Chapter 278 The God of the Fish Tribe

Chapter 278 The God of the Fish Tribe

Chapter 278 The God of the Fish Tribe

It has been two days since the front army scouts left Yunlongzhou.

The tension and solemnity in the city did not abate, but became even more intense.
Even the common people noticed it.

More and more soldiers were walking on the streets.

There were more and more caravans and carts coming from Dali Prefecture.
Necessities such as rice and flour are also becoming more and more expensive.

It was dark at this time, and the east gate of Yunlongzhou was already closed.
The caravans that arrived here at night stopped outside the city.
Wait until the city gates open tomorrow before entering the city.

At this moment, the moon is bright and the stars are sparse. The originally noisy official road gradually becomes quiet.

Only the flame of the lit candle was swaying gently.

At this time, a figure appeared silently from the direction of Yunlongzhou City Gate.
He quickly passed through many shadows and arrived in front of a convoy belonging to Baiyan Trading Company.

He stuffed a letter in his hand onto the leading cart, and then disappeared silently.

The next moment, a figure stood up from the bus, his face hidden in the shadows and unclear.
He opened the letter in his hand and examined it carefully, his slightly dark eyes flashing with a sinister and cold light.

Soon, he put away the letter and waved gently to the convoy behind him.

The originally quiet Baiyan Trading Company suddenly had some more figures.
Working carefully around the wheels of the cart.

After nearly a quarter of an hour,

The night was getting darker and a little drizzle was falling from the sky.
A team of several hundred people quietly left the official road.

He quietly slipped away along the gently sloping path and headed towards the forest.

After walking through the grass near the official road, the world in front of me suddenly opened up.
A path hidden in the mountains and forests quietly appeared.

More than a hundred people escorted more than ten carts.
So we set out under the cover of night and went around the city.

The caravan went around in circles, left Dali Prefecture and headed west.

They did not take the trade route of Yunlongzhou merchants, but took the shady mountain road.
I passed through countless tribes along the way.
A lot of goods were left behind and a lot of money was earned.

Finally, three days later,

The caravan of Baiyan Trading Company arrived at Youyubu on the east bank of Lujiang River.

The Yubu Fortress is like a pearl inlaid among the green waters and green mountains.

Built by the mountains and rivers, it cleverly utilizes the terrain advantages.

It is convenient for defending against foreign enemies and for obtaining water for daily life.

What is even more striking is that

On the west side of Youyu Village, there is a wall made of a mixture of bluestone and loess.
Outside the city wall, there are some extended wooden fences and fortifications.
At this moment, there are guards wearing colorful robes.
They were holding simple spears and bows and arrows, scattered among them in an orderly manner.

On the city wall, arrow towers and watchtowers are scattered in an orderly manner, and soldiers are also stationed there.
At the two corners of the city wall, there were flags of the Yuyu tribe, which were large grass carps.

Whenever the breeze blows, the battle robe flutters in the wind.
The swimming fish seem to sway lightly in the water.

Inside the fortress, the streets are narrow and winding, with houses built of bamboo and wood arranged in an orderly manner on both sides.

The roof was covered with weeds and dead branches, and there were also some green tiles.

The people of the Yuyu tribe all have fishing nets hanging in their homes.

Some skinny tribesmen were cleaning the fishing nets and filling the gaps.

In the center of the walled city, a magnificent altar stands tall, as if it is the soul of this land.

The altar is made of bluestone, with a broad and steady base that gradually narrows upwards.

Until a wide circular platform is formed on the top.

It is covered with a layer of fine green grass, which makes it look solemn and lively.

In the center of the platform, a huge grass carp sculpture is clearly visible.

It stands proudly in an almost sacred posture.
It seemed as if it had leaped out of deep water, about to spread its wings and turn into a dragon.

The grass carp is carefully carved by the craftsman, with a plump body, clearly visible scales, and wide-open eyes.
It exudes an indescribable spirituality.
It seems to be gazing down, guarding this land and its people.

The altar is surrounded by a path paved with bluestone.
The paths are dotted with colorful flowers that smell delicious.

At this time, a burly man in armor stood in front of the path.
He is putting his hands together in a gesture of worship.

