Moving the Workshops

On the second day after Yan arrived at the Deer Tribe camp, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, but the Deer Tribe was already bustling with activity. Yan opened his eyes and looked at the sky outside through the cracks in the wooden hut. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and it was time to get up. He sat up, got dressed, and went out of the hut. Outside, Shibang was already waiting.

"Boss, up so early?" Shibang greeted him with a smile.

Yan nodded. "I'm used to it, I just can't sleep."

Shibang said, "That's perfect. Let's go check out the mining area as soon as possible. The miners have just started working, so we can see the most authentic situation."

Yan smiled, "Okay, let's go."

The two men rode their horses and galloped out of the camp. Yingmu followed, and the three of them soon arrived at the foot of a mountain.

"This is Colorful Stone Mountain," Shibang said, pointing to the exposed rock formations. "Our current copper and tin mines are all located in this area."

Yan reined in his horse and carefully examined the mountain. It was not steep, but it covered a large area. At the foot of the mountain, there were hundreds of simple thatched huts, where the miners rested. A path wound its way up to the mine shaft.

"Come on, it's been a long time since we've been here, let's go take a look," Yan said.

The three dismounted and walked along the path for a short while before they heard clanging and hammering sounds. It was the miners working. When they arrived at the mine entrance, Yan stopped and looked inside. The mine was very deep and the bottom could not be seen. There were some freshly mined ore piled up at the entrance.

Shibang pointed to the ores and said, "These are freshly mined copper ore, and those are tin ore. After they are mined, they will be initially screened here, then transported back to the refining workshop in the Deer Tribe camp to be smelted into copper and tin ingots. Finally, they will be transported to the Fire Tribe's main valley to be blended and forged into bronze ware."

Yan nodded, bent down and picked up a piece of copper ore. He weighed it in his hand; it was heavy and had a metallic luster.

"How's the output?" he asked.

"There are more than before," Shibang said. Then Shibang began to report.

Yan listened while silently calculating in his mind.

"Not bad." He nodded in satisfaction.

Shibang added, "Brother Yan, don't worry about the safety here. I've sealed this place off very tightly; no one from the outside can get in. The miners inside are all trustworthy veterans; there won't be any problems."

Yan looked at him and said seriously, "Shibang, I know you're bored here, but bronze ware is key to the rapid development of our Fire Tribe. This mining area is too important to us. You must keep a close eye on it and make sure there are no problems!"

Shibang puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, boss! With me here, there won't be any problems here!"

Yan patted him on the shoulder and continued deeper into the mine. It was dark inside, with only a few oil lamps providing light. The miners were shirtless, sweating profusely, their tools clanging against the rock walls, the sounds echoing in the narrow mine.

Looking at them, Yan felt a surge of respect. These people were the true heroes of the Fire Tribe. After leaving the mine, Yan looked at the screening and storage areas. Everything was in good order, better than he had expected.

"Shibang," he said, "You did a good job. I'll go back and talk to Father about improving welfare here. The miners work very hard, and our Fire Tribe can't treat them unfairly."

Shibang grinned. "Alright!"

The three of them then went to the purification workshop, which was located in the Deer Tribe's camp, not far from the mining area. Inside, there were several large furnaces with roaring fires and intense heat. The workers were busy, some adding ore to the furnaces, others pouring it into molds. Everyone was drenched in sweat, but they were working very diligently. Yan looked around and asked the leader in charge of purification a question.

How efficient is the purification process now?

He was an old craftsman, nearing forty, with a face full of wrinkles, but in good spirits.

"It's much higher than before," he said. "Now that we have a division of labor, efficiency has increased significantly and we make fewer mistakes. Everyone's skills are also becoming more and more proficient."

Yan smiled with satisfaction, walked out of the purification workshop, and the three of them went to the living area outside the Deer Tribe camp. This was where the miners and their families lived. Rows of wooden houses were neatly arranged, with vegetables planted in front of and behind the houses, and chickens and ducks raised. Children chased and played in the open space, and women sat at the door chatting and doing needlework. It was a peaceful and harmonious scene.

"How's life here?" Yan asked.

Shibang said, "It's alright. We have enough food and enough houses, but the location is a bit remote and not as lively as the Fire Tribe headquarters."

Yan nodded without speaking, preoccupied with something else. After a while, the three returned to the camp and sat down in the wooden hut by the Shibang. Yan then spoke.

"Shibang, there's something I want to tell you."

Shibang looked at him. "Boss, you say it."

Yan said, "Now that the Wolf Tribe in the north has been wiped out, we've set up several lines of defense there. The Deer Tribe here has basically become our rear base. As long as we strengthen our defenses, there shouldn't be any problems."

He paused, then continued, "We used to transport the ore to headquarters for processing because we were afraid of leaking secrets, but now, we can put that worry aside."

Shibang's eyes lit up. "You mean...?"

Yan said, "When I go back this time, I plan to suggest to my father that we gradually relocate the bronze workshop to the Deer Tribe. That way, we won't have to transport the ore back and forth; we can process it into bronze artifacts directly at the Deer Tribe. This way, with the same manpower and resources, we can produce more bronze artifacts."

