The Savior Arrived
Just as the Tiger Tribe's Tong Dachui led the Tiger Tribe's fleet back to the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost, darkness had completely fallen, like a giant black cloth shrouding the earth, impenetrable. The surface of the Fish River was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, only the torches at the bows of the Chuantou flickering in the night wind, casting dim, yellowish light, like will-o'-the-wisps. The Tiger Tribe's fleet, like a group of satiated sharks, swam slowly back, the oars cutting through the water with a clear, resounding splash in the silent night, as if recounting the day's victories.
Quyong of the Valley Tribe was also taking stock of the losses suffered in the pursuit by the Tiger Tribe's fleet. Standing at the Chuantou, his hands gripping the gunwale, his fingers turning white from the effort, he looked at the battered ships of the Valley Tribe Valley Tribe's main force. His heart ached as if being cut by a knife or pricked by needles. The sails of several of the Valley Tribe's main force lay on the deck groaning, their voices weak, like the buzzing of mosquitoes; some were bandaging their wounds, gritting their teeth, sweat beading on their foreheads; some were silently wiping their weapons, slowly and carefully, their faces full of exhaustion and sorrow, their eyes red and swollen, as if they had been crying.
This time, the Valley Tribe headquarters lost two large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each. Adding to the three ships lost at the Little Valley Camp Outpost, the Valley Tribe now has only five ships left out of its ten carrying capacities of 50,000 jin each – half sunk, half gone. The Valley Tribe also lost nearly half of its smaller boats. Broken planks, broken oars, tattered sails, and the corpses of warriors float on the Fish River, drifting aimlessly, uncollected, like garbage. The Valley Tribe's naval strength has been drastically reduced after this battle, severely weakening it.
The fleets of the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe are currently lingering in the waters Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost and headquarters, like two hungry wolves eyeing their prey, or two tigers guarding their den, ready to pounce at any moment. Quyong doesn't yet know if the Bear Tribe has any follow-up land troops or cavalry coming. If the Bear Tribe does send land troops, advancing by both land and water, then the Little Valley Camp Outpost will be in serious trouble and danger. How can the two thousand-plus warriors at Little Valley Camp possibly hold out? How can they withstand a combined attack from the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe?
Quyong stood at the Chuantou, gazing at the dark river to the north, his brows furrowed, forming a deep frown, and deep lines etched on his forehead. The night wind blew, ruffling his clothes and tousling his hair, but he paid no attention, letting the wind blow as it pleased. He felt as if a heavy Shitou was pressing down on his heart, making it hard to breathe, as if someone were choking him.
Just as Quyong was frowning in worry, a long, fiery dragon slowly appeared in the darkness upstream of the Fish River. One, two, three... countless points of light lit up in the darkness, forming a line, like a fiery dragon swimming on the river surface, or like a string of bright pearls twinkling in the night sky. Then, more and more torches appeared downstream of the Fish River, becoming denser and denser, like stars in the sky, countless, like fireflies, like shooting stars.
Quyong took a closer look, and his eyes lit up instantly, like two lamps suddenly lit in the darkness, like the morning star before dawn. He knew that with such a large fleet and so many torches, no tribe in the upper reaches of the Fish River, apart from the Fire Tribe, had such a large fleet or such great strength. The Fire Tribe's fleet had arrived! Their ships were numerous and large, and their soldiers were strong and powerful. They were the strongest force on the upper and middle reaches of the Fish River, the overlords of this river.
Quyong instantly became excited, like a drowning man grasping at a straw, like seeing light in the darkness, like seeing an oasis in the desert. His voice changed tone, becoming high-pitched and shrill, echoing in the night sky as he excitedly shouted, "Our Valley Tribe is saved! Saved! The Fire Tribe's fleet has arrived! Our Valley Tribe's allies have arrived! Heaven has not forsaken our Valley Tribe!"
He turned to his trusted aide beside him and shouted urgently, like a machine gun, like thunder, "Quickly blow the horn and tell everyone not to panic, not to be confused, not to be afraid! It's the Fire Tribe's fleet! Our Valley Tribe's allies have arrived! Have them raise all the torches on the ships high, raise them all up, so the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe see us, so they know our Valley Tribe is here!"