Behind him, several strong middle-aged men wearing the uniforms of the Yuyu tribe stood quietly.

He also looked at the fish swimming in front of him with a sincere expression.

At this time, a guard suddenly appeared on the bluestone path.
He came in haste, rushed forward,
He stopped beside a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the Yuyu tribe and said something softly.

His arrival awakened the quiet and solemn atmosphere before him.

Many people opened their eyes and looked dissatisfied.

The burly man in front also slowly turned around.
He revealed the aura of the governor of the Luchuan front line and stared at the guard.

The middle-aged man nodded slightly after listening to the guard's report.

With a smile on his face, he placed his hand on the guard's shoulder:
"You did well, I got the oracle of the swimming fish,

Would you like to be the servant of the Fish God?"

The smile on the guard's face gradually faded, and fear gradually surged.

His body was also shaking slightly and he kept shaking his head.

The smile on the middle-aged man's face gradually disappeared, replaced by coldness.
He clenched his hands tightly, holding the guard's shoulders tightly.

The severe pain made the guard half-bend his body and let out a wail.

"You are not a believer in the Fish God. The God will punish you."

The next moment, two guards holding spears came forward.
He held the spear in both hands, shrugged his shoulders, and thrust out with force.

Phew.

A solemn and eerie atmosphere permeated.

Two guards stood tall in the center like stone pillars.
They held their spears tightly in their hands, with the points of their spears held high, interlaced in a strange way.

Like a temporary bridge built to hold up an unusual load,

The guard's body.

The body was held high in an unnatural position.
With his feet in the air, his head tilted back, his eyes closed, and his mouth wide open,

It was as if he was giving a silent cry before dying.

His face was distorted, revealing fear and pain.

As the guards walked slowly and heavily,

The corpse was slowly carried to the front of the Youyu tribe totem and fixed on a base that had been prepared in advance.

Warm blood began to drip from the wounds of the corpse.

Along the tip of the spear, drops fell onto the dark red ground.
It makes a "click, click" sound.

The blood quickly spread on the ground, becoming invisible, and a faint smell of blood filled the air.

The middle-aged man from the Fish Club had a sad look on his face and slowly closed his eyes.

Put your hands together in front of you and whisper softly:
"May their souls rest in peace and their mistakes be forgiven if they disrespect their people."

His voice was low and full of sorrow,
It seemed as if every word carried heavy emotions, echoing over the square.

People in the crowd around also lowered their heads, clasped their hands together, and began to pray silently.

Governor Luchuan, who was standing at the front, had a calm expression.

But there was an impatience in his eyes that could not be wiped away.

The Youyu tribe is good at killing.

The sacred sacrifice continued, and when it was over,

The middle-aged man from the Fishing Tribe had a smile on his face, not at all affected by the killing that had just taken place.

He took a step forward with a gentle and innocent smile on his face:
"Lord Hanba, the Ming merchant caravan has arrived and brought good news."

Oh? Hanba showed a hint of surprise.
"Chief Apza is still in contact with the Ming people?"

The middle-aged man is named Youyu Apuzha, the new chief of the Youyu tribe.
He is also the most ambitious and capable patriarch in recent years.

Under his leadership, the Youyu tribe swallowed up many surrounding tribes.

The tribe's population surged from over 2,000 to 4,000.

Apuzha smiled slightly:
"The Ming people are cunning, so the Yuyu Department must be cautious and on guard."

Hanba felt a sense of fear for no reason.
In Luchuan, the king also deceived the Ming people through secret spies and covert marches.

There are secret agents everywhere, but very few people can make use of them.

The Fishing Department in front of us can do it.

After a moment's silence, Hanba nodded imperceptibly:

"Then let's meet together."

Apuzha smiled, stretched out his right hand and made a gesture of invitation.

Hanba also smiled back and walked ahead.

The west gate at the Fishing Department slowly opened.
The guards moved the fence blocking the road, leaving a passage.

At this point, the Baiyan caravan, which had been waiting for a long time, could finally enter the village.

The sun shone down, lingering on the horses and goods, making them glow with a pale golden light. As the caravan entered, more and more people from the Youyu tribe gathered on both sides of the road.

