Going to the Horse Tribe

Yan led his fleet upstream along the Fish River for five days. During those five days, the scenery on both banks gradually changed from dense forests to open plains. The trees became sparser, and the grasslands became more abundant. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but lush green grass, swaying in the wind. Occasionally, herds of wild horses could be seen running in the distance, their hooves echoing like muffled thunder from the ground, thumping so loudly that it made one's chest tremble.

"Young chieftain, the area ahead is the territory of the Horse Tribe," Jia Li said, stepping out of the cabin and pointing ahead.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, looking in the direction Jia Li pointed. Sure enough, the terrain along the riverbank had become flatter, and the Water Grass were more lush, growing in clumps, a vibrant green. In the distance, on the grassland, one could see some simple huts made of wood and animal hides, scattered about, like temporary resting places for shepherds. Several ponies were drinking water by the river, their heads down, tails swishing back and forth, looking quite leisurely.

"Let's dock," Yan said.

The fleet slowly approached the shore. The warriors jumped off the ships. Some were tying the mooring ropes, some were setting up gangplanks, and some were carrying supplies. Bailin led a group of people to stay on the ships to guard the supplies and the vessels. Yan led Jia Li and hundreds of warriors off the ships and headed towards the Horse Tribe's camp.

The Horse Tribe's camp is not by the river, but a little further in. It would take a whole day to get there on foot, even if you walk fast. The path is not difficult to walk on, it's all flat, just with tall grass that feels soft and spongy underfoot, like walking on a thick carpet.

Jia Li walked beside Yan, saying as they went, "Young Chief, the Horse Tribe has developed quite well in recent years. It used to have only three thousand people, but now it has grown to about five thousand. Including the Horse Tribe's own core affiliated tribes, the population is close to ten thousand."

Yan nodded and said, "The Horse Tribe is famous for raising horses and cattle. This place has abundant Water Grass, making it suitable for grazing."

Jia Li continued, "In the area Big Horse River Basin and Little Horse River basins, there are about 30,000 people who have some connection with or are relatively familiar with the Horse Tribe. After we absorbed a few thousand of them, there are still more than 20,000 people left in this area."

He paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "If all 20,000 of them join our Fire Tribe, our Fire Tribe's influence will be connected to the Big Horse River Basin. At that time, we will be directly adjacent to the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp Outpost. As long as we build a stronghold in the Big Horse River Basin, our Fire Tribe can quickly provide support if the Valley Tribe is in trouble."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, this trip to the Big Horse River Basin went much more smoothly than I expected. Before I even spoke, the leaders of the Maple Leaf Tribe and the Toon Tribe expressed their desire to join our Fire Tribe. The negotiations in the Big Horse River Basin are basically finalized now, and we just need to go pick them up in a while."

Jia Li said, "Young Chief, it seems the news of our Fire Tribe's great victory over the Tiger Tribe, the overlord of the Fish River, at the Valley Tribe's place has spread. They saw the strength of our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe and, given their own awkward position, decisively chose to join us."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, with the addition of these tribes, the Fire Tribe will become stronger and stronger, and its ability to protect itself will be enhanced. It would be great if the Horse Tribe also joined our Fire Tribe. If they were willing to join us, the Fire Tribe's cavalry could double, its combat power could be greatly improved, and its efficiency in cultivating fields would be much higher."

Jia Li thought for a moment and said, "Young chieftain, the Horse Tribe has profited a lot from trade with our Fire Tribe over the years, which is why they have been able to grow and maintain this population size. However, their resources are limited, and maintaining this population size is almost their limit."

He paused, then continued, "In the past year or two, the Horse Tribe has seen our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe continue to grow Dazhuang and has been considering joining us. Recently, they have been frequently asking Chief Dazhuang about the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, inquiring whether we are still recruiting, what the conditions are, and what the rules are. However, they are still hesitant and observing, and have not yet made up their minds."

He glanced at Yan's expression and continued, "But it doesn't matter. As long as we absorb those independent small tribes, the Horse Tribe won't interfere. After the tribes in the Big Horse River Basin join our Fire Tribe in the fall, the Horse Tribe and their core subordinate tribes should make a decision. If they still don't want to join by then, it won't be our Fire Tribe's problem, it will be their own problem."