Shibang nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Great idea! This will definitely be much more efficient!"

Yingmu agreed, "Yes! It saves the trouble of transporting goods back and forth, and the output can at least double!"

Yan smiled and looked at the Shibang.

"Shibang, you've been in charge of the Deer Tribe Mining Area for the past few years. Although you haven't participated in any battles, your contributions have been considerable. When Gubang takes over here, you'll receive a new appointment. Judging from the tone of Father and the others, your position should be quite high, at least a captain of a thousand men."

Shibang was stunned for a moment, then his face turned bright red with excitement.

"Real?"

Yan nodded. "Really, so you have to do a good job and not let everyone down."

Shibang suddenly stood up and shouted, "Don't worry, boss! I'll definitely do my best!"

Yan smiled and asked him to sit down.

"Furthermore," he continued, "Although the Wolf Tribe was wiped out this time, Xueya led the remnants north. Knowing their habits, they won't remain hidden forever. I estimate that soon, the north will be thrown into chaos by Xueya and his people."

Both the Shibang and the Yingmu listened attentively.

Yan said, "There are also the Bear Tribe and the Valley Tribe, and there will probably be conflicts between them in the next few years. The Tiger Tribe, located at the very bottom of the Fish River, will eventually be able to intervene in the disputes in the middle and upper reaches of the Fish River. So, we will have a lot of battles to fight in the next few years."

He looked at the two of them and said seriously, "In the Fire Tribe, you must train your soldiers well. When trouble comes, that will be your time to prove your worth."

The Shibang and the Yingmu responded in unison, "Yes!"

The three chatted for a while longer before Yan, along with Yingmu, got up to say goodbye.

"Shibang, you'd better do a good job. Once Gubang arrives, you'll have new assignments."

Shibang nodded. "Don't worry, boss! I'll keep a close watch on this place during this time!"

Yan and Yingmu mounted their horses and galloped towards the Fire Tribe's main valley, with Shibang watching them go.

A day and a half later, Yan and Yingmu returned to the Fire Tribe's main valley. As soon as they arrived, Yan went straight to the council hall, where Jianshi was handling tribal affairs. When he saw Yan enter, he put down the wooden plank he was carrying.

"Yan, you're back? How's it going at the Deer Tribe Mining Area?"

Yan sat down opposite him and explained the situation in detail, from the scale of the mining area to the efficiency of the refining process, and then to the lives of the miners... Jianshi listened and nodded in satisfaction.

"That kid Shibang did a good job."

Yan said, "Father, I have an idea for this trip to the mining area."

Jianshi looked at him. "Speak."

Yan said, "Now that the Wolf Tribe has been wiped out, the threat from the north has been greatly reduced. We've also set up several lines of defense in the north, and the Deer Tribe's area has become our rear base."

He paused, then said seriously, "I suggest we gradually relocate the bronze workshops to the Deer Tribe's area. This way, we won't need to transport the ore back and forth; we can process it locally. With the same manpower and resources, we can produce more bronze artifacts."

Jianshi's eyes lit up.

"That's a good idea."

He thought for a moment and then said, "Now is indeed the right time to relocate the bronze workshop. You should also tell Dabang about this idea and ask him to come up with a detailed plan. Then our Fire Tribe's leadership can discuss it together, and once we agree, we can get started."

Yan nodded. "Okay."

He added, "Father, I have another idea."

Jianshi: "Speak."

Yan said, "The salt-making workshops can also be relocated. There's a Jumbled Stone Slope to the north, about half a day's distance from headquarters. We can move the coarse salt refining process there, leaving only the fine salt refining process at headquarters. This way, we can improve efficiency and also ensure security and secrecy."

After listening, Jianshi's eyes were full of admiration.

"Great idea! That's a good one!"

He stood up, walked over to Yan, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Yan, you're becoming more and more thoughtful. With you here at the Fire Tribe headquarters, things are much easier for me!"

Yan smiled somewhat embarrassedly.

Jianshi said, "Go find Dabang and tell him about both of these ideas. Let him work on a plan together, and then we'll discuss it together."

Yan nodded, got up and left. He walked out of the council hall and headed straight for the workshop area. Dabang was busy in the bronze workshop. When he saw Yan come in, he came up to greet him.

"Yan, you're back? How's it going at the Deer Tribe Mining Area?"

Yan explained the situation and then shared his two ideas. After listening, Dabang's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Great idea! Great idea!"

He grabbed Yan's hand and said excitedly, "Yan, you don't know, I've always wanted to move the bronze workshop there, but I was afraid my father wouldn't agree, so I didn't say anything. Now that you've brought it up, it's wonderful!"

Yan laughed, "Then hurry up and come up with a plan, and we'll discuss it together later."

Dabang nodded repeatedly. "Good, good, good!"

He turned to leave, but Yan called out to him.

"Uncle Dabang, don't rush, take your time, explain in detail."

Dabang calmed down and nodded, saying, "Okay, I understand."

Yan left the workshop area and returned to his wooden hut. Lying on his bed, he thought about what was to come: the relocation of the bronze workshop, the relocation of the salt workshop, the expansion of the mining area, the construction of the stronghold...