Chapter 1215, Personal Secretary

Translator: Silavin

“Shaman, the explosive packages have all been placed. The aerial forces are also fully prepared.” Sha Lan came in with her hair pinned up. She looked smart and composed like this. When her hair was loose she seemed younger somehow, more like a girl. Now there was a quiet maturity to her.

“Where are the Dark Scorpion Tribe’s people now?” Su Bai gave a small nod.

He would not admit it to anyone, but he was a little impatient for this war to start. Once it was finished, the Flame Dragon Tribe would step into an entirely new chapter.

“Five days from our Tribe. Two days from the positions where the explosive packages are buried.” Sha Lan continued her report.

She had fully separated from the Totem Warrior side of things now. She was Su Bai’s personal secretary in full. The Flame Dragon Tribe had grown to the point where that work alone was enough to fill her days. Trying to hold both roles would have meant running between two things constantly and doing neither well. So Sha Lan had become a dedicated secretary.

“Tell the Chieftain to begin preparations. When they are half a day from the target, it is time to get ready. This must succeed. There is no room for failure.” Su Bai’s voice was firm.

He had another plan waiting, one he did not want to use. If the aerial bombardment failed, the Tribe’s Warriors would have to charge in. That was the opposite of everything he had promised. A zero-casualty plan was not a plan one created on a whim. There was a reason this aerial bombardment had been set into motion at all. The amount of gunpowder consumed would be enormous. Without an entire year of stockpiling, it could never have been attempted. And now, every last bit of it was committed to this one strike.

If it failed, the Warriors would have to fight. There was a chance of winning that way too. But a recurve bow and a long blade were not invincible. The enemy were Totem Warriors. They had real strength.

“We have staked the entire Tribe’s gunpowder stockpile on this strike. The scale of the explosion will be massive. Unless they can burrow underground, it cannot fail.” Sha Lan tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She knew the Tribe was betting all on this. Every last bit of gunpowder, used in one ambush. She did not want to see the Tribe’s Warriors fall. Everyone had already convinced themselves that zero casualties was achievable. That was exactly why the plan could not fail. If it did, the blow to morale would be real.

“Caution is always right. How many Tribes have come to us these past few days?” Su Bai asked.

This battle was a declaration. It was also a demonstration. He needed other Tribes to see the Flame Dragon Tribe’s strength. That was why he wanted them present. Without that, when the time came to establish the kingdom’s Capital, some would always have doubts.

“About twenty Tribes of various sizes. Fortunately, we have opened many more inn buildings, otherwise they would all have nowhere to sleep.” Sha Lan said at once.

There had been only one inn at the start, the Restful Night Building, situated near the Yong’an Building. Su Bai had seen how demand would grow. So, the year before, he had expanded outwards, building many cement houses. Not two-storey ones. Five stories. A whole row of them, so that visiting Tribes could be housed and managed in one place. The old Restful Night Building had since been left behind. The centre of the Tribe was not a place for an inn. It had been there before out of necessity, when the cement houses were few. Now they were not few.

“Do they know there is a war coming?” Su Bai asked.

He was curious. If people knew and still came, that deserved some respect. No Tribe willingly walked into a war. And the Dark Scorpion Tribe’s reputation was not small.

“Most of them know. But they believe it will not reach them. They have only come to buy things. So, the war has not put them off.” Sha Lan sounded faintly puzzled by it herself.

Those people carried on as though they already knew the Flame Dragon Tribe was going to win.

“They are soon going to be part of this kingdom. That kind of nerve is not bad. Though if Yan Jiao had not announced a large discount, I suspect most of them would not have risked it.” Su Bai said, half-amused.

Yan Jiao had put the word out. Every item in the Flame Dragon Tribe, half the usual price. Tribes that heard that, and knew how strong the Flame Dragon Tribe was, had decided the discount was worth the gamble. And somewhere underneath it all was a simpler desire: to watch two powerful Tribes and see who came out on top.

“They are here to watch, mostly. If we win, nothing is lost for them. If we lose, they can adapt and submit to the Dark Scorpion Tribe.” Sha Lan spread her hands.

Sha Lan had a clear idea of how things stood.

“You are quite a good personal secretary. Someone without that kind of understanding couldn’t hold your position.” Su Bai laughed, easy and open.

Yu Ying managed everything to do with his daily life and meals. Sha Lan handled all the work. Yan Hua looked after the Warriors and their training. Three people, three domains.

“After we defeat the Dark Scorpion Tribe, I believe I will be very busy indeed.” Sha Lan could already picture it.

“Don’t worry. We will bring in more people to share the load. I would not let you wear yourself out.” Su Bai reached over and gently pinched her cheek.

When the kingdom was truly established, he would need far more capable people around him.

“Yes.” Sha Lan smiled. It was a very content sort of smile.