Standing quietly, with a hint of expectation and desire in his eyes.

Feeling the eager eyes around me,

Although the guards and the shopkeeper of the Baiyan Caravan had met countless times,

But I still feel like I'll be eaten alive if I walk in it.

They handed out the rice candies they had brought with them.
The child looked eager and wanted to take it.
However, he was stopped by the adult with a fierce look, who then took the rice candy and quickly stuffed it into his mouth.

As they walked along, more and more people from the Youyu tribe gathered around.

They did not rush forward to fight for it, but just stood there quietly, watching them in silence.

There was not even a sound, the scene was eerily quiet.
There was only the bumpy sound of wheels rolling over the gravel road.

When Shi Wenguang, the shopkeeper of Baiyan Chamber of Commerce, saw this scene, he cursed in his heart!

Crazy, all crazy.

Since the Apza chief took office, the entire Youyu tribe has changed.

Strength determines everything, the strong possess everything!
The fish department has been here many times and knows where the delivery location is.

More and more people from the Yuyu tribe gathered together.

The caravan had less and less rice and candy, and the speed of distribution gradually slowed down.

This action seemed to have angered the members of the Yuyu tribe.

They were not satisfied with standing on either side, but took a few steps forward.

The originally narrow gravel road seemed even more crowded.

Everyone in the business lowered their heads and didn't look at them!

Feeling the pairs of eyes around me, and the indifference and calmness in them.

They felt a little panic for no reason and couldn't help but quicken their pace.

Finally, after walking through an extremely narrow crossroad,

The road in front of him suddenly became wide, the common people disappeared, and were replaced by guards in armor.

The people of the Baiyan caravan were not frightened when they saw these soldiers.

Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief, his face showing relief at surviving the disaster.

Even if a team of guards came to seize their goods,
Their feelings towards these guards remained unchanged, and they were somewhat grateful.

At least these guards still followed the rules. If they were overwhelmed by the people,

Not only will all the goods be looted, but people will also die for no reason.

Soon, a tall and thin guard brought the owner of Baiyan Chamber of Commerce to a bamboo building.

He is a 31-year-old middle-aged man.
He has a long beard, wears tight clothes, and looks quite handsome.

The footsteps on the stairs made a creaking sound.

After a thorough inspection, the door of the bamboo building was finally opened.

Revealing the slightly antique furnishings inside.

The tables, chairs and benches are made of mahogany, and the wooden floor has some gold threads.
And several ancient paintings hanging on the wall,

There were even incense burners that were common in the homes of the Ming nobles, which were now emitting wisps of green smoke.

The fragrance of bamboo and sandalwood in the house mixed together, making people's heads feel dizzy.

Even though I've seen it many times,
There was a trace of trance on the shopkeeper's face. This situation made him feel like he had returned to the Ming Dynasty.

There are two bamboo chairs placed at the front door of the room.

At the top sat two burly men.

Shi Wenguang had only seen one person, Apuzha, the leader of the Yuyu tribe.

Whenever he saw him, Shi Wenguang would feel a palpitation in his heart, with a deep-seated fear in his heart.

As for the other person, he didn't know him.

Shi Wenguang clasped his hands together in front of his chest, then bowed hard, trying to soften his voice:
"Shi Wenguang from Baiyan Chamber of Commerce has met with Chief Apuza."

Apuzha, who was sitting at the top, nodded slightly.

He spoke politely, but did not stand up, nor did his body move, only his lips moved slightly.

"A friend has come from afar, Apuzha would like to thank him here."

Shi Wenguang felt relieved and slowly straightened up.

But he never raised his eyes.
Instead, he stared at the ground and acted humble.

"Manager Shi, the Fish God is very satisfied with the news I sent you earlier.
I will set up a longevity tablet for you in front of the Fish God, to ensure that you will be prosperous and healthy in old age."

Apuzha's voice came slowly and unhurriedly, adding a touch of mystery to the atmosphere in the bamboo building.

Shi Wenguang immediately understood and bowed slightly, saying respectfully:

"Chief Apuza is currently in Yunlong Province.

The original 10,000 elite soldiers have been replaced by the Beijing Army.

