Returning with a Full Load

Two and a half days—not a long time, not a short time—was enough to load millions of kilograms of grain onto the Fire Tribe's ships. At the Valley Tribe's main dock, the Fire Tribe warriors and the Valley Tribe warriors worked together with increasing efficiency. Yan had also been working for two and a half days straight. Once the grain was loaded, the mountains of sacks piled up on the dock were gone, replaced by neat stacks of grain in the ship holds. Standing on the dock, looking at his fleet, Yan felt an indescribable sense of security. Every ship was drafted deep, but he wasn't worried. The Fire Tribe's ships were sturdy; this weight wouldn't break them.

Only some odd jobs remained on the dock, and the two men vied to do the Shibang and Yingmu work.

Shibang, carrying a roll of rope, strode towards the boat, shouting, "I'll do these chores! Boss, you go and rest!"

Yingmu, not to be outdone, followed behind carrying a bundle of burlap. His voice was low but steady as he said, "Boss, you've been busy for days. Go wash up and rest. Leave the rest to us; we won't cause any trouble."

Yan smiled at their eager competition and stopped arguing, saying, "Alright, then thank you for your trouble. I'll wash my face and change my clothes."

He turned and walked towards the makeshift camp. Inside, the soldiers had boiled hot water in a large earthenware basin, still steaming. Beside it lay a clean linen towel, freshly washed that morning, still carrying the scent of soap. Yan squatted down, scooped up a handful of hot water, and splashed it on his face. The water was scalding, making his skin red, but it felt wonderful, as if it had washed away the fatigue of the past few days. He scooped up several more handfuls of water and washed his face, neck, and arms, removing the dust and sweat.

After washing his face, he changed into a clean white linen robe and tidied his hair. He looked much more refreshed. As soon as he finished and stepped out of the tent, he saw Qingsui standing at the camp entrance. Today, she was wearing a light blue linen dress with a few small white Little Flower embroidered on the hem. Her hair was tied in a simple ponytail with a blue ribbon tied around it, swaying gently in the wind. She had a faint smile on her face.

She paused slightly when she saw Yan come out, then smiled and said, "Finished washing? Let's go then. My father wants to talk to you; he's already waiting in the council hall."

Yan nodded, walked over, and walked alongside her toward the council hall. In the council hall of the Valley Tribe headquarters, Daiyue was already sitting in the main seat waiting. Today he was wearing a blue linen robe, which was a bit old with frayed edges on the cuffs, but it was very clean and without stains. His hair was neatly combed and held in place with a bone hairpin, and a few strands of white hair shone in the sunlight. In front of him were several wooden tablets covered with densely packed symbols.

Seeing Yan enter, he put down the wooden tablet, stood up, and said with a smile, "Young Chief Yan, you've arrived? Please have a seat."

Yan clasped his hands in greeting and sat down opposite Daiyue. Qingsui did not sit down, but instead went to a small room next to the council hall, picked up a wooden tablet and a carving knife, and continued to handle official business.

Daiyue didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point, asking, "Chief Yan, how did the loading of your Fire Tribe's grain go this time? Were there any inconveniences?"

Yan shook his head and said, "It went very smoothly. Chief Quyong made good arrangements, and our men cooperated well. It was even faster than expected. All the grain has been packed, and only some miscellaneous tasks remain. We can set off tomorrow morning."

Daiyue nodded, a satisfied smile on his face, and said, "That's good. Your Fire Tribe's affairs are our Valley Tribe's affairs. If you need any help, just let us know."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I'm not too worried about the Bear Tribe right now. Although their water strength is somewhat stronger, they don't dare to really make a move. At most, they'll just harass them. The real problem is the Wolf Tribe. If they swallow up the Great Boulder Tribe, their next target will likely be our Valley Tribe."

Yan looked at Daiyue and said, "Chief Daiyue, you are close to the Wolf Tribe, so you do need to be careful. But don't worry too much. Our Fire Tribe will build a stronghold at the Big Horse River Mouth. If your Valley Tribe has any emergencies, just light the beacon fire, and our Fire Tribe's first batch of reinforcements will arrive within three days."

Upon hearing this, Daiyue's tense expression eased somewhat, and he smiled, saying, "That's wonderful. The closer your Fire Tribe is to us, the more at ease our Valley Tribe feels. With your support, even if the Tiger Tribe really attacks, we'll be more confident."

He thought for a moment and then said, "As for the Tiger Tribe, I don't think they'll make any big moves this year. They're still fighting internally and haven't reached a conclusion yet. However, they have plenty of supplies. If they're really pushed to the limit, they could use these resources to expand their power like crazy, which would be a considerable problem."

Yan nodded, his gaze becoming more serious. "Chief Daiyue is right. The Tiger Tribe's strength is undeniable, and we cannot be complacent. However, as long as they are not united internally, they cannot deal with us with their full strength. Our Fire Tribe will not provoke them until we have overwhelming power over the Tiger Tribe."

Upon hearing this, Daiyue seemed relieved and said, "That's good. I was worried that your Fire Tribe was developing too fast and might lose your composure, prematurely clashing with the Tiger Tribe. The Tiger Tribe's foundation is much deeper than we imagined. If we act rashly, we might be the ones who suffer."

Yan nodded and said, "Chief Daiyue, rest assured, our Fire Tribe knows what we're doing."

The two chatted for a while longer, discussing the movements of the Bear Tribe, the threat posed by the Wolf Tribe, and the details of next year's grain trade. Daiyue asked many questions, and Yan Du answered them one by one, with a sincere attitude, speaking frankly and without reservation.

Before they knew it, more than half of the afternoon had passed. Yan stood up, clasped his hands in a salute to Daiyue, and said, "Chief Daiyue, it's getting late. I'll take my leave now. We'll set off early tomorrow morning."

Daiyue also stood up, clasped his hands in return, and said, "Alright, I'll see you off at the dock tomorrow morning. I'll have Qingsui escort you."

As soon as they stepped out of the council hall, Qingsui quickly walked to Yan's side and walked alongside him.

"Yan, how did your chat go? What did you talk about?" She turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Yan turned to look at her and said, "We talked about the Tiger Tribe, the Bear Tribe, and the Wolf Tribe. Your father is a very meticulous person; he asked about everything in great detail and remembered everything very clearly."

Qingsui smiled and said with some pride, "That's just the kind of person my father is. He's been the leader for so many years, and he has to do everything himself and worry about everything. Sometimes I feel that he's too tired and I advise him to rest more, but he won't listen."

Yan nodded and said, "Being a leader is never easy. Your father was able to lead the Valley Tribe to where it is today because of his meticulousness and diligence."

The two walked along the path. Qingsui slowed her pace and asked, "Yan, are you really leaving tomorrow?"

Yan nodded and said, "The grain is all packed. It's time to go back. There are still many things waiting for me to take care of at the Fire Tribe."

Qingsui was silent for a moment, then looked up at him with a hint of reluctance in her eyes and asked, "When will you come again next time?"

Yan thought for a moment and said, "We'll be coming over again in a while to transport another ten million catties of grain. We should be back then. If things go smoothly in the Big Horse River Basin, we'll come over after the autumn harvest."

Upon hearing this, Qingsui smiled and said, "That's good. Next time you come, I'll cook you something delicious. I've been researching a few new dishes recently, using the seasonings you gave me last time. They taste pretty good; you should try them then."

Yan felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at her earnest expression, and said, "Okay, I'll definitely come and eat. I'll have a good taste of your cooking then."

The two walked for a while longer and came to the bank of the Fish River. They stood on the bank, neither of them speaking, just quietly watching the water. After a while, Yan turned to Qingsui and said, "Let's go to my temporary camp. I told you I'd make you something good to eat."

Qingsui's eyes lit up immediately, and she asked, "Really?"

Yan smiled and said, "I keep my word, but you'll have to use your seasonings. I've given you all the ones I brought."

Qingsui nodded repeatedly and said, "Of course! I always bring some with me, so I can use them anytime!"

The two turned and walked towards the Fire Tribe's temporary camp. The camp was brightly lit with campfires, and the warriors sat around the fires, some chatting, some singing, and some roasting food. When they saw Yan and Qingsui coming over, everyone made way for them, their eyes filled with friendly smiles.

After Yan finished cooking, the two ate until they were about 80% full. Then Yan grilled two more fish and some meat. The two sat by the fire, eating the grilled meat and fish and chatting. The night breeze blew gently, and the firelight reflected on their faces, making them feel warm.

"Yan, with so many people in your Fire Tribe, getting food every day must be a big problem, right?" Qingsui asked while eating.

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, tens of thousands of people, how much food do they need to eat every day? Just thinking about it gives me a headache. So we must keep farming, keep trading, and keep stockpiling food. We can't stop for a moment."

After listening, Qingsui remained silent for a while, then said softly, "Your Fire Tribe really has it tough. Our Valley Tribe only has about 40,000 people, while you have over 100,000. That must be an immense pressure."

Yan didn't speak, but picked up another skewer of meat and handed it to Qingsui. Qingsui took the skewer, looked up at him, and the moonlight shone in her eyes, making them sparkle.

"Yan, no matter what happens in the future, I will always be on your side."

Yan paused for a moment, then smiled. It was a genuine, warm smile, like a campfire in the night wind, like a river under the moonlight.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the Fire Tribe's fleet prepared to depart. At the dock, Daiyue, along with the seven elders and a group of leaders, came to see them off, with Qingsui standing in the crowd.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, clasped his hands in a salute towards the dock, and said, "Chief Daiyue, everyone, until we meet again!"

Daiyue returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, saying, "Young Master Yan, have a safe journey! Next time you come, please send word in advance so we can prepare!"

Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before finally settling on Qingsui. Qingsui didn't speak, but simply nodded and smiled slightly at him.

Yan nodded to her, then turned around and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Let's go!"

As the horn sounded, the Fire Tribe's fleet slowly left the dock, one ship after another sailing into the main river channel, going upstream along the Fish River. Yan stood at the Chuantou, watching the Valley Tribe's dock grow farther and farther away, smaller and smaller, until it finally disappeared at the bend in the river.

He turned around, his gaze fixed ahead, where the long journey home lay ahead.

After traveling for several days, the fleet arrived at the Big Horse River Mouth. Yan asked the fleet to dock and rest for a while, and to meet and greet the leaders of the Maple Leaf Tribe and the Toon Tribe. At the dock, Maple and Chunmu were already waiting with their men. When they saw the Fire Tribe's fleet dock, they quickly came to greet them.

"Young Master Yan! You're back so soon? The food is all packed?" Feng's voice was loud and clear, with a smile on his face.

Yan stepped off the ship, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "It's all packed. I'll be passing by on my way back, so I thought I'd say hello."

Feng glanced at the boats docked at the pier and noticed that their gunwales were heavily drafted. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Fire Tribe is truly amazing! You can transport so much grain at once. If all the tribes in our Big Horse River Basin joined the Fire Tribe, we wouldn't have to worry about food anymore."

Chunmu nodded, his eyes filled with envy, and said, "Yes, your Fire Tribe has food, salt, bronze weapons, and nothing is lacking. It's a great blessing for us small tribes to join the Fire Tribe."

Yan smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will bring the Fire Tribe's fleet to pick you up after the autumn harvest. At that time, you will also be members of the Fire Tribe, and you will have everything you need."

Feng nodded repeatedly and said, "That's good! That's good! We've already made arrangements with all the tribes in the Big Horse River Basin. After the autumn harvest, we'll gather at the Big Horse River Mouth and wait for your Fire Tribe's fleet to pick us up."

Yan said, "During this time, you should also prepare with your people. Bring everything you can, but not too much. The Fire Tribe has everything. Just bring your personal belongings and valuables."

Feng and Chunmu nodded repeatedly. Yan chatted with them for a few more minutes and told them some news, "After picking you up after the autumn harvest, we still need to transport ten million catties of grain to the Valley Tribe. You don't need to worry about the grain."

Upon hearing this, Feng and Chunmu's eyes lit up. Ten million catties of grain? Our Fire Tribe really has no shortage of food! Their confidence in joining the Fire Tribe grew even stronger.

Yan didn't linger at the Big Horse River Mouth for long. After resting for a while, Yan led the Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet on their way. The Fire Tribe's fleet sailed upstream along the Fish River, heading towards the Fire Tribe.