The Fish Tribe's Shock

As dawn broke, the Fire Tribe's massive fleet weighed anchor and set sail, departing from the mouth of the Pottery Salt Tribe's river. Jianya and Wang Yan stood at the bow of the lead Chuantou, a massive vessel weighing five thousand catties, gazing at the vast Fish River ahead, their eyes calm yet sharp. They had already dispatched a fast boat ahead to inform the Fish Tribe of the fleet's arrival.

Downstream, aided by the wind, the fleet was much faster than when going upstream. By evening, as the sunset painted the river surface a golden-red, the familiar, increasingly sturdy and massive wharf and riverside buildings of the Fish Tribe came into view in the distance.

The warriors patrolling the outskirts of the Fish Tribe spotted the unprecedentedly large fleet of ships, a forest of sails, from afar. Visits from the Fire Tribe's fleet were no longer uncommon, but each time they made the Fish Tribe's warriors instinctively tense up. When the lookout warriors squinted, trying to make out a few particularly conspicuous, enormous black shadows in the fleet, their breath caught in their throats.

"That's... a big ship?!"

"Not just one! There are many!"

"That's... the Fire Tribe's flag?!"

The shouts of alarm and uncertainty quickly spread between the Fish Tribe's watchtowers and riverside fortifications. The news swept into the tribe like the wind.

At this moment, Julang, the chief warrior of the Fish Tribe, was in a rather good mood. He had just led his fleet and successfully transported the second batch of 50,000 catties of grain from the distant Valley Tribe, which was now anchored at the dock. After this transaction was completed, the Fish Tribe would be able to use a considerable portion of the profits to order a new 5,000-catty large ship from the Valley Tribe. At that time, the Fish Tribe would have ten large ships, and its maritime advantage would be even more solidified.

He was pondering whether he should personally escort the 50,000 jin of grain to the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe again, to solidify relations and sound out their current attitude. Just then, his subordinates scrambled over, their faces ashen, stammering incoherently:

"Leader of the Julang! Outside... outside! The Fire Tribe's fleet is here! They... they..."

"What's the panic!" Julang frowned. "So what if they're here? It's not like it's the first time. Just make them dock in the designated area and keep a close watch on them."

"No... no!" The subordinate waved his hands frantically, "They... they brought... they brought ten large ships! Ships as big as ours!"

"What?!" Julang's shout abruptly stopped. Thinking he had misheard, he grabbed his subordinate by the collar. "Explain yourself! What big ship?"

"It's... it's a 5,000-jin boat! The same size as the boats docked at our pier! Ten of them! And dozens of large Muzhou weighing 2,000 jin each!" The men were almost in tears.

The Julang suddenly released its grip, rushing a few steps to the high point at the edge of the dock. It shaded its eyes with its hand and strained to look upstream.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the outline of the approaching fleet gradually became clear. Leading the way were dozens of familiar two-thousand-pound Muzhou, but what truly made his pupils shrink and his heart pound was the row of enormous black shadows following closely behind, like moving Little Mountain!

One, two, three... a total of ten! The hull lines, mast height, draft... although there may be slight differences in the details, their size and scale are clearly on par with the giant ships that the Fish Tribe is so proud of!

They sailed steadily in the middle of the river, their sails half-furled, adjusting their formation in accordance with the flag signals of the guide boat, preparing to dock. That Chenwen and imposing aura was palpable even from a distance.

"This... how is this possible?!" Julang felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, his mind instantly went blank, as if he had been hit hard by a heavy hammer.

The upper reaches of the Fish River are subtly controlled by the Fish Tribe, and the waterway downstream leading to the Valley Tribe Fish Tribe their core interest and secret. Where did the Fire Tribe get so many large ships? Did the Valley Tribe secretly sell them? Impossible! The Valley Tribe and the Fish Tribe have a long-standing exclusive agreement (at least that's what the Fish Tribe believes), and the Valley Tribe is thousands of miles away. How could the Fire Tribe possibly have the capability and channels to obtain them?

Could it be... something they built themselves? The thought struck even the Julang as absurd. Building such a massive ship required unimaginable skill, complex tools, and most importantly—how to ensure that such a colossal wooden structure wouldn't leak or sink in the water? Even the Fish Tribe didn't have that capability; they had to pay a huge price to obtain it from the Valley Tribe!

However, the ten truly massive ships before them were slowly approaching, following the banner of the Fire Tribe, leaving no room for doubt.

After the initial shock came a rapidly spreading unease, a mixture of fear and bewilderment. If the Fire Tribe truly possessed naval power comparable to the Fish Tribe, then the Fish Tribe's greatest reliance on maintaining its downstream trade monopoly and upstream influence—its fleet advantage—would vanish!

Blocking the Fish River? Restricting the Fire Tribe's development? Demanding exorbitant prices? These methods, which might have worked in the past, have become a joke now that the other side also possesses a powerful fleet.

"Quickly! Report to Chief Canglan immediately! Quickly!" Julang snapped back to reality, his voice hoarse as he roared at his trusted aide. He suppressed the turmoil within him, striving to maintain a calm facade, and ordered his men, "Pay attention! Guide them with the highest level of protocol! Clear the best spots on the dock! Quickly!"

He had to see it for himself, he had to make contact, he had to figure out exactly what was going on! Regardless of how the Fire Tribe obtained these ships, one undeniable fact was clear: the Fire Tribe's naval strength was now at least on par with the Fish Tribe! The balance of power in the Fish River had been completely shattered from this day forward!

Chaos erupted at the Fish Tribe's docks, all composure and superiority vanished. Warriors carried out orders while stealthily observing the approaching fleet of giant ships, their eyes filled with shock akin to the Julang, and a hint of unspeakable fear. The Fire Tribe, their neighbor who always brought "surprises," had this time delivered a shock that would shatter their understanding of the world.

Guided by the Fish Tribe's lead ship, the Fire Tribe's massive fleet orderly approached the designated area of the dock. The ten giant ships, like ten mobile water fortresses, cast long shadows in the last rays of the setting sun, enveloping the Fish Tribe's dock and the hearts of its people.

Once all the boats had come to a stop, the temporary camp's fences and tents were quickly erected on the open ground outside the dock, by which time it was completely dark.

Jianya and Wang Yan stood on the lookout post of the camp, looking at the brightly lit but obviously strangely atmospheric camp of the Fish Tribe not far away, and smiled at each other.

"Looks like it's working well," Jianya whispered.

"They need time to process this." Wang Yan nodded. "Get a good rest tonight, and tomorrow we'll visit our 'old friend' again."

As night fell, campfires were lit in the Fire Tribe's camp, and the warriors took turns eating and keeping watch in an orderly manner.