A Promise to Set Minds at Ease

Inside the council hall of the Valley Tribe, the lights were on and the place was bustling with activity. The whole roasted lamb had been torn to shreds, the stewed chicken soup had been poured into bowls and drunk clean, and several jars of fruit wine had been emptied. Some people had flushed faces, and some were already slurring their words, but the atmosphere remained lively.

Daiyue put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, picked up the earthenware bowl in front of him, took a sip of water, then put the bowl down, looked at Yan, and said with a mixture of seriousness and curiosity, "Young Chief Yan, the scale of your Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet has expanded considerably this time."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was still audible to those around him in the noisy council hall. "I heard from our people that your Fire Tribe brought several more ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin this time than last time! Last time there were thirteen ships, and this time our count seems to be sixteen?"

As soon as he said this, the noise in the council hall immediately subsided. Several elders and leaders turned around, pricked up their ears to listen, and looked at Yan with curiosity, expectation, and a hint of indescribable complexity.

Yan put down his bowl, sat up straight, and wore a calm smile. His gaze lingered on Daiyue's face for a moment before slowly sweeping over everyone present. He said, "Not bad."

He nodded, his voice unhurried, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. "This time we brought sixteen giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each. We also left four more in reserve in the tribe. So, our Fire Tribe now has a total of twenty giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each."

He paused, then added, "Our Fire Tribe currently has one hundred ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin. We brought ninety of them with us this time, and left ten in reserve within the tribe."

The council chamber fell silent instantly. It wasn't a normal silence, but a silence as if something had suddenly choked him. No one spoke, no one moved, and no one even breathed. Daiyue's hand, holding the ceramic bowl, froze in mid-air, the water inside swaying slightly. His mouth was slightly open, and his gaze lingered on Yan's face for a long while.

The seven elders reacted differently. Elder Hefeng stopped stroking his beard, his eyes narrowing into slits. Elder Jin Ye's chopsticks clattered onto the table. He stared blankly at Yan, his lips moving but no sound coming out. Elder Shuize put down his wine bowl and leaned forward slightly. The other elders also saw shock in each other's eyes, not to mention the leaders. Some gaped, some stared wide-eyed, some looked at each other in bewilderment, and some remained motionless. The silence lasted for several breaths, then, as if something had broken the balance, the council hall erupted in chaos.

"Twenty ships? The Fire Tribe actually has twenty giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin?"

"The Tiger Tribe, the overlords of the Fish River, only has about twenty ships, right? The Fire Tribe is almost catching up with the Tiger Tribe!"

"A hundred more ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin? That's more than the Tiger Tribe! I heard the Tiger Tribe only has a few dozen ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin!"

"The Fire Tribe has only been developing for a few years, yet their shipbuilding speed is incredible!"

"No wonder the Fire Tribe dared to go toe-to-toe with the Tiger Tribe; they already had such confidence!"

"If they develop for another year or two, the Fire Tribe's waterborne strength will definitely surpass that of the Tiger Tribe!"

A cacophony of voices rose and fell; elders whispered among themselves, leaders discussed amongst themselves, and even the maids carrying dishes to the table stopped in their tracks, standing there in a daze, listening intently.

Daiyue raised his hand and gestured for everyone to quiet down. After the noise in the council hall gradually subsided, he looked at Yan with a complex smile on his face, a smile that contained admiration, emotion, and a hint of inexplicable relief.

"Chief Yan, the shipbuilding speed of your Fire Tribe is truly astounding! You can build more than a dozen giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin a year. This... this is truly admirable."

He picked up his wine bowl, raised it towards Yan, and said, "This bowl is a toast to the craftsmen of your Fire Tribe! It's truly remarkable that they were able to build so many large ships in such a short time!"

Yan also picked up his wine bowl, clinked it with Daiyue's, and drank it all in one gulp. After putting down the bowl, he wiped his mouth and said calmly, "Chief Daiyue, you flatter me. Our Fire Tribe has now become completely hostile to the Tiger Tribe. Although we won the last battle, it also exposed some of our shortcomings. Therefore, improving our strength is inevitable. Our Fire Tribe cannot stop for a moment, nor can we rest for a single day."

He paused, looked at Daiyue and the others, and said in a more sincere tone, "I have some good news to tell Chief Daiyue."

Daiyue put down his wine bowl, a hint of curiosity in his eyes, and asked, "What good news?"

Yan said, "Most of the tribes in the Big Horse River Basin have joined our Fire Tribe after the autumn harvest. Now our Fire Tribe has a population of about 180,000. At the same time, we have also built a temporary outpost at the mouth of the Big Horse River. Although it is not large, some people are already stationed there. Next year, our Fire Tribe will expand its scale as needed."

He paused, looked into Daiyue's eyes, and said in Chenwen and powerful voice, "Now, our Fire Tribe is officially on the border with the Valley Tribe. If the Valley Tribe needs anything in the future, they can directly inform our Fire Tribe's Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. It's very close to your Little Valley Camp Outpost, so communication and support will be quick."

