Cooperation at the Banquet
As the evening sun cast its golden rays upon the wide Fish River, the shimmering waves were bathed in a golden-red glow. When the Fire Tribe Tribe's unprecedentedly large fleet appeared in the Fish Tribe's dock, even though the Fish Tribe's number one warrior, Julang, had already received word and had arranged berths with his men in advance, he was still deeply shocked by the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe's massive fleet the moment he witnessed it firsthand.
The fleet, like a moving forest, slowly covered the river. The eighty wooden boats, each with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties, resembled eighty moving water fortresses. The boats were tall and had smooth lines. The color of the newly felled timber shone with a pale yellow glow in the setting sun, showing their new life. One hundred and ninety large Muzhou, each with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties, followed closely behind, lined up neatly, their oars like a forest.
Further out, numerous Xiaozhou with a carrying capacity of 500 jin (approximately 250 kg) nimbly shuttled back and forth, communicating and coordinating. The entire fleet was orderly, carrying a silent sense of authority, and slowly approached the still crowded Fish Tribe Wharf after its expansion.
"Hiss—" Beside the Julang, a young warrior from the Fish Tribe couldn't help but gasp. "This... this is too many! There are so many more new ships than last time!"
Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Julang Wave shouted in a deep voice, "Don't stand there! Guide the ships to their Fire Tribe according to plan! Everyone, stay alert!" His heart, however, was also churning with turmoil. Although Feiyu and Bailin, the two leaders, had returned and given a detailed report on the astonishing deal of eight million catties of grain between the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe, and mentioned that the Fire Tribe seemed to have increased its fleet, hearing and seeing were two completely different things. The Fire Tribe's shipbuilding capabilities were beyond the comprehension of the Fish Tribe.
At the beginning of last year, the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe's naval strength had not yet completely overwhelmed the Fish Tribe. This year, the Fire Tribe has already assembled such a massive fleet that it can crush any force in the upper reaches of the Fish River! This formidable strength sent Julang down Giant Wave's spine and further solidified his leader Canglan's judgment—he must cling tightly to the increasingly powerful Fire Tribe and never confront them!
He personally steered the Xiaozhou towards the main ship where Yan and Dali were, his face already beaming with a warm smile, his voice booming. "Young Master Yan! Dali! You must be tired from your journey! The dock has been arranged, please follow me!"
Guided by the Julang, the massive fleet sailed smoothly into the designated area and anchored. Yan and Dali ordered the fleet members to set up a temporary camp in the area designated near the dock. Everything went smoothly, and after arranging the basic affairs, Yan and Dali, along with a few attendants and carrying prepared gifts, followed the Julang toward the central area of the Fish Tribe.
Canglan, the leader of the Fish Tribe, had already been waiting outside the largest council house with almost all the tribe's leaders and elders who had any influence. When he saw Yan and Dali's group carrying loads, a glint flashed in Canglan's eyes, and his smile became even brighter as he quickly went to greet them.
"Yan'er! Brother Dali! We've been waiting for you! You must be tired from your journey!" Canglan warmly opened his arms and gave Yan and Dali a firm hug, his tone as intimate as that of a close elder. "Please come in, hot food and fresh goat milk are ready and waiting for you!"
"Uncle Canglan, you're too kind. You always go to so much trouble to prepare these things." Yan replied with a smile, his attitude respectful yet dignified. Dali also smiled and clasped his hands in a simple and honest manner.
After exchanging pleasantries, the group entered the spacious wooden house, where a long wooden table was indeed laden with a sumptuous feast: large steamed fish exuded a fresh aroma, golden-brown roasted lamb legs sizzled with oil, large bowls of stew steamed, and there were also fresh wild vegetables, fruits, rice, and the Fish Tribe's unique dipping sauce, all filling the air with an enticing fragrance.
After everyone was seated, Yan gestured to his attendants to present the gifts. Several heavy baskets were carried to the vicinity of the main seat. Yan personally unveiled the burlap covering them, revealing a wealth of exquisite pottery—large, sturdy earthenware urns, slender-necked water jugs with flowing lines, bowls and plates decorated with simple flame patterns, and even a few uniquely shaped pieces of black pottery. These pottery pieces, in both craftsmanship and quality, far surpassed the goods the Fish Tribe had acquired from downstream; they were clearly the finest pieces from the Fire Tribe's pottery kilns.
