The Fire Tribe Sets Out to Bring People Home in Early Spring

Winter has finally passed. The ice and snow have melted, the Fish River has risen, the trees on both banks have sprouted tender green buds, people are turning the soil in the fields, the wind is no longer biting, and the sunlight is no longer pale.

At the Fire Tribe Management Center's Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, a bustling scene unfolded. People came and went at the dock, craftsmen were repairing boats, warriors were checking weapons, and women were preparing rations. The entire camp was filled with a tense yet orderly atmosphere.

Jianshi stood at the entrance of the council hall, his hands behind his back, watching everything. Qingye stood beside him, wearing a light-colored linen dress with several Little Flower embroidered on the hem. The petals were pink and the leaves were green, and they were lifelike. Her hair was neatly combed and held in place with a wooden hairpin, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears.

Yan strode out of the camp, followed by Feiyu, Shibang, and Yingmu. They were all dressed neatly, in high spirits, with bronze knives at their waists and food bags on their backs, each standing tall and proud.

"Father, we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning. The ferry to pick us up is ready, the supplies are loaded, and everyone is here."

Jianshi nodded and said, "Okay, this time when you go to pick them up, go early and come back early, so everyone doesn't worry."

Yan nodded, turned around to make the arrangements, his back straight and his steps firm. The next morning, before dawn, when the surroundings were still gray, the dock at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost was bustling with activity. The fleet was ready to set off, with the 100,000-jin giant ship at the front, followed by fifty 50,000-jin ships and many smaller boats. The sound of the ox horn rang out, and the fleet slowly started up, leaving the dock and sailing downstream along the Fish River.

The people they were going to pick up were the new tribesmen who had promised to stay in the north for the winter last year. There were more than 3,000 people on the Clothing River and more than 2,000 people on the north bank of the Little Horse River Xiao Ma River, totaling more than 5,000 people. Dazhuang had already sent someone to spread the word that everyone was gathered at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost and the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost, just waiting for the boats to pick them up. The fleet sailed on the wide Fish River with the wind and the current, and it was very fast, like an arrow released from a bow.

The scenery on both banks kept changing. Yingmu stood at the Chuantou, his hands gripping the gunwale, looking at the views on both sides. His voice was filled with excitement and anticipation as he exclaimed, "Boss, with the people we brought back this time, the population of our Fire Tribe will exceed 160,000!"

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, this year we will recruit tens of thousands more people from the north and bring in those independent small tribes. This spring, our Fire Tribe will be able to plant 200,000 mu of paddy fields. Our Fire Tribe has enough food to eat, with plenty to spare. We will also transport 20 million jin of grain from the Valley Tribe. After deducting our own tribe's consumption, even if we recruit tens of thousands more people, we will still have plenty to spare. We are not worried about not having enough to eat."

Shibang, his voice tinged with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of exhilaration, exclaimed, "If that's the case, our Fire Tribe's population could very well surpass 200,000 in the next two years! If that's the case, our Fire Tribe's population will exceed that of the Tiger Tribe, and even surpass that large tribe at the very bottom of the Fish River!"

Yan frowned slightly, his expression serious. "Yes, but the Tiger Tribe is an old and powerful tribe that has been operating for over a hundred years. They have a deep foundation and have accumulated a lot of resources over the years. If anything happens, their population will grow rapidly. They can recruit people and expand their army whenever they want. So we can't just look at their apparent strength. Our Fire Tribe must continue to move forward. We can't stop, we can't rest, and we can't slack off."

The Yingmu and Shibang nodded in agreement, their expressions turning serious, and their smiles fading.

The fleet continued its journey, and when it reached the vicinity of the Green Leaf River Mouth, Yan split the fleet in two. One half, led by Feiyu and Yingmu, headed towards the Little Horse River Mouth to pick up the more than two thousand people there. Dali had already arranged for people to gather the more than two thousand people who wanted to join the Fire Tribe at the dock, waiting for the ships to arrive so they could board. Yan and Shibang led the other half of the fleet towards the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost.

At the dock of the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, a Dazhuang group of people stood in the dark. Da Zhuang stood at the front, wearing a leather armor made of thick and hard wild boar hide. A bronze sword hung at his waist, its scabbard engraved with simple patterns and its hilt wrapped with hemp rope. His skin was tanned dark, as if painted with ink, and his hands were rough and strong. Behind him stood several leaders and more than three thousand new tribesmen waiting to board the ship.

