Returning Home Laden with a Million Jin of Grain
The next day, just as dawn broke, the Valley Tribe headquarters dock was already bustling with activity. The Fire Tribe, the Fish Tribe, and the Valley Tribe's fleet assisting with the transport were all ready. Rows of ships, fully loaded with grain, were moored neatly along the shore, their masts like a forest, waiting only for the order to set off.
In the morning breeze, Qingsui stood on the dock, waving vigorously at the tall figure on the leading ship. She had deliberately worn a striking dress today, which stood out against the gray morning light. "Yan! Have a safe journey!" Her clear voice pierced through the hustle and bustle of the dock.
Yan stood on the Chuantou deck and waved vigorously at her, calling out, "Take care!" Even from a distance, he could see the reluctant light in the girl's eyes.
Not only Qingsui, but also Daiyue, the chief of the Lian Valley Tribe, took time out of his busy schedule to come to the dock to see them off. Dressed in the formal attire of a chief, he clasped his hands in greeting to the ship carrying Yan and Dali, surrounded by several elders and leaders.
"Chief Yan, Dali, have a safe journey! Looking forward to seeing you again!" Daiyue's voice was deep and powerful, conveying the importance that the Valley Tribe attached to this trading partnership.
Yan and Dali quickly bowed in return from the boat. "Daiyue, Chief Daiyue! We, the Fire Tribe Valley Tribe, will forever remember the kindness of the Gu Tribe! We eagerly anticipate the next transaction!"
After a simple yet solemn farewell, with a long command from the leader of the Fengren, the combined fleet slowly cast off its moorings and raised its anchor. Oars cut through the calm river, and the sails gradually filled with the spring morning breeze. The massive fleet, like a giant beast awakening, slowly departed from the dock.
Yan stood at the stern of the ship, watching the crowd on the dock grow smaller and smaller, and the continuous rows of houses of the Valley Tribe. His mind was filled with many thoughts. This trip to the Valley Tribe had not only successfully obtained a large amount of grain, but also finalized a huge transaction for the year and even longer. He had also glimpsed the more complex power structure downstream, and had gained a great deal.
The fleet sailed further and further away, finally disappearing into the misty haze at a sharp bend in the Fish River. On the dock, Qingsui stood there for a long time until her attendant whispered a reminder, at which point she turned away with a sense of loss. Daiyue, meanwhile, was talking quietly with several elders, beginning to plan how to allocate manpower and expand planting to fulfill the promise of eight million catties of grain.
The return voyage was upstream, much more strenuous than the outward journey, but the experienced fleet, under the command of seasoned leader Fengren Ren, maintained a smooth and orderly course. The weather was generally fine throughout the trip, except for two brief spring rains that slightly slowed the sailing speed.
Fengren also became a "regular" at mealtimes on Yan's ship. Ever since he tasted Yan's cooking at the Valley Tribe dock, this Chenwen Valley Tribe general has been unable to forget it. Every time the fleet docks to rest and cook, he always "happens" to be patrolling nearby, and then Yan "enthusiastically" invites him to dine together.
Faced with the fragrant dishes simmering in the copper pot, Fengren quickly went from being reserved to devouring the food. He praised the Fire Tribe's "wealth" and Yan's "culinary skills" as he ate, further elevating his opinion of the Fire Tribe. This inadvertently brought the two closer. During the voyage, besides transporting food, Yan also learned more from Fengren about the customs, traditions, and power dynamics of the various tribes in the middle and lower reaches of the Fish River.
As the sun rose and set, and the stars revolved, after a full twenty-six days of sailing, near noon, the lookout shouted excitedly, "We can see Fire Creek Mouth! We can see our beacon tower!"
Everyone on the boat perked up! Yan and Dali strode to the Chuantou and saw a familiar fork in the river ahead, where a clear tributary flowed into the Fish River – that was Fire Creek! On the hillside beside the entrance to Fire Creek, the newly built beacon tower was clearly visible, and there seemed to be figures waving flags on it.
"Finally home!" Dali let out a long sigh of relief, a smile of relief spreading across his face.
The fleet began to adjust its formation. The massive 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) cargo ships of the Valley Tribe, due to their deep draft, could not enter the relatively shallow Fire Creek Mouth Fire Creek River Fish River and could only anchor and wait for smaller boats to transport the grain. Fengren directed the other small boats of the Valley Tribe, as well as all the boats of the Fire Tribe and the Fish Tribe, to line up in a column and slowly sail into the Fire Creek.
Familiar scenery rushed towards them, and further away, wisps of smoke rose from the valley, warming the hearts of all the returning warriors. The Fire Tribe headquarters dock had already received the news, and at this moment it was bustling with activity. Not only were the dock piers filled with welcoming crowds, but thousands of young men were also neatly lined up on the open ground on the shore. They were the main force for unloading the cargo today.
As the first ship of the Fire Tribe slowly docked, cheers erupted like a landslide and a Dali. Yan and Dali were the first to jump off the ship. As their feet touched the solid ground, an unprecedented sense of security welled up inside them. As soon as they landed, almost all the high-ranking members of the Fire Tribe's Valley Headquarters, led by Jianshi, including Qingye, Jianya, and Dabang, came to greet them.
