Giant Ship Shocks Daiyan
Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet away from the Fire Tribe Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost and sailed downstream along the Fish River. They sailed during the day and rested at night. The weather had been fine recently, with gentle breezes and sunshine, and they did not encounter any strong winds or heavy rains. Everything went smoothly. The scenery on both sides of the Fish River was constantly changing, from dense forests to open grasslands, from steep cliffs to flat fields.
In the woods, birds sang and flowers bloomed; on the grasslands, herds of cattle and sheep grazed; in the fields, waves of rice rippled. Occasionally, a few farmers could be seen working in the fields, their backs bent and hunched. When they saw the massive fleet, they all stopped what they were doing, straightened their backs, and craned their necks to watch curiously. Some even waved at the fleet, shouting something, but it was hard to make out. That afternoon, the sun had begun to set in the west, and the sunlight softened. The Little Valley Camp Outpost finally came into view.
Standing beside Yan, Shibang pointed ahead, his voice filled with excitement and anticipation. "Boss, the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost isn't far ahead. I sent a fast boat with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin to find Daiyan at the Little Valley Camp Outpost ahead of time. It should have arrived by now, and the message should have reached them. This time, our gifts are more abundant than before. There are several pieces of glazed pottery and a few bronze knives, all of better quality than before—they're all carefully selected masterpieces. Daiyan is very concerned about his image, enjoys receiving gifts, likes being flattered, and likes hearing nice things. Even if Daiyan finds it hard to accept, even if he's unhappy, even if he's jealous when he sees our 100,000-jin carrying boat, he won't show strong dissatisfaction on his face, won't say anything unpleasant, and certainly won't give us a hard time because of our generous gifts."
Yan nodded, his gaze calm, and said, "Although Daiyan always liked to show off in front of our Fire Tribe 'Valley Tribe 50,000-jin carrying capacity ship before our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe any large ships, like a proud rooster, constantly demonstrating against us, that's all in the past. Let bygones be bygones. Our Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe are now allies and partners, not enemies. Even if we're demonstrating our strength, we should stop there and not embarrass them. After all, the Valley Tribe isn't the Tiger Tribe; they're our neighbors and our partners, and we should have frequent interactions in the future."
Shibang nodded solemnly, as if taking an oath, and said, "Okay, boss, don't worry. Yingmu and I have already given instructions to the brothers to be warm and polite, not arrogant, and not to give the impression that our Fire Tribe is getting carried away. We should greet people when we should, bow when we should, and be polite when we should."
Yan nodded in satisfaction, then gave them a few more instructions, telling them what to say when they met Daiyan. Shibang and Yingmu noted them down, nodding occasionally.
In the council hall of the Little Valley Camp Outpost, Daiyan was handling the gifts sent by the Fire Tribe. He was the head of the Little Valley Camp Outpost and the younger brother of Daiyue, the chief of the Valley Tribe. He sat in the main seat, with several wooden boxes in front of him, open and containing gifts just sent by the Fire Tribe. This time, the Fire Tribe had sent some glazed pottery, the glaze lustrous and softly sheening in the firelight, more exquisite and beautiful than before. There were also some bronze weapons, several bronze knives and spears, of at least a grade better quality and much more valuable than the previous gifts from the Fire Tribe.
Daiyan picked up a bronze knife, drew it from its sheath, and the moment the blade left its sheath, a flash of cold light reflected on his face. He tested the blade with his finger, making a light cut at the tip, from which a bead of bright red blood seeped out. He nodded in satisfaction, a smile spreading across his face, his eyes narrowing into slits, his lips stretching to his ears, feeling smug and content, as if he had eaten honey. He sheathed the knife and carefully placed it on the table. Then he picked up a ceramic bowl, examining it closely. The bowl's thin walls and glossy glaze reflected his face. He was captivated, touching and looking at it again and again.
He thought to himself, "The Fire Tribe is quite good. They're sensible, know how to be filial, and know how to get along with people. The gifts they gave last time were nice, but this time they're even better and more valuable. I should keep in touch with them more often. These are the kinds of friends I should have."
However, when the Fire Tribe came to greet him and said that the Fire Tribe had brought a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, Daiyan's smile instantly froze. As if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, he stood motionless, like a statue, as if he had been frozen in place. The ceramic bowl he was holding almost fell to the ground, wobbled, and then he gripped it tightly again.
His eyes were wide open, almost popping out, and his mouth was agape, unable to close for a long time. Daiyan didn't hear a word the young man from the Fire Tribe said next. His mind was buzzing, like countless bees flying around or countless flies buzzing, all of which were swirling around the words "100,000 jin load capacity," making him dizzy.
After a while, Daiyan sat up in shock, leaning forward with his eyes wide open, almost popping out of their sockets. His voice changed, becoming high-pitched and shrill.
"What did you just say! Your Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet brought a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin this time? Say it again! Where did this ship come from? How many ships does your Fire Tribe have in total? Did your Fire Tribe build them yourself? Where is your fleet now?"
The young man from the Fire Tribe remained calm and composed, bowing respectfully and saying, "Yes, Chief Daiyan, we have indeed brought a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. Our young chieftain asked me to come ahead of time to let you know, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings. This 100,000-jin ship was built by our Fire Tribe day and night. We only have one Fire Tribe now; we'll have more next year. Our Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet should be arriving at the dock of the Little Valley Camp Outpost soon; it's not far behind, just around the corner."
