Lin Tian’s army advanced slowly, as their target was the closest.
He wasn’t deliberately slowing his march. Instead, his troops were scouting the surrounding terrain and resources as they moved. He sought wealth, and to acquire it, he needed to understand what riches lay at his disposal. Therefore, Lin Tian instructed his army to explore meticulously, wasting no opportunity.
This reconnaissance naturally drew the attention of the Wa people.
When the Wa people discovered Lin Tian’s army, they were stunned.
“How can there be so many people? Where did they come from?”
“We don’t know! But they look difficult to deal with, and their weapons seem powerful!”
“This is bad. They seem to be heading towards our tribe. If they find us, our tribe will be in big trouble!”
Sensing the direction of Lin Tian’s advance, many Wa people’s faces turned pale. Lin Tian’s army was heading straight for their tribal lands. With the might of Lin Tian’s forces, their tribe would face immense peril if encountered. Lin Tian’s army was not only numerous but also wielded formidable weapons. Though the Wa people were unsure of their exact combat prowess, their sheer presence instilled fear. Consequently, those who spotted Lin Tian’s army hurried back to their tribe to report to their chieftain.
Upon their return, chaos ensued.
“Chieftain, grave news! The enemy has appeared!”
“The enemy? Where is the enemy? Where did they come from?”
Upon hearing of an enemy, the Wa chieftain became exceptionally vigilant. He was always wary of the outside world, reacting to the slightest disturbance. The news of a strong adversary naturally piqued his utmost attention. He was already pondering the identity of these invaders, but ultimately, he relied on his subordinates’ descriptions to ascertain who they were.
“We don’t know where they came from. We only know there are a great many of them, more than our entire tribe!”
“Moreover, they are all armed and armored, and they have warhorses!”
“Their banners are also unfamiliar, and their language doesn’t sound like ours.”
“We were too far away to hear exactly what they were saying!”
Hearing this, the chieftain’s expression shifted constantly. Unlike other chieftains, he possessed some knowledge of the outside world, meaning he knew more than others. For instance, he knew that beyond Wa existed other countries and lands. However, his own power was limited, so he had only heard of such places, never visited them himself. He had even doubted the veracity of these tales before. But upon hearing his subordinates’ report, he immediately formed a hypothesis. He suspected these invaders were from another land, which explained their unusual appearance. This realization made him even more anxious.
“Are you certain about their numbers? How many more are there than our tribe?”
“We’ve confirmed it. They outnumber us by two to three thousand!”
This tribe was not small, numbering nearly ten thousand. They were a powerful tribe in the region, which accounted for the chieftain’s knowledge and their initial reaction to see Lin Tian’s army not to flee immediately. Upon hearing the report, their leader fell into deep thought.
“Do you think our tribe’s fighting strength is enough to defeat them?”
“That would be very difficult!”
“Not only do they outnumber us, but their weapons are also superior. Though I don’t know what they are, every single one of them possesses a weapon, something our tribe cannot match!”
Crafting weapons was not easy in Wa. It wasn’t due to unwillingness, but a lack of technology. Consequently, many in their tribe were unarmed. Even those who had weapons possessed only simple wooden ones, which, while capable of causing some damage, were limited in their effectiveness. The soldiers’ report of the enemy also being armored only compounded the issue. Thus, they concluded that defeating this army was impossible. Their only option was to mount a full defense and protect their tribe.
The chieftain agreed with this assessment. He immediately issued orders:
“Command all tribesmen to be on full alert and ready to fight at all times!”
“Furthermore, strengthen our defenses. Do not give the enemy any opportunity to breach our tribe!”
“Although we cannot defeat them, we must defend our tribe!”
“Chieftain, rest assured, we will defend our tribe!”
These Wa people knew their only recourse was to defend their settlement. Their focus was entirely on holding their ground. As for defeating Lin Tian’s army, that was a distant hope. They understood they could not possibly win in a direct confrontation in the short term. However, if they could withstand the initial assault and protect their tribe, the situation would change. Once their tribe was secured, they would undoubtedly acquire a vast amount of spoils. With these, their tribe would be heavily armed and armored, significantly boosting their combat power. Then, they could regroup and seek opportunities to counterattack.
The thought of Lin Tian’s army’s weapons, armor, and warhorses made the Wa chieftain’s mouth water. His eyes gleamed with desire.
“Just wait. Once we overcome this crisis, once we grow stronger!”
“All your possessions will be ours!”
“And our tribe will become the most powerful on this land!”