Buying Grain Through Gritted Teeth and Aching Hearts
After replenishing their freshwater and a small amount of fresh food at the Pottery Salt Tribe, the fleet set sail again. This time, their target was clear: the Fish Tribe downstream.
A day earlier, Jianya had sent a fast boat ahead to report to the Fish Tribe with news from the Fire Tribe. A large trade fleet consisting of fifty Muzhou with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties each could easily arouse the Fish Tribe's vigilance or even misunderstanding if no prior notice was given, which was something no one wanted to see.
The next morning, before the morning mist had even dissipated, the Fire Tribe's massive fleet appeared on the river within the Fish Tribe's sight. The Fish Tribe had already received the news, and several Xiaozhou responsible for guidance and surveillance were waiting early on. Upon seeing the Fire Tribe's fleet appear, the guide boats immediately went to meet them, waving friendly flags and leading the fleet in an orderly manner toward the Fish Tribe's wide, reinforced dock.
Near the dock, eight massive warships belonging to the Fish Tribe, each with a carrying capacity of over five thousand catties, lay quietly at anchor. Although the warriors on board did not display any overt hostility, the solemn atmosphere and superior equipment silently proclaimed the Fish Tribe's dominant position in these waters. Looking at this enormous fleet from upstream, they all knew that apart from the Fire Tribe, no one else possessed such resources and strength.
After settling the fleet at the dock, Jianya and Wang Yan left Dali and Dazhuang to guard the cargo and keep the tribe in check. They then took a small number of followers and carefully selected gifts and, guided by the envoys of the Fish Tribe, headed towards the residence of their chief, Canglan.
Canglan and his high-ranking members had actually been waiting for a long time. After receiving the report on the size of the Fire Tribe's fleet and its estimated arrival time, they knew that another big deal was coming. Recalling the generous gifts and successful transaction from the Fire Tribe last time, many high-ranking Fish Tribe showed expectant smiles on their faces.
Before Jianya and his group arrived, Canglan had already convened a short meeting with its core members.
"The Fire Tribe brought fifty large Muzhou this time, they're coming with great force, their appetite is definitely not small." An elder stroked his beard and speculated, "I guess, they're probably after food."
"That's right," another leader in charge of trade chimed in, "I heard they took in quite a few more people last year. With so many mouths to feed, there's definitely not enough food!"
Canglan nodded; this was exactly what he had expected. The Fire Tribe was developing too rapidly, with a surge in population, and food was bound to be their biggest weakness. And this was precisely where the Fish Tribe could take advantage.
"How are we doing now?" Canglan asked.
The elder in charge of storage reported, "We have cultivated 1,500 mu of paddy fields ourselves, and with the regular purchases from the Valley Tribe, we have at least 100,000 jin of rice left over after our own needs. Chief, our population has increased to 3,000, and our warriors have expanded to 600. Equipping these new warriors and building more large ships requires a lot of resources. The profits we made from the last trade with the Fire Tribe have basically all been used up, and there's not much left."
A glint of light flashed in Canglan's eyes. "Therefore, in this deal with the Fire Tribe, we must not only obtain sufficient benefits but also ensure our advantage."
"What the leader means is..."
"We can sell grain, and we can sell them more," Canglan said slowly. "But we need to make them understand who calls the shots in the lower reaches of the Fish River. The price... can't be the same as before. Since they urgently need it, they have to pay a price. In addition, we need to use the supplies obtained from the trade to quickly purchase more warships and armor from the Valley Tribe! As long as the Great River is still in our hands, no matter how strong the Fire Tribe is, they can't cause any trouble!"
Everyone nodded in agreement. The rise of the Fire Tribe had put pressure on them, but this pressure only strengthened their resolve to maintain their absolute dominance on the water. As long as the downstream area was blocked, there was not much to worry about.
Just as Canglan was still calculating in his mind how to speak in order to maximize his benefits, Jianya and Wang Yan had already arrived at the door.
