Chapter 475: Kill them all!
Han Cheng persuaded the shaman and he no longer objected to sending the people from the tribe to the Donkey Tribe, though the worry in his eyes could not be dispelled.
Under Han Cheng's orders, the Green Sparrow Tribe people quickly mobilized. The Vine Shield, Spear, Archery, and Sling Team gathered in the courtyard, totaling eighty-three people, looking quite impressive.
Due to its small overall number, the Green Sparrow Tribe, like other tribes of this era, followed the policy of universal military service. Almost all adults participated in the training.
Even Hei Wa and Lame were involved. However, they would not be assigned to combat teams or allowed to participate in external battles. They would only take part in the tribe’s defense if the tribe were attacked. Their importance to the tribe was too great for Han Cheng to risk losing them.
Han Cheng selected fifty-three people from those who were prepared.
Fifteen each from the Vine Shield Team, Archery Team, and Spear Team, and eight from the Sling Team.
The Eldest Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, and Shang team leaders went out to lead their respective teams. The successful diet-reduced Second Senior Brother stayed behind to guard the tribe with the remaining people.
The Donkey Tribe’s leader could not give a precise number of the attackers. Han Cheng asked in various ways before finally getting a rough idea of the numbers. The enemy had more strong adults than the Donkey Tribe, but not by much. There were twenty-three strong adults in the Donkey Tribe, and the enemy tribe likely had around thirty.
So Han Cheng sent out fifty-three people.
With these fifty-three well-trained and well-equipped tribal warriors, defeating the enemy tribe was not a problem.
“Be careful on the road; they might come toward our tribe...”
Han Cheng instructed the Eldest Senior Brother, who nodded solemnly.
Now an adult, Han Cheng originally intended to lead the team personally. However, the shaman strongly opposed it, fearing for his safety. Not just the shaman but also the Eldest Senior Brother and others persuaded Han Cheng not to go and promised to defeat the enemy. So, Han Cheng had to relent.
“Warriors of the Green Sparrow Tribe!”
After instructing the Eldest Brother, Han Cheng stepped in front of the fifty-three selected individuals, raised his voice, and gave a pre-battle pep talk.
“There is an evil tribe approaching us!
They want to kill our people! Steal our pottery and salt!
They want to occupy our homes! Take our food!
What should we do in the face of such a tribe?”
Han Cheng looked at everyone, speaking loudly.
As his voice rang out, the battle spirit of the Green Sparrow Tribe began to rise rapidly. These were things they had worked hard to acquire; they depended on them for survival. Now, another tribe wanted to take it away—how could that be tolerated?
The belligerent Shang patted the Donkey Tribe leader on the shoulder. He was pleased with the Donkey Tribe leader’s request to join the fight. The earlier discomfort caused by the Donkey Tribe leader breaking away from the tribe had vanished.
With the gates of the Green Sparrow Tribe wide open, the Green Sparrow Tribe members, who had drunk a bowl of fortifying liquor, walked out through the open gates.
Armed with weapons and led by the leader, the Eldest Senior Brother, they followed the stone-paved road towards the east side of the Green Sparrow Tribe.
This was the Green Sparrow Tribe's second expedition.
Their route was the one frequently used by the Donkey Tribe.
Due to increased trade between the Donkey Tribe and the Green Sparrow Tribe in recent years, their travels had worn down a clearly defined path.
As Master Lu said, the more a path is traveled, the clearer it becomes.
The team was divided into two groups, marching side by side along the winding stone-paved road, entering the forest, and heading towards the Donkey Tribe.
The forest was, as usual, empty. The people from the Flying Snake Tribe who had previously been here were nowhere to be seen.
At the courtyard entrance, Han Cheng and the others watched the Eldest Senior Brother and his team leave. After they entered the forest, Han Cheng turned and returned to the tribe.
The courtyard gate was tightly shut, and the remaining people were on high alert, with many standing on the walls.
Compared to before, the Green Sparrow Tribe had grown significantly. Even with fifty-three people sent out at once, there were still enough left behind to guard the tribe.
In addition to the thirty people assigned to the combat teams, others not on the designated teams could also take up weapons and participate in defending the tribe!
In the forest, at a hidden spot some distance from the path worn by the Donkey Tribe, the fourth leader of the Teng Snake Tribe lay low, not daring to move, as did the rest of their group.
They watched in shock and panic as the people walked by.
They had not expected that this tribe with the strange caves would have so many adults! Moreover, the adults in this tribe looked even stronger than their tribe.
Overall, they appeared stronger than their tribe!
After the shock, they felt a deep sense of relief. Thankfully, their leader had moved them to a new location not long ago. If they had still been in their old spot, facing this tribe with strange weapons and a much larger number, they would likely have been in grave danger.
The Teng Snake Tribe’s four leaders, realizing they couldn’t withstand the strength of this formidable tribe, began to retreat slowly, preparing to sneak away.
However, they suddenly stopped when they realized something. With so many people gone from the tribe, few adults were left behind. Now might be the perfect time to attack...