The fleet slowly approached the shore. Yan jumped off the ship, and Dazhuang quickly went to meet him. He grabbed Yan's hand and shook it vigorously, his face full of smiles.

"Uncle Dazhuang, have you all been waiting for a long time? We're not late, are we?" Yan said with a smile, his voice tinged with apology.

Dazhuang shook his head and said, "It's not too late. We just got ready, and the people have just gathered. You've come at the perfect time. Now that you're here, you can arrange for them to board the ship. It'll be quick; it'll be loaded in no time."

While Yan and Dazhuang were chatting, Shibang and his men were already maintaining order, helping the more than three thousand new tribesmen board the boat. He stood on the dock, gesturing with his hands and shouting, "Elderly and children first," "Women follow," "Young people last," "Don't push, don't shove, one at a time." Dazhuang's group was also helping, carrying small items and assisting the elderly and children. The dock was busy but orderly.

With a mixture of concern and worry in his eyes, Yan asked, "Uncle Dazhuang, are you settling in well here? Are you enjoying the food? Is there anything you're not used to?"

Dazhuang said, "I'm doing alright here. I'm tough and don't mind the cold. There are only two strongholds here, Green Leaf River Mouth and Little Horse River Mouth. The population isn't large, and there's not much to do. As long as there are no disturbances to the north, I'm very relaxed here and can even get a good night's sleep. The Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost can now accommodate about five thousand people. A lot of houses have been built, and the warehouses have been expanded. The Little Horse River Mouth Outpost can accommodate about two thousand people. It's a bit smaller there, but it's enough. We can squeeze in a bit."

Yan nodded, his tone becoming serious, his brows furrowing slightly as he said, "That's good, but Uncle Dazhuang, you'll probably be quite busy from now on, you won't be able to rest even if you want to. Now, most of the people on the Clothing River South Bank have joined our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, and quite a few tribes on the north bank of the Little Horse River Mouth have also joined us. At the end of last year, I suggested to my father that we establish Clothing River Mouth South Bank Outpost and Little Horse River Mouth North Bank Outpost. After discussing it with everyone, my father agreed. You'll probably have to work harder this year, you'll be busy again."

Dazhuang waved his hand and said generously, "It's alright. We can set up a new outpost on the Little Horse River. We just need to expand the outpost on the south bank of the Little Horse River Mouth. Setting up an outpost on the Clothing River South Bank won't be difficult either. There are two small tribes at that river mouth that have already joined our Fire Tribe. Their original camps have been abandoned and are just sitting there empty. The houses are still habitable and the fields are still arable. I'll send people to build outposts on the foundations of these two tribes and expand them gradually. We can make repairs and additions, which will save a lot of effort and prevent us from starting from scratch."

Yan's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face. "Uncle Dazhuang, it seems you were prepared all along, and you already knew what was going on. Then I won't say anything more. I trust you to handle things, and Father trusts you too. I'll take the fleet to pick up the people and head to headquarters first. Uncle Jianya is still waiting."

Dazhuang nodded, patted Yan on the shoulder and said, "Okay, you still have things to do, you still need to go to the Valley Tribe transport grain, so I won't keep you any longer. Next time you have time, come and have a good time. I'll take you for a walk on the river and show you the unique scenery here."

Yan nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, then I'll be going now. Uncle Dazhuang, take care and don't overwork yourself."

After saying that, Yan turned around and boarded the boat. More than 3,000 new tribesmen had already boarded the boat, and the cabin was full, like baskets of potatoes. After a while, the sound of the ox horn rang out, and the fleet of boats to pick up people slowly started and sailed out of the Green Leaf River Mouth, going upstream along the Fish River to meet the other half of the fleet on the other side of the Little Horse River Mouth.

The two groups of people met on the Fish River. With more than 5,000 new members and the original crew, the fleet was even larger. The giant ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 catties was at the front, followed by 50 large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties each, and many small ships.

After a few days of eating the standard meals of the Fire Tribe, these newcomers regained their color and their eyes shone. When they passed through the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost, and Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, seeing the bustling docks, rows of wooden houses, endless fields, the coming and going boats, the busy figures, and the herds of cattle and sheep, they were already looking forward to life after joining the Fire Tribe. They couldn't wait to get there and settle down.

