From the fake emperor to the concubine

It's not about drawing a knife.

Instead, he used his newly acquired black arm guards to strike with his left shoulder.

boom!
The horned sheep, weighing several hundred pounds, was knocked off course by his impact, its hooves slipping and its horns digging directly into the frozen ground beside it. Red Fang seized the opportunity, thrusting a bone spear into its ribs from the side and rear, while the other two followed up with their own. The lead sheep struggled twice before finally collapsing heavily to the ground.

When Yan'ao saw this scene from afar, his eyes lit up immediately.

"Your arm guards are really strong."

Zheng Yi shook his left arm.

It's heavier now, but the force exerted is also more stable.

"Yue Zhenyue's things are certainly not bad."

That was a good hunt.

Besides the large ram, they also caught two smaller ones, and when the whole team returned, everyone had something weighing on their shoulders. Red Tooth carried a leg of lamb, running quite happily, his face red from the cold, but his mouth never stopped.

"We'll get a bigger cut of meat today."

"There's enough leather to make two more small robes."

"Jiao can change the lid of the medicine pot for Bone Granny."

"Leave me a tendon, my bow is about to break..."

He was talking for a while, then suddenly stopped on his own.

Zheng Yi glanced at him: "Why aren't you saying anything?"

Chiya said sullenly, "There are only two little robes. There are so many children, it's not enough to go around."

Zheng Yi did not respond.

Because he had seen it all clearly on his way back.

The Blackrock tribe wasn't the poorest; at least they had their own hunting grounds, capable fighters, and a bit of initiative forced upon them by the shores of White Bone Lake. Even so, life in the tribe was far from easy.

A monotonous diet is harmful.

It was either roasted meat or stewed meat, occasionally with some dried roots and bitter leaves added. The soup was always salty and fishy, ​​enough to fill the stomach but not particularly flavorful. Grain was extremely scarce, at most old wheat and coarse millet that occasionally drifted in from further south. It was very precious and usually reserved for the sick, the elderly, and people like bone-setting women.

Clothing makes it even more obvious.

Adults could manage to piece together fur coats, but children mostly wore altered versions of adults' old clothes, or simply ran around in tattered robes. The sleeves were of different lengths, the trousers were uneven, and the waists were tied with straw ropes, making them sway in the wind. In terms of keeping warm, they were probably no better than a well-fitting, thick cotton coat.

What's more troublesome is that not every household has enough leather.

The hunted animal hides were first given to those out hunting and on night watch, then to the elderly and the sick, and finally to the children. There was never enough hide, and the sewing was mediocre; the clothes made were either too stiff or too drafty.

When they returned to the tribe and everyone began dividing the game, Zheng Yi did not immediately help skin the animals, but stood aside and watched for a while.

Several women were skinning the large ram with bone knives. Their movements were quick and efficient, indicating that they weren't incapable of doing it, but rather that their resources were extremely limited. They had to skin the ram as whole as possible, then go back to dry, tan, smoke, scrape, and sew it up—it would be at least another round of work.

Several children squatted around the fire, their eyes fixed on the freshly cut pieces of meat.

One of the little girls was wrapped in an oversized old robe, the hem of which almost dragged on the ground, and her hands, thin as two frozen branches, peeked out from the torn sleeves.

When Zheng Yi saw that hand, his heart sank slightly.

This isn't just a matter of one or two pieces of clothing.

It's not a matter of just one or two meals of meat soup.

Instead, although this wasteland has many ferocious beasts and plenty of prey, these things have not truly become something that "can make the whole tribe live better." Most of them are just used as materials for immediate survival, and they are dismantled and consumed as soon as they are obtained, leaving very little room for maneuver.

He stood there without saying a word, but the Bone Woman had already noticed his expression.

"What are you thinking about now?"

Zheng Yi turned his head: "Do you trade with the south?"

The old woman was taken aback at first, then seemed to have heard something strange.

"Business?"

“Yes,” Zheng Yi said. “It’s a regular exchange. It’s not just an occasional exchange where someone brings some salt, cloth, or medicine; it’s a large-scale exchange.”

Before Bone Granny could answer, Flame Hound scoffed from behind.

"Do you think just anyone can walk to a southern town? Along the way there are snowfields, windy valleys, herds of beasts, and bandits. It's not worth it to transport too little, and if you transport too much, you might all die halfway there."

Wu Chen didn't immediately deny it, but asked, "Why did you suddenly bring this up?"

Zheng Yi raised his hand and pointed to the sheepskin, horns, tendons, and bones on the ground, and then to the wolf skins, ferocious beast teeth, and the gray and cold bone materials that had just been separated from the previous day.

“These things are for you to use for winter, for repairs, and for whatever you can use.”

"Isn't it in the south?"

“That’s true. But that’s not all,” Zheng Yi said. “Many things are much more valuable in the towns to the south.”