In addition, five thousand soldiers left Yunlong Prefecture and headed west, and their destination was unknown.

I am worried that the five thousand soldiers will harm the Fish God, so I came to inform you."

The atmosphere in the bamboo building stagnated for a moment.
Apza's expression remained normal, but Hanba's face had a more meaningful look.

Abuza said slowly:
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Shi, for telling me. The Fish God will protect you and give you precious herbs nurtured by heaven and earth."

A hint of joy flashed across Shi Wenguang's face, and then he took out the letter from his arms.
Hold it high in front of you and move closer:

"Chief Apuzha, this is some news from the city.
As well as the detailed combat capabilities of the five thousand soldiers, I hope the Fish God can adopt them and defeat the enemy."

Apuzha took the letter and smiled softly:
"I will tell the Fish God that Shopkeeper Shi can stay in the village for a few more days to bask in the divine light."

"Thank you, Chief Aqza."

The door closed gently, and there were only two people left in the bamboo building. The atmosphere was a little subtle.

Apuzha opened the letter and examined it carefully.

There was always a faint smile on his face, as if everything was under control.

When he couldn't finish reading the letter, he handed it to Hanba beside him.

"Lord Hanba, the Ming people have transferred some remarkable people from within the country."

Hanba was not surprised by his weird talk.
After taking the letter, he read it quickly, and the more he read, the more his brows furrowed.

After reading it, he couldn't help but read it again.
He looked at Apza with a slightly mocking look:
"Five thousand elite soldiers are heading straight for the Yuyu tribe, and you can still laugh?"

"This is the territory of the Fish God. Anyone who wants to infringe on it will be severely punished by the Fish God, and Mingren is no exception."

Abuza's voice finally changed slightly.

Still as confident, but with a little more determination.

Hanba had no choice but to shake his head and speak in a deep voice:
"The front army scouts are the elite troops of the Ming Dynasty's northern expedition.
Judging from the information, this unit is proficient in mountain warfare.
In less than two days, the troops I sent out to harass the enemy were wiped out, with very few losses.

Do you still believe that the Fish God will protect you?"

Apuzha's expression turned cold and he slowly turned his head.
His gaze pierced through like a sharp sword, and his voice was particularly cold:

"Even if you are Lord Hanba, you cannot be disrespectful to the Fish God."

Hanba sighed, seeming somewhat helpless:
"Five thousand elite soldiers are rushing to attack, hoping to regain the face of the battle of Jingdong.

You must control the spies in your department well. If you operate properly,
Maybe we can take down five thousand elite soldiers in one fell swoop and rebuild the Ming Dynasty!"

"Everyone in the tribe is loyal to the Fish God. They will not do anything that is detrimental to the Fish God."

Hanba recalled what the Chinese ruler did during the Jingdong War, and spoke in a deep voice:
"Since you are loyal to the Fish God, then spread false news to lure them here.
Those in the know have always believed in and relied on the information from the secret agents."

The smile on Apuzha's face grew wider:

"The Fish God will not trust a servant who has deceived him.
The same is true for the Ming people. Just wait for them to come.

The Fish God has gifted the tribe with a city wall.
"It is wishful thinking for five thousand elite soldiers to attack the fortress and damage the Fish God."

"I advise you to be careful. These people are much more elite than the miscellaneous soldiers from the southwest.

You have less than 2,000 soldiers, so it will be difficult to resist them."

Apuzha smiled softly and said, "Master Hanba, please leave without any worries.
The servants of the Fish God are ready, waiting for someone to come and look for them.

By then, the Ming people will fall into the trap of the Fish God and die without a burial place."

Hanba snorted coldly, dissatisfaction appearing on his face.

It sounded very high-sounding, but in the end, he still resorted to undercover tactics.

"Chief Apuza, please pay attention. This is a life-and-death battle between Luchuan and the Ming Dynasty.

Regardless of whether the Apza chief recognizes Luchuan or not,
If Luchuan is defeated, the Youyu tribe will certainly not have a good ending, and the Youyu God will not be able to protect them. "

Apuzha narrowed his eyes and spoke in a hollow voice:

"The Fish God will punish all enemies."

(End of this chapter)