Chapter 739: Heavy Snow Falls, the Tiger Talisman Emerges!
After agreeing with everyone on the number of warriors each tribe would send. The timing of the expedition, and promising that during this period, any tribe attacked by the evil Semi-Farming Tribe could come to the Green Sparrow Tribe for help, this first alliance meeting—led by the Green Sparrow Tribe and involving surrounding tribes—came to a successful conclusion.
Although the meeting seemed a bit informal and awkward due to inexperience, it was the very first of its kind among the neighboring tribes.
This kind of alliance held great significance.
Each tribe’s representative who returned home carried a finely crafted pottery bowl inscribed with the four large characters “Green Sparrow Alliance,” all beaming with happiness.
Some were happy because of the bowl in their hands; more so, they felt proud for having accomplished something remarkable.
Han Cheng stood at the tribe’s entrance, watching them depart.
Initially, he planned to have Heiwa bake some teacups.
But considering that apart from the Green Sparrow Tribe, most tribes had no habit of drinking tea, he changed the plan to pottery bowls instead, which, judging by everyone’s reaction, worked out quite well.
After all, they had been riled up before, eager to attack immediately, swords drawn and ready for battle, but now they had to wait so long.
However, their dissatisfaction didn’t last long. When Han Cheng counted on his fingers the amount of food compensation needed for the tribes at that time, their grievances vanished instantly.
Compared to losing significant amounts of grain, waiting until after the snow to strike was an incredibly wise decision.
Seeing the tribe’s reactions, Han Cheng couldn’t help but smile and curse quietly.
Sure enough, “Money is a good medicine; it has a blatant effect.”
The tribe’s reactions were very similar to how Han Cheng had been in his past life.
Back then, when he was depressed and gloomy for a while, he decided to see a psychologist.
When he learned the fee was $1,500 per hour, he looked at his empty wallet and suddenly felt refreshed and energized.
Scheduling the attack on the Semi-Farming Tribe after snowfall wasn’t just because Han Cheng was saving food; there were other reasons.
One was that the Semi-Farming Tribe’s people, riding donkeys, were swift runners.
A recent example was when the Semi-Farming leader and his men came to spy on the Green Sparrow Tribe but fled quickly after wolves discovered them.
Han Cheng wanted to attack partly to capture many donkeys. If he went during regular times, some Semi-Farming members might escape on donkeys, which would be heartbreaking.
After the snow falls, thick snow would effectively slow down the donkeys’ running speed, making it much harder for Semi-Farming people to escape on horseback.
For the Semi-Farming Tribe, heavy snow was a miserable obstacle that made travel difficult.
But for the Green Sparrow Tribe, which owned herds of deer and sleds, it was an excellent opportunity to travel.
Moreover, once heavy snow sealed the mountains, wild beasts disappeared, and all tribes huddled in their caves to hibernate, making it the safest time of the year.
Nearly every tribe knew this from experience.
Han Cheng’s timing for sending troops would achieve the effect of striking when least expected.
Han Cheng always took a cautious attitude toward war.
Because war involved many lives and required no room for carelessness.
That’s why, even though it was apparent the Semi-Farming Tribe couldn’t make much trouble under this united front, Han Cheng still made comprehensive considerations.
He wasn’t just thinking about how to win, but how to minimize casualties once victory was assured.
Every warrior sent was an extremely valuable asset to the tribe, as only the strongest and healthiest could be chosen.
Though Han Cheng didn’t know much about war, he understood one thing clearly: preparing well before battle to maximize one’s advantages and magnify the enemy’s weaknesses.
After the alliance meeting, Lame limped back with several men and began clanging and banging to make sleds.
Over several years of gradual construction, the tribe already had many sleds.
However, since this expedition required a large number of people and substantial supplies, Han Cheng instructed Lame to prepare a new batch.
During this wait, the first snow finally fell.
In the past, when heavy snow fell, the Green Sparrow Tribe’s adults—except for minors and the exceptional Han the Divine Child—were seldom happy.
But this year was different.
As delicate snowflakes drifted down from the sky, the long-anticipated Green Sparrow Tribe erupted with cheers.
The next day, the trading team set off carrying a bag containing half a tiger talisman…
Inside the cave of the Bear Tribe, firewood burned, smoke seeping through cracks in the cave walls.
The Bear Tribe’s leader lay at the cave entrance, peering out through a gap in the stone slabs.
Outside lay a blanket of white snow, with small flocks of sparrows occasionally landing to dig through the snow for grass seeds.
After watching for a while and seeing that everything remained calm, the leader felt a bit disappointed.
He turned and sat by the fire, warming his hands, then opened his palm.
In his hand gleamed half a worn tiger talisman, shining brightly in the firelight.
The gleaming half-tiger immediately drew the attention of the surrounding Bear Tribe members.
Someone reached out to touch it, but the leader slapped that person’s hand without hesitation.
He remembered clearly that the wise Divine Child said this thing was extremely precious and needed careful guarding…
The sparrows on the snow flew away, and a deer-pulled sled came into view.
The Bear Tribe’s leader excitedly moved the stone slab aside to welcome it… Read full story at novel⦿fire.net
Shang opened his palm, revealing half the tiger talisman.
The Bear Tribe leader took the half-talisman, matched it with the one in his hand, forming a complete tiger.
The inscriptions along the seams of the tiger were perfectly aligned.
“The symbol of armor and soldiers: right half at Qing, left half at Bear. Whenever warriors don armor and number five or more, they must show the king’s talisman…”