The Voyage Home

The next morning, the seven elders of Daiyue and Valley Tribe, as well as Qingsui, came to see him off. After bidding farewell, Yan led his fleet upstream along the Fish River, traveling much slower than when going downstream, but Yan was not in a hurry.

The grain has been loaded onto the ship, the bronze weapons have been handed over to the Valley Tribe, everything that needed to be discussed has been discussed, and everything that needed to be finalized has been finalized. All that's left is to go home safely and transport the grain back peacefully. The water journey of about twenty days is neither long nor short.

During the day, Yan stood at the Chuantou, watching the scenery on both banks slowly recede. The trees on both sides of the Fish River were lush and green. Occasionally, people could be seen fishing on the riverbank. When they saw the huge fleet of the Fire Tribe, they all stopped to look and pointed. Some even waved and shouted something. The voices of those people drifted over from afar, intermittent and unclear, but one could feel their surprise and curiosity.

That evening, the fleet docked, and the soldiers set up tents, lit fires, and cooked meals. Bonfires blazed along the riverbank, illuminating the water. Wisps of smoke rose and drifted into the night sky. The soldiers sat around the fires, eating their rations, chatting and laughing. Some recounted their battle with the Tiger Tribe, their expressions animated and their words flowing freely; others boasted about sinking several ships and killing numerous enemies, their stories becoming increasingly exaggerated; still others discussed what to eat and drink upon returning, and which girl to approach for marriage.

Yan sometimes sat with them, listening to them boast and sing. Sometimes he sat alone by the river, staring blankly at the water, at the moon, and at the dark shadows of the mountains in the distance.

His mind was always wandering, thinking about the Tiger Tribe's sunken ship, the structure of its planks and hull, the way the wood was pieced together, what aspects were better than the Fire Tribe's ship, what aspects were inferior to the Fire Tribe's ship, and whether he could learn from it or make improvements.

He thought about what Daiyue said, the history of the Tiger Tribe, the internal conflicts of the Tiger Tribe, the strength of the Tiger Tribe, the look in Qingsui's eyes when she looked at him at the end, the way she waved from the dock of the Valley Tribe headquarters, and the little wildflower tucked behind her ear.

Thinking about the future of the Fire Tribe, with its 160,000 members, the need to continue expanding northward, to absorb more tribes, to build more ships, to refine more bronze, and to train more warriors, he fell asleep while thinking about all this.

Twenty days later, the fleet finally arrived at the Fire Tribe's administrative center— the Little Fish River Mouth Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. The wharf was now packed with people. From afar, Yan could see the bustling crowd on the wharf, with bright red flags fluttering in the wind. The flame patterns embroidered on the flags were particularly eye-catching in the sunlight. Warriors, dressed in neat leather armor, stood in two rows, stretching from the wharf all the way into the camp. Tribe members stood behind the warriors, some holding flowers, some holding pottery bowls, and some carrying children, all craning their necks and looking out at the river.

When the fleet docked, a cheer erupted on the pier, the sound deafening, like thunder.

"They're back! They're back!"

"Our Fire Tribe's fleet is back!"

Our soldiers are back!

Children weaved through the crowd, and women stood on tiptoe, searching for their men in the fleet, their eyes wide open, afraid of missing them. Yan stood at the Chuantou, watching this scene, and felt a warmth in his heart. Just as the boat came to a stop and the gangplank was set up, Jianshi strode up to meet them.

Today he wore a long blue linen robe, a leather belt with bronze buckles around his waist, and animal skin boots. His hair was neatly styled, and he had a smile on his face with bright, sparkling eyes. As soon as Yan stepped off the boat, Jianshi hugged him tightly and said, "Yan, you guys did a great job this time!"

Jianshi released him, placed his hands on his shoulders, looked him up and down, his eyes filled with pride and satisfaction, and continued, "You actually won such a beautiful battle against the Tiger Tribe this time! I heard that you wrecked the Tiger Tribe's fleet with a single charge, ramming and sinking one of their giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, and also sinking several large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin! That was a brilliant and exhilarating battle!"

