Chronicles Of Primordial Wars (Ch. 271-500)

ch. 457-458

Chapter 457- The Secret Of The Salt Mines

Why did the tribesmen take salt so seriously?

Without salt, one still could survive. However, it became a necessity when there was salt.

It didn’t matter if it was this side or the other side, the tribe believed salt made them stronger. It aided in a healthy body and mind, was a gift from the heavens and life was only worth living with salt.

Tribes fought over territory, prey and many matters, salt was one of them.

Wacha said this salt mine was discovered centuries ago. The first people who discovered the mines could not secure it for themselves, and the entire tribe suffered for it. They had to move to the cities in the end. They had no choice. They could not fend off other tribes and to prevent even more attacks, they had to run.

After that, the salt wars escalated. The Flaming Horn tribe did not want to let this piece of meat go either, and in the end squeezed everyone out, taking a spot for themselves. However, even with their strength, it was impossible to keep it for themselves. They were a small tribe of less than one thousand. Them being able to take a spot as attributed to their own capabilities and Taihe tribe’s help. The Flaming Horns had always remembered this favour and that was why Taihe and Flaming Horn maintained trade relations all these years.

As the centuries passed, the fight over salt never stopped. However, the five tribes remained in their spots, as if they had united in the frontlines so no outsider could even set foot inside. With such a unanimous decision, it looked to outsiders like the five tribes had some agreement. In reality, there was a secret.

The number of tribes owning this place must not increase!

“That salt mine is a treasure trove!” sighed Wacha. This was also why he insisted they must take back the mines.

“Elder, have you heard of the Chilu people?” asked Wacha.

Chilu? Shao Xuan thought for a moment and nodded. “Yes but I only heard someone mention their name in the city. I don’t know much.”

The Chilu tribe was a tribe that believed salt was sacred. They had many legends involving salt. They claimed that their people were the first to discover salt- one of their ancestors had seen a peculiar animal, who led him to a lake. Then, he encountered a mystical presence. A salt lake.

The totem of this Chilu tribe was that peculiar animal called a ‘Salt Beast’. Till today, no one had seen such an animal and many accused the Chilu people of making up stories. However, the Chilu people strongly believed in its existence.

No one knew if this was true. However, when the great six tribes rose and built cities, becoming aristocratic slave masters, it brought changes to other tribes too.

Chilu tribe’s salt lake was taken and conquered and they were not able to take it back from the great six. The entire tribe scattered. The scattered Chilu people entered the cities, sometimes helping the aristocrats process salt. This became their livelihoods. However, a few years back there was news of the aristocrats finding a salt spring and sending some Chilu people there to build a city. That place was called Chilu City and a very busy place too.

Of course, Wacha mentioned the Chilu people’s history for a reason.

“The salt-making process of the Chilu people was as important as the Gongjia family’s art of craftsmanship. They are well-known among tribes, even slave masters hired them for salt. The salt they make is expensive and mostly for aristocrats. Other people would have to pay a fortune for it.”

Shao Xuan understood. It was just like Ji Ju’s famous golden grains.

“However, other than the five tribes, including us, who had taken over the salt mines, no one else knows that the salt from the mines does not even need complicated processing! Our salt is of way better quality than theirs!” Wacha’s face beamed with pride, happy that his own tribe had such a precious resource.