Settling and Developing the Small Gathering Valley Floor
The next few days were busy and fulfilling for Yan. He spent most of his time wandering between the various workshops in the tribe. He checked whether the potters were kneading the clay evenly, whether the shipwrights were assembling the keel tightly, whether the bronze furnaces were firing at the right temperature, and whether the shuttles were moving smoothly in the weaving workshops.
He didn't just observe; when he found a problem, he would directly call the workshop manager over, point out the issue, and discuss how to fix it together.
"Uncle Fumu, look at the joint between these two planks. Isn't it a bit too wide? Water can easily seep in. Could you add a tighter mortise and tenon joint?"
These were all specific problems encountered in production practice, not complicated. Yan's suggestions weren't always correct, but he always inspired everyone to think about solutions from different angles. Many small improvements could be tested on the spot, with immediate results. The workshop leaders gradually went from being respectful at the beginning to genuinely admiring and liking Yan's "nitpicking" because he could always help solve some troublesome "minor problems," making their work smoother.
Besides the workshop, Yan also frequently visited the training grounds of the Youth Team. He watched the boys practice their spear-throwing accuracy, rehearse teamwork, and even observed their appetites and mental state during meals. If the training intensity was insufficient, he would have Gubang increase it appropriately; if a boy looked a bit thin, he would remind Zhuangchai and Daya to keep an eye on him and see if they could arrange more nutritious food. The Youth Team was the future of the tribe, and he valued it highly.
The days passed in this busy activity. Less than ten days later, a lively commotion arose from the dock—the first fleet of ships led by Binmao and Dabang had returned!
Upon hearing the news, Yan and his father, Jianshi, rushed to the dock. They saw a long line of large and small boats from the Fire Tribe slowly approaching the shore. The boats were packed with people, men, women, and children, most of them dressed in tattered clothes, their faces showing the weariness of a long journey, but even more so, curiosity and a hint of anticipation. At a glance, this group numbered about 1,500 people.
These people came from small tribes with fewer than two hundred people, struggling to survive, along the banks of the three tributaries of the Fish River: the Shuihe Water River, the Forest River, and the Stone River. Their lives were extremely difficult; hunting was hard and the harvest was meager. When the fleet of boats carrying the Binmao and the Dabang appeared, once again telling these gathered people that as long as they followed the rules and were willing to work, they could have enough to eat and wear, they followed almost without hesitation, bringing their families with them.
Along the way, seeing the Fire Tribe's enormous fleet that stretched as far as the eye could see, they already felt a sense of awe. Now, the ship had docked, and they stepped onto solid ground. Looking around, they saw neat wooden houses with smoke rising from their chimneys, and in the distance, endless, flat fields where the crops were growing well. People were coming and going on the roads, all full of energy and dressed more neatly than they were. The air was filled with the aroma of food and a vibrant, upward-looking spirit.
This was far better than they had imagined! Many of the newcomers stared wide-eyed, their initial unease instantly replaced by immense joy and anticipation.
"Welcome to the Fire Tribe!" Jianshi stood on the dock, his voice booming. "The rules of the Fire Tribe should have been explained to you by Binmao and Dabang on the road. As long as you follow the rules and are willing to work, this is your home. You'll have enough to eat and sturdy houses to live in!"
Next came the customary "tour." Jianshi and Yan personally led some of the prominent figures and young people among the newcomers on a brief tour of the well-organized residential area in the center of the tribe, the workshop area piled with various tools, and finally, the place that truly put their minds at ease—the granary.
Although they only peeked from the outside, the towering, spacious barns built tightly with wooden planks and mud, and the golden rice piled almost to the roof, visible from the entrance, were enough to make any newcomer gasp in astonishment, and then their last trace of doubt vanished. With so much food, how could they possibly go hungry?
Jianshi instructed Qingye and Yan to arrange manpower to guide the newcomers to the designated riverside area to wash up and change into a batch of simple but clean linen clothes that had been prepared in advance. Then, according to the previous plan, they were dispersed and settled into the newly built or temporarily vacant wooden houses, organized by family.
"Settle down and get some rest. In a couple of days, someone will come to talk to you about what kind of work you'll be doing and how to do it," Yan said to the newcomers, his tone calm yet carrying a persuasive power.
The newlyweds, both bewildered and excited, followed the guide. Looking at the tidy house, the straw-covered beds, and the clothes prepared inside, many had tears in their eyes. This was a dream come true.
Binmao and Dabang delivered the people, and they were exhausted themselves, but after only one night's rest, they set off again with the fleet early the next morning. The task of picking up the remaining people was not yet complete; the other 1,500 people were still waiting upstream on the Fish River.
Less than ten days later, the second fleet of ships carrying people returned safely. It also carried about 1,500 people and followed the same settlement procedures. Fire Tribe Valley became even more crowded and noisy with the addition of these two new groups of people, but its vibrant energy was also stronger.
Next, all that is needed is to use the fleet to make a few more trips to bring back the items, tools, and some stored food that the new people are reluctant to discard. This large-scale population absorption will then be successfully completed.
While they were picking up the people, the construction of the Small Gathering Valley Outpost was also progressing steadily. Jianya organized two more ship transports, sending the remaining personnel who were planning to establish an outpost in Small Gathering Valley in two batches.
Today, in the valley guarding the strategic pass of Xiaoji, two thousand members of the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe gathered, most of whom are experienced members who joined earlier, including four hundred elite warriors. They are cutting down trees and quarrying stone, and are working hard to build a sturdy and permanent stronghold. According to the plan, three to four hundred wooden houses will be built there, forming a small, fully functional settlement.
Regarding food, the outpost is not yet self-sufficient and mainly relies on the Fire Tribe headquarters for a continuous supply via waterways. However, there is also a stream that leads to the Fish River, where people can fish, hunt outside the valley, and gather wild vegetables and fruits to supplement their food supply and alleviate the transportation pressure on the headquarters. This situation is expected to continue until next year, after the first batch of paddy fields and vegetable gardens they have cultivated in the area have yielded a harvest, before the situation can be fundamentally improved.