Success and Pursuit
While Daiyue, the head of the Valley Tribe, was making various preparations, the joint fleet of the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe had already succeeded in capturing the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. The three ships of the Valley Tribe tribe's Little Valley Camp, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, were sunk by the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe ' fleet before they even had a chance to leave the dock.
The Tiger Tribe's three massive ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, charged forward recklessly, Chuantou into the three 50,000-jin ships at the Little Valley Camp Outpost's Little Valley Camp with a dull thud. The planks of the three 50,000-jin ships shattered, splinters flying everywhere. The Valley Tribe's ships, as fragile as paper or eggshells, crumbled at the slightest touch and sank instantly upon impact. The warriors on board fell into the water, struggling and screaming, their cries for help echoing across the Little Valley Camp's dock.
The small boats at Little Valley Camp also suffered heavy losses. One by one, they were overturned, smashed, and sunk, as fragile as toys. Only a few scattered small boats managed to escape in the chaos and head towards the main Valley Tribe, not daring to look back.
Before the Valley Tribe's ships could react, a third of them were destroyed by the combined fleet of the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe. Flames soared into the sky and thick smoke billowed from the dock of the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. The pungent and nauseating smell of burning wood mixed with the stench of blood was overwhelming, and the burning ships crackled and popped.
Xiong Lie, the chief of the Bear Tribe, excitedly approached Tong Dachui, the commander of the Tiger Tribe. His face was flushed, his eyes were bright, and his grin stretched to his ears, revealing a set of yellow teeth with bits of meat stuck between them. After bowing respectfully, he shouted excitedly, as if he had been injected with chicken blood. "Dachui, our operation this time was brilliant and successful! We wiped out the Valley Tribe's waterborne forces on the east bank of the Fish River in one fell swoop, sinking all their boats and driving their warriors into the water! Shall we go ashore and attack the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp? Before they can even get a foothold and react, let's take down the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost in one fell swoop and catch them completely off guard!"
Hearing Xiong Lie's urging words, Tong Dachui of the Tiger Tribe felt a surge of anger. His brows furrowed, forming a deep frown, and deep lines appeared on his forehead. He glanced at Xiong Lie with a mixture of dissatisfaction and warning in his eyes. However, considering how the Bear Tribe had been suppressed by the Valley Tribe for so many years, suffering many losses and deaths at the Little Valley Camp, and how they had finally turned the tables and vented their anger today, he could understand Xiong Lie's eagerness. He didn't stoop to Xiong Lie's level.
Although the surprise attack on the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp was successful and yielded good results, the Tiger Tribe's fleet had been reduced by 70% of its strength. Of its ten massive ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, only three remained, and of its thirty-odd large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, only a dozen remained, significantly weakening its power. Originally, Tong Dachui could have easily dealt a heavy blow to the Valley Tribe and Fire Tribe without much thought, but now he couldn't. With fewer cards to play, his confidence was diminished, and he felt like his hands and feet were tied.
Although the ships at the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost Little Valley Camp all sunk, they had amassed a considerable force there. From the dock, at least two thousand warriors stood behind the camp's fence, wielding bronze weapons, their morale high. Even if the Tiger Tribe could defeat them, they would suffer losses. The warriors brought by Tong Dachui were the Tiger Tribe 'Tiger Tribe elite, trained from childhood. Moreover, the Valley Tribe's main force still had many ships, including seven with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, as well as numerous smaller boats and several thousand warriors. If reinforcements were to arrive from there, it would be troublesome. Even if they ultimately defeated the Valley Tribe, the Tiger Tribe would certainly suffer significant losses, mostly from their own elite Tiger Tribe. How could they possibly wipe out the Fire Tribe's naval strength in one fell swoop? The Fire Tribe also possessed a large ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. If the Tiger Tribe acted recklessly, they might end up giving the Bear Tribe a free ride.
Having figured this out, Tong Dachui's brows relaxed slightly. A cold smile crept across his lips, a chilling smirk playing on his lips. His voice Chenwen, carrying a hint of command, a touch of perfunctoriness, and a dash of contempt as he spoke, "Chief Xiong Lie, we've now crippled the Valley Tribe's naval forces at their Little Valley Camp. Their ships are sunk, their men are dead, and their docks are burned. Now we must guard against reinforcements from the Valley Tribe's main force. Look at those Valley Tribe Tribe's ships on the Fish River; they're watching us from afar, ready to charge at any moment. Only by annihilating the Valley Tribe's entire naval force can we fight with complete freedom."
