A Vast Fleet to Bring Them Back

Two days later, before dawn broke at the Fire Tribe headquarters, the dock was already packed with people. Forty boats with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin, one hundred and eighty boats with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin, two hundred boats with a carrying capacity of 5,000 jin, and two hundred large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 jin—a total of six hundred and twenty boats—were densely moored on the Fire Creek River. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, thinly shrouding the river, and the sails of the boats appeared and disappeared in the mist, like giant water birds folding their wings.

Yan stood at the Chuantou of the largest ship, a 20,000-jin (10,000 kg) cargo ship, hands on his hips, his gaze sweeping over the massive fleet. Forty ships, each with a 20,000-jin (10,000 kg) cargo capacity, and one hundred and eighty ships, each with a 10,000-jin (5,000 kg) cargo capacity. These large ships alone could carry over two million jin (1 million kg) of grain. Transporting people? With so many ships, they could easily transport 20,000 people in one trip, let alone 10,000.

Shibang stood beside him, also looking at the Fire Tribe's ships with a gleam in his eyes. He was wearing a brand-new leather armor and a bronze sword at his waist, looking very energetic. Yan had specially brought him and Yingmu along this time, saying that he wanted them to get some more training.

"Boss, our Fire Tribe's naval strength is quite formidable now." Shibang's voice was filled with pride as he patted the gunwale beside him; the thick planks produced a dull sound when tapped.

Yan nodded, gazing into the distance, and said, "Yes, our Fire Tribe went from having dozens of small boats to hundreds of large ships in just a few years."

Shibang grinned, then suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice, saying, "Boss, have you heard? My father said that our Fire Tribe's main ship, with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, is about to be completed and launched."

Yan's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Really? Around when will we go into the water?"

Shibang scratched his head and said, "He didn't say a specific date, just that it would be soon. The shipbuilding workshop is working day and night to finish, so I estimate it will be done in the next few days."

Yingmu also came over, and upon hearing this, couldn't help but chuckle and said, "If Uncle Dali knew this news at headquarters, he would definitely be scrambling to go and test the waters again. Do you remember how he rushed to get on the ship when our tribe tested our 10,000-jin carrying capacity ship last time? He wouldn't listen to anyone's advice and insisted on being the first one on board."

Shibang slapped his thigh and laughed loudly, "How could I not remember! He was standing at the Chuantou, hands on his hips, looking so imposing, but then the boat rocked and he almost fell into the river."

Yingmu laughed so hard he couldn't straighten up, saying, "Right, right! If someone hadn't been holding him back, he would have been soaked to the bone."

Yan laughed, and after a while, said, "If Uncle Dali knew at headquarters that a ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin was going to be launched, he would definitely fight for it again. It's a pity he's at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost now and can't make it back in time."

Shibang winked and said, "Once our Fire Tribe's 50,000-jin carrying capacity ship is finished, we'll definitely be going to the Valley Tribe to transport grain. When we pass by the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, won't Uncle Dali have a go-aboard and have some fun?"

Yingmu nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's for sure! Uncle Dali can't resist a big ship."

Everyone burst into laughter, and the laughter drifted across the river in the morning breeze.

Yan glanced at the sky, then, without further delay, shouted, "Let's go!"

Soon the sound of Niujiao rang out, deep and long, and more than 600 boats slowly started and went downstream along the Fire Creek River. The oars cut through the water and the sails billowed in the morning wind. The entire fleet was like a giant dragon, slowly swimming in the morning mist.

A few days later, the Fire Tribe's Red Flower River Mouth Outpost came into Yan's view. From afar, Yan saw that the dock was packed with people. Those from the smaller tribes who wanted to join the Fire Tribe brought their families, carried bundles, led cattle and sheep, and pushed wooden carts, crowding the dock to the point of being impassable. Children weaved in and out of the crowd, adults shouted at the top of their lungs, cattle and sheep mooed, chickens and ducks clucked, and it was all in complete chaos.

Yan led his fleet slowly ashore. Dali had already received the news and was waiting on the dock with several leaders. He was wearing an old linen coat with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his thick forearms. His face was tanned dark by the sun, and his hands were as rough as old tree bark. When he saw Yan disembark, he strode up to greet him with a big smile.

"Yan'er, you've finally arrived!" He grabbed Yan's hand and shook it vigorously, his voice filled with relief. "If you hadn't come, this place would have been packed with them. Look at all these people, asking and hoping every day, I'm getting so annoyed with them."

Yan smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Uncle Dali, don't worry, we brought many boats this time, and we can bring them all back to the Fire Tribe headquarters in one go."

Dali turned his head to look at the large ships, his eyes lighting up. He exclaimed, "Good heavens, forty ships with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin each? Our Fire Tribe has so many large ships now?"

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, headquarters is still building a ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin. I estimate it will be launched in the next few days."

Dali's eyes widened, his mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time. After a while, he came to his senses, slapped his thigh, and said, "A ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin is being launched? I have to go back and see! No, after I'm done here, I have to the Fire Tribe headquarters with you."

Shibang couldn't help but laugh out loud, while Yingmu also suppressed a laugh, his shoulders shrugging.

Dali glared at them and shouted, "What are you laughing at? I'm concerned about important matters of the tribe!"

Yan smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Alright, alright, once we're done here, you can come back with us."

Dali nodded in satisfaction and pointed to the people on the dock, saying, "More than five thousand people are joining our Fire Tribe this time. They're all here. You can make the arrangements."

Yan turned around and looked at Feiyu and Yingmu, instructing them, "You two take half the boat and stay here to pick up people. The elderly and children should board first, followed by the women, and the young people last. Take as much stuff as you can; leave the rest for later."

Feiyu and Yingmu responded in unison, "Yes!"

Yan then looked at Dali and said, "Uncle Dali, I'll leave this place to you. I'll take the remaining boats to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost to pick up the people."

Dali nodded Dali and said, "Go ahead, go ahead, I'll take care of things here, don't worry."

Yan led the remaining half of the fleet downstream. By evening, the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost came into view. The dock here was larger than that at Red Flower River Mouth, and could accommodate more boats. The shore was also crowded with people, a dark mass that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Dazhuang stood on the dock, hands on his hips, directing people to maintain order. He was wearing leather armor, with a bronze sword at his waist. His face was expressionless, but the veins on his forehead were bulging, clearly showing that he was also quite annoyed by these people. When he saw Yan's fleet, his eyes lit up, and he strode forward to meet them.

"Yan! You've finally arrived!" His voice was hoarse and weary. "These past few days have been exhausting! Look at all these people, asking and urging me every single day! I've worn my lips out!"

Yan jumped off the boat and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle Dazhuang. I brought a lot of boats this time, so we can bring them all back in one go."

Dazhuang looked at the large ships and said, "That's good. There are over four thousand people joining this time, and they're all here."

Yan turned around and looked at Bailin and Shibang, instructing them, "You two take charge and make arrangements. The elderly and children should board the boat first, followed by the women, and the young people last. Take as much stuff as you can; leave the rest for later."

Bailin and Shibang replied, "Yes!"