The Handover and a New Journey

Dazhuang slept soundly last night. Ever since Jianshi brought his men to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost yesterday, a Dazhuang Dashi had been lifted from Dazhuang's heart, like a mountain had been lifted off his shoulders. After a brief handover with Jianshi yesterday, Dazhuang returned to his wooden hut, lay down on the animal skin rug, and fell asleep without even taking off his clothes. Dazhuang slept soundly without a single dream, as if he had sunk to the bottom of the water. He was completely unaware of the wind and Dazhuang outside. When Dazhuang woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. Sunlight squeezed in through the cracks in the window, drawing a golden band of light on the ground. Fine dust particles floated in the beam of light, like countless tiny flying insects or countless tiny stars.

Dazhuang opened his eyes and stared blankly at the thatched roof for a long while before slowly coming back to his senses. The thatch on the wooden house was newly replaced, golden yellow, and still smelled of sunshine. He stretched lazily, raising his arms above his head and stretching his body backward with all his might, his bones cracking and popping like popping beans or bamboo breaking. He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and then rubbed his face, feeling an indescribable sense of comfort throughout his body, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, or as if he had taken a hot bath. He looked down at his hands, rough and large, with thick knuckles, yellowed nails, and calluses on his palms, like two pieces of sandpaper. He clenched his fists, then released them, feeling his strength return.

He dressed, pushed open the door, and the sunlight outside made him squint, instinctively raising his hand to shield his eyes. Then he took a deep breath; the air was moist with the scent of the river and crisp with the unique crispness of autumn, along with the smell of rice stubble from the distant fields, mingled with the fragrance of grass and earth. Several birds chirped and chattered in the distant trees, like a lively concert. He strode to the kitchen, ladled out a large bowl of rice porridge, the porridge thick and fluffy, the rice grains bursting open. The porridge was covered with a layer of rice oil, and it smelled delicious. He ate it with a dish of pickled radish strips, salted and crisp, making a satisfying crunch with every bite. He slurped it down, taking a sip of porridge and then a bite of pickled vegetables. After finishing the porridge, he had another bowl. After that, he ate two boiled eggs and two pieces of meat. Dazhuang wiped his mouth, then wiped it with his sleeve, and drank a bowl of cold tea. Afterward, Dazhuang felt refreshed and invigorated, like a completely different person.

Although Dazhuang had already handed over the basics of the situation to his elder brother Jianshi yesterday, and had relinquished Little Fish River Mouth Outpost Dazhuang, he still felt uneasy. After all, he had been managing things here for so long, handling everything personally, recognizing every blade of grass Dazhuang. Some of the Xizhi couldn't be explained in just a few words. Those intricate matters, those Jijiao problems, wouldn't be cleared up without Dazhuang constantly worrying about them. He thought for a moment, then started walking towards the Little Fish River Mouth council hall. He walked quickly, and several soldiers along the roadside saw him, smiling and greeting him. He smiled back, nodded, and waved, his steps unwavering.

Dazhuang arrived at the entrance of the council hall of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, two guards stood ramrod straight, with bronze swords at their waists, like two pine trees. When they saw Dazhuang, they clasped their hands in a salute, and then lifted the curtain to let Dazhuang in.

Inside, Jianshi sat in the main seat, several animal hide maps spread out in front of him, densely covered with charcoal drawings of the Fire Tribe's various strongholds. He held a charcoal pencil in his hand, drawing something on the map, his brow slightly furrowed, very focused. Dabang sat beside him, holding a wooden board covered with numbers, densely packed, each stroke neat and precise, occasionally scribbling with the charcoal pencil while muttering to himself. Yan sat at the lower end, his back ramrod straight, like a poplar tree, looking at a supplies list. The wooden board was densely covered with writing, and he read it line by line very carefully. The three of them had arrived early and had obviously been busy for quite some time; two teacups on the low table were empty, and the other was half-empty and long since cold.

The fire in the hearth of the council hall was burning brightly, crackling and sputtering, making the room warm and cozy, almost drowsy. Several bowls of tea sat on a low table, still steaming, with wisps of white vapor rising from them. Beside them were some unfinished dishes, indicating that everyone had eaten hastily while working.

Hearing the Jianshi, Jian Shi looked up and saw Dazhuang enter. A smile spread across his face, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes smoothed out. He waved and said, "Dazhuang, you're here? Come and sit down, we were just talking about you. Come, come, sit down first."

Dazhuang walked over, sat down next to Yan, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and said, "Brother, I only briefly handed things over to you yesterday. I only briefly explained many things. I was worried that there might be some things you didn't understand, so I came to check on you. There are some things I don't feel at ease if I don't explain them clearly, and I'm afraid you'll be at a loss later."

Jianshi nodded, his eyes filled with approval and satisfaction, and said, "Dazhuang, you've thought of everything. You're a thoughtful person. Come, have some tea first, don't rush."

Dazhuang sat down, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The tea was already cold and a bit bitter, but he didn't mind. He gulped down two more mouthfuls to moisten his throat.

Jianshi's gaze swept over his face, and he asked, "Did you sleep well last night? You look much better and more energetic, and the dark circles under your eyes have faded considerably."

Dazhuang grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and said, "I slept so well yesterday, better than ever. I haven't had a good night's sleep in ages. I slept until late morning today, without even a dream. Brother, you have no idea how much I used to worry about at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. I tossed and turned many nights, unable to sleep, my mind filled with things to do there. The dock needed expansion, the warehouse needed repair, the fields needed development, the manpower needed redeployment—one thing after another, my mind was constantly racing. But as soon as you came yesterday, a Dashi was lifted off my shoulders. I lay down and fell asleep instantly, without even taking off my clothes or shoes."

Jianshi smiled, patted his shoulder, and said, "It's good that you slept well. Only when you're well-rested can you work properly. Health is our capital; we can't let it collapse like this. If you collapse from exhaustion, who will I hire to do the work?"

Dazhuang nodded, his expression turning serious, his smile fading slightly. He said, "Brother, although we discussed the general directions of the two strongholds at Green Leaf River Mouth and Little Horse River Mouth yesterday and decided to build new strongholds, many details are still undecided. It's like a tangled mess. I'm still uneasy about it. I'm thinking of getting those Xizhi details finalized in the next couple of days. We can't delay any longer; every day we delay is a day later. We need to get those two new strongholds up as soon as possible."

Jianshi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and frowned as the tea cooled. He put it down and said, "Dazhuang, you're right. Although we still have many details to finalize regarding the new stronghold, we have a clear direction and a general framework for our discussions. We can't wait until everything is agreed upon before taking action; that would be too slow. By the time we've finished discussing everything, winter will have arrived, and the snow will have fallen. We need to act quickly now, gather the necessary supplies, and deploy the necessary personnel. We can't afford to delay, or we'll be in trouble if we miss a deadline."

He paused, looked at Dazhuang, and said seriously, "Here's what we'll do. In the next few days, prepare all the supplies needed for two thousand people: food, tools, tents, seeds, salt—nothing can be missing, nothing can be lacking. At the latest, you'll lead your men there in five days. The sooner you get there, the sooner you can build a base and settle everyone down. You can send two hundred men there first to prepare, scout the route, set up camp, find the way, and lay a solid foundation. Although the Long Leaf Tribe Short Leaf Tribe have migrated here, he..." The houses over there can still be used after some repairs. We can fix the roofs and patch the walls; we don't need to build them from scratch right now, which will save us a lot of trouble in the early stages. We can also take some people to cultivate their fields first—plow the soil, repair the irrigation ditches, and fertilize them. We can use them directly next spring without delaying the farming season. The two thousand men you're leading are all strong, able-bodied soldiers, capable of both work and fighting—each one is worth two. Go over there first and set up the basic structure of the stronghold. Once things are stable on your side, I'll relocate their families there so they can be reunited with their families and feel at ease."

He paused, his tone becoming more serious, his brow furrowing slightly as he continued, "While you're there, besides keeping an eye on the movements in the north, you also need to keep a close eye on news from the Great Rock and the Wolf Tribe. Report back immediately if there's any trouble. You also need to engage in more trade with the northern tribes, exchanging for what we need—furs, medicinal herbs, livestock, anything. Also, you need to make sure your stronghold is self-sufficient in food as soon as possible. We can't keep relying on the Fire Tribe's management center. The land there isn't bad; if you cultivate it well, you can even have a surplus."

Dazhuang nodded repeatedly, pecking at Jianshi's words like a chicken pecking at rice, and muttered, "Don't worry, brother, I've remembered everything you said. It's all etched in my mind. When we get to the new stronghold, I'll solve the problems of lodging and food first, then we can talk about other things. Only when everyone has good lodging, good food, and warm clothes will we feel at ease and be able to focus on development and construction."

Jianshi looked at Dazhuang and said, "Dazhuang, don't worry. You're only temporarily in charge of that stronghold. I'm not abandoning you there. Once the new stronghold is up and running and stable, I'll send someone to replace you. I won't make you stay there indefinitely. Of course, if you're doing well there and think it's good, you can continue to stay at that stronghold. Anyway, it's not far from the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost; it's a quick boat ride. If you want to come to Little Fish River Mouth to rest for a few days, you can come back anytime. Nobody's stopping you. The doors of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost are always open for you."

Dazhuang felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this, as if he had drunk a bowl of hot soup. His eyes even felt a little hot, and his nose felt sore. He picked up the teacup and took a big gulp. The cool tea went down his throat, suppressing the heat. He then wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

"Brother, there's something else I want to ask you." Dazhuang put down his teacup, rubbed his hands together so hard they made a rustling sound, and asked with a gleam in his eyes, "When will those two 100,000-jin-capacity ships be assigned to our stronghold next year? Dali's been sailing around the Fish River Red Flower River Mouth, both cruising and patrolling. I've been envious for ages."

Jianshi laughed heartily, the laughter echoing in the room. Then he said, "You're just like Dali, unable to resist the sight of a big ship. Don't worry, I'll definitely assign you that ship. I keep my word. Next year, after we finish transporting the grain we ordered from the Valley Tribe, I'll assign you a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. This 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship will definitely be assigned before Dali's Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, so your new stronghold can be operational first. Then you can patrol the Fish River in that 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship, making Dali green with Dali and leaving him only able to watch helplessly."

Dazhuang nodded happily, his smile impossible to hide. His mouth stretched to his ears, revealing a set of white teeth, and his eyes narrowed into slits as he said, "That's great! With your words, I feel relieved and at ease. I'll take a huge ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin and sail around the river, and let Dali take a look at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost!"

Everyone laughed, the laughter echoing in the room. Even Dabang put down the wooden board and grinned. Yan also laughed and shook his head.

After laughing, Dazhuang picked up the charcoal pencil on the table and started drawing on the animal skin map. He squatted in front of the map, drawing and talking at the same time, pointing out the personnel distribution, material reserves, farmland reclamation, canal routes, and dock berths of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost to Jianshi, explaining everything clearly and plainly.

"Brother, the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost now has 30,000 people, making it the largest stronghold of our Fire Tribe and the center of the north. The Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost, Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, and Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost have 10,000 people. The Hundred Crafts, Beast Taming, Qinghe, Shuize, High Pointed Mountain, and the stronghold between High Pointed Mountain and Little Fish River Mouth each have 5,000 people. Adding them all up, there are about 90,000 people in total. The population center of our Fire Tribe has completely shifted northward, and the main headquarters and those smaller strongholds in the south have slightly fewer people."

Jianshi listened, his eyes scanning the map like two brushes, pointing at the markings with his fingers, muttering numbers as he added them up one by one. He nodded and said, "Ninety thousand people. Adding the sixty thousand from headquarters, our Fire Tribe's population is at least one hundred and fifty thousand. Currently, the center of our Fire Tribe's population is indeed in the north. It seems that relocating our Fire Tribe's administrative center to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost was a very wise decision. This step was the right one. It's well-connected here, with convenient transportation, making it quick to go anywhere. Future dispatching, management, and external communication will be much easier, saving a lot of time and effort."

Dazhuang then went on to describe in detail who was in charge of each stronghold, how many soldiers, craftsmen, oxen, ships, and grain reserves there were, explaining everything clearly. He even mentioned which leader had what quirks and which soldier had what special skills. Jianshi would occasionally interject with a question, while Dabang took notes on a wooden board, the charcoal pencil scratching softly. Yan was also making notes on his own wooden board, stroke by stroke.

After working for more than an hour, Dazhuang finally finished explaining the last detail, let out a long sigh of relief as if he had finally unloaded his last burden, leaned back in his chair, and took a big gulp of his herbal tea.

Jianshi looked at Dazhuang, then at Yan, and instructed in Chenwen and powerful voice, "Yan, these next few days you will cooperate with Dazhuang to prepare the manpower and supplies needed for the new stronghold. The food and supplies must be accounted for clearly, so that nothing is missing or forgotten; the manpower should be strong, able to endure hardship, and not afraid of fatigue. Send two hundred men there first, and have them set off tomorrow. The sooner they get there, the sooner they can prepare and set up a temporary camp. Five days later, Dazhuang, you will officially lead the main force to set off. Don't delay."

Yan nodded, stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Yes, Father, I'll take care of it right away. It won't delay things."

Jianshi then turned to Dazhuang, his eyes filled with a mixture of entrustment and expectation, and said, "The two new strongholds will be primarily located at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, with the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost serving as a secondary stronghold. The Green Leaf River Mouth Estuary has more fertile land, a more abundant water source, and is closer to the Clothing Tribe, making trade and exchange more convenient; the Little Horse River Mouth offers a wider view. Both should be established, but the focus should be on the Green Leaf River Mouth Estuary. I will initially equip each of your strongholds with a large ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, to facilitate the transportation of supplies, patrolling the waterways, and making it easier to travel to and from the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost."

