Racing to the Rescue
As night fell, Jianshi Shi's fleet arrived at Little Gathering Valley. The massive ships anchored one after another in the hazy night. Five ships with a capacity of 5,000 catties each were too deep to enter the stream inside Little Gathering Valley and could only anchor in the more open waters downstream of Little Gathering Creek. Ten large Muzhou with a capacity of 2,000 catties each and forty small boats with a capacity of 500 catties each entered Little Gathering Creek in single file and lined up at the temporarily expanded dock.
The dock was brightly lit with torches, and Yan and Dazhuang had already been waiting there with their men. When they saw their father leap off the lead boat, Yan quickly went to greet him.
"Father!"
"Yan! Dazhuang!" Jianshi patted his son and brother on the shoulders forcefully, his gaze sweeping over the dock and the distant, dotted-with-lights stronghold as he asked, "What's the situation here?"
Yan gave a brief report on the newly recruited six hundred tribesmen and their resettlement. Jianshi nodded and strode towards the stronghold, quickly issuing orders. "Arrange small boats to bring in the brothers from the five-thousand-jin heavy-duty ships moored outside to rest. Only leave a few people to guard the ships. Dazhuang, the defense of the Small Gathering Valley Outpost is your responsibility. Strengthen vigilance, especially on the north side!"
Soon, the elite warriors who had come from the Fire Tribe headquarters landed in an orderly fashion. Guided by the warriors at the Small Gathering Outpost, they went to the prepared barracks to rest. Most of these warriors' leaders were the best of the Fire Tribe's "Forty Warriors" system from back then, such as Shimao, Yandun, Feishi, Liehuo, Shenlin, Kuangfeng, Jushi, Lizhua, and Liebao. Each of them had sharp eyes, Chenwen movements, and carried a faint aura of ferocity from having experienced many battles. Their arrival added a touch of grimness and confidence to the already tense atmosphere at the Small Gathering Outpost.
Inside the largest wooden house in the center of the stronghold, steaming hot food was served, and everyone took the time to replenish their strength. Meanwhile, Jianshi Shi and Yan sat with several core leaders to discuss the next move.
Yan spoke first, his tone grave. "Father, the Wolf Tribe's actions this time are completely different from their previous looting and running away. They are systematically slaughtering, coercing, and forcing small tribes to become vassals. At this rate, their strength will snowball and expand wildly. If left unchecked, it won't be long before the entire north becomes their hunting ground. By then, the cost of stopping them will be far too high."
Jianshi Shi remained calm, chewing his food as he slowly nodded. "As soon as the alarm personnel from the Pottery Salt Tribe arrived, I knew things weren't simple. That mad dog Xueya is vengeful and ruthless. At least ten days have passed since the White Stone Tribe was wiped out. How many people has he taken under his wing? What kind of training has he put into those vassal armies?"
He put down the bone dagger in his hand and glanced at everyone. "Xueya and his men may not dare to come directly to our Fire Tribe right now, but the Pottery Salt Tribe, the Beast Taming Tribe, the Hundred Crafts Tribe, and even tribes further afield, could all be his targets. Especially the Pottery Salt Tribe, with whom he has an old feud and who is relatively wealthy, is likely to be the first tough nut to crack for him. We can't wait; we must act immediately to stabilize the Pottery Salt Tribe first."
Yan immediately said, "Father, I want to go on this mission too."
Jianshi glanced at his son and said without hesitation, "Okay, you come with me. We need to be quick and get to the Pottery Salt Tribe Pottery Salt Tribe before the Wolf Tribe breaks through."
Without further delay, he began to make detailed plans. "For speed, we'll take a group of people by boat first. The boats I brought from headquarters this time—five large ships with a carrying capacity of 5,000 jin each, ten large dugout Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 jin each, and forty small Xiaozhou with a carrying capacity of 500 jin each—can transport 300 people at a time. I will personally lead these 300 elite troops, with Yan accompanying them. Tomorrow morning, we'll set sail downstream, heading straight for the Pottery Salt Tribe! If the waterway is clear, we'll arrive within two or three days!"
He turned to Yingmu, who was in charge of the cavalry near the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, and said, "Yingmu! There are two hundred cavalrymen at the Small Gathering Outpost. They are all yours! You will travel by land northwards and reach the Pottery Salt Tribe as quickly as possible to join us! You must reach the vicinity of the Pottery Salt Tribe within four to five days!"
"Yes, Chief!" Yingmu stood up to accept the order, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Shimao! Liebao!" Jianshi then looked at the two experienced, steadfast veteran warriors.
"Exist!"