"Wow--" A low gasp and exclamation rippled through the Fish Tribe's high-ranking members. Everyone's eyes were captivated by these exquisite artifacts, their longing almost overflowing. Even the well-informed Canglan couldn't help but swallow hard. He knew that this was not just a gift, but a silent demonstration of the Fire Tribe's strength.
"Uncle Canglan, elders and friends of the Fish Tribe," Yan said in a loud voice, "This is a small token of my gratitude from my father, Chief Jianshi, who entrusted us to bring this to thank the Fish Tribe for their continued support and assistance to our Fire Tribe. It's just a small token, nothing more, but I hope you will accept it."
Canglan quickly waved his hand, his smile almost reaching his ears, "Oh dear! Brother Jianshi, you're too kind! You're too polite! We're all family, no need to go to such lengths!" While he spoke politely, his eyes kept glancing at the pottery, especially the few pieces of black pottery, clearly showing his fondness for them. "Yan'er, when you get back, please convey our sincerest gratitude to Brother Jianshi for me and everyone in the Fish Tribe! In the future, if the Fire Tribe ever needs anything from the Fish Tribe, just ask! We'll accept it without hesitation!"
The other leaders and elders of the Fish Tribe echoed their sentiments, praising the Fire Tribe's "generosity." Their gazes towards Yan and Dali became even more ardent and friendly. Canglan inwardly sighed, thinking that Jianshi's move was truly brilliant. Distributing these exquisite pottery pieces as gifts not only solidified his prestige as the leader within the tribe but also firmly secured the goodwill of the powerful figures in the Fish Tribe towards the Fire Tribe. The Fire Tribe was increasingly adept at utilizing "soft power."
The sumptuous banquet officially began, and the atmosphere was lively. After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, the conversation naturally turned to business.
Canglan put down the bone cup in his hand and said casually, "Yan'er, Brother Dali, I heard from Feiyu and Bailin that your Fire Tribe negotiated a huge deal for eight million catties of grain with the Valley Tribe last time? That's really... really a big deal! Everyone in my Fish Tribe is full of admiration!"
Yan put down his chopsticks, a perfectly timed "helpless" smile appearing on his face, "Uncle Canglan, you flatter me. To be honest, we were forced into this situation. Last year, the Wolf Tribe wreaked havoc, and we took in over four thousand destitute tribesmen from here. With so many people, the pressure to feed them was like a mountain. The grain produced on our own land simply couldn't meet our needs in the short term. We had no choice but to bite the bullet and go to the Valley Tribe for help. Eight million catties sounds like a lot, but when divided among everyone and factoring in losses, it's barely enough to make ends meet. Alas, it's not easy being a leader."
Yan's half-truthful complaint explained the reason for the huge grain purchase, while also subtly showing weakness to avoid excessively provoking the Fish Tribe.
Canglan indeed showed an expression of deep agreement, slapping his thigh and saying, "Who says otherwise! Our Fish Tribe also took in more people last year, and now we have almost four thousand mouths to feed. We've also followed your example and planted rice on Dali, planting three thousand acres of paddy fields this year! It's just that our threshing and hulling techniques aren't quite there yet, it's time-consuming and labor-intensive. The grain we grow is just enough to eat, and we're still a bit short. Otherwise, we could have spared some to help you. We were thinking of planting more next year to help you out."
Yan immediately seized the opportunity, looking at Canglan earnestly. "Uncle Canglan, if you're willing, that would be wonderful! Our Fire Tribe couldn't be happier! So, as long as the Fish Tribe has surplus grain to sell, our Fire Tribe is willing to buy it all at a price 10% higher than the Valley Tribe's purchase price! We'll take as much as we can! After all, transporting grain from the Fish Tribe is shorter and safer, and the saved transportation costs and time are well worth the price difference!"
"Ten percent higher? I'll take as much as you have!" Canglan's eyes lit up instantly. He quickly calculated in his mind that the Fire Tribe's promise was a reassurance for the Fish Tribe's future grain production expansion! From now on, the Fish Tribe only needed to focus on growing grain and wouldn't have to worry about sales. They could even sell to the Fire Tribe for a good price! This was simply fantastic news! His only regret was that the news came a little too late. It was too late to expand planting this year; they could only wait until next year.
He suppressed his excitement and solemnly said, "Yan'er, with your words, Canglan and the Fish Tribe can rest assured! Next year, we will definitely cultivate more paddy fields and grow more and better grains! At that time, we hope the Fire Tribe will not look down on us!"
"It's a deal!" Yan smiled and raised his glass.
