Standing on the rocky ledge, Minh Vu could see in the distance a pack of wolves scrambling for food. Klu and Orc stood beside him, both puzzled as to why, suspicion in their eyes as they looked at Minh Vu.
Klu couldn't help but ask, "Vu! Why feed the wolves? Fish! They're hard to catch!"
Minh Vu didn't give a direct answer but countered, "What if you swallow this?" With that, a small branch with thorns about 4cm long appeared in Minh Vu's hand.
"Can't swallow it! Would die!" Klu shook his head.
"But what about those wolves over there?"
"Impossible! They're very clever."
"No! We're cleverer! Stick these thorns into the meat. They'll eat!" Minh Vu smirked.
"Oh!!!" Klu's face lit up, then seemed to realize a truth.
"Right! Wolves eat! Wolves die! No more fear of wolves!" Klu rejoiced, immediately spreading this news to the entire tribe.
Contrary to Klu, Orc's face wrinkled like a bitter gourd, regret evident. "Fish! That's his catch! He dug in the snow for so long, hands nearly freezing! Why! Why feed the wolves! Don't want! My fish!" Orc silently cried.
"Orc, fish or wolf meat, which tastes better?"
"Wolf meat! Wolf meat is good!" Orc's whole body trembled at the thought of wolf meat.
"Next time, I'll give you something new to eat! Much tastier than wolf meat!" Minh Vu tossed a fresh carrot to this chubby rabbit lover.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Sitting on the rocky outcrop, feeling the chilly wind pierce through, yet his mind was sharp, he needed to plan well for the time ahead.
Firstly, the food issue seemed to be resolved satisfactorily. However, to develop the tribe, they couldn't rely solely on hunting for sustenance.
Agriculture needed to be the foundation, accumulating resources, allowing time for other endeavors.
Currently, he had two types of crops that could potentially serve as staples: potatoes and barley. He planned to sow potatoes in early spring and barley in early autumn. The decision was based on the species' characteristics and seasonal cycles.
However, the yield of these crops wasn't substantial. He planned to trade dried fish for provisions with the Dry tribe in the middle of winter.
Apart from staple foods, they needed to diversify with vegetables and spices. Currently, aside from salt, there were hardly any other seasonings.
Secondly, he needed to focus on fortifying the tribe's defenses.
With the approach of spring or late winter, the tribe would face attacks from at least one other tribe, notably the Fang tribe, and a formidable beast, the Stone tribe.
Therefore, after eliminating the wolf pack, he would begin planning the reorganization of the entire tribe.
Thirdly, he needed to strengthen the tribe. With bows in hand, they could stand invincible with sturdy fortifications. But achieving this required more training for archers, not just stationary shooting but running, jumping, and close combat skills.
Another equally important task was to find copper ore to usher in a new era, the Bronze Age.
The next two days, the tribe remained within the walls, focusing on training various archery techniques.
Firstly, shooting while running, targeting not just one but multiple consecutive targets. Additionally, they practiced shooting in confined spaces.
Secondly, physical conditioning, focusing on strength training for the body, legs, and core through basic exercises like running, push-ups, jumping jacks, and sit-ups.
Initially, many tribesmen showed disdain, reluctant to train. However, after less than 10 minutes of exercise, they began to groan and pant. Especially the gluttonous Orc.
Minh Vu also trained alongside them. The primitive tribesmen didn't understand the purpose of these exercises, but Minh Vu, being from the modern world, knew their benefits.
Pushing the tribesmen hard for two days, on the third day, the hunters resumed fishing outside. The routine remained the same, catching fish, hunting, and cutting meat by the stream, leaving the bank strewn with fresh meat.
This was aimed at reducing the tribe's guard against the wolf pack and luring them in for a decisive blow when the time was right.
Indeed, as soon as the tribe went out, the wolf pack approached eagerly, their vicious eyes fixed on the humans. Then they pounced, scrambling for each piece of fresh fish, blood staining the ground.
From afar, Minh Vu could hear the growls of the wolves. A smirk crept onto his lips.
While the large stone tribe was busy plotting its grand scheme, other tribes experienced a relatively peaceful winter, relying on pots for cooking. Though they ate only one meal a day, they made up for it in quantity, drinking warm water to compensate for the cold.
The Fang tribe was also tense, actively crafting and honing their skills, seemingly preparing to raid other tribes.
The Stone tribe, however, remained different. They continued their usual work, primarily mining salt. This year, with the addition of the basket, their work became much more efficient. It was estimated that the Stone tribe currently had about 300 baskets.
Protected within the stone cave was the most superior part of the Stone tribe. Inside, Simba and Ohot were discussing. In recent days, they had been relentlessly studying the pottery of the Large Stone tribe.
"Do you know what the pottery is made of?" Ohot asked Simba.
"It's structured like a stone pot but lighter and heats up faster! Plus, it can be made in larger quantities!" Simba examined his hands over the fire.
"It must be made of clay. I tasted it, tasted like clay, but our clay doesn't make it as hard as that!" Ohot remarked.
"Or maybe it's baked differently! Let's try roasting it! See how it turns out!" Simba's eyes lit up with an idea.
"I've tried roasting it, but it didn't work! It dissolved in water!" Ohot said.
"The Large Stone tribe is really cunning!" Simba exclaimed angrily.
"But it's okay! They're being watched by a pack of wolves. No need to worry!" Simba chuckled.
"A bunch of fools, provoking a pack of dangerous wolves. Let's see how many of their tribe remains by the end of winter! Then they won't be slaves to our tribe anymore!" Simba laughed sinisterly.
Since learning about the Large Stone tribe's good pottery, Simba had been constantly sending scouts to spy on the Large Stone tribe. Though not getting too close for observation, they had a general idea of the situation in the Large Stone tribe.
Despite suffering some casualties from wolf attacks, they learned that the Large Stone tribe was besieged.
Following this, the two key members of the Stone tribe discussed plans to annex the Large Stone tribe in the early spring. Laughter echoed within the cave.
Ten days passed. Since the first bait was released to lure the wolves, every three days, Minh Vu's group released bait. The wolf pack became increasingly aggressive, circling the tribe even in broad daylight. If not for their fear of the tribe's weapons, they would have attacked long ago.
Outside, the howls of wolves never ceased. Minh Vu observed from a distance; there were roughly 60 mature wolves.
Sensing the situation changing, Minh Vu began his campaign to slaughter the wolves. Over the past few days, the tribe accumulated over a thousand thorns, stored in four large baskets, preparing for everything. After breakfast, the hunting party and archers set out on their mission.
Inside the tribe, only five archers remained, while the rest of the tribesmen barricaded themselves inside the stone cave, sealed tight.
Meanwhile, 29 hunters, equipped with all weapons, went to the stream to catch fish. The wolf pack watched them leave, excitedly anticipating a feast.
However, the wolves lingered at a distance, reluctant to approach, afraid of the weapons in the hands of those tribal humans.
Nearly an hour later, the ice pit was finally broken, revealing a bloody scene, the smell of blood permeating the air, inciting the wolf pack's excitement.
This time, Minh Vu had no intention of bringing back fish; instead, he used them as bait.
One side prepared meat, the other embedded sharp thorns inside.
They made plenty to ensure that some wolves went without food, leaving behind a few survivors, potential threats in the future.
The entire tribe toiled tirelessly for three hours until midday when the work was finally done. On the other side, the Stone Wolf pack couldn't resist; some wolves began to approach the human group.
Satisfied with the amount collected, Minh Vu instructed everyone to return to the tribe, leaving behind the leftover bait and traps only.