He squatted down and casually picked up a freshly pulled sheep tendon.

"These intact and resilient animal sinews can be used to make bowstrings and armor trim. Many hunters, caravans, and even low-level cultivators in the south need them."

Then he picked up another piece of the cut-off corner.

"Horns can be ground into powder for medicine, or polished into handles, buckles, and ornaments. If it is the horn of a ferocious beast, the price will be even higher."

Then look at that thick skin that has been completely peeled off.

“This kind of whole winter fur can be made into winter coats, boot linings, gloves and saddle pads in the south. You think it’s bulky because this is the only material you have here; but in the south, it’s just right when paired with cotton, linen and cloth.”

Yan'ao stood with his arms crossed, still stubbornly saying, "So what?"

Zheng Yi looked at him and said, "That means that what you bring back shouldn't just be consumed by yourselves. It should be exchanged for salt, cloth, cotton, needles, ironware, medicine, and grain."

As he said this, his gaze swept over the children beside him.

“Especially cloth and cotton. Well-fitting inner garments and linings are not necessarily worse than fur robes, and they can save a lot of good fur for those who need it more.”

Wu Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "It's not that no one has thought of this before. But the tribes in the north are scattered, making trade routes difficult, and people from the south may not be willing to come."

“That’s because nobody takes this seriously,” Zheng Yi said. “It’s difficult if you just exchange them piecemeal. But if you collect animal hides, tendons, bones, horns, teeth, and even some common materials that are rare in the south, then things will be different.”

The Bone Woman squinted at him: "You can make this?"

“I will make the first move,” Zheng Yi said. “At least I know what people want in the south, and I know what kind of towns are easier to take over. Not the major sects in the far south, but border towns, military towns, hunting cities, and commercial markets near the northern route.”

Chiya's eyes lit up as he listened.

"Then can we exchange for a lot of cloth?"

Zheng Yi looked at him: "It's not just cloth."

"There's still sugar?"

"...It's possible."

"And salted meat?"

"That's fine too."

"You still have cotton-padded clothes?"

"This is the important thing."

Chiya burst out laughing.

Yan'ao glanced at him and cursed him for being spineless, but his own gaze wasn't as hard as before.

Wu Chen, however, became even more cautious.

"Even if you're right, who will take this route? How will they do it? How much cargo will they carry? What if they encounter someone trying to steal from them? What if the price is lowered in the south?" These are all real questions.

Zheng Yi nodded: "So we can't make the bed too big all at once. Let's try a small one first."

He reached out and drew several lines on the snow.

"First, select the items that are least likely to break, easiest to carry, and best-selling in the south. These include intact thick hides, ferocious beast sinews, horns, teeth, processed bone materials, and some medicinal herbs and minerals unique to the cold regions."

"Secondly, don't go the farthest, just find the nearest border town that can pick up goods. It doesn't matter if the goods are small, just test the route and the price first."

"Third, the people who go there cannot just be hunters; they also need to be able to keep accounts, negotiate prices, and distinguish the quality of goods."

Upon hearing this, the Bone Woman suddenly let out a snort.

"Are you trying to sell Wu Chen as well?"

Wu Chen choked for a moment, which was rare for him.

Zheng Yi said, "Wu Chen is suitable to lead a team, but he may not be able to make frequent trips himself. The Black Rock Tribe needs to retain a leader. I think we can send a small team on a trial trip first, and I will accompany them to the border town to establish connections. Then we can see if we can connect with one or two reliable merchant caravans."

Yan Ao frowned: "You're really planning to do this?"

“Of course,” Zheng Yi said. “White Bone Lake cannot be completely resolved in a day or two. If you continue to rely solely on hunting and enduring the hardship, even if the creatures in the lake don’t break you down, the winter will slowly wear you down.”

These words were harsh, yet no one refuted them.

Because that's the truth.

Several women who were peeling skin nearby stopped what they were doing and looked over. They might not all understand the meaning of "trade," but everyone could understand terms like "exchanging cloth, cotton, grain, salt, and needles and iron."

The old woman leaned on her cane and remained silent for a long while.

Finally, he slowly said, "What you said isn't empty."

Zheng Yi looked at her.

The old woman continued, "But if it's really going to be done, it's not just a matter of saying a few words. There will be disputes in the tribe about who brings how much goods, who contributes people, and who gets the goods first and who gets them last."

Zheng Yi nodded: "So we need to establish rules first."

"You stand?"

“I’ll propose it first, and you can decide for yourselves,” Zheng Yi said. “This is about your tribe’s livelihood, not something I can just suppress with a word.”

Wu Chen finally spoke up: "At the bonfire party tonight, invite a few people who can make decisions. Explain this matter clearly."

Yan'ao glanced at the hide and horns on the ground, then suddenly kicked the skull of the large ram.

"The Firebristle division can also ship goods."

The Bone Woman glanced at him: "You're quick."

