The Fish Tribe's Vigilance
Canglan, the chieftain of the Fish Tribe, was sitting in his spacious and well-ventilated longhouse, which could be considered one of the most "luxurious" buildings in the area. He was cushioned on a thick, tanned, and smooth animal hide, and on the low table in front of him were several exquisite pottery pieces and a dish of fruit and dried fish. However, his expression was not as leisurely and carefree as usual, but rather carried an unusual solemnity and deep thought.
Before him, a lean, sharp-eyed man was giving a low report. This man was one of the leaders of the Fish Tribe, responsible for gathering intelligence on the outside world, and his name was "Feiyu."
"... According to multiple sources, Wolf Tribe leader Xueya faced off against the Fire Tribe leader Jianshi in a one-on-one duel outside Wild Boar Gully. He was defeated by Jianshi within a few moves, severely wounded and coughing up blood; his fate is unknown. The Wolf Tribe was then surrounded and routed by the Fire Tribe, suffering an estimated 70-80 casualties. Only Xueya and a few leaders managed to escape." Feiyu's voice was clear and steady. "After the battle, the Fire Tribe cleaned up the battlefield and seized most of the livestock and grain that the Wolf Tribe had extorted from the Bison and White Pig Tribe."
Canglan nodded slightly; this largely matched the information he had previously received. He waved his hand, signaling Feiyu to continue.
"After this battle, news spread quickly. First, several small tribes near the White Pig Tribe, with about three hundred people, all defected to the Fire Tribe. Subsequently, many small settlements in the direction of the Bison Tribe, which had previously been affiliated with the Bison, Deer, and Green Sheep tribes, also began to migrate to the Fire Tribe in large numbers. Our people even encountered some sporadically on the return journey by water. Based on observations and estimates along the way, in just over ten days, the Fire Tribe has probably absorbed more than a thousand new people."
Feiyu paused, then added the most crucial sentence, "Conservatively estimated, the Fire Tribe's total population has now exceeded two thousand. Moreover, as long as they continue to be open to newcomers, surpassing three thousand... is probably only a matter of time."
Over two thousand... now heading towards three thousand...
Canglan's brows furrowed unconsciously. This number struck him like a heavy hammer. He had originally thought that the Fire Tribe's victory over the Wolf Tribe was merely due to their advantageous terrain, numerical superiority, or some novel equipment. He believed they could defeat the Wolf Tribe, but they would also suffer considerable losses themselves. He never expected such a crushing victory! Even more unexpected was the devastating aftereffect of this victory, with the population surging like a snowball!
"Go down and continue to keep an eye on things, especially the movements within the Fire Tribe. Gather as much information as possible," Canglan instructed in a deep voice.
"Yes!" Feiyu bowed and withdrew.
Canglan was the only one left in the longhouse. He picked up the ceramic cup in front of him, which contained a honey-flavored beverage. The taste, which was usually sweet, now tasted somewhat bitter.
The Fire Tribe... the tribe led by his brother-in-law, Jianshi... has developed so rapidly in the past two or three years that even he, the Fish Tribe leader who is used to the storms of the great river and considers himself in control of the region, feels his heart pounding and even... a little uneasy.
He recalled his first transaction with the Fire Tribe two years ago. At that time, the Fire Tribe offered some decent pottery in exchange for a lot of much-needed grain seeds and tools. He was only surprised that his relatives in this poor mountain village had mastered pottery-making techniques. But that was all; technique did not represent strength, especially grain production capacity.
Later, the Fire Tribe's trading volume increased significantly, especially last autumn when they exchanged 100,000 catties of rice from the Fish Tribe in a single transaction! This figure immediately startled Canglan. 100,000 catties of grain! How many people did the Fire Tribe support? Did they consume so much grain themselves, or... did they have another purpose for it?
His first thought was that the Fire Tribe's blind expansion would inevitably lead to a food shortage, and they would certainly rely more on the Fish Tribe for food trade when the harvest was scarce in the spring. To this end, he even ordered the Fish Tribe to appropriately expand the rice planting area, preparing to "help" his brother-in-law out at that time. Of course, the price and conditions would definitely need to be negotiated carefully.
But as they waited and waited, spring passed and summer was halfway over, and apart from the usual pottery trade and the purchase of some local specialties, there was no longer any sign of the Fire Tribe making large-scale purchases of grain! On the contrary, news kept coming in that they were cultivating new fields, building houses, and taking in refugees.
At this moment, combining the intelligence of the Wolf Tribe's crushing defeat and the population explosion, Canglan finally came to a conclusion that he had to face: the Fire Tribe had likely achieved basic self-sufficiency in food!
A tribe that can support two or three thousand people on its own is a completely different concept from a tribe that needs external food input to survive. The former means that it has a solid foundation, strong risk resistance, and possesses the most basic and core condition for becoming a truly powerful force—a stable food source.
"Jianshi... my brother-in-law is indeed not to be underestimated." Canglan muttered to himself, his tone complex. There was recognition of his brother-in-law's abilities, even a hint of admiration, but more than that, a sudden surge of Jingjue and pressure. "Back then, Father insisted on marrying Qingye to him against all odds; it seems... he was truly prescient."
