Displaying Their Strength
In the two days following the meeting, Yan had almost finished preparations. The first day, he inventoried the ships, inspecting the hulls, sails, ropes, and rudders to ensure each one was in good condition. The second day, he loaded supplies, including coarse salt, bronzeware, and other items, sorting them and neatly stacking them in the hold. Gifts for the Valley Tribe tribe were also packed in carrying poles, covered with burlap. The fleet was moored in a grand procession at the Fire Creek River Mouth dock, with the massive ship, capable of carrying 100,000 jin (50,000 kg), standing out prominently, its Chuantou raised high like a castle floating on the water.
Early that morning, before dawn, when the sky was still hazy and the morning mist hadn't fully dissipated, thinly floating on the river, the Fire Creek River Mouth dock was already bustling with activity. Yan stood at the Fire Creek River Mouth, hands on his hips, gazing at the massive fleet before him. A giant ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, forty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, fifty ships with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin, and two hundred ships with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin—more than two hundred ships, densely packed on the river, their sails not yet raised, their masts like a bare forest, casting long shadows in the morning light. The tung oil on the hulls gleamed with a dark sheen in the morning light.
It has become commonplace for the Fire Tribe to transport grain to the Valley Tribe, making one trip after another, and everyone has gotten used to it. So there wasn't a large-scale send-off like before, and not many people came. Only Jianshi and Dabang came to the Fire Creek River Mouth dock. The two stood on the dock. Jian Shi was wearing a Jianshi robe, which was blue and shone softly in the morning light. He stood up straight and had a deep gaze.
Dabang was wearing a linen short jacket with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his thick forearms, which were muscular and had prominent veins. His hands were rough and strong with large knuckles. Behind them was a quiet dock with only a few soldiers patrolling in the distance.
Jianshi looked at Yan, his eyes carrying a hint of entrustment, and said, "Yan, this time I agree to let you take this ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin to the Valley Tribe to transport grain. It's not just about transporting grain, do you understand what I mean?"
Yan nodded, his gaze calm, and said, "Father, I know that this one ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin won't transport much more grain. Taking it isn't for carrying grain, but to demonstrate the strength of our Fire Tribe and our powerful shipbuilding capabilities. Our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe has developed too quickly, catching many people off guard and preventing them from adapting. Many still view our Fire Tribe with outdated perspectives. If we want the Valley Tribe's leadership to change their views, their thoughts, and their attitudes, we need to provoke them. This will make them realize that our Fire Tribe has the strength and ability to counter the threat of the Tiger Tribe. This will also give the Valley Tribe more confidence and put their minds at ease."
Jianshi nodded and said, "Our Fire Tribe is making such a grand display of strength that the Tiger Tribe will probably find out soon."
Yan thought for a moment, then frowned slightly and said, "It's alright, Father. Our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe now possesses large ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. Although our offensive capabilities are insufficient to reach the Tiger Tribe's lair, we are more than capable of self-defense. Moreover, by the time the Tiger Tribe Fire Tribe this, our Fire Tribe will only be stronger than before, with more ships, more people, more weapons, and more food. This world is ruled by the strong; might makes right. If we keep a low profile and hide our strength, it will only make us look bad. Showing our strength at the right time, letting others see our resources, will definitely be better for our future development and save us a lot of trouble."
Jianshi understood his son's words, nodded, and said nothing more. He looked at the sky, which was getting brighter and brighter, and the morning mist was slowly dissipating.
"It's getting late, let's board the ship and set off quickly. Go early and come back early, be careful on the journey, safety first."
Yan nodded, turned, and boarded the massive ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. Shibang, Yingmu, Feiyu, Bailin, and the others also boarded and took their positions. Shibang stood at the Chuantou, checking the mooring lines; Yingmu was at the stern, checking the rudder; Feiyu and Bailin were in the middle, checking the supplies. Soon, the sound of the ox horn rang out, deep and long, and the fleet slowly started, leaving the dock and sailing downstream along the Fish River. The oars cut through the water, making a splashing sound, and the sails billowed in the morning wind, making a whooshing sound. The massive ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin was at the very front, its Chuantou raised high, cleaving the river and stirring up white Langhua, splashing like a giant plow tilling the land, like a giant knife cutting through the water.
On the shore, Jianshi and Dabang stood there, watching the fleet sail away. They didn't turn and leave until the last ship of the grain convoy disappeared into the morning mist.
