Chapter 31: Clash of Clans
In the vicinity of Lake Malawi, specifically in Karonga, the sixth team of the East African advance mission encountered a fierce confrontation with the local "Leita" tribe. The sixth team and the fifth team had initially separated in Mbeya but eventually converged in this region.
The "Leita" tribe, with thousands of members, was considered the dominant force in the Karonga area. Haru, their leader, was a highly skilled chieftain who had ambitions of expanding his tribe's control over the region.
When the sixth team arrived, it immediately aroused the suspicion of the "Leita" tribe. As the reigning power in the area, they considered themselves invincible.
Haru, however, had grown complacent and believed his tribe was unbeatable. He had even begun conquering neighboring tribes. The arrival of the sixth team presented an opportunity he couldn't resist.
In the past, a Portuguese expedition had ventured into this area and was wiped out by the "Leita" tribe. The Portuguese had left no record of their expedition's fate, assuming explorers might have become lost in the wilderness or fallen prey to wild beasts. Thus, the "Leita" tribe hadn't taken them seriously.
Upon receiving reports from the affiliated tribes, Haru decided to personally lead an expedition against the sixth team. He summoned all the warriors from his tribe and had them blessed by the tribe's high priest before setting out.
They intercepted the sixth team on the shores of Lake Malawi, and a standoff ensued. Haru, holding his "artifact" spear crafted from a Portuguese knife, was determined to face the sixth team's modern weaponry.
The indigenous warriors watched the sixth team closely, clad in cotton fabric, a rare luxury in the Karonga textile industry. They viewed the flintlock guns as primitive "spears" and assumed their opponent's weapon wouldn't pose a significant threat.
When Haru gave the order to attack, the "Leita" tribe charged forward, believing that their sharp and lengthy spears would overpower the "foolish" opposing force with its short, unconventional "spears."
The sixth team's commander, Yuri, remained calm, even as he witnessed this audacious charge. He was puzzled by the native's confidence in directly confronting a modern army with such primitive weapons and a small force.
Yuri had received limited training but managed to organize his team efficiently. They divided themselves into three groups and aligned to shoot in turns.
The first volley of gunfire startled Haru, but he pressed forward. The first round wounded a few natives but didn't deter the charge.
As the standoff continued, Haru boosted his warriors' morale and encouraged them to run faster to avoid the enemy's long-range weaponry.
After the third volley of gunfire, nearly fifty natives were incapacitated, and some attempted to flee. Yuri ordered another volley, preventing them from escaping.
Yuri's disciplined team was well-organized, while the "Leita" tribe was thrown into disarray. Despite the natives' valiant efforts, they began to panic as comrades fell one by one.
The sixth team suffered casualties too, but their systematic approach prevailed. Yuri continued to command his team with composure.
Eventually, Yuri ordered a bayonet charge. With two consecutive rounds of attacks, more than 40 natives fell to the ground.
The natives lost their fighting spirit and began to flee, while Yuri's team pursued them.
In the end, the sixth team emerged victorious. The Leta tribe suffered over 300 casualties and had 62 captured, including the wounded leader, Haru. The sixth team, on the other hand, had only two injured during the battle and one soldier with a twisted foot during the pursuit.
This battle marked a significant victory, the first recorded win for the newly formed Chinese troops in the East African colonies.
Regarding the defeated Leta tribe, the sixth team chose not to take further action, allowing them to retreat towards Zimbabwe.
Due to the engagement, the sixth team couldn't establish their camp on time, so they occupied the village of the Leta tribe. These villages were constructed mainly from rattan and mud, with one larger hut belonging to Haru. The team members made do with what was available for the night.
(end of Chapter 31)