His voice was loud enough for everyone around to hear. Upon hearing it, the soldiers straightened their chests and showed expressions of pride.

Yan shook his head and said modestly, "Father, this is all thanks to the efforts of everyone in our Fire Tribe. If it weren't for everyone building so many large ships and so many bronze weapons, and training so hard, we wouldn't have won so easily. This battle was fought by everyone together, not just by me. I dare not take it all for myself, nor can I take it all for myself."

Jianshi patted him on the shoulder and said, "Even so, you did a great job! You commanded well and fought well!"

He turned to look at the Shibang standing behind Yan, his eyes lit up, and his smile deepened.

"Shibang!" he shouted, his voice booming like thunder.

Shibang quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Chief!"

Jianshi looked him up and down, his eyes full of admiration. "You did a great job this time! You rammed and sank a giant ship of the Tiger Tribe with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin! Well done! You have guts! You have guts! You truly deserve to be a warrior of the Fire Tribe!"

Shibang's face flushed red, as red as a monkey's bottom or a fiery sunset. He scratched his head, grinned, and said, "Chief, this is all I should do! It's thanks to Young Master Yan's excellent command, and everyone charged forward together. It wasn't just my achievement!"

Jianshi laughed heartily, "Good, good, good! Regardless of whether it was all your doing, the fact remains that you sank that ship! I'll reward you handsomely later! I'll reward you handsomely!"

Shibang's eyes lit up with excitement, and his voice trembled slightly as he said, "Thank you, Chief! Thank you, Chief!"

Yingmu stood to the side, watching Shibang's excited expression, a slight smile playing on his lips. He patted Shibang on the back and said softly, "Alright, alright, stop embarrassing yourself, acting like you've never seen anything like this before."

Shibang glared at him and said in a low voice, "You're jealous!"

Yingmu rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Jianshi turned to Yan and said, "You've had a long journey. I've prepared food and wine in the council hall, and even brought out the best wine from our Fire Tribe. Let's eat and chat. Tell everyone the details of your trip to the Valley Tribe, the Tiger Tribe, the Valley Tribe, and the Bear Tribe, one by one, without omitting anything."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, Father."

He turned to look at Jia Li, Feiyu, Bailin, Yingmu, and Shibang behind him and said, "Come on, all of you, listen and share your thoughts."

Everyone nodded in agreement and followed Jianshi and Yan toward the council hall of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. Two warriors with spears stood at the entrance of the council hall. When they saw Jianshi and Yan coming, they straightened up and saluted.

Several large wooden tables had already been set up in the council hall, covered with clean linen and filled with ceramic bowls and plates. A whole roasted lamb was placed in the center, sizzling with oil and emitting a fragrant aroma that made one's mouth water. There were also grilled fish, stewed chicken, boiled beans, and wild vegetable soup on the side, making the place as full as if it were a wedding or New Year celebration.

Jianshi sat in the main seat, Yan sat to his right, Jia Li, Feiyu, Bailin, Yingmu, and Shibang sat down in order, along with the other leaders.

Jianshi picked up his wine bowl, stood up, looked around, and said in a loud voice, "Come! The first bowl of wine is to the warriors of our Fire Tribe! You fought well in this battle against the Tiger Tribe! You fought bravely! You fought smartly! Our Fire Tribe has shown its might and its spirit! This bowl of wine is for everyone!"

Everyone stood up, picked up their wine bowls, and drank them down in one gulp. The wine was spicy and burned as it went down their throats, like a fire dragon churning in their stomachs.

Jianshi poured another bowl of wine, picked it up, and said, "This second bowl is a toast to the shipwrights of our Fire Tribe! Without their tireless work day and night to build so many large ships, we wouldn't have won so easily this time! This bowl is also a toast to those who sweated in the dock!"

