Returning Laden and Looking North

While the Valley Tribe, Wolf Tribe, and Bear Tribe were making their own plans, Yan led the Fire Tribe's grain transport fleet upstream along the Fish River. For the past twenty days, Yan had spent most of his time standing at the Chuantou, watching the scenery on both banks slowly recede. The grain transport fleet was loaded to the brim with grain, and the boats were drafted deep, making them move slower than usual. However, the Fire Tribe's boats were sturdy, and this weight could not break them, nor could it break the warriors who rowed day and night. No one complained of being tired, no one slacked off, and everyone worked silently. Beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads, dripped onto the deck, and were instantly dried by the wind.

Occasionally, someone would hum a tune, an old folk song that had been passed down for a long time from the Fire Tribe. The melody was rough and desolate, and others would join in. The rough singing drifted across the river, startling flocks of water birds on the riverbank, which fluttered into the sky, their wings shimmering silver in the sunlight. Yan would sometimes hum along, and sometimes he would just listen without saying a word. He liked this feeling of being on the road, and he liked watching the fleet of boats move across the water.

Around noon that day, the warm sunlight shone on the river, the distant sky was a bright blue, and a few white clouds drifted lazily by. The river shimmered softly in the sunlight, and the air smelled of water, along with the fresh fragrance of rice from the distant fields, all mixed together in an indescribable way.

After a twenty-day voyage, Yan led his grain transport fleet to the dock at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. The dock was already crowded with people, a dark mass. The familiar figure at the front was none other than his father, Jianshi. Jianshi was wearing a thick, blue linen robe, newly made this autumn. The collar and cuffs were neatly sewn without a single frayed edge. He wore a bronze-buckled leather belt with a bronze dagger hanging from it, and animal-hide boots with fresh mud still clinging to the tops, indicating he had just returned from the fields.

His hair was neatly combed, and the wrinkles on his face were deeper than when Yan left last time, but he was in good spirits. His eyes were bright and full of hope and joy. The corners of his mouth were slightly upturned with a smile. He stood there with his hands behind his back, watching the fleet of boats slowly sailing on the river.

Behind him stood several key leaders, including Dabang, Canglan, Wu Xiong, Zongmao, Jijiao, as well as a group of young warriors, all dressed in their most respectable clothes. When they saw the massive shadow of the fleet appear around the bend in the distance, a low cheer and murmur arose from the crowd.

The fleet slowly approached the shore, the gangplank was set up, and Yan stepped off the ship. His feet thumped on the wooden planks of the dock. After traveling by water for so many days, it felt especially reassuring to have his feet on solid ground. Jian Jianshi strode forward, hugged Yan tightly, and patted him hard on the back. Yan could feel the strength of his father's hand.

"Good! Good! Good!" Jianshi released Yan, looked him up and down, his gaze sweeping from Yan's face to his body, and then back to his face.

"It's good that you're back! I heard that your trip went quite smoothly, and the ten million catties of grain from the Valley Tribe were successfully transported back! That's great! With this grain, our Fire Tribe is even more confident!" His voice was loud and clear, with a hint of excitement, and the wrinkles around his eyes smoothed out.

Yan nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Yes, Father," he said, "the Valley Tribe is cooperating very well. The grain is being packed quickly, a day or two ahead of schedule. Chief Daiyue is very welcoming and said that the 40 million catties of grain for next year will also be delivered on time."

Jianshi nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, then patted Yan on the shoulder and said, "Good! Good! Let's go! We'll go back to the council hall first! Your mother, Qingye, has already prepared food and is waiting for you! Leave the work on the ship to the people below; you don't need to worry about it! Go back and have a good meal!"

He turned to the side and waved to the leaders behind him, saying, "Let's go! Everyone, go back! You've all worked hard today, let's have a good meal!"

The group followed Jianshi and Yan towards the council hall of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. Several wooden tables had already been set up in the hall, covered with clean linen cloths and filled with ceramic bowls and plates. A whole roasted lamb was placed in the center, sizzling with oil, its skin curling slightly in the residual heat of the fire, turning an enticing golden color. The aroma filled the air, making one's mouth water. Beside it were stewed chicken, boiled fish, stir-fried wild vegetables, flatbread, and hot soup, all piled high, like a colorful and fragrant painting made of food.

Qingye stood by the table, setting out the last dish. She was wearing a dark brown linen dress today, with a little flour on the hem from kneading the dough. Her hair was wrapped in a cloth, with a few strands hanging down beside her ears. She had a kind smile on her face, and her eyes were curved into crescents. When she saw Yan come in, she quickly waved to him.

"Yan'er, sit down quickly! You must be hungry after the journey, right? Have some soup to warm your stomach! You've lost weight again! Did you not eat properly while you were away?" Her voice was filled with concern.

