The days in winter are always long and repetitive.
After Jiang Xuan returned to the tribe, he led the hunting team out several times, recruited some tourists who were about to starve to death, and reorganized the tribe's defenses. In this way, a winter passed.
One day, after Jiang Xuan got up, he heard a dripping sound coming from under the eaves. He knew that the ice and snow on the roof was beginning to melt.
He washed up briefly, then pushed open the door, and a gust of cold air hit him in the face.
When the snow melts, it feels colder than when it snows.
The sky, which had been overcast for a long time, finally cleared up, and the long-lost sunshine shone on the earth, melting the ice and snow faster.
"It's the seventh year."
Jiang Xuan walked into the yard, bathed in the sunshine, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
“Clatter…”
In the bamboo forest, the ice and snow on a bamboo melted and fell to the ground. The bamboo slowly rebounded, but after being pressed for a whole winter, it could no longer return to its straight state.
Jiang Xuan returned to the house, took out the new bamboo slips that had been prepared long ago, dipped a hair brush in special paint, and wrote the five big characters "Seven Years in Teng Tribe" on the first bamboo slip.
Then he wrote another line on the second bamboo slip: January 1st, sunny.
"call……"
Jiang Xuan spread the bamboo slips flat on the table and waited for the writing on them to dry before putting them away.
In fact, at the beginning, Jiang Xuan used the engraving method.
But there is a problem with the engraving method, that is, the engraved words are not conspicuous and need to be traced again with paint before the words can be seen clearly.
Later, Jiang Xuan discovered that the pigment made from red peony root was particularly good for writing on animal skin scrolls, and that writing directly on it could preserve it for a long time.
So, later on, he simply stopped carving words and wrote directly on the bamboo slips with an animal hair brush, which was convenient and practical.
After recording the date as usual, Jiang Xuan began to patrol the tribe. When he saw places with safety hazards, he asked the soldiers to deal with them in advance.
Two days later, as the river water rose, the thick ice on the Feiyu River melted quickly under the flushing of the river water.
“Crack, crack…”
Cracks appeared in the ice on the river surface, and then the broken ice began to collide with each other and slowly drift downstream.
On the river bank, the members of the fishing team watched the ice on the river break little by little, and everyone became excited.
As the ice moved faster and faster and the river began to surge, Jing Jie, the leader of the fishing team, shouted, "The river is opening!"
"good!"
“We can fish!”
The members of the fishing team burst into thunderous cheers. They had had enough of the long winter and couldn't wait to go out fishing.
When the other members of the Teng tribe heard the cheers of the fishing team, smiles appeared on their faces.
The opening of the river means that winter is officially over. After all the ice and snow on the ground melt, they can start working for the new year.
It’s not that the people of the Teng tribe like to work, but because they can only sit and eat in the winter, which gives people a very uneasy feeling.
They were all people who had experienced hunger and cold, and they knew very well that if they wanted to avoid starvation, they had to work hard. Only by working hard could they bring more food and avoid starvation.
Two days after the river opened, the ice and snow on the ground had almost melted.
The members of the Teng tribe began to get busy.
Hunting and fishing teams went out one after another, and planting teams also began a new round of land reclamation and tillage of existing fields.
The breeding team began to repair the pens damaged by the heavy snow, because with the arrival of spring, both livestock and poultry will enter the breeding season.
The trading area also reopened after replenishing a large number of goods.
The entire Teng tribe presents a thriving scene.
…
At the end of January, the weather gradually became warmer. Jiang Xuan handed over a large amount of seeds obtained from the Black Tooth Tribe last winter and the fish scale fruits obtained from the Crocodile Tribe to Gan Song, the leader of the planting team.
"These seeds were brought back from the central part of the Southern Wilds. Each small animal skin bag contains a kind of grain or vegetable seed. Just like before, you should find a few pieces of fertile land and plant them separately."
"If we're lucky, we can get some food and vegetables suitable for growing here from these seeds."
"Of course, some crops and vegetables may not be able to adapt to the climate here, and may not survive or grow or bear fruit. This is normal, and you don't have to blame yourself when the time comes."
Gan Song looked at the seeds with shining eyes.
As the leader of the planting team, Gan Song has become a farming maniac and is particularly fond of various new seeds.
