Learning the Situation at Red Flower River Mouth

On the third day after Yan led his fleet away from the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, around noon, the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost outpost came into view. The voyage for several days had been smooth sailing without any trouble. The surface of the Fish River shimmered, like a layer of broken gold, and the distant mountains stretched out like a green dragon lying on the earth. Occasionally, a few farmers could be seen working in the fields.

Dali had received the news long ago and knew that Yan was arriving today, so he came early in the morning and waited at the dock of the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. He stood on the dock, craning his neck to look upstream. He was wearing an old linen shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his thick forearms, muscles firm, veins bulging like earthworms wriggling under his skin. 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, flashing with excitement.

Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet to the shore slowly. Three giant ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties each led the way, their Chuantou raised high, the tung oil on their hulls gleaming in the sunlight, and their sails billowing in the wind, flashing white in the sunlight. Behind them followed dozens of small boats, large and small, like a school of fish fry following behind giant fish.

Yan jumped off the boat with a swift and decisive movement. His foot landed on the dock with a "thud," kicking up a small cloud of dust. Dali strode forward to meet him, his steps hurried. He grabbed Yan's hand and shook it vigorously, his hand strong. Dali's face was full of smiles, and his eyes narrowed into slits.

"Yan, you've arrived! You must be tired from your journey! Did you encounter any trouble on the way?" Dali's voice, like thunder, echoed across the dock, making the ears of those nearby ring and even causing ripples in the river.

Yan smiled and said, "Everything is going smoothly for us, Uncle Dali. How does it feel to ride on a ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin every day? Is it comfortable? Is it exciting? Are you getting tired of it?"

Dali grinned and said, "This feels amazing! It's like flying! I now take this 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) heavy-duty boat from the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost and patrol the Fish River twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, rain or shine. I never get tired of it."

Yan nodded and said, "Our Fire Tribe has overcome many difficulties in building a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. The shipbuilding workshop is working day and night, with no rest for the workers. The blueprints have been revised again and again; logs have been sawed one after another; planks have been planed one after another. It should be ready to be built and tested soon. Maybe it will be launched next month and will be able to run on the river. Uncle Dabang will definitely come to call you back for testing then. He won't forget his promise to you."

Dali's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, "That's wonderful! I've been sleeping soundly every night on a ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin lately. If I could ride on a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, I'd be smiling in my dreams!"

Yan patted his shoulder and said, "Dali, don't worry. At this pace, our Fire Tribe will definitely have quite a few large ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin next year. By then, our Fire Tribe's management center will have already moved to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, not far from your Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. The Red Flower River Mouth Outpost is one of our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe's most important strongholds, serving as our gateway on the west bank of the Fish River. We'll definitely be equipped with at least one ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. Your Red Flower River Mouth Outpost won't be left out, and you won't be envious. Uncle Dali, don't neglect this 50,000 jin ship just because you have a 100,000 jin ship now. Don't stop using it."

He waved his hand Dali and quickly said, "No, no. I'll take turns driving these two boats. Today I'll drive the 100,000-jin carrying capacity boat, and tomorrow I'll drive the 50,000-jin carrying capacity boat. I'll take turns patrolling the Fish River, treating them equally and without favoritism. The 50,000-jin carrying capacity boat is a good boat, and the 100,000-jin carrying capacity boat is also a good boat. They're both treasures. I love them both and can't bear to part with either of them. One is like my son, and the other is like my daughter. I love them both equally."

Then Dali glanced at the sky. The sun was already high overhead, its rays shining directly down, making people's skin hot and their foreheads sweat. He took Yan's hand and walked towards the camp's council hall, saying as they walked, "Yan, you've had a long and tiring journey. You've been on the boat for several days and you must be exhausted. You should rest. Let's go to the council hall of our Red Flower River Mouth Outpost to eat and chat. I've had hot food, soup, and rice prepared so everyone can warm up and relax."

