Adding Flowers to Brocade
The Fire Tribe Valley was bustling with activity. The shouts of workers ramming earth to build walls, the sounds of digging in newly cultivated land, the training cries of the Youth Team, and the faint voices coming from the direction of the pottery kiln all blended together into a symphony. Amidst this lively atmosphere, a small fleet of boats from downstream quietly arrived at the Fire Tribe's dock along the stream.
The boat was adorned with flags unique to the Pottery Salt Tribe, made of colorful hemp thread and pottery shards strung together. Leading the group was a capable-looking middle-aged man, one of Chief Jia Li's confidants, who was responsible for waterway transportation and liaison year-round.
The news quickly reached the council hall. Upon hearing the news, Jianshi, Wang Yan, Jianya, and others immediately put aside their affairs and went to the dock to greet them personally.
"Brother, you must be tired from your journey!" Jianshi strode forward, his voice booming.
The man nimbly jumped off the ship and bowed respectfully. "Chief of Jianshi, esteemed leaders. I have come on the orders of my chief, Jia Li, to deliver the first batch of goods and to extend my greetings!"
His gaze swept over the Fire Tribe settlement behind the dock, which had clearly expanded and was now orderly and vibrant. He clicked his tongue in amazement. How long had it been since he last came? The changes seemed even greater!
"Uncle Jia Li is too kind, making you go to all this trouble." Wang Yan stepped forward with a smile, "I wonder what you've brought this time..."
A smile spread across the man's face as he turned and pointed to a specially reinforced, enclosed vessel in the middle of the fleet. "Look!"
As the soldiers on board lifted the thick straw curtains and wooden planks covering the cabin, a low bark and an uneasy commotion arose. Inside, the cabin was divided into small spaces by wooden fences, each containing more than twenty dogs of varying sizes, all of which appeared quite robust. Some of these dogs had brownish-yellow fur, while others were gray and black. Their eyes were alert and sharp, and their ears were erect. They were clearly well-trained, and although somewhat uneasy in the unfamiliar environment, they did not bark wildly indiscriminately.
"These are the first batch of adult dogs, all top-quality Liequan and guard dogs personally selected by the chief of the Beast Taming Tribe Muye," the man explained. "Some of them have an exceptionally keen sense of smell, making them superb at Muye prey; others are particularly fierce and alert, perfect for guarding the house and keeping watch. The chief said these are all well-trained; once they've been given their new owners and territory, they'll be ready to be put to use after a little familiarization."
"Great! Excellent!" Dali was the first to exclaim. He crouched down and carefully examined the dogs through the fence, his eyes shining. "With these good buddies, the Hunting Team will have an much easier time tracking prey when they go into the mountains! And at night, we'll have an extra pair of ears to keep watch!"
Dazhuang nodded repeatedly. "Yes, with them watching over us, nothing outside the wall can escape our notice! They're more useful than sending ten sentries!"
Jianshi and Wang Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing the satisfaction and joy in each other's eyes. The importance of dogs in this era could not be overstated. They could greatly improve hunting efficiency, strengthen the tribe's early warning capabilities, and even play a remarkable role in some pursuit battles. These twenty well-trained dogs were undoubtedly a timely help and an added bonus for the Fire Tribe.
"Chief Jia Li is indeed reliable!" Jianshi praised. "Brother, when we get back, please be sure to Jia Li Chief Jiali for us, and also Chief Muye of the Beast Taming Tribe Muye! Our Fire Tribe will remember this favor!"
The man quickly waved his hand, "Chief Jianshi, you flatter me! Chief Jia Li said it's his duty to ensure the Fire Tribe brothers and sisters are satisfied." He paused, his smile widening, "Also, there's good news regarding the ponies."
"Oh? Please tell me!" Wang Yan's eyes lit up.
