The Journey Home and the Invitation
Seeing his daughter Qingsui standing dejectedly by the dock, Daiyue felt a mix of emotions, which ultimately turned into a deep sigh. He didn't go forward to comfort her, nor could he.
He turned and left the bustling dock, returning to the familiar council chamber in the center of the tribe. What awaited him was a mountain of unfinished business, as well as several elders and high-ranking members who were already waiting there.
The first batch of pottery had been safely stored away. These exquisite vessels, priced far lower than those of the Tiger Tribe, attracted greedy eyes like a magnet. Soon, elders and high-ranking members, under the guise of reporting on other matters, subtly inquired whether they could "share" some or purchase some "at an internal discount price." Their reasons were varied—needed for family sacrifices, for sons' weddings, for daughters' dowries, for rewarding meritorious subordinates... as if these pottery pieces were not important trade assets or strategic reserves of the tribe, but rather welfare that could be freely divided.
Daiyue patiently refused or delayed each request. He knew that once this door was opened, the subsequent distribution would be chaotic, and it might even affect the profits and strategic goals of the entire trade plan. He had to use his authority as the leader to temporarily suppress these impatient covetous hearts.
Another, more important matter was defense. To assist in transporting this massive amount of grain, the Valley Tribe dispatched a huge fleet, including eight giant ships weighing 50,000 jin each, which temporarily weakened the tribe's defenses, especially its naval forces. Although most of the main warriors were still there, the giant ships that were the most intimidating to the enemy and a considerable number of medium-sized warships were not at home.
"Has there been any unusual activity from the Bear Tribe lately?" Daiyue asked the Fourth Elder Lin Feng.
Elder Lin Feng shook his head. "There are no signs of a large-scale mobilization for the time being. However, our scouts have reported that the number of times the Bear Tribe's patrol boats have appeared at the edge of the buffer zone has increased slightly compared to the past few days. They have likely noticed that our fleet has left the dock in large numbers."
Daiyue frowned. This was exactly what he was worried about. Xiong Lie was cunning and aggressive, and would never let go of any possible opportunity. Although the east and west banks of the Valley Tribe were mutually Jijiao and had a well-developed defense system, the lack of naval mobility and the deterrent effect of those giant ships still made him feel uneasy.
"Pass down the order," Daiyue commanded in a deep voice, "Double the vigilance at all watchtowers on both the east and west banks, increase manpower at the ferry crossings and docks, and shorten the rotation intervals of the patrol boats. Notify the Little Valley Camp on the opposite bank to also raise the alert level at Daiyan. Without my order, no one is allowed to engage in battle, lest the Bear Tribe lure us away from the mountains."
"Yes!" the crowd replied.
Daiyue added, "Furthermore, issue a notice that this newly arrived pottery must not be sold in large quantities before the grain transport fleet returns safely; only small-scale transactions are permitted."
He needed time, until Fengren returned safely with the fleet, and until the Valley Tribe regained its full maritime deterrent power. Only then would it be the best time to make the most of this batch of pottery and exchange it for more bronzes and supplies.
As the meeting ended, Daiyue rubbed his throbbing temples, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the dock outside the window. His daughter... should be back by now, right? He hoped time would gradually fade the budding, yet inevitably turbulent, feelings she harbored.
At the dock, Qingsui stood until the last sail of the fleet disappeared where the sky met the water. She stayed for a while before slowly turning back, urged quietly by her attendant. She had no appetite for lunch, and in the afternoon, she had no desire to play with her friends or sneak off to watch the craftsmen at work. Sitting alone in her room, chin in hand, she gazed at the bustling scene of the tribe outside, feeling an emptiness within, as if a part of her had been taken away. That carefree, energetic spirit that once belonged to her seemed to have drifted away with the southward-bound sails.
On the Fish River, the combined fleet returning south was of unprecedented size. Eight massive ships of the Valley Tribe, each weighing 50,000 jin, resembled mobile water fortresses, flanked by forty medium-sized ships weighing 5,000 jin each, and dozens of vessels from the Fire Tribe and the Fish Tribe. The mighty fleet occupied almost half of the river. The ships were laden with golden rice, representing the Fire Tribe's future confidence and hope.
Yan stood at the Chuantou, the river breeze carrying moisture towards him. He took one last look at the silhouette of the Valley Tribe, which was already out of sight, and his heart was filled with emotion. He had seen Qingsui's reluctant farewell at the dock, her eyes slightly red, and he remembered it. It would be a lie to say he wasn't moved; that bright, lively, and slightly willful yet kind girl had left a very good impression on him.