He still remembered how his father (the leader of the Old Fish Tribe) had taken a liking to the young Jianshi's bravery and Chenwen, believing that this boy was destined for greatness, and insisted on a marriage alliance with the then-weak Fire Tribe. Many tribal elders felt that it was a marriage of convenience for Qing Ye, and that it was unfair to Qingye. Now it seemed that experience had paid off.
But is the rapid rise of the Fire Tribe truly a good thing for the Fish Tribe?
Canglan leaned back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously tapping the animal skin cushion. The Fish Tribe occupied a strategic point on the river, relying on the advantage of boats and trade with the Distant Valley Tribe to accumulate enormous wealth and influence. Their population had grown to seventeen or eighteen hundred, making them the undisputed hegemon of the surrounding area. They were accustomed to being superior, influencing and even controlling the rise and fall of many upstream tribes by controlling key resources such as salt and pottery and trade channels.
But now, a colossal entity has emerged upstream that doesn't rely on them for food, can even provide them with high-quality pottery, has a rapidly expanding population, and whose military strength has been proven! This colossus is also his "relative."
Relatives are relatives, and interests are interests. Canglan is very clear that when two forces of similar size and with development potential get too close, friction, competition, and even conflict are almost inevitable. The rise of the Fire Tribe is undoubtedly breaking the regional balance and dominant position that the Fish Tribe has maintained for many years.
The Wolf Tribe, those cowardly bullies, are no longer a threat. The real "variable" and potential "opponent" has become the Fire Tribe.
"We must take action." A resolute glint flashed in Canglan's eyes. He could not stand idly by and watch the Fire Tribe continue to expand unchecked.
He called out to his attendants, "Send word to summon all the elders and key leaders for a meeting!"
Soon, the core members of the Fish Tribe gathered at the longhouse.
Canglan didn't hide anything and briefly explained the latest situation of the Fire Tribe to everyone, especially its population explosion and the possibility of achieving food self-sufficiency. As expected, everyone present became serious. They were used to the Fish Tribe's superior status, and were shocked and threatened by the sudden appearance of such a rapidly rising challenger upstream.
"Chief, what should we do?" asked an elder in charge of trade.
Canglan looked around at everyone and slowly announced his decision:
"First, from now on, not a single grain of the tribe's grain reserves may be traded on a large scale without my personal permission! This is especially true for the Fire Tribe; strict control must be exercised over them." He wanted to cut off any potential for external tribes to rapidly expand by relying on the Fish Tribe's grain reserves, even though the Fire Tribe might not need it now, it was better to be safe than sorry.
"Secondly, our Fish Tribe itself also needs to appropriately strengthen its strength. We currently have a population of nearly two thousand. In the next two years, we need to systematically accept and absorb some outsiders, with the goal of increasing the total population to around two thousand five hundred. We will expand our warrior force to around five hundred, prioritizing artisans with special skills, physically strong young men, and those skilled in raising livestock and managing fishing nets."
He paused, then explained, "We can't be like the Fire Tribe, indiscriminately absorbing all those who come to join us. Doing so would, firstly, cause panic among other nearby tribes, prompting them to expand frantically, leading to regional tensions—a losing proposition. Secondly, an influx of too many people in a short period would drastically lower the living standards of our existing tribespeople, deplete our reserves, and easily trigger internal discontent. Thirdly..." He glanced at the elder in charge of the warehouses and weapons, "... arming the newly added population requires a large amount of leather armor and weapons, a huge expense that we need to allocate from our existing wealth."
When money and supplies were mentioned, the elders' faces showed obvious signs of distress. The Fish Tribe was wealthy, but most of its wealth was concentrated in the hands of the chief, core families, and elders. Asking them to allocate a large amount of resources to arm "newcomers" who might not be part of their own faction was indeed a difficult decision.
Canglan knew their thoughts and raised his voice. "Gentlemen, we must think long-term! The rise of the Fire Tribe is a fact, and we must keep up! Population and warriors are the foundation for maintaining our position! This investment is to secure our greater future interests! Anyone who is reluctant to invest will regret it when the Fire Tribe's fleet sails to the middle of the river and their pottery is sold downstream!"
These words were harsh, but they also pointed out the crux of the matter. After a moment of silence, everyone nodded in agreement. Although it was painful, the current investment was necessary compared to the potential loss of trade dominance and regional hegemony.
"Third, we must strengthen our own production. In addition to our existing fishing and trade, we need to expand rice paddies and increase livestock breeding. Our advantages are water and boats, which we must make full use of. At the same time, the training of our Hunting Team and patrol teams must be strengthened, and their equipment must be updated. We must let the Fire Tribe know that the Fish Tribe is still the master of the great river!"
As instructions were issued from Canglan, the massive machine of the Fish Tribe began to adjust its gears in response to the new changes upstream.
Canglan walked to the window of the longhouse, gazing at the shimmering river outside with a deep look in his eyes.
Brother-in-law Jianshi, you've given me a big "surprise." But the waters of the great river aren't so easy to cross. The foundation that the Fish Tribe has built up over generations isn't so easily shaken.