Parents' Ambition

After snapping out of his depression from realizing that the tribe had no tin ore, Xing left his tent and went to find Lei. He needed something to pass the time and take his mind off of things, so he decided to go and find her since she had previously asked him to spar with her. He quickly found her at a private training field and the two proceeded to practice using their new spears until late into the night.

The next morning Xing awoke early. He washed his face quickly with a woven hemp rag, using water from a wooden bucket which got emptied and refilled daily by the servants. After dressing up in his usual casual, yet proper hemp clothing, befitting of the Tribe-Chiefs and Great-Warriors son, Xing walked opposite his tent and entered the tent of the chief, waiting for his parents.

Today would be the day that he would finally find out about just what his parents were planning, and had been executing, for the Xia Tribe. Yesterday's depression had turned into today's excitement as he waited for the big reveal.

Xing didn't have to wait long, as both his parents entered the chief's tent from out of their own quarters, which was sectioned off within the same tent. Since they were both busy people within the tribe, both were early risers, and they always had breakfast with their son in the morning. So this family gathering in the morning was business as usual for them all.

"Good morning, mother, father." Xing nodded and greeted each of his parents.

"Good morning, son." "Good morning, darling."

Both his parents returned the morning pleasantries, as they shuffled through the tent.

As Ying began on serving breakfast for her husband and son, the two of them sat down at the dining table. With Xing's father beginning, "So, Xing, it is finally time for your mother and me to tell you about our aspirations for the tribe as a whole, and us as a family. We kept telling you that we would tell you when you grew up," He jokingly added, "However, neither of us expected that to be so soon."

Xing's mother cut in as she placed wooden plates in front of the pair, as well as her own. "That's right. Despite the fact that you're only 11, you did complete the coming-of-age ceremony, and also won it, so we have decided that now would be the best time to let you in on family plans."

"Family plans? Then why isn't Lei here? Or does she already know?" Xing asked.

"Hohoho." His mother cupped a hand to her mouth lightly laughing, "Lei isn't apart of our family," she squinted with a teasing smile appearing on her face, "…not yet at least."

"Well then, where to begin? …I know," Zheng regarded his son, "How much do you know about not just the surrounding tribes, but about all the tribes within the region?"

"Err, not a whole lot. I've focused on strengthening myself." Xing smiled wryly.

"That's not a bad thing and it probably wasn't your intention to not learn about the surroundings, since such knowledge needs to be taught and we haven't exactly been around often enough to teach. But don't worry, you're still young and have plenty of time to fill that brain of yours with information." Ying comforted her son as she served various fruits and dried meats onto the three plates.

Xing's father coughed to get attention, "Ahem." And then began, "Since you need to understand a few things firstly, we'll begin with explaining the world."

"For one there are currently two types of tribes of humans around. The first types of tribes are ones like our own, who are sticking to there heritage and living off the land through husbandry, and foraging, while moving from place to place. What is called a Tribal society." His father began eating his breakfast.

"But we haven't left this location a single time since I've been born."

Xing's mother sat down at the table, "You're correct, and that is because your father and I are trying to turn the Xia Tribe into the second type of tribe."

Zheng swallowed his food and carried on, "Indeed, which brings us to the second type of tribe. These are the tribes who are moving away from tradition and are beginning to settle down in one particular location, using the land around them to grow food. They build upon these areas with more permanent structures made of clay, or stone, and they defend these locations from any, and all, threats."

"They are calling this new movement an Agricultural society." Ying said before placing a slice of purpapple in her mouth.

"The reason for the change is because of the growing number of humans, and only an agricultural society can support such growth. Due to them being able to produce more food, and having better stability without the need to wander everywhere." His father explained before chomping down on a piece of dried meat.

"I see, so is our tribe in a more permanent position? Or do you have another goal in mind?" Xing questioned before realizing, "You must have since I haven't seen any food being grown."

His mother finished what she was eating and gave Xing a bright smile, "You're correct again. There is a spot that we wish to build upon further to the south, where the Yellow River begins curving east. It is a perfect location, flat plains surrounding a natural incline. We'd also have the river blocking both the west and south, requiring only the north and east to be defended."