Shibang and Yingmu stood beside Yan, the two most excited. Among these leaders, they were the youngest, full of youthful vigor. Shibang's eyes were bright, and he patted the gunwale, making a loud thumping sound, like he was beating a drum.
"Boss, I've never been on such a big ship before! The biggest one I've ever been on was a ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, which is nothing compared to this one. This ship is so big and so stable. Standing on it feels like standing on solid ground, like standing at home. It doesn't sway at all. If Uncle Dali has the time, he'll definitely ask the chief to let him come with us on this big ship to transport grain to the Valley Tribe. If he knew we were riding on this ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, he'd be incredibly envious."
Yingmu also came over, his hands gripping the gunwale, watching the river water part at the Chuantou, creating white Langhua, and said, "Of course! Didn't you see how obsessed and reluctant Uncle Dali was the other day? His eyes were glued to the boat, he wished he could sleep on this 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship every day! He didn't even want to get off to eat, and he wanted to sleep on the deck."
Shibang nodded, his voice filled with emotion and admiration, saying, "These ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin are rare commodities these days. In the entire Fish River Basin, only the Tiger Tribe has some. Even the Valley Tribe, which has been developing for decades, doesn't have any, nor do the Great Boulder Tribe or the Great Luwei Tribe. Our Fire Tribe endured so much hardship, stayed up so many nights, and expended so much effort to build this ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin as quickly as possible. My father, Dabang, told me countless times that at the shipbuilding workshop, the craftsmen worked non-stop, day and night. Several collapsed from exhaustion, were carried back to rest, had a sip of water, and then came back again. No one could persuade them not to."
Yan nodded and said, "Once the first ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin is built, the rest will be easy to build. With experience, molds, and blueprints, we can just follow the instructions, like copying. Now that we have this ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, not to mention the Valley Tribe, the Great Boulder Tribe Great Luwei Tribe, Horse Tribe, even the Tiger Tribe won't dare to underestimate us. If they want to cause trouble for our Fire Tribe, they'll have to think twice. Our Fire Tribe is not easy to bully, we are not pushovers."
He paused, his voice becoming serious, and said, "Although our trip to the Valley Tribe to transport grain is to demonstrate our strength and show them our large ships, we still need to be friendly and speak in a more approachable tone. After all, we are allies now, not enemies. Our Fire Tribe isn't going there to fight. Now that our Fire Tribe has built ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, it doesn't matter if we publicly announce the military alliance between our two tribes. There's no need to hide it anymore. Our strength is there for all to see. Anyone who wants to object, anyone who wants to criticize, anyone who wants to interfere, should first consider whether they are qualified and whether they have the ability."
Shibang and Yingmu nodded in agreement, their playful expressions replaced by a more serious look.
The fleet sailed downstream at a rapid pace, like an arrow released from a bow. The scenery on both banks receded slowly, and the other strongholds of the Fire Tribe flashed past one by one. Those strongholds had grown larger, with more wooden houses, more fields, and more people. The development of the Fire Tribe, like the river, never stopped, day and night.
Standing at the Chuantou, everyone chatted about the development of the various Fire Tribe along the way. Shibang pointed to a field in the distance, saying that it was newly cultivated last year and rice was planted this year, growing vigorously and lushly green, which was a joy to see. Yingmu pointed to a dock by the river, saying that it was only built last month. Feiyu said that the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost had been expanded, and Bailin said that the new warehouse at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost had been built, large and sturdy, capable of holding a lot of grain. Everyone chatted animatedly, their laughter echoing across the river.
As they chatted, the topic turned to the Valley Tribe and Daiyan, the Little Valley Camp Outpost. Shibang chuckled and said, "Boss, what do you think Daiyan of the Valley Tribe will do when he sees this massive ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin? Will his jaw drop?"
Yingmu chuckled, revealing a set of white teeth, and said, "Last time, when he saw more than twenty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, his mouth was agape, and he couldn't speak for a long time. This time, when he sees a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each, won't he be shocked? His legs might even go weak, and he might not be able to stand up straight."
Yan smiled and shook his head, saying, "Regardless of his reaction, we should still be polite, courteous, and respectful. We're there to transport grain, not to show off or flaunt our strength. Demonstrating our power is one thing, showing off is another. We can't let them think we're arrogant."
Everyone nodded in agreement, said no more, and the fleet continued downstream towards the Valley Tribe.