The Flood of People from the Upper Fish River

The fleet sailed downstream, returning much faster than on the way there. The river propelled the boats, the sails were billowing in the wind, and the scenery on both banks rushed past. But Yan and Dali did not return directly to the Fire Tribe. They decided to take advantage of the return voyage to visit the five tributaries on the west bank of the Fish River that had once been traded between them. The Fire Tribe's influence should not be limited to the east bank of the Fish River.

The fleet first sailed into the "Little Water River". When the Fire Tribe's boats appeared, a commotion immediately broke out on the shore, but when they saw the flame totem painted on the sails and recognized that it was the Fire Tribe's fleet, the tension was quickly replaced by excitement.

"It's the Fire Tribe's caravan! They're here again!" The news spread like wildfire.

The ship docked, and Yan disembarked with the cargo. A crowd had already gathered on the shore, their eyes fixed eagerly on the unloaded pottery jars, bowls, and coarse salt wrapped in animal hides.

The transaction proceeded exceptionally smoothly. The Fire Tribe's goods were of high quality and reasonably priced, and they had already established a good reputation in these five western tributaries. More importantly, the people of the Fire Tribe were friendly, did not bully the weak, and conducted fair transactions, which was completely different from the arrogant merchants from distant large tribes who occasionally came by.

Yan and the accompanying Fire Tribe warriors patiently answered the various questions from the West Bank tribespeople: How big is the Fire Tribe? Is there really enough food? What kind of houses do they live in?... They tirelessly explained the life, rules, and future of the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, showcasing its strength and order.

One candid exchange after another, like a gentle stream, gradually melted away the unfamiliarity and barriers. The impression these relatively isolated tribes on the west bank had of the Fire Tribe gradually changed from "a powerful and mysterious trading partner" to "a powerful, wealthy, and friendly neighbor." Establishing and deepening ties with such a tribe was undoubtedly in their best interests.

During a break in the trading, some tribesmen tentatively asked if they could go to the Fire Tribe to make a living, like some tribes on the East Coast, if they really couldn't make ends meet. Yan gave a clear and affirmative answer.

"The Fire Tribe welcomes all brothers and sisters who are willing to follow the rules and work hard!" Yan's voice was gentle yet firm. "As long as everyone is down-to-earth and hardworking, the Fire Tribe guarantees that everyone will have enough to eat and wear, and a place to live!"

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the tributaries of the west bank. Compared to the east bank, this land on the west bank was more barren and had fewer resources. The survival of many small tribes was even more precarious. The Fire Tribe's promise was like a beacon in the darkness for them.

After a simple count and voluntary registration, about four hundred people from different small settlements and impoverished tribes along the Little Water River expressed their willingness to join the Fire Tribe and waited for boats to pick them up.

The fleet left the Little Water River and continued downstream, passing the Red Leaf River, the Ash River, and the Grass River, and further downstream the Peach River. The situation was similar: enthusiastic trading, in-depth exchanges, and the ensuing strong desire to join the Fire Tribe. At each tributary, about four hundred tribesmen, determined to leave their homeland in pursuit of a better life, gathered.

Their understanding of the Fire Tribe was not as deep as that of the East Coast Tribe, and their trust was based more on the Fire Tribe's consistently good reputation and the immediate allure (food, clothing, and a stable life). Yan Yi agreed to their requests, instructing them to gather in safe areas near their respective river mouths, promising that the Fire Tribe's fleet would definitely return to pick them up within a month.

When the fleet finally left the Peach River and sailed downstream at full speed back to the Fire Tribe, the "account" in Yan and Dali's hearts had become incredibly heavy, yet incredibly clear. Six tributaries on the east bank, estimated at 13,000 people; five tributaries on the west bank, estimated at 2,000 people. A total of 15,000 people! This does not include the potential population who are still observing and may join in the future.

Eager to return home, the boat sped along, and in just over a day, the familiar Fire Creek Mouth came into view. As we approached Fire Creek Mouth, the valley stretched out before us, and the dock was already bustling with people.

The fleet slowly approached the shore. Yan and Dali had just jumped off the dock when Jianshi, who had been waiting there, greeted them with a loud laugh, patting them forcefully on the shoulders. "Good! Well done! This trip really made quite a stir!"

Yan smiled and replied, "Father, this is all thanks to the reputation and strength of our Fire Tribe. Life upstream has indeed been too difficult. They saw hope and were naturally willing to come and join us."

