Heading North to Bring People Back
Two days later, early in the morning, before dawn, the dock at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost stronghold was already bustling with activity. The morning mist, still thin and lingering on the river, hung in the air. Yan stood by the dock, making final preparations. He wore a long, blue linen robe that shimmered softly in the morning light. A bronze dagger hung at his waist, its scabbard engraved with simple patterns, and its hilt wrapped with hemp rope. His hair was neatly arranged, not a single strand out of place. He was full of energy, his back ramrod straight. Feiyu, Bailin, Jia Li, Shibang, and Yingmu followed behind him, all dressed neatly, chests out, heads held high, full of spirit, like warriors awaiting battle.
Today, Yan is leading the fleet to Dazhuang's Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost and Little Horse River Mouth Outpost to pick up people. Those independent small tribes on the Clothing River, and those independent small tribes on the Little Horse River who want to join the Fire Tribe, have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Dazhuang sent someone to say that there are about four thousand people coming to the Fire Tribe.
The fleet of ships to pick up the people was ready: a giant ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 catties, thirty-five large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties each, and many small ships, all neatly moored on the dock, the ships loaded with grain, salt, pottery, and linen.
The sound of ox horns rang out, deep and long, echoing across the river in the early morning. The flotilla of boats slowly started up, leaving the dock and sailing downstream along the Fish River.
The fleet sailed smoothly on the wide Fish River. The scenery on both banks constantly changed: sometimes dense forests with towering trees, lush and verdant; sometimes open meadows with lush green grass and wildflowers everywhere; sometimes steep cliffs with jagged Shitou, too steep for even monkeys to climb. Occasionally, a few farmers could be seen working in the fields, their backs bent and stooped. When they saw the huge fleet, they stopped what they were doing, straightened up, craned their necks, and watched curiously. Some even waved at the fleet and shouted something, but it was hard to hear what they were saying.
A few days later, the fleet arrived at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. From afar, Yan could see a Dazhuang stood at the front, wearing leather armor, with a bronze sword at his waist. His skin was tanned dark, and his hands were rough and strong. Behind him stood several leaders and a large group of new tribesmen waiting to board the ship.
The fleet slowly approached the shore. Yan jumped off the ship with a swift and Dazhuang movement. Da Zhuang quickly went to meet him, grabbed Yan's hand, and shook it vigorously. The strength of the shake was so great that Yan's arm was shaking. His face was full of smiles, his eyes were narrowed into slits, and his mouth stretched to his ears, revealing a set of fairly neat teeth.
"Yan, you're here! Everyone's here, and everything's packed. We've been waiting for you! If you hadn't come, they would have gone by themselves!" Dazhuang's voice boomed like thunder, echoing across the dock and making the ears of those nearby ring.
Yan smiled and said, "Uncle Dazhuang, you've worked hard. How many people are you picking up this time? Are you all ready?"
Dazhuang counted on his fingers, one by one, and then said, "Over three thousand people have arrived from the Clothing River, representing more than a dozen tribes, large and small. They're all here. There are still over three thousand people there; I promised to pick them up next spring. From the Little Horse River, we're picking up over a thousand this time, and I promised to pick up another two thousand after spring. In total, we're picking up over four thousand people this time. They're all here now, their things are packed, and they're just waiting to board the ship."
Yan nodded, silently calculating in his mind, and then said, "More than four thousand people. The ships I brought this time are enough. Leave the large items at your two strongholds for now, and we'll pick them up and settle the new tribespeople down next time we come to transport them."
Dazhuang, turned around and waved to the people behind him, his voice booming, "Get on the boat! The elderly and children first! Women next! Young people last! Don't push, don't shove, one at a time!"
The dock was instantly bustling with activity. The elderly and children boarded the boat first, supported by the soldiers, walking steadily. Women followed behind, carrying bundles, baskets, and children on their backs, their faces beaming and eyes sparkling. The young people came last, helping to move things, running back and forth, sweating profusely, making trip after trip like ants carrying food.
Large items—stone mills, stone mortars, Dashui, and wooden cabinets—were left on the dock, piled up like small Little Mountain. Dazhuang had already assigned people to guard and sort them for the next shipment, so there was no fear of them getting lost.
Yan stood on the dock, watching these people board the ship, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. From now on, these people would be members of the Fire Tribe.
Yan also sent Feiyu and Shibang to pick up people at the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost. After everyone boarded the boat, Yan gave an order, the sound of the bull horn rang out, and the fleet slowly started and sailed away from the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. The two fleets merged at the Fish River and sailed upstream along the Fish River towards the Fire Tribe's main valley.
Dazhuang stood on the dock, watching the fleet gradually disappear into the distance, waving his hand until the fleet vanished around the bend in the river before turning away.