Tribes Flocked to Join Like a Rising Tide
After seeing off Jia Li, the chief of the Pottery Salt Tribe, who returned home with a full load and full of satisfaction, the core members of the Fire Tribe gathered in the council hall, all with relaxed and happy smiles on their faces.
"That's great!" Dali gulped down a mouthful of water and wiped his mouth. "If we can get horses and dogs, our Hunting Team will be a force to be reckoned with! Chasing prey on horseback and searching the woods with dogs—just thinking about it is exhilarating!"
Dazhuang grinned, "Fifty horses! That'll make pulling things much easier! Transporting grain from the fields to the granary, and moving goods from the dock to the tribe, will be much faster!"
Jianya, however, focused on the long term. "The key is that we've established a connection with the Pottery Salt Tribe Jia Li is shrewd and has many connections. With him acting as our middleman, we can access more good things from outside."
Jianshi listened to his brothers' discussion with a sense of satisfaction. The meeting and transaction with Jia Li not only solved some of the tribe's urgent needs for development, but also meant that the Fire Tribe was beginning to be accepted and valued by a more "advanced" trade network, a symbol of its strength being recognized.
"Yan, the production and stockpiling of pottery must keep up," Jianshi instructed Wang Yan. "What we promised, we must do, ensuring quality and quantity, and on time. This is the reputation of our Fire Tribe."
"Father, rest assured, I've already made the arrangements. The Great Kiln will dedicate its full efforts to firing pottery for exchange, and at the same time, it's looking for locations to build new kilns." Wang Yan said confidently. With clear external demand, the expansion of productivity gained even stronger momentum.
The group discussed specific management details after accepting the new members, winter supply plans, and agricultural arrangements for the following spring, until late at night before dispersing.
However, the Fire Tribe's "good luck," or rather, "attraction," seems to be only just beginning to take hold.
Just three days after sending Jia Li away, the captain in charge of the outer patrols and reception affairs rushed over to report: some more small tribes have come to seek refuge! This time, the people came from the northwest, from the area near the Bison Tribe.
It turned out that the news of the Wolf Tribe extorting cattle and grain from the Bison Tribe had already spread throughout the area. The few small tribes and settlements that depended on the Bison Tribe survival were already living a precarious life. Seeing that even a "large" tribe like the Bison Tribe, with nearly 70 warriors, could only compromise in humiliation in front of the Wolf Tribe, their sense of security and reliance on the Bison Tribe collapsed instantly.
"The Bison Tribe can't even protect their own cattle, how can they protect us?"
"The Wolf Tribe took the cattle this time; next time they might take the people!"
"I heard the Fire Tribe utterly annihilated the Wolf Tribe, and even Xueya was nearly killed! It's safe there now!"
Similar thoughts spread among these small tribes. In addition, they were already indirectly affected by the extortion of the Wolf Tribe (the losses of the Bison Tribe would more or less be transferred to them, the vassals), and their food supplies were even more strained. Rather than staying next to a "patron" who could not even protect themselves and might exploit them and wait to die, they would rather seek refuge in a truly powerful tribe that could provide protection.
So these small tribes, with their families, young and old, numbering about three hundred, made their way to the outskirts of the Fire Tribe Valley.
Upon receiving the news, Jianshi Shi immediately led a group to meet and reassure them. Looking at these people, their faces pale and their eyes filled with fear and expectation, Jianshi Shi felt a surge of emotion. This was the chain reaction brought about by demonstrating power. On behalf of the Fire Tribe, he solemnly promised to accept and protect them once again, and immediately arranged manpower to carry out resettlement according to established procedures: registering the population, checking their health, distributing temporary rations and accommodations, and incorporating the able-bodied men into the reserve team to participate in basic training and labor.
We had barely settled in for two days when the sentry reported that an even larger crowd had appeared! At a glance, there were six or seven hundred of them!
The people who came this time were more diverse. Most of them came from small tribes along the "Wolf Disaster Road" after the Little Stone Creek Tribe was wiped out and the Bison Tribe was extorted from them. These tribes were either directly plundered like the Little Stone Creek tribe (only luckily they were not completely wiped out), or they were threatened, intimidated and extorted for small amounts of food or money by the Wolf Tribe when it passed through. They were all deeply harmed.
When they first heard the news that the Wolf Tribe had been utterly defeated and suffered heavy casualties at the Fire Tribe, they could hardly believe their ears! They immediately clapped and cheered, spreading the news far and wide! Their long-suppressed fear and anger finally found an outlet.
After the initial euphoria, practical considerations came into play. The Wolf Tribe's rampage had further depleted the already meager food reserves of many small tribes, making the winter seem increasingly difficult. Meanwhile, the Fire Tribe's reputation for defeating the Wolf Tribe, along with rumors of its increasing population and improved living standards in recent years, acted like a beacon in the darkness, attracting these desperate people from small tribes who yearned for safety and sustenance.
Because of the greater distance, the time it took for messages to travel, and the preparations for the entire tribe's migration and the arduous journey, they arrived a few days later than the smaller tribes near the White Pig Tribe.
When this large group of over six hundred people appeared outside the Fire Tribe Valley, even Jianshi and the others, who were used to the recent "population influx," were taken aback.
That's no small number! More than six hundred people, almost equal to the entire population of the Fire Tribe a little over a year ago!