"Brother Jianya! Nephew Yan! Welcome, welcome!" Canglan immediately put on a warm smile and hurried forward. "Please come in! Why didn't Brother-in- Jianshi come in person this time? I've missed him terribly."
Jianya bowed deeply before smiling and saying, "Chief Canglan, esteemed leaders, greetings. The Fire Tribe is very busy, and my elder brother, Jianshi, was unable to come in person. He specifically instructed Yan'er and me to convey his greetings to Chief Canglan and everyone." With a wave of his hand, his attendants immediately brought forward exquisite gifts. "These are a small token of our chief's appreciation; we hope Chief Canglan and everyone will accept them with pleasure."
"Oh, Chief Jianshi, you're too kind!" Canglan and the other high-ranking members said "No need, no need" and "It's too much trouble," but their hands didn't slow down at all. They accepted the gifts and couldn't wait to examine them. Inside were large pottery bottles and vases newly fired by the Fire Tribe, as well as several flawless high-quality animal hides and some Fire Tribe specialties. Any one of these items would be a rare find in the Fish Tribe.
The smiles on everyone's faces deepened as they played with the gifts in their hands, clearly delighted.
"Brother -Jianshi is so generous! Men, bring out the best goat milk and the freshest fish! We must properly entertain our distinguished guests who have come from afar!" Canglan ordered loudly, appearing extremely enthusiastic. Turning around, he pulled Jianya to a seat and asked casually, "Brother-in-law Jianshi, what good thing do you want to do for our Fish Tribe by inviting you here this time?"
Jianya knew the real show was about to begin, so he put away his smile and said seriously, "Chief Canglan, to be honest, we've come to deliver important news."
"Oh? Please go ahead."
"It's about the Wolf Tribe," Jianya said gravely. "That Xueya, since being defeated by your tribe and our Fire Tribe last year, has not only failed to restrain himself, but has become even more ruthless and bloodthirsty. He has annexed more than a dozen small tribes nearby and plundered several others, greatly increasing his strength. Just recently, he gathered more than four hundred men and launched a surprise attack on our nearby Bison Tribe and White Pig Tribe, burning, killing, and looting, causing heavy losses to both tribes. The Wolf Tribe holds a grudge."
The Fish Tribe's leaders reacted in various ways. Some scoffed, "Defeated enemies, not worth mentioning! If they dare come to our Fish Tribe, we'll make sure they never return!" Others analyzed, "The Wolf Tribe has suffered repeated setbacks and is weakened. How much fighting power can their newly recruited members have? How could they possibly be a match for our Fish Tribe's elite?" Still others secretly compared them, saying, "If we're talking about threats, the rapidly developing Fire Tribe is more worthy of our attention. This Wolf Tribe is nothing more than a crippled wolf that's been beaten and is now terrified."
Canglan raised his hand to silence the murmurs and said to Jianya, "Thank you for informing us of this, Brother Jianya. We will strengthen our defenses. So, what is the second matter?"
Jianya sighed, his face showing difficulty. "This second matter also stems from the Wolf Tribe's atrocities. The Bison and White Pig tribes were robbed and burned, leaving them with nowhere to turn but to seek refuge with our Fire Tribe. They have been on good terms with us for generations through intermarriage, and we cannot stand by and watch them die. However... this suddenly adds many more mouths to feed. Our Fire Tribe has already taken in quite a few people, and our food... is already extremely scarce. Therefore, we have come to earnestly request Chief Canglan to, out of consideration for the good relations between our two tribes, trade us a batch of grain to alleviate our immediate crisis!"
They're here! The leaders of the Fish Tribe exchanged glances, secretly amused. Sure enough, it's for the food!
Canglan's face immediately showed a troubled expression, his brows furrowed. "Brother Jianya, this... it's not that our Fish Tribe is unwilling to help, it's just... we also have our difficulties! You see, we've recently taken in quite a few people, and although we've cultivated more land, the crops have only just been planted, and it's far from harvest time. Our reserves... are also very tight."