Everyone drank another bowl of wine. Jianshi poured another bowl, raised it, and said, "This third bowl of wine is to our Fire Tribe's ancestors! To those forefathers who shed blood, sweat, and fought desperately on this land! It is because of them, generation after generation, that we have the Fire Tribe we have today! This bowl of wine is to them!"

After three bowls of wine, the atmosphere became lively, bubbling like boiling water. Jianshi put down his wine bowl, picked up a piece of mutton, put it in his mouth, chewed it, swallowed it, and then looked at Yan with anticipation in his eyes.

"Yan, you tell us first. What exactly happened during this trip to the Valley Tribe? Why did the Tiger Tribe suddenly appear? How did you fight them? What was the Valley Tribe's attitude? What did Daiyue say?"

Yan put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and, after gathering his thoughts, said, "This matter, while somewhat sudden, wasn't entirely without warning when I think about it carefully."

His voice Chenwen and unhurried as he said, "When we arrived near the Valley Tribe, everything seemed normal. But suddenly we received a plea for help from a Valley Tribe ship. I immediately rushed over. When we found Chief Quyong's fleet, Quyong said that the Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe were attacking the Little Valley Camp. The Valley Tribe's main fleet had also been chased here by the Tiger Tribe and suffered heavy losses. The Fish River had also been blocked by the Tiger Tribe. I immediately decided to lead our Fire Tribe's fleet to help them. We couldn't just stand by and watch the Valley Tribe be defeated."

Jianshi nodded, his eyes full of approval, and said, "You did the right thing. The Valley Tribe is our ally and an important trading partner. Their downfall wouldn't benefit us either."

Yan continued, "Our Fire Tribe has a larger fleet than the Tiger Tribe. This time, we have five giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each, fifty large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, and many smaller ships. The Tiger Tribe only has three giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each and a dozen or so large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each. The next day, after transporting the cavalry of the Valley Tribe headquarters to the east bank of the Fish River, we waited for the right moment and ordered our fleet to charge. In one round, we rammed and sank one of the Tiger Tribe's giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each, and also sank several large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each. The Tiger Tribe's fleet couldn't hold out and turned to flee like frightened birds. We chased after them for a while, sank a few more slow-moving ships, and then we withdrew."

Jianshi listened with great interest and pressed on, "Are the Tiger Tribe's ships really that fragile? They ran away after just one round?"

Yan shook his head and said, "It's not that we're weak; it's that they didn't expect our Fire Tribe to have so many ships, and so sturdy ones. They thought our Fire Tribe was still a small tribe that had suddenly grown strong, and that our ships were still the same small boats as before. Even our large ships weren't as sturdy as their Tiger Tribe's. They underestimated us and were careless. They didn't expect our Fire Tribe to develop so quickly, and they didn't expect our fleet to be so powerful. If they knew the true strength of our Fire Tribe, they would definitely be better prepared, with more ships and more skilled men. It wouldn't be so easy to fight them then. We won by luck this time, but it won't be so easy next time. They've learned their lesson and won't be so careless next time."

Jianshi nodded, his smile fading slightly, replaced by solemnity and deep thought. After a long while, he finally spoke, "You said we shouldn't be arrogant or underestimate our Fire Tribe. The Tiger Tribe suffered this loss, and they will definitely retaliate next time, with more people and ships, making the battle even more difficult."

Yan continued, "Daiyue, the chief of the Valley Tribe, is very grateful to us. He publicly thanked our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe the banquet and even offered to give us grain, which I politely declined. Instead, he said he wanted to strengthen our military alliance and trade with our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe. Daiyue later spoke to me privately and said that his Valley Tribe wanted to exchange 40% of their grain trade for bronze weapons this year. I've already agreed and made an advance payment. We can deliver the bronze weapons to them tonight. Father, I've made this decision on my own. What do you think?"

Jianshi waved his hand and said, "Of course! You did the right thing. The Valley Tribe is an important ally of ours. The stronger they become, the safer our food supply will be. Besides, exchanging bronze weapons for food is a good deal for us, not a bad one."

