Doing Business with the Horse Tribe

After Yan led the fleet away from the Little Fish River Mouth, they continued downstream along the Fish River. The fleet sailed on the wide river, the morning breeze blowing, the sails billowing. Three giant ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each led the way, like three moving Little Mountain. Dozens of small boats, large and small, followed behind, like a group of fish fry following behind the giant fish.

As they passed the Little Horse River, Shibang stood beside Yan. Pointing to the river mouth, he said, "Boss, our Fire Tribe's sphere of influence has now reached the Little Horse River from the east bank of the Fish River. The Little Horse River is all our Fire Tribe's territory. If we absorb the recent five thousand or so small tribes on the Little Horse River, our Fire Tribe's influence will directly border the Horse Tribe."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, after receiving these five thousand people, if our Fire Tribe wants to absorb more people on the east bank of the Fish River, we can only absorb those independent tribes in the Big Horse River Basin. Those tribes are scattered all over the place, and they add up to quite a few people. If the Horse Tribe also joins our Fire Tribe, that would save us a lot of trouble."

Yingmu also joined in, standing on the other side of Yan, arms crossed, and said, "Our Fire Tribe is aggressively recruiting people right now, Horse Tribe can't possibly be unaware of that. Our Fire Tribe is growing stronger and stronger, with a population of over a hundred thousand, hundreds of ships, tens of thousands of warriors, and granaries overflowing with grain. As long as our Fire Tribe continues to prosper, the Horse Tribe Fire Tribe will eventually join us."

Yan nodded and said, "If the Horse Tribe joins our Fire Tribe, and we absorb the independent tribes in the Big Horse River Basin, then we will become a neighboring tribe of the Valley Tribe, right next to the Little Valley Camp. At that time, everything south of the Big Horse River will be our Fire Tribe's territory."

Feiyu also spoke up, his voice filled with excitement. "There are quite a few people around the Horse Tribe and in the Big Horse River Basin. If our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe really absorbs them, our population will immediately exceed 150,000. At that time, our Fire Tribe will be the second largest tribe in the Fish River Basin, second only to the Tiger Tribe."

Yan shook his head and said, "This is just a thought for now. Who knows what will happen next? Let's take it one step at a time. First, let's get these five thousand people back. We can't rush things."

The fleet continued downstream along the Fish River. The scenery on both banks constantly changed. Five days after Yan led the fleet away from the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, they finally arrived at the banks of the Fish River within the territory of the Horse Tribe. Here, the river water was clear, and the pebbles on the bottom could be seen. Several herders from the Horse Tribe were grazing their horses on the bank. The horses grazed in small groups, their tails swishing back and forth. Upon seeing the large fleet, they were all startled and quickly mounted their horses and galloped away, the clatter of hooves raising a cloud of dust. Yan ordered the fleet to dock, leaving enough men to watch the boats, and brought Shibang, Yingmu, Feiyu, and Bailin and the others, carrying supplies, went ashore and walked towards the Horse Tribe. Their loads were pottery, coarse salt, hemp cloth, and several bronze knives—gifts for Chief Junfeng. The loads were heavy, bending the carrying poles into a bow shape, making them creak and groan. Along the way, they walked and stopped frequently, resting when tired, sitting on Dashi by the roadside to catch their breath; drinking water when thirsty; and eating dry rations—fried rice and dried meat—which were hard to chew but filling. The road was a dirt track, full of potholes and difficult to walk on, but no one complained of being tired, and no one wanted to fall behind.

As the sun began to set on the second day, the Horse Tribe's camp finally came into view. From afar, Yan could see wisps of smoke rising from the camp. The Horse Tribe's leader, Junfeng, had already received word from his scouts that the Fire Tribe had arrived and were heading this way, led by their young Fire Tribe, Yan. He immediately put down his work, summoned several of his tribe's leaders, and personally led his men to warmly welcome them at the camp gate. He wore exquisite leather armor, the plates made of thick, hard cowhide, impervious to blades. His hair was neatly combed and tied back with a leather cord. A smile graced his face, his eyes narrowed into slits, but a hint of tension and unease lurked deep within. Behind him stood several leaders, each spirited and sharp-eyed, weapons at their waists.

