The Ponies Arrived
The chill of early winter did not deter the Fire Tribe's pioneering efforts. On the newly planned fields, wooden plows turned the soil, and shouts echoed across the open fields. Amidst this bustling scene, a soldier on patrol rushed in, bringing exciting news.
"Chief! Chief Jia Li of the Pottery Salt Tribe has personally arrived by land with the ponies of the Horse Tribe! They're almost outside the earthen wall!"
Upon hearing this, Jianshi and Wang Yan immediately summoned Jianya, Dali, Dazhuang, and other high-ranking members. Everyone was both surprised and delighted—they had thought they would have to wait some more time, but unexpectedly, Jia Li had kept his word and delivered the horses before the roads were blocked by the severe cold!
"Quickly! Prepare to welcome them! Bring out the best food!" Jianshi ordered, a smile spreading across his face.
Soon, the core members of the Fire Tribe's leadership gathered in the open space inside the earthen gate, where a simple welcoming ceremony was prepared. Not long after, a group of people appeared on the path outside the earthen wall in the distance. Leading them was Jia Li, the dusty but energetic chieftain of the Pottery Salt Tribe. Behind him followed a dozen or so Pottery Salt Tribe warriors, equally weary but with alert eyes. They were driving fifty sturdy, short-limbed, mottled-colored but spirited ponies!
The horses had clearly traveled a long distance and appeared somewhat tired, but were generally in good condition. Driven by the warriors of the Pottery Salt Tribe, they moved about curiously and obediently.
When Jia Li saw Jianshi and the others waiting inside the gate from afar, a smile immediately spread across his face, and he quickened his pace to walk forward.
"Brother -Jianshi! Brothers! The road was rough, but we hurried as fast as we could and finally delivered the horses before winter!" Jia Li's voice was hoarse from the long journey, but full of the joy of completing a mission. "As soon as I got to your area, I saw that the fields were bigger and there were more houses! I heard you just brought back hundreds of thousands of catties of grain from the Fish Tribe? Good heavens, the Fire Tribe is now strong and well-fed, and it's getting more and more prosperous!"
Jianshi laughed heartily and stepped forward, giving Jia Li a warm hug. "Brother-in-law Jia Li, you've worked hard! You must have suffered a lot on the way! Our meager resources are all thanks to everyone's help and the hard work of our clansmen. As for food, we're still short, we need to find a way to make up for the shortfall." He cleverly changed the subject, focusing on the horses, "These horses are clearly fine! Brother-in-law, you're incredibly efficient! You delivered them so quickly, thank you so much! Come on in, please, the food and drinks are all prepared, let's eat and chat!"
The crowd escorted Jia Li and his party into the tribe. They had barely sat down in the council hall when a sumptuous feast was served: fresh stewed mutton, roasted venison, rice balls, boiled eggs, warm sheep's milk, and stored wild fruits. The simple food revealed the Fire Tribe's sincerity and abundance.
Jia Li was clearly hungry and didn't stand on ceremony, eating heartily. After a few mouthfuls of hot soup, his complexion became much rosier. During the meal, Jianshi took the initiative to bring up the possibility of a follow-up transaction.
"Brother-in-law, we've all seen the fifty horses that were delivered this time, and we're very satisfied!" Jianshi put down his bone dagger and said seriously, "Our Fire Tribe still has a great need for horses. Next year, we'd like to buy another three hundred. I wonder if you can arrange that?"
Jia Li's eyes lit up. Three hundred horses! This was definitely a huge order; this trip hadn't been in vain! He suppressed his elation, carefully considered the situation, and cautiously replied, "Since Brother-in- Jianshi has such ambition, I, Jia Li, will naturally do my best to make it happen! However... three hundred horses is no small amount. The Horse Tribe might need time to gather so many trained horses at once. Moreover, the journey from the Horse Tribe to our Pottery Salt Tribe, and then to your place, is all overland, a long and difficult route, and transporting too many at once is risky. My suggestion is to divide it into three or four shipments, which might be more reliable. As for the price, there will be a discount for larger quantities; I will definitely give you the most reasonable price!"
Jianshi and Wang Yan exchanged a glance and nodded. "Okay, we'll ship in batches, safety first. As for the specific timing and price, I'll trouble you, brother-in-law, to coordinate that."
"Okay! Leave it to me!" Jia Li patted his chest and assured him.