He paused, pointed to the Valley Tribe boats sailing far away on the river, then pointed to the Little Valley Camp on the bank, his finger pointing in the air.
"In the recent naval battle, our Tiger Tribe Dali, charging ahead and carrying the heaviest loads. Now, the forces on land at the Little Valley Camp Outpost are entrusted to your Bear Tribe. It's time for your Bear Tribe to lend a hand. Don't you have a grudge against the Valley Tribe? You've been fighting and exploiting Valley Tribe for so many years; today is the perfect opportunity for revenge, to settle all past scores. Don't worry, our Tiger Tribe will suppress the Valley Tribe's main forces and prevent them from interfering with your operations. Your Bear Tribe can fight with peace of mind; when the Little Valley Camp Outpost is captured, it will all belong to your Bear Tribe."
Xiong Lie's voice was loud and shrill as he urgently said, "Chief Dachui, now is the perfect opportunity to attack the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp! While their morale is low and they're panicking, we can take Little Valley Camp in one fell swoop! Our Bear Tribe's cavalry won't arrive until tomorrow morning. We don't have many men at our disposal right now. How can we fight? What can we use?"
Tong Dachui, the Tiger Tribe's leader, glared with eyes like copper bells and roared, "Xiong Lie, are you ordering our Tiger Tribe around? Who do you think you are? Who are you to decide how and when our Tiger Tribe fights? Who do you think you are?"
Xiong Lie snapped to his senses at Tong Dachui's loud questioning, feeling as if he'd been doused with a bucket of cold water, a chill running from head to toe, from the top of his head to the depths of his heart. His face turned pale, his lips trembled, and his legs shook. He hurriedly bowed deeply, his forehead almost touching his knees, his voice filled with fear, like a child who had done something wrong:
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! Dachui Chief, I lost my composure just now. I was so overjoyed by the victory that I forgot myself and spoke without thinking, offending you. I will definitely apologize properly later and bring you Dachui Dachui."
After listening to some of his words, Tong Dachui nodded, his expression softening slightly. He said, "It's good that you understand. Over the years, our Tiger Tribe has provided your Bear Tribe Bear Tribe so many supplies and benefits. Now it's time for your Bear Tribe Bear Tribe to show its worth. You can't just take the benefits without doing any work, just eat without contributing. Tomorrow, when your three thousand cavalry arrive, take down the Valley Tribe 'Bear Tribe Little Valley Camp! Take it! If you don't, you know the consequences. Don't blame me for being ruthless then."
Xiong Lie nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying, "Yes, Dachui, this time our Bear Tribe will definitely take down Little Valley Camp! Our Bear Tribe's cavalry are all elite, one man on horseback, moving like the wind. And with your Tiger Tribe helping us, our Bear Tribe will slaughter the Valley Tribe's soldiers like killing chickens and sheep!"
The Tiger Tribe's Tong Dachui smiled slightly, a hint of smugness mixed with anticipation. He said, "That's more like it. The Valley Tribe's main fleet is still monitoring our movements from afar, as annoying as flies and mosquitoes. Chief Xiong Lie, you lead your ships to blockade the waters around the Little Valley Camp, seal off the river, and prevent the Valley Tribe Tribe's main force from getting close or transporting troops. I'll lead the Tiger Tribe's ships to sink the Valley Tribe Tribe's main fleet first, completely crippling their naval power and turning them into cripples!"
After saying that, Tong Dachui waved his hand, leading the Tiger Tribe's fleet—three giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, more than a dozen large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, and some smaller ships—to aggressively charge towards the Valley Tribe's main fleet. The fleet was like an arrow released from a bow, like a gust of wind, full of murderous intent.
Quyong leader of the Valley Tribe, stood at the Chuantou, his hands gripping the gunwale. Seeing the Tiger Tribe's fleet approaching, he knew Valley Tribe Tiger Tribe's main fleet was no match for the Tiger tribe's; their boats were smaller, their soldiers weaker, and their armor less robust. Without hesitation, he immediately led all the Valley Tribe's boats around, turning Chuantou around and fleeing upstream along the Fish River in a frantic escape to find the Fire Tribe's fleet, to seek help, to fetch reinforcements. As he ran, he shouted, "Faster! Faster! Row faster! Don't stop!"
