Martial Tournament

When the last batch of new tribesmen in the upper reaches of the Fish River were settled, the total population of the Fire Tribe headquarters officially exceeded 22,000. The temperature grew colder day by day, and the reclamation work in the valley had completely stopped, with only a few workshops still in production.

The morning after Yan returned from the Deer Tribe, the high-ranking members of the Fire Tribe headquarters gathered in the largest wooden house for a meeting, as usual. The fire pit in the center of the house was burning brightly, Mucai crackled, dispelling the chill that seeped in through the cracks in the door.

After the daily affairs were discussed, Yan Qing cleared his throat and made a suggestion he had been considering for a long time. "Father, uncles, now that the workshops are still in production, most affairs in the tribe have been suspended. The weather is getting colder, and many people have become idle. I suggest that we take this opportunity to hold a martial arts tournament in the tribe."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across every face present. "Firstly, it will allow us to select truly brave warriors; secondly, it will create a lively atmosphere for the entire tribe, enhancing the bonds between tribesmen; and thirdly, through the competition, we can showcase the prowess of all the warriors of our Fire Tribe, and also help new and old tribesmen integrate more quickly."

This suggestion was like throwing a pebble into a calm lake, immediately creating ripples.

Dazhuang was the first to clap his hands and cheer. "That's a brilliant idea! Our Fire Tribe is now strong and well-equipped; it's time to show everyone the results of our warriors' daily training!"

Dabang was so excited that he stood up from his seat. This recognized warrior of the Fire Tribe had his eyes shining. "It should have been done a long time ago! Small-scale sparring is never enough. If we're going to do it, we should do a tribe-wide tournament!"

Even the usually composed Dali stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly. "Indeed, winter is long, and the tribespeople are prone to laziness. Holding a martial arts competition can both boost morale and select talent; it's a good idea."

All eyes turned to Jianshi, who sat in the main seat. The leader did not immediately express his opinion. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the edge of the wooden table, clearly weighing the pros and cons. After a while, he raised his head, a glint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Yan, your suggestion is excellent." Jianshi's voice Chenwen and powerful. "The Fire Tribe now has about 4,400 warriors, and there will be more in the future. It's time to establish a selection mechanism."

He stood up, walked to the animal skin diagram hanging on the wall that recorded the soldiers' organization, and pointed to the increasingly complex structure on it, saying, "You see, as the number of people increases, we have naturally formed teams of ten, one hundred, and one thousand men. If we continue to grow, it is not impossible that we will have teams of ten thousand men. The selection of leaders at all levels and the martial arts tournament are a good way to achieve this."

The leader's statement instantly elevated the significance of the event. It was no longer just a lively gathering, but rather a matter concerning the cornerstone of the Fire Tribe's future power structure and the pathway for talent advancement.

Dazhuang immediately followed up, saying, "Then let's select one hundred of the most outstanding warriors through a martial arts competition! We'll award them special warrior plaques, and the top ten will receive extra rewards!"

"Alright." Jianshi nodded. "The top one hundred will all be awarded Warrior Dominoes, and the top ten will each receive an additional prize: a meticulously crafted Warrior Bone Knife—made from the finest animal bones, polished by the best craftsmen, with a unique engraving on the hilt so that everyone can recognize it at a glance. It is a symbol of honor."

Dabang was thrilled and slapped his thigh. "Just giving out plaques and awarding bone knives isn't enough! We also need to hold a 'Warrior's Feast' so that these one hundred selected warriors can eat the best meat and drink the finest goat milk for three days straight! It's both a reward and a way to make the whole tribe remember their bravery!"

"Hahaha, good!" Dali laughed heartily. "That's how it should be! Let the warriors shine, and let the other soldiers have something to strive for!"

The atmosphere inside the room was completely ignited, and everyone chatted away, quickly setting up the framework for the martial arts tournament.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Yan walked to the increasingly detailed tribal map and began to refine the plan. "Our manpower is currently mainly distributed in three places: the main valley, the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, and the Deer Tribe Mining Area. To ensure that there are no gaps in the defense of each place, I suggest that we first conduct regional selections, and then the winners can gather at the main base for the final competition."

His finger moved across the map. "The Small Gathering Valley Outpost currently has about 600 warriors (400 infantry and 200 cavalry), and 36 can be selected to come. The Deer Tribe Mining Area has a total of about 800 people of various types, and 50 can be selected. In this way, only a small number of elite troops from both places will be sent to compete, which will not affect daily defense and production."