Jianshi's face beamed with pride and satisfaction. He first patted his son Yan's shoulder forcefully, his eyes full of approval, then turned to Dali and patted his arm just as hard. "Good! Well done! Yan, Dali, you've done a great job this time!" His voice was loud and powerful. "Now we've secured a deal with the Valley Tribe for eight million catties of grain! With this grain as a foundation, our Fire Tribe's foundation is more solid, and we're more confident! Whether it's accepting new tribespeople or facing any challenge in the future, we'll have more strength!"
The surrounding leaders nodded in agreement, their gazes towards Yan and Dali filled with admiration. Eight million jin! When this number reached back to the tribe, everyone was shocked.
Dali quickly waved his hand and pointed at Yan, saying, "Chief, this is mainly thanks to Yan! He negotiated with Chief Daiyue. I, Dali, was just there to support them and help out. If it weren't for Yan, we'd be lucky to get six million catties of grain from the Valley Tribe this year. Now they're offering to grow eight million catties for us!"
Yan also humbly replied, "Father, this is the result of everyone's joint efforts. Without the tribe's strong backing and the many high-quality pottery we brought, the Valley Tribe wouldn't have been so happy. Moreover, we are also very grateful for the help we received from Uncle Dali and Chief Fengren along the way."
At this moment, the two leaders of the Fish Tribe, Feiyu and Bailin, and the leader of the Valley Tribe, Fengren, also disembarked and came over.
Jianshi immediately stepped forward, his smile widening, and clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying loudly, "Leader Fengren! Leader Feiyu! Leader Bailin! You've had a long and arduous journey escorting us! I've prepared a delicious feast in the council hall to welcome you all and wash away the dust of your journey. Please do me the honor of joining us!"
Fengren returned the greeting with a respectful yet dignified manner. "Jianshi Jian Shi is too kind. It's our duty; there's no need to complain about the hardship. We are relieved that the grain was delivered smoothly."
Feiyu and Bailin quickly returned the courtesy. They looked at the orderly unloading scene at the Fire Tribe's dock and at the residential areas and farmlands in the distant valley that had obviously expanded considerably compared to last year. They were secretly amazed by the speed of the Fire Tribe's development.
Jianshi warmly led the distinguished guests away from the bustling dock and towards the largest wooden house in the center of the valley—the council hall of the Fire Tribe. Along the way, the Fire Tribe members spontaneously stood on both sides of the road, looking at these guests from afar with curiosity and respect, especially at the Valley Tribe 'Fengren leader, Feng Ren, whom they glanced at several times.
Inside the council hall, a sumptuous feast was laid out on the long wooden table: large chunks of roasted meat, well-stewed animal meat, fresh river fish, various wild mountain vegetables, and warm goat milk, piled high, exuding the ruggedness and enthusiasm unique to the Fire Tribe. The aroma of the food instantly dispelled the fatigue of the long journey.
As the host, Jianshi warmly invited everyone to take their seats. Yan, Dali, Jianya, Dabang, and other core members of the Fire Tribe accompanied them. During the meal, Jianshi once again expressed his gratitude to the Valley Tribe and the Fish Tribe for their help. Fengren also conveyed the greetings from Chief Daiyue to Chief Jianshi and his expectations for future cooperation. Feiyu and Bailin repeatedly thanked the Fire Tribe for their hospitality and said they would organize the next transport fleet as soon as possible.
The atmosphere was harmonious and warm. After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and rested for a while, the leader in charge of the inventory came in to report, "Chief, one million catties of grain have all been unloaded from the ship, and the count is correct!"
Upon hearing that the grain had been safely unloaded, Fengren was the first to rise and take his leave. "Chief Jianshi, Chief Yan Shao, now that the grain has been safely delivered, our mission is complete, and we cannot linger any longer. We must prepare to return now. We look forward to seeing you again!"
Feiyu and Bailin also stood up and expressed their desire to return to the Fish Tribe with Fengren's fleet to report back. Jianshi knew they were eager to return home, so he didn't insist they stay. He personally escorted the three to the dock and gave them some local products from the Fire Tribe as a thank you gift. The boats of the Valley Tribe and the Fish Tribe sailed away from Fire Creek Mouth one after another, rejoined the Fish River, and drifted downstream, gradually disappearing into the distance.
On the dock, only the Fire Tribe's own boats and their jubilant tribespeople remained.
Jianshi turned around, looking at the Little Mountain of grain piled up in the temporary warehouse area at the dock, and then at his tired but bright-eyed son and capable assistants beside him. A surge of heroic ambition welled up in his heart.
"Pass down the order!" His booming voice echoed throughout the dock, "Tonight, all tribesmen will have an extra feast! To celebrate the triumphant return of our warriors, to celebrate our Fire Tribe gaining another million catties of grain!"
"Roar--!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the dock, the sound echoing through the valley for a long time.