Instructions at Little Fish River Mouth

Jianya led the Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet downstream along the Fish River. In the afternoon, the sun began to set, its rays softening and shimmering on the river's surface. Finally, the dock at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost came into view. From afar, Jianya spotted a man standing on the dock—a burly figure, his back ramrod straight, like a pine tree or an iron tower. It was none other than Dazhuang. He wore leather armor, the plates made of thick, hard wild boar hide. A bronze sword hung at his waist, its scabbard engraved with simple patterns, the hilt wrapped with hemp rope. His skin was tanned dark, like ink, his hands rough and strong, his knuckles large, his nails yellowed, his palms calloused. He had received word of Jianya's arrival early and had been waiting on the dock, not even having lunch, his stomach growling with hunger, yet he refused to leave.

Dazhuang stood on the dock, craning his neck to look upstream. Although he wasn't as Dali about the 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) carrying ship as Dali, and unlike Dali who was always captivated by ships and dreamed of owning one, he was still very happy and proud that the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost possessed such a vessel. This 50,000-jin carrying ship was a rare find. Looking across the entire Fish River Basin, how many tribes possessed one? Even the powerful Valley Tribe, after all these years, only had ten, and they were all old ships—the planks were mottled, the paint peeling, and the ropes worn and frayed. How could they compare to this brand-new ship? Its hull was smooth, the paint gleaming, and even the ropes were new.

When the Jianya grain transport fleet appeared on the river, Dazhuang's eyes lit up. He saw those giant ships, one after another, like moving Little Mountain, or like giant beasts floating on the water. He waved his hands excitedly, his arms swinging like windmills, fast and powerful, shouting, "Second Brother! Second Brother! Over here! Over here! I'm here!" His voice echoed across the river like thunder, startling a flock of water birds that fluttered into the sky.

The fleet slowly approached the shore. Jianya jumped off the largest ship with Dazhuang and decisive movement. Da Zhuang quickly went to meet him, his steps hurried. He grabbed Jianya's hand and shook it forcefully with great strength.

"Second Brother, I didn't expect that our Fire Tribe's ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties have increased by several more in just over ten days! Last time there were only twenty ships, but this time there are more than twenty. There are even more now!"

Dazhuang's voice was full of surprise, his eyes wide as he exclaimed, "Our shipbuilding speed is amazing! I've been busy here every day, and in just over ten days, the tribe has built several more ships!"

Jianya nodded and said, "Yes, I just came from the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. I left a boat with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties for Dali there. Now that Dali has a boat, he can travel on the river every day. Our Fire Tribe now has twenty-five boats with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties, which is more than double that of the Valley Tribe, fifteen more."

Dazhuang laughed, his eyes narrowing into slits to reveal a set of fairly even teeth. "Third Brother must be overjoyed. He'll wake up laughing in his dreams. When he came back to headquarters with me for a meeting last time, he told me he dreamed about this big ship all the time. He looked forward to it every day and every night, even talking about it in his sleep. Sometimes he would even shout 'Set sail, set sail!' in his sleep. He said he dreamed of sailing the big ship on the Fish River, it was so wonderful."

Jianya chuckled, shaking his head, feeling both amused and annoyed. "Yes, but this time he tried to refuse, saying I needed a boat to transport grain to the Valley Tribe, and that it was fine to give him the boat later. He said he could wait. I told him it wouldn't matter if I had one or two boats; we had plenty. Dali saw my firm attitude."

Dazhuang nodded, his eyes filled with admiration, and said, "Third Brother is also thinking of the tribe. He cares about everyone and the tribe. It's not that he doesn't want it, but he's afraid of delaying the important task of transporting grain. He may not say it, but he understands everything."