But... Yan shook his head, temporarily suppressing the slight flutter of his emotions. Qingsui was only thirteen years old. Although in this era, many of her peers were already about to get married and undergo coming-of-age ceremonies, in Yan's eyes, with his modern soul, she was still a child. Moreover, her father was the chief of the Valley Tribe, and he only had this one daughter. He might not allow her to marry so far away. Besides, both of them were still young, and Yan himself couldn't get over that psychological hurdle yet. Moreover, he was the future leader of the Fire Tribe, with heavy responsibilities on his shoulders. His personal feelings had to give way to the overall development of the tribe. Other matters could wait a few years.
He turned his attention to a more practical level. This trip to the Valley Tribe had been incredibly fruitful, though also fraught with risks. Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Witnessing firsthand the Valley Tribe's wealth, power, and organizational capabilities greatly broadened his and his father's horizons. The tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, the hundreds of thousands of acres of vegetable fields, the skilled warriors, the massive fleet, the complex internal power structure... all served as a mirror, reflecting the Fire Tribe's shortcomings and pointing it in the right direction.
"Food... must be in our own hands!" This belief became even stronger after witnessing the mountain of grain stored up in the Valley Tribe's granaries. Relying on external purchases would ultimately leave them vulnerable and too risky. If the Fire Tribe wanted to continue to grow and even gain the right to negotiate with the Valley Tribe or even more powerful downstream forces in the future, they had to establish a solid and strong agricultural foundation. Cultivating more land, improving farming techniques, and selecting superior seeds... these would be of paramount importance upon their return.
On their return journey, Yan and his father, Jianshi, would often take a small boat to board the giant ship of the Valley Tribe to chat with Fengren.
Fengren was initially surprised by the visit of the two Fire Tribe leaders, but quickly warmly welcomed them. He felt that the manufacturing technology of this 50,000-jin behemoth was a core secret that the Valley Tribe had obtained after years of exploration and even dismantling and studying the Tiger Tribe's ships. Even if Jianshi and Yan took a look, they wouldn't be able to learn it easily. Moreover, showcasing the Valley Tribe's powerful shipbuilding and technological capabilities was itself a form of intangible deterrence and capital for alliances. Therefore, he wasn't wary; on the contrary, he would sometimes take the initiative to show the two non-core parts of the behemoth and chat about other things.
After several encounters, Fengren's impression of Jianshi and his son grew better and better. He admired Jianshi's Chenwen and Yan's intelligence and humility. The three of them often found common ground and developed a strong sense of mutual respect when they talked about topics such as tribal management, hunting and farming, and dealing with natural and man-made disasters.
After about twenty-six days of sailing, a familiar sight appeared before us— Fire Creek, an important tributary of the Fish River, flowed into the main channel. The Fire Tribe's valley was located upstream of Fire Creek.
"We've arrived! Fire Creek Mouth is just ahead!" shouted the warriors of the Fire Tribe excitedly.
The massive fleet began to slow down. The 50,000-jin behemoths were too deep to sail into Fire Creek, and could only anchor at the Fire Creek Mouth, where the main channel and the tributary meet. The subsequent unloading of grain would take place here—medium and small boats would be used as barges to transfer the grain from the behemoths and then transport it Fire Tribe to the Huo tribe's dock along Fire Creek.
Prior to this, Jianshi had already arranged for a fast boat to return to the tribe to report the news. At this moment, the Fire Tribe's dock was ready to receive them, and a large number of able-bodied men had been organized to move the massive amount of grain. At the same time, some things that were too conspicuous and might attract unnecessary attention (such as bronzeware, new tools that were being tested, etc.) had been properly hidden.
As most of the combined fleet docked at the Fire Tribe's expanded but still somewhat "simple" pier, Jianshi and Yan extended a warm invitation to Canglan and Fengren:
"Chief Canglan, Fengren, you must be tired from your journey! Our Fire Tribe is just ahead. Although it is simple, we would be honored if you could come ashore and rest for a while, so that we can show you some hospitality!"
This was a rare opportunity to observe the internal workings of this newly emerging powerful tribe up close. Canglan and Fengren exchanged a glance, both seeing a strong interest in each other's eyes.
"Since Leader Jianshi and Leader Yan Shao have so warmly invited us, we won't stand on ceremony!" The two accepted with smiles.
Once the boat was set up, Jianshi and Yan were the first to disembark. Following them, Canglan, the leader of the Fish Tribe, and Fengren, the leader of the Valley Tribe, also set foot on the land of the Fire Tribe. Their gazes were filled with curiosity and caution as they surveyed this tribe, hidden among the mountains and streams, which had risen rapidly in just a few years.