Yan smiled and responded, then sat down at the table. The other leaders followed suit, with Jianshi in the main seat, Yan to his right, Dabang opposite him, Canglan next to Dabang, and Wu Xiong, Zong Jijiao Zongmao, and others taking their seats in turn. Soon, the council hall was filled with people, bustling like a pot of boiling porridge.

Jianshi picked up his wine bowl, stood up, and looked around. His gaze lingered on each person's face for a moment, as if to confirm that everyone was there. His voice boomed, "Come! Drink a bowl first! Welcome back to our fleet! Welcome back to our warriors!"

Everyone picked up their wine bowls, stood up, and tapped them against the Jianshi. The earthenware bowls clashed together, making a crisp sound. Then they tilted their heads back and drank it all in one gulp. The wine was fruit wine, sweet and not too strong, with an autumnal fruity aroma. The wine flowed down their throats, and a warm feeling rose from their stomachs, slowly spreading to their limbs and bones, making them feel completely relaxed.

Setting down his bowl, Jianshi waved his hand and shouted, "Eat! Eat up! Eat as much as you want!"

Everyone got down to business, picking up their chopsticks and taking turns eating, scooping soup, and tearing meat. Yan had been starving for days, and although he had cooked on the road, it wasn't as satisfying as home-cooked meals. He picked up a piece of mutton and put it in his mouth. The meat was roasted to a perfect crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, seasoned just right, and it was incredibly fragrant. He then picked up a piece of chicken and drank a bowl of hot soup. He felt completely filled, like a sail billowing in the wind.

When everyone had almost finished eating, the dishes on the table were almost empty, and several jars of wine had been drunk. Some people leaned back in their chairs and burped, some slowly drank water from their earthenware bowls, and some were still casually picking at the remaining food.

Yan put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, then sat up straight and began to report the details of the trip to Jianshi. His voice Chenwen as he said, "Father, I have settled Feiyu at the Big Horse River Mouth. They are using the former Maple Leaf Tribe camp to build a stronghold. The conditions there are better than I expected. Although the Maple Leaf Tribe has moved away, the houses and the dock are still there. Although they are a bit dilapidated, they can be used after a little repair. Feiyu took some men there to reinforce the walls, repair the dock, and build new wooden houses, enough for the resident warriors. I stopped there briefly on my way back with the grain and saw that their progress was very good. The walls have all been reinforced, the dock has been repaired, and they have even started a vegetable garden and planted some vegetables for winter. At this rate, they should be able to expand quite a bit next year."

Jianshi nodded, a satisfied look on his face. He put down his chopsticks, took a sip of water from his earthenware bowl, and said, "Feiyu has always performed well, is reliable, and never acts rashly. You recommended him, so I trust him completely. If he does well over there, he will naturally be rewarded. Merit must be rewarded, and mistakes must be punished; this is the rule of our Fire Tribe."

Yan nodded and continued, "Over there in the Valley Tribe, Chief Daiyue and the others were very welcoming and cooperative. The day after we arrived at the dock, Chief Quyong had already prepared the grain, stacking sacks on the dock. Just like last time, it was all packed in less than three days."

He paused, then continued, "As you instructed, I lent another batch of bronze weapons and farm tools to the Valley Tribe. Chief Daiyue was overjoyed to receive the bronze items, repeatedly expressing his gratitude and assuring us that the agreed-upon 40 million catties of grain with our Fire Tribe next year would be delivered on time and in full, without disappointing us. He also said he hoped our Fire Tribe could continue to cooperate with them in the future, that the price of the grain was negotiable, and that anything could be discussed, as long as we were willing to do business with them long-term."

Upon hearing Jianshi, Jian Shi smiled slightly and said, "The Valley Tribe is currently under severe sanctions from the Tiger Tribe, making trade difficult. It's already quite good that they've managed to establish a relationship with us and obtain bronze artifacts on credit. If we don't treat them unfairly, they won't treat us unfairly either. As long as both sides benefit, this business can continue."

Yan added, "Chief Daiyue also talked to me about the situation downstream of the Fish River. The Tiger Tribe definitely won't send troops to cause us trouble this year. Their internal strife is still raging. The Hu Bashan and Tongding factions are locked in a fierce argument, neither able to gain the upper hand. Chief Daiyue said his informant within the Tiger Tribe reported that the two factions almost came to blows in the council hall. Even Chief Hu Zheng couldn't stop them and could only watch from above. One wanted to fight, the other didn't; they argued back and forth, and in the end, neither convinced the other, and no decision was made. So this year will be peaceful; we don't need to worry about the Tiger Tribe suddenly attacking."

Jianshi nodded and said, "That's good. The fiercer their internal strife, the safer we are. It would be best if they fought for another two or three years, until we were fully strong enough that it would be too late for them to attack."