As Yan approached with his men, Junfeng quickly stepped forward, grabbed Yan's hand, and shook it forcefully. His face was full of smiles, and his eyes were narrowed into slits.

"Young Master Yan, welcome, welcome! It's been a long time! You've grown taller and stronger. You must be tired from your journey. Please come in. I've prepared hot food, soup, and rice. Please sit down and rest for a bit, and we can chat while we eat." Junfeng's voice was full of enthusiasm.

Yan nodded and said, "Chief Junfeng, you're too kind. I'm so sorry to bother you again."

Junfeng waved his hand and said, "No problem, no problem at all. We'd love to welcome you! We'd be worried you wouldn't come!"

The group followed Junfeng toward the council hall of the Horse Tribe. The council hall was not small, and could seat dozens of people, but it was simpler and more rustic than that of the Fire Tribe. There was a fire pit burning inside, and the firewood was dried cow dung. When it burned, there was no smoke, only a faint grassy fragrance.

As soon as he sat down, Yan had his attendants present the gifts: pottery, coarse salt, and linen cloth—five large loads, each carrying a bundle of linen cloth. Junfeng's eyes lit up at the sight; he grinned from ear to ear, revealing a set of fairly even teeth, his gums showing.

"Great stuff! Great stuff! The Fire Tribe is so generous and magnanimous, always bringing so many good things every time they come!" Junfeng's voice was full of surprise, trembling slightly.

He immediately ordered hot food to be served, becoming even more hospitable to the people of the Fire Tribe. He personally poured wine for Yan, holding the bowl with both hands and respectfully handing it to him; he served food to Shibang, selecting the best meat and placing it in his bowl; he handed meat to Yingmu, and everyone immediately began to eat and drink heartily, without any hesitation. The roasted mutton was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, bursting with oil with every bite; the stewed beef was soft and flavorful, falling apart with a touch of chopsticks; the wild vegetable soup was refreshing and helped cut through the grease, soothing to the throat; the mare's milk wine was mellow and fragrant, and after a bowl, everyone felt warm all over. Everyone ate with greasy mouths and drank until their faces were flushed and their necks were red, the atmosphere becoming increasingly lively, and the laughter growing louder and louder.

The Fire Tribe is now a behemoth, Junfeng no longer dares to be on equal footing with the Fire Tribe. The Fire Tribe is no longer the small tribe of about two hundred people it once was, no longer the tribe that couldn't even get enough to eat or wear. It's now a large tribe with over a hundred thousand people, hundreds of ships, tens of thousands of warriors, and mountains of the Fire Tribe weapons. Even the Valley Tribe can't compare; the Valley Tribe only has a little over twenty thousand people, while the Fire Tribe has over a hundred thousand—several times less. Last time, Junfeng sold a large number of cattle and horses to the Fire Tribe at a high price, doubling the price and making a considerable profit, feeling quite pleased with himself. Now, thinking about it, he's filled with dread, his heart trembling, and cold sweat pouring down his face. Although it was the Fire Tribe that initiated... Those demanding higher prices were proactively raising their bids; it wasn't that Junfeng wanted to raise prices, but Junfeng no longer dared to do business with the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe in this way, fearing that angering them would bring disaster and annihilation. The Horse Tribe now only had a little over five thousand people, plus five core affiliated tribes totaling around ten thousand, completely outmatched by the Fire Tribe —a difference of more than ten times. The Fire Tribe could crush the Horse Tribe with a flick of their finger. Therefore, when Yan came, Junfeng was both happy and nervous. Happy because he could do business again and exchange for good goods; nervous because he feared offending people, saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, and inadvertently causing trouble.

When everyone had finished eating and drinking, Yan put down his wine bowl, wiped his mouth, cleared his throat, and spoke.

"Chief Junfeng, after the Wolf Tribe fled north from our side, they've been causing quite a ruckus between the Great Boulder Tribe and the Great Luwei Tribe lately. They're like mad dogs, biting anyone they see. Last year, the Great Boulder Tribe suffered a huge loss at the hands of the Wolf Tribe. Although they've taken some measures since then, strengthening their defenses and buying some bronze weapons, I estimate they're no match for the Wolf Tribe. It's only a matter of time before they're defeated and annexed by the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe."