Dali chimed in, his tone tinged with urgency. "Brother, we've recruited the people, but the pressure has increased! There are quite a few who have specifically requested to come this time! After we receive them, we need to quickly send people to the Valley Tribe to transport grain! Also, some people from the west bank want to join, making it even more!"

When the most pressing issue of food was brought up, Jianshi's smile faded, and his expression turned serious. He nodded. "Let's go back and discuss this in detail!"

The group left the bustling dock and strode towards the council hall in the center of the valley. Inside, the core members, including Qingye, Jianya, and Dabang, were already gathered, waiting for the returning messenger to bring definite news.

Everyone sat down, and the atmosphere became even more somber than usual. Jianshi looked at Yan: "Yan, Dali, tell us in detail about what happened this time, especially the recruitment trip to the upper reaches of the Fish River."

Yan took a deep breath and began his report methodically, "Father, uncles, the trade on the upper reaches of the Fish River went smoothly. The demand for our goods from the various tributary tribes is stable, and their trust in us is deepening. Regarding the recruitment of new tribesmen..."

He paused, then stated clearly, "The six main tributaries on the east bank of the upper reaches of the Fish River have extensive trade relations with us and enjoy a high level of trust. Having witnessed the dramatic changes in the lives of those who previously joined the tribe, their desire to join this time is extremely strong. Preliminary statistics indicate approximately 3,000 people each from the Water River and Forest River, 2,500 from the Stone River Shi River, 2,000 from the Wood River, 1,500 from the Clear River, and 1,000 from the White River. In total, the six rivers on the east bank are expected to add around 13,000 people."

When the number was announced, the council chamber fell silent instantly. Everyone was stunned by the enormous figure: thirteen thousand people! This meant that the Fire Tribe's population would almost double in a short period of time! Just a few years ago, the Fire Tribe was a small tribe of two hundred people struggling to find food each day. Now, it was about to take in so many people all at once. This feeling was both exhilarating and dizzying, leaving everyone in a daze of disbelief.

Even Jianshi, who was mentally prepared, couldn't help but breathe more heavily upon hearing the exact number, and his hands on his knees clenched slightly.

The silence was broken by Dabang's hearty laughter. "Haha! Good! Excellent! Thirteen thousand men! Even if we take away the old and weak, we can still select at least two thousand good young men to join the Hunting Team! Our Fire Tribe's warriors will fill the entire valley from now on!" His words were filled with pure power and expansive joy.

Dabang's words were like a shot in the arm, bringing everyone back from their shock and replacing it with a complex mix of pride, excitement, and a tremendous sense of responsibility. Yes, more population meant more labor, more manpower, and greater development potential! The Fire Tribe was expanding at an unprecedented rate!

After the discussion subsided, Yan continued his report, "In addition, on the return journey, we visited five tributaries on the west bank of the Fish River. We have had less contact with those areas, and the foundation of trust is not as strong as on the east bank, but some small tribes living in extreme poverty are willing to join us. Each tributary has about four hundred people, totaling about two thousand on the west bank."

He added the figures from both the east and west banks, "Therefore, we estimate that the total number of new people we need to receive this time will be approximately 15,000. The exact number will only be confirmed after all the people have gathered at the river mouths and we send boats to bring them back."

Fifteen thousand people! This final number once again drew gasps of astonishment from the audience.

Seeing everyone's reactions, Yan knew he had to reveal his deeper considerations. "Father, uncles, although most people from the six tributaries on the east bank are willing to join this time, based on my observation and understanding, there are still some small tribes in each tributary who are still observing or haven't received any news, with a total population estimated at five or six thousand. As for the five tributaries on the west bank, with the increase in trade and the deepening of trust, coupled with seeing this group of people living good lives, I'm afraid even more people will choose to join in the future."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming serious. "Although we can purchase eight million catties of grain from the Valley Tribe this year, and even if we absorb twenty or thirty thousand people this year, we can barely manage if we calculate carefully. But—"

He emphasized, "Food is the lifeblood of our Fire Tribe's survival and development! We absolutely cannot place our hopes entirely on a stable external supply! If, in the future, the Valley Tribe is unable to continue supplying us with food due to conflict with the Bear Tribe or other reasons, or if the supply is drastically reduced, our rapidly expanding population will immediately become a huge burden, and may even trigger a crisis! Therefore, I strongly suggest that we must continue and Dali to cultivate our own land! We must achieve basic food self-sufficiency as soon as possible and build up sufficient reserves!"

Yan's words were like a bucket of cold water, waking up some of the people who were still immersed in the joy of the population boom. The real pressure of food supply was the sharpest sword hanging over the Fire Tribe's head.