After the initial surprise came immense joy and a heavy sense of responsibility. Jianshi, along with all the high-ranking officials who could leave, personally went to the valley entrance to welcome them. Looking at the dense crowd of people, young and old, carrying all their belongings (which actually wasn't much), and seeing the relief of surviving a disaster and the deep anticipation for the future in their eyes, Jianshi took a deep breath and, in the loudest and most steady voice he could muster, made a solemn promise.
The resettlement work instantly became the top priority for the Fire Tribe. The entire tribe's administrative and logistical systems were put into operation at full speed.
Jianya oversees the overall situation and coordinates manpower and resources.
Qingye and others organized all the women to work through the night to build more temporary shelters (using felled trees and hay), distribute stored animal hides and hay as bedding, and set up more large pots to cook rice porridge and vegetable soup.
The Farming Group led the older farmers and those knowledgeable in architecture to urgently plan new residential areas and public facilities, and directed both new and old members of the tribe to work together to build more permanent semi-subterranean wooden houses or earthen houses.
Dali and Dazhuang then selected reliable men from the Hunting Team and reserve team to maintain order, guide the flow of people, prevent chaos, and quickly organize all the newly joined young and strong men into groups, assigning them labor tasks—cutting down trees, digging soil, carrying things, and learning the rules—so that they could integrate into the community as soon as possible through labor, and also to consume their excess energy and anxiety.
Wang Yan and Shibang led the Youth Team, responsible for strengthening the perimeter security and assisting with simple tasks such as guiding and running errands.
Even Granny Cao and her apprentices were busy checking the health of the newcomers, treating minor injuries and illnesses, and distributing preventative herbal soup.
The entire Fire Tribe Valley was transformed into a vast and orderly construction site and reception center. The sounds of hammering, shouts, sawing, cooking, children's laughter and crying, and cadres' commands mingled together, creating a noisy yet vibrant and upward-looking atmosphere.
Jianshi and several core members were practically never on the ground, shuttling between various resettlement sites, construction sites, granaries, and meeting halls all day long, solving problems, calming emotions, and making decisions. Despite being extremely busy and having hoarse voices, everyone's face was filled with an irrepressible smile.
"Brother, this newly designated residential area has enough space to build two hundred houses. We'll prioritize families with elderly members and children..."
"Chief, the granary reports that the newly withdrawn grain quantity is quite large, but considering the spoils from this raid and previous reserves, it should last until the autumn harvest without much problem. The only issue is careful allocation..."
"Jianshi, several new leaders wish to see you to express their gratitude and inquire about the tribe's future rules..."
All sorts of information converged on Jianshi, which he processed quickly and decisively, demonstrating the courage and wisdom of a leader.
Over the course of a few days, the initial chaos gradually subsided, the new inhabitants received basic resettlement, and their emotions stabilized. When the final population statistics were presented to Jianshi, despite being mentally prepared, he couldn't help but gasp in shock, followed by an uncontrollable, exhilarating laugh.
"Hahaha! Good! Great!"
The simple symbols drawn in charcoal on the animal hides showed: over 300 new people from the vicinity of the Bison Tribe, and over 600 new people from the victim tribes. Adding these together, the total reached an astonishing 900+! Adding to this the 300+ people who had previously sought refuge near the White Pig Tribe, as well as other refugees and survivors from Little Stone Creek who had joined sporadically, the Fire Tribe had absorbed over 1300 new people in less than half a month!
What does this mean? It means that the total population of the Fire Tribe has reached... around 2,800 people! And is rapidly marching towards the 3,000 mark!
"Around two thousand eight hundred people... around two thousand eight hundred people..." Jianshi murmured, repeating the number, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented light. Just two years ago, he was worried day and night about feeding two hundred people. Now, he has almost three thousand subjects!
This is a snowball effect. Strength brings security, security and abundance attract people, and the population, in turn, strengthens strength. The Fire Tribe is in the accelerating phase of this virtuous cycle.
Of course, Jianshi was not blinded by joy. He knew that the sudden increase in population was an opportunity, but also a huge challenge. The pressure of food, housing, management, integration... each one tested the foundation of the tribe and the ability of its leaders.
"Pass down the order," Jianshi said, his smile fading and his expression regaining its usual Chenwen and sharpness. "Treat all new tribesmen equally and according to the rules. Teach them the rules, give them the work, and distribute the food. But they must also understand that the Fire Tribe does not support lazy people; all their harvest must be earned with their own hands."
"Speed up the construction of new houses, ensuring that everyone has shelter from the wind and snow."
"Hunting Team expand their hunting areas, Gathering Team intensify their gathering efforts to supplement food sources as much as possible."
"Training for the Youth Team cannot stop; it must be intensified. We should select physically fit and obedient boys from the younger generation of the new ethnic group to join the Youth Team."
"The construction of the wall must be accelerated! Our target is bigger now, so we must protect ourselves even more!"
"Furthermore, inform all those in charge to keep their eyes and ears open. Among so many people, there are bound to be some with ulterior motives or who are not accustomed to the rules. If any problems are discovered, deal with them promptly and without leniency!"
The instructions were clearly communicated. The Fire Tribe, a machine that had become even larger with the infusion of fresh blood, roared back to life after a brief period of adaptation and adjustment, resolutely and powerfully operating towards becoming even larger, more orderly, and more powerful.
Jianshi walked to the entrance of the council hall, looking at the settlement in the valley that had almost doubled in size and was bustling with life, and at the lush farmland and grassland in the distance, his heart was filled with pride.
A tribe of three thousand people... that's probably a behemoth in the entire upper reaches of the river, isn't it?