Reporting Back and a New Assignment

Two days later, in the morning, Yan led the fleet away from the Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost and sailed down the Fish River back to the Fire Tribe's management center— the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. The fleet slowly docked, and Yan jumped off the boat with swift and decisive movements. Without taking a break, he strode towards the council hall of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, eager to report the progress of his inspection to his father.

Yan arrived at the entrance of the council hall. Two guards stood ramrod straight, bronze swords at their waists, resembling two pine trees or two statues. Upon seeing Yan, they clasped their hands in a salute, their movements crisp and efficient, bowing deeply as they said, "Young Chief, the Chief has already given instructions that you can go straight in upon your return without announcing yourself."

Yan nodded in return, pushed open the wooden door, and went straight in. The hinges creaked, the sound particularly clear in the quiet air, like a sigh.

Inside the council chamber, the firewood in the hearth was burning brightly. Jianshi sat in the main seat, with Dabang beside him. The two were discussing something in hushed tones, their voices low but earnest and focused, as if they were discussing something important.

Hearing the noise, Jianshi looked up and saw Yan enter. A smile spread across his face, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes smoothed out. He waved and said, "Yan, you're back? Come and sit down, let's talk."

Yan walked over and sat down next to the Jianshi. Dabang put down the wooden plank, nodded at him, and smiled.

Jianshi looked at him, his eyes filled with concern and expectation, and said, "Yan, how was the situation when you went to inspect the strongholds at the mouths of the Pottery Salt River Mouth and the Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost? Tell me in detail, don't miss anything, tell me everything you saw and heard."

Yan sat up straight, cleared his throat, and said, "Father, those two river mouth outposts are developing very well, changing every day. They are now not only self-sufficient in food, but also have a surplus. The terrain is flat, the soil is fertile, and water transport is convenient, so their development potential is enormous. Although they only have about ten thousand people now, expanding to thirty to fifty thousand is no problem. They are currently Dali cultivating fields and improving irrigation canals in preparation for next spring. Those two outposts are full of energy. If our Fire Tribe recruits more people next year, we can settle some in those two river mouth outposts. There's plenty of space there; we won't have to worry about finding a place to live."

Jianshi Shi nodded and said, "The mouths of these tributaries of the Fish River are all in excellent locations with enormous development potential. Making good use of them would be very beneficial to the development of our Fire Tribe. You previously told me that the Fire Tribe should focus on building strongholds at the river mouths, allocating manpower and resources to these strongholds, and shifting our center of gravity northward. After discussing it with everyone, we all agreed and unanimously approved it."

He paused, then looked at Yan and said, "You worked hard on this inspection trip. Keep a close eye on the Pottery Salt River Mouth and Stone Creek River Mouth whenever you have time. Report any problems to me immediately, don't wait until things get serious."

Yan nodded, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "It's nothing, Father. It's all my duty. It's no trouble at all."

Then, Jianshi Shi spoke with a mixture of joy, anticipation, and eagerness. "Recently, news came from Dazhuang's side that some independent tribes on the Clothing River expressed their desire to join the Fire Tribe while trading at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. They saw that our Fire Tribe is doing well, and their hearts are set on it, their eyes are lit up. There are also some independent tribes on the north bank of the Little Horse River Mouth estuary, who also expressed their desire to join the Fire Tribe while trading at the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost, asking all sorts of questions. Dazhuang is actively contacting them, negotiating terms, benefits, and rules. I estimate that we can recruit another batch of people during this period. The negotiations should be almost complete by now. Yan, in a couple of days, take the fleet to pick them up and bring them to the Fire Tribe's main valley to adapt to life, learn the rules, learn to read, practice martial arts, and recuperate. Once they are settled, they can be assigned to the outer outposts."

Yan nodded in agreement, stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Yes, Father. Our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe doesn't have a particularly large population right now, but our territory is quite extensive. I still maintain my idea: we should focus on developing our Fire Tribe's river mouth outposts first, concentrating our limited manpower and resources on key areas. River mouth outposts have greater development potential, more fertile land, more abundant water sources, and lower development costs. The Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, the Little Gathering River Mouth Outpost, the Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost, the Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost, the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, and the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost are all excellent locations, naturally suited for building outposts. Later, we can also build an outpost on the Clothing River South Bank to push our influence further north and expand it even further. This way, the Fire Tribe's sphere of influence can shift further north, getting closer to the Valley Tribe and the Horse Tribe."

Jianshi nodded and said, "Yan, your idea is very good. You've thought things through long-term, thoroughly, and meticulously. But these things can't be done in a day. Let's take it slowly, one thing at a time, and not be impatient."

He turned to Dabang and asked, "Dabang, how's our shipbuilding plan for next year going? Are the materials ready? Do we have enough manpower? Is the shipyard ready? Let's not be caught off guard."

Dabang stood up, his back ramrod straight, like a javelin. His voice boomed like thunder as he replied, "Chief, our headquarters is already preparing materials for 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) capacity ships. Once everything is ready, we just need to assemble them. By next spring, headquarters will be able to increase our Fire Tribe's 100,000-jin capacity ships to at least five. The shipyard at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost is also under preparation; the craftsmen are working day and night, and we've stockpiled plenty of materials. The timber has floated down from upstream and is ready to use. By next spring, we'll be able to increase our 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) capacity ships to sixty."

Jianshi nodded in satisfaction, a smile spreading across his face. He said, "Good. Our Fire Tribe's 100,000-jin carrying capacity ship has already been shown to the Valley Tribe. The people of the Valley Tribe saw it, and the spies of the Bear Tribe might have seen it too. The news might have already reached the Tiger Tribe at the very bottom of the Fish River. The Tiger Tribe's spies aren't blind or deaf. They might make some moves next year, they might come to cause trouble for us. Our Fire Tribe can't be unprepared. We should build more ships as a backup. The more ships we have, the less panicked we'll be."

Dabang Stick nodded, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Rest assured, Chief. Our shipyards at headquarters and the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost haven't had a moment's rest lately. They've been working day and night, the craftsmen are working non-stop. The workshops never stop even when people are resting. Everyone is working with a lot of energy, and we will definitely complete our Fire Tribe's shipbuilding plan ahead of schedule next year. We mean what we say, and we will never go back on our word!"

Jianshi nodded, then turned to Yan and said, "Yan, you should also make preparations these next couple of days. In a couple of days, take the fleet to Dazhuang's Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. Dazhuang's message is that he'll take in a batch of people first, and leave another batch behind. Give those who stay behind some supplies, and after winter, they'll be brought back to the Fire Tribe headquarters. This batch is estimated to be only about five thousand people, not many, and can be brought in all at once. Take some supplies with you and bring all the people Da Dazhuang has negotiated back to the Fire Tribe headquarters, settle them down, and make sure they have a place to live. I'll send someone to the Fire Tribe headquarters to have Jianya relocate a batch of people to the outer strongholds, freeing up some houses at headquarters. You take the people there, and Jianya will arrange for these newcomers; they won't be homeless."

Yan nodded in agreement, stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Yes, Father, I will go and make preparations now. We will depart in two days."

Then, everyone chatted about Dali's situation. Jianshi shook his head and said with a smile, "Dali can't resist big ships. After he goes back to the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost this time, he won't be able to come back until at least next year."

Dabang laughed and said, "That's just his personality. He can't change it, he'll never change it."

Yan said, "Uncle Dali's love for ships is well-known in our Fire Tribe; everyone knows it."

Everyone laughed for a while, chatted for a bit, and then went their separate ways.