Yan Ao snorted, "I'm not stupid enough not to take advantage of a good deal."

Upon hearing this, Chi Ya was already bursting with excitement. He ran around the fire twice and told everyone he met, "Zheng Yi said our fur is very valuable in the south," "We can exchange it for cotton clothes and cloth shoes in the future," and "We can also exchange it for sugar."

Bone Granny's temples throbbed with anger. She raised her hand to hit him, but in the end, she only cursed, "Wipe the oil off your face first!"

……

That noon, the Black Rock tribe ate meat soup as usual.

The large pot was simmering with lamb bones and scraps of meat that had been divided up this morning, along with some dried roots, bitter leaves, and the last bit of coarse salt. The soup was thick and white, and while it smelled good, it was still the same as always.

Zheng Yi sat by the fire, holding a wooden bowl, and slowly took a sip.

Yan'ao sat opposite, gnawing on a piece of sinewy meat, and suddenly asked, "Is the food in the south really better than this?"

Zheng Yi thought for a moment: "There are many more options."

"for example?"

"Rice, noodles, flatbread, porridge, vegetables, beans, fish, and meat are not just boiled and roasted. They can also be steamed, braised, stewed, and stir-fried."

Chi Ya's eyes widened in disbelief: "What's 'stir-fry'?"

Zheng Yi was a little stumped to explain, and could only say, "It tastes better than what you're eating now."

Chiya made up his mind on the spot: "Then I must go to the south in the future."

The old woman sneered, "Let's straighten the net first."

Everyone laughed.

The laughter wasn't loud, but it was a rare moment of relaxation in the past few days.

Zheng Yi looked down at the meat soup in the bowl and suddenly felt that his suggestion might actually change something here more than simply killing a few things that crawled out of the lake.

Killing the creatures in the lake is saving the present.

Connecting this group with the road to the south is the only way to save the long term.

Moreover, this matter may not be unrelated to spiritual practice.

With more stable food supplies, better clothing, more medicine, and iron tools, the northern tribes like the Black Rock and Fire Mane could then spare the strength to follow him in guarding White Bone Lake, exploring the Snow-Swallowing Cave, and entering the Old Mansion of Overturned Mountain. Otherwise, relying solely on sheer courage and a few animal hides, even the strongest person would be gradually worn down by winter and poverty.

He finished the last sip of soup, put down the wooden bowl, and mentally moved things forward a few steps.

First, establish the rules for trade.

Let's try the road to the nearest border town again.

Incidentally, we should also take this opportunity to find out about the current business connections and information in the south.

Perhaps, even some of the preparations needed for the old Fushan Mansion can be made up along the way through trade.

Wu Chen glanced at him and said in a low voice, "You're thinking about what will happen next again."

Zheng Yi hummed in agreement.

“This place shouldn’t just be a fur robe and a pot of meat soup.”

After listening, Wu Chen remained silent for a moment, then surprisingly smiled.

I like what you said.

Once the matter was brought up at the bonfire meeting, it went more smoothly than Zheng Yi had expected.

It wasn't because everyone understood what trade or trade routes meant, but because words like "cloth," "salt," "cotton," "needle and thread," "iron pot," and "seasonings" were simply too concrete. So concrete that no further explanation was needed; the people in the tribe knew how much these things could improve their lives.

The women, especially those who spent their days mending old robes, making meat soup, and altering clothes for their children, listened most attentively.

Wu Chen divided the people into two sides.

On one side are the experienced hunter who can make decisions, the bone marrow woman, and several people who sell the most goods from each family.

On one side was Zheng Yi, who explained to them, one by one, how to try, how to guide, how to change, and how to prevent people from undercutting prices.

Yan'ao was just listening in at first, but the more he listened, the more he felt that there was something to it, so he simply chimed in: "The Firemane tribe can produce black-backed wolf skins, cold-mane ox horns, frozen bone ore, and a few herbs that your Black Rock tribe lacks."

Bone Woman immediately chimed in: "Then don't just focus on the Black Rock Tribe. If you want to take this route, connect with all the nearby tribes you can. The more diverse the goods, the more valuable they are, and the less likely you are to be crushed by someone's words."

Zheng Yi nodded: "That's right. The first time, we're not looking to make a big profit, we're just looking to establish a solid foundation, figure out the prices, and identify the right people."

So, starting the next day, the Black Rock Tribe and the Firemane Tribe were really busy in a different way.

It's not just about sharpening spears, patrolling lakes, and moving stones.

There were also extra goods.

Whole hides of good quality were picked out separately, while those with damaged edges were kept for making robes or mending boots. Complete animal sinews were hung up to dry straight before being coiled. Horns, teeth, claws, medicinal bones, the unique oils beneath the hides of ferocious beasts, and some bitter and cold herbs rarely found in the south were all sorted according to their categories. (End of Chapter)