The Valley Tribe Leadership's Post-Banquet Maneuvering

After seeing Yan and his party off, the air outside the Valley Tribe's council hall seemed to still carry the warmth of the recent feast. However, when Daiyue turned around at the door, his heart sank. He saw that none of the seven elders of the Valley Tribe, led by Yao Feng, had moved. They all stood outside the door, silently watching him. The dim light cast flickering shadows on their faces, and the smiles and excitement of the banquet had now been replaced by solemnity and deep thought.

Daiyue sighed silently. He understood that the enormous temptation and promises offered by the Fire Tribe were like a Jushi thrown into an already turbulent pond, creating far more than just ripples; they stirred up a raging storm. The fact that these seven key figures, representing different interests and voices within the Valley Tribe, had gathered and remained there clearly meant they hadn't come to say goodnight.

"Elders," Daiyue said, maintaining the Chenwen of a leader, his voice calm, "The night wind outside is chilly; it's not the place to talk. Please come inside and we can continue our conversation."

The seven elders nodded silently. As Daiyue walked back into the council hall, where the banquet had just ended and the aroma and warmth of the food still lingered, the servants quickly removed the leftovers, relit the torches, and served hot soup. The hall returned to its usual solemnity, but there was an invisible tension in the air.

Everyone returned to their seats. Daiyue glanced around and broke the silence, saying, "Now, everyone should be able to rest assured, right? The Fire Tribe's determination and actions regarding this year's eight million catties of grain trade are beyond doubt. They've even looked ahead to next year, proposing a massive demand of twenty million catties. The Fire Tribe is undoubtedly our Valley Tribe's most important trading partner now and for the next few years. Consolidating and expanding our cooperation with them is our top priority, something we must do with all our might."

He set the tone and brought up the topic.

The Second Elder, Hefeng, who was in charge of agriculture and storage, was most sensitive to grain quantities. He stroked his white beard and slowly said, "What the chief said is absolutely right. Judging from the words and actions of the Fire Tribe, the speed at which their pottery production has increased far exceeds our previous estimates. The fact that the Fire Tribe can produce pottery worth three million catties of grain on the spot shows their production capacity and the strength of their reserves. They dare to propose a quantity of twenty million catties for next year, which must be because they have calculated it carefully and are quite confident. If this deal goes through, it will be a huge profit for our Valley Tribe."

The only female elder Zhiyun, was responsible for the tribe's textile and weaving work, as well as the management of some daily necessities. She was meticulous and thoughtful. She took over the conversation, her brow furrowing slightly. "Second Elder is right, trade is good business, but the problem is, can our Valley Tribe really produce 20 million jin of surplus grain next year?" She tapped the table lightly with her slender but strong fingers. "In the past year or so, to supply the Fire Tribe, we have reclaimed a lot of new land, and many paddy fields that were originally on fallow have been continuously planted. If we want to gather 20 million jin of surplus grain next year, I'm afraid... we'll need to put almost all usable paddy fields into production, even over-cultivating them. This will greatly deplete the land's fertility. What about the year after? We have to consider the risk of reduced grain production in the following years; the tribe's food supply is the foundation."

Zhiyun's words were like a needle, piercing the minds of those blinded by huge profits. Several elders nodded slightly in agreement, saying that overdrawing the land's resources was tantamount to draining the pond to catch all the fish.

Elder Yao Feng, who had been keeping his eyes slightly closed, slowly opened them. His aged voice carried an undeniable authority. "Elder Zhiyun's concerns are not without merit. However, with such an opportunity before us, how can we hesitate?" He glanced at everyone. "The Fire Tribe has offered a confirmed order for next year, a prepayment of pottery worth real money. What will happen in the next few years is unpredictable. Perhaps the Fire Tribe's needs will be even greater, or perhaps we will find a new way to cultivate fertile land. Trade itself is risky. But to give up this readily available huge profit because of concerns about next year's grain production is not the act of a wise person."

