Join Forces

In the Wolf Tribe's camp, the morning light had just spilled over the low hills to the east. The light first fell on the pointed corners of the tents, then slowly slid down. The camp's open space was already filled with people. Horses were led in rows in the center of the camp. Some were grazing on the remaining dry grass, while others were swishing their tails to shoo away flying insects. Their manes swayed slightly in the morning breeze. Occasionally, a horse would tilt its head back and snort, the white breath dispersing into a small cloud of mist in the cool air before being quickly carried away by the wind.

The soldiers were emerging from their tents. Some were tightening the straps of their last leather armor, bending down to tug at the shoulder straps to check their tightness; others were squatting at the tent entrance checking the Ma'an straps, running their fingers along the leather straps and pulling on any uncertain seams to make sure they weren't loose before standing up; still others were sitting on the ground, breaking their rations into small pieces and stuffing them into their cloth bags, occasionally dropping a small piece, bending down to pick it up, blowing on it, and putting it back.

Xueya stood in front of the largest tent in the center of the camp, his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, his fingertips tracing the polished surface of the hilt. His gaze slowly swept over the fully equipped and ready-to-go troops, pausing for a moment as his eyes passed over each rank of warriors, as if he were conducting a final check with his own eyes.

Yexiao approached from a distance. Today he was wearing a dark brown linen coat, the collar tight, the cuffs tied with thin rope—clearly the attire for travel. His steps were steady, leaving shallow footprints on the dry, muddy ground of the camp. Duzhu emerged from another tent, wearing dark leather armor, a short knife at her waist, its scabbard gleaming. Her hair was tied back with a leather cord, no stray hairs falling, revealing a face sculpted by the sun and sand. As she came out, she casually closed the tent flap, then stood at the entrance, looking in the direction of Xueya and Yexiao, without approaching.

Xueya and the other man approached before speaking, "Although our warrior numbers haven't increased during this time, our food and equipment are better than before, and our training is more frequent. This time, the Tiger Tribe has completely swallowed up the Great Luwei Tribe's territory and population. Their sights are now set on the south. Our Wolf Tribe and Bear Tribe have been assigned to the vanguard, leading the Tiger Tribe."

As he spoke, he turned to the side and glanced at the north side of the camp. Turning back, his gaze first fell on Duzhu's face as he said, "This time I took most of our fighting force with me. We can't leave the home base empty. Duzhu, you and Xueshou must guard the home base well. You will still be in charge of the camp on the original Great Boulder Tribe side, while Xueshou will stay behind at the lair. We can't let our guard down on either side."

Duzhu straightened up. Her shoulders, which had been slightly hunched, lifted slightly upon hearing this. She straightened her back, placed her hands at her sides, and clenched her fingers slightly. "Don't worry, Chief," she said, "I will definitely guard this camp well. We will also increase the number of patrols at the granary and supply warehouse."

Xueya then turned to Yexiao and said, "Yexiao, come with me. When we first settled in the Big Horse River Basin Valley Tribe, it was Little Valley Camp Outpost's Daiyan camp who drove us out. We had just established ourselves when they chased us away like livestock to this area. This time, we should settle that score."

Yexiao didn't say much, only nodded and said, "It's time to clear it out."

Xueya glanced at the two again, then turned and walked towards the ranks already lined up in the center of the camp. He took a few steps, then stopped, turned back to look at Duzhu, his gaze more serious than before, and his voice lowered, as if he intended to speak only to her, "This camp must be well-guarded, and the supplies inside must be carefully protected. Those things were plundered from the Great Luwei Tribe last time; they'll last for a while, but not forever. Only by managing this place well, making it produce its own food and supplies, can our Wolf Tribe avoid decline. In the future, if our status in the Tiger Tribe surpasses that of the Bear Tribe, we can't rely solely on our horse and sword; we need something we can sustain ourselves. Our territory must be stable, our granaries full, and our population large. By guarding this camp, you are laying the foundation for the Wolf Tribe's future."

After listening, the Duzhu's gaze deepened. She raised her right hand and pressed it against the hilt of the short sword at her waist, her fingertips lingering on the hilt before releasing it. "Rest assured, Chief," she said, "I will guard the camp as if it were the Wolf Tribe's lair. After you lead your men to capture the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost, you will bring back another batch of supplies for the tribe. At that time, our foundation will be even stronger, and our base will be more stable."

Yexiao nodded beside him, his voice low but firm. "We suffered a great loss at the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp last time; this time, we'll teach them a lesson."

