Confrontation and compromise
Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, the Wolf Tribe's procession had already set off. Several hours later, the Wolf Tribe came into view of the White Pig Tribe. Xueya walked at the very front of the procession, the scars on his face appearing particularly ferocious in the morning light. Behind him, nearly a hundred Wolf Tribe warriors stood in a loose formation. Although their clothes were tattered, their murderous aura was enough to make no one dare to underestimate them.
Further back were dozens of prisoners, tied with ropes, carrying grain they had stolen from the Bison Tribe, their eyes vacant and their steps faltering.
On the watchtower of the White Pig Tribe, Zongmao gripped his Shimao tightly. He squinted, carefully observing the approaching enemy—indeed, they were all fierce warriors, many bearing unhealed wounds.
"Father, they're here." Tunyong stood beside Zongmao, his voice tense.
"I see." Zongmao took a deep breath. "Pass down the order: everyone take your positions as planned, but do not make any rash moves."
The order was quickly relayed. In the White Pig Tribe's camp, six hundred people stood ready. The men stood on the outermost edge, holding various weapons; the women stood in the second row, carrying sharpened wooden sticks and slings; even the elderly and children picked up stones and stood at the very back.
When the Wolf Tribe stopped a hundred paces from the camp, Xueya saw their formation and his heart sank.
There are too many.
There were at least three or four hundred young and strong men and women, and each of them wore a resolute expression, clearly not lambs to the slaughter. What alarmed Xueya even more was that there seemed to be figures moving behind the camp—could there be hidden forces?
"This Zongmao is more difficult to deal with than the Jijiao," Xueya whispered to Duyan beside him.
Duyan calmly analyzed, "Although they outnumber us, they're definitely not united. Those from smaller tribes might not actually fight to the death."
Xueya nodded, but his expression remained grave. Even if they weren't united, with so many of them here, the Wolf Tribe would definitely not have the upper hand if a fight broke out.
"Duyan," Xueya ordered, "Go over there and talk to them about 'borrowing grain'."
The Duyan grinned, revealing his broken teeth. "How much do you want to borrow?"
"Twenty pigs, and a thousand catties of grain... we'll start with."
Duyan accepted the order and led two warriors toward the White Pig Tribe's camp. His Duyan swept over the heavily armed crowd, and he was secretly surprised—this group was not to be trifled with.
"Tell your leader to come out and speak!" Duyan stood outside the camp fence, his voice hoarse and grating.
Zongmao stepped out of the queue and met Duyan's gaze through the fence. "I am Zongmao, the chieftain of the White Pig Tribe. What brings you, the Wolf Tribe, here?"
"It's nothing serious." The Duyan adopted a "I'm very reasonable" attitude. "We're just passing through, and we've run out of food. We'd like to 'borrow' something from you."
What do you need to borrow?
"Twenty pigs and a thousand catties of grain," the Duyan said casually.
These words were like a spark thrown into a pot of boiling oil, and the White Pig Tribe's ranks immediately erupted in chaos.
Twenty pigs? Why don't you just rob them!
"How many pigs does our tribe have in total?!"
"The Fire Tribe has been coming to exchange pigs frequently these past two years, and we don't even have enough to eat ourselves!"
Angry curses rose and fell. The people from the smaller tribes also joined in the commotion, after all, they were now in the same boat as the White Pig Tribe.
Tunyong was so angry that his face turned pale. He gripped the Shimao tightly, wishing he could rush out and fight to the death.
Zongmao raised his hand, silencing the commotion. He stared at Duyan, his voice icy. "Friends of the Wolf Tribe, the amount you're 'borrowing' is far too large."
"Big?" the Duyan sneered. "There are over a hundred of us; we need to eat, right? Your White Pig Tribe is so wealthy; you wouldn't be so stingy with such a small amount, would you?"
"Wealthy?" Zongmao sneered. "If we were wealthy, would we be crammed together with these small tribes? To tell you the truth, our tribe's food reserves are running low, and pigs are even more precious. Ten pigs, that's the most we can get."
"Twenty!" Duyan refused to budge an inch. "Not a single one less!"
The atmosphere instantly became tense. The warriors of the Wolf Tribe stepped forward, weapons drawn; the White Pig Tribe also gripped their weapons tightly, and a great battle was about to break out.
Just then, Xueya slowly stepped forward. He arrived at the front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the White Pig Tribe's ranks before finally settling on Zongmao.
"Chief of the Zongmao," Xueya's voice was hoarse and threatening, "We, the Wolf Tribe, always do things with courtesy first, then force. Today, you have to give us the grain and the pigs, whether you like it or not."