The sound of the bull horns of the Valley Tribe rang out, deep and long, echoing in the night sky, carrying far and wide, like a call. Cheers erupted on the Valley Tribe's boats, like a pot boiling over, as the warriors raised their torches, waving them and shouting.
After giving these instructions, Quyong immediately boarded the 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) heavy boat Valley Tribe and desperately moved forward. He rowed the boat at breakneck speed, splashing Shuihua everywhere. He stood at the Chuantou, holding a torch in both hands, swaying it from side to side and drawing circles, like a madman, like a man possessed. His face was full of excitement, his eyes were shining, and his mouth was stretched to his ears.
When Quyong saw the five 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) capacity ships leading the Fire Tribe, he felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders, as if a Dashi Dashan been unloaded. However, he was also incredibly shocked. At the end of last year, the Fire Tribe only had one 100,000-jin capacity ship, and now they had five! How long had it Fire Tribe? Only one winter! Moreover, these five 100,000-jin capacity ships were clearly newly built, their hulls smooth and their paint gleaming, shining under the torches. The Fire Tribe also had fifty 50,000-jin capacity ships this time! A dark, imposing mass, like a herd of giant beasts. Behind these large ships followed many 20,000-jin and 10,000-jin capacity ships, as well as many 5,000-jin capacity ships, densely packed together. The Fire Tribe Tribe's fleet was several times larger than the combined fleet of the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe! If the Fire Tribe were willing to help the Valley Tribe attack them, they would definitely win! It would be like an adult beating a child, like cutting melons and vegetables, like autumn leaves being swept away by the wind.
However, the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe currently only have a private military alliance relationship. There is no public agreement, no written document, no covenant; it's just a verbal agreement. The Fire Tribe Fire Tribe to provide the Valley Tribe with some bronze weapons without hesitation. But if the Fire Tribe were to engage in a full-blown, direct war with the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe, fighting a major battle with real swords and spears, the Fire Tribe might not agree. After all, war is a serious matter; it involves death, money, and the creation of enmity. Quyong wasn't confident he could persuade the Fire Tribe. He was unsure himself and felt extremely anxious, like trying to draw water with fifteen buckets.
However, with the Fire Tribe's fleet arriving here, at least the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe will be prevented from continuing to attack the Valley Tribe. The Fire Tribe will definitely expel them and drive them away, preventing them from swaggering around the Valley Tribe's doorstep and bullying their allies.
Just as Quyong was lost in thought, his mind a jumbled mess, Yan had already led the Fire Tribe's fleet to Quyong's ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin. The Fire Tribe's fleet was magnificent, with five giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin leading the way, like five Little Mountain or five giant beasts, their Chuantou raised high, cleaving the river and stirring up white Langhua. Behind them followed fifty large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, and many smaller ships, densely packed and stretching as far as the eye could see, like a floating forest.
Yan ordered the Fire Tribe's fleet to dock nearby for rest and recuperation, allowing the warriors to catch their breath, drink water, eat some dry rations, and rest their feet. He himself led the Fire Tribe's largest ship, with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, and slowly approached Quyong's ship. The two ships docked side by side, their gunwales almost touching. Yan ordered his men to raise the torches higher, holding up several to illuminate his face. He stood at the Chuantou, cupped his hands to his mouth, and loudly asked:
"Chief Quyong, is that you? I heard from your messenger ship that your Valley Tribe was attacked by the Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe. Our Fire Tribe's fleet didn't rest on the way and rushed over overnight. What's the situation on your Valley Tribe's side? What's the current situation of the Valley Tribe? Is the Little Valley Camp still in your Valley Tribe's hands? How many of you died this time? How many were injured?"
