Chapter 24: Economic Disruption and the Erosion of Trade Networks
The leader of the Donghe Tribe, affectionately known as "Grandmother," emerged from the sacred temple, her weathered face etched with gratitude. She expressed her tribe's wishes with a delicate euphemism, mindful of their dire circumstances. As a branch of the mighty Donghai clan, they found themselves in a precarious situation, yet steadfastly remained bound to their ancestral beliefs and prayers.
Amidst the uncharacteristically early arrival of winter, a bone-chilling cold had seized the land, causing even the vast East River to freeze over. However, this frigid turn of events did not impede the resilient Garlic Tribe. Today, they reveled in an abundance of food, boasting a bountiful harvest of wheat, potatoes, garlic, and preserved fish and meat.
Furthermore, their transition to sturdy wooden houses had significantly fortified their defenses against the elements, providing them with much-needed warmth and shelter. It was a stark contrast to their previous dwellings, which had been susceptible to the biting winds and relentless rains.
During the harsh winter months, the Garlic Tribe's primary occupation centered around logging. They ventured deep into the forest, seeking timber for heating and storage. However, the ceaseless snowfall over numerous days draped a thick blanket of white upon their entire settlement, including the frozen ditches. The biting cold prompted birds and rabbits, driven by their own hunger, to venture into the tribe's territory, scavenging for sustenance.
On this particular day, members of the Donghe Tribe, laden with bags upon their backs, traversed the frozen expanse of ice. The brutal winter conditions compelled them to dismantle their boats, employing their timbers as firewood for warmth. Fishing, once a vital means of sustenance, had become perilous and arduous. The icy grip of the frozen river prevented them from breaking through and accessing the comparatively warmer waters.
Even the last of the sea monsters had perished beneath the frigid depths, leaving behind no progeny to replace them. The Donghe Tribe, trapped in a cycle of starvation and cold, had lost over a dozen members to the relentless elements and debilitating illnesses. Forced to relinquish their traditions, they had embarked upon a desperate journey to the mainland in search of survival.
With great humility, Grandmother, accompanied by several female captains, knelt outside the temple, beseeching the gods for forgiveness for their past transgressions. Acknowledging their remorse, Lu Yao, in an act of benevolence, spared them further hardship and called upon Yin Shabel to extend assistance, as promised.
Adhering to the adage that necessity knows no bounds, Lu Yao recognized the vital importance of the Donghe Tribe. They possessed the invaluable ability to provide water routes and act as a bulwark against their adversaries, the Yanchi Tribe. As the pragmatic leader of the Garlic Tribe, the Prophet warmly received the Donghe Tribe, allocating available housing to accommodate their needs, given the limited daylight hours of winter.
However, following the rescue of the Donghe Tribe, an unexpected turn of events transpired within the Garlic Tribe that Lu Yao had never anticipated. In the depths of this unforgiving winter, a surge of newborns emerged within the Donghe Tribe, much to Lu Yao's chagrin.
Realization struck him like a slap to the forehead—he had been negligent. The Donghe Tribe had set their sights on the robust men of the Garlic Tribe. In the tribal era, notions of marriage and monogamy were nonexistent, and a spirit of openness pervaded. A prevailing norm dictated that today one would visit one household, while tomorrow another would be visited, with the communal rearing of newborns being the collective responsibility.
To his dismay, the influx of newborns within the Donghe Tribe included both boys and girls, none of whom transformed into sea monsters; they were ordinary infants. Grandmother's distress was palpable as she implored the gods, hoping against hope for forgiveness and redemption. "Mighty deity, have you not yet granted absolution to our tribe? We have never forgotten the gifts bestowed upon us, and we have diligently striven to breed sea monsters and offer their leathery hides in reverence. Why have you forsaken us? I beseech you, merciful deity, bless your people in this foreign land once more!"
Alas, these prayers proved futile, and the women of the Donghe Tribe continued to bear children who defied the transformation into sea monsters. Yin Shabel conducted an extensive investigation into the matter, culminating in a realization—the purported ability of Donghe women to birth sea monsters was not a consequence of their abnormal physiques, but rather the manifestation of their totemic faith.
