Journey to the Orange River

Two days later, early in the morning, the dock in the valley of the Fire Tribe's headquarters became lively again. Jianya stood at the Chuantou of the largest ship, with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin, looking at the huge fleet in front of him. A surge of pride welled up in his heart. One ship with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin, one hundred and ten ships with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin, two hundred ships with a carrying capacity of 5,000 jin, and two hundred large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 jin—a total of 511 ships, densely packed on the surface of the Fire Creek River, were loaded with pottery, all of which were to be exchanged for grain.

"Jianya Leader," Binmao stepped forward and stood beside him, "We are all ready, the fleet can depart at any time."

Jianya nodded and looked at the dock, where Jianshi, Qingye, Yan, Dali, and others were standing and waving at them. Jianya waved back.

"Let's go!" he shouted.

As the horn sounded, more than 500 boats slowly started and sailed downstream along the Fire Creek River. On the shore, Jianshi and the others watched the fleet depart. Yan stood by the dock, watching the brand-new 20,000-jin carrying capacity ship gradually disappear into the morning mist. He thought to himself, one day, the Fire Tribe will have more 20,000-jin carrying capacity ships, and even 50,000-jin carrying capacity ships. One day, the Fire Tribe's fleet will be ten times larger than it is now!

"Yan," Jianshi walked over, "You're leaving tomorrow too, go back and prepare."

Yan nodded. "Okay!"

The next morning, before dawn, Yan got up, dressed, went out of the wooden house, and went to the dock, where Feiyu and Bailin were already waiting.

"Young Chief!" the two bowed in unison.

Yan nodded. "Are you ready?"

Feiyu said, "We're ready. Ten boats with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties each, and thirty large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of two thousand catties each, loaded with pottery, coarse salt, hemp cloth, straw sandals, cured meat, and other supplies."

Yan nodded in satisfaction. At the Fire Tribe's main dock, the fleet was ready to depart. Forty ships were neatly moored, and the Fire Tribe's warriors were already in position. Yan boarded the ship with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties and stood at the Chuantou, shouting loudly!

"Set off!"

The fleet slowly started moving, heading downstream along the Fire Creek River. The morning breeze carried the moist scent of the river, and the scenery on both banks of the Fire Creek River kept receding— the Fire Creek River Middle Outpost, the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, all flashed past.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, looking at the ever-growing strongholds, his heart filled with emotion. The Fire Tribe's main valley had been almost fully developed, and now the Fire Tribe was Dali developing the outer strongholds. The paddy fields in those strongholds were increasing, and it was precisely because the grain production of the outer strongholds was constantly increasing that the Fire Tribe had the confidence to continuously absorb people and strengthen its power.

"Young Chieftain," Feiyu walked over and stood beside him, "These outposts are developing really fast. I estimate that by next year, our Fire Tribe will be able to be self-sufficient in food."

Bailin also came over and nodded, saying, "That's right, then even if we don't buy grain from outside, we won't be afraid."

Yan smiled.

"Don't worry, everyone, things will be better after this year."

The fleet soon reached the Fire Creek River Mouth, where it merged into the wide Fish River, and continued downstream. Feiyu pointed to both banks of the Fish River and began to introduce them to Yan.

"Young chieftain, between Fire Creek Mouth and Fish Tribe of the Little Fish River Mouth, on the east bank of the Fish River are Little Gathering River, Stone Creek River, and Pottery and Salt River. These tributaries are not large, but small boats can still pass through."

Yan nodded.

Feiyu continued, "On the west bank of the Fish River, between the Fire Creek River Mouth and Little Fish River Mouth, there are the Orange River and the Red Flower River. These two tributaries have larger water volumes, and even during the dry season, boats with a carrying capacity of 10,000 catties can navigate freely."

He pointed ahead. "This time we're going to the Orange River and the Red Flower River."

Yan asked, "And what happens next?"

