The Fish Tribe's Night of Decision

After hastily arranging the docking of the Fire Tribe fleet, Julang didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from his brow before rushing towards the center of the Fish Tribe, to the largest house belonging to their leader, Canglan.

Before he even entered, he could hear a heated argument and discussion coming from inside. Clearly, the news had spread and alarmed the entire Fish Tribe's leadership. The guards at the gate recognized Julang and immediately let him through.

The room was brightly lit, illuminating every face that showed surprise, anger, or worry. As the Julang entered, the clamor subsided, and all eyes were fixed on him.

Canglan sat in the main seat, his face appearing particularly solemn under the lamplight. He stared directly at the Julang and asked in a deep voice, "Julang, you saw it with your own eyes, what exactly happened? How many ships did the Fire Tribe bring? Those large ships... are they really the same as ours?"

Julang took a deep breath, forcing himself to report in the clearest possible language, "Chief, elders, I saw it all clearly! The Fire Tribe has brought a full ten large ships this time! The size, draft, and masts of these ships are almost identical to the giant ships we traded with the Valley Tribe! In addition, there are no fewer than fifty large dugout canoes, and even more Xiaozhou. Just the naval strength of this fleet alone is probably... probably already surpasses that of our Fish Tribe."

He paused, then added his assessment, his tone heavy. "Moreover, I suspect this is likely not the entirety of the Fire Tribe's resources. The fact that they can deploy ten large ships to transport grain at once indicates they probably have even more, at least a reserve of ships for maintenance and replacement."

Although Canglan had already heard the initial report from his scouts and was somewhat prepared, his heart still sank when he heard his most trusted warrior confirm it in person. The high-ranking officials behind him were in an uproar.

Ten ships?! How is that possible!

"Where did they get them? Did the Valley Tribe secretly sell them to them?"

"Was it stolen from somewhere we don't know about?"

"Julang, did you see it clearly? Could it be a bluff, a big ship but not sturdy?"

A barrage of questions rained down on Julang, leaving Julang speechless and only able to shake his head repeatedly. "I don't know... I really don't know how they got them. But those ships look very stable, they don't seem like just for show..."

"Enough!" Canglan slammed his hand on the table, silencing the commotion. His face was ashen as he surveyed the crowd. "Julang saw it with his own eyes, there's no doubt about it! Our own scouts just confirmed it! Arguing about how they got the ship is pointless now! What matters is—they have it now!"

He stood up and paced slowly around the room, his voice carrying a forced calm. "With these boats, it means our previous semi-blockade of the upper reaches and certain sections of the Fish River is no longer viable. The Fire Tribe's waterways, at least from their doorstep to ours, are now unobstructed. You've probably all heard about their land strength; the Wolf Tribe suffered losses at their hands twice, and tribes like the Bison and White Pig have all submitted to them. Now, they've filled the gap in their waterborne defenses..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "The question now isn't how the Fire Tribe did it, but how our Fish Tribe should deal with this neighbor who has suddenly become so powerful?"

The question, once again, plunged the room into chaos. A warrior leader, known for his bravery, suddenly stood up, his face flushed. "What are we afraid of! Even if they have more ships, we've been fighting on the water for decades. Do you think we're afraid of these newbies who've just boarded a ship? Let's fight! Let's give them a good beating and see if they dare to be so arrogant then!"

Someone immediately retorted, "Fight? With what can we fight? They have just as many ships as we do, and more men. Once war breaks out, the outcome is uncertain! Even if we win, how many people will we lose? How many ships will we lose? What if the Wolf Tribe, or other forces, take advantage of the situation?"

Another elder in charge of trade was deeply worried. "The Fire Tribe is most likely here to transport grain. We've already received a deposit; if we break the contract and refuse to sell, not only will our reputation be ruined, but we'll also have to give back the deposit and profits from previous transactions. Besides, if the grain is stuck in our hands, who else can we sell it to besides ourselves? The price will definitely drop!"

"Then sell them to them! But not like before!" someone shouted. "Before they completely turn against us, let's make one last big profit! With that money, we'll quickly go to the Valley Tribe and buy more large ships, and better weapons and armor! As long as we have more ships and better weapons and armor than them, we can still have the upper hand!"

"Yes! Sell! Sell at a high price! Then accelerate our own expansion!"

"No! Selling grain to them is aiding the enemy! Letting them eat their fill will give them more strength to fight us!"

"They won't sell? They can just buy it from the Valley Tribe themselves! Can we still stop them now?"

The two factions, supporting continued high-price transactions and advocating for a hardline confrontation or even breach of contract, argued heatedly, neither able to convince the other. Several seasoned and prudent individuals, however, remained silent with furrowed brows, clearly weighing deeper pros and cons.

Looking at the chaotic scene before him, Canglan felt a surge of frustration and helplessness. The Fire Tribe's sudden "show of force" had completely disrupted the Fish Tribe's rhythm and mindset, exposing the tribe's internal divisions and lack of preparedness in the face of a major crisis.

"Shut up, all of you!" Canglan raised his voice again, adopting the authority of a leader. The arguing gradually subsided, and everyone looked at him.

Canglan returned to his seat, rubbed his throbbing temples, and slowly stated his decision. "What's the use of arguing? How much do we really know about the Fire Tribe's true strength? Is their sudden display of power a show of force? A test? Or do they have other intentions? To start a war before we've figured things out is the most foolish thing to do!"

He looked at the elder who advocated for the deal. "The deposit for the grain has been received, and the agreement has been finalized. Breaking the contract would be unreasonable and detrimental to our interests. Moreover, as you said, if we don't sell, they will likely find their own way to source grain downstream. This grain must be sold."

He then looked at the generals who advocated for war. "But we can't sell for free. The price... can be 'negotiated' further. We must use the resources obtained from this transaction to strengthen ourselves to the fullest extent! Buy more warships, purchase better armor and weapons, and train more elite sailors and soldiers!"

Finally, he concluded. "As for longer-term strategies... whether to fight or make peace, whether to unite or defend, it's too early to draw conclusions. We'll see tomorrow! When Jianya and that Flame arrive, we'll observe their attitudes, hear their arguments, and then make our decisions! Tonight, everyone must be on high alert and strengthen security at the docks and the tribe! No one is allowed to act rashly without my orders!"

The leader made the final decision, and although many people still harbored resentment or doubts, they knew it was the safest, or rather, the most reluctant, option at the moment. The meeting ended in a heavy and oppressive atmosphere.

As the Julang retreated from the wooden hut with the others, a gust of night wind made him realize that his back was soaked with cold sweat. He glanced back at the brightly lit chieftain's house, then looked towards the faint firelight of the Fire Tribe camp in the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions.