Autumn Harvest and Bringing People Home
During this period, the entire Fire Tribe was busy with the autumn harvest. The rice in the fields had turned golden and was heavy with grain. When the wind blew, it looked like golden waves, one after another, like a golden ocean, which was very beautiful. The Fire Tribe headquarters, the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, the Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost, and other strongholds were all carrying out the autumn harvest at the same time. It was like a battle. Before dawn, people were already in the fields; they didn't return until it was completely dark. Although everyone dragged their tired bodies, their faces were all smiling.
The men, shirtless and revealing their muscular physiques, wielded sickles, felling stalks of rice with each stroke. Sweat streamed down their backs, glistening in the sunlight, dripping onto the soil and instantly absorbed, leaving only small damp patches that quickly dried. The women followed behind, the threshing machines creaking and groaning, grains of rice flying like golden raindrops, pattering into the threshing Gucang. Children ran about on the field ridges, bringing water and food, their laughter ringing out. The old people, their faces beaming, eyes narrowed to slits, murmured, "What a good year! Heaven has opened its eyes this year, our ancestors have blessed us!"
Yan also got to the field, took off his burlap clothes, and bared his arms, revealing his strong muscles. He wielded his sickle, cutting swiftly. With each stroke, a large handful of rice stalks fell, swish, swish, like cutting grass, like harvesting hope, like harvesting happiness. Behind him, the fallen rice stalks covered the ground like a golden carpet. Sweat streamed down his back, but he didn't bother to wipe it away, letting it flow freely. It stung his eyes, but he blinked and continued working. Seeing Yan working so hard, those around him worked even harder. No one wanted to fall behind, and they raced against each other, as if in a competition to see who could cut the fastest, the most, and the cleanest. In the fields of the Fire Tribe headquarters, a scene of bustling activity unfolded, a cacophony of voices and shouts that Zhendi, like a pot of boiling porridge. Everywhere there were busy figures, golden rice, and the joy of Fengshou harvest.
This year's grain harvest was excellent; there was no drought, no flooding, no pests, no disasters—everything went smoothly and peacefully. The Fire Tribe tallied the harvest, finding over 30 million catties of grain this season. Upon hearing this number, Jianshi's face lit up with a smile, the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes smoothing out like a fan opening. The leaders of both the Flame and Fire Tribe were extremely satisfied with this gratifying figure, their smiles wide and their eyes narrowing to slits, their mouths stretched to their ears. The over 30 million catties of grain, piled high like mountains, plus the 20 million catties transported back from the Valley Tribe, almost filled the Fire Tribe's warehouses to capacity.
After the autumn harvest, Yan led his fleet to the Red Flower River Mouth to pick up the people. This time, he brought a giant ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, forty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, and many smaller ships. The autumn harvest of the Long Leaf Tribe Short Leaf Tribe was also completed. They had been working day and night, from dawn till dusk. Their two tribes had more than 2,000 people, plus the small tribes they had contacted on the Clothing River South Bank, making a total of more than 10,000 people. They were a dense, dark mass. These people had long been prepared, packed their belongings, sold their possessions, disposed of their livestock, and sold their property. They were just waiting for the Fire Tribe's ship to arrive. They were eagerly waiting and didn't want to wait even a day longer. They wished they could sprout wings and fly there.
The chief of the Long Leaf Tribe, Gaogan, had a face full of wrinkles, like a cracked riverbed, but he was in good spirits, with bright eyes. He wore a new robe, a clean, wrinkle-free linen garment issued by the Fire Tribe, and his hair was neatly combed and held up with a wooden hairpin. He stood on the dock, leaning on a wooden cane, his back ramrod straight. Behind him stood his two sons: the elder, Gaogang, in his thirties, was burly and broad-shouldered; the younger, Gaoling, was twenty-seven or twenty-eight, lean and capable, with shrewd eyes. There were also several other leaders, all longtime followers, each full of vigor.
The chieftain of the Short Leaf Tribe, Zhuangzhi, was a burly man with a broad back and a thick waist. His face was full of scars, his skin was dark, and his hands were rough and powerful. His voice was deep and booming, like thunder, making people's ears ring. He wore a new garment, also a linen robe issued by the Fire Tribe, blue in color, but it looked a little small on him, stretched taut as if it were about to burst. Behind him stood his younger brother, Zhuanggen, who was thirty-five or thirty-six years old, half a head shorter than him, but also as strong as an ox. There were several other leaders, all burly men, clearly those who did heavy physical labor.
When they saw Yan's fleet approaching, their eyes lit up. Gaogan, leaning on his wooden cane, strode forward quickly, his steps light and quick, Zhuangzhi man, with long strides, reached the front in just a few steps.
Yan jumped off the boat with swift and decisive movements, raised his Gaogan to greet him, clasped his hands in a salute, his voice tinged with excitement and a sob, his eyes reddening.
"Young Master Yan, we've finally been waiting for you!"
Zhuangzhi clasped his hands in a salute and said in a voice like thunder, "Young Master Yan, you've finally arrived! If you hadn't come, we would have had to come all the way here ourselves! We've packed everything, and everyone's here; we've been waiting for you!"