Next, Canglan steered the conversation towards the fleet itself. Pointing to the faint silhouettes of ships visible in the direction of the dock outside the window, he exclaimed, "Yan'er, I heard from Julang that you brought eighty 5,000-jin ships and one hundred and ninety 2,000-jin ships this time? And many of them are new ships? I don't think we had this many last time! The shipbuilding skills of your Fire Tribe have truly broadened my horizons!"
Yan and Dali exchanged a glance, knowing it was time to flex their muscles and establish a cooperative tone. Yan put down his wine glass, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable confidence. "Uncle Canglan's observation is meticulous. Indeed, the newly added ships are all newly built by our Fire Tribe. To be honest, we will soon have a fleet of one hundred large ships with a carrying capacity of five thousand jin each. Our goal is also two hundred large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of two thousand jin each. Moreover..."
He paused deliberately, and seeing the Fish Tribe members prick up their ears, he slowly said, "In about one or two months, we will have about twenty large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties to replace them. If the Fish Tribe is interested, they can send someone to our Fire Tribe to take a look. Although we used them before, they are well maintained and are much better than the boats we sold to the Fish Tribe last time."
"Twenty large Muzhou weighing two thousand catties each?!" The leaders of the Fish Tribe instantly stirred, whispering among themselves, their faces showing excitement and longing. Even if the Fire Tribe's ships were "replaced," they were still an excellent supplement to the Fish Tribe! Greater carrying capacity meant more trade profits and stronger naval power!
Canglan's heart raced, and she quickly asked, "Yan'er, is this true? You're really willing to sell? I wonder... about the price?"
Yan had already discussed the matter with his father and the tribe's leaders, and calmly replied, "Uncle Canglan, rest assured. Since we are old friends, the price will remain the same as in our previous transactions. We will not raise the price just because the boat is in slightly better condition. My father specifically instructed that the Fish Tribe is an important partner of ours, and we should offer them a discount."
"Great! That's wonderful! Brother Jianshi is a true friend!" Canglan was so excited he almost stood up, thanking him repeatedly. "Yan'er, please thank your father for me when we get back! Our Fish Tribe wants these ships! Please reserve them for us!"
The Fire Tribe's blatant display of strength (the plan to build 100 ships weighing 5,000 jin each) coupled with tangible concessions (discounted sale of ships) completely set the tone for the talks. The Fish Tribe's original, or perhaps existing, little scheme to raise prices for transportation assistance had long since vanished.
Canglan pressed on, getting to the heart of the matter. "Yan'er, the transportation of these eight million catties of grain for your Valley Tribe is a massive undertaking. Although our Fish Tribe doesn't have as many boats as you, we are familiar with the downstream waterways and have enough manpower. I wonder... if our Fish Tribe can still contribute to the transportation of these eight million catties of grain this year? We promise to do our best!"
Yan wanted this attitude, so he immediately smiled and said, "Uncle Canglan, what are you saying? We came here this time intending to ask the Fish Tribe for help again. With such a large volume of transport, it would be difficult for us to transport it all by ourselves. As for the transportation costs, the food and labor expenses for our brothers, and all the miscellaneous expenses along the way, our Fire Tribe will naturally bear them all. We can prepay this amount with pottery."
He glanced at Canglan and then offered a solution that the other party couldn't refuse. "Of course, if the Fish Tribe is willing, this advance payment can be used directly to offset the payment for those twenty large Muzhou. What does Uncle Canglan think?"
"Deduct from payment?!" Canglan almost cried with joy. This was an incredible stroke of luck! The sooner they got the ships, the sooner they could use them for transportation, and the sooner they could earn more transportation fees! "Agreed! Of course I agree! Yan'er, it's settled then! Your Fire Tribe is so generous and thoughtful!"
A mutually beneficial negotiation was successfully concluded amidst feasting and drinking. The Fish Tribe secured a commitment to future grain sales, a preferential opportunity to purchase ships, and stable transportation revenue; the Fire Tribe, on the other hand, gained crucial additional transportation capacity, further solidifying its alliance with the Fish Tribe and demonstrating its overwhelming strength once again in a manner readily accepted by the other side.
The banquet ended in an even warmer and more harmonious atmosphere. Canglan immediately ordered the two leaders, Feiyu and Bailin, to gather the Fish Tribe's transport fleet and manpower, prepare sufficient supplies, and set off with the Fire Tribe's fleet early the next morning to the Valley Tribe.