The Gathering at the Clothing Tribe

Yan stood at the Chuantou, his gaze sweeping across the shimmering river surface, looking ahead where the distant mountain shadows were faintly visible through the thin mist.

"The Clothing Tribe's territory is just ahead," Jia Li said as he stepped out of the cabin, chewing on a piece of dry rations.

Yan nodded, his gaze still fixed ahead, and said, "Uncle Jia Li, send someone ahead to the Clothing Tribe to let them know we're almost there, so they won't be caught off guard."

Jia Li quickly stuffed the dry rations into his mouth, dusted off the crumbs on his hands, and nodded in agreement, "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

He turned and called out, and a young soldier ran over quickly. Jia Li gave him a few instructions, and the soldier took his orders, jumped onto a light boat, and rowed swiftly downstream, soon disappearing from sight.

After some time, the dock of the Clothing Tribe came into view in the distance. The dock was packed with people. Zhixia, the chief of the Clothing Tribe, stood at the front, wearing a long blue linen robe. The collar and cuffs of the robe were embroidered with exquisite patterns, showcasing the tribe's most skilled embroidery techniques. A thin hemp rope was tied around her waist, from which hung a jade pendant, its pure green color clearly indicating it was no ordinary item. She wore animal skin boots, the boot shafts embroidered with floral patterns, the stitches fine and lifelike. Her hair was neatly combed and held in place by a jade hairpin, the tip of which was carved with a Little Flower that shimmered in the sunlight.

Behind her stood a group of leaders, including Fangyun, Xiuxing, Caiyue, Mamang, all dressed in their most presentable clothes.

"They're here! They're here!" Fangyun, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot the ships appearing in the distance. "The Fire Tribe's fleet is here!"

Everyone stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to look at the river. One, two, three... one after another, boats appeared in their field of vision, followed by many small boats, stretching out like a giant dragon.

"My God... so many ships..." Xiuxing covered her mouth, her eyes wide open.

Caiyue gasped, his eyes fixed on the massive ships, his lips trembling slightly. "Those ships... those ships are bigger and more numerous than all the ships of our Clothing Tribe and Valley Tribe combined. The Fire Tribe's strength... it's unbelievable."

Mamang reached up and tugged at her linen clothes, then smoothed her hair, as if afraid she wasn't presentable enough. "Luckily we prepared in advance, otherwise welcoming the Fire Tribe like this would have been truly embarrassing."

Zhixia didn't turn around; her gaze remained fixed on the approaching fleet, a faint smile playing on her lips, but deep within her eyes lay a complex and unreadable emotion.

"Everyone, cheer up." She spoke, her voice soft but clear, like a flowing stream. "The young chief of the Fire Tribe has come in person; we cannot be impolite."

Everyone straightened their backs, straightened their robes, and adopted the most solemn posture. The fleet drew closer and closer, finally slowly approaching the shore.

The soldiers jumped off the ship; some were tying mooring lines, some were setting up gangplanks, and some were carrying things. Their movements were practiced and efficient. Yan stepped off the largest ship, with Jia Li following behind him. Today, he wore a white linen robe. Although the robe was plain, it was of excellent quality, fine and thick, clearly a top-grade item. Around his waist was a leather belt with a bronze buckle, from which hung a bronze dagger with simple patterns engraved on its scabbard. He wore animal skin boots, the boots not high, just covering his ankles.

He wore a gentle and kind smile. Zhixia stepped forward, clasped her hands in greeting, and said, "Young Master Yan, you've come from afar. Please come in and have a seat!"

Yan returned the greeting with clasped hands, his smile undiminished, and said, "Chief Zhixia, you are too kind. I apologize for the intrusion and disturbance."

Zhixia straightened up, her gaze lingering on Yan's face for a moment, then she smiled and said, "Young Chief Yan, what are you saying? We're overjoyed that you've come to our Clothing Tribe! Please!"

She turned to the side and gestured for him to enter. Yan nodded and followed her into the camp. The wooden houses in the Clothing Tribe tribe camp varied in size; some were for living, some for storing food, and some were for workshops. They were all neatly arranged, as if someone had carefully planned them out.

The most eye-catching feature is a row of exceptionally large wooden houses in the center of the camp, which are workshops for weaving and embroidery.

Yan glanced at it a few more times, his eyes filled with admiration, and said, "The weaving and embroidery skills of your Clothing Tribe are truly well-deserved."

Zhixia smiled and said, "These are all techniques that our ancestors in the Clothing Tribe tribe figured out and passed down through generations."

Yan nodded. The council hall of the Clothing Tribe was located in the center of the camp. It was a large wooden house, taller and more imposing than the surrounding wooden houses. The roof was covered with thick thatch, and a layer of animal hide was placed on top of the thatch, which was waterproof and windproof. Two large wooden pillars stood at the entrance, with exquisite patterns carved on them.

