The seaside is warm with fragrant grass upon the shore. Longships glide through the waves, and encampnts stand at the riverside. Hundreds of warriors cheer and shout, while two leaders sit facing each other, drinking together. Priest Tomate finishes a cup of blood wine and laughs heartily.
"Good, refreshing! Moqi, my brother, what you want, I can give it to you in the future! The Kingdom provides you with god-given weapons and equipnt, and you provide skilled warriors to the Kingdom! Together, we can sweep through the Maya Tribes of the Northern Land!"
Hearing this, Chieftain Moqi’s eyes flickered. He reached out friendly, grasping Priest Tomate’s arm, looking him in the eye, and spoke earnestly.
"Xulucumul! We Putun people, ’live under trees amid ashes and poverty.’ Life is always hard; we can only see what’s in front, unable to think too far ahead... Brother Tomate, there are many weapons on your ships, and many warriors in our tribe. Let’s trade now, before you leave!"
"Trade now, in such haste?"
Priest Tomate was taken aback by how impatient Chieftain Moqi was.
"How do you want to trade?"
"Five Bronze Axes for one tribal warrior! Two Greatbows for one warrior! As for your Leather Armor..."
Chieftain Moqi squinted his eyes, greedily eyeing the armor worn by Prepecha Warriors. He had seen similar armor among City-State folks, much better than Wooden Armor. Then, he curiously glanced at Puap wearing the unfamiliar Bronze Cloth Armor. Finally, he extended a finger, greedily saying.
"One set of Leather Armor for one warrior! They’ve seen blood, killed, and are skilled with Javelins. After the trade, they join the Fierce Tiger Tribe, becoming yours!"
"Oh? One set of Leather Armor, two Greatbows, or five Bronze Axes for one Putun Tribal Warrior?"
Priest Tomate looked at Chieftain Moqi with a smirk.
"Moqi, my brother, the price..."
"Ahem! Brother Tomate, to be honest, we Short Spear Tribe have twenty thousand, can mobilize five thousand warriors; the strongest tribe in the great grass river region!"
Chieftain Moqi clenched his fist and thumped his chest again, slightly boasting of his tribe’s might. Then, he gazed at the vast grass river to the East, his eyes full of ambition and desire!
"In the great grass river region, there are seven or eight Great Tribes, over ten Small Tribes, tens of thousands of hunting Putun Tribes! As long as I have your weapons, I can send troops to the upper reaches of the great grass river’s other Putun Tribes!..."
"This trade price does make the tribe a bit fortunate, I can compensate you more. According to Putun tradition, tribal warriors defeated and captured submit to the powerful victor, starting anew as War Slaves for the new tribe! If you can wait, loan so weapons first, then when I return victorious, I can give you double the War Slaves!"
Speaking of this, a genuine smile appeared on Chieftain Moqi’s rugged face. He tightly grabbed Priest Tomate, urgently inquiring.
"How is it? Brother Tomate, if you desire gemstones, gold, and silver, there are loot from years in the tribe, all yours!"
"Hmm..."
Hearing this, the corner of Priest Tomate’s mouth lifted. Along the journey, the Kingdom sold Lake Gem and profited greatly. Unexpectedly, it was the "barbaric" Putun folks here who truly recognized value. The chieftain even considered taking a loan for the Kingdom’s weapons, repaying double...
"The Kingdom Fleet indeed has two entire ships reserved with axe and spear. But with seven longships carrying four hundred warriors and sailors, allowing for only a hundred and fifty more, space for food and water storage would be too tight..."
Priest Tomate pondered for a while, then responded seriously to the chieftain.
"Brother Moqi, our fleet only needs eighty warriors now."
"Only eighty warriors?"
Upon hearing this, Chieftain Moqi furrowed his brows. Even with five Bronze Axes for one warrior, four hundred Bronze Axes would not suffice. What’s more, weapons wear out when used...
"Correct! Brother Moqi, this is our first transaction, so let’s go with your price. But truthfully, our Greatbow is costly, requiring highly durable arrows. Your tribe cannot manufacture them and cannot use them for long."
Upon hearing this, Chieftain Moqi rubbed his chin, bringing from the sand a Bronze Arrow. He examined the sharp arrowhead, sturdy wooden shaft, and glued tail feathers, silent in contemplation. Monts later, he snapped the wooden shaft with both hands, finally nodding silently.
"In large-scale combat, rather than using close-ranged hand axe, it’s better to use long-range Bronze Spears."
Priest Tomate gestured, summoning a Prepecha Warrior wielding a spear. Then, he took hold of a Bronze Spear, demonstrating skilled thrusts, and handed the spear to Chieftain Moqi.
"One Bronze Axe can exchange for two Bronze Spears. The spearhead is durable; when dull, sharpen it. If the wooden shaft breaks, you can replace it, or use it as a Short Spear... Give a tribal warrior, and I will give you ten Long Spears! Eight hundred Bronze Spears can definitely enhance your tribe’s strength!"
Gazing at the Long Spear before him, Chieftain Moqi pondered intensely again. To be honest, he desired the long-distance shooting Greatbow and sturdy Leather Armor the most. As for Bronze Axes and Spears, their greatest use wasn’t defeating mobilized tribal warriors, but breaking through other tribes’ Wooden Armor Warriors.
"Eighty warriors, eight hundred Long Spears... eighty warriors, twenty sets of Leather Armor, six hundred Long Spears..."
Chieftain Moqi murmured softly, thinking hard for a while. He then tightly grasped Priest Tomate’s arm with great force, making the latter’s eyelids twitch.
"Tomate, my brother! Your god-given weapons, so sharp and sturdy, how are they crafted?"
"Brother Moqi, it requires the Chief Divine’s fla, his stone, crafted by his craftsn! Once your tribe fully submits to the Chief Divine, gradually, you can learn too!"
Priest Tomate tried to withdraw his arm but couldn’t. Enduring the pain, he still wore a wide smile.
"Chief Divine grants protection! He bestows strong weapons upon devoted followers, overcoming all tribal obstacles!"
"Chief Divine grants protection! He will aid in defeating upstream enemies, annexing their tribe!"
Chieftain Moqi gritted his teeth, sincerely praying for the first ti. Then, he resolutely made his decision.
"Tomate, my brother. I give you eighty skilled tribe mbers! You give twenty sets of Leather Armor, six hundred Long Spears! I will also give you a close tribal warrior; he can throw a dart and hit a running deer!"
After saying this, Chieftain Moqi turned around, looked around, and called out to a young trusted aide.
"Dart Mokai! Ancestors bear witness, from today, you will follow the Fierce Tiger Tribe! You should step out from the grasslands and hills, go venture out. This is a Great Tribe, only true warriors can find a place here!"
"...Understood, Chieftain."
Dart Mokai pursed his lips and strode confidently to stand before Priest Tomate. He assessed the other’s physical stamina, secretly pursing his lips. Then, he pounded his own chest and shouted loudly.
"Leaders of the Fierce Tiger Tribe! Ancestors bear witness, I am a true warrior; you will see my Javelin, witness my valor!"
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