Chapter 473: Of Course We Should Form an Alliance

That very day, Xiong and the others began their return journey with all the captives. Their two tribes didn't have much to pack, though there were still many animal skins. They were allowed to carry these themselves; although animal skins were not in short supply in Huaxia, their numbers were limited, and the types were basically restricted to just a few kinds.

As for food and the like, the quantity was too small, basically just enough for these people to eat on the road. Huaxia never thought that they could become wealthy just by fighting a single battle; what they lacked most was population.

Along the way, the captives were very obedient. It was mainly because the two Tribal Chiefs wanted to live, so they exerted their last bit of prestige to make everyone walk peacefully and not think about escaping. If they escaped in this season, there would be no hope of survival.

Baifeng had also gone through a long journey and finally returned to the outskirts of Huaxia City. This trip could be said to have yielded nothing. He only hoped that Xuanyuan would be the same as him, but he feared that someone might be leading the way.

Baifeng's team happened to run into Xiong's team. Baifeng was shocked to see Xiong escorting thousands of people toward Huaxia, and Xiong was no better off when he saw the travel-worn Baifeng.

As soon as the two met, they hurriedly questioned each other; Xiong asked Baifeng if he had encountered any accidents, while Baifeng asked Xiong what exactly had happened.

Seeing that Baifeng's team seemed intact, Xiong figured that even if they had truly encountered danger, they should have retreated safely, so he answered Baifeng's question first.

Upon learning that the Suiren Clan had actually begun to split, Baifeng was exceptionally excited and continued to ask about the results of the battle. Xiong replied that they had seized over ten thousand people, which was the largest batch; the first two batches should have already been successfully sent back to Huaxia City.

Baifeng then asked: "Who gave this order? Was it Yulong?"

Fearing that Baifeng might be dissatisfied that Bai Yulong had made such a major decision directly instead of waiting for his return, Xiong hurriedly explained: "It was the Crown Prince who gave the order. But this matter happened suddenly, and we were afraid that if we waited for you to return, it would be too late and we wouldn't be able to gain much benefit. The Crown Prince also made the decision under pressure; there was absolutely no intention of seizing power."

Baifeng knew that Xiong had misunderstood, so he waved his hand and said: "Hey, you're overthinking it. Yulong is my son, and this position of mine will be his in the future. I wouldn't have any objections to him because of this. I was already letting him handle Government Affairs, and I had him acting as regent while I was away. His decree was issued very timely, and there is no problem. I am actually very happy; at least my cultivation of him has not been in vain."

Hearing this, Xiong also breathed a sigh of relief. After all, in this era, apart from Huaxia, there was no such thing as family affection in other tribes and clans; the younger generation wished for the older generation to die early so they could inherit power.

Looking at the captives huddled together in the cold wind, Baifeng asked Xiong: "What is your next plan? Are you going to continue the attack after sending these people back to the city?"

Xiong sighed: "I have already interrogated the Tribal Chiefs of these tribes. These tribes are the ones closest to us. Although the Suiren Clan has split, they have all fled very far from their original tribes to avoid being attacked by the Suiren Clan again. If we go any deeper past these tribes, there are no more tribes, but rather villages of the Suiren Clan.

Moreover, there is a very large distance between the villages where no one lives. Our attacks on the Suiren Clan may have to stop for the time being. As for the specifics, I was thinking of discussing it with everyone after we return. Now that you are back, it's easy to talk; everything will be decided by you."

Baifeng patted Xiong on the shoulder and encouraged him: "Good, you have worked hard too. Let's return to the city first; the weather is getting colder, and it's not comfortable staying here."

Subsequently, the Soldiers brought by Baifeng were integrated into the escort team. Xiong accompanied Baifeng and Bai Zhangle, walking in the middle of the entire formation, while Xiong told Baifeng about some of the more important events that had occurred during this period.

Upon learning that the territory of the Jiangben Tribe had been seized by a tribe that had split from the Suiren Clan, and that they also wanted to form an alliance with the Huaxia Alliance, Baifeng also felt it was somewhat incredible.

"I didn't expect that so many major events would happen in such a short time that I was away. It is fortunate that Yulong has my style and handled everything well; otherwise, it would have been a loss for our Huaxia."

Xiong did not feel that Baifeng was boasting, but rather stating a fact. After all, Baifeng was truly formidable, and Bai Yulong did indeed inherit Baifeng's temperament and abilities.

"Then how should we handle the matter with the Four-Xia Tribe? Should we form an alliance?"

Baifeng said very easily: "Form one, why not? However, it won't be a military alliance, but an economic one. Of course, we can appropriately provide them with some Weapons."

Xiong hurriedly tried to dissuade him: "King, it's better not to. Their tribe is very small. Once Baoxi recovers, he will likely deal with their tribe first. After all, Baoxi also knows how important the Sulfur Mine is to us; he wouldn't let the Sulfur Mine be in the hands of others, would he? If we don't send them Weapons, I'm afraid they will all end up in the hands of the Suiren Clan in the end."

Baifeng reassured Xiong: "We certainly won't give them the Weapons we are currently using, but we can support them with some other Weapons. Give them a small amount of Bombs, right? Consumable Weapons, or things like Stone Spears and Stone Axes. They are of no use to us, but for a small tribe like the Four-Xia Tribe, they must still be needed."

Although Baifeng said this, Xiong believed that handing Bombs to the Four-Xia Tribe was not a good idea. Even if the Suiren Clan didn't snatch them, what if the Four-Xia Tribe used them to attack Huaxia?

Baifeng did not answer Xiong, but asked Changle: "Changle, you tell me, should we give them? If we give them, how should we give them, and how much is appropriate?"

Changle did not expect his father to suddenly ask him such a question. He had been listening quietly and was a bit surprised, but after coming to his senses and thinking for a moment, he had his own ideas: "I think we should give them, but we cannot give too many, and we must mix the real with the fake. More fakes, fewer reals; it mainly serves as a deterrent.

If the Suiren Clan attacks them, they can throw out some real ones and show the fake ones. The Suiren Clan will definitely be afraid and will not easily attack them. If they use these Bombs to attack us, the Four-Xia Tribe does not have long-range projectile Weapons like ours. As long as they show the Bombs, we will still have enough time to escape the lethal range. Once they have exhausted the real ones, we can then counterattack."

Xiong was dumbfounded by these words from Changle. He thought only Bai Yulong understood these things, and that Changle was only focused on those things of his that others completely didn't understand. He didn't expect him to be such a formidable person. By comparison, he himself, who couldn't think of anything, seemed to be of no use.