Chapter 1190, The Result of Steering Public Opinion

Translator: Silavin

 

Night had fallen. Qing Yan and the others were resting inside their Teepee.

 

All of the Warriors in this group had been assigned to a single Teepee. There were no spare ones to go around.

 

This one had been squeezed out specially for them. Otherwise, they would have spent the night on the backs of Ferocious Beast.

 

Qing Yan simply did not want to sleep on its back any longer. He wanted to sleep somewhere solid beneath his feet.

 

There was also the matter of other tasks he still had to carry out. Getting into the Tribe had been necessary.

 

“Leader, if we hadn’t brought so many goods this time, I believe we’d have frozen out here.” Qing Mu shuddered from head to toe.

 

The Coiled Goat Tribe was so cold. It felt nothing like Flame Dragon Tribe, as though they were in an entirely different season.

 

“Bear with it a little longer. Two more days and we can head back. If the plan goes perfectly this time, the Shaman will reward you all properly.” Qing Yan said.

 

He was cold too, of course. A Teepee kept out the wind far less effectively than a solid wall. Cold air still pressed in through the gaps.

 

That cold bit right through the skin. And they had spent a very warm snow season back at Flame Dragon Tribe before this, which made it all the harder to bear.

 

It was just fortunate they had brought enough clothing.

 

“They were full of hostility towards our Tribe at first. But then they saw what we’d brought, their whole attitude flipped immediately. That was fast.” Chi Tu laughed quietly.

 

He had always known the other side held little warmth for the Flame Dragon Tribe. He had not expected the change to come this quickly though.

 

One moment they had all been standing there with dead, flat expressions. Then their eyes landed on the goods loaded onto the Ferocious Beasts, and suddenly those same eyes were bright. If not for the fact that the party sent from the Flame Dragon Tribe was still standing right there, they probably would have started grabbing.

 

“Do you think they’ll agree to sign the Contract?” Qing Mu asked curiously.

 

He knew that not every Tribe was willing to submit to the authority of another. Especially when the terms being offered were this open: signing or not signing was entirely their own decision.

 

That was precisely why he was worried.

 

“Don’t worry. With all these goods, and the snow season pressing down on them, they’ll sign willingly.” Qing Yan said with full confidence.

 

If the Flame Dragon Tribe had not brought such fine goods, the hostility towards Su Bai would probably still run very deep here.

 

More importantly, surface compliance was one thing. True submission was another.

 

In a harsh environment like this, there was only one thing that could produce genuine loyalty: food and material goods.

 

“Shaman, we’ve already had people spread the word. Let it ferment overnight, and by tomorrow evening we should have the answer we want.” Chi Tu said.

 

He had been quietly passing word along even while the goods were being handed over to the Coiled Goat Tribe.

 

The ones doing the spreading, naturally, were people already inside the Coiled Goat Tribe. Money moved mountains, and that principle had proved itself. Chi Tu had given those people quite a generous share, and in conditions this harsh, even a small benefit was enough to flip someone. He had given rather more than a small benefit.

 

“This is exactly what we need to stir public opinion. Once there’s debate, people start to understand what’s actually at stake.” Qing Yan said, satisfied.

 

He knew this Tribe had plenty of people who already wanted to move under Flame Dragon Tribe’s protection.

 

The main reason was simple. The goods. The food. Those things alone were enough to turn people who were starving and freezing.

 

So, there would be pressure from within. The upper ranks of the Coiled Goat Tribe could not simply ignore that.

 

“We also have people specifically speaking well of our Tribe. With both sides working at once, they’ll have to give in. And people who give in willingly tend to be more loyal.” Qing Mu said.

 

He had found the Shaman’s approach difficult to understand at first. With absolute force behind them, the other side had no choice but to comply regardless.

 

Yet the Shaman had let them choose. It was entirely up to them if they wanted to join or not. There was no coercion by force, under any circumstances.

 

Qing Mu had thought at the time that the Tribe would simply refuse. No Tribe wanted to be ruled by another.

 

But things were different now. Once the momentum had been built up, the other side had no choice but to take it seriously.

 

In a brutal natural environment like this, there were very few paths open to them.

 

Either they froze a portion of their people to death through this cold season, or they lost more to food shortages when next year came around.

 

By joining Flame Dragon Tribe, they would receive steady support from Flame Dragon Tribe. Right and wrong in this situation, they knew how to choose.

 

“The geography here really is quite good. We spent two whole days just climbing over that mountain.” Qing Yan thought of it and rolled his eyes.

 

It had taken longer than he had predicted to transverse through.

 

“True. If this Tribe really does become part of our Tribe, it would be a great help to us.” Chi Tu nodded seriously.

 

“Though once this Tribe becomes part of ours, the pressure on us will be greater too.” Qing Yan said with some gravity.

 

The Tribe would have to share more food and supplies to support them. Getting them self-sufficient in a short time would be difficult. That meant more to spend for a while without much in return.

 

“The Shaman will have a way.” Qing Mu and Chi Tu said together.