Yan continued, "The Bear Tribe's naval strength has increased considerably with the support of the Tiger Tribe. They've sent boats to the Valley Tribe Valley Tribe several times to provoke them, trying to gauge their strength. However, the Valley Tribe's naval strength has also recovered to about 80%. Although it's weaker than before, it's not easy to bully. The two sides faced off on the water for a while, neither gaining an advantage, and in the end, the Bear Tribe had no choice but to slink away."

He paused, then continued, "And as for the Great Boulder Tribe, Chief Daiyue said the Wolf Tribe has won several battles, each time overwhelming the Great Boulder Tribe with heavy casualties and the loss of considerable territory. Chief Daiyue estimates that the Great Boulder Tribe probably won't survive this year. The Wolf Tribe has a high chance of annexing the Great Boulder Tribe's territory this year. At that time, the Wolf Tribe's strength will increase significantly, and since they are close to the Bear Tribe, it won't be good for us or the Valley Tribe."

Upon hearing Jianshi, Jian Shi's smile faded slightly, replaced by a serious expression. He frowned and said, "We understand Chief Daiyue's concerns. The Wolf Tribe and the Bear Tribe are not to be trifled with. If they were to unite, they would indeed pose a significant threat to the Valley Tribe. Moreover, the Wolf Tribe has a grudge against our Fire Tribe and will not easily forget those grievances. However, our Fire Tribe by the Big Horse River Basin Horse Tribe. If we were to send troops there, the journey would be too long, and supplies would be insufficient. Furthermore, the Tiger Tribe is also watching closely. If we transfer our main force to the north, the Tiger Tribe might seize the opportunity to attack."

He paused, his voice growing deeper, and said, "But we still need to keep a close eye on the north. The outpost at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost has already been established. Feiyu's mission there isn't just to build the outpost, but also to gather intelligence. We need to know about any disturbances in the north as soon as possible. We can't wait until things escalate before we react; by then, it will be too late."

Yan nodded, his eyes filled with agreement. "Father is right. I will send a message to Feiyu, telling him to keep a close eye on the movements in the north, especially the Wolf Tribe and the Bear Tribe. Any unusual activity must be reported back immediately, without delay. I will also have Bailin check on the area when he passes by, helping Feiyu keep an eye on things."

Jianshi nodded, his gaze lingering on Yan's face for a moment before he looked around at the others present, his voice rising a few decibels.

"What we need to do now is continue to expand our strength! We can't stop for a moment! Although the Tiger Tribe won't bother us this year, they definitely will next year and the year after. Their internal conflicts can't last forever; they'll be resolved eventually. When that happens, they'll free up their resources, and the first thing they'll target will be our Fire Tribe!"

He stood up, his voice echoing like thunder in the council hall. "We must be prepared! Build more ships, train more soldiers, and store more grain! We cannot stop for a moment, nor can we relax for a single day! Anyone who slacks off, anyone who neglects their duties, will be a sinner against the Fire Tribe in the future!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded, their expressions becoming serious. Some clenched their fists, some straightened their backs, and some's gazes became even more determined.

Jianshi sat down again, looking at Yan with a newfound concern and affection in his eyes. "Recently, news has come from Dazhuang's side. He said that many small tribes on the outskirts of the Clothing Tribe and Horse Tribe want to join our Fire Tribe. I've roughly estimated it to be around 20,000 people. They're all small tribes struggling to make ends meet, the kind that can't even survive the winter. They lack food, clothing, and salt; life is very difficult for them."

He picked up the bowl, took a sip of water to moisten his throat, then put the bowl down and continued, "Dazhuang has reached an agreement with them. This year, they plan to bring back 5,000 people from the tribes in need to the Huo Tribe's main valley for the Fire Tribe. The remaining 10,000-plus people will be brought back and resettled next spring."

He looked at Yan, his eyes filled with a mixture of heartache and expectation. "These next few days, prepare some supplies when you go to pick them up. Grain, salt, cloth, pottery—bring some of everything. Those small tribes aren't doing well; we can't let them come empty-handed. We need to bring something to show them the sincerity of our Fire Tribe."

He paused, his voice softening, like a father speaking intimately to his son. "You'll have to work hard these next few days, making a trip up north. Once that's over, you'll be able to rest for a while. There shouldn't be anything major happening this winter, so you can finally get some rest."

Yan stood up, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said, "Yes, Father. I'll go prepare right away; it won't take much time."

His voice was firm, carrying the energy and determination unique to young people, as if he were ready to set off.

Jianshi looked at him, his eyes filled with concern. "There's no need to rush. Let the fleet rest for a couple of days first, and let the soldiers rest too. This trip to the north will take more than ten days round trip, and the journey won't be easy. Rest when you need to, eat when you need to, and don't wear yourself out."

Yan nodded, chatted with the