Jiang Xuan took out the fish scale grass again and said, "Although these fish scale grasses are dry, the fish scale fruits inside are still intact."
"The fish scale fruit contains seeds. You can plant the fish scale fruit directly beside a stream or in a low-lying area to see if they can grow."
When Jiang Xuan returned from the central part of the Southern Wilderness, it was the cold winter season. The ground was covered with ice and snow everywhere. The fish scale grass could not be planted immediately, so it all dried up.
"Don't worry, Chief. I will plant them well."
Gan Song took on the task with full confidence.
Jiang Xuan nodded and said, "I believe you."
After handing the seeds to Gan Song, Jiang Xuan left the planting team and went to the wild boar forest in the north of the tribe.
The Wild Boar Forest was surrounded by a tall vine wall. Outside there were a group of tree people enlightened by the divine vine, and inside there were more than a thousand prisoners held captive.
These captives were captured when the Wild Boar Tribe was wiped out last summer and have been held here ever since.
After more than half a year of detention, the stubborn elements among the prisoners had been basically eliminated, and the tempers of the remaining ones had been worn down.
Last winter, Jiang Xuan selected twenty team leaders from among the captives and promised them benefits.
With these team leaders who were familiar with the situation, the prisoners were managed more strictly. They could not escape and could only work obediently.
“Crunch, crunch…”
The gate of the Wild Boar Forest was opened, and Cangli, the leader of the second guard team of the Vine Tribe, came out.
"Chief, you are finally here."
Jiang Xuan said: "Are all the things I asked you to prepare ready?"
Xanthium nodded hurriedly and said, "Everything is ready."
"Then go in."
After Jiang Xuan finished speaking, he walked inside.
After entering the gate, the first thing you see is a wide road.
This road was opened up bit by bit by the prisoners and was paved with a lot of gravel.
On both sides of the road are newly reclaimed land. Nothing has been planted on them yet, and a lot of short green grass has grown on them. They look green and tender, which is pleasing to the eye.
Further away, a large number of prisoners were using tools to continue reclaiming wasteland.
In areas suitable for reclamation, they cut down trees one by one and then burned them with fire to burn away the weeds, thorns, bushes, tree roots, etc. on the ground, which also burned a large number of insect eggs.
After burning, they used various digging tools to turn over the soil little by little. The stones in the ground and those tree roots and grass roots that could not be burned were all dug out and cleaned up.
Reclaiming new land is a very time-consuming and laborious job. Even though all the captives were warriors, they were exhausted and complained bitterly.
After a long time, they didn't even have the strength to resist. After finishing their work every day, they just wanted to eat a full meal and have a good sleep.
Jiang Xuan walked along the road. When he reached the center of the wild boar forest, he saw a large number of wooden houses in front of him.
These wooden houses were built in very neat rows, and the roads, canals, ponds, etc. between the houses were also arranged in an orderly manner, making it hard to believe that the people imprisoned here were all prisoners.
In other tribes, the places where captives lived were like pigsties, dirty, messy and smelly.
Jiang Xuan asked: "Where is the newly built wooden house?"
"In the back, I'll take the leader there."
Cangli led Jiang Xuan through rows of wooden houses and came to an open space at the back.
This clearing was originally a wasteland, but now, twenty new wooden houses have been built on the wasteland.
Although these wooden houses are not very tall, each one is independent and the wood is thick and strong.
Jiang Xuan pushed open the door of a wooden house and looked inside.
A fire pit had been dug inside the wooden house, and a bed had been laid out, even with some hay and an animal skin as a cushion.
As long as the fire pit is lit, this wooden house can be lived in.
"not bad."
Jiang Xuan praised him, and then said to Cangli: "Let all the prisoners gather in front."
"yes!"
Cangli immediately ordered his soldiers to gather the prisoners.
Soon, the soldiers of the second guard team began shouting, and the prisoners who were reclaiming wasteland put down their tools one after another, and then walked back one after another and gathered in the open space in front of the residential area.
Soon after, more than a thousand prisoners, under the command of their respective team leaders, lined up and stood in the open space.
After Jiang Xuan and everyone else arrived, they stood on a wooden platform in front of the open space, looking down at all the captives.
