The Fire Tribe's Grain Transport Fleet Sets Out Again
Two days later, as the sun peeked over the eastern mountains, the dock at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost was already bustling with activity. Jianya looked at the massive fleet before him and felt a surge of pride. Twenty-five boats with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, fifty boats with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin each, as well as boats with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin each, boats with a carrying capacity of 5,000 jin each, and large Muzhou with a carrying capacity of 2,000 jin each were densely packed on the river, all loaded with supplies.
The conflict between the Valley Tribe and the Bear Tribe is intensifying, with both sides preparing to clash like two fighting cocks. The Fire Tribe's leadership agrees to expedite the return of the grain, as it is only Fire Tribe theirs once it is back. Leaving it with others is unsettling. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, and if a fight breaks out and the grain cannot be returned, the trouble will be immense. The sooner it is returned, the sooner they can have peace of mind.
Jianshi, along with Qingye, Qing Ye, Dabang, Canglan, Jia Li, Wu Xiong, and other important leaders, stood on the dock to see Jianya and his men off. Jianshi wore a long linen robe, its blue color shimmering softly in the morning light. He stood ramrod straight, like a pine tree or a mountain. Qingye stood beside him, wearing a light-colored linen skirt embroidered with small Little Flower. Her hair was neatly combed and held up with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears, gleaming in the morning light. Dabang, Canglan, Jia Li, Wu Xiong, and the others stood behind them.
Jianshi stepped forward, looked at Jianya, and said with a hint of entrustment in his eyes, "Jianya, the tribe's population is growing rapidly, now over 120,000. They all need to eat, three meals a day, not one less. Grain is extremely important to our Fire Tribe; it's our lifeline, the foundation of our tribe's development. Transporting grain is crucial; there can be no mistakes. Thank you for your hard work this time."
Jianya shook his head and said, "Brother, it's not hard work. Seeing our Fire Tribe getting stronger and stronger, with more and more people, more and more boats, more and more fields, and more and more food, I feel full of energy, like I have inexhaustible strength. Although these past few years have been busy, sometimes from morning till night, and sometimes I don't even have time to drink water, they have been the happiest years of my life."
He paused, his gaze becoming distant, as if recalling something, or perhaps sighing with emotion, and said, "A few years ago, who would have thought that our Fire Tribe would grow from a small tribe of two hundred people, struggling to get enough to eat and wear, into a large tribe with a population of over a hundred thousand, with food at every meal, surplus every year, clothes for everyone, and houses for every household? Who dared to imagine it? Not even in their wildest dreams."
He paused, then raised his voice slightly, saying, "Brother, don't worry, I will definitely bring the grain back as soon as possible. There won't be any problems. After this shipment arrives, I'll make another trip to try and bring back all 20 million catties of grain that we ordered from the Valley Tribe. Our tribe has so many people, 120,000 mouths to feed. The more grain we have in our reserves, the more at ease we'll feel, and the more peaceful we'll be at night. We won't be afraid of disasters or war."
His gaze turned serious, and his brows furrowed slightly as he said, "Moreover, the friction between the Valley Tribe and the Bear Tribe is intensifying. Both sides are making preparations. The Bear Tribe now has the covert support of the Tiger Tribe, resulting in a significant increase in the number of bronze weapons and a growing number and strength of its warriors. The Valley Tribe also certainly wants to deliver its grain to us as soon as possible to exchange for more bronze weapons to enhance its strength and deal with the Bear Tribe. They are anxious, we are anxious, everyone is anxious."
Jianshi nodded and said, "Even so, it's still better to bring the grain back from the Valley Tribe as soon as possible. You should also keep a close eye on the situation downstream of the Fish River, especially the Wolf Tribe. They're causing a lot of trouble in the north. The Valley Tribe is currently strong enough to handle the Bear Tribe alone, but if the Wolf Tribe absorbs the Great Boulder Tribe's power and joins forces with the Bear Tribe to attack the Valley Tribe, then the Valley Tribe will be in trouble."
Jianya nodded, his gaze turning serious. "Yes, brother. I'll pay more attention to this in the future."
Jianshi gave a few more instructions, telling him to be careful on the road, to be polite to the Valley Tribe so as not to offend anyone, and to be careful during the handover. Then, he looked at the sky; the sun was already higher in the sky.
"Jianya, it's getting late. You should take the fleet and set off. The sooner you go, the sooner you'll return. Be careful on the journey; a safe return is more important than anything else."
Jianya nodded, turned and waved to Binmao and the others behind him, his voice booming like thunder. "Board! Prepare to depart!"
