The Giant Ship's Maiden Voyage

That evening, Yan and his father, Jianshi, had finished dinner and were sitting drinking tea and chatting about the launch of the large ship the next day. Father and son rarely had time to sit and talk alone like this; they were usually busy—one with important matters in the tribe, the other with external affairs—when a warrior rushed in. He knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in salute, and said breathlessly:

"Chief, Young Chief, news has come from the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost: Dali arrived there and, upon seeing that massive 100,000-jin ship, couldn't tear himself away. He said he won't be returning tonight; he'll stay there to watch the craftsmen make their final checks."

Upon hearing this, Jianshi and Yan exchanged a glance, both of them smiled and shook their heads. Jianshi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Dali is like a child seeing candy; he can't resist a big ship. Let him be. Anyway, there's a place to sleep over there. Let's get some rest early and get up early tomorrow so they don't have to wait."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, Father."

The two chatted for a while longer, explaining the arrangements for tomorrow, the steps involved in the large ship test, and the personnel who would participate, before going to rest.

The next morning, before dawn, the dock at the Fire Tribe headquarters was bustling with activity. Jian Jianshi and Yan arrived at the dock, and leaders such as Canglan, Jia Li, Jijiao, and Wu Xiong also arrived one after another, all in high spirits. They boarded several boats and sailed down the Fire Creek River towards their Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

By the time Yan and his group arrived at their Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, the sun had already peeked over the eastern mountains. The dock was already packed with people. Dabang stood at the front, directing the craftsmen in their final inspection. He wore a linen jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his thick, muscular forearms with prominent veins. His hands were rough and strong, and his face was serious, his eyes sharp like an eagle's, scrutinizing every detail. He squatted by the side of the boat, running his hands over the planks, inspecting them inch by inch; then he stood up to check the mast; then he lay down to check the hull for cracks.

Dali stood beside him, his eyes fixed on the giant ship, as if glued to it, motionless and unblinking. The massive ship, capable of carrying 100,000 jin (50,000 kg), was moored beside the dock. Its hull was enormous, like a Little Mountain, with a high, upturned Chuantou and a flat, wide stern. The tung oil gleamed darkly in the morning light. The sails were not yet hoisted, the masts were thick, and the deck was wide enough for several oxcarts to walk side by side and for several hundred people to stand.

Jianshi Shi disembarked and strode over. Dabang greeted him with a fist and palm salute, his movements swift and decisive.

"Chief, all the preliminary work has been done. The hull has been inspected three times, inside and out. I've had people check every plank, every tenon and mortise, and every gap. There are no problems. We can launch it for testing at any time." His voice carried a hint of confidence and anticipation.

Jianshi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the giant ship and then at the eagerly waiting tribesmen on the dock. He didn't say much, just a few simple words in a low but clear voice. "Let's begin. Dabang, you'll direct from the shore. Dali, you'll take the men aboard for a cruise test later."

Dabang nodded, then turned to the craftsmen and shouted, "Prepare to launch the boat!"

Under the craftsmen's control, the giant ship slowly slid into the water. The logs rolled on the tracks, making a dull sound and creaking. The moment the ship entered the water, it stirred up huge Langhua, splashing people on the shore. Some people cried out in pain from the splash. The ship swayed from side to side several times, like a giant beast that had just woken up stretching its body, or like a drunkard walking.

Those on the shore held their breath, their eyes glued to the water, their hearts pounding in their throats. As the rocking gradually subsided and the boat floated steadily on the surface, gently swaying with the ripples, Dali led his men to begin their inspection.

A moment later, Dali emerged from the cabin, stood on the deck, and shouted to the shore, "No leaks! The ship is balanced! Good stability! No problem! Everything is normal!"

A cheer erupted from the shore; some clapped, some jumped, and some hugged. Dabang Stick nodded and waved to Dali, saying, "That's enough! Take the men for a cruise test! Let's take them for a lap and see!"

With Dali wave of his hand, the sailors boarded the deck. He stood at the Chuantou, hands on his hips, took a deep breath, and then suddenly spread his arms wide and roared at the sky, "Ah--!" The sound was long and high-pitched, filled with excitement and joy.

The sails were raised, the huge canvas billowing in the morning breeze, making a whooshing sound. The giant ship slowly sailed out of the dock and began to sail on the Fish River. Dali stood at the Chuantou, sometimes directing the ship to the left, sometimes to the right, his gestures powerful and his voice loud; sometimes sailing downstream, sometimes upstream, the ship circled on the river.

Jianshi watched the giant ship sailing on the river, a smile spreading across his face, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes smoothing out. He turned around and, with Yan, Dabang, Canglan, and the others, walked towards the council hall of the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost. The cheers behind them gradually faded into the distance, but still echoed in their ears.

In the council chamber of the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, everyone sat down, smiles on their faces. Dabang spoke first, "Chief, based on my years of experience, this 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship is basically fine. The hull is sturdy; the sailing is smooth; the turning is agile; and the speed is fast. When Dali returns with the ship, we'll get a definite answer."

Jianshi happily replied, "I also think it's fine. Although I'm not as professional as you and don't understand the details, I still know the basic principles of boats. A good boat is one that runs steadily and fast on the river. From today onwards, our Fire Tribe will also have boats with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin."

