On the morning of May 10.

The Apache in the camp received news that American traders from the east had arrived nearby and that the merchants would stay for a day to buy or exchange their bison skins.

Led by the Oak of the Great Chief of Chirikawa and the High Priest of the Plains, a group of Apache led the bison skins to the designated place of trading.

Indians don't trust whites, and whites don't trust Indians.

Therefore, the location of the trade between the two sides was carefully chosen, some distance from the Apache camp, and at the same time the terrain was flat and had a good view, and it was impossible to set up an ambush here.

There is also a limit on the number of people on both sides, which cannot exceed 50 people.

Forty men had arrived at the Apache side, and when they were about to reach their destination, the horse sentry looked at it from afar, and estimated that the number of the white caravan in front should be about thirty, most of them cavalry guards armed with guns, and they were also watching them vigilantly.

Oak was at the head of the Apache team, followed by the horse whistle, riding in parallel with the rainy day.

"This stirrup really works." On a rainy day, stepping on the wooden stirrup, he said, "Riding a horse is much easier than before, and you can imagine its power on the battlefield...... Sentry, you are indeed a war chieftain. ”

Oak, who was walking in front, also said, "We should have used it a long time ago." It's just a bit undurable, though, and I've broken one. ”

"After all, it's wooden, and if you change it to metal, the durability will be much better...... We need metal. ”

With the help of rainy days, the stirrups and strongbows were well spread, and the thousands of Apache in the camp had already been fitted with them.

For this, the horse whistle also received a well-known nickname: the Great Craftsman.

This is undoubtedly a good name, and if it were replaced by someone else, it would most likely directly replace the original name and become the new official name.

But the horse whistle is different, and his whistle is more memorable.

In the past month, Ma Whistle has held countless "whole camp tours", and his whistle skills are almost indispensable for all gatherings and ceremonies, so that everyone deeply remembers his otherworldly whistle.

Therefore, the name of the horse whistle is more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and even the title of master craftsman cannot replace it.

In a short time, everyone arrived at the place of trading, and on a rainy day, they rode forward a few steps, and the white caravan on the opposite side also came with two people.

One of them, apparently leading, a man in his thirties, slightly chubby and with some stubble on his chin, greeted with a smile: "We meet again, High Priest, and I believe you remember me." ”

"Hello, Mr. Smith." I also greeted him in English on a rainy day.

This is not the first time that the two sides have traded, so there is no nonsense, and the merchant Smith said directly: "I have brought your favorite spirit, six hundred and twenty gallons, enough for you to hold a thousand two hundred bags." ”

"The price of wine is still the same as last time, the best bison skin can be exchanged for three gallons, the ordinary bison leather can be exchanged for one and a half gallons, and the poor color can be exchanged for half a gallon...... I don't know how much you'll need this time? Five hundred gallons? ”

Cowhide for spirits, all other goods are small heads, business has always done this, Smith thought it would be the same this time.

However, on a rainy day, the words were completely unexpected: "No, we don't want alcohol this time." ”

“？” Smith thought he had misheard, and gave a puzzled look.

On a rainy day, he immediately said it again in Apache, and the words were clear: "We don't buy alcohol this time." ”

The interpreter in the white team translated the sentence to Smith, who finally confirmed that he had heard correctly.

The Indians actually don't buy alcohol anymore!

He suddenly felt confused and annoyed, and said, "What, why? Don't you have to buy spirits every time? Delicious whiskey, don't you like it anymore? ”

"Yes." "We've decided to stay away from spirits, which will corrode our bodies," said Rainy Day, "We have decided to stay away from spirits. We should have done this a long time ago. ”

"No, who told you this? That's nonsense! Smith waved his hand, his tone agitated.

He swore that if he knew who persuaded the Apache to quit drinking, he would screw the man's head off!

"In God's name, whiskey definitely doesn't harm our bodies, and not only that, but it makes us more spiritual." Smith hurriedly continued, instructing the translator to ensure that his meaning could be conveyed more accurately.

“…… Of course, some people drink too much, and some bad consequences do occur. But it's true with anything, even if it's water, drinking a gallon will break your belly, won't it? This does not mean that alcohol is a harmful thing, not at all. ”

Rainy day replied: "The problem of spirits has never been to break the belly, no one can drink to that extent...... In fact, one of our shamans has pointed out that wine is actually a medicine and is not suitable for eating at all. ”

"Medicine?"

Smith froze, not knowing what to say.

But he quickly regained his composure, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice: "Well, although the benefits of drinking are obvious, I have to admit that it is everyone's freedom to drink or not. ”

Then he changed his words: "You have the right not to drink, but you should keep your word!" ”

"This is not the first time this is a sale, each time we will prepare at least three hundred gallons of wine and deliver it to you personally, you should not break the agreement. If you don't want to buy alcohol, you should let us know in advance. ”

"We didn't sign the agreement." Said on a rainy day. Since the Indians did not have their own written language, paper agreements were rarely signed.

Smith argued, "You told me last year that you need more spirits!" ”

"Perhaps, but that's only verbal at best, and according to your white principle of nominal good faith, only written contracts must be kept." There was a hint of sarcasm in his tone on a rainy day. In the eyes of the vast majority of Indians, whiteness and integrity have nothing to do with half a dime.

Smith was speechless, and for a moment could only purse his lips and clench the reins, as if trying to suppress his anger.

The other whites in the caravan were also agitated and discussed.

"Hell, the Indians actually said they wanted to quit drinking!" No one could have imagined that the Apache would suddenly quit drinking.

"Are we going to run for nothing?"

"It's a big loss!"

There were also some white people who went straight to the side of the guts and whispered to those around them about the possibility of conflict.

"I think we may need a fight......"

"True, but not here, you know, it's not far from the Apache stronghold. And even if we want to fight, it's better not for us to shoot, we are businessmen......"

Watching the commotion of the whites, unmoved on a rainy day, in fact, it was completely expected by him.

The Apache people didn't even think about not buying alcohol, which was simply impossible, not to mention that some drunkards in the tribe would not be able to quit for a while, and the medical use of spirits Apache would not be able to give up.

He just wanted to buy less, and what he just said was just a way to negotiate.