A Smooth Journey to the West Bank of the Fish River

On the morning of the second day after Canglan led his people from the Fire Tribe dock back to the Fish Tribe, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the Fire Creek Wharf was already bustling with activity. Yan stood on the shore, looking at the sizable fleet in front of him, silently calculating in his mind: two hundred small Muzhou with a carrying capacity of five hundred catties, two hundred large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties, and one hundred large ships with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties.

Five hundred boats were densely packed on the river, like a floating forest, loaded with grain, coarse salt, pottery, linen and other supplies.

"Boss," Daya ran over, holding the wooden board marked with charcoal, "The food and supplies are all ready!"

Yan took the wooden board, carefully looked at the numbers on it, nodded, gave a few instructions, and then returned it to Daya. This time, Yan and Dali were not going to bring everyone back; they planned to bring back the most difficult cases first, and the rest could be dealt with next spring.

"Where's Uncle Dali?" Yan asked.

Daya pointed into the distance. "They're inspecting the ships over there. He said there are many ships this time, and they're worried about leaks."

Yan nodded and walked over there. On the dock, Dali was squatting beside a large ship with a carrying capacity of 5,000 jin, tapping the planks with his hand to judge the dryness of the wood by the sound. When he saw Yan coming over, he stood up and patted the dust off his hands.

"Yan, I've checked everything. The boat is fine; it's very sturdy."

Yan smiled, "That's good, let's go, time is tight."

"Okay!"

With Dali of his hand, a horn sounded, and five hundred ships slowly started moving, heading downstream along the Fire Creek Fire Creek River. Yan stood at the Chuantou of the largest ship, a five-thousand-jin heavy-duty vessel, facing the morning breeze, looking at the scenery on both banks. The Fire Creek River Middle Outpost and the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost passed by one by one. Those places, which used to be wasteland, have now been transformed into rows of wooden houses and large tracts of farmland. Smoke curled from the chimneys, and the sounds of people bustling about, creating a scene of prosperity.

"Yan," Dali walked over and stood beside him, "Look at these two strongholds, they've developed really fast."

Yan nodded. "The Fire Creek River Mouth is in a good location; we can build a large city of 30,000 to 50,000 people there in the future."

He gasped Dali, "Thirty to fifty thousand people? That's a huge number?"

Yan laughed, "Big? Our Fire Tribe already has over 60,000 people, and in two years, it might reach over 100,000. What's a city of 30,000 to 50,000 people?"

Dali scratched his head and chuckled.

"That's true. Our Fire Tribe is developing so fast; the population will definitely keep growing."

Yan looked ahead and continued, "The Fire Tribe's main valley can only house a maximum of about 20,000 people. The rest will have to be resettled in outlying settlements. If we're resettling people outwards, our first choice will be places with convenient transportation, abundant water resources, and plenty of arable land."

He pointed to the Fire Creek River Mouth in the distance.

"Like there, it's a good place. There's also Little Gathering River Mouth, Stone Creek River Mouth, Pottery Salt River Mouth, and Little Fish River Mouth of the Fish Tribe. They're all good places with convenient water transportation. When our Fire Tribe population grows, we can build a city there."

Dali listened intently, nodding repeatedly.

Now that you mention it, there are quite a few good places.

Yan smiled and said, "Yes, if we really make full use of it, along with the estuaries of the upper reaches of the Fish River, we could easily accommodate over a million people."

Dali's eyes widened. A million people? This was a number he had never dared to imagine before! The fleet soon arrived at the Fire Creek River Mouth and merged into the wide Fish River. Yan ordered the fleet to stop, straighten its formation, and then continue upstream along the Fish River. This time, their target was the west bank of the upper reaches of the Fish River, where there were five tributaries— the Peach River, the Grass River, the Ash River, the Red Leaf River, and the Little Water River.