Everyone boarded the ship and took their positions. The man with Binmao stood at the Chuantou, checking the mooring lines; several soldiers stood at the stern, checking the rudder; and several leaders stood in the middle of the ship, checking the supplies. Soon after, the sound of the ox horn rang out.
More than 700 boats slowly started up, left the dock, and sailed downstream along the Fish River. The oars cut through the water, making a splashing sound, and they sailed into the distance in a grand procession.
On the shore, Jianshi, Yan, Qingye, Dabang, Canglan, and others stood there, watching the fleet sail away. Only when the last ship disappeared into the morning mist did they turn and leave.
On the morning of the third day, the sun was already high in the sky when the dock at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost finally came into view.
Jianya stood at the Chuantou and saw a man standing on the dock in the distance. He was tall and burly, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, like a wall or an iron tower. He was craning his neck to look in their direction. Who else could it be but Dali? He was wearing an old linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his thick forearms, muscles firm and veins bulging. His hands were rough and strong, with large knuckles, yellowed nails, and calluses all over his palms. His hair was messy from the river wind, but his eyes shone like two lamps.
Dali had received advance notice that Jianya was arriving today, and he hadn't slept well all night, tossing and turning. This morning, before the sun had even risen, he arrived at the dock of the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost to wait, without even having breakfast. He stood on the dock, sometimes sitting down, sometimes standing up, sometimes pacing back and forth, sometimes craning his neck to look upstream, like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously pacing back and forth, restless and uneasy.
Before long, Jianya led the fleet to the dock of the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. The fleet was magnificent, with twenty-five giant ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, leading the way. Dali saw the fleet, his eyes lit up. He strode forward, taking three steps at a time, like a gust of wind. He stood by the dock, looking up at the giant ships, his eyes gleaming, his mouth agape, unable to close it for a long time.
Jianya jumped off the boat with swift, Dali movements. Dali strode forward, grabbed Jianya's hand, and shook it vigorously. Dali's grip was strong, like an iron clamp, shaking Jianya's arm violently. Dali shouted enthusiastically, his voice like thunder echoing across the dock, making the ears of those nearby ring.
"Second Brother, our Fire Tribe has gained even more ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin! Last time we only had twenty, but this time there are twenty-five—five more! Our shipbuilding speed is incredible!"
Jianya nodded and said, "Yes, our Fire Tribe now has twenty-five large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties, more than double that of the Valley Tribe, fifteen more. This time, I also brought the ship from your Red Flower River Mouth Outpost with me, that one." He pointed to a brand-new giant ship in the fleet, its hull smooth and its paint shiny, gleaming in the sunlight like a mirror.
Dali was very excited when he heard this. His eyes widened like saucers, his mouth was agape, and he rubbed his hands together, making a rustling sound. His face was full of excitement, like a child who had received a beloved toy. But after thinking for a moment, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with hesitation and embarrassment.
"Second Brother, why don't we wait a little longer? You also need boats to transport grain to the Valley Tribe. You have so much grain to transport, twenty million catties. There aren't enough boats. I'm not in a hurry, I can wait."
Jianya shook his head, patted Dali on the shoulder and said, "It's alright. We don't need one more ship to transport grain to the Valley Tribe. We have plenty of boats. You take it first. The Red Flower River Mouth Outpost is very important to our Fire Tribe. It's the bridgehead on the west bank of the river and our gateway. You must defend it well and develop it properly. There can't be any mistakes. With a big ship, you can better defend this place."
Dali hearing this, Dali stopped refusing and smiled, nodding vigorously.
"Alright, since you've said so, Second Brother, I won't refuse. Don't worry, Second Brother, I will definitely defend and develop the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost well, and I won't let you down!"
Dali immediately accepted the ship, which had a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, with Dali joy. He jumped onto the ship and walked around on the deck like a happy monkey. He touched the hull as if it were his own child; he patted the mast to test its sturdiness; and he squatted down to examine the planks, wanting to check every inch of the ship, praising and marveling at it.
Dali said, "Second Brother, would you like to rest here with some people? Have something to eat before you leave. I'll have someone start a fire and cook something; it'll be quick."
Jianya waved his hand and said, "No, we still have a long way to go. We need to get to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. Dazhuang is waiting for us."
Dali nodded Dali and said, "Okay, then I won't keep you any longer."
Jianya turned and boarded the ship with swift movements. Soon after, the sound of the ox horn rang out, and the fleet slowly started moving, sailing out of the Red Flower River Mouth Wharf and continuing downstream along the Fish River towards the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost.
Dali stood on the dock, watching the fleet gradually sail away until they became a small dot on the river and disappeared into the morning mist, then he looked away.