Xueya's lips twitched slightly, like a smile that hadn't even fully formed before it vanished, "That's for sure. The Wolf Tribe has mobilized four thousand men this time, and the Bear Tribe won't be idle either. That old bastard Xiong Lie won't let this golden opportunity slip by. The Valley Tribe definitely won't be able to withstand it. This time, our Wolf Tribe can not only get revenge, but also seize some supplies. Xiong Lie personally promised that after we take down the Little Valley Camp, the Wolf Tribe will get to choose their own food and tools first."

He glanced one last time at the soldiers in the camp who were about to depart, then raised his right hand, palm forward, and waved it forcefully. "It's getting late, let's get ready to set off. Take all our ships with us, load them with supplies for the journey. Yexiao, you arrange the order of the troops."

Yexiao nodded, turned, and walked towards the column. A few short commands followed, and the column began to slowly move towards the dirt road outside the camp. The morning light gradually rose as the column moved, casting long shadows of the warriors across the dry earth. The hoofprints of horses and the footprints of foot soldiers mingled, like an unfolding woven pattern, neither intersecting nor overlapping. The column marched south along the dirt road. After several days, the afternoon sun slanted down from the west, warming the ground slightly. The roadside grass bowed and then bounced in the wind. The outline of the Bear Tribe camp gradually appeared on the horizon—a camp stretching along the riverbank, with wooden huts and tents arranged in a staggered pattern, from the outer wooden fence to the inner buildings, layering inwards like a natural texture formed in the folds of the earth. The highest watchtowers were topped with the Bear Tribe's flag, which fluttered slowly in the afternoon wind, the bear head patterns appearing and disappearing in the light.

The Bear Tribe's camp was just as busy, even busier than when the Wolf Tribe had set off. Warriors were loading the last few bundles of arrows onto flatbed carts. Some were squatting at the back of the carts, securing the arrows tightly with ropes, wrapping them twice, tying a knot, and pulling on them to make sure they wouldn't come undone on the road. Others were checking the oar straps on the shore, walking along the gunwale, bending down to tap the straps after each oar to make sure they weren't loose. Still others were packing dry rations into their cloth bags, tying them shut with hemp rope, and arranging them in rows next to the prepared wooden crates. The camp was filled with the sounds of people coming and going, carrying supplies—footsteps, short shouts, and the clanging of wood and pottery as they were moved.

Xiong Lie, the chieftain of the Xiong Bear Tribe, stood at the entrance of the council hall in the center of the camp, his hands behind his back, watching his warriors bustling about. His gaze followed the teams carrying supplies, pausing briefly at a group of flatbed carts loaded with grain. Seeing that there were enough men, he turned to the other side, where the navy was organizing its ranks. Occasionally, someone would stop to report something to him as they passed by. After listening, he would nod or point in a certain direction, and the person would quickly run in that direction to make adjustments.

He watched for a while, then turned and walked back into the council hall, saying to the guard at the door, "Go and call Pan'er here." The guard responded and quickly turned and left. Xiong Lie sat down in the main seat of the council hall, pushed the wooden tablet on the table to the corner, placed his hands on his knees, and lightly tapped the fabric of his thighs with his fingertips, as if counting the time with that gesture. After about half a cup of tea's time, Xiong Pan walked quickly from the other end of the camp. He was wearing a dark gray linen short robe, with a short knife hanging at his waist, the scabbard still a little mud on it, and his trousers rolled up above his knees, revealing several streaks of dried mud on his strong calves, as if he had just finished something on the riverbank and rushed back. He stopped at the door, called out "Father," and then stepped over the threshold and went into the house.

Xiong Lie didn't stand up. He spoke directly, his pace slow, as if laying out his prepared words one by one, pausing briefly after each sentence to allow it to settle. "This time, I plan to have you stay and guard the tribal camp. This great battle is extremely important for our Bear Tribe; it's a good opportunity for revenge and also a good opportunity to expand our strength. Therefore, I plan to take about four thousand men by land and sea, leaving only about two thousand warriors at the tribal camp. The home cannot be left unattended; you must stay here and defend the camp."

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Xiong Pan's face, lingering on subtle changes in his brows and the corners of his eyes, as if observing whether he showed any obvious reaction when he heard the words "stay behind".

After listening, Xiong Pan's expression remained unchanged; his shoulders did not slump, and his gaze did not waver. He stood up straight, his voice not loud but firm. "Father, rest assured, I will guard the tribe so well that not even a mosquito can fly in. We will add two more people to the outer sentry posts, and change the night patrol routes, rotating them so they can't figure out the pattern and won't be able to sneak up to the camp walls."