He paused, then looked at Dabang and asked, "Dabang, what's the annual production capacity of these large ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin? How many can you build in a year? Can you mass-produce them?"

Dabang thought for a moment and said, "The only downside to this kind of large ship is that it's slow at the beginning of research and manufacturing. We have to figure it out, experiment, and take detours, which takes time. Now that we have finished products and molds, we can just produce them according to the molds. The craftsmen are also skilled now. I estimate that next year we can increase the number of ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin to 20 to 30 without any problem. Twenty is the minimum, thirty is possible, and forty is not impossible."

Everyone applauded, and the council chamber became as lively as a market or a New Year's celebration.

Jianshi also spoke up, "Good! If our Fire Tribe has twenty or thirty ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, we won't have to fear the Tiger Tribe at all. I've heard that the Tiger Tribe doesn't have many ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. Just give our Fire Tribe some time, and our Fire Tribe's ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin will soon surpass the Tiger Tribe's. At that time, it's not certain who will be in charge in the Fish River Basin."

Everyone praised the move, and then Jianshi Shi chatted with them about the relocation of the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe Management Center. The relocation was now halfway complete, with half the people and half the belongings moved. His voice carried a hint of urgency and encouragement.

"We need to step up our efforts and move faster, striving to relocate the entire management center to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost before the autumn harvest. We can't delay any longer; the sooner we move there, the less trouble we'll have to worry about."

Everyone nodded in agreement. After chatting for a while, it was soon time for dinner. The food was served, steaming hot and fragrant. Just as everyone picked up their chopsticks, a commotion broke out outside.

Someone shouted, "Leader Dali is back!"

Dali strode into the council hall, his face flushed as if he were drunk. His hair was disheveled by the river wind, and his clothes were soaked, but he didn't care at all, and the smile on his face was impossible to hide.

As soon as he entered, he shouted, "It's done! Our Fire Tribe's 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) carrying capacity ship has no problems whatsoever! It sails smoothly! It turns nimbly! It's fast too! It was a great success!"

Upon hearing this, everyone cheered excitedly. Some stood up and clapped until their palms were red; others hugged each other. Jianshi smiled and ordered the best food and wine to be brought out, adding more dishes and drinks so everyone could celebrate together.

When everyone had finished eating and drinking, Dali put down his wine bowl, wiped his mouth, wiped it with his sleeve, looked at Jianshi, hesitated, and opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.

After a while, he finally spoke, his voice filled with pleading and expectation. "Brother, can I stay a few more days this time? I've already made all the arrangements at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. Everything that needs to be arranged has been arranged, and everything that needs to be instructed has been instructed. It won't matter if I go back three or five days later; nothing will go wrong. I just want to ride this big ship a little longer and have more fun."

Jianshi looked at him, shook his head, and smiled—a helpless smile. He knew Dali's thoughts, his temperament, and his obsession with ships.

"I know you want to ride on this 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) ship a little longer, have more fun, and go around a few more times. But the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost is very important. It's a bridgehead on the west bank of the river, our outpost, and the first line of defense on the west bank of the Fish River. You'd better go back as soon as possible; we can't delay."

Dali's face fell instantly, looking like a bitter gourd. His brows furrowed into a knot, and his mouth pursed. He lowered his head and remained silent.

Jianshi, seeing his expression, felt both amused and annoyed. After thinking for a moment, he said, "How about this, you stay for two days, then return to the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. No more than that. Also, don't rush. Dabang just said that our Fire Tribe will have twenty or thirty of these large ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin next year. The Red Flower River Mouth Outpost is in a very important location, serving as a bridgehead on the west bank of the river. I will allocate one to the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost next year; you won't be shortchanged, don't worry. Moreover, our Fire Tribe's management center will soon be entirely relocated to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, and this large ship will be taken there as well, docking at the Little Fish River Mouth wharf. The Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost are close by, not far apart. If you get itchy, you can come and sit for a while and have some fun."

Dali listened to his elder brother Jianshi's words, his eyes grew brighter and brighter. His bitter face immediately transformed into a chrysanthemum-like face, and he smiled so broadly that his eyes narrowed into slits, his mouth stretched to his ears, revealing a set of white teeth, even his gums. He nodded hurriedly, like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Okay, okay! Brother, you've made excellent arrangements! I'll stay here for two days and then head back to the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost. I mean what I say, no delays! I'll leave first thing in the morning two days from now!"

Jianshi nodded and said, "Then it's settled. Come on, let's drink!"

Everyone drank another bowl, finishing it in one gulp. After they finished eating, Dali couldn't wait any longer and ran out of the council hall. He jumped onto the ship, which had a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, and, with his sailors, set sail again on the Fish River. The ship drew white Langhua on the river's surface. The people on the shore watched and discussed, some saying, "Dali is so spirited," others saying, "That ship is so big and majestic." Jianshi stood on the dock, watching the giant ship gradually disappear into the distance, shook his head, and smiled.

"This Dali, really..." He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

After watching from the shore for a while, everyone returned to the Fire Tribe headquarters to attend to their own affairs. Jianshi and Yan also boarded the boat and sailed upstream along the Fire Creek River back to their headquarters.