Jianya nodded, his gaze turning serious, like two Shitou, his brows furrowing slightly as he said, "Yes, but the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost and Little Fish River Mouth Outpost are the frontline outposts of our Fire Tribe, our gateways. Now, both the Wolf Tribe and the Bear Tribe are trying to change the existing power structure. The Wolf Tribe wants to annex the Great Rock, and the Bear Tribe wants to attack the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. Neither side is willing to be subservient. These two outposts are extremely important to our Fire Tribe, being on the front lines, so we're the first to know of any disturbances. We must have corresponding naval strength to prevent others from looking down on us or bullying us. I've also left a large ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. You two will each have one, without favoritism, fair and just. You two must defend and develop these two outposts well, and blockade the Fish River. This is crucial for the future development of our Fire Tribe, and it concerns the safety of our Fire Tribe."

Dazhuang nodded solemnly, as if making a vow, as if swearing a solemn oath. "Second Brother, you must have your reasons for making these arrangements, and I understand. Second Brother, rest assured, I will definitely guard and develop the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost well. Soon, the entire management center of the Fire Tribe will be relocated here, and I will definitely handle this matter perfectly, without any mistakes, and without letting you down."

Jianya patted his shoulder and said, "I'm relieved to hear that. Don't worry too much or overwork yourself. Headquarters will be sending another group of people to help you soon, so you can get some rest and won't have to work until midnight every day."

Dazhuang's eyes lit up and he said, "That's great! I'm short-staffed here, and there's so much to do. I'm busy until midnight every day, and sometimes I don't even have time to drink water. If more people come, I can relax a bit and catch my breath."

The two chatted for a while longer, discussing the construction of the stronghold, the resettlement of the new tribespeople, and the progress of this year's spring plowing. Then, Jianya looked at the sky; the sun was already setting, but there was still some time before dark, so they could still travel a bit further.

"Dazhuang, we still have a long way to go. We'll travel a bit more by water to get to the Valley Tribe as soon as possible, bring the grain back quickly, and put everyone at ease. We won't stay any longer." Jianya said, turning to board the boat with hurried steps.

Dazhuang quickly grabbed him, pulling on his sleeve and saying, "Second Brother, why don't you eat before you go? I've had someone prepare some food, it's still hot. You've been on the boat all day, you should rest."

Jianya shook his head, his attitude resolute, and said, "No, time is tight, the mission is heavy, and the grain is the most important thing. The sooner we get to the Valley Tribe and complete the delivery, the sooner we can come back. The sooner the grain is transported back, the sooner everyone can feel at ease. Next time I come, I'll eat my fill."

Seeing that he couldn't stop him, Dazhuang had no choice but to let go, step back a few paces, and stand aside, saying, "Then, Second Brother, be careful on your journey."

Jianya Teeth nodded, turned and boarded the ship with decisive movements. Soon after, the sound of the ox horn rang out, and the fleet slowly started, sailing out of the Little Fish River Mouth and continuing to drift downstream along the Fish River. Dazhuang stood on the wharf, watching the giant ships gradually disappear into the distance, and remained motionless for a long time.

Jianya led the fleet smoothly across the wide Fish River, where the scenery on both banks constantly changed. Sometimes there were dense forests with towering trees and lush greenery; sometimes there were open meadows with green grass and wildflowers everywhere; sometimes there were steep cliffs with jagged Shitou that even monkeys could not climb. After ten days of sailing, the Little Valley Camp Outpost of the Valley Tribe finally came into view.

From afar, Jianya could see several large ships docked at the Little Valley Camp Outpost outpost. These ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, gleamed in the sunlight, their hulls weathered and clearly old. Inside the camp, wooden huts and thatched hulls were densely packed together. Jianya had already sent men by boat to the Little Valley Camp Outpost to report. When Daiyan heard the news from the Fire Tribe's messenger, he lost all interest in the Fire Tribe's gifts. He hurriedly led his men onto one of the 50,000-jin-capacity ships at the dock to verify the Fire Tribe's report and to see exactly how many ships the Fire Tribe had.

As Jianya led his fleet slowly towards them, Daiyan boarded his 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) heavy-duty ship and sailed out from the Little Valley Camp Outpost dock, gradually approaching the Fire Tribe's fleet. Although the Fire Tribe had come ahead to inform them of the fleet's size and number of ships, Daiyan still wanted to come and see for himself.