Feiyu said, "Further down, between the mouth of the Little Fish River Mouth of the Fish Tribe and the Little Valley Camp of the Valley Tribe, there are the Little Horse River and the Big Horse River on the east bank of the Fish River; and the Green Leaf River Clothing River on the west bank of the Fish River."

He paused for a moment, then said, "That's where our old Fish Tribe's fleet used to sail. After we go to the Orange River and the Red Flower River, we can go there too."

Yan's heart stirred. With the help of these new members of the original Fish Tribe, it would be much easier for the Fire Tribe to absorb population and expand its power in this area. A little over a day later, the mouth of the Orange River came into view in the distance. From afar, Yan saw dozens of people standing at the river mouth. The fleet of boats slowly approached the shore. Among those dozens of people, two middle-aged men stepped out. One was burly with dark skin and wore a simple animal skin garment. The other was lean and capable, with shrewd eyes.

Feiyu's eyes lit up, and he whispered to Yan, "Young Chief, that burly one is Dajutou Head, the chief of the Big Orange Tribe, and that lean one is Little Orange Xiaojutou Little Orange Tribe. Both tribes have around five hundred people each."

Yan nodded, and he, along with Feiyu and Bailin, jumped off the boat. The two leaders quickly came to greet them.

"Feiyu Leader! Bailin Leader!" Xiaojutou shouted excitedly, "You've finally arrived! If you hadn't come, we would have had to eat all the oranges ourselves!"

Dajutou nodded repeatedly, his face full of anxiety.

"Why haven't you come for so long? We're almost out of salt! Those small tribes have run out of salt too! If you come any later, it will be troublesome; those small tribes can't do without salt!"

Feiyu smiled and waved his hand.

"Don't worry, don't worry, we had some business to attend to this time, so we couldn't come. We're here for trade."

He paused, pointed at Yan, and said seriously, "However, our Fish Tribe has now completely joined the Fire Tribe. We came here as members of the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe. This is our young leader, Yan!"

The two leaders were stunned for a moment, Xiaojutou opened his mouth wide, unable to speak for a long time.

Dajutou stared wide-eyed, asking incredulously, "The entire Fish Tribe has now joined the Fire Tribe?"

Bailin nodded. "Yes, not only our Fish Tribe, but also the Pottery Salt Tribe, the Green Grain Tribe, the Marsh Tribe, the Beast Taming Tribe, and the Hundred Crafts Tribe —all these tribes have joined the Fire Tribe. Moreover, all the tribes upstream of the Fish River have joined the Fire Tribe!"

The two leaders were completely shocked. They looked at each other for a long time before they came to their senses.

"They... they all joined?" Xiaojutou murmured.

Dajutou looked at Yan and asked cautiously, "Is it that tribe that's been getting more and more ships and bigger and bigger in recent years?"

Yan nodded and pointed in the direction of the lower reaches of the Fish River.

"That huge fleet that sailed down the Fish River yesterday was our Fire Tribe's fleet."

The two leaders gasped in shock. They saw the fleet—a dense array of ships stretching as far as the eye could see! There were over a hundred ships with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin each, and a giant ship twice the size of those ships. It turned out to be the Fire Tribe's fleet! Dajutou immediately beamed and bowed repeatedly.

"Young Chief Yan! Welcome, welcome! Please come to our Big Orange Tribe!"

Xiaojutou quickly echoed, and Yan nodded, following them toward the Big Orange Tribe. The Big Orange Tribe's camp was built not far from the Orange River. It was not large, with only about five hundred people. About a hundred thatched huts and wooden houses were scattered on the gentle slope, surrounded by some fruit trees and vegetables. When they entered the Big Orange Tribe's council hall, Dajutou warmly invited Yan to sit down and had plates of golden oranges and other sweet fruits brought out.

"Chief Yan, both leaders, please try some of our Big Orange Tribe's specialty! These oranges are sweet and juicy!"

Yan picked up an orange, peeled it, and tasted a segment. It was indeed delicious; the flesh was plump, juicy, and sweet.