The prayer totem possessed a unique form of devout fire, capable of imbuing newborn boys with transformative power. The flames of faith permeated their beings, utilizing their lives and spirits as fuel. Once burned, this essence coalesced into the thick, leathery exteriors of the sea monsters. Through intricate rituals and sacrifices, these hides could be converted back into a reservoir of faith.
In essence, the sea monsters were a living testament to the harvest of faith—a corporeal embodiment of beliefs.
Lu Yao was hardly taken aback by the outcome. The more he immersed himself in the gane, the more he understood the insatiable hunger of the deities in this pixelated realm. They would go to great lengths to amass faith, for it directly correlated with their strength. Faith was the lifeblood of the gods, the very force that propelled them forward. And as gods, they were unbound by any moral constraints. Whatever actions they undertook would be glorified, blindly followed, and unquestioningly justified by their devoted believers. Dissenters were labeled as heretics, mere pawns in the gods' grand design.
The loss of their totems, sea monsters, and ships had left the Donghai tribe severely weakened on land. Both Grandmother and the female captain, as leaders, were consumed by worry and panic. However, the majority of Donghai women reveled in the simple joys of sustenance and clothing. After establishing ties with the Garlic tribe, they adorned themselves in warm woolen garments, feasted on wheat and potatoes, and no longer fretted about gathering firewood for warmth during the chilly nights. Their focus shifted towards nurturing the next generation, as they spent countless hours tending to the precious lives of their offspring.
These children, being the product of both tribes, were showered with abundant provisions by the Garlic tribe, ensuring that the women of the Donghai tribe could navigate the winter season without hardship. As the winter drew to a close, Grandmother made the decision to lead the Donghai tribe back to their island abode, leaving behind the vast majority of infants. The Garlic tribe, being a more prosperous and stable community, offered an ideal environment for raising young children compared to the Donghai tribe. Consequently, the Garlic tribe experienced a remarkable baby boom, with Lu Yao's careful tally revealing the birth of 34 infants during that winter—a number that accounted for nearly one-tenth of the entire Garlic tribe population. Lu Yao couldn't help but smile, making a mental note to return next winter.
Amidst the backdrop of favorable circumstances, a dissonant note arose from the Yanchi tribe. They dispatched a delegation to engage in solemn negotiations with the Prophet. Their grievances were directed towards the Garlic tribe, accusing them of circumventing the Yanchi tribe and engaging in trade with the perilous Donghai tribe. Such actions, they argued, disrupted the trading market and threatened the interests of the entire Yanchi tribe. They demanded that the Prophet put an end to this behavior and provide suitable compensation. Furthermore, they cited the rising price of salt outside their domain, asserting that all tribes faced scarcity and thus necessitated an increase in price. However, they were open to concessions if the Garlic tribe could offer substantial amounts of wool for trade.
In the past, negotiations of this nature would have been mere theatrics. But now, there was no room for such pretense. The Yanchi tribe's dominance over salt production and trade routes afforded them a position of power. Yet, the Prophet responded with unwavering resolve: "The Garlic tribe finds these demands unacceptable and beyond negotiation. We welcome cooperation from our friends, but we will never yield to threats."
"Foolish savages!" one of the Yanchi tribesmen spat, his words dripping with contempt. "You will regret this! The Yanchi tribe no longer considers you as friends!"
With that, the Yanchi tribesmen hastily retreated, disappearing into the western mountains. Lu Yao, utilizing the powers bestowed upon him by the simulator, unleashed a series of earthquakes known as "Miracle." The earth shook and the mountains trembled as boulders tumbled down the slopes.
Earthquake after earthquake rocked the land—a total of four seismic events. Vast stretches of mountains quivered, leaving rubble scattered along their ridges. The passage that linked the Garlic tribe with the Yanchi tribe was completely severed. Panic engulfed the Yanchi tribesmen stranded in the mountains.
"We're done! The passage is severed!"
"Our trade route is shattered. We can no longer transport goods through here."
"The losses will be immense!"
"My wool, my garlic!"
Lu Yao clenched his fist, a smirk playing across his face. They wanted to play with economic sanctions? Well, he had taken the initiative. Did they understand the implications of a nation closing its borders? They would soon learn the consequences firsthand.