Upon entering the council hall, the light dimmed immediately. Several oil lamps hung on the walls, their flames flickering and casting long and short shadows. Inside, several wooden tables were laid out, covered with burlap sacks and set with earthenware bowls and plates. The bowls and plates contained dried fruit, dried meat, wild vegetables, and some snacks whose names I didn't recognize. There was a faint, pleasant herbal scent in the air.

Zhixia invited Yan to sit in the main seat, and then sat down next to him. The leaders, including Fangyun, Xiuxing, Caiyue, Mamang, also sat down in turn, and the council hall quickly filled with people.

Yan Chao gave Jia Li a wink, and Jia Li nodded, then turned and walked out of the council hall.

A moment later, several soldiers carried in several baskets of things and put them on the ground with a thud.

Yan stood up, walked to the baskets, opened one of the lids, took out a cloth-wrapped item, and handed it to Zhixia.

"Chief Zhixia, this is a small token of our Fire Tribe's appreciation."

Zhixia took the cloth bag, opened it, and saw that inside was a piece of fine linen. The texture was fine and the feel was soft, better than most linen she had ever seen. The cloth had no pattern, but the color was uniform and there was not a single impurity.

Zhixia's eyes lit up instantly, her fingers gently caressing the linen as if she were touching a precious treasure. "This... this linen... the quality is so good! When did your Fire Tribe become able to weave such fine linen?"

Yan smiled and said, "This is a new weaving technique that our Fire Tribe has recently improved. The output is still low, but the quality is much better than before. I brought some with me as a gift for your Clothing Tribe."

Zhixia nodded repeatedly, her smile deepening, and even the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes smoothed out. "That's wonderful! Chief Yan, your Fire Tribe is truly our lucky star!"

She opened the other baskets and looked inside. There were pottery, salt, and several bronze daggers. Every item was exquisitely crafted and of superior quality, making the leaders of the Clothing Tribe's eyes light up and their mouths agape.

Zhixia handed the basket to Fangyun to put away, then sat down again, looking at Yan with a more serious expression in her eyes.

"Chief Yan, besides business, what other business has your Fire Tribe come here for? Please tell us, and we will do our best to help if it is within our Clothing Tribe."

Yan picked up the earthenware bowl in front of him, took a sip of water, then put the bowl down and said, "Chief Zhixia, your Clothing Tribe's camp has expanded considerably, the population has increased, and the tribesmen look much stronger."

Zhixia smiled, a smile tinged with pride and emotion, and said, "This is all thanks to your Fire Tribe. Since we started trading with your Fire Tribe, many of our high-end goods that were difficult to sell have found a market. With these traded goods, our Clothing Tribe has expanded its camp, increased its population, and improved the lives of our people."

She paused, sighed, and shook her head, saying, "However, compared to the development speed of your Fire Tribe, we are still far behind. Your Fire Tribe has changed dramatically every year, while our Clothing Tribe, although also making progress, is as slow as a snail."

Yan waved his hand and said, "Chief Zhixia is too modest. The skills of the Clothing Tribe in weaving and embroidery are unmatched by our Fire Tribe. Every tribe has its own strengths. Only by learning from each other's strengths and making up for our weaknesses can we make progress together."

Zhixia listened with a pleased expression, nodded and said, "Chief Yan is right. Every tribe has its own strengths. Our Clothing Tribe excels in weaving and embroidery, while your Fire Tribe excels in pottery, salt production, bronze making, and shipbuilding. It is indeed a good thing for us to cooperate, exchange, and help each other."

Yan picked up the conversation and said, "I came here this time to trade with your Clothing Tribe again. Our Fire Tribe needs more cloth and embroidery. Just tell us what your Clothing Tribe needs, and we'll trade for whatever we can."

Zhixia's eyes lit up, and her smile deepened. She said, "That's great! Apart from the supplies we took to the Valley Tribe and your Fire Tribe to trade for bronze weapons, the rest of the supplies are still in the tribe. I plan to exchange them all for pottery and salt."

Yan nodded and said, "Alright, our Fire Tribe has plenty of pottery and salt. We brought quite a lot this time. Feel free to choose whatever you like."

Zhixia nodded repeatedly, and was about to say something when Yan spoke again, his voice a few decibels lower than before. "Chief Zhixia, there is one more thing I need to discuss with your Clothing Tribe."

Upon hearing this, Zhixia's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "Young Master Yan, please speak."

Yan looked at her with sincere eyes and said in a steady voice, "Our Fire Tribe has been planning to recruit some people on the Clothing River in the past two years. These tribes are independent and not core subordinate tribes of your Clothing Tribe. We wanted to inform your Clothing Tribe in advance to avoid misunderstandings and damage to our harmony."

Zhixia didn't answer immediately. She picked up the earthenware bowl in front of her, took a sip of water, looked up at Zhixia, and smiled again, saying, "Young Chief Yan, rest assured, Chief Daiyue of the Valley Tribe has already told me about this matter. Your Fire Tribe wants to absorb people on the Clothing River. As long as you don't touch our Clothing Tribe's core and subordinate tribes, we won't interfere. Your absorption of those independent small tribes will not harm our Clothing Tribe; on the contrary, it will benefit us."