Some people leaned on the gunwale, looking at the cattle and sheep in the distance, marveling and muttering, "So many!"; others pointed to the wooden houses on the shore, counting how many there were, one by one; still others discussed how big the Fire Tribe's boat was, how many people there were, and how vast their territory was.

On this bright and sunny day, the fleet arrived near the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost. Shibang, standing at the Chuantou, craned his neck to look ahead and was the first to shout, his voice high-pitched and shrill. "Big ships! Four ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each are anchored at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost dock! Four! Look!"

Yan, Yingmu, and Feiyu also took a closer look, and sure enough, at the dock of the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, four brand-new, 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) large ships were quietly moored. The ships were huge, like four Little Mountain or four castles. The tung oil gleamed with a dark luster in the sunlight, like a layer of honey, and the bows of the Chuantou were raised high.

Yan's voice was full of excitement, and his eyes sparkled as he exclaimed joyfully, "It seems that the four 100,000-jin-capacity ships that Uncle Jianya mentioned for the spring have been built and successfully launched for sea trials! Quickly order the ships to speed up, let's hurry over and take a good look and feel them!"

The fleet sped forward to the sound of horns, a rapid and urgent sound like a war drum urging people onward. Like an arrow released from a bow, the fleet headed towards the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

Jianya had already received the news and was waiting on the dock. He was wearing a linen robe, the robe was blue, and a bronze sword was hanging at his waist. The scabbard was engraved with simple patterns, and the handle was wrapped with hemp rope. His eyes were sharp, like an eagle's, scanning the surroundings. When he saw Yan disembark, he quickly went to greet him, his steps hurried like a gust of wind, his face full of smiles.

Yan grabbed Jianya's hand and shook it vigorously, excitedly saying, "Uncle Jianya, you guys are amazing! You've really done incredible things! You actually managed to build four ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each and successfully test-water sailing them in the spring! Adding to the original one, the Fire Tribe now has five giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each!"

Jianya chuckled and said, "See? I didn't lie to you, did I? I keep my word. Not only these four ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each, but we'll also complete the Fire Tribe's other 100,000-jin carrying capacity ships ahead of schedule this year. It won't be delayed until the end of the year, so don't worry. When we go to the Valley Tribe to transport grain this spring, take all four ships with you. Go with all five together and let Daiyan of the Valley Tribe have a good look. Let their eyes pop out and show them the true strength of our Fire Tribe!"

Yan nodded and said with a smile, "Okay, I will. I'll definitely show Daiyan the true strength of our Fire Tribe!"

Of the more than 5,000 new tribesmen, some were transferred to small boats by Jianya Fang's men and taken directly to the Fire Tribe's headquarters in the valley for the Fire Tribe. The rest took Yan's boat to the Fire Tribe's headquarters. Yan rested for one night at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost. The next morning, after the boat returned, he led the fleet down the Fish River and back to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost.

Jia Li and Bailin had prepared everything that needed to be prepared, arranging everything neatly in the cabin, just waiting for Yan to return so they could set off.

After returning to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, Yan went directly to the council hall to report to Jianshi. He recounted in detail the situation regarding the evacuation, Dazhuang's situation, and Jianya Ya's shipbuilding progress. Jianshi listened attentively, nodding frequently with a satisfied smile, repeatedly saying, "Good, good, good!"

"Good, good, it's good that everything is arranged." Jianshi stood up, walked to Yan, and patted him on the shoulder with a very light touch. "You'll set off for the Valley Tribe tomorrow. Transport the grain back as soon as possible. Be careful on the road; getting back safely is more important than anything else."

Yan nodded, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and said, "Father, rest assured, I will be careful, nothing will happen."

Early the next morning, before dawn, the dock at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost was already bustling with activity. Yan, along with Jia Li, Feiyu, Bailin, Yingmu, Shibang, boarded the largest ship, a vessel with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. These five massive ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, led the way, their Chuantou raised high like five Little Mountain or five giant beasts. Behind them followed fifty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, and many smaller boats.

As the horn sounded, the grain transport fleet slowly started and sailed away from the dock, heading downstream along the Fish River. The five giant ships, each weighing 100,000 jin, led the way, cleaving through the water. On the bank, Jianshi, Qingye, Dabang, and others stood there, watching Yan's grain transport fleet depart until the last ship disappeared into the morning mist, at which point they turned and left.