Each tributary basin has two to four thousand people. Last time, the Fire Tribe absorbed about two thousand people who couldn't make a living from these five tributaries. This time, they should be able to absorb quite a few more. Yan glanced back at the people on the boat. Besides the warriors of the Fire Tribe, there were dozens of special people. They were the core members absorbed from the west bank last time. They were familiar with the situation on the west bank of the upper reaches of the Fish River and had some influence. Bringing them along would avoid some trouble when they went to receive people.

There are also Feiyu and Bailin, the leaders of two original Fish Tribe. They used to trade on the west coast and know many tribal leaders there. With them around, it's easier to gain their trust.

"Brother Yan," Feiyu walked over, his face beaming with excitement, "I know the West Bank well! I've been to those tributaries many times before."

Yan smiled and nodded, "Then it'll depend on your performance."

Feiyu patted his chest confidently. "Don't worry! I guarantee I'll get things done perfectly!"

Bailin also came over and said, "Young Chief Yan, those tribes on the west bank are really suffering. They lack food, salt, clothing, medicine... they lack everything. If our people go and take them in, they will definitely rush to join the Fire Tribe."

Yan nodded without speaking. He recalled the scenes he had witnessed on his last visit to the West Bank: dilapidated thatched huts, thin children, and desperate eyes...

Those people have a really tough life. It would be a good thing to help them. The fleet sailed on the Fish River for two days and finally arrived at the mouth of the first tributary, the Peach River. From afar, Yan could see a group of people standing on the bank. There were more than two thousand people, a dark mass of people crammed together, looking in this direction.

"We've arrived," said the Feiyu.

As the fleet slowly approached the shore, the crowd stirred. They looked at the massive fleet and the tall figures on board with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. An elderly man with gray hair stepped out from the crowd, leaning on a wooden cane, and walked shakily to the shore, bowing respectfully to the people on board.

"Excuse me... is this the Fire Tribe's fleet?"

Yan jumped off the boat and strode up to him.

"Old man, I am the young chieftain of the Fire Tribe. Are you from the tribe on the Peach River side?"

The old man nodded repeatedly, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Yes, yes! I was chosen by several tribes from the Peach River. My name is Taogen. We... we've been waiting for you for so long, and we've finally welcomed you!"

He turned and pointed to the people on the bank, saying, "These are all people from this side of the Peach River. They heard that the Fire Tribe was willing to accept us, so many people have come—more than two thousand..."

Yan looked at those thin faces and felt a pang of sadness in his heart. These people were truly suffering.

"Genshu," Yan said, "We are very happy that you are willing to join the Fire Tribe, but we can't take too many people at once this time."

Taogen paused for a moment, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.

Yan quickly explained, "It's not that we don't want you, it's that we'll pick you up in batches. This time we'll pick up the most difficult people first, and the rest will be picked up next spring."

He paused, then continued, "We brought some food and supplies, which you can leave for now to get through this winter. We'll come back for you next year."

After hearing Taogen, Taogen's disappointment turned into gratitude.

"Great! Great! Thank you, Fire Tribe! Thank you all!"

Yan nodded, turned to the people behind him and said, "Arrange for some people to go ashore. First, register some tribes in need, and let the elderly, children, and sick from those tribes board the boat first."

The warriors of the Fire Tribe immediately sprang into action. About five hundred people on the shore were accepted to join the Fire Tribe. These people were divided into several groups in an orderly manner. The elderly and children were helped onto the boats first, followed by the women, and the young people were the last. Those who stayed behind each received some food and salt. Although it wasn't much, it was enough to last for a while. The Fire Tribe's fleet would bring more supplies later! Taogen stood on the shore, watching those who boarded the boats, his eyes red.

"Thank you..." he murmured, "Thank you, Fire Tribe..."

Yan patted him on the shoulder.

"Genshu, don't be sad. We'll come to pick you up next spring."