The fleet drew closer, with more than twenty colossal ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin (25,000 kg), leading the way. They stood in a row, resembling more than twenty Little Mountain or twenty-five giant beasts. The ships were wide and long, with their Chuantou raised high. The tung oil gleamed with a dark luster in the sunlight, like a layer of honey or a layer of gold. Daiyan stood at the bow of his Chuantou, squinting as he counted the ships one by one, his fingers pointing in the air.

"One, two, three... twenty-three. Just as the Fire Tribe reported, twenty-three." He muttered to himself, his voice so low that only he could hear it, like chanting. "This Fire Tribe is indeed extraordinary; they've acquired so many large ships in such a short time! Last time they only had ten, the time before that only one, and this time there are twenty-three! The speed at which they build ships is unbelievable, like a dream."

He looked at the Fire Tribe's fleet with a complex mix of emotions: envy for their large fleet, jealousy for their rapid shipbuilding, admiration for their skill, worry about their strength, relief that they were allies, and resentment at their superiority. His face shifted between pale, red, and green with a mixture of emotions.

However, the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe now have a secret military alliance; they are allies and partners, not enemies. If the Fire Tribe becomes stronger, the Valley Tribe benefits; if the Fire Tribe has more ships, the Valley Tribe can borrow them; if the Bear Tribe has better weapons, the Valley Tribe can buy them. Now, with the Tiger Tribe's covert support, the Bear Tribe has greatly increased its number of bronze weapons, and its warriors are becoming more numerous and stronger, as if they've taken a tonic. Even the Bear Tribe's population has increased significantly, absorbing many people from smaller tribes, putting increasing pressure on the Little Valley Camp Outpost.

Last time, they acquired a considerable amount of bronze weapons from the Fire Tribe, which were mostly distributed to the Little Valley Camp Outpost. This significantly Little Valley Camp Outpost. Now, the Valley Tribe is eager to hand over this year's grain to the Fire Tribe, exchanging goods as soon as possible and acquiring more Fire Tribe weapons to arm their warriors. The Fire Tribe's bronze weapons are incredibly cheap and affordable, half the price of those from the Tiger Tribe, yet of better quality and sharper. Who wouldn't want them? Everyone wants them!

Daiyan took a deep breath, suppressing his complex emotions. He moved his boat closer to Jianya's boat, and the two boats stopped side by side. He stood at the Chuantou, forcing a smile, but the smile was somewhat stiff, and the corners of his mouth were pulled unnaturally, as if he were wearing a mask.

"Jianya Fang, your Fire Tribe's fleet has grown quite a bit. You now have twenty-three ships with a carrying capacity of fifty thousand catties each," he said, his voice somewhat hoarse.

Jianya clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and said, "Chief Daiyan, you flatter us. We are simply building more ships for easier transport. We didn't have enough ships before, so we had to build more. Is Chief Daiyue in the tribe? We brought a lot of good stuff with us this time and want to complete the transaction as soon as possible so we can return home quickly."

Daiyan nodded, his eyes filled with urgency, and said, "Yes! Yes! My elder brother has been waiting for you for a long time. He's been looking forward to your arrival. Just follow the guide ship to the main dock on the other side. Everything has been arranged there; the berths have been reserved for you, the best and largest berths."

Jianya nodded and said, "Thank you very much, Daiyan. I'm so sorry to trouble you every time I come."

Daiyan waved his hand and said, "No trouble at all! It's nothing, it's nothing!"

He turned around and waved to the flag bearer behind him. The flag bearer immediately signaled with flags to convey instructions to the dock at Little Valley Camp. Soon, several guide boats sailed out from the dock and headed towards the Fire Tribe's fleet. The small boats were agile and weaved between the giant ships.

Jianya Fang nodded to Daiyan, turned and returned to his own ship. The fleet followed the lead ship and slowly headed towards the Gu Tribe Valley Tribe dock on the opposite bank. More than twenty giant ships followed behind, like a group of giant beasts following the small boat.

Daiyan stood on his own boat, watching the Fire Tribe's fleet gradually disappear into the distance. His eyes were filled with complex emotions. He sighed, a long and heavy sigh. He turned and walked back to the cabin, his steps heavy, as if filled with lead.