Yan breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "In addition, Daiyue also asked our Fire Tribe to purchase bronze weapons on behalf of the Clothing Tribe and Bean Tribe. These two tribes are semi-subordinate tribes of the Valley Tribe, with a combined population of about 10,000. Including their core subordinate tribes, the total population reaches 20,000. Daiyue said that if these two tribes are also equipped with bronze weapons, if the Valley Tribe encounters any trouble, the combined strength of these two tribes will make it easier to deal with the Tiger Tribe."

Jianshi thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Sure, as long as their price is right, our Fire Tribe can provide bronze weapons. Our Fire Tribe now has a population of 160,000, and our bronze workshops are working day and night, with production several times higher than before. Supplying several more tribes is no problem at all."

Jia Li chimed in, his voice shrewd. "Chief, although the Clothing Tribe and Bean Tribe aren't large tribes, they have grain, cloth, and livestock. Our Fire Tribe needs all of these things. Exchanging bronze weapons for their supplies is more cost-effective than producing them ourselves."

Jianshi nodded and looked at Yan, asking, "What else did Daiyue say?"

Yan thought for a moment and said, "Daiyue also said that their Valley Tribe will activate its undercover agents to gather information about the Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe. They will notify us immediately of any movements in the Tiger Tribe, and they will also inform us immediately of any activity from the Bear Tribe."

Jianshi's eyes lit up. "This is good news! With news of the Valley Tribe, we can prepare in advance and avoid being caught off guard, like blind and deaf people."

Yan continued, "Daiyue also suggested that our Fire Tribe continue to expand northward and absorb the tribes in the Big Horse River Basin. He said that if we could absorb the tribes in the Big Horse River Basin, we could border their Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp, making it easier for the two tribes to support each other."

Jianshi pondered for a moment and said, "The Big Horse River Basin... has several medium-sized tribes and many small tribes along its banks, with a combined population of about twenty to thirty thousand. If we can absorb these tribes, our Fire Tribe's population will exceed two hundred thousand, and our strength will be even greater."

He looked up at Yan and asked, "How much do you know about that place?"

Yan said, "Our Fire Tribe has trade relations with those tribes at the river mouth. We don't know much about them, and we need to send someone to investigate."

Jianshi nodded and said, "Then after a while, send someone to the Big Horse River Basin to check on the situation there. Let's deal with the immediate matter first, and then consider the next step. There's no rush."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, Father."

Jianshi Shi asked, "What were the casualties among your warriors in this battle against the Tiger Tribe?"

Yan shook his head and said, "No one died in battle, only a few dozen suffered minor injuries. It's nothing serious, they'll recover in a few days."

Jianshi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. Warriors are the foundation of our Fire Tribe. We should avoid losses and deaths if possible."

He raised his wine bowl, looked at everyone present, and said, "Come on! Drink another bowl! For the victory of our Fire Tribe, for the future of our Fire Tribe, cheers!"

Everyone raised their wine bowls and drank them down in one gulp. After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.

Shibang, his face flushed and neck bulging from drinking, became increasingly talkative, gushing out like water from a burst dam. Slamming his fist on the table, spittle flying, he exclaimed, "Chief, you have no idea! Back then, the Tiger Tribe's colossal ship, with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, was right in front of us, like a mountain! I led several large ships, each with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, and charged from the side, ramming it hard with our bronze rams. With a thunderous boom, the ship's planks cracked, and water gushed in!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, gesturing wildly and almost knocking over his wine bowl. He continued, "The Tiger Tribe warriors on that ship, some jumped into the river, some shouted, some were knocked down. The scene was so lively, so satisfying! I shouted from my ship, 'Ram! Ram! Ram it! Sink it!' One ship after another rammed into it, making that giant ship tilt and sway, and finally it sank more than halfway!"

Yingmu listened from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Alright, alright, stop bragging. Those ships you brought took three rammings to sink. The first time they only cracked, the second time they only got a hole, and the third time they were completely pierced. Unlike what you're saying, they sank in one go!"