Jianya and Wang Yan exchanged a glance, knowing that they had no choice but to pay a price. Jianya gritted his teeth, his face showing a pained yet resigned expression. "Chief Canglan, we understand the Fish Tribe's difficulties. But our Fire Tribe is truly... alas! We also know that the Valley Tribe downstream has a large population, extensive planting area, and abundant food. If Chief Canglan is willing to help us with this, trading a batch of grain from the Valley Tribe, even at a higher price... we can accept it! This time, we need at least 200,000 catties of rice!"
Two hundred thousand catties! The leaders of the Fish Tribe were all intrigued; this was definitely a huge deal!
Canglan was overjoyed; this was exactly what he wanted— the Fire Tribe raising the price. However, he wore an expression of "reluctantly agreeing out of friendship," and after a moment's thought, slapped his thigh. "Alright! Since Brother Jianya has put it this way, our Fish Tribe can't be ungrateful! How about this, our Fish Tribe will tighten our belts and squeeze out 100,000 jin for your emergency use!"
He then changed the subject, continuing, "We'll purchase the remaining 100,000 jin from the Valley Tribe. We can send eight large ships to transport it. However, the Valley Tribe is a long way off, and a round trip would take nearly a month. Moreover, our ships can only carry a maximum of about 50,000 jin at a time. Therefore, this 100,000 jin of grain will have to be transported in two trips, all delivered to the old handover point where the stream and the Fish River meet in your Fire Tribe."
He looked at Jianya and Wang Yan, and slowly stated the most crucial condition. "As for the price... Brother Jianya, as you know, things are not peaceful anywhere right now. Grain prices in the Valley Tribe have also risen. We're providing ships and men, and we also have to bear the risks... This price will probably have to be double what we paid last time. I hope Brother Jianya and Brother -Jianshi Shi can understand our difficulties!"
Twice as high!
Jianya and Wang Yan were heartbroken. This was blatant looting! But the situation was beyond their control. The Fire Tribe desperately needed to stockpile more food to stabilize morale, and the Fish Tribe was the only tribe with the capability and channels to provide such a large quantity of food. They had little choice but to accept it.
Jianya suppressed his frustration, forced a smile, and cupped his hands, saying, "I understand, I understand... We are already extremely grateful that Chief Canglan is willing to lend a helping hand at this time! The price... will be as you say! Thank you, Chief Canglan!"
"Great! That's straightforward!" Canglan laughed heartily, appearing very generous. "Then it's settled! Come on, try this, it's delicious! Eat as much as you want today!"
The ensuing banquet appeared lively, but Jianya and Wang Yan ate nothing. They knew that the Fire Tribe had paid a heavy price for this transaction. However, these 200,000 jin of grain were crucial for stabilizing the Fire Tribe, which had just undergone dramatic changes and experienced a population explosion.
After the banquet, Canglan personally escorted Jianya and Wang Yan to the door, exchanging another round of warm pleasantries. Watching the Fire Tribe members leave to return to their temporary camp, the smile on Canglan's face slowly faded. He turned to his trusted aide and whispered, "Pass the word down: hurry and prepare the 100,000 jin of grain for the Fire Tribe. Also, the fleet sent to the Valley Tribe to buy grain should prepare to depart immediately. Once this deal is done, we can get another new ship."
Upon returning to the fleet, Jianya and Wang Yan immediately summoned key members such as Dali and Dazhuang to inform them of the transaction results.
"Prices have been driven very high, but we urgently need grain reserves, there's no other way," Wang Yan said in a deep voice. "Once we have these 200,000 jin of grain, we'll feel much more at ease. When our new fields start producing, we won't be at the mercy of others anymore by the end of the year."
Jianya gritted his teeth and said, "We'll remember this debt for now. Once we've recovered and are stronger, we'll settle the score with the Fish Tribe sooner or later! Now, let's prepare the goods for the exchange as agreed. Dali, you're in charge of checking and loading them onto the ship; Dazhuang, you're in charge of strengthening vigilance and ensuring the transaction goes smoothly!"
The Fire Tribe's fleet stopped at the Fish Tribe's dock and began the busy work of transferring and preparing goods.