"My chieftain personally went to the Horse Tribe to negotiate, and the deal is basically finalized," the man said. "Fifty healthy, well-trained ponies, guaranteed to arrive without a single one missing. However..." he said somewhat apologetically, "Horses are not like dogs; transporting them by water is too risky, as they are easily startled and fall into the water. Therefore, they can only be brought back by land. The journey is long, and they will need careful tending, so the speed will be slower. But my chieftain instructed me to make sure that these fifty ponies are safely delivered to the Fire Tribe before winter this year!"
Upon hearing the definite news, Jianshi and the others were overjoyed. Although it would take some time, a clear promise and timetable were enough.
"No rush, no rush!" Jianshi laughed. "Safety first! Horses are delicate, so we should take it slow and take good care of them. As long as we can reach our destination this year, we'll be very satisfied! Chief Jia Li has thought things through thoroughly, thank you for your hard work!"
Wang Yan added, "Yes, brother, go back and tell Uncle Jia Li that our Fire Tribe will prepare the area, fodder, and manpower to take care of the horses in advance. He can rest assured."
"Alright! I will definitely pass on the message!" The man nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself that the people of the Fire Tribe were not only strong, but also generous and thoughtful in their actions. No wonder their leader Jia Li, valued their relationship with them so much.
After handing over the dogs and receiving a warm welcome from the Fire Tribe (mainly fresh meat, vegetables, and several exquisite pottery pieces), the man took his leave with his fleet.
After seeing the guests off, the Fire Tribe members immediately gathered around the boat carrying the dogs, curiously and excitedly observing their new members.
"Yan, what do you think we should do with these dogs?" Jianshi asked.
Wang Yan had already considered this. "Father, these tracking dogs can be prioritized for the best hunting teams, led by experienced hunters, to quickly familiarize them with the mountain environment and develop combat capabilities. The other guard dogs can be assigned to key locations such as the tribe's main entrances and exits, granaries, and livestock pens, working in conjunction with the sentries for vigilance. As for the Youth Team, we can also select a few relatively docile and intelligent dogs to teach them how to feed and train them initially, so that we can cultivate our own dog trainers in the future."
"Alright! We'll do it your way!" Jianshi Shi agreed, then, thinking of the soon-to-be-arrived miniature horses, his smile deepened. "Once the horses arrive, our mobility will be even greater! Although these miniature horses aren't fast and might not be suitable for charging into battle, they'll be much faster than walking and more agile than oxen for carrying supplies, relaying messages, or for soldiers to ride for rapid maneuvers!"
Dazhuang was already dreaming. "With horses, our patrol range can double! Transporting goods will be much easier! It will also be more convenient to trade with people in distant places!"
Dali, however, thought even further ahead, "Maybe if I practice hard enough, I could even fight on horseback! It's faster than running on land!"
Everyone chatted excitedly, imagining the new changes that the arrival of dogs and horses would bring to tribal life and defense. The atmosphere was lively.
Seeing everyone's excitement, Wang Yan was also filled with anticipation. Dogs and horses were two animals that could greatly enhance productivity and military potential. Their introduction marked that the Fire Tribe's development had moved from initially solving basic survival problems to a higher stage of improving efficiency and strengthening its power.
In particular, the ponies, although unsuitable as heavy warhorses for charges, are of great value to the Fire Tribe due to their adaptability in mountainous terrain and their carrying capacity. They will fill a significant gap in the Fire Tribe's long-range land mobility and transportation capabilities.
"It seems that once this batch of horses arrives and things settle down, we can indeed ask Uncle Jia Li to trade for a few more," Wang Yan thought to himself. "Not only horses, but other useful livestock, crop seeds, and even certain special skills... can all be obtained through this gradually stabilizing trade channel."
The rise of the Fire Tribe depends not only on its own internal development, but also on its communication and exchange with the outside world. And Jia Li of the Pottery Salt Tribe is undoubtedly a very crucial and reliable bridge at this stage.
The dogs that were brought in were quickly settled and distributed.