The group followed Dali towards the council hall. The council hall at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost was newly built, smaller than the one at the Fire Tribe headquarters, but still spacious enough to seat dozens of people. The walls were made of logs, rows of round logs bound together with vines and plastered with mud, making them sturdy and warm, impervious to wind and rain. The thatched roof was thick and firmly packed, preventing rainwater from seeping in and sunlight from penetrating. Two thick pillars stood at the entrance, engraved with wave patterns—the mark of the Red Flower River Mouth. The fire symbolizes the river and its waves, flow and life, and ceaseless movement. A hearth burns inside, the pine fire crackling and sparks flying, tracing brief arcs in the dim light. The room is warm and inviting, making one drowsy. Food is already laid out on the low table, steaming and fragrant: roasted fish, stewed meat, wild vegetable soup, hot rice, and several jars of fruit wine. The clay seals on the jars have just been broken, and the aroma of the wine mingles with the smell of the food, filling the air and making one's mouth water and stomach rumble.

The Red Flower River Mouth Outpost has been equipped with a skilled cook, sent from the Fire Tribe headquarters. His cooking is excellent, and everyone loves his dishes. Although he can't compare to the head chef at the Fire Tribe headquarters, and his dishes aren't as refined, they are already top-notch at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, a hundred times better than Dali can cook himself.

Everyone sat down to eat, chatting and laughing as they ate. Dali ate Dali, his cheeks bulging, and he could barely speak, just stuffing food into his mouth. Yan ate more politely, chewing slowly as if savoring something. Shibang and Yingmu fought over a piece of meat, each trying to grab it from the other like two children, neither willing to give in, their chopsticks clashing in the dish. Feiyu and Bailin ate and chatted, recounting their experiences on the road.

When everyone had almost finished eating and drinking, the dishes on the table were almost empty, and they had drunk several jars of wine. Everyone's faces were flushed and their bellies were round. He put down his wine bowl with Dali, wiped his mouth, wiped it with his sleeve, and let out a satisfied burp. He spoke, his voice carrying a hint of seriousness.

"Yan, you came from the Fire Tribe headquarters this time to find out about the small tribes around the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost joining the Fire Tribe, right?"

Yan nodded, put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, took a sip of tea to rinse his mouth, and said, "Yes, this is the main purpose of our trip from the Fire Tribe headquarters. It's also the task my father assigned me. He sent me to the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost to investigate and see what the situation is like here. Tell us in detail how many people there are, how many tribes there are, what their thoughts are, and how their preparations are going. We need to tell us everything so we can go back and report to my father and arrange for boats to come to the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost to pick up people."

Dali cleared his throat, counted on his fingers one by one, and said, "Most of the people in the Green Leaf River basin have now joined our Fire Tribe. Many tribes, large and small, on both the south and north banks of the Green Leaf River have joined our Fire Tribe. Only the Long Leaf Tribe and Short Leaf Tribe on the north bank of the Green Leaf River and their affiliated tribes have not joined our Fire Tribe. They are the two largest tribes in the Green Leaf River basin and the two tribes that are living the best lives. These people together number about five thousand."

He paused, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy, and said, "But with the massive population exodus from the Green Leaf River basin, almost everyone has left. The land there is now barren, with grass taller than a person in some places. The trade of goods they used to do is no longer viable. The Long Leaf Tribe Short Leaf Tribe used to make a lot of money trading goods. They would exchange goods from our Fire Tribe —coarse salt, pottery, and linen—and then sell them to other smaller tribes, earning a considerable profit. They lived a decent life, not rich, but not poor either. Now, their trade has been severely impacted. Goods are no longer selling; nobody's buying them, and there's no business. These two tribes can barely make ends meet now, a far cry from what they used to be. Their dependent tribes are even worse off; they can't even get enough to eat, and some are starving. Last winter, people even froze to death."

