Plans to Build Bigger Ships

When Yan led the fleet slowly into the Fire Tribe's main dock, the dock was already packed with people, a dark mass of them, all there to welcome him. Jianshi stood at the very front, followed by Qingye, Jian Ya, Dabang Jianya, Jijiao, Binmao, Canglan, Jia Li, Wu Xiong, and others, each with a smile on their face.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, looking at those familiar faces, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He had been away with the boat for many days, and now he was finally back.

The ship docked, and Yan jumped onto the pier, with Bailin following behind. Yan turned around and instructed him, "Take these newcomers to change their clothes and have them checked out; Shibang, take these tribal leaders to our headquarters, especially the granaries and livestock farms. Let them see what our Fire Tribe is really like."

Bailin nodded and turned to make arrangements. Shibang also nodded, walked up to the tribal chiefs, and said loudly, "Everyone, please follow me! I'll show you our Fire Tribe's granaries!"

The tribal chiefs' eyes lit up as they followed Shibang like a group of curious children. They had long heard that the Fire Tribe was wealthy, but they didn't know exactly how wealthy. Now that they had the chance to see for themselves, how could they miss it?

Yan strode towards Jianshi and said, "Father!" He reached Jianshi, his voice filled with joy, "This time we brought back nearly ten thousand people, and the journey went very smoothly."

Jianshi nodded, patted his shoulder, and said with satisfaction in his eyes, "The people you had Feiyu and Yingmu bring back from the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost arrived yesterday, and we've almost settled them in."

He paused, then said with a touch of emotion, "This time you brought back nearly ten thousand more people. The population of our Fire Tribe has now reached 110,000."

When Jianshi uttered the number 110,000, everyone around him gasped. 110,000 people—what kind of tribe could possibly have that many? Just a few years ago, the Fire Tribe only had a few hundred people, and even getting enough to eat was a problem. Now? 110,000 people, eating their fill every day, with surplus grain.

Yan said, "This doesn't even include the natural population growth of our Fire Tribe. Now our tribe's food is becoming more abundant, our medicinal herbs are becoming more plentiful, and our people are living longer. We've also had quite a few newborns recently. If you include them all, the number is probably more than 110,000."

Jianshi nodded, then said, "In the future, the population of our Fire Tribe will definitely increase. Many of the small tribes on the north and east banks of the Fish River will also choose to join our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe after seeing how well these people are doing after joining. Soon, our population will reach 150,000."

150,000! This number excited everyone present. 150,000 people, what does that mean? The Tiger Tribe in the lower reaches of the Fish River has only grown to a few hundred thousand people after so many years. The Fire Tribe's population is now almost catching up with the Tiger Tribe's.

Yan said, "The more people our tribe has, the stronger we become. When I came back, I even saw a large ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin docked at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost."

Jianshi smiled, his eyes gleaming, and said, "We've already built that ship ahead of schedule. When you go to the Valley Tribe to transport grain in a couple of days, take it with you."

Yan's eyes lit up, and he said, "With this ship, our Fire Tribe will have even greater influence in the Fish River Basin."

Jianshi patted him on the shoulder and said, "You must be tired from your journey. Let's go back to the council hall and have something to eat while we talk."

The group headed towards the council hall. Along the way, Yan saw Dabang walking beside him and asked, "Uncle Dabang, how's our workshop doing lately?"

Dabang Stick grinned, his wrinkles smoothing out, and said, "Everything's fine! We'll talk more when you get back and sit down."

Inside the council chamber, the fire was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy. Steaming hot food had been served and laid out on the table, and everyone sat down to eat and chat.

After they had almost finished eating, Jianshi put down his chopsticks and looked at Yan, saying, "During this time, our Fire Tribe not only built that 50,000-jin carrying capacity ship, but also ten 20,000-jin carrying capacity ships. We have already completed this year's plan to build 20,000-jin carrying capacity ships."

He paused, then said with satisfaction, "We only need twenty more ships with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin each. These will be completed soon, and then all we'll need to do is some maintenance on our existing ships."

Yan Xin was overjoyed. Forty ships with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin each, plus these ten, made fifty ships in total. One ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, plus those ships with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin, 5,000 jin, and large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 jin, the Fire Tribe's fleet was already a force to be reckoned with.

"With so many ships, I can transport all 20 million catties of grain that our tribe and the Valley Tribe ordered this year back on this trip," Yan said.

Dabang put down his wine bowl and took over the conversation, saying, "Our shipbuilding output has increased significantly recently. I expect to complete the construction plan of fifty 20,000-jin deadweight ships and forty-nine 50,000-jin deadweight ships next year."

The plan to build forty-nine ships with a deadweight tonnage of 50,000 jin each! This number was like a Jushi thrown into a calm lake, stirring up huge waves, and the council hall instantly erupted in chaos.

Jianya was the first to jump up, his eyes wide like copper bells, and he said, "Next year we can build forty-nine ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each? The Valley Tribe only has ten! If we have fifty, won't we be able to roam freely on the Fish River? Those blockades set up by the Valley Tribe will be completely useless against our Fire Tribe!"

The others chimed in, their faces flushed with excitement.

Yan shook his head and said calmly, "The Valley Tribe's blockade is easy to pass, but the Tiger Tribe has ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. We should keep a low profile."

The council hall fell silent. The Tiger Tribe was a huge Jushi weighing on the heads of everyone in the Fire Tribe. With over 100,000 people, 30,000 armored warriors, and a massive ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, the Fire Tribe, despite its rapid development, still lagged far behind the Tiger Tribe.

All eyes turned to Dabang, who cleared his Dabang and said in Chenwen voice, "Our Fire Tribe is already researching and manufacturing ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. We are very confident that we can build one by the end of next year."

The council hall erupted in excitement once again. A ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin! That was something only the Tiger Tribe possessed! If the Fire Tribe could build one, it would truly be a behemoth on the Fish River. At that time, even if the Tiger Tribe wanted to cause trouble for the Fire Tribe, they would have to think twice.

Jianshi raised his hand to stop the crowd's discussion and said, "Once the first one is built, the rest will be easier to build."

He looked at Yan and said seriously, "Make preparations. In two days, take the fleet to the Valley Tribe and bring back the last four million catties of grain this year as soon as possible."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, Father."

Jianshi then looked at everyone and said, "Everyone, please do your job and don't let your guard down."

Everyone nodded and left one after another.