Dazhuang's eyes lit up and he said, "Two large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, are you going to assign them to me first? Brother, are you serious? Not one, but two? Did I hear that right?"

Jianshi smiled and nodded, stating definitively, "Really, not one, but two. One will be stationed at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, and the other at the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost. Your location is more important; it's the northern gateway, and we can't be without large ships."

Dazhuang was so happy he almost jumped up. He bounced on his chair, rubbing his hands together so hard they made a rustling sound like he was twisting hemp rope. His face was beaming, his eyes almost disappearing with laughter. He exclaimed, "Great! Two 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) capacity ships! Dali only has one 50,000-jin capacity ship now, but I have two! I'll sail them on the Fish River and see if he's still so arrogant, let's see if he's still showing off!"

Yan laughed beside him and said, "Uncle Dazhuang, you'd better do a good job and not let Father down. He's assigned you two big ships; it wouldn't be right if the new base wasn't built properly."

Dazhuang patted his chest, the sound echoing like a drumbeat, and said, "Of course! When have I, Dazhuang, ever let you down, brother? Don't worry, brother, I will definitely build these two new strongholds beautifully and solidly! When you come to inspect next year, if there's anything wrong, just hold me accountable, and I, Dazhuang, will have no complaints!"

Next, Dazhuang explained the distribution of personnel at this stronghold to Jianshi in detail. He picked up a charcoal pencil and drew circles on the animal skin map, talking as he drew, pointing to the places with his finger, spitting as he spoke.

"Brother, look, this is the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, with 30,000 people. It's our main base and the center of the north. Further south is the Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost, with about 10,000 people. To the west is the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, with 10,000 people. Dali guards it, sailing his big boat around the river every day, looking very impressive. Further south is the Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost, with 10,000 people. All our Fire Tribe's supplies pass through there. In addition, the Hundred Crafts, Beast Taming, Qinghe, Shuize strongholds here each have 5,000 people, scattered around the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost like four sentries. The stronghold at the foot of High Pointed Mountain also has 5,000 people; it's our easternmost outpost, and we can see any movement there. Between High Pointed Mountain and Little Fish River Mouth, there's another stronghold with 5,000 people, a midway point, a place for us to rest."

His finger moved across the map, marking each stronghold clearly, like counting stars. "Ninety thousand people, plus the sixty thousand from the main force and nearby areas, our Fire Tribe Tribe's population is at least one hundred and fifty thousand. The center of our Fire Tribe's population is indeed now in the north."

Jianshi nodded in agreement and said, "Moving our Fire Tribe's management center to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost was the right move. It will make management and coordination much easier, and sending orders, troop deployments, and grain transport will be much more convenient, saving time and effort."

Dazhuang stayed in the council hall for a while longer, explaining all the Xizhi —which warehouse's grain should be eaten first, which dock's ships needed repair, which leader had any problems, and which soldier had family difficulties. Jianshi listened, nodding occasionally, while Dabang took notes, his charcoal pencil scratching. Yan also listened attentively, his brows slightly furrowed.

As the sun began to set, its rays slanted in through the doorway, casting a golden-red hue on the ground. Dazhuang stood up, dusted himself off, and bowed respectfully, saying, "Big Brother, Dabang, Yan and I will go prepare now. We need to inventory the supplies, select the people, arrange the boats—there's a lot to do, so we need to hurry."

Jianshi nodded, stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go ahead. You've worked hard these past few days. Once things are stable at the new base, I'll let you rest properly and give you a few days off."

Dazhuang grinned and said, "It's not hard work at all! I'm happy to see our tribe growing stronger every day. I feel full of energy! I'm off!"

He turned and strode out of the council chamber, his steps light and quick, like a gust of wind.

Jianshi watched his retreating figure disappear through the door, then turned to Yan and said, "Yan, these next few days you'll assist Dazhuang in preparing everything we need. Make sure all the supplies are accounted for carefully, so nothing is missing. We need to select strong, hardworking men. Send two hundred men to the new stronghold first, and have them set off tomorrow. The sooner they go, the sooner they can prepare. Five days later, Dazhuang will lead the main force to the new stronghold."

Yan nodded, stood up, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Yes, Father, I will take care of it right away. Don't worry."

Dabang also stood up and said, "I'll go to the warehouse to check the supplies and see what we're missing and how much."

The three of them went their separate ways.