Chapter 498
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
You can buy coins here to unlock advanced chapters: https://gravitytales.com/coins-purchase-page/
Chapter 498: The Meeting
“Chief, what should we do now?”
Inside the tent, Bazar and One-Eyed Buhe stood respectfully.
Siqin directly threw the two pleas for aid into the nearby fire, then spoke with a meaningful expression.
“Just do what we’re supposed to do.”
Heavy snow was falling outside again.
The major tribes on the grasslands were all struggling to fend for themselves; who had time to bother with the affairs of the Khanar and Sunite tribes?
At a time like this, if anyone were to do something, it would only draw attention.
Let alone the Charhan tribe, which was originally the weakest among the five great tribes.
Doing nothing, guarding their own tribal camp, and simply doing what they were supposed to do was the best strategy.
However, Siqin wished to stay out of trouble, but someone didn’t want him to remain peaceful…
“Chief, Batel of the Khanar tribe has arrived outside our camp with his men, saying he wants to see you.”
The next midday, hearing a subordinate’s report, Siqin frowned slightly.
He had ignored those pleas for aid, and now the other party had actually come knocking…
Siqin could probably guess Batel’s purpose for this visit.
It was nothing more than two things: either to seek aid or to seek grain.
Among the original five great tribes, their Charhan tribe was the weakest.
If the other tribes acted tough, there would be no room for discussion.
But with their Charhan tribe, perhaps there was still a chance to negotiate.
Batel was probably thinking this way.
Unfortunately, he had no intention of agreeing to either.
However, he still had to meet with the man. After all, a skinny camel is still bigger than a horse.
Even though the Khanar tribe now only had a few hundred men under Batel’s command, gathered together, they still posed a considerable threat.
More crucially, after their tribal camp was massacred, Batel was probably on the verge of becoming a rabid dog.
If he refused to even meet him and simply turned him away, what if Batel’s anger flared up and he attacked?
“Are all those cattle, sheep, and horses settled?”
Siqin asked One-Eyed Buhe, who stood nearby.
“Rest assured, Chief, they’re all settled.”
“Good.”
Siqin nodded with satisfaction upon receiving a positive answer.
“Just in case, Buhe, you should step out for now.”
“Yes.”
Watching One-Eyed Buhe retreat, Siqin turned to Bazar and spoke.
“Bazar, go bring him over. Be careful not to let the other party suspect anything.”
Bazar acknowledged and quickly walked out.
Outside the Charhan tribe’s camp, two groups of men stood facing each other from a distance.
Although they weren’t there for war, Batel couldn’t come alone due to various considerations.
He and his uncle Mobigan led the way, followed by 300 men.
The rest of their forces waited further back.
Conversely, the Charhan tribe’s people clearly couldn’t just ignore these 300 men either.
Thus, a standoff was formed.
Bazar rode out alone from his side.
As the first warrior of the Charhan tribe, Batel naturally recognized him.
Knowing the other party had something to say, after signaling his men to stay put, Batel himself rode forward.
Mobigan’s eyes flashed with hesitation, but ultimately, still a bit uneasy, he followed.
After the two sides met, Bazar glanced at Mobigan, but didn’t pay much attention.
His gaze quickly fell on Batel.
He then spoke, “Our chief has agreed to see you. The others stay outside; you come in with me.”
Mobigan’s heart immediately seized upon hearing this.
He quickly grabbed Batel, then shook his head at him.
“It’s too dangerous for you to go in alone.”
As he spoke, Mobigan shouted loudly at Bazar.
“Batel is the new chief of our Khanar tribe; he should at least be allowed to bring a unit of men!”
Bazar inwardly scoffed at this, then replied.
“Come in or don’t. Our chief isn’t looking for you; if you’re not coming in, leave quickly. Don’t loiter outside our Charhan tribe’s camp; this is our territory!”
Bazar’s reply made Mobigan’s expression stiffen.
Because it was the truth.
The chief of the Charhan tribe had no business with them.
They were the ones seeking help, having come on their own initiative.
However, they clearly couldn’t just leave like this.
Thinking of this, Batel reached out and patted Mobigan’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry, Uncle Mobigan, I’ll be fine.”
Having said that, Batel turned and shouted.
“Lead the way!”
Bazar gave Batel a higher regard for his boldness.
He led Batel all the way towards the chief’s tent.
Along the way, the other party inevitably scrutinized the camp.
Bazar remained calm about this.
Everything that needed to be handled had already been taken care of.
The other party would absolutely not find any clues.
“Chief, Batel of the Khanar tribe has arrived.”
“Come in.”
As he spoke, Siqin put down the book in his hand, looking completely calm.
“Sit.”
Looking at Batel entering, Siqin raised a hand, gesturing for him to sit, and poured him a bowl of mare’s milk wine.
“At the moment, our Charhan tribe has limited grain, so this is all I can offer to entertain you.”
A hint of awkwardness flashed across Batel’s face upon hearing this.
After all, he had only been chief for a few days.
He was skilled at charging into battle, but when it came to being a chief, Batel was far too inexperienced.
Having originally come to borrow grain, he was stumped by Siqin’s words.
For a moment, he didn’t know how to speak.
Siqin inwardly chuckled, seeing Batel’s expression.
The other party didn’t know how to speak, but he also didn’t intend to waste too much time with Batel.
Prolonged delay could lead to unforeseen changes.
With this thought, after taking a few sips of mare’s milk wine, Siqin slowly began to speak.
“So, Chief Batel, what brings you here this time?”
“This… this…”
A hint of hesitation flashed across Batel’s face.
After a moment of internal struggle, he finally bit the bullet and said, “Chief Siqin, I came here this time because I wanted to borrow some grain from you.”
What the Khanar tribe lacked most right now was definitely not men, but grain!
Several hundred mouths were waiting to be fed.
Upon hearing this, Siqin’s face clearly showed great difficulty.
“Chief Batel, this puts me in a difficult position. Many people in our tribe are already hungry, and with heavy snow falling again, we really don’t have any extra grain to lend to your Khanar tribe.”
“The Shuote tribe and the Turuit tribe have more cattle and sheep than us. Chief Batel, perhaps you should ask them.”
The two tribes Siqin mentioned were undoubtedly the remaining two among the five great tribes.
In fact, according to Siqin, originally, every tribe among the five great tribes had more cattle, sheep, and horses than their Charhan tribe.
At this moment, Batel, who was not thick-skinned enough, clearly showed a hint of embarrassment on his face.
At the same time, he didn’t want to stay there any longer.
“In that case, I won’t impose any further.”
As he spoke, Batel intended to rise and leave.
Siqin inwardly scoffed.
Asking for help, yet unable to humble himself.
This Batel was clearly spoiled by that old fox Bileg.
But unexpectedly, after taking two steps, Batel seemed to remember something and suddenly asked.
“Oh, right, Chief Siqin, during the grain raid earlier, your Charhan tribe’s forces seemed to retreat earlier than anyone else.”