Zongmao was burning with rage, but he remained calm on the surface. "Chief Xueya, although our White Pig Tribe is not as skilled in battle as your Wolf Tribe, we are not lambs to the slaughter. If a fight really breaks out, you may not come out on top."
He paused, then suddenly changed the subject. "Moreover, I've already sent someone to request reinforcements. Judging by the time, they should be arriving soon."
These words made Xueya frown. Reinforcements? Who could they be? The Bison Tribe had just been extorted by them; they shouldn't dare come again. Could it be... the Fire Tribe?
Fenglang whispered a warning, "Chief, he might be bluffing."
Xueya knew, of course, that it might be a bluff, but he dared not gamble. If reinforcements did arrive, the Wolf Tribe would be caught in a pincer attack, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Alright then," Xueya pondered for a moment, "Since the Zongmao Chieftain is unwilling to give it, let's do it the rules. Each side will send three people, and the winner will be decided by a duel. If you win, we'll leave immediately; if we win, twenty pigs and a thousand catties of grain, how about that?"
This was a tactic he had used in the Bison Tribe, and it always worked.
But Zongmao shook his head and refused. "A duel? Our White Pig Tribe doesn't do that. If we're going to fight, let's fight with real swords and spears!"
He spoke with conviction, but inwardly he was also apprehensive. Xueya's challenge to a duel clearly stemmed from his fear of their superior numbers and his reluctance to engage in a direct confrontation. But Zongmao knew even better that although his side outnumbered the Wolf Tribe, they might not be a match for them in a real fight—those smaller tribes might not be willing to fight to the death in crucial moments.
The two sides reached a stalemate. The Wolf Tribe didn't want a direct confrontation, and the White Pig Tribe didn't dare to actually start a war.
Time ticked by, and the sun rose higher. The soldiers on both sides began to feel anxious, their weapons soaked with sweat.
Finally, Xueya broke the silence. "Fifteen pigs and five hundred catties of grain. That's the final condition."
Zongmao quickly calculated in his mind. He knew that he wouldn't be able to get rid of these hungry wolves without paying a hefty price today. But twenty pigs were too many, and ten were too few...
"Ten pigs and five hundred catties of grain." Zongmao gritted his teeth. "This is our bottom line. If you're still not satisfied, then there's nothing more to say; we'll fight to the death!"
He raised his voice as he spoke, not only to Xueya, but also to his tribe and the smaller tribes behind him—look, Chief, I have done my best; it is the Wolf Tribe that has gone too far!
Xueya stared at Zongmao for a long time, then suddenly laughed, "Good! Zongmao Chief is indeed a straightforward man! Ten pigs and five hundred catties of grain, deal!"
He was actually relieved. If a real fight broke out, even if the Wolf Tribe won, they would suffer heavy losses. Getting ten pigs and five hundred catties of grain was already a good harvest.
With the agreement reached, the tense atmosphere finally eased. The White Pig Tribe tribe brought ten fat pigs and five hundred catties of food. Watching these pigs, which they had worked so hard to raise, and the grain they had accumulated, being taken away by the Wolf Tribe, everyone was filled with humiliation and anger.
The Wolf Tribe warriors gleefully accepted the spoils. Xueya said to Zongmao, "Chief Zongmao, thank you for your hospitality! Until we meet again!"
After saying that, he led his team away.
Watching the Wolf Tribe's departing figures, Zongmao breathed a long sigh of relief, but then a deep unease welled up in his heart. Although he had managed to appease the Wolf Tribe this time with ten pigs and five hundred catties of grain, what about next time? The Wolf Tribe had tasted the Tiantou and would definitely come again.
"Father, are we just going to let them go like this?" Tunyong asked unwillingly.
"Otherwise what?" Zongmao smiled bitterly. "If a real war breaks out, even if we win, how many people will die? Will those small tribes really fight to the death?"
He turned to the assembled tribal leaders and said, "Gentlemen, although the Wolf Tribe has temporarily retreated, they certainly won't let this go. We must prepare as soon as possible."
Everyone nodded, their faces filled with worry. They knew that this turmoil was far from over.
After leaving the White Pig Tribe, Xueya was in a good mood. Without losing a single soldier, he had obtained ten pigs and five hundred catties of grain, making this trip quite fruitful.
"Chief, where do we go next?" the Chaigou asked.
Xueya gazed northwest, a greedy glint in his eyes. " To the Fire Tribe. I heard that tribe has recently become incredibly wealthy..."
The wolf pack continued their advance, searching for their next prey. Meanwhile, the storm sweeping through the various tribes was drawing ever closer to the Fire Tribe.