Yan understood Jia Li's meaning. If the Horse Tribe did not agree to join the Fire Tribe, they might be driven out of this Fire Tribe. This was due to the circumstances and the general trend. The landscape of the Fish River Basin was changing drastically. If they did not join the Fire Tribe, they might be marginalized or even annexed.

Yan was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's see how things go. If the Horse Tribe doesn't agree to join our Fire Tribe, we'll absorb the smaller tribes first, one step at a time, no rush."

Jia Li listened, nodded, and said nothing more. The group continued on, stepping on the thick grass, walking step by step towards the Horse Tribe's camp. By the afternoon of the next day, the group finally arrived near the Horse Tribe's camp.

You can see the Horse Tribe's camp from afar. There are many tents and wooden houses of all sizes, densely packed together. The perimeter of the camp is a large pasture where herds of miniature horses graze leisurely.

The scouts of the Horse Tribe had already spotted Yan and his group. Several scouts on horseback followed them from a distance, and after confirming their identities, they quickly ran back to the camp to report. When Yan led his team to the camp gate, Junfeng, the chief of the Horse Tribe, was already waiting there with a group of leaders.

Junfeng a burly man, dressed in a black linen robe with a bronze-buckled leather belt around his waist and animal-hide boots with grass clippings and mud clinging to the boot shafts. His hair was held back with a bone hairpin, and a few strands of white hair gleamed in the sunlight. His skin was dark and rough, the marks left by years of wind and sun exposure, but his eyes were bright and shrewd.

Behind him stood a dozen leaders, young and old, all dressed in their most presentable clothes. When they saw Yan approaching, Junfeng strode forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and bowed.

"Young Master Yan! Welcome, welcome! Please come in! The banquet is all ready, we're just waiting for you!"

Yan returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, and said with a smile, "Chief Junfeng, you are too kind. I apologize for the intrusion and disturbance."

Junfeng waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Young Master Yan, what are you saying? It's our honor that you've come to our Horse Tribe! The Fire Tribe is now a top-tier tribe on the Fish River. Not long ago, even the Fish River overlord, the Tiger Tribe, suffered a considerable loss at the hands of the Fire Tribe. Now, the Fire Tribe is a top-tier tribe that can rival the Fish River overlord, the Tiger Tribe! It's our honor that our Horse Tribe can be neighbors and friends with your Fire Tribe! Young Master Yan, please! All the leaders, please!"

Yan nodded, and led Jia Li and several followers, following Junfeng into the Horse Tribe's camp. The Horse Tribe's camp was quite different from the Fire Tribe's camp. The Fire Tribe's camp was like a small town, with densely packed wooden houses and neat, orderly streets, exuding planning and order. The Horse Tribe's camp was more like an enlarged pasture. In the center of the camp was a large open space with a large shed. Inside the shed were several wooden tables covered with burlap and filled with ceramic bowls and plates. A whole roasted lamb was placed in the center, sizzling and oozing with oil, its aroma filling the air. Next to it were stewed horse meat, roasted fish, boiled beans, and wild vegetable soup, all piled high, like a festive New Year celebration.

Junfeng invited Yan to sit in the main seat, while he himself sat in the seat next to him. The other leaders also sat down in turn. Jia Li sat in the seat below Yan. After Yan was seated, he gave Jia Li a wink. Jia Li nodded, stood up, and walked out of the tent. A moment later, he came back in with several soldiers carrying two loads of things.

There were two carrying poles, one carrying salt and the other carrying several bronze daggers. The salt was in a burlap sack, white and shiny, and the bronze daggers gleamed in the light. They were clearly high-quality goods, not the cheap, poorly made kind.

Yan stood up, walked to the two carrying poles, opened one of them, took out a bronze dagger, and handed it to Junfeng.

"Chief Junfeng, this is a small token of the Fire Tribe's appreciation. We thank the Fire Tribe Horse Tribe for their care and support over the years."

Junfeng took the bronze dagger, held it with both hands, and carefully examined it, his mouth stretching to his ears in a wide grin.

"What a fine knife! What a fine knife!" His voice trembled slightly. "Young Master Yan, this... this is far too valuable! How can we possibly accept it?"

Yan waved his hand and said, "Chief Junfeng, you're too kind. Your Horse Tribe's horses, furs, and sinews are all valuable items that our Fire Tribe needs. It's only right that we exchange them and help each other."

Junfeng carefully put away the dagger, invited everyone to take their seats, and then raised his wine bowl to toast Yan.