Jianya spoke up, having just returned from a trade with the Horse Tribe: "Yan has considered everything very carefully. This time, we exchanged two hundred ponies and four hundred oxen from the Horse Tribe, which is almost the limit the Horse Tribe can currently provide. Their leader Junfeng, has made it clear that if they want such a large-scale trade again, they will have to wait until at least next spring. Their channels for obtaining oxen from outside have also reached a bottleneck for the time being."

He looked at Jianshi and the others. "Therefore, just as Yan said, our food security ultimately depends on ourselves. We must utilize these oxen and our large population to cultivate land on a large scale, striving to achieve self-sufficiency as soon as possible, and even have a large surplus of grain reserves like the Valley Tribe in the future. That will be our true strength!"

Dali added with deep feeling, "Yes, before we didn't have enough food, so we didn't dare to hire more people. Now that we have some food and have hired more people, we've realized that land reclamation requires even more manpower and oxen. It's a cycle. With these four hundred new oxen, plus the ones we already have, we can seize the time this year to reclaim another batch of land and plant some short-season crops!"

Jian Shi listened Jianshi calm. As the leader, he had to find the most suitable balance between excitement and pressure.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, his voice Chenwen and powerful. "Everyone is right. Population is the foundation of our strength; food is the basis of our survival. We must grasp both and make sure both are strong!"

He began to assign specific tasks. "First, is the task of receiving these 15,000 new tribesmen. Yan, Dali, you two just returned from the upper reaches of the Fish River and are most familiar with the situation. You two will be mainly in charge of this matter! Gather all the ships we currently have—how many 5,000-jin ships do we have now?" He looked at Dabang.

Dabang immediately replied, "While you were gone for a month, the workshop rushed to build ten more boats with a carrying capacity of 5,000 catties each, and thirty more large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 catties each. Now, our tribe has a total of seventy large boats with a carrying capacity of 5,000 catties each and one hundred and sixty large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 catties each! Most of them have already returned from the various river mouths and are waiting for orders!"

"Alright!" Jianshi nodded. "Use these boats to organize immediately and send them in batches to the various river mouths to safely bring the waiting new tribespeople back to our headquarters! Yan and Dali, you will coordinate the reception, registration, and initial resettlement. Pay attention to order, ensure safety during the journey, and also prevent the spread of disease."

"Yes!" Yan and Dali responded in unison.

"Secondly," Jianshi looked at Jianya, "Jianya, you and Dazhuang are in charge of relocating 9,000 people from the existing tribespeople in the Fire Tribe's valley headquarters: 3,000 to rebuild and cultivate the old site of the Bison Tribe, 3,000 to the old site of the Green Sheep Tribe, and 3,000 to the old site of the White Pig Tribe! The land in the White Pig Tribe area is relatively flat and fertile, so it can be the key area for reclamation. We can also relocate some more people there later. The relocation, resettlement, initial construction, and management will be the responsibility of you and Dazhuang!"

"Understood!" Jianya Fang replied.

"Again," Jianshi's gaze swept over everyone, "I will personally oversee the Fire Tribe's Valley headquarters, managing everything. Dabang, you bear the heaviest burden. All workshops—pottery kilns, bronze workshops, shipbuilding workshops, textile workshops, etc.—must operate at full capacity, expanding production to meet demand, while also providing support for subsequent trade and your own development! Qingye, you are responsible for all logistical coordination, resource allocation, and internal personnel management, ensuring smooth progress in all aspects of migration, reception, and production."

"Yes!" Dabang and Qingye solemnly replied.

"Everyone else, each of you, perform your duties and cooperate closely!" Jianshi concluded. "This surge in population is an unprecedented opportunity for our Fire Tribe, but also an unprecedented challenge! Everyone must be fully focused! We must ensure that these 15,000 new tribespeople feel at ease upon arrival, have work to do, and see hope! Only in this way can they truly become the backbone of our Fire Tribe, rather than a burden!"

"For the Fire Tribe!" the crowd roared in unison, their voices filled with determination and fighting spirit.

The meeting ended, and everyone hurriedly left with clear and arduous tasks, leaving only Jianshi and Yan in the council hall.

Jianshi walked to his son's side, patted him on the shoulder, his eyes filled with undisguised weariness and deep expectation. "Yan'er, you did a great job this time, and you saw things very clearly. The population explosion, the food shortage... these are all things we need to solve step by step. Go and prepare to pick up the people. Remember, safety comes first. I'll take care of things at home."