Chapter 060: Formation, Spears Aplenty

The Han Tribe's walls, under the relentless assault of bison and warthogs, proved as fragile as tissue paper before a bayonet. Luo Chong could only watch in dismay as his hard-built homestead was trampled into ruin. Such a prehistoric melee was beyond any individual's control; all he could do was to ensure his and his tribe's survival amidst the chaos.

As structures collapsed and the tethered pronghorns were trampled under the frenzied stampede of warthogs and rampaging bison, Luo Chong's heart ached for the animals he had personally retrieved. This was truly a disaster.

Outside the walls, over a hundred bison had indeed broken through the encirclement, bypassing the man-made river and racing towards the northeastern back hills of the Han settlement.

The scene of the warthogs being catapulted into the air was still vivid in everyone's memory. The wolves did not dare to confront directly, only harassing from the periphery. Several wolves attacked from behind, bringing down more than twenty bison before the alpha wolf gave the order to cease pursuit and prepare to feast.

Inside the walls, Luo Chong was red-eyed with urgency. His hard-won pronghorns had been devastated; now was the time to salvage what he could from this disaster. He rallied every able adult in the tribe.

"Throw the spears, kill all the bison and warthogs inside the walls. This meat is delivered right to our doorstep; we have no reason to turn it away."

Seventy or eighty people lined up at the entrance, each armed with three bronze spears. At Luo Chong's command, a shower of spears rained down on the warthogs and bison still rampaging inside the walls. The sounds of spears piercing flesh were followed by the thud of bodies hitting the ground. Over twenty animals were killed instantly, each pierced by multiple spears.

"Elders and children defend the entrance. Everyone else, follow me out," commanded Luo Chong, as he strapped on his bow and quiver, grabbing his golden spear and leading the charge towards the collapsed section of the wall where dozens of half-dead warthogs lay.

"Form up! Form up! Men at the front to defend, women at the back to finish them off. Kill all the warthogs, then drag them back behind the walls."

Stepping forward, Luo Chong held his golden spear horizontally, cautiously watching the surrounding wolf pack as the men of Han formed a defensive line beside him, spears bristling like a forest. The women, armed with bronze spears, mercilessly dispatched the warthogs on the ground, their piercing cries mingling with the warthogs' groans.

This activity quickly drew the attention of the wolf pack, which had earlier used the warthogs as cannon fodder to significantly deplete their numbers. Now, seeing humans dragging their potential feast behind the walls, the alpha wolf howled, rallying the wolves for an assault.

"Retreat! Block the breach, maintain formation, stay organized. Hold your spears until they're close enough. We're running low on spears," Luo Chong ordered, anticipating the impending attack.

"Don't fear them. Look at their thick fur; killing them will give us endless pelts. Wait for my command, one wolf pelt as a reward for each kill, a bronze buckle for two, and a long bow for anyone who takes down more than five."

Luo Chong's words bolstered his people's spirits as they prepared for the wolves' charge. The offer of rich rewards turned their dread into fervor. Just as the ancient Qi's troops became ferocious in the face of pirates for the promise of silver, the Han tribesmen's fear of wolves transformed into greed for the luxurious pelts and valuable equipment.

The men of Han, eyes red with bloodlust, braced as the wolf pack formed an attack line and surged towards the breach in the wall.

"First line, ready spears… Now! Kill!" Luo Chong was the first to thrust his golden spear into an attacking wolf, his weapon slicing through the night air and finding its mark with a gruesome squelch. Blood spattered, and the wolf fell limp.

Men on either side followed suit, and soon, dozens of wolf carcasses lay before the spear line. The second wave of wolves was already lunging forward when a tribesman from the Xieding clan was pinned down. Luckily, women from the second line responded swiftly, their spears turning another wolf into a pincushion.

Within the walls, thanks to the efforts of Meat-Meat and Gray Mountain, the warthog casualties were complete. The women, now freed from dragging warthog bodies, quickly joined the front lines, doubling the spear-wielding force.

The remaining women took up spears and formed a second line, ready to handle any emergencies. A momentary lapse had nearly cost a tribesman his life, but the quick action of the women had saved him. Grateful and galvanized, he picked up a spear and rejoined the fight, determined to earn his share of the rewards.

Before long, the ground before Han's defensive line was strewn with over forty wolf bodies, the sharp bronze spears making short work of the wolf pack's assault. As the initial fervor settled into a grim determination, the battle continued, the tribe fighting tooth and nail to protect their home and harvest the unexpected bounty delivered to their doorstep.