"······."
I had some idea why they came. However, the Mohegan tribe came much later than I had expected. I stood up and spoke to the crowd.
"Let's prepare to welcome our guests."
"Understood, Chief!"
After a while, the Mohegan tribesmen came into the village and greeted them. There are about thirty people. There were a few familiar faces among the Mohegan tribe.
Chiefs met while trading with the Mohegan tribe. And there was also a chief in this company who had come to our aid when he was in danger, pursued by Pequot warriors.
'Blue Leaf', who had been quietly looking at me from one side, flinched and spoke with a surprised expression.
"What about you?"
"Nice to meet you again."
"I regret that we parted ways without even saying goodbye properly last time···"
The Mohegan tribesmen nearby looked at the 'blue leaf' with curious expressions.
"Didn't I tell you last time? That you received great help from the Lenape people when you were being chased by the Pequot tribe?"
"Oh! Is this the Lenape tribesman?"
"yes."
The Mohegan tribesmen came up to me and thanked me repeatedly.
"···I've heard a lot of stories."
"···I wanted to meet you just once."
"···Thank you so much for your help."
For a while I greeted the Mohegan tribesmen in a friendly atmosphere.
"Nice to meet you."
An old man with the words "Daechujang" written on his face spoke respectfully.
"Thank you for welcoming us, even though we came without any notice."
"No. Let's go inside for more details."
"yes."
* * *
A large hut. The Mohegan and Pequot tribes were originally one tribe. And until recently, the two tribes had been fighting fiercely over territory.
The Mohegans still looked bewildered, as if they couldn't believe they were in the middle of a Pequot village.
"Please sit comfortably."
"thank you."
After a while, we had a brief conversation with the Mohegan chief while eating the food brought by the Pequot women.
"···I was honestly surprised to hear that you became the chief of the Lenape tribe at such a young age. How is the wise fox?"
"Yes, I heard that he retired from the post of chief and stayed in the village, helping out in various ways.
"okay."
"······."
"But why did you fight the Pequot tribe?"
The 'Guardian of Water', with his wrinkles between his eyebrows standing out, looked at me slightly and asked.
'I don't know the exact reason.'
I hid my smile and spoke calmly.
"Don't you know, Chief, that the Pequot tribe is fierce and vicious?"
"Well, it's not like the Pequot tribe has raided once or twice."
The 'Guardian of Water' interpreted my answer and made a judgment. I let out a chuckle. The 'Guardian of Water' took a deep breath and asked again.
"Chief! Have you conquered all the Pequot villages?"
"Yes. From now on, all the Pequot territory will be ruled by our Lenape people."
For a moment, the 'Guardian of Water' looked surprised and his eyebrows furrowed even deeper.
"Oh, I see."
Then he took a look at me and finally got to the main point.
"Chief! You must know that we were at war with the Pequot tribe."
"Yes. I have heard stories about the war between the two tribes as I have traveled back and forth."
"Then let me tell you honestly why we came here. We want the land that was our tribe's home to be returned to us."
"What does that mean?"
I looked extremely embarrassed and pretended not to know anything. At that time, the thousands of people attending the banquet expressed their concerns as if they had been in sync.
"Chief! This is the land our warriors conquered with their blood."
"No matter how friendly the Mohegan tribe is with our tribe, that is not it."
In particular, the 'fast-footed deer' played a big role. And finally, the 'Honest Bear' put the finishing touches on it.
"Chief! Even if I die, that will never happen."
"······."
The interior of the large hut was suddenly enveloped in silence, as if cold water had been poured over it. The chieftain, the 'Water Guardian', glanced at the Mohegan chiefs with a troubled look and spoke quickly.
"We will not just give it back to you. In return for giving us back our land, we will give you food and leather for ten years."
"···hmm!"
In case the Mohegan tribe was at odds over the territorial issue, a meeting had already been held to decide what to do.
However, I opened my mouth with difficulty, pretending to be troubled with an embarrassed expression.
"I don't think I can decide that on my own. I think I can tell you after I have a close discussion with the tribesmen."
The 'Guardian of Water' nodded as if he fully understood our situation.
"Of course, Chief! We, the Mohegans, would like to continue our good relationship with the Lenape people as before. We also think that ten years is not enough, so we will hold a long meeting and adjust it again to a maximum of fifteen years."
Fifteen years, it was clear that the Mohegans had set the maximum number before negotiating with us.
'As expected, we're the ones who are at a loss.'
However, for the sake of the friendship between the two tribes in the future, it is better to accept everything that can be received even if it means giving up territory.
"Yes. I also want to maintain good relations with the Mohegan tribe in the future."
* * *
The next day. The Mohegan tribesmen were waiting nervously for my answer in their large hut. I spoke carefully with a cautious expression.
"······."
The silence was growing longer. And did you feel impatient? The 'Guardian of Water' spoke first with bloodshot eyes, as if he hadn't slept properly in the hut we had prepared.
"Chief! We discussed all night and decided to give you food and leather for fifteen years."
He said it as if he was feeling burdened, while secretly cheering.
"But I don't know if we can accept it."
"No. Of course you should receive it."
"Okay, I understand. Anyway, I'll give back the land that was once the Mohegan tribe."
"thank you."
"···I hope to continue to maintain good friendly relations with the Mohegan tribe in the future."
After a while, the Mohegans came out of the Pequot village with light steps. As I was seeing them off, the 'brave wolf' who was next to me asked cautiously.
"There was no need to return the land... I wonder why such a decision was made."