He paused, then continued, "My opinion is that we should concentrate our efforts on securing the 20 million jin order next year! To do this, we need more manpower. I suggest that the Valley Tribe take this opportunity to absorb a large number of people from surrounding small tribes or scattered populations to bolster our labor force and fully guarantee the tribe's grain production."

"Absorb a large number of people?" Alarm bells rang in Daiyue's mind. Yao Feng's suggestion, seemingly for the public good, actually concealed hidden motives. The Valley Tribe was not a monolithic entity. Although Daiyue's branch was the leader, it did not hold an absolute majority in the tribe's total population. Elders like Yao Feng, Lin Feng, and Jin Ye each had their own tribes and dependent populations behind them. If a large number of outsiders were absorbed, how would they be distributed and managed? Whose strength would ultimately be strengthened? This would undoubtedly exacerbate the delicate balance of power within the tribe, especially potentially diluting his direct power as the leader. Moreover, the pressure of food and management brought about by a population surge was also very real.

Daiyue immediately spoke, his tone calm but his stance firm. "The Grand Elder's concern for the tribe is commendable. However, suddenly absorbing a large number of outsiders may cause trouble. Integrating the old and new, and establishing rules and discipline, cannot be accomplished overnight. The most urgent task at present is to complete the established transaction. Introducing too many uncertainties rashly will only lead to chaos."

Seeing the elders deep in thought, he changed the subject and proposed a compromise. "How about this: we can absorb a portion, say around two thousand people, bringing the total population of the Valley Tribe to twenty thousand, to supplement the urgently needed labor force. As for the remaining gaps, we can temporarily hire able-bodied young men from neighboring tribes with which we have good relations. During the busy farming season, we can pay them (grain, pottery, or other supplies) to come and help, only engaging in strenuous tasks such as plowing, harvesting, and carrying, which do not require them to use our tribe's core skills. Once the busy season is over, they can be dismissed. In this way, we can solve the urgent manpower shortage without incurring the responsibility of long-term support, and also avoid the risk of skills being leaked and internal strife. After all, we don't know what the Fire Tribe's needs will be a few years from now, and we also need to leave ourselves some room for maneuver."

Daiyue's plan not only responded to the manpower needs and restricted the disorderly growth of the population, but more importantly, it firmly grasped the dominant power and control over the employment of labor in the hands of the tribal management with him at its core (who to hire, what to pay, and who to manage), preventing the elders from taking the opportunity to expand their own power. At the same time, the reason that "the Fire Tribe's food needs are unknown in the next few years" also seemed very legitimate.

Elder Yao Feng gave Daiyue a deep look, knowing that Daiyue was very wary of the population issue and wouldn't easily give in. Since they had managed to secure an increase of two thousand people for the Valley Tribe and the plan to hire laborers was indeed feasible, he decided to stop while he was ahead and slowly nodded. "The chief's considerations are thorough; this method... is indeed prudent."

At this moment, the Third Elder Jin Ye, spoke up. He was in charge of the craftsmen, and the bronze trade with the downstream Tiger Tribe was mostly handled by his faction. He had always advocated investing more of the trade profits into military equipment, so he naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass him by.

"Chief, elders," Jin Ye's voice carried a metallic quality, "Since we're not increasing our population significantly for the time being, to improve farming efficiency and produce 20 million catties of grain as scheduled, we must focus on improving our tools!" His eyes gleamed. "In the past, we cherished bronze, mostly using it as a mold to cast wooden, bone, and stone farm tools, rarely actually using bronze tools directly. Next year's task is arduous, so I propose we use a portion of our profits to purchase a batch of durable bronze farm tools from the Tiger Tribe! One person equipped with bronze tools is at least as efficient as two or three people using wooden or stone tools! This will not only compensate for the manpower shortage, but in the long run, the saved labor costs will far exceed the losses from purchasing bronze tools! Even if these bronze tools wear out, bronze itself is a valuable resource, a sure-fire profit!"