The council chamber fell silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder commotion.

"180,000? The Fire Tribe's population has reached 180,000?"

"That's about the same population as the Tiger Tribe! The Tiger Tribe only has a little over 180,000 people!"

"Most of the tribes in the Big Horse River Basin have joined the Fire Tribe? That's quite a few people!"

"They've already built Big Horse River Mouth Outpost? Doesn't that mean the Fire Tribe's territory is directly connected to the Valley Tribe's?"

"The Fire Tribe is truly poised to become the new overlord of the Fish River!"

"If this trend continues, the Fire Tribe's population will soon exceed 200,000. At that point, even the Tiger Tribe won't be able to control them!"

Listening to the surrounding discussions and looking at Yan's young yet Chenwen face, Daiyue was filled with emotion. A few years ago, the Fire Tribe was just an insignificant little tribe on the upper reaches of the Fish River, with a population of only a few hundred, living a life of semi-starvation. And now? The Fire Tribe has become a large tribe of 180,000 people, with twenty giant ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, lined up on the river. Who wouldn't think twice about their own weight when they see them?

Daiyue picked up his wine bowl, took another sip, then put it down, looked at Yan, and said with more sincerity and emotion in his eyes, "Young Chief Yan, the surprises you've given us this time have truly been one after another."

His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "I didn't expect your Fire Tribe to develop so quickly. Now the Fire Tribe's population is almost the same as the Tiger Tribe's. Your Fire Tribe has also built a stronghold at the Big Horse River Mouth, which is right next to our Valley Tribe. It will be very convenient for our Valley Tribe to seek your help if we need any assistance or support."

He paused, took a deep breath, and said with even greater sincerity, "The stronger your Fire Tribe becomes, the more at ease our Valley Tribe will feel. Even if the Tiger Tribe comes again, our Valley Tribe will have even more confidence."

Yan looked at Daiyue, his gaze calm and firm, and said, "Chief Daiyue, we've come here to tell you this not to show off our strength, but to reassure you."

He sat up straight, his voice becoming more serious, and said, "Rest assured, the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe are allies, brothers, and friends. If the Tiger Tribe attacks again, our Fire Tribe will definitely lend a helping hand and will not stand idly by. I can assure you of that."

Upon hearing this, Daiyue's smile deepened, and the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes smoothed out. He picked up his wine bowl, raised it towards Yan, and said with a hint of excitement in his voice, "Good! Young Chief Yan, with your words, I feel at ease! On behalf of all the people of the Valley Tribe, I toast you with a bowl!"

The two clinked their bowls together and drank it all in one gulp. The wine burned their throats, but warmed their hearts.

Setting down his bowl, Yan said, "Chief Daiyue, now that we've transported the agreed-upon ten million catties of grain back, the grain trade between the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe for this year will be complete. We hope to continue our cooperation next year, and we hope your Valley Tribe will continue to support us."

Daiyue nodded, his voice Chenwen, "Of course. We have already prepared the agreed-upon ten million catties of grain. Tomorrow morning, I will have Quyong and the others assist you in loading the grain onto the ships. Don't worry, the grain is all new this year's harvest, plump and free of mold and insects. It's enough for your Fire Tribe to eat for quite some time."

He paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "We also hope to settle the debts we Fire Tribe as soon as possible. We've always remembered the ships and bronze weapons that your Fire Tribe gave us on credit. Once next year's harvest is good, we will definitely find a way to pay back the debts."

Yan said, "Daiyue very much, Chief Daiyue and everyone!"

He then thought of the situation in the north, and the smile on his face faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He asked, "Chief Daiyue, what's the situation like in the north? Tiger Tribe, Bear Tribe, or Wolf Tribe made any new moves lately?"

Daiyue pondered for a moment, his smile fading and his brows furrowing slightly. He said, "The Tiger Tribe hasn't made many big moves lately. They're still fighting amongst themselves. The Tiger Hu Bashan and Tongding factions are still sabotaging each other. The year is almost over, so I don't think they'll bother us this year. At the earliest, it will be next year, when things have calmed down a bit, before they might send ships south again."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly, and said, "As for the Great Boulder Tribe, the situation is very bad. Their territory is being severely encroached upon by the Wolf Tribe. They've suffered several defeats, lost many people, and lost a lot of land. We estimate that they won't be able to survive this winter."

"We originally wanted to send some troops to intervene and help the Great Boulder Tribe stabilize the situation a bit, but the Bear Tribe sent boats to block us, preventing us from passing. They patrolled back and forth on the water, completely blocking the river. As soon as our boats approached, they blocked them. We didn't want to confront the Bear Tribe head-on at this time, so we had no choice but to retreat."

"Currently, the situation in the territory of the Great Boulder Tribe is very chaotic. Many smaller tribes, seeing that the Great Boulder Tribe is in decline, have either joined the Great Luwei Tribe Bear Tribe. Many others have been coerced by the Wolf Tribe and become their cannon fodder. On the other hand, the Bear Tribe's strength has also increased during this period. Taking advantage of the chaos, they have absorbed a lot of people from the scattered tribes. It is estimated that their population will be close to 30,000 by the end of this winter."