The captives all knew Jiang Xuan and knew that he was the leader of the Teng tribe, so they lowered their heads and dared not look at him.
"I am the leader of the Teng tribe, Xuan. You should be familiar with me. Do you know why I am here today?"
The prisoners looked at each other, but no one answered.
Jiang Xuan didn't care and continued:
"Last winter, I selected twenty team leaders from among you. I promised at that time that as long as they could manage everyone here, I would reward them with an independent wooden house and the opportunity to leave their captive status and join the Teng Tribe!"
“So, I’m here today to fulfill my promise!”
Jiang Xuan's words made the team leaders' eyes light up. They were eager for the wooden house and the opportunity to escape from their status as prisoners and join the Teng tribe.
"All team leaders come to the front!"
At Jiang Xuan's command, the team leaders ran to the front of the platform, lined up, and looked up at Jiang Xuan on the platform.
"Since you have behaved well, on behalf of the Teng Tribe, I will grant each of you an independent wooden house. You can move in tonight!"
"Thank you, Chief..."
As soon as Jiang Xuan finished speaking, the team leaders became excited and thanked Jiang Xuan one after another.
They have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Jiang Xuan had a smile on his face. He stretched out his hand and made a light press. The team leaders immediately shut their mouths and listened to what Jiang Xuan continued to say.
"Except for the wooden house, I allow you to participate in the spring sacrificial ceremony of the Vine Tribe outside!"
"If you don't make any mistakes or cause any trouble this year, then during the autumn sacrifice, you will officially become members of the Teng Tribe!"
Jiang Xuan's words made all the team leaders breathe faster. This was the opportunity they had been dreaming of! If they could escape from being captives and join the Teng tribe, they would no longer have to be trapped here and live such a hard life.
Compared to joining the vine tribe, what does an independent wooden house mean?
One of the team leaders said, "Don't worry, Chief. We will manage this place well and will never cause any trouble to the tribe!"
Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "I believe you!"
Jiang Xuan looked at the captives behind him and said, "Not only them, but everyone is the same. As long as you work hard for the tribe, the Teng tribe will not mistreat anyone who works hard for the tribe!"
"In the future, you will have the opportunity to become a team leader, live in an independent wooden house, and become a true member of the Teng Tribe!"
Jiang Xuan's words ignited hope in the hearts of the captives behind him and brought light to their eyes.
Now that the Wild Boar Tribe is a thing of the past and there is no escape, who wouldn’t want to live a better life?
"Okay, let's go back to work. All the team leaders can move their things to the new cabin in the evening."
"Thank you, Chief!"
The team leaders thanked Jiang Xuan, then each found the prisoners under their charge and took them to continue reclaiming the wasteland.
This time, many prisoners worked much harder. Everyone saw the benefits that the team leaders had gained, and they hoped that they would be able to gain those benefits in the future.
Jiang Xuan watched the captives leave and then came down from the platform.
Cangli looked at Jiang Xuan with admiration. In his opinion, Jiang Xuan's methods were truly powerful.
Jiang Xuan said: "From now on, anyone who performs well will be rewarded. Whether it is food or something else, it is up to you."
"We need to let these captives know that in the Teng Tribe, as long as they work hard, they will be rewarded."
"As long as a small number of prisoners start to work hard, the others will slowly follow suit, and the speed at which we absorb these prisoners will also increase. Do you understand?"
"Understood."
Jiang Xuan said it very clearly and bluntly. If Cangli still didn't understand, he wouldn't be worthy of being the leader of the second guard team.
After Jiang Xuan finished speaking, he looked around the wild boar forest before leaving.
The Teng tribe is very short of population right now. If all these captives can be successfully converted, it will undoubtedly be a huge boost to the strength of the Teng tribe.
After leaving the Wild Boar Forest, Jiang Xuan had not walked far when another soldier came running over to report that something had happened in the trading area and Dong Kui asked him to go over there.
"What happened?"
"Someone made fake knife coins to exchange for our goods."
"Fake knife coin?"
Jiang Xuan was stunned. The current bronze smelting technology had very good confidentiality measures, so it should be impossible for it to be leaked.
Could it be that other tribes also mastered the smelting technology of bronze or other metals?
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