Jin Ye's words directly addressed the key to improving production efficiency and directed profits towards the areas he led—the bronze trade and military industry. Elder Yao Feng and Fourth Elder Lin Feng exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes. Jin Ye's proposal was well-reasoned and difficult to refute openly. After all, fulfilling the grain orders was in everyone's common interest, and to oppose it would be to hold everyone back.

Daiyue's heart stirred. Although Jin Ye's suggestion had its own selfish motives, it was indeed a good idea. Buying bronze farming tools to improve efficiency was more in line with his wishes than increasing the population without limit. Moreover, having this transaction through Jin Ye could also balance his relationship with the elders to some extent.

"The Third Elder's words make sense," Daiyue said at the opportune moment. "To do a good job, one must first have the right tools. In order to secure next year's orders, it is necessary to invest in purchasing a batch of high-quality bronze farm tools. I ask the Third Elder to take good care of this matter and negotiate with the Tiger Tribe to secure a good price."

A hint of smugness flickered across Jin Ye's face as he bowed and accepted.

However, the fundamental question of how to distribute next year's profits remained unresolved. Elder Yao Feng immediately steered the conversation back on track. "Tools need to be bought, but the tribe's foundation lies with its people. If next year's large-scale trade profits are all invested in purchasing bronze ware and covering expenses, without any improvement in the tribe's lives, resentment will inevitably arise. I believe that next year's profits must be prioritized for improving people's livelihoods: repairing houses, increasing reserves for the elderly and children, improving diets, and rewarding those who excel in farming..."

Fourth Elder Lin Feng chimed in, "The First Elder is quite right. The profits from trade must ultimately benefit the entire tribe. Furthermore, the stability of trade with the Fire Tribe requires internal stability as its foundation. I suggest establishing a special fund for..."

"The threat from the Bear Tribe is growing daily, Little Valley Camp under immense pressure!" Jin Ye retorted before Lin Feng could finish speaking, "Without strong military support, all the grain and wealth we have will just be wasting our time! We must continue to strengthen our military, build ships, and train our soldiers!"

"How can we defend against foreign aggression if the people's livelihood is unstable?"

"Without eliminating external threats, how can people's livelihoods survive?"

The elders each held their own opinion, and the argument gradually grew louder, making the atmosphere in the hall tense once again. Daiyue rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He knew that this was an inevitable scene whenever it involved the distribution of major interests.

Seeing that the argument was escalating, Daiyue had no choice but to step in and take charge once again. He raised his voice, drowning out the argument. "Gentlemen! Please hear me out!"

The crowd gradually quieted down and looked at him.

Daiyue said in a deep voice, "Today's discussion aims to clarify the direction, not to make immediate decisions. The profit distribution for this year's eight million catties of grain has already been agreed upon, and should be implemented accordingly. The most urgent task is to concentrate our efforts on ensuring the smooth delivery of the first batch of 1.5 million catties of grain to the Fire Tribe and ensuring unimpeded subsequent transportation!"

He glanced at everyone and said, "As for the order of 20 million catties next year, we can discuss the manpower and material resources needed in the long term. I will personally oversee the matter of absorbing 2,000 people. As for hiring temporary laborers and purchasing bronze farm tools, please have the Third Elder take the lead. As for the plan to convert some vegetable fields into paddy fields, please have the Second Elder and Council of Elders Zhiyun work with experienced farmers to come up with a plan as soon as possible."

He concluded, "We have witnessed the sincerity and strength of the Fire Tribe. This is an unprecedented opportunity for our Valley Tribe! Even if there are internal disagreements, we should prioritize the overall situation and work together to seize this 'fat piece of meat' before discussing how to divide it! It is getting late, so everyone should go back and rest. We will discuss the specific details another day."

Daiyue's words not only gave all parties a way out but also clarified the priorities for the near future, temporarily setting aside the most sensitive dispute over profit distribution.

Although the seven elders were unwilling and each had their own thoughts, they knew that it would be difficult to reach a more concrete consensus tonight. Continuing to argue would be useless and might even delay important matters. So they all got up, bowed to Daiyue, and took their leave one after another.