She paused for a moment and continued, "Those small tribes have small populations and limited purchasing power. If they stay on the Clothing River, they can't help us much. If they are absorbed by your Fire Tribe, our hunting grounds will actually be larger, and our food supply will be more abundant."

Yan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. Before coming, he was worried that the Clothing Tribe would object, since the Clothing River was right on their doorstep. It would always be uncomfortable to see others expanding their territory in front of their own homes. He didn't expect Zhixia to be so understanding and open-minded.

"Chief Zhixia is truly righteous; on behalf of the Fire Tribe, I express my gratitude." Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice carrying a hint of sincerity. "Rest assured, our Fire Tribe will not harm the core subordinate tribes of your Clothing Tribe. I can guarantee you that."

Zhixia nodded, her smile becoming even more natural, and said, "With Chief Yan's words, I'm relieved."

She paused, her eyes filled with anticipation, and said, "However, Chief Yan, we also hope to expand trade with your Fire Tribe. Your Fire Tribe has pottery, salt, and bronze weapons, while our Clothing Tribe has linen, embroidery, and some herbs. We have many things to exchange and many areas for cooperation. As long as you are willing to expand trade, our Clothing Tribe is open to any discussion."

Yan smiled, picked up the earthenware bowl, and held it up to Zhixia, saying, "Expanding trade is something our Fire Tribe is very willing to do. Our Fire Tribe has a large population and high consumption, and we lack everything. We will take as much of your Clothing Tribe's cloth and embroidery as you have, no matter how much or how expensive."

Zhixia also picked up her ceramic bowl, clinked it against Yan's, and said, "Then it's settled! It's a deal!"

Two earthenware bowls clinked together, splashing Shuihua and leaving a few damp spots on the table. The atmosphere in the council hall immediately lightened. The leaders raised their bowls one after another, toasting each other and exchanging blessings. Laughter, conversation, and the clinking of bowls mingled together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere, like a market during the New Year.

The rest of the time, accompanied by Zhixia, Yan visited the workshops of the Clothing Tribe. The lunch was also very sumptuous, with roasted whole lamb, stewed fish, boiled beans, wild vegetable soup, and several kinds of wild game that she couldn't name. Although the dishes were simple, they were made with care and tasted good. The wine was fruit wine that they brewed themselves, which was sweet and not too strong, and it was very soothing to drink.

During the meal, Zhixia raised her wine bowl and toasted Yan: "Young Chief Yan, your Fire Tribe has brought so many fine things to our Clothing Tribe this time, and you are also willing to expand trade. On behalf of all the Clothing Tribe members, I toast you with this bowl!"

Yan also picked up his wine bowl, clinked it with hers, and drank it all in one gulp. The wine wasn't strong, but it had a sweet aftertaste, like eating a sweet fruit. He felt warm inside and out.

After the meal, the two sides exchanged supplies. Yan had his soldiers unload the pottery and salt they had brought from the ship and pile them on the dock. The people of the Clothing Tribe tribe watched from the sidelines, their eyes shining and their faces full of joy. They carried cloth, embroidery, and herbs out of the warehouse and handed them over to the warriors of the Fire Tribe to load onto the ship.

People were coming and going, carrying and lifting, and the dock was as lively as a market. Yan stood on the dock, watching the tribesmen on both sides busy at work, with a faint smile on his face.

Jia Li walked up to him and whispered, "Young Master Yan, the supplies have been inventoried. We got a lot of good stuff this time; enough for us to use for a while."

Yan nodded and said, "Alright. Tell the soldiers to hurry up and load the boats. Once they're done, we'll leave. We still have the Big Horse River Basin to go to; we can't afford to be delayed too long."

Jia Li responded and turned to make arrangements. Zhixia stood on the dock not far away, watching the supplies being loaded onto the ship, her smile never fading. When she saw Yan walking over, she took two steps forward and clasped her hands in greeting.

"Young Master Yan, I'm so sorry you have to leave so soon. Why don't you stay a few more days? Let us treat you to a proper meal."

Yan shook his head and politely declined with a smile, "No, Chief Zhixia, we still have to rush to the Big Horse River Basin. Next time we have time, we will definitely stay for a few more days to properly enjoy the food of your Clothing Tribe and appreciate the beautiful scenery of your Clothing Tribe."

Zhixia listened and didn't try to stop her any longer. She nodded and said, "Alright. Next time you come, please have someone send a message in advance so we can make preparations."

Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "Definitely."

He turned around, walked onto the gangplank, and returned to his ship. The soldiers quickly finished loading supplies, the gangplank was stowed up, the ropes were untied, the sails were raised, and Yan stood at the Chuantou, waving towards the dock.

Zhixia and the leaders waved goodbye. The fleet slowly left the dock, one ship after another sailing into the river and going downstream. Yan stood at the Chuantou, watching the dock of the Clothing Tribe get farther and farther away, smaller and smaller, until it finally disappeared at the bend of the river.