NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: The Rim
With the biggest two tribes in 10 km over and done with, the rest fell like a house of cards, with not a single man escaping.
This would give him ten days before the news of the yellow-skinned tribe spread further.
In a savage society, whose only thoughts revolve around blood, they had a strong notion of turf. Because their turf provided food which in turn meant the tribe's survival.
Making any tribe rashly attacking another, be rooted out on the spot. Unless it was part of the alliance.
Under such custom, no tribe would up and invade another tribe, lest they incurred their own downfall.
Under this condition, Zhong Yu had an easy time pulling the wool over the plains and buying enough time to build his strength for the next fanatic of the Ender Alliance came charging.
The communication between tribes was laughable. With the chieftains made to attend an annual meeting at the core of the alliance at the start of the year.
Or more like, to declare their loyalties to the alliance leader, then discuss the plans for the new year and the two enemy invasions.
Besides that, only the alliance leader's messenger had free reign to travel on the plains. It was a rule enforced to prevent other tribes from colluding against it.
So he very much encouraged this behavior, making every tribe be on their own.
Because of this gross lack of communication in this backward society, no one was the wiser of the festering plague growing in their backyard. It was the only place for him to keep developing.
The only reason he was still alive was because of the two huge forces clashing, and the savages' high thirst for battle.
These warriors do not fight for the alliance leader, but for the survival of their tribe.
They could not afford to lose, or their tribe would die with them, becoming the other two powers' slaves, suffering untold humiliation and torture.
Knowing the tribes were filled with mettle when going to war, always advancing, caused the two forces to show restraint in their invasions.
So despite how backward and crude the tribal alliance was, their simple minds led to the birth to the third power in the Lost Plains.
After getting the Monla tribe, Zhong Yu found out the plains' situation, location and customs.
Greed took root in his heart and an unquenchable ambition. With communications halted for the tribes, he had a way forward.
The Ender Alliance was the best stepping stone to the big league in becoming the boss of the Lost Plains.
All he had to do was suck its marrow in obscurity, and become the fourth power on the plains.
The poor communication offered this blood sucking insect plenty of time to swallow, the alliance's small tribes with none the wiser.
With the Edson tribe's slaughter and Monla's surrender, his population rose by 180.
Being in desperate need of people, Zhong Yu was happy even with this, bolstering his development.
To reach 1000 homes or 5000 people, he was missing 2400. still. But this place was the best to cover it up by snatching those small tribes from under the alliance's nose.
Having talked with Monla's shaman and confirmed by grand elder, Zhong Yu found the Ender Alliance spanned around 6 prefectures.
Around 250,000 people, less than the other two powers, more than 300,000, but enough to keep it alive.
While his position was Ender Alliance's hinterlands, far from any power's range. His back was against an endless forest no one dared to tread out of fear of getting lost in the all-consuming viridian trees.
The alliance was of firm belief no one could cross it to mount a pincer strike on them. The countless roaming creatures within taught them that place was abnormal.
This forgotten corner was the best and safest spot for the people. In this carefree place, they lost the ambition for new lands having lived here for so long.
All that remained was hunting for the tribe's survival. This was why they abhorred any invaders in their way of life.
They'd never leave unless the alliance leader called, holding but a crude guard around to prevent any tribe from threatening their peace.
It was everything Zhong Yu hoped for. The further back he went, the higher the tribes' defiance to control and joint work, and the easier they made it for him to conceal himself.
Zhong Yu believed he could take a quarter or even a third of the alliance's population before he found a leech was squirming on its back.
And all he needed to assure that this came to pass swiftly and silently. He reckoned he could keep this up for the better part of half a year.
That was because after came the yearly gathering of chieftains, with the alliance leader's messengers roaming the lands.
By then he'd have ten of thousands of people and ten thousand soldiers. That came from the system's stipend of 100 fortune every month per 1000 homes used in exchange for 200 veteran soldiers that had seen blood and years of training.
While if he reached 10,000 homes, he'd have 1000 fortune a month. Though it would take time to raise 50,000 men.
Though sure half a year was more than enough to exchange for a few thousands soldiers. Adding to that the reward lottery tickets and the slave corps, he'd reach 20,000 soldiers easy.
And with training and excellent weaponry, they would become a force to be reckoned with. Hell, he might even win a fight with Ender Alliance.