435: Chapter 435 Premeditated Attack on the Qin Merchant Caravan

Although Shi Le was completely unfamiliar with the concept of a "railway," he did not dare to be the least bit negligent with Zhao Fusu's instructions and hurriedly began to make arrangements according to his intent.

After all, participating in railway construction allowed them to earn a salary, which was undoubtedly a great thing for the tribe.

Aside from needing to go all out to stockpile a large amount of fodder and grain before the arrival of the harsh winter to ensure they could safely pass through the long, cold months, the herdsmen of the Shi Le Tribe were relatively free most of the rest of the time.

As a result, Shi Le had sufficient manpower to conscript many herdsmen to participate in the railway construction work.

The news that the Shiyang Tribe and the Heihe Tribe had defected to Great Qin and that their territories had been merged into Great Qin as commanderies and counties reached the Shule Tribe.

Upon hearing this news, Sajiong, the chief of the Shule Tribe, looked stern and made a prompt decision to immediately summon the elders of the tribe to discuss countermeasures.

Before long, everyone gathered together, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Chief Sajiong's face was gloomy as he spoke slowly, his tone revealing deep worry and vigilance.

"Great Qin has annexed the Shiyang Tribe and the Heihe Tribe one after another. If things continue to develop at this rate, the next target will surely be our Shule Tribe! The sons of our Shule Tribe are all eagles soaring in the desert, each brave and fearless. It is absolutely impossible for us to bow our heads and be slaughtered by the people of Great Qin!"

"Mm!"

The elders nodded one after another, their eyes flickering with the light of determination and unwillingness.

At this moment, an elder with a gaunt face but vigorous spirit slowly rose. A fierce fire of hatred burned in his eyes, as if all the resentment accumulated over the years had condensed into this moment.

Although his voice was slightly hoarse, it was powerful and resonant.

"The Hexi Corridor is the land where our Qiang people have lived for generations."

"Since the Warring States Period, the Qin people have been ambitious, continuously expanding westward and competing with us for resources. Now, they even vainly hope to take full control of the Hexi Corridor. We absolutely cannot sit idly by; we must rise up and fight back!"

"Mm!"

The other elders deeply agreed with this and nodded in response one after another. Their determination to strike back at Great Qin burned like a raging fire, growing stronger and stronger in everyone's hearts.

"Good!"

Seeing that everyone's opinions were unanimous, Sajiong's expression brightened, and he continued, "Since all the elders agree to launch a counterattack against Great Qin, then I will share my plan."

"Great Qin Merchant Caravans often pass through our Shule Tribe's territory to do business in the Western Regions. Each round trip is extremely profitable. If we strike and rob these caravans, we can both give Great Qin a forceful blow and obtain a large amount of money to enrich our tribe."

"Chief."

An elder interrupted with a face full of anxiety, his tone revealing worry and caution.

"As far as I know, the Great Qin Merchant Caravan is equipped with a weapon called a revolver, which has astonishing power. It is said to be able to kill a person instantly at close range. From this perspective, I'm afraid it won't be easy to rob them."

Sajiong's expression was steady as he nodded slightly and responded in a deep voice, "I have also heard of that revolver. When firing at close range, this weapon is indeed both accurate and fast, and extremely lethal."

"However, as long as we maintain a certain distance from them, its accuracy will drop significantly. If we mount our warhorses and move quickly using their speed, the probability of them hitting us will further decrease."

"Therefore, we can adopt horse archery tactics, constantly harassing them and gradually wearing down their strength until they are exhausted. What do you all think?"

"I think it's feasible."

The gaunt elder was the first to express his stance, a hint of ruthlessness and decisiveness flashing in his eyes.

"Great Elder." Sajiong's gaze fell on the gaunt elder, and he said solemnly, "I will leave the matter of ambushing the Great Qin Merchant Caravan entirely to you. You have high prestige in the tribe and are experienced. This matter concerns the rise and fall of the tribe, so you must act with caution."

"Mm."

The Great Elder nodded heavily, his eyes revealing determination and confidence, as if he already had a plan in mind.

As for the Great Qin Merchant Caravan that went to the Western Regions to do business, it was meticulously organized by Zi Ling.

This merchant caravan was massive, with as many as five thousand people. When they moved, they were majestic and extraordinary.

The members of the caravan came from a wide range of backgrounds; most of them were veterans who had retired from frontline units. They were battle-hardened and experienced, providing a solid military guarantee for the caravan.

In addition, many members were recruited from various nomadic tribes. They knew the roads of the Hexi Corridor and the Western Regions like the back of their hand, serving as guides in the caravan and leading it across this vast land.