The early rice harvest is over, and the Wolf Tribe's food and supplies are almost depleted. They'll probably be moving around there soon, ready to raid again. The Wolf Tribe's warriors have rapidly grown from a hundred to over two thousand. If they wipe out the Great Rock Great Boulder Tribe, absorb its people, seize Great Rock land, and steal Great Rock grain, their strength will expand even faster. You know the Wolf Tribe is extremely vengeful; they remember everyone who has attacked, driven away, or killed them. Given the strength and opportunity, they will find a way to retaliate. You should start making plans early.

Junfeng nodded, his gaze becoming serious, his brows furrowing slightly, forming a knot, and deep lines etched on his forehead.

"Yes, the Wolf Tribe is causing a great disturbance in the north. Our Horse Tribe knows a bit about it; our scouts reported that it's quite a big commotion and many people have died. We will definitely be on high alert. Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Yan; we will remember this favor."

He paused, looked at Yan, and asked with a hint of probing and expectation in his eyes, "Young Master Yan, besides reminding us of these things, is there anything else you've come here for? Did your father give you some instructions?"

Yan nodded, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Yes, we've come again to reserve some cattle and horses. We also want to buy some from your tribe at a higher price, even higher than last time, by 10%. After all, our Fire Tribe's population is growing rapidly, reaching over 100,000 people. Everyone needs to eat, so we need to Dali cultivate farmland, grow more grains, and cultivate more land. This requires a large number of cattle and horses. Cattle are used for plowing, and the more cattle we have, the more land we can cultivate; the more horses we have, the faster we can transport goods. Cattle and horses are both valuable, and the more the better. Our Fire Tribe welcomes all comers."

Upon hearing this, Junfeng waved his hands repeatedly, his hands moving like a windmill, fast and forceful. His expression showed a mixture of anxiety, tension, and fear.

"Young Master Yan, there's no need to buy at high prices anymore. If you come to buy cattle and horses this time, we'll still give you the same price as before, without any increase. Last time was last time, this time is different, the situation has changed."

Yan asked in surprise, his eyes widening slightly, his eyebrows raised, and his mouth slightly open, "Really? Chief Junfeng is so agreeable? This isn't like you."

Junfeng nodded, his gaze sincere, and said, "It's true, but..."

He paused, then lowered his voice and said, "If the Horse Tribe encounters any crises or troubles in the future, we hope the Fire Tribe can provide some assistance. Our Horse Tribe is a small tribe, with few people and little strength; we cannot withstand great storms or setbacks."

Yan thought for a moment and nodded, "That's no problem, I can agree. The Fire Tribe and the Horse Tribe have always been friends, and helping each other is only right. Don't be shy. If you have any difficulties in the future, just let us know, and we will definitely help if we can. We won't refuse."

Upon hearing this, Junfeng breathed a sigh of relief. His tense shoulders relaxed, his hunched back straightened, and the smile returned to his face. He picked up the wine bowl, raised it to Yan, and held it with both hands, respectfully.

"With Leader Yan's words of reassurance, I can finally sleep well tonight. Come on, let's drink!"

The two drank their wine in one gulp, the bowls clinking together with a crisp sound. They then discussed the details of the transaction: how many horses, how many cattle, when and where to deliver them, what to exchange for, and how much in exchange—all were finalized. Finally, Yan reserved a thousand ponies and a thousand cattle from the Horse Tribe, agreeing to trade around the autumn harvest. The goods would be exchanged at that time.

The two chatted for a while longer, discussing the movements of the Wolf Tribe, the situation of the Valley Tribe, the activities of the Bear Tribe, and the dire state of the Great Boulder Tribe. Then, Yan stood up, clasped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.

"Chief Junfeng, it's getting late, the moon has already risen. We should go and rest. We need to get up early tomorrow to travel back to the river."

Junfeng stood up and said, "Okay, you all get some rest. I'll have someone prepare some dry rations for you on your journey tomorrow morning—dried meat, fried rice."

The next morning, before dawn, Yan got up. After a quick breakfast and a bowl of hot milk tea, he led his men, carrying bundles of furs and mountain goods they had traded with the Horse Tribe —deer hides, sheepskins, fox pelts—along with several bags of dried mushrooms, wild fruits, and medicinal herbs, toward the Fire Tribe's fleet on the shore. They walked quickly, not wanting to delay anyone.