Yan smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "We've kept you waiting. Our Fire Tribe has been busy with the autumn harvest and has been delayed for a few days. Now that our boat has arrived, please get ready and board. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll arrive and settle in. Everything has been arranged at our Fire Tribe headquarters; the houses are all vacant, just waiting for you to stay."
More than 10,000 people gathered at the Red Flower River Mouth Estuary Wharf, a dense, dark mass of people. The wharf was bustling with activity, like a market day. The elderly and children boarded the boats first, trembling as they leaned on the gunwale, swaying with each step like candles in the wind, supported by soldiers as they walked slowly. Women followed, carrying bundles, baskets, and children on their backs, sitting in the cabins with smiles on their faces and bright eyes. The young people came last, helping to move things, running back and forth, sweating profusely, making trip after trip like ants carrying food. Everything was orderly and efficient; no one pushed or cut in line, no one argued. Large items were left on the wharf—stone mills, mortars, and Dashui piled up like Little Mountain —to be transported on the next trip. There was no rush; they could be brought in slowly, since the boats were idle this year anyway.
Gaogan from the Long Leaf Tribe boarded the boat and stood on the railing, watching the camp recede into the distance. Tears welled in his eyes; he was leaving, and his heart was filled with indescribable emotions. His son, Gaogang, stood beside him and whispered, "Father, don't be sad. Things are much better there than here with the Fire Tribe. They'll have food, clothing, and shelter. Our lives will only get better from now on."
Gaogan nodded, wiped his eyes, and sighed, "I know, it's just a little hard to part with it." Gaogang patted him on the shoulder and didn't say anything more.
Zhuangzhi from the Short Leaf Tribe boarded the boat, then crawled into the cabin, found a corner to sit down, leaned against the cabin wall, closed his eyes, and soon began to snore loudly. His younger brother Zhuanggen, sat next to him, holding a piece of bread in his hand, slowly chewing it, his eyes looking out of the cabin, lost in thought.
The fleet slowly started, departed from the dock, and sailed upstream along the Fish River. The giant ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 catties led the way, its Chuantou raised high, cleaving the river and stirring up white Langhua, splashing like a giant plow. Behind it followed forty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties each, as well as many smaller boats.
After these people joined the Fire Tribe, the Fire Tribe's population reached about 140,000. 140,000! Adding the Fire Tribe's natural population growth, the Fire Tribe's population has now exceeded 150,000, not much different from the Tiger Tribe. Jianshi was very excited when he heard this number with his own ears.
While Yan went to pick up the people, Jianya also took goods to the Horse Tribe to buy cattle and horses. He took dozens of boats, loaded with coarse salt, pottery, hemp cloth, and some bronze knives, all good things that the Horse Tribe needed. The boats were piled high, like small Little Mountain. They traveled downstream along the Fish River. The fleet traveled quickly. When they reached the riverbank within the Horse Tribe's territory, he led his men ashore. They carried heavy loads on shoulder poles, which bent into bows and creaked under the weight. The group traveled for a day and a half before arriving at the Horse Tribe's camp.
Junfeng, the chief of the Horse Tribe, was already waiting at the camp entrance, a broad smile on his face, his eyes narrowed to slits, and his mouth stretched to his ears. He wore exquisite leather armor, a bronze sword hanging at his waist, and his hair was neatly combed and tied back with a leather rope. Behind him followed several leaders, all looking spirited, weapons at their waists, and sharp-eyed. Several leaders from core subordinate tribes also arrived, standing behind them, curiously watching the Fire Tribe people.
"Jianya Fang, you must be tired from your journey! Please come in, please come in! The food and wine are all ready, we've been waiting for you! We won't leave until we're drunk!" Junfeng stepped forward, grasped Jianya's hand, and shook it vigorously.
Jianya smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "Chief Junfeng, you're too kind. Our elder brother sent me to fetch the cattle and horses. Are you all ready? Make sure there's nothing missing; our elder brother needs them."
Junfeng patted his chest, making a loud thud, and nodded, saying, "Everything is ready! How could our Horse Tribe dare to neglect what your Fire Tribe wants? The cattle are strong and healthy, with glossy coats, and the horses are well-fed, fast, and have great stamina, like the wind. We've got them all ready, just waiting for your Fire Tribe to come and take them. Not a single one will be missing, not a single one will be lacking, so don't worry!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two entered the council hall. After several rounds of drinks and dishes, everyone was eating heartily and drinking until their faces were flushed. Jianya presented the gifts he had brought: pottery, coarse salt, linen, and a bronze knife—a dazzling array that made one's eyes dazzle. Junfeng, seeing this, grinned from ear to ear. He picked up a bronze knife, drew it from its sheath, and its cold light gleamed. He tested the blade with his finger, making a light cut on his fingertip, from which a bead of blood seeped out. He nodded repeatedly, praising it highly.
"Great stuff! Great stuff! The Fire Tribe's bronze knife is even better than the Tiger Tribe's! Jianya Fang, your Fire Tribe is truly generous and magnanimous!"
The next day, Jianya led the cattle and horses obtained from the Horse Tribe back to the Fire Tribe by land, while the boats went directly back to the Fire Tribe headquarters by water. Jianya and his men had a very smooth journey and encountered no trouble. More than twenty days later, Jianya and his men safely returned to the Fire Tribe headquarters with the cattle and horses.