Yes, that fits right into the story of the salt roads. The caravans didn’t just drift through deserts; they had to negotiate with every oasis keeper, every local tribe, to secure water and safe passage. Those agreements were often written down—think of them as early caravan charters—and they turned a dusty trail into a series of treaty battlegrounds. Each stop was a negotiation, each treaty a lifeline that kept the salt trade alive.

You’re right, the salt was the bait, but the real prize was the network of trust it built. Take the old Silk Road caravans—every stop had its own little “truce” ceremony. If a trader slipped up, the local caravanserai would raise the stakes, and suddenly a smooth march turned into a tense standoff. History is littered with those moments where a broken word turned a trade route into a battlefield. So yes, good manners paid off more than gold.