Chapter 457 (1/2)

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.

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.

That was why the salt mines were rarely talked about. This was to dilute its presence, so fewer people knew of it. More than half of the tribesmen here did not even know what it looked like. They were all told that they should never trade their salt with outsiders. Outsiders were all directed to the specialised team for salt trading. The tribesmen had always followed this rule.

Not just Flaming Horn, the other four tribes, Fox, Shen Forest, Mountain Wind and Taihe all did the same. It was a well-kept secret.

High-quality salt could be sold at a high price, sometimes the equivalent of a kick at the famous Chilu people. They were able to exchange for more goods at the great six cities. However, this was a dangerous business too.

If they sold more of it, such a good thing would be targeted by the great six. Based on their past behaviour, they would definitely interfere and take the salt mines for themselves. And the Chilu people would be at the frontlines! That was why the five tribes had to keep it a secret!

That was why after discovering the true properties of this salt, all five tribes unanimously agreed to never let a new tribe in, and never tell anyone of this.

As for trades… Well, within one salt mine, there was still a difference in salt quality in different parts.

“The salt we mined from the cave ceiling are all kept aside. Those are good salt, all left for our own tribe’s use. After mining, we send them back to the tribe in secret. No one knows that it’s different from the rest.”

“The salt from the cave ceilings is the salt we usually eat?” asked Shao Xuan.

“Yep. Have you noticed they’re a little red?” asked Wacha.

“Yes, I have.” Shao Xuan had noticed the salt he received was different from what he was used to. However, it tasted good and everyone was using the same kind so he did not think much of it. He didn’t know there were many secrets in the salt.

“The salt we mine has a stronger taste and aids in physical strength compared to the Chilu salt or the salt from the new salt lake. When we roast meat, we only season with salt and yet it’s delicious enough. Your mood would be lifted with a taste! We have noticed that warriors did not eat as much unseasoned meat. We once tasted some salt from Anba City but it still doesn’t taste as good as ours! We sometimes trade to get some lower-quality salt from outsiders as cover.” Wacha thought the tribe was smart in not attracting attention and even using a cover.

To the tribesmen, it wasn’t just meat, it was like eating power! Salt was important.

“So the salt from the ceiling is for us. What about the rest? For trade?” asked Shao Xuan.

“Yes. We trade salt mined from other parts of the cave. Although the quality is still fine, compared to the ceiling, it’s not that good. Some parts produce even more mediocre salt. We sell this to other people.”