Shibang glared at him, his face turning even redder, and retorted, "So what if it was three times? I rammed and sank them all! And you? How many ships did you ram and sink? You tell me!"

Yingmu said calmly, "I rammed and sank a ship with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, and also shot and killed more than a dozen people who fell into the water."

Shibang opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back. He snorted, picked up his wine bowl, gulped down a large mouthful, put down the bowl, wiped his mouth, and muttered, "My position will surpass yours sooner or later."

Yingmu ignored him, picked up a piece of mutton, and chewed it slowly. Jianshi watched them bicker and laughed heartily, his laughter echoing in the council hall.

"Excellent! You are all outstanding! You are all warriors of the Fire Tribe! In a while, I will reward you according to your merits. Those who deserve rewards will be rewarded, and those who deserve promotions will be promoted. No one will be left out, and no one will be shortchanged!"

Upon hearing this, Shibang's eyes lit up, his mouth stretched to his ears, and he exclaimed joyfully, "Thank you, Chief! Thank you, Chief!"

The group drank a few more bowls of wine, ate some food, and chatted about other things.

Wu Xiong asked, "Young Chief Yan, after our battle with the Tiger Tribe, how long will it take for them to retaliate next?"

Yan thought for a moment and said, "I estimate it will take until autumn or winter. The Tiger Tribe suffered considerable losses this time, and it will take time to recover, to prepare provisions, and to mobilize ships. Moreover, their internal conflicts are still unresolved. The Grand Elder and his three uncles are still fighting, and the new leader is still vying for power. They can't take care of us for the time being."

He paused, then continued, "But our Fire Tribe cannot let our guard down, we cannot relax, and we cannot be careless. The Tiger Tribe suffered a loss this time, so next time they will definitely be better prepared, with more ships and more skilled men, making the battle more difficult. We must seize the time to build ships, train our warriors, and stockpile provisions. We cannot stop for a moment, nor can we rest for a single day."

Jianshi nodded, his eyes full of approval, and said, "Yan'er is right. Our Fire Tribe cannot be arrogant or complacent. Although the Tiger Tribe was defeated this time, their strength and foundation remain. They are still the most powerful tribe in the Fish River Basin. Although our Fire Tribe has developed rapidly, our foundation is still unstable, we lack experience, there are many areas that need improvement, and there are many things that need to be done."

He looked around at everyone present, his voice becoming more serious as he said, "Starting tomorrow, the shipyard will continue building ships day and night. The number of large ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin will increase to twenty this year; the number of large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin will increase to one hundred. Not a single one can be missing, not a single one can be delayed. The soldiers will continue training, even in wind and rain. Rattan and leather armor must be widely adopted, bronze weapons must be fully equipped, tactics must be mastered, and teamwork must be seamless. We cannot stop for a moment, not a single day can be rested. The granaries must be full, and grain reserves must be maintained. This year's harvest will certainly be good, and with the grain transported back from the Valley Tribe, it will be enough for us to eat. But that's not enough; we need more, we need even more."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Yan looked at his father and felt a sense of reassurance. Although Jian Shi was old, with more gray hair at his temples and deeper wrinkles Jianshi his eyes, his gaze was still sharp, his voice still loud, and his determination still firm. He was still the leader who had led the Fire Tribe from two hundred to sixteen thousand, the warrior who never backed down in the face of the Wolf Tribe, and the tough guy who never bowed down in the face of difficulties.

After the banquet ended, everyone dispersed. Yan walked out of the council hall, took a deep breath, and felt the cool night breeze on his face, dispelling the effects of the alcohol. The moon hung in the sky, round and bright, and the stars twinkled densely. He stood in the moonlight, looking at the Fish River in the distance.

The river shimmered, and the fleet of boats lay quietly at the dock, row upon row, all in perfect order. He was lost in thought, and after a while, he let out a long sigh, turned around, and went back to his camp to rest.