He paused for a moment and continued, "This time, it was the Long Leaf Tribe and Short Leaf Tribe that took the lead in wanting to join our Fire Tribe. They were the ones who came to our Fire Tribe first, sending envoys. They knew that if things continued like this, their lives would only get harder and harder. Seeing that the small tribes in the Green Leaf River basin who had joined our Fire Tribe were doing well, with plenty of food, warm clothes, and comfortable housing, they were tempted and wanted to join our Fire Tribe as well. They also wanted to live a good life."

Yan nodded, his gaze calm, and said, "It's a good thing they want to join our Fire Tribe. The more people the Fire Tribe has, the better. The more people we have, the stronger we become, and the larger our territory will be."

He nodded Dali, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were deep in thought, and his eyes were narrowed. He then spoke, "It is indeed a good thing for our Fire Tribe, but the Long Leaf Tribe and Shortleaf tribes have some other ideas. It's not as simple as just joining; it's not enough for people to just come to the Fire Tribe."

Yan asked doubtfully, his brows furrowing as he leaned forward. "What are those two tribes thinking? Just say it directly, don't beat around the bush."

Dali explained, "The Long Leaf Tribe and Shortleaf tribes want their affiliated tribes to join our Fire Tribe first, returning to the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe headquarters with us. They won't follow us for now; they want to join Fire Tribe but stay until the autumn harvest, then bring supplies and belongings back to the Fire Tribe headquarters with us. Firstly, they're worried we won't have enough food to feed so many people at once, and they don't want to burden us. Secondly, they want to bring as much food and supplies as possible, including this year's Fire Tribe and their belongings, so they don't come empty-handed. Thirdly, they told me they're also trying to persuade some Clothing Tribe between the Green Leaf River Clothing River that are close to the Clothing Tribe but not affiliated with it, to join our Fire Tribe along with the Long Leaf Tribe and Short Leaf Tribe. This would strengthen our Fire Tribe and increase our Fire Tribe. They know people here, and their words will be heard, making it more effective than us Fire Tribe to persuade them ourselves."

Yan thought for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound. He raised his head, his gaze calm, like a deep pool of water, and said, "These two tribes, Long Leaf Tribe and Short Leaf, do have some ideas. They've thought things through quite thoroughly and with a long-term perspective. They want to provide more to the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe when they join, to contribute more, and to do more. That's a good thing. We welcome such people with open arms."

He nodded Dali, his smile returning and his brows relaxing. He said, "Yes, that's why I agreed. I think it's fine; it's not an unreasonable request."

Yan nodded and said, "That's fine, no problem. I'm just here to get a feel for the situation, to see how many people they have, what their thoughts are, and what their attitude is. I also need to go to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, where there are still several thousand people waiting. I also need to go to the Horse Tribe to take care of some business. After Uncle Jianya returns with his fleet from the Valley Tribe with the grain, I'll bring my fleet to pick them up. We can finish transporting everything in one trip."

Dali nodded and said, "The Long Leaf Tribe and Short Leaf Tribe together have about two thousand people, and their affiliated tribes, numbering a dozen or twenty in total, probably have about three thousand people."

Yan nodded, silently calculating in his mind, and said, "Okay, I understand. There aren't many of them; we can get them all in one trip. It won't take much trouble."

The two chatted for a while longer, discussing the construction of the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, the resettlement of the newly arrived tribesmen, and the early rice harvest this year. Then, Yan stood up, clasped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.

"Uncle Dali, we still have a long way to go. We need to reach the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and then the Horse Tribe. We can't stay any longer. We'll have a proper chat next time you come."

Dali stood up, patted Yan on the shoulder, and said, "Take care on the road. I won't insist you stay any longer. Come back next time and have more fun."

Yan nodded, turned and boarded the ship. A moment later, the sound of the ox horn rang out, and the fleet slowly started moving, sailing out of the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost dock and continuing downstream along the Fish River towards the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. Dali stood on the dock, watching the ships gradually disappear into the distance.