I said with a calm smile.
"I don't think there's any need to fight with the Mohegans over territorial issues. Trust between two tribes doesn't develop overnight."
Anyway, there was plenty of territory to conquer all around. However, there was no one to rule that territory. It was difficult to govern the territory occupied by the Pequot tribe under the current circumstances.
Anyway, if you eat too quickly, you'll get sick, so now was the time to focus on internal affairs and stability.
* * *
A few days passed quickly after the Mohegans left. Next to the Pequot village, barracks and training grounds for warriors were quickly being built.
While touring the newly built garrison, I received a report from 'Brave Wolf'.
"···We've also built a weapons warehouse and a food warehouse. I think everything will be completed by the day after tomorrow."
He nodded with a satisfied expression and gave the 'brave wolf' a few more instructions.
"···I wish the fence was double-layered. And I wish they'd install a few more watchtowers."
"Understood, Chief!"
He committed not only one thousand five hundred Lenape warriors, but also three hundred captured Pequot warriors, to the construction of the garrison.
Even the Pequot villagers. That's probably why the construction of the garrison was brought forward from the date I had expected.
After looking around the camp with satisfaction, I headed straight towards the Pequot village. A little later, all the captured Pequot chiefs were gathered in the middle of the village.
The 'Heavy Snowstorm' that was escorting me at close range was glaring at them menacingly as if it was going to kill them on the spot if they behaved suspiciously.
"Everyone sit down."
"······."
The Pequot chiefs sat down one by one and waited for me to speak. I held up the leather they had signed and threatened them again.
"···You must report the population of your village every season. You must offer a certain amount of food and leather. If you do not comply, I will lead my warriors and use force. And I will leave the results to your imagination."
"······."
"Okay, now I will give you freedom. Each of you go back to your villages."
"······."
Boom boom!
There was an uproar in the hall as the Pequot chiefs were perplexed by my decision.
"Are you serious?"
"You're not sending us here to kill us, are you?"
Concerned questions poured out among the chiefs.
"Quiet!"
"······."
"I promise on my honor that I will not touch any of you as you return to the village."
* * *
Several days passed after the Pequot chiefs each returned to their villages. As the garrison was built as planned, he began to give a speech to the five hundred warriors who remained there.
"······You are great Lenape warriors. Do not forget your pride and self-respect. Govern the Pequot tribe well until the next troop changes, and come back healthy."
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
The Lenape warriors, their spirits charged by my speech, roared loudly. I came down from the platform and spoke to the 'brave wolf' who remained here and led the five hundred warriors.
"I hope you don't get hurt and complete your mission safely."
The 'brave wolf' nodded and answered vigorously.
"I will definitely complete the mission."
Finally, all the handovers have been completed. The 'Brave Wolf', whose abilities have been improved more evenly through war and battle than before, will be able to rule the Pequot tribe well in my stead.
Just then, a 'swift deer' approached.
"Chief! The warriors are waiting."
"Let's leave right away."
"All right."
A short while later, a thousand two hundred warriors formed up and left the Pequot village.
"depart!"
In the center of the formation, the young Pequot men who would become my loyal warriors in the future were walking weakly, looking like they were going to die.
* * *
Quiri Pi Tribe Garrison.
"It's Chief Juche!"
"These are our warriors!"
"We won the war against the Pequot tribe!"
Waaa ...
As they entered the newly built garrison, the 'Cold Tree' and five hundred warriors came out and warmly welcomed the warriors.
"Are you here, Chief?"
"You've made a pretty good garrison."
"thank you."
'Cold Tree' immediately introduced the newly elected Chieftains of the Curie Phi tribe. The nervous Quree Pee tribe chieftains greeted me with great respect.
"···I meet the chief."
"···Thank you for leading us."
After a while, we toured the newly created Quiri Pi tribe villages and received a report from 'Cold Tree'.
"···The Quiri Pi tribe people followed our instructions without much resistance."
"···To keep the winters warm, the floors were laid with ondol. Since there were no tiles, we made roofs out of tree branches. We built two wells in each village."
"great job."
"no."
After the report on 'Cold Tree' was finished, I asked him for his opinion.
"How many warriors do you think we should station here?"
The 'cold tree', who had been thinking for a moment, answered calmly.
"I think about three hundred people would be enough to safely govern the Quiri Pi people."
Three hundred people··· It was clear that 'Cold Tree' had at least the minimum number of people.
"Okay. Four hundred warriors are stationed here. And I want you to lead this place until the next unit comes in."
If it were 'Cold Tree', who was from the same tribe, he would be able to rule over the Quiri Pi tribe without any problems. The 'Cold Tree' bowed its head deeply as if it knew that it had been given an important mission.
"I will do my best to complete this mission safely, as the Chief has trusted me with his work."
Looking at the 'cold tree' with a proud expression, we naturally moved on to the next topic.
"How many Curie P people are you taking to the training camp?"
"Forty-two people."
"There's more than I expected."
"If we continue to absorb wandering tribes in the future, there will be more warriors entering the training camp than there are now."
* * *
A 'very big' town.
"It's Chief Juche!"
"I have conquered the Pequot tribe!"
"You are the great chieftain, the son of God and the warrior of God!"
Not only the townspeople, but also the warriors who remained in the training camp warmly welcomed us for our conquest of the Pequot tribe.
At that moment, a female elder came running in a hurry.
"Chief! It's been quite some time since the moon rose and labor pains began. I think I'll be giving birth soon."