"You two will select 200 men from the Small Gathering Outpost to escort a shipment of grain and spare weapons, advancing steadily along the land route towards the Pottery Salt Tribe. You are the second echelon and our logistical support line; ensure your safety!"
"Clear!"
"Dazhuang," Jianshi said, turning to his third brother, "You will remain in Little Gathering Valley to oversee the overall situation. Dabang and Jijiao will lead seven hundred reinforcements and more supplies, departing from headquarters tomorrow to join you. At that time, the defenses of Small Gathering Outpost will be greatly strengthened. In addition, I have instructed Dabang and the others to leave fifty Small Gathering Valley Outpost for daily guard duty around the stronghold and on the road to the Deer Tribe. One hundred cavalrymen will be reserved for transport and mobility between the Deer Tribe Mining Area and the Fire Tribe. All other forces will be stationed at the Fire Tribe's headquarters in the valley."
He paused, then added, "The five or six hundred new tribesmen will be temporarily housed at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost. The bronze weapons will remain at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost and the Fire Tribe's main valley. These two places are our foundation and must be absolutely secure. However, unless there is danger, do not use the bronze weapons yet!"
Yan fully agreed with Jianshi's plan, and everyone accepted the order and went to prepare.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a mixed fleet consisting of five large ships with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties, ten large boats with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties, and forty small boats, fully loaded with three hundred of the Fire Tribe's most elite warriors, as well as enough weapons and three days' worth of rations, set sail from the small market dock. Jianshi and Yan stood at the Chuantou of the lead ship, waving goodbye to Dazhuang, Yingmu, and the others on the shore.
The fleet sailed down the Little Gathering Creek into the main stream of the Fish River. With the help of the abundant river water and wind, they used both sails and oars to reach great speed. During their voyage, they encountered a small Muzhou. The people on the canoe were initially wary when they saw the large fleet, but after seeing the warriors' attire and the unique flame totem on the boat, they became so excited that they danced with joy and rowed frantically to get closer.
"It's the Fire Tribe! It's reinforcements from the Fire Tribe!" The messenger from the Pottery Salt Tribe on the Xiaozhou almost cried out, his voice hoarse, "Chief Jianshi! Chief Yan Shao! You've finally arrived!"
Jianshi Shi ordered his men to bring the messenger onto the large ship. The messenger, breathless, reported the latest situation of the Pottery Salt Tribe —fifty cavalrymen from the Wolf Tribe had arrived at the Pottery Salt Tribe. Chief Jia Li was worried day and night and had once again sent out multiple messengers to seek help from all sides.
"Chief Jia Li will be overjoyed to see you!" The messenger's face was covered in tears, it was hard to tell whether they were from sweat or from excitement.
Jianshi comforted him with a few words, telling him to take Xiaozhou and return to the Pottery Salt Tribe to report the news, while the fleet continued to move forward at full speed.
Two days after departing from the Little Gathering Valley Wharf, the fleet arrived near the Pottery Salt Tribe at dusk—at the mouth of the stream that flows into the Fish River. In the distance, several Xiaozhou could be seen sailing out of the stream mouth. On the Xiaozhou stood a person, anxiously looking in the direction of the fleet. It was Jia Li, the chief of the Pottery Salt Tribe.
It turned out that when the messenger who had returned first brought back the good news of the arrival of the Fire Tribe's reinforcements, Jia Li heard the news and the Dashi that had been pressing on his heart for many days was instantly lifted. He was so excited that he almost jumped up. He immediately led his men by boat to the river mouth to welcome them.
"Brother Jianshi! Nephew Yan!" From afar, Jia Li's loud voice, filled with relief and joy, rang out, "We've been waiting for you! That's wonderful! That's wonderful!"
As the Fire Tribe's fleet slowly approached the stream mouth, Jia Li's Xiaozhou also came alongside. He nimbly climbed onto the Fire Tribe's large ship, tightly gripped Jianshi's hand, and patted Yan's shoulder forcefully, his eyes slightly red. "With you here, I feel at ease! What are the Wolf Tribe? No matter how many come, we're not afraid!"
Under Jia Li's enthusiastic guidance and amidst his repeated expressions of gratitude, the Fire Tribe's canoes of all sizes Muzhou into the stream, heading towards the Pottery Salt Tribe's dock. On the shore, the Pottery Salt Tribe members, having received the news, had already gathered. Looking at the imposing fleet and the spirited, well-equipped Fire Tribe warriors on board, they erupted in cheers! The panic and oppression of the past few days seemed to be swept away by the sense of security brought by this powerful reinforcement!