The atmosphere was amicable, and the conversation naturally turned to broader cooperation. Jia Li once again sincerely praised the rapid changes in the Fire Tribe, while Jianshi emphasized that the faster the development, the more resources would be needed, and expressed his hope to establish a closer and more lasting trade bond with the Pottery Salt Tribe.
At this moment, Wang Yan casually asked, "Uncle Jia Li, you personally traveled so far to the Horse Tribe this time. I wonder how much you know about the Horse Tribe, and other large tribes further downstream? Our Fire Tribe is located upstream and knows very little about the outside world. We would like to hear about it."
Jia Li put down the bowl of goat milk in his hand, his expression becoming more serious. He knew that the Fire Tribe was no longer what it used to be, and the other party understood the value of this information. He pondered for a moment and said, "To be honest, Nephew Yan, the limit of our Pottery Salt Tribe's business is roughly the area Horse Tribe. Further down, the waterways are longer, the land routes are more complicated, the tribes are larger, and there are more rules, making it difficult to deal with them. The Horse Tribe has a population of about three thousand, mainly engaged in the domestication of horses, cattle, and sheep. The dwarf horses in this transaction are one of their specialties."
He paused, then lowered his voice. "I heard from the Horse Tribe that the largest and most powerful tribe in their area is the Valley Tribe, with a population reportedly exceeding ten thousand! Their fields are entirely planted with rice, and they're incredibly wealthy. Moreover... they possess bronze artifacts!"
"Bronze artifacts?" Wang Yan was startled. Although he had suspected it before, hearing it confirmed from a reliable source still made him feel a sense of urgency.
"Yes, those metal objects that are harder than Shitou and tougher than bone!" Jia Li gestured. "I heard they're mainly weapons, and some important tools too. But the quantity seems limited. They're said to have been traded or plundered from a more distant and powerful region than the Valley Tribe. They're very precious and they can't bear to use them on ordinary farm tools."
He continued, "Near the Valley Tribe, there's also the Bear Tribe, with seven or eight thousand people. They're quite powerful, but they've always been suppressed by the Valley Tribe. There's also the Bean Tribe, the Clothing Tribe, and so on, all large tribes with several thousand people. In short, the closer you get to the lower reaches of the Fish River, the deeper the water, the larger the tribes, and the rarer their goods. This information is something our Pottery Salt Tribe has painstakingly gathered over decades of trading with various places; it's hard-won."
Wang Yan nodded solemnly, "Thank you for sharing, Uncle. This information is very important to us." His sense of crisis intensified. The Valley Tribe not only had a population exceeding ten thousand, but had also begun to use bronze tools! This meant more efficient tools, sharper weapons, and greater war potential! Although the Fire Tribe had developed rapidly, it still had a long way to go to reach that level. There could be no complacency or slackening!
Jianshi also expressed his gratitude and reiterated the importance of cooperating with the Pottery Salt Tribe. After the meal, as agreed, Jianshi secretly loaded a considerable quantity of high-quality pottery—the deposit used to exchange for three hundred horses—onto several large boats and sent reliable men to escort Jia Li and some of his followers back to the Pottery Salt Tribe by waterway, in order to avoid any possible spies.
After seeing Jia Li off, the Fire Tribe's leaders couldn't wait to arrive at the temporary enclosure where the ponies were kept. The fifty horses were grazing and drinking water quietly, having recovered some of their strength.
"Good horses!" Dali circled the herd, his eyes shining. "They're a bit short, but they have sturdy frames and strong hooves; they're definitely capable of traversing mountain roads!"
Dazhuang nodded in agreement. "Its stamina is definitely excellent. It's faster than an ox and much less strenuous than a person when used for carrying loads or riding!"
Looking at the horses, Jian Shi's heart Jianshi with renewed pride. He said to Wang Yan and the others, "These horses are treasures! Hand them all over to the Hunting Team for unified management and training! Starting tomorrow, all soldiers will take turns learning to ride and care for the horses! We don't expect them to become cavalrymen charging into battle, but they must learn to ride for travel, deliver messages, and transport supplies! As for the Youth Team, select a group of physically fit and quick-witted individuals to learn as well! We must ensure that every one of these eight hundred soldiers understands horses and can use them! We must completely overcome this weakness in land mobility!"
Wang Yan wholeheartedly agreed. The introduction of horses not only signified a leap forward in transportation and mobility, but also marked the beginning of new tactics and new ways of thinking.