"It's delicious." He nodded.

Dajutou beamed with joy. Yan waved his hand, and his attendant presented several exquisite pieces of pottery. Dajutou took them and his eyes lit up. These pottery pieces were finely crafted and much better than the ones they had previously traded with the Fish Tribe.

"Young Master Yan, these pottery pieces..."

Yan said, "They were all made by our Fire Tribe ourselves."

Dajutou was shocked. Sure enough, the Fire Tribe could make their own pottery. No wonder they had developed so quickly.

Feiyu added from the side, "Dajutou, our Fire Tribe not only makes pottery, but also salt, weaves linen, and builds large ships. These things are all produced by ourselves."

Dajutou and Xiaojutou exchanged a glance, both seeing a sense of awe in each other's eyes: pottery making, salt production, cloth weaving, shipbuilding...

The Fire Tribe has so many skills!

"Then... how many people are there in your Fire Tribe now?" Xiaojutou asked cautiously.

Feiyu smiled and said, "More than 80,000 people!"

"More than 80,000 people?" the two leaders exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

Feiyu nodded. "Yes, our Fire Tribe has more than a dozen strongholds scattered along the eastern bank of the upper reaches of the Fish River."

Dajutou was completely stunned. More than 80,000 people, more than a dozen strongholds...

What does this mean? All the tribes in the Orange River basin combined only have about six thousand people, while the Fire Tribe's population is more than ten times that of the entire Orange River basin!

Xiaojutou took a deep breath and asked cautiously, "Chief Yan, is your Fire Tribe here only for trade?"

Yan looked at him and slowly said, "Trade is one aspect, but on the other hand, our Fire Tribe also plans to absorb some people in the Orange River basin."

He paused, then said seriously, "If your two tribes wish to join, our Fire Tribe would naturally welcome you. Rest assured, once you arrive in the Fire Tribe, as long as you follow the rules and are willing to work, you won't go hungry."

The two leaders exchanged a glance, said nothing, and joined the Fire Tribe...

This is a big deal.

Feiyu said from the side, "Dajutou, Xiaojutou, don't rush to make a decision. You may not be familiar with the rules of our Fire Tribe, but one thing is guaranteed: as long as you join the Fire Tribe, your lives will only get better and better."

Bailin nodded, "Yes, after our Fish Tribe joined, we're doing much better than before. Those tribes that joined from the west bank upstream are also doing quite well."

The two leaders were silent for a moment before Dajutou cautiously spoke up, "Young Master Yan, we are very interested in joining the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, but we don't know much about it yet. Could... could we send a few people with us to go and take a look at the Fire Tribe?"

Yan thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, but we still need to take the fleet downstream along the Fish River. We'll come back to pick you up when we return, how about that?"

Dajutou nodded repeatedly.

"No problem! No problem!"

He added, "Chief Yan, there are many small tribes in our Orange River basin who are struggling to make ends meet. If the Fire Tribe is willing to accept them, they will certainly be willing to join as well. May I contact them first and ask them to send representatives to the Fire Tribe to take a look?"

Yan smiled and said, "Of course."

Yan paused for a moment, then said, "You mentioned earlier that many tribes here need salt. I brought quite a bit with me this time, and I can trade with you at a low price first. We'll also give you the best prices for other supplies."

The two leaders were filled with gratitude upon hearing this.

"Thank you very much, Young Master Yan!"

Yan had his entourage unload the supplies they had brought and temporarily store them with the two tribes. They planned to exchange these supplies for the local specialties of the smaller tribes along the Orange River when they arrived. The two chieftains were deeply moved by Yan's trust.

"Don't worry, Chief Yan," Dajutou assured, patting his chest, "We will definitely offer these small tribes the most favorable price, and we'll also discuss with them the possibility of them joining the Fire Tribe!"

Yan nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then got up to take his leave. Yan and the Fire Tribe's fleet stayed at the Orange River for a day, and the next morning, they continued sailing downstream. Their next destination was the Red Flower River.