The Work Ahead

The day after Jianya returned with the grain, a meeting concerning the tribe's future was being held in the largest wooden house in the Fire Tribe Valley.

Jianshi sat in the main seat, flanked by core leaders such as Flame, Jianya, Dali, and Dabang. Qingye, Zongmao, Jijiao, Lu Ming, Wenshi, and the heads of various workshops sat on either side. The room was filled with a serious yet vibrant atmosphere—a great victory, a surge in population, and grain stores were all good news, but the challenges that followed were equally undeniable.

"This time we defeated the Wolf Tribe, gained four thousand new tribesmen, and Jianya also successfully transported the grain back." Jianshi cut to the chase, "Let's all discuss the next steps for the Fire Tribe."

Yan was the first to speak. He stood up from his seat and walked to the animal skin map hanging on the wall—a schematic diagram of the major tribes and terrain within the Fire Tribe's exploration range.

"Father, uncles," Yan's voice was clear and strong, "The Wolf Tribe has been plundering the area east of the Fish Tribe, turning that region into a wasteland. Small tribes have been either captured, slaughtered, or scattered and fled."

He pointed with a stick to the location marked "Green Grain Tribe" on the map. "This medium-sized tribe was completely destroyed, more than twenty small tribes fled and disappeared, and although the Wolf Tribe was severely damaged by us, the damage they caused is irreversible - that area will not recover for at least several years."

A murmur rippled through the room. Although everyone had heard about the Wolf Tribe's atrocities, Yan's systematic analysis still sent a chill down their spines.

"This means," Yan continued, " that the Wolf Tribe has lost its foundation for population replenishment and food sources in a large area east of the Fish Tribe. Severely weakened, they are unlikely to pose a significant threat to our northern border in the short term."

He turned to the crowd. "Therefore, I suggest that the entire process of refining copper and tin ore be moved to the Deer Tribe Mining Area. This will save a lot of manpower in transportation and increase production efficiency by at least 50%."

This proposal immediately sparked a heated discussion.

"I agree!" Dali was the first to speak. "Now that the threat from the north has decreased, it's time to move these processes forward. Every time we transport ore back from the Deer Tribe, we lose a lot of manpower just on the way."

Dabang nodded in agreement. "Placing the copper and tin ore refining processes in the mining area will save a lot of trouble."

Lu Ming was both excited and apprehensive. "Chief Yan, our Deer Tribe will definitely cooperate fully! But... with such an important procedure being carried out there, what about safety..."

"Safety is not a concern," Yan continued. "I suggest building sturdy fortifications in the mining area and stationing at least one hundred Fire Tribe cavalry warriors there."

He looked at Jianshi: "Father, bronze ware is one of our core technologies, and its absolute safety must be guaranteed. I suggest establishing an independent defense system in the refining workshop of the Deer Tribe Mining Area, including watchtowers, walls, and pitfalls, built to the standards of Small Gathering Valley Outpost."

Jianshi pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. "That's a good idea, but—"

He emphasized, "Safety must be the top priority. Yan, you will personally oversee this project, from site selection to construction, and supervise the entire process."

"Yes!" Yan replied solemnly.

Seeing that a consensus had been reached on the first issue, Yan continued with the second suggestion, "I estimate that the population capacity of the Fire Tribe's main valley is at most 20,000. We currently have 17,000 people in the valley, and another 2,000 in the Small Gathering Valley Outpost. If we continue to absorb people, the main valley will soon reach saturation."

He pointed out several locations on the map. "My suggestion is to transfer 3,000 veteran clansmen who have fully integrated into the clan from headquarters next year to the Small Gathering Valley Outpost. There, at least 5,000 mu of high-quality paddy fields and tens of thousands of mu of dry land for vegetable cultivation can be cultivated, which is enough to support these people."

"Stationing 5,000 men at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost will both alleviate the population pressure on our main force and strengthen our northern defenses; it's a win-win situation."

Yan paused, then pointed to several points. "If the population continues to increase, we can also consider relocating people to the Plain Tribe tribal areas such as the Bison, White Pig, Green Sheep, and Deer Tribe. Some of those areas are suitable for planting, and some are suitable for grazing. It shouldn't be a problem to settle three to five thousand people in each area."

This long-term plan made everyone think. The Fire Tribe was developing too fast, so fast that even they, the participants, felt they couldn't keep up.

"Chief Yan is right," said Zongmao, the former leader of the White Pig Tribe and now one of the important leaders of the Fire Tribe. "Our White Pig Tribe's territory can easily support two thousand people, and if we cultivate some land, five thousand would be enough."

Jijiao, Lu Ming, Wenshi also expressed their agreement with the subsequent population relocation.

