Free Web NovelChapter 2149: Chapter 1560: A Gift! The Mongolian Pearl Maiden (Part 3)
At this very moment, facing a two hundred strong, armored army with unclear intentions, the Chieftain Ao Hala of the River-side Tribe gathered the herdsmen within minutes of the scout’s discovery, ready to both fight and flee.
The River-side Tribe’s quick reaction this time was mainly due to their recent serious boundary conflict over the northeastern pastures with another large tribe migrating southward, the Su Doulei Forest Tribe. In nomadic tribes, the size of the pastures determines the number of sheep, the number of sheep determines food supply, and food supply determines the tribe’s survival!
Such boundary conflicts are impossible to peacefully resolve without the strong mediation of a great tribe. Both sides will inevitably gather men and horses to fight before the winter snow arrives, and there will have to be casualties! Even if it ends in a draw, this fight can alleviate the tribe’s pressure during the winter. And if victory is achieved, wiping out the other tribe will certainly be the best outcome...
"Tenggeri! Where did these armored people come from? So many Armored Wulusi, could they have been sent by the Tumen Ten Thousand Households from the south to collect livestock? Huh! This blue Eagle Banner? Although I don’t recognize it, it seems to be the kind of banner only those noble great tribes can raise! Ordinary small tribes don’t even qualify to paint an eagle on their banner..."
"Brother! We only moved here two years ago and have already had livestock collected once. Our sheep are few, pastures limited, the Forest Tribe also moved south to compete with us, and we don’t even know if there’s going to be a white disaster this year... How can we have extra livestock to pay tribute again? If they collect people to go south to cut grass, that would be better than collecting livestock..."
"Ah! Bule, my brother! If it turns out to be a tribute team sent by the Ten Thousand Households from the south, we must squeeze out something anyway, especially to bribe the Lord Leader of the tribute team... Those great tribes that can bring out a thousand or several thousand cavalry are not something our River-side Tribe can resist. If we anger the Ten Thousand Households, dispatching a single cavalry squad would be enough to easily slaughter us, and we wouldn’t even be able to escape! Even this armored group can easily break our village, which we cannot fight against... Strange! Strange! Why do I feel something is not quite right with this armored group? Although they are well-equipped, why are there so few cavalry?..."
Surrounded by about twenty Wulusi Cavalry, Chieftain Ao Hala rode the tallest warhorse, looking at the armored team not far to the south. His face was full of vigilance, but after watching for a while, his eyes showed doubt. The armored people on the opposite side were silent and murderous, with fierce expressions, clearly true warriors who had rolled in a sea of blood. Several strong Lord Leaders riding on horses raised their heads, seemingly waiting for the River-side Tribe chieftain’s homage. Such an arrogant, power-respecting demeanor really seemed like a tribute team sent by some Ten Thousand Households great tribe.
"Bless the ancestors! Bule, my brother. This group of armored people hasn’t acted directly, they don’t seem too violent... Go and present a gift to their Lord Leader to see their reaction!"
"Brother, our tribe relocated here poor and miserable... What gift can we offer? War horses? Bows and arrows? Or furs?..."
"Forget about war horses and bows and arrows. We don’t have good horses or bows, and the other side probably won’t think much of them... Present the few sable furs we hunted last time instead! Hmm... Don’t go personally to offer the gift, let your youngest and most beautiful unmarried daughter with the Han slave girl... Yes! Send Ah Zhu over!..."
"Ah? This... Brother! Are you going to send... send her?..."
"Ancestor! The life and death of the tribe hangs in the moment of tying the horse, there’s no room for hesitation! Quickly go! If the armored people break the village, Ah Zhu will inevitably be taken by them too!..."
"I understand..."
Bule sighed, squeezed the horse’s belly, and hurried to the village. He rode quickly, and just after a quarter hour, he brought his young daughter and a bundle of snow-white sable fur to the front of the armored team. Then he dismounted, spread his hands to show he had no weapons, and shouted to the armored team.
"Tenggeri’s blessing! Strong, southern Armored Wulusi, I am the Chieftain’s brother of the River-side Tribe... I come to pay homage to your Lord Leader, offering the River-side Tribe’s tribute!..."
Bule shouted three times, and only then did a response come from the other side’s armored people, albeit in a strange and simplistic Mongolian accent.
"Tenggeri’s blessing! Come, present your gift!..."
"Yes!..."
Bule kept his head down, leading the horse, and cautiously walked into the ranks of the armored people who had parted. The young girl Ah Zhu on the horse widened her lake-like eyes, holding the furs whiter than herself, looking at the leaders on horseback. Everything happened so suddenly, but the fate of a grassland girl was originally like this. The more beautiful the East Pearl, the more it’s destined early on to belong to some strong warrior or Lord...
"Huh? Why did these Mongolian tribes suddenly bring out a girl?..."
"Ancestor High Priest, we’re pretending to be a team sent by a great tribe... The sable fur in this girl’s hands should be the tribute from this River-side Tribe to the great tribe! Hmm, no, she herself should also be part of the tribute, given to the team leader."
"Ah? This, that’s not right, is it? I’ve already promised Henü, I won’t take any more wives..."
Zuwaro hesitated slightly, but when he looked at the pearl-like beautiful girl opposite, he blinked his eyes, and his expression wavered.
"Chief Divine! Ali, if we reject these Mongolian tribes’ tribute, would that be a severe insult? We need to buy horses, we always have to show some goodwill, right? If we can establish inter-tribal marriages, then even if our identity is exposed later, maybe we can still buy horses long-term?... Alas! It’s all for the Chief Divine, sometimes I have no choice but to... Hmm? Uh?! Why is she? Why did she just go over there?!"
In Zuwaro’s surprised gaze, Bule directly bypassed him, and the girl on the horse shifted her attention to look at the taller, stronger, more imposing and stern man. Then, Bule stopped in front of Maha Agudah, respectfully looking at this figure as imposing as a tiger, with eyes as sharp as an eagle, an aura like a bear, "clearly a Ba Ter Warrior" Lord Leader, kneeling down loudly.
"Mighty and valiant Lord Leader! I present to you the tribe’s most precious fur, and my beautiful daughter Pearl!..."