Upon hearing Yan's words, Quyong's nose tingled, his eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in his eyes. He opened his mouth, his voice choked with emotion, as if something was stuck in his throat, and said:
"Chief Yan, it's me, it's me! Our Valley Tribe has suffered terribly this time, terribly! This morning, the combined fleet of the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe launched an attack on our Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. They attacked suddenly, catching our Little Valley Camp off guard. Our three 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) capacity ships at our Valley Tribe Little Valley Camp Outpost were sunk before they even left the dock! Our main fleet was monitoring them from a distance, but was pursued by the Tiger Tribe's fleet and fled here, where we lost two more 50,000-jin (25,000 kg) capacity ships! Our Valley Tribe's small boats have also lost nearly half of their fleet this time, half! So many boats, all sunk, all wrecked! This time, our Valley Tribe's naval strength..." We've lost at least half our forces, a devastating blow! The Tiger Tribe, seeing it was getting dark, retreated to the vicinity of our Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. We still don't know if the Bear Tribe has sent reinforcements, whether they have cavalry, or how many. If their land forces also arrive, advancing by land and water, our Little Valley Camp Outpost Little Valley Camp be in serious trouble, in grave danger. We fear we won't be able to hold onto our stronghold! Chief Yan, your Fire Tribe must save our Valley Tribe Valley Tribe time! You can't just watch us be bullied! If our Valley Tribe is severely weakened and crippled this time, it will be difficult to guarantee our two tribes' grain trade this year!
Yan's voice was gentle yet firm as he immediately reassured Qu Yong, "Chief Quyong, don't worry, don't panic, don't be afraid. Our Fire Tribe didn't hesitate for a moment upon hearing the news and rushed over overnight. Your Valley Tribe is an ally of our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, and we certainly won't abandon you. We won't stand idly by and watch you die. Tell me the specific situation of the Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe: how many ships, how many people, how many soldiers, what equipment they have, what their background is, and who is leading them. You need to be clear about all of that."
Upon hearing Yan's words, Quyong was overjoyed, feeling as if spring sunshine had warmed his heart and winter embers had warmed his body. He wiped his eyes, steadied himself, took a deep breath, and replied, "This time, the Tiger Tribe's leader, Tong Dachui, led three ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each, nearly twenty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, and many smaller ships. Whether the Tiger Tribe has any follow-up fleets is currently unknown. We also don't know if the Bear Tribe has any land troops coming. However, the Tiger Tribe and the Wuyue Tribe their east are still constantly at odds, frequently fighting each other. Our headquarters also needs some large ships for defense, and we can't mobilize them all. Even if we send more ships..." Even if they come, there won't be many left. The Bear Tribe's army is limited to about four or five thousand men at most. They also have to defend their home and guard against other tribes. Even if they can send cavalry, they can only spare about three thousand men at most. Three thousand cavalry, no more. As long as your Fire Tribe can suppress the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe's ships on the water, drive them away from our waters, and allow our main force to transport troops to the Little Valley Camp Outpost on the east bank of the Fish River to reinforce Little Valley Camp, they won't be able to do anything to our Valley Tribe, and they won't be able to take our Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp. Once our main force gets there, the Little Valley Camp Outpost will be defended, the food supplies will be secured, and everything will be fine."
After listening to Quyong's analysis, Yan roughly understood the enemy's strength and military potential, and felt more confident. He discussed it with Feiyu, Bailin, and Jia Li. The group huddled together, heads close together, and whispered a few words, quickly reaching a consensus. Yan decided to travel with Quyong to the vicinity of the Valley Tribe's headquarters dock that night to await an opportunity.
Then Yan and Quyong discussed the specific action plan, including how to move, how to stop, how to fight, how to defend, how to make contact, and how to cooperate. Quyong then sent a messenger ship to the Valley Tribe headquarters and Little Valley Camp to deliver the message, stabilize morale, and tell them that the Fire Tribe's fleet had arrived and reinforcements had come.
Then Yan had the fleet rest and recuperate. The warriors ate some dry rations—fried rice and dried meat—and drank some water. They checked their weapons, sharpened their knives, and replenished their arrows. Then, at Yan's command, the fleets of the two tribes sailed downstream along the Fish River. Five giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin (50,000 kg) led the way, like five giant dragons, followed by fifty large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin (25,000 kg), and many smaller boats, sailing majestically downstream along the Fish River.