"Come! Young Chief Yan! Let me offer you a bowl first! Welcome the Fire Tribe's fleet to our Horse Tribe!"

Yan also picked up his wine bowl, clinked it with his, and drank it all in one gulp. The wine was mare's milk wine, with a sweet and sour taste. It was a little astringent at first, but had a very fragrant aftertaste. Yan wasn't used to the taste, but he still finished it in one go, put down the bowl, and smiled.

Junfeng offered a second bowl. "Young Chief Yan, this bowl is for your Fire Tribe! Your Fire Tribe is truly amazing! Not long ago, you easily defeated the Tiger Tribe and the Bear Tribe over at the Valley Tribe! The Tiger Tribe is the overlord of the Fish River Basin, a large tribe of 180,000 people! Your Fire Tribe actually managed to defeat them, this... this is truly remarkable!"

Yan picked up the bowl, drank another bowl, then put it down and said, "Chief Junfeng, you flatter me. The Tiger Tribe is still very powerful. Our Fire Tribe's victory this time was somewhat lucky. If the Tiger Tribe hadn't had internal conflicts and hadn't been unable to send its main force, we wouldn't have been able to win so easily."

He paused, his gaze becoming more serious, and said, "However, it's a fact that our Fire Tribe and the Tiger Tribe are now at odds. The Tiger Tribe suffered a loss this time, and they certainly won't let it go easily. They'll definitely look for opportunities to retaliate in the future, which makes our Fire Tribe a little uneasy and uneasy."

Upon hearing this, Junfeng's smile froze slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He put down his wine bowl, looked at Yan, and his gaze became more serious.

"Chief Yan, besides trading with our Horse Tribe, is there anything else you've come for? Please let us know if you need any help; we'll do our best to help in any way Horse Tribe can."

Yan nodded and, without beating around the bush, said directly, "Chief Junfeng, our Fire Tribe now has a large population and territory, and we need more and more people. This time, in addition to trading with your Horse Tribe, we also want to recruit some more people in this area. We've come to let you know in advance to avoid any misunderstandings and damage to our relationship."

Upon hearing this, Junfeng picked up his wine bowl, took a sip, put it down, and remained silent for a while. After a while, Junfeng raised his head, looked at Yan, and smiled.

"Chief Yan, although our Horse Tribe is not a large tribe, we know the principles of being human. Your Fire Tribe absorbs tribes freely, and we never force or coerce anyone. We know and see this. Therefore, if you want to recruit people nearby, our Horse Tribe will not interfere or obstruct you, just as we would not stop a river from flowing eastward, or block the wind from blowing across the grassland."

He paused, his voice becoming more sincere, "However, Chief Yan, I also have something to say to you. Our Horse Tribe and Fire Tribe have been neighbors for many years, and our relationship has always been good. We have no objection to you absorbing those independent small tribes, but we hope you will not touch the core and subordinate tribes of our Horse Tribe. They are our roots, our foundation. To touch them is like touching our lifeline; we cannot explain it to our people."

Yan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He had been worried that Junfeng would object, since the Fire Tribe was expanding its territory right in front of his home, and any tribal leader would feel uneasy about it. He hadn't expected Junfeng to be so understanding and open-minded.

"Chief Junfeng, rest assured," Yan said sincerely. "Our Fire Tribe will not absorb any of your Horse Tribe's core subordinate tribes. I can assure you of that. We will never force or coerce anyone from your Horse Tribe who does not wish to join our Fire Tribe."

Upon hearing this, Junfeng let out a long sigh of relief, and the smile on his face became even more natural.

"Good! With Young Master Yan's words, I can rest assured!"

He picked up his wine bowl and offered Yan another, warming the atmosphere once more. Everyone toasted each other, drinking and chatting animatedly. The banquet lasted for nearly two hours, from dusk until dark. Yan and Junfeng chatted for a while longer, discussing horse breeding techniques, the development plans of the Horse Tribe, and the future cooperation between the Fire Tribe and the Horse Tribe. Junfeng asked many questions, which Yan answered one by one, sincerely and without reservation.