"However, the problem with that spot is that it already has an owner; a Centaur tribe. Which is the reason for us swallowing the tribes closest to us and joining them to ours." Zheng looked at his son, fighting intent present on his bear-like face, "As we will need a large force to be able to oust the Centaurs."

"We have been going about this since before you were born, and have continued ever since. It is what we have been so busy with all the time; either going out and pressuring tribes to submit or working hard at integrating the other tribespeople with our own." Ying looked apologetic toward her son, "That is the reason why you didn't know this sort of information before today. We should have been the ones teaching you, but we weren't around often enough. We're sorry about that."

Xing consoled his parents, "Don't be. It's fine, I've also been busy myself learning about mana and magic, or I've been training hard and sparring with Lei. I wouldn't have had the time to learn such things before."

His mother smiled, "Thank you," before she went back to eating fruit.

Zheng continued his explanation, "The number of tribes we have taken over easily number a few dozens, and now around us, there are only a few medium-sized tribes and one large-sized tribe. With those medium-sized tribes being taken over within a few years if things go according to plan."

"And just how many people does the tribe contain now?" Xing queried.

His father had to think for a moment before answering, "…There are a little over 20-thousand living within the tribe currently, and about 4-thousand of them are capable of fighting." He tapped his finger on the table, "We expect around 6 to 7-thousand to be needed before we clash with the Centaur tribe, as they have around 4-thousand warriors."

Xing processed the information before asking, "...So you are currently in the middle of subjugating the remaining medium-sized tribes. But what about after that? Are we going to absorb the large-sized tribe as well?"

"The Yan Tribe is what they are called. And it will be up to them if we clash or not." Zheng frowned, "While we have been taking over and integrating other tribes, the Yan Tribe have also been doing the same. They most likely feel threatened by us and are preparing to defend against us." He went back to eating, creating a lull in the dialogue.

Zheng finished the last bit of his breakfast before continuing, "However after we take over the next few medium-sized tribes we plan on ignoring them and begin focusing wholeheartedly on building up our fighting force. And then, when we are ready, we will begin our move and attack the Centaurs."

Xing's mother added, "If we were to clash with the Yan Tribe, there would be far too many casualties, and it would take far more time for us to take out the Centaur tribe," before continuing to eat.

"Yeah since unlike the other tribes, the Yan tribe have a grudge against our own. Thus the conflict would be very bloody," Zheng said with a grim look.

Xing confusedly asked, "Grudge?"

Ying had now finished with her breakfast too and took the opportunity to explain, "It's not really a grudge between Xia and Yan per-say, but a clash between tribe types. Between us; Xia, a tribe who wishes to switch to Agriculture, and a tribe who wishes to remain a Tribal society; the Yan." She drank a mouthful of water from a wooden cup, wetting her dry mouth, before continuing, "It is also a clash between people with different viewpoints; the Traditionalists who wish to retain their traditions in a tribal environment, and the Reformists who wish for change and advancement for the human race through claiming the land."

"You also have the opposing views of Shamans and Mages thrown into the mix too. With Shamans wishing to keep their heritage and ancestors views on magic. While Mages wish for the progressive stance on magic and increasing their knowledge on the topic." His father added on, "I'm sure you can guess which side each falls on."

"So the reason for the grudge is for three reasons; one is the differing views between Traditionalists versus Reformists, two a clash between different types of tribes, and three a struggle with magic between the old Shaman and the new Mages. Am I correct?" Xing asked for confirmation.

Ying clapped, "Yes that is spot on, darling."

Xing nodded, "And then in conclusion. Your ambition is to create a large enough force through subjugation and integration, before taking said force and fighting a war with a large Centaur tribe over a piece of land, so the Xia Tribe can settle down and become an agricultural society. Correct?"

Zheng looked proudly upon his son, "That is indeed our overall goal."

"So, what can I do to help then?"

"We are still in the middle of combining the recent conquest, but in a year you can go with your mother to take over one of the last medium-sized tribes in the area," Zheng informed his son.

'A year huh? More than enough time to see if I can find any tin ore around. Since we have subjugated so many tribes then there must be some somewhere. And if there isn't any now, then maybe the next tribe will have some.' Xing thought to himself as he planned out the following year's schedule.