Taogen nodded repeatedly, speechless. The fleet left Peach River and continued sailing upstream. Over the next ten days, the same scene repeated itself time and time again: Grass River, about 800 people; Ash River, about 1,000 people; Red Leaf River, about 2,100 people; Little Water River, about 1,600 people.

Everywhere they went, they were met with a dense crowd of people, expectant eyes, and tears of gratitude. Feiyu and Bailin played a crucial role. They knew the tribal leaders and helped with communication and coordination, saving them a lot of trouble. The original West Coast backbone members even shared their personal stories of life in the Fire Tribe.

"I live in the Fire Tribe, in a big wooden house, wear linen clothes, and have enough to eat every day! As long as you're willing to work and follow the rules, life is easy!"

"My child can read now! The Fire Tribe has Youth Team that specializes in teaching children to read and write!"

"My wife used to be very ill, but she got better after taking medicine in the Fire Tribe! They have shamans who can treat illnesses!"

These words were more effective than anything else. Those tribes that were originally hesitant on the west bank of the upper reaches of the Fish River rushed to join Yan Yi's statistics after hearing them. Basically, the people along the tributaries of the five upper reaches of the Fish River on the west bank were willing to join the Fire Tribe!

Over the past month, Yan and Dali have led their fleet back fully loaded with over six thousand people, who have been brought back to the Fire Tribe headquarters. The elderly, children, women, and young people are densely packed together, stretching as far as the eye can see. Yan stands at the Chuantou, looking at these people, and a complex emotion wells up in his heart.

There was relief, emotion, and pressure. More than six thousand people needed food, drink, and lodging; jobs needed to be arranged; and they needed to integrate into the tribe...

But this is the path of the Fire Tribe: constantly absorbing people and growing stronger. Only in this way can they cope with various challenges in the future. About a month later, Yan and Dali arrived at Fire Creek Wharf with the last batch of ships.

The dock was already packed with people. Jianshi, along with the high-ranking members of the Fire Tribe and countless ordinary tribesmen, were waiting there. The fleet slowly docked, and the newcomers disembarked one after another. Guided by the Fire Tribe members, they went to designated places to rest, eat, and settle in. Yan jumped off the ship and strode towards Jianshi.

"Father!"

Jianshi went up to him and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"Good lad! He brought back over six thousand people this time!"

Yan smiled and said, "It's going more smoothly than expected. Those tribes on the west bank have been eagerly waiting to join us."

Jianshi nodded and looked at the group of newcomers who had come back with him. They stood on the dock, looking at everything in front of them—tall wooden houses, fields stretching as far as the eye could see, herds of cattle and sheep, and countless chickens and ducks—and they were all stunned.

"This... this is the Fire Tribe?" someone murmured.

"My God..." an old man rubbed his eyes, "I've lived my whole life and never seen such a beautiful place..."

"If I had known it would be this good, I should have come sooner!" A woman holding her child said, her eyes reddening.

Yan walked up to them, smiling, and said, "Welcome to the Fire Tribe. From today onwards, this is your home."

Those people stared at him blankly, and then, without anyone noticing, they all knelt down.

"Thank you, Fire Tribe!"

"Thank you, Young Master Yan!"

Yan quickly helped them up and arranged for someone to take them to their new homes. The Fire Tribe had its own set of procedures for settling new members: registering names, checking health, assigning accommodations, distributing supplies, arranging jobs... everything was done in an orderly manner.

The newcomers were first taken to a spacious wooden hut where they were examined by designated personnel. Those who were sick were given immediate treatment, while those who were healthy received new linen clothing and daily necessities.

Then, they were dispersed to different residential areas as family units. The elderly and children were placed in the most comfortable wooden houses, while the young people were assigned to various workshops and farms to start new lives.

Everything was proceeding smoothly. Yan stood on high ground, watching all this, and a sense of accomplishment welled up in his heart. Six thousand people, another six thousand people had been added. Adding to the previous number, the Fire Tribe's population had exceeded seventy thousand! Seventy thousand people! This number made his heart race.