As night deepened, Junfeng had someone arrange accommodations for Yan and Jia Li. It was a large tent on the edge of the camp, made of thick animal hides, which was both windproof and warm. Inside the tent, there was a thick layer of dry grass, and several layers of animal hides were laid on top of the grass. It was soft and warm to lie on. Yan lay down, put his hands behind his head, and looked at the top of the tent.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the animal hides, casting a hazy white glow on the tent roof. In the distance, the neighing of horses drifted on the night wind, one note after another. There was also the low, intermittent singing of shepherds; the words were incomprehensible, but the melody was beautiful, desolate, and far-reaching.

Yan closed his eyes, the scene from today flashing through his mind. Junfeng's warm smile. He thought to himself, although the Horse Tribe had not yet agreed to join the Fire Tribe, at least they would not become enemies. As long as they did not stop the Fire Tribe from absorbing smaller tribes and did not oppose the Fire Tribe, there was still room for cooperation and a possibility of winning them over.

Yan woke up early the next morning. Some people in the camp had already started their activities. Some were feeding the horses, some were milking the cows, and some were cooking. Smoke rose and drifted in the morning breeze. Junfeng had also gotten up early, wearing a clean linen robe, and was waiting for Yan outside the tent.

"Young Master Yan, did you sleep well last night?" His voice was loud and clear, and he was in high spirits.

Yan nodded and said, "Very good. Your Horse Tribe's tents are soft and warm, even more comfortable than our Fire Tribe's."

Junfeng laughed heartily, "That's right! Our Horse Tribe has no shortage of animal hides, let alone anything else. If your Fire Tribe likes them, I'll have someone send you a few cartloads later. They're all top-quality sheepskin and cowhide, thick and soft!"

Yan quickly expressed his gratitude, and after breakfast, the two sides began exchanging supplies.

Yan had people bring over the pottery, salt, and bronze daggers they had brought. The people of the Horse Tribe brought out the prepared furs, herbs, and beef tendons from the warehouse, bundled them up, and handed them over to the people of the Fire Tribe.

Back and forth, carrying and lifting, the camp was as lively as a market fair. The soldiers were busy and sweating profusely, but they all had smiles on their faces. The people of the Horse Tribe also gathered around to watch the excitement, pointing and talking and laughing.

Yan walked around the camp and looked at the horse pen of the Horse Tribe.

The stable was large, enclosed by thick logs, and contained dozens of ponies. The ponies were not tall, but they were all sturdy, with glossy coats and bright eyes. Some were eating hay, some were dozing, and some were rubbing their necks against each other, looking very relaxed.

Junfeng walked over and stood next to Yan, a hint of pride on his face. "Young Chief Yan, these ponies may not run fast, but they have great stamina, can carry heavy loads, and can travel long distances. Our Horse Tribe members all ride them when they go out to graze."

Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the horses, silently noting them down. By the afternoon, all the supplies had been handed over. Yan had the furs, herbs, and beef tendons he had obtained loaded onto the ship, and then he bid farewell to Junfeng.

"Chief Junfeng, I apologize for the intrusion. We welcome your Horse Tribe to visit our Fire Tribe next time."

Junfeng clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, a smile on his face, and said, "Definitely! When I have some free time in a while, I'll definitely visit your Fire Tribe. I'll need Chief Yan's help then!"

Yan smiled and nodded, then led Jia Li and the warriors away from the Horse Tribe's camp. The group traveled for a day and returned to the shore the next day. Bailin Bailin jumped off the boat and quickly went to greet him.

"Young leader, you're back! Was everything alright?"

Yan nodded and said, "It went smoothly. We reached an agreement with the Horse Tribe. They won't interfere with our absorption of smaller tribes, and we've exchanged quite a few good things for them."

Bailin grinned and said, "That's good!"

Yan smiled and said nothing more.

He boarded his boat, stood at the Chuantou, looked at the surface of the Fish River, thought about the people in the Big Horse River Basin who were about to join the Fire Tribe, thought about the attitude of the Horse Tribe, thought about the threat of the Tiger Tribe, thought about the future of the Fire Tribe, he let out a long breath, turned around, and went into the cabin.

"Let's go! Back to Little Fish River Mouth Outpost!"

As the horns sounded, the fleet slowly left the shore, one boat after another entering the main channel. Going upstream, the boats moved a little slower, and the scenery along the banks gradually receded, with trees, meadows, and hills flashing past in turn.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Days pass by, and the fleet moves forward day by day. Yan stands at the Chuantou, looking ahead. Ahead, the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost awaits him, and the Fire Tribe awaits him.