Small Gathering Valley Outpost
On the same day that Jianya led his massive fleet from the Fire Tribe dock to transport grain to the Valley Tribe, Yan and Dazhuang had already traveled downstream in a large Muzhou weighing two thousand catties and arrived at their Small Gathering Valley Outpost.
As soon as the ship docked at the newly built makeshift pier of the stronghold, Yan jumped off the ship, looked around, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face. The changes in the Small Gathering Valley Outpost could be described as earth-shattering. What had replaced it was a well-planned and nascent permanent settlement.
The first thing that catches the eye is a sturdy wooden fence surrounding the entire stronghold. The fence is made of Yingmu felled from the mountains outside the Little Gathering Valley, driven deep into the ground and reinforced with crossbeams and vines. Its height is sufficient to block most wild animals and malicious spying. Outside the fence, a deep ditch about two meters wide has been dug, adding another layer of security. Currently, the stronghold only has a few key entrances and exits, which are paved with sturdy wooden bridges, ensuring both daily passage and defense.
Stepping inside the wooden enclosure, rows of brand-new wooden houses stood neatly arranged, numbering over three hundred at a glance. The houses varied in size, with larger ones accommodating ten or so people, and smaller ones able to hold five or six. The roofs were covered with thick thatch or bark, appearing dry and warm. These houses were sufficient to accommodate the current two thousand people at the outpost, and there was also a large open space next to the houses. If more houses were added later, it would be more than enough to accommodate five thousand people.
"Uncle Jianya and everyone else have really worked themselves to the bone these past few days," Yan said to Dazhuang as they walked. "To have built all the houses and completed the outer defenses in such a short time is incredibly efficient."
Dazhuang, standing beside Yan, his tall frame and rugged face now showing complete agreement. Having personally participated in the tribe's numerous large-scale land reclamation and construction projects over the years, he knew firsthand the hardships involved. He nodded in a deep voice, "Yes, this construction and reclamation work is no easy task. Jianya Brother must have been leading everyone day and night. Thankfully, we have better tools now—bronze axes, bronze saws, bronze chisels—making felling trees and whittling wood much faster. If we were still using Shifu and chisels like before, this work would have been a struggle until next spring."
They saw that the people in the stronghold were still busy. Some were carrying the last few pieces of timber to repair the details of the house, some were clearing away the rubble and weeds in the open space, and most of them were gathered on the newly reclaimed land outside the stronghold.
There, the planned 1,000 mu of paddy fields are already taking shape, with straight ridges and crisscrossing ditches, just waiting to be flooded. The adjacent 3,000 mu of vegetable fields have also been mostly plowed and prepared, the dark brown soil exuding a fertile aroma under the sun. Some impatient women have already sown cold-resistant vegetable seeds along the edges of the fields. At this pace, the entire reclamation task can be completed more than before the ground freezes.
"Judging by this, if we want to expand planting next year, we can still clear out a large area of those Mulin next to it this year," Yan said to Dazhuang, pointing to the wider wasteland at the edge of the paddy fields and vegetable gardens. He then sighed softly, "The only problem is that we still don't have enough oxen. Clearing land, turning the soil, and harrowing are the most labor-intensive tasks for livestock. Our Fire Tribe's main valley has a heavier reclamation task, so we need to prioritize ensuring the oxen there. Once Uncle Jianya returns from the Valley Tribe, we can go to the Horse Tribe to exchange for another batch of oxen, and then we'll have more livestock."
Dazhuang wholeheartedly agreed, "Oxen are good animals; they're strong and have great stamina, much better than humans. If we bring back more, we can clear the land much faster."
As the two spoke, they reached the center of the stronghold. From here, the view was expansive, allowing them to see the bustling activity outside and the situation to the north. Yan noticed that everyone in the stronghold, whether the able-bodied men in charge of construction or the farmers leveling the fields, moved swiftly and methodically, displaying great energy and spirit. What caught his attention even more was that the four hundred elite soldiers out of the two thousand were fully integrated into the construction, carrying timber, digging earth, and tamping foundations. Wherever there was heavy or strenuous work, they were there. Only a few people took turns guarding the watchtowers and a few entrances and exits, maintaining necessary vigilance.
"That's good," Yan nodded in approval. "Soldiers and civilians are integrated. In peacetime, they build their homes together, and in wartime, they can quickly transform into a defensive force. Everyone eats, lives, and works together, which strengthens their cohesion."
Dazhuang pointed to several higher hills that were faintly visible to the north. "Over there, Brother Jianya arranged for three beacon towers to be built. The view is excellent. We also have a hundred cavalrymen, divided into several teams, who will take turns patrolling northwards every day. If anything goes wrong, they can light the beacon and the news will come quickly, allowing us to prepare immediately."
Hearing the cavalry's arrangements, Yan felt more at ease. The Fire Tribe now has a total of more than 350 ponies. In addition to the 100 cavalrymen stationed at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, there are also 100 cavalrymen stationed near the Deer Tribe Mining Area Tribe's mining area, responsible for the security of the mining area and the transportation of ore. After all, the copper and tin mines near the Deer Tribe are the lifeblood of the Fire Tribe's bronze production.
"Transporting ore from the Deer Tribe is still a major problem." Yan looked westward, his brow furrowed slightly. "The distance is far, and it relies entirely on human labor and horses, which consumes too much manpower and resources, limiting bronze production."
Dazhuang added, "Yes, it takes several days to make a round trip, and you can't transport too much."
Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he had made up his mind. "Once the Little Gathering Valley is fully developed and the defense system is stable, keeping the northern threat out, we can consider moving the core bronze smelting and casting workshop directly to the Deer Tribe!"
Upon hearing this, Dazhuang's eyes lit up. "Move to the Deer Tribe? We'll just smelt copper and make weapons right next to the mine?"
"Yes!" Yan nodded, his tone certain. "The mine is nearby, which will save us most of the trouble of transporting the ore. The copper and tin ingots produced will be much smaller and safer to transport to our headquarters than the ore. This will definitely greatly increase bronze production, and it will be more discreet and secure!"
He further analyzed, "Look, now that we've planted this stronghold in Little Gathering Valley, it's like we've enclosed the former territories of the Bison, White Pig, and Green Sheep Tribe, as well as the Deer Tribe's mining area, all within our defensive perimeter. It'll be much harder for the Wolf Tribe from the north to sneak in unnoticed. As long as we establish a firm foothold here and set up scouts, the mining area leading to the Deer Tribe will be basically safe. Then, the time will be ripe to move the bronze workshop there."
Dazhuang nodded repeatedly, finding the idea increasingly reasonable. "Yan'er, you're right! There really aren't any other tribes within a three-to-five-day journey around our Fire Tribe. Once we secure this place, things will be stable. If we move the bronze workshop there, we can mine and smelt nearby, and our bronze artifacts can be produced in greater quantities and at better quality, just like pottery!"
Standing on the watchtower of the outpost, gazing at the nascent Small Gathering Valley Outpost before them, and thinking of the increasingly powerful Fire Tribe headquarters in the valley behind them, a surge of pride welled up within them. Little Gathering Valley was not merely a forward outpost, but a key—a key that unlocked the Fire Tribe's expansion northward and downstream along the Fish River, and enabled them to enhance their core technology and production capacity. The wooden houses, fields, beacon towers, and patrolling cavalry here together formed a solid barrier, Shouhu the rear and paving the way for a broader future ahead.