Daiyan still couldn't believe it, his brows furrowing in disbelief. He asked repeatedly, confirming that it was true. The young man answered each question with certainty and unquestionable conviction, but Daiyan remained somewhat skeptical. He immediately summoned his attendants, hurriedly left the council hall, boarded the Valley Tribe's 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) heavy-duty boat, and departed from the Little Valley Camp Outpost's dock, heading upstream along the Fish River. He wanted to see for himself, to verify it firsthand; he couldn't just listen to hearsay and be deceived.
The boat sailed out of the dock and headed upstream. Daiyan stood at the Chuantou, his hands gripping the gunwale, his fingers white from the effort, his knuckles cracking. He squinted, staring intently upstream, as if trying to see through the river, as if trying to count every single boat. The wind blew, ruffling his clothes and tousling his hair, but he paid no heed, his eyes remaining fixed on the water.
Not long after Daiyan left the dock, he spotted the Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet sailing downstream along the Fish River. The fleet emerged from a bend in the river, one ship after another. Standing at the Chuantou, Daiyan focused his gaze and immediately spotted the large ship at the very front. That ship was twice the size of his own 50,000-jin ship, wide and long, resembling a Little Mountain or a colossal beast. He had seen the Tiger Tribe's 100,000-jin-capacity ships before, which had left a deep impression on him—their massive hulls, their imposing presence, their arrogant demeanor—were unforgettable. Therefore, he immediately recognized the Fire Tribe's lead ship as a 100,000-jin-capacity ship; yes, a 100,000-jin-capacity ship, as large and imposing as the Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe's.
His eyes widened, his mouth gaped open, and Daiyan's heart churned like a stormy sea, as if a raging torrent was crashing against it. Behind this large ship followed forty other ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin (approximately 25,000 kg), all new, brand new, with smooth hulls and even new ropes. Forty ships! Four times more than the Valley Tribe! The Valley Tribe, after decades of accumulation and generations of effort, had only managed to maintain ten ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, and those were all old, with weathered planks and frayed ropes. The Fire Tribe, in just a few years, had forty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, and even one ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. The difference in strength between the two tribes was now too great, unbelievably great, unsettling, and suffocating.
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside him, like a jumbled mess of flavors—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, salty—a whole host of tastes. There was shock, jealousy, envy, resentment, and a hint of inexplicable fear! The Fire Tribe had developed too fast, surpassing the Valley Tribe's decades of accumulation in just a few years. This speed was frightening.
It wasn't until the Fire Tribe's fleet was almost upon them, the giant ship practically touching, that Daiyan finally reacted. He shook his head, and after the initial shock, a surge of intense jealousy welled up inside him, crashing against his heart like a tidal wave. How could the Fire Tribe possess ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin? How could they have so many ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin? How did they build them? Where did they learn the technology? The Valley Tribe, after decades of accumulation, the efforts of generations, and the dedication of countless individuals, had only managed to maintain ten ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin.
Daiyan recalled the generous gifts presented by the Fire Tribe —the glazed pottery, the sharp bronze weapons, and the other gifts they had given him before. His emotions gradually calmed down, like the sea after a storm slowly returning to calm. He suppressed his various emotions for the time being, forcing a smile onto his face, but the smile was somewhat stiff, the corners of his mouth pulled unnaturally, as if he were wearing a mask.
At this moment, the Fire Tribe's ship had stopped, floating steadily on the water like a floating island. Yan also boarded this ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin and arrived next to Daiyan's ship. The two ships were moored side by side, one a giant ship weighing 100,000 jin, brand new and shiny; the other an old ship weighing 50,000 jin, mottled and worn. One large and one small, one new and one old, one high and one low, the contrast was striking, like an adult standing next to a child. Yan stood at the Chuantou, looking down at Daiyan, cupping his fists in a salute, a smile on his face.
"Chief Daiyan, it's been a long time! How have you been? We've come to bother you again, and we're sorry to trouble you once more."
Daiyan, realizing what was happening, quickly returned the greeting, his smile becoming more natural, though complex emotions still lingered in his eyes. He said, "Young Chief Yan, your Fire Tribe's shipbuilding capabilities are truly astounding! It's unbelievable! Not only have you increased the capacity of ships to 50,000 jin, but you've even built ships with a capacity of 100,000 jin! Truly remarkable! I admire you!"
Yan laughed and said, "This is all thanks to the hard work of our people. We also wanted to make it easier to transport grain. With the big ships, one trip is equivalent to several trips, saving us time and effort."
Daiyan knew this was just Yan being polite, so he didn't point it out. He nodded and said, "Young Chief Yan, my elder Daiyue has already given instructions. Your Fire Tribe's ship has arrived. Just go directly to the Valley Tribe's main dock. I've already sent a ship to the other side to inform them. Everything will be arranged there, and the berth will be cleared out soon. Just follow the guide ship."
Yan nodded, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Then thank you very much, Chief Daiyan. I'm so sorry to trouble you every time."
Daiyan waved his hand and said, "It's no trouble at all, it's nothing. We're more than happy to welcome your Fire Tribe."
Before long, several guide boats sailed out from the Little Valley Camp dock and approached the Fire Tribe's fleet. The small boats were agile, weaving between the giant ships. Yan led the Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet, following the guide boats, and slowly sailed towards the Valley Tribe's main dock on the opposite bank.
Daiyan stood on his own boat, watching the giant ship gradually sail away, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He sighed, turned around, and walked back to the cabin.