Xiong Lie nodded, as if this answer was expected. Then his tone became more detailed, and his fingers rose and fell on his knees. "After I leave, I'll leave everything at the camp to you. Every night, you must go to the warehouse entrance and make sure the torches are still burning. Our people will set off as soon as the Wolf Tribe arrives; they should be there soon."

He tapped his knee twice with his fingers. "This time the news was kept very secret. We've taken control of the Valley Tribe's spies; they were stopped before they could even send a message to the Valley Tribe. The Valley Tribe probably doesn't know about our operation yet."

Hearing this, Xiong Pan smiled slightly, a faint smile, but it eased his brows. "That's good. If the Valley Tribe had known beforehand that we were allied with the Wolf Tribe, they would definitely have been on guard, and the battle wouldn't have been so easy. It's better that they don't know. When we attack, they should still be in the fields harvesting rice, and the people drying rice in the fields haven't finished yet."

The two exchanged a few more words about the naval departure time and the details of the fleet's organization, their voices echoing in the council hall, punctuated by occasional pauses. Just as they were discussing the order of loading supplies, a series of hurried footsteps approached rapidly from afar, stopping almost without slowing down at the threshold. A young soldier steadied himself at the threshold, catching his breath before straightening up and bowing to Xiong Lie, his voice slightly unsteady from running. "Chief, the Wolf Tribe's army has reached the vicinity of the camp. The men on the watchtower spotted them first; their flags are at the head of the column, and our sentries recognized the Wolf Tribe's flag colors. There are a few ships over there, but most are cavalry; their numbers are considerable, probably around four thousand."

After listening, Xiong Lie stood up from his chair, his movements quicker than usual. He placed his hands on the table, elbows straight, and leaned slightly forward. He glanced at Xiong Pan, then turned back, his voice carrying a sense of reassurance. "Good! With the Wolf Tribe's four thousand men, we'll definitely be able to capture the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost in one fell swoop. Now that the Wolf Tribe's forces have arrived, the Tiger Tribe's army should arrive in a couple of days. Let's join up with the Wolf Tribe first, then set off and take the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost first. We can't keep the Wolf Tribe waiting."

He turned and strode towards the door, stopping at the threshold. He turned back to Xiong Pan and said, "Come on, come with me to see the people of the Wolf Tribe."

Xiong Pan followed behind him, and the two left the council hall one after the other, passing through the camp. As they passed the troops preparing to depart, the soldiers quickly stepped aside to make way for them. Some stopped what they were doing and looked up to watch them pass by, while others whispered something, only to be stopped by a nudge to the arm from the person next to them. Xiong Lie walked quickly, not stopping to respond to those gazes, his boots pounding the compacted mud, each step carrying an unyielding force.

The Wolf Tribe's caravan had stopped on a wide open plain outside the Bear Tribe's camp. The cavalrymen remained seated on their horses, with Xueya riding a black horse at the head of the caravan, his gaze fixed on the open gates of the Bear Tribe's camp.

As Xiong Lie emerged from the camp gate, he raised his hand from a distance, pausing briefly above his head—a gesture that served as both a greeting and a signal. Xueya also reined in his horse, raising his hand as well, palm facing forward, exchanging a palm's width of light with Xiong Lie. The two stood facing each other a short distance from the camp gate. Xiong Lie spoke first, his voice carrying the certainty characteristic of a long-time tribal leader. "Chief Xueya, it's good that you've arrived. You must have had a hurried journey. Were there any incidents along the way? Did you encounter any scouts from the Valley Tribe on your way here? Did you notice anyone following you from a distance?"

Xueya dismounted with a swift and clean motion, his boots thumping softly on the grass. He brushed the dust off his shoulders, his voice low but clear. "No trouble on the road. The Valley Tribe hasn't set their sights on this area yet; their scouts are all patrolling the other side of the river."

Xiong Lie nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping from Xueya's shoulder over his back, then at the neatly lined-up cavalry. "That's perfect. The Tiger Tribe's people will arrive in a couple of days. Let's take down the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost first. Once we take Little Valley Camp Outpost, the Valley Tribe's main force will be weakened, like losing a door that can be closed. When the Tiger Tribe's main force arrives, they'll only have the option of fighting back."

Xueya didn't speak, but simply nodded. The nod wasn't deep, but it was firm. "Let's set off then. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can fight, lest something unexpected happens. The team is already here; we don't need to rest anymore, let's go straight."

Xiong Lie nodded, turned around and shouted into the camp, "Break camp! Move out!"

The two teams merged under the afternoon sun and quickly advanced towards the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost.