Free Web NovelChapter 2145: Chapter 1558: Ah! If the Ming Army Sees This Mongolian Army Flag...
"Lord Na Yan! Bowed to the lord... I am Amo, the pastoral slave of Orala, herding sheep for the lord of the tribe... I don’t know which Tumen Great Master sent you? Are you here to collect cattle and sheep, conscript soldiers, or just passing by?"
The Heilongjiang River flows slowly, its rolling waves moistening the black soil, and the lush grass fattens the herds. It’s the best season on the prairie, with cattle, sheep, and horses all in their prime. Pastoral slave Amo buried his head deep into the ground, smelling the earthy scent, not daring to look directly at the "Wulusi" cavalry atop their horses, so nervous he almost wet himself.
What is called "Orala" means "river-side tribe." "Orala" refers to "the river-side," while "hala" means "tribe." This is actually Dawo’er language from the Mongolic language family, which later generations generally classify as the Dawo’er Clan. But in this 15th-century Tatar era, they were undoubtedly categorized as part of the Mongolian Tribes. Much like the Ewenke Tribe by the Sahalien Ula River in the more northeastern forests, who, due to speaking Tungusic, are regarded as part of the Jurchen Tribes, akin to the Jurchen Wild Man descending southward from the North Mountain.
"???... Aguda, what’s he saying?"
"This is not Jurchen language, I don’t understand it. Brother Ali?"
"Ancestor High Priest, Brother Aguda, I also didn’t comprehend it. He seems to mention something about ’Leader’ and ’Thousand Households’? It’s like he’s mistaking us for some southern Leader of the Thousand Household sending a team? Hmm, the scale of our armored troops is indeed beyond what local tribes can muster. Only the southern Duoyan Sanwei or the northwestern Wuliangha Thousand Household... those Mongolian powerful Thousand Households’ direct tents could gather two hundred armored troops!"
Ali furrowed his brow, pondering thoughtfully. He only knew a little Mongolian language, but the Dawo’er language from the pastoral slave could be viewed as a kind of dialect, making it very difficult for him to understand.
"Chief Divine bears witness! This should be a Tatar pastoral slave, likely from a migrating Mongolian tribe? But regardless, there must be someone in their tribe who speaks Jurchen language. As long as we find their tribal camp, communication can happen! And even if the language doesn’t connect, trade is still possible..."
Ali wasn’t in a rush for the upcoming "trade." The local tribes couldn’t possibly lack someone who spoke Jurchen language. In all those years, they didn’t know how many battles and alliances Wild Man Jurchen descending southward had with local tribes, or how many people suddenly transformed from "Jurchen Wild Man" to "Mongolian Tribes." Even if indeed the language didn’t communicate, as long as the knife in hand was sharp enough, the trade could still proceed, though a little more patience was needed. Hmm, having a knife ensured patience from the other party.
"Roar! Fool! Food! Food!... We, want, food! Take us there!"
In such situations, Wu Bear Wudouwen needed to take to the stage. This chieftain with a bear-like physique gestured twice and roared a few times, and the pastoral slave instantly understood. Trembling all over, he knelt on the ground, bowing repeatedly to the roaring "Black Bear Wulusi," then pointed northward somewhere, trembling as he spoke.
"Lord, Master Wulusi! The... the tribe’s village is... is in that direction! When... you reach the village, there... there will be food!"
"Roar! Food? There?"
"Yes! Yes... there! Food..."
Having confirmed the direction and location of the tribe, next came meeting them for peaceful or forceful "interaction." But before the meeting, being fully armored was evidently a show of respect for either "friend" or "foe."
"Chief Divine bless! Don the iron armor, tune the bowstrings, take up the weapons... be ready for battle!"
"Clang clang... ding..."
Very soon, the clang of armor plates colliding made the kneeling pastoral slave Amo terrified, his limbs trembling. He didn’t know what had happened; did he say something wrong? These lords from the south were strange, not knowing what language they spoke and terrifically fierce! He wanted to say a few more things, but the warriors like bears opposite him had already lost patience. Wu Bear had no intention to keep talking, only pointed to the direction of the village, shouting impatiently.
"Roar! You go! Lead the way! Food!!..."
"??... Yes! Yes! Food..."
Pastoral slave Amo stumbled, barefoot, and empty-handed, running in the direction of the tribe. His herding whip had long dropped somewhere, and he had no time to care about the dozens of sheep by the riverside. If he didn’t serve these fierce and savage "Masters Wulusi" from the southwell, it was likely that their solid village with over four hundred people, the area’s most robust Orala, could be attacked and slaughtered by the other side! The lords from the southern great tribe were all so unreasonable...
"Ali, you just said... this pastoral slave’s display might have mistaken us for a team sent by southern Mongolian great tribe?"
"Hmm! Probably because of our iron armor... The court prohibits the export of ironware to Mongolian Tribes; all tribes are very short of armor... Many tribes can gather two hundred warriors, but only those mighty thousand or ten thousand riding great tribes could gather two hundred armored warriors! Just like the powerful Duoyan Sanwei..."
"Chief Divine bless! What usually does the southern Mongolian great tribe send people to these northern small tribes for? Is it to collect tribute?"
"Depending on the situation! They definitely would collect livestock tribute and also summon warriors. Especially when autumn arrives, and horses are fat, the three guards would descend southward to loot and harass the Great Ming Border... The strong men of these northern small tribes are taken to fiercely battle and deplete forces as insignificant soldiers. They are not part of the three guards; no one would care how many perish!"