Jianshi surveyed the crowd and made a decision. "Let's focus our efforts on building the Small Gathering Valley Outpost first. Next spring, we'll relocate three thousand people from headquarters there. Qingye will be responsible for drafting the specific list, with the principle being that families are intact and skills are complementary."

Qingye nodded and noted it down.

"As for the subsequent arrangements, we'll discuss them once the Small Gathering Outpost is fully established." Jianshi looked at Yan. "This task will be your responsibility to follow up on."

Yan Yingxia sat back down in her seat.

At this moment Jianya stood up and said, "Brother, everyone," Jianya's voice Chenwen, "our population has increased, but we cannot continue to rely on imports for food. We must increase the intensity of land reclamation and planting, but the problem now is—"

He paused, then continued, "We are severely lacking in oxen! Our tribe simply doesn't have enough oxen to cultivate the vast amount of land we plan to develop."

"I suggest," Jianya said, revealing his pre-thought-out plan, "That we make another trip to the Horse Tribe and purchase a large number of oxen. Meanwhile, our cavalry performed exceptionally well in this battle, and we should continue to expand their numbers."

The proposal immediately received everyone's support. Everyone who had participated in land reclamation deeply understood the importance of oxen—one ox was equivalent to ten strong laborers.

Jianshi added, "Da Dazhuang is currently in charge of the Small Gathering Valley Outpost. Jianya, you're familiar with Junfeng, the leader of the Horse Tribe, so you'll be going to buy the cattle this time."

He looked at Jianya: "This time, we'll go directly by boat, taking the Fish River waterway. It's both fast and safe. You'll take two hundred warriors, ten large boats with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties each, and ten large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties each. Once we reach the Horse Tribe, buy one hundred and fifty ponies, and the more oxen the better."

Jianshi had considered everything carefully. The boat was empty when they went there, so they could purchase animal hides, beef tendons, and other supplies from the Horse Tribe. This way, they wouldn't waste transport capacity on the return trip. As for the cattle they bought...

He looked at Jianya: "Send 150 warriors on horseback to drive the cattle back by land. The Wolf Tribe is crippled and has no strength to attack a 150-man cavalry force."

"Father's consideration is very thoughtful," Yan said with genuine admiration.

"Oh, right," Yan remembered something, "Uncle Jianya, when we go to the Horse Tribe this time, find an opportunity to warn Chief Junfeng. I suspect the Wolf Tribe is unwilling to accept its decline and may expand northward, Horse Tribe is likely to become their target."

Jianya's expression was grave. "I understand. The Horse Tribe is an important trading partner of ours; we cannot allow them to be harmed by the Wolf Tribe."

After this topic was discussed, Yan stood up again.

"Father, a few months ago I promised the tribes upstream of the Fish River that I would go to trade again this winter. Now that the fleet has returned, I would like to go with Uncle Dali and lead the fleet on a trip."

He walked to the map and pointed to the upper reaches of the Fish River: "Besides trading, I also want to explore the situation on the other side of the Fish River; we know too little about the west bank."

Jianshi readily agreed to the suggestion, "Alright, you can prepare the trade supplies as you see fit, bring plenty of pottery and linen. As for exploration—"

He emphasized, "Safety first. If you notice anything unusual, don't take any risks."

"Yes." Yan nodded, then added, "If they encounter any small tribes along the way who are experiencing hardship and are willing to join the Fire Tribe, I suggest we continue to recruit more."

"Sure," Jianshi readily agreed.

With the main topics discussed, Jianshi began assigning specific tasks.

"The output of each workshop must be maintained." He looked at the heads of the pottery, bronze, textile, shipbuilding, and agricultural tool workshops. "Next year we will be purchasing more grain from the Valley Tribe, so pottery production cannot be reduced; the demand for bronze tools is increasing, so production can only increase, not decrease; winter is coming, and the new tribespeople need clothing, so the textile workshops must step up production; next year we need to expand transportation capacity, so the shipbuilding workshops have a heavy task; and the agricultural tool workshops need a lot of tools to cultivate new fields..."

Each time he visited a workshop, the person in charge would carefully make a note of it.

Finally, Jianshi's voice deepened, "The Fire Tribe has many secrets—bronze smelting, shipbuilding technology, salt production methods, exquisite pottery, textile craftsmanship... each one of which is the envy of all."

He scanned the crowd, his gaze piercing. "We must have sufficient power to protect these secrets and our current lives."

"At the very bottom of the Fish River, there is Tiger Tribe of over 100,000 people, which is a potential threat. Our tribe has less than 20,000 people, and our strength is far from enough."

The room was silent; everyone felt the heavy burden on their shoulders.

"Therefore," Jianshi concluded, "Develop, keep developing, cultivate more land, produce more food, train more soldiers, and absorb more reliable people."

"After the meeting, everyone go back to your work and proceed with the tasks according to plan."

Meeting adjourned!

Everyone got up and left the cabin to go to work.