Then, his finger landed back on the center of the valley. "With the main valley and the recall of all personnel from the scattered outposts, we expect to be able to gather 3,200 warriors. Through four rounds of elimination, we will ultimately select 200 to join the 86 from the two other locations for the final competition."

This arrangement takes into account both broad participation and focused defense, demonstrating thorough consideration.

"How will the specific competition rules be determined?" Jianshi asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

"Opponents will be determined by drawing lots, with each pair battling it out, and the winners advancing." Yan clearly had a plan in place. "Considering the randomness of the draw, which might lead to strong players meeting early, we can establish a supplementary rule: those eliminated in the first four rounds who are dissatisfied can apply to the highest-ranking official of this region for a 'challenge right,' challenging the winner of the next four rounds. If the challenge is successful, they can take the winner's place in the next round."

This "resurrection" mechanism drew nods of approval from the leaders present. While luck is important, true strength should also be given a second chance to prove itself, thus minimizing the regret of overlooking talented individuals.

"When does it start?" Dazhuang rubbed his hands together, eager to get started.

"Give us three days to prepare," Yan estimated. "The competition will officially begin in three days, with one round each morning and afternoon. This way, we can complete the first four rounds of selection in two days, after which we can hold the finals between the top 100 from our headquarters and the elites from both regions."

Jianshi surveyed the crowd, and seeing no further objections, he made the final decision. "Alright! This matter is settled. Yan, you will be in charge of the preparations. The first Fire Tribe Martial Arts Tournament will officially begin in three days!"

The order was like a mountain, and it was quickly relayed. In just one afternoon, the news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the valley.

"Have you heard? There's going to be a martial arts tournament! They'll be choosing one hundred of the strongest warriors!"

"The top ten will receive a bone knife personally bestowed by the leader!"

"If you're selected, you'll get to attend the Warriors' Feast, where you'll eat the best food for three days straight!"

Whether it was soldiers polishing their weapons, artisans busily working in workshops, or women preparing for winter storage, everyone was excitedly discussing the upcoming grand event, breaking the winter's silence with a surge of fervent anticipation.

Yan immediately threw himself into the intense preparations. He first sent out messengers: a fast boat sailed downstream to the Small Gathering Valley Outpost; a knight whipped his horse and galloped along the newly built road to the Deer Tribe Mining Area. The order was clear: both places must complete their selections within two days three days from now, selecting a specified number of elites, and then come to headquarters to participate in the final competition.

Next, he began to plan the competition venue. The largest training ground in the center of the valley was selected as the main arena. Yan personally led people to measure and mark out circular arenas with a diameter of about fifteen steps, with ample open space between the arenas for the audience to gather.

The selection of referees is crucial. The Fire Tribe selects experienced, respected, and discerning retired veterans and trains them together.

"Uncles and elders," Yan said with great respect to the elders who were about to preside over the judgment, "The outcome of the contest is not only a matter of personal honor and disgrace, but also of fairness and the spirit of the tribe. There are a few principles that you must remember."

He explained the rules one by one, "First, anyone who falls to the ground and cannot get up for more than three breaths will be disqualified; second, anyone who voluntarily concedes defeat or jumps out of bounds will be disqualified; third, the use of any underhanded tactics such as throwing sand or ash is strictly prohibited, and violators will be immediately disqualified and severely punished."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "Most importantly, this is a tribal competition, intended for friendly exchange, not a life-or-death struggle. If one side is clearly outmatched or in danger, the drums must be sounded immediately to stop it. Our goal is to select warriors, not to cause casualties. Tomorrow, a group of you will be assigned to the Little Gathering Valley and the Deer Tribe area."

The veteran referees solemnly agreed. Qingye was in charge of all logistical support for the Fire Tribe. This shrewd and capable female leader quickly organized Women's Team to procure large quantities of food, water, and medicine. She even designated an area next to the arena and set up several temporary thatched huts as a medical point, just in case.

"Prepare plenty of herbs," Qingye instructed her subordinates, "And clean linen and boiled water, as there will be many people coming and going, and bumps and knocks are inevitable, so be well prepared."

The warriors of the entire Fire Tribe spontaneously began extra training before the competition, and shouts echoed across the training ground;

The cold wind swept through the valley, but it couldn't dispel the growing excitement and anticipation that filled the air. The firelight illuminated the vibrant faces of the soldiers, whether they were seasoned veterans or newly joined members, all eagerly awaiting the arrival of three days later.

Even before the Fire Tribe's first martial arts tournament officially began, it had already ignited the passion and enthusiasm of the entire tribe.