The Tiger Tribe's ships chased Quyong frantically, like a pack of hunting dogs chasing a group of rabbits, like a pack of wolves chasing a flock of sheep. The three giant ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, were the fastest, like three moving Little Mountain, causing the river water to churn. The archers on board fired arrows incessantly, raining down arrows like locusts swarming or a torrential downpour. Some arrows struck the sails, tearing holes in the canvas; some struck the gunwales, embedding themselves in the planks like rows of thorns; some arrows struck the warriors on the Valley Tribe Valley Tribe's ships, who fell screaming and bleeding profusely. The Valley Tribe's ships returned fire as they fled, but their arrows were few and their bows weak, their shots short and ineffective, barely scratching the Tiger Tribe's large ships.
As dusk approached and the setting sun painted the sky a golden-red, the Valley Tribe's ships were overtaken several times by the Tiger Tribe's fleet, desperately trying to escape like mice chased by a cat. Two more Valley Tribe ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, were sunk, listing and slowly sinking into the water like dying beasts. The warriors on board jumped into the river, struggling in the water. Many of the Valley Tribe's smaller boats were also sunk. The Valley Tribe's naval strength, combined with the losses at the Little Valley Camp, was instantly halved, suffering a severe blow.
As darkness fell, Quyong watched as the Tiger Tribe's ships ceased their pursuit, turned Chuantou, and slowly retreated towards the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. Only after seeing the Tiger Tribe's ships disappear into the distance did Quyong breathe a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his brow; sweat mixed with blood, and his face was covered in black marks. He ordered two ships with a carrying capacity of five thousand catties each to follow and monitor the Tiger Tribe's fleet from a distance, reporting any movement, sounding the horn, and lighting fires. He himself led the remaining ships to repair sails, bandage wounds, count heads, and assess losses.
At this moment, the Tiger Tribe's Tong Dachui led the Tiger Tribe's fleet downstream along the Fish River towards the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. The fleet sailed slowly, like a group of victorious generals returning home, like a group of triumphant warriors. Hu Wei, standing beside him, spoke with a mix of excitement, pride, and smugness:
"Dachui Hammer, our Tiger Tribe's operation went very smoothly this time. In less than a day, we wiped out half of the Valley Tribe's naval forces, sank their ships, killed their men, and burned down their Little Valley Camp Outpost's dock. Our Tiger Tribe suffered almost no losses! Tomorrow morning, the Bear Tribe's three thousand cavalry will be near the Little Valley Camp Little Valley Camp Outpost. If the Valley Tribe Valley Tribe refuses to surrender, we will first destroy their Little Valley Camp, kill all their warriors, loot all their food, and burn down their houses!"
Tong Dachui nodded, his brows slightly furrowed, and said, "Our operation this time was indeed very successful. If it weren't for Hu Bashan provoking a conflict with the Wuyue Tribe in the east, drawing away 70% of our ships, our forces would have been more than sufficient. We wouldn't have needed to go through so much trouble. Our results this time would have been even greater. The Valley Tribe's ships wouldn't have escaped either. The Valley Tribe's naval power would have been wiped out by our Tiger Tribe in a single strike, like autumn leaves being swept away. We could even use this momentum to go upstream and crush the Fire Tribe as well, eliminating any future troubles."
Hu Ya's voice carried a hint of regret, resentment, and anger as he spoke, "Yes, what a pity. A golden opportunity ruined by Hu Bashan. Dachui Leader, what should we do now?"
After thinking for a moment, Tong Dachui said, "Now let's go to the dock near the Little Valley Camp Outpost of the Valley Tribe to rest, let the brothers rest, eat something, drink some water, and get a good night's sleep. Then we'll block the Fish River to prevent the Valley Tribe headquarters from secretly sending troops to the east bank of the Fish River to rescue their Little Valley Camp. We need to cut off their communication and make them anxious and helpless across the river."
Then, with a mix of command, expectation, and ruthlessness in his voice, Tong Dachui addressed Hu Zhua Claw: "Tomorrow morning, take a boat with a carrying capacity of 10,000 jin to the Gu Valley Tribe's Valley Tribe on the west bank of the Fish River to persuade them to surrender. Tell them that those who know what's good for them should surrender and submit to our Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe. If they are willing to submit, we will have the Bear Tribe tribe cease their attacks and spare the life of their Little Valley Camp Outpost Valley Tribe. Tiger Tribe they refuse to submit and resist stubbornly, we will destroy their Little Valley Camp Outpost, kill all their warriors, plunder all their possessions, and burn down their houses!"
Hu Zhua Claw nodded, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Yes, Dachui, I'll go first thing tomorrow morning and leave at dawn. I'll deliver the message to the higher-ups of the Valley Tribe headquarters, telling them to think it over carefully and make sure they understand."
The Tiger Tribe's fleet continued sailing, slowly disappearing into the twilight, as if merging into the night.