Yan frowned upon hearing this. He remained silent for a moment before speaking, "The Tiger Tribe will likely come to cause us trouble at least next year. The Great Boulder Tribe being annexed by the Wolf Tribe will probably become a reality this year. If the Wolf Tribe and the Bear Tribe join forces against you, your Valley Tribe will be in trouble. It will be very difficult for your Valley Tribe to cope with both of them coming together."

He looked at Daiyue, his gaze becoming more serious, and said, "Chief Daiyue, your Valley Tribe still needs to be more vigilant, especially after the Great Boulder Tribe is annexed by the Wolf Tribe next year. The Wolf Tribe's strength will increase significantly, and they certainly won't be content with their lot."

Daiyue nodded, sighed, and said, "Yes, I've been worried about this too. I'll send people to keep a close eye on these two tribes. If there's any trouble in the north, I'll send someone to inform you immediately."

He thought for a moment, picked up the bowl, took a sip of water, and then looked at Yan with a hint of expectation in his eyes, saying, "Young Master Yan, I have another request."

Yan nodded and said, "Chief Daiyue, please speak."

Daiyue spoke up, "Your Fire Tribe brought quite a few bronze farming tools and weapons this time. Could you lend some more to our Valley Tribe on credit? Although we also have bronze weapons, many of them are old and haven't been replaced yet. If we could have more bronze farming tools, we could cultivate the fields more efficiently next year. With better bronze weapons, our warriors could also better defend against the Bear Tribe and the Wolf Tribe."

Yan nodded almost without hesitation and said, "That's no problem. Our Fire Tribe brought a lot of bronze farm tools and bronze weapons this time, and we wanted to give them to your Valley Tribe on credit."

Upon hearing this, Daiyue was overjoyed and said, "That's wonderful! Young Chief Yan, don't worry, we will pay off the debt as soon as possible! We won't let your Fire Tribe suffer any losses!"

Yan nodded and said, "I will hand over the grain to you tomorrow when it's being loaded."

Daiyue nodded repeatedly, beaming from ear to ear. He raised his wine bowl and offered Yan another bowl. The two chatted for a while longer, discussing the details of next year's grain trade and the construction progress of the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. Gradually, the noise in the council hall subsided. People had drunk enough; some were dozing off in their chairs, some were chatting quietly, and some had already said their goodbyes and left.

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 start loading the grain tomorrow, and then we'll head back."

Daiyue also stood up, clasped his hands in return, and said, "Alright! Young Master Yan, go back and rest early. Don't worry about loading the grain; I'll have Quyong keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't delay your time."

He paused, then added, "By the way, Qingsui, could you see Young Master Yan off?"

Qingsui walked out from behind the council hall, quickly approached Yan, and said softly, "Young Master Yan, please."

Today she wore a light purple linen dress with a few small white Little Flower embroidered on the hem. Her hair was tied in a simple bun and secured with a copper hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears. In the light of the oil lamp, her face appeared exceptionally gentle, and her eyes sparkled as if filled with moonlight.

Yan nodded and followed her out of the council hall. The night breeze was cool, and the moon hung in the sky, round and big, illuminating the entire camp. The stars twinkled in the sky, densely packed. The two walked side by side, their steps light and slow, as if enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

Qingsui turned to look at Yan, her eyes filled with curiosity, and asked, "Yan, does your Fire Tribe really already have twenty giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin? One hundred large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin? And 180,000 people?"

Yan nodded and said, "It's true. Before coming here, I just brought back 15,000 people from the Big Horse River Basin. Now there are about 180,000."

Upon hearing this, Qingsui's eyes widened slightly, and she said, "Your Fire Tribe is developing really fast. My father always said that the Valley Tribe could only maintain a population of 40,000 at most, but your Fire Tribe seems to have no end in sight, and keeps growing."

Yan smiled but didn't speak. The two walked for a while longer before Qingsui slowed her pace and asked in a softer voice, "Yan, how long will your Fire Tribe stay this time?"

"We'll leave once we've loaded the grain," Yan said. "This mission involves ten million catties of grain. We'll head back after we're done. There's still a stronghold under construction at the Big Horse River Mouth, and we also have matters to attend to at the Clothing Tribe and Horse Tribe."

Qingsui nodded, remained silent for a moment, then looked up at him. "After you finish loading the grain, before you leave, I'll come find you. Let's have a meal together. I've developed a new dish that I'd like you to try."

Looking at her earnest expression, Yan felt a warmth in his heart and said, "Okay, I'll definitely come."

Qingsui smiled, and the two walked to the entrance of the Fire Tribe's temporary camp, where Qingsui stopped.

"Alright, we're here. You should get some rest."

Yan nodded. "Okay. You should go back early too."

Qingsui nodded and turned to leave.