Plans After the Return
On his way back to the Fire Tribe headquarters from the Deer Tribe, Yan did not rush. He rode Chasing Wind slowly along the widened road, observing the changes along the way.
This road is now completely different from what it used to be. The road surface, about three meters wide, has been compacted and is now flat and solid. The bushes on both sides are regularly cleared, and the view is unobstructed. There are four beacon towers along the way, with fuel piled on top of the high earthen platforms. Once lit, the thick smoke can quickly transmit warning signals.
Next to each beacon tower was a small settlement, inhabited by dozens of people. They were responsible for maintaining the road, clearing weeds, and repairing the surface. They also cultivated small plots of land near the beacon towers to grow vegetables and grains, achieving semi-self-sufficiency.
"If bronze production increases in the future," Yan thought to himself, watching his tribesmen chopping down dead trees with Shifu by the roadside, "We could equip them with bronze tools; that would be much more efficient."
After a few stops along the way, the outline of the Fire Tribe Valley came into view on the afternoon of the second day. Towering earthen walls, with wisps of smoke rising from within, created a peaceful scene.
Yan Chasing Wind in the stable, specifically instructing the old stableman to take good care of him, and then went straight to the largest wooden house in the Fire Tribe. He knew that his father usually handled tribal affairs there at this time. Pushing open the wooden door, he found the house indeed full of people. Jianshi sat in the main seat, flanked by core leaders such as Dazhuang, Dali, and Dabang, as well as several workshop managers. When Yan entered, Jianshi smiled.
"Yan, you're back!" Jianshi's voice was filled with relief. "The people who came back from the Deer Tribe said that the ore processing workshop was almost finished, so I guessed you'd be back soon. You've worked hard these past few days."
Yan nodded to everyone and sat down at his father's gesture. "It was indeed busy at the beginning, but now it's basically on track. The ore refining workshop has started production, and with the addition of new staff, the ore refining speed is now twice as fast as it was at headquarters."
He paused for a moment, then added, "If we continue to expand the workshop and increase manpower, production can be further increased."
Dazhuang had just returned from rotating garrison duty with the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, immediately brightened up upon hearing this. "The purification speed has doubled? That's fantastic! If production increases further, we can use more bronze on tools, which will greatly accelerate the pace of land reclamation!"
As the leader who had long been in charge of land reclamation, Dazhuang knew the importance of tools.
Yan nodded in agreement. "Currently, our Fire Tribe doesn't have any large-scale wars. On the contrary, due to the large increase in population, the original wooden, stone, and bone tools can no longer keep up with production needs."
He looked around at everyone. "The Fire Tribe has greatly increased in number and is much stronger than before. Bronze production has also increased significantly. We can gradually apply bronze to agricultural tools and implements. As long as we collect it all after use and set up checkpoints at Fire Creek Mouth to strictly inspect people entering and leaving, we don't need to worry about being discovered by other tribes."
The proposal received widespread support, and the chiefs inside the cabin nodded in agreement—the Fire Tribe was no longer the small tribe that needed to carefully conceal its strength.
"Chief Yan is right!" The head of the farm implement workshop was the first to stand up. "Currently, cultivating the fields relies entirely on manpower, which is too inefficient. If we had bronze Chutou and other farm implements, one strong laborer could be as effective as three!"
The head of the textile workshop excitedly said, "If we replaced the needles and scissors in the textile workshop with bronze ones, the production of linen could at least double!"
The shipbuilding workshop manager wasn't to be outdone. "Shipbuilding is incredibly resource-intensive! If we used plenty of bronze tools, not only would efficiency improve, but the quality of the ships would also be much better!"
As the head of the copper-tin blending and forging workshop, Da Dabang confidently declared, "As long as we have enough manpower and a sufficient supply of raw materials, we guarantee a significant increase in production!"
Seeing everyone's enthusiastic request to join the fight, Jianshi nodded in satisfaction. "Your ideas are excellent. There shouldn't be any major wars in the Fire Tribe next year, and the distribution of bronze will be tilted towards the manufacture of tools and agricultural implements. Dabang, you should formulate a production plan as soon as possible, prioritizing the needs of land reclamation and workshops."
"Yes!" came the loud reply from the Dabang.
The conversation shifted to the progress of land reclamation, Dazhuang began to report on the situation at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost: "Before I returned, the Small Gathering Outpost had already reclaimed 1,000 mu of paddy fields and 3,000 mu of vegetable gardens. After Jianya took over, he is leading people to clear the remaining empty land in the valley."
His eyes gleamed. "If we have enough manpower, bronze tools, and oxen next year, cultivating 5,000 mu of high-quality paddy fields and 50,000 mu of vegetable gardens at the Small Gathering Outpost will be no problem at all!"
This number invigorated everyone present. Five thousand mu of paddy fields—the current rice yield per mu in the Fire Tribe is nearly one million jin of grain per harvest!
Dali then reported on the progress of reclamation in the main valley, "In Fire Creek Valley, thanks to the combined efforts of manpower and oxen, 15,000 mu of high-quality paddy fields and 90,000 mu of vegetable and dry land have been reclaimed."
He paused, then said with pride, "If bronze tools are put into widespread use next year, the remaining 5,000 mu of high-quality paddy fields and over 100,000 mu of dry land, vegetable gardens, and orchards can all be fully cultivated!"
"Excellent!" Jianshi couldn't help but slap the table in praise. "Food is the foundation. With enough land, the Fire Tribe can truly gain a foothold and develop steadily."
The atmosphere grew increasingly lively, and Yan took this opportunity to raise several questions he had been pondering for a long time.
"Father, uncles," Yan's voice brought the room to a close, "This year, the Fire Tribe harvested about 400,000 catties of soybeans, some of which will be used to make fine salt. Currently, our fine salt production can barely meet the needs of our own tribe."
He looked at the workshop manager in charge of salt production. "This situation probably won't improve until next year's soybean Fengshou."
The salt production manager nodded. "Chief Yan is right. Soybeans are the key raw material for making fine salt. Although this year's harvest is good, the population is increasing too quickly, and the consumption is also high."
Yan continued, "Another problem is that we used to only dare to trade with small tribes using dried meat cured with coarse salt, but the Fire Tribe's strength is now comparable to that of the Valley Tribe."
He glanced at everyone and said, "I suggest that next year we can sell coarse salt directly. As long as we don't claim that we made it ourselves, even if the Fish Tribe and the Valley Tribe have any suspicions, the Fire Tribe, with its current strength, doesn't need to worry too much."
These words resonated with many people. Selling salt directly is much more profitable than selling dried salted meat, and the transactions are also more convenient. In the past, they didn't dare to expose themselves because they lacked the strength; now, the Fire Tribe has more than 20,000 people and over 4,000 warriors, so they are very confident.
"I agree!" Dazhuang the first to speak up. "Why should we hide the salt we've worked so hard to make?"
"Yes," Dali added, "If the Fish Tribe can sell salt, why can't we?"
Jianshi pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Alright, next year when trading with those small tribes, we can use coarse salt directly, but we must control the quantity and proceed gradually."
This decision brought smiles to everyone's faces; selling salt meant that the Fire Tribe would have a stable and highly profitable source of income.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Yan put forward a longer-term development plan.
"Father, everyone," he walked to the wall, pointing to the increasingly detailed map, "Based on the observations from this trip to the Fish River and the development experience of the Deer Tribe, I suggest the following development priorities for the next few years."
His finger moved across the map. "First, continue to intensify the development of the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, which can accommodate at least five thousand people and is an important barrier to the north."
"Secondly, we can establish a settlement in the Deer Tribe, where we can cultivate 2,000 mu of paddy fields and tens of thousands of mu of dry land. Combined with grazing and animal husbandry, we can achieve self-sufficiency and accommodate at least 2,000 to 3,000 people."
"Third, they successively established outposts at the former sites of the White Pig Tribe, Green Sheep Tribe, and Bison Tribe."
His finger stopped at the location of the White Pig Tribe: "The White Pig Tribe has abundant water resources and fertile land, so we can focus on developing it first, planting rice, and resettling five thousand people."
He then pointed to the Green Sheep and Bison Tribe: "These two places can each accommodate two thousand people to develop agriculture and animal husbandry."
Finally, his finger landed on the Fire Creek Mouth: "A stronghold of two thousand men can be set up here, blocking the Fire Creek River waterway. It can serve as a supply station for fishermen and also control the waterways in and out of the valley."
He paused, then pointed further north. "If we want to strengthen surveillance of the north, we can establish a small outpost between the Small Gathering Valley Outpost and the Pottery Salt Tribe —at the confluence of the Stone Creek and Fish River."
The massive plan brought a brief silence to the room as everyone stared at the map, imagining the vast network the Fire Tribe would form once these outposts were built.
Dazhuang broke the silence first. "Yan, your plan... is too ambitious, but thinking about it carefully, it is indeed feasible."
Dali added, "The key is manpower. To establish these strongholds, we need at least tens of thousands of people. We only have a little over 20,000 people now. If we disperse them, won't the headquarters' strength be too weak?"
This is a very practical question, and Jianshi also looked at Yan, waiting for his answer.
Yan had anticipated this. "These outposts won't be built all at once, but rather in stages. Next year, we'll focus on building the Small Gathering Outpost and the Deer Tribe living area first, and then gradually expand on the other outposts as the situation develops."
He paused, then continued, "Moreover, these outposts are not isolated; they are connected by roads and have beacon towers for relaying messages, allowing for rapid mobilization in case of emergency. Dispersed residences actually make better use of land resources and avoid the pressure of over-concentration of the main population."
This explanation drew nods of agreement from everyone. Indeed, the Fire Tribe's main valley could only accommodate a maximum of 20,000 people, and it was now nearing saturation. Expanding outwards was an inevitable choice.
After pondering for a long time, Jianshi finally spoke, "Yan, your plan is very visionary, but we can't be greedy and rush things; we must take it one step at a time."
He stood up and walked to the map. "Next year's focus will be on three things: First, ensuring the production and use of bronze tools and implements; second, completing the Small Gathering Outpost 5,000 mu of paddy fields and 50,000 mu of vegetable and dry land at the Xiaoji stronghold; third, building the Deer Tribe's living area to achieve self-sufficiency; and fourth, establishing a checkpoint stronghold at Fire Creek Mouth."
His finger traced across the map. "As for the other outposts, we'll see how things go after these four things are done, based on population growth."
This pragmatic arrangement was accepted by everyone. Yan nodded, "Father is right, let's focus on these immediate tasks first." The meeting continued for a while, discussing some specific details: the production targets for each workshop next year, the integration and training of the new tribespeople, and trade arrangements between the Fire Tribe and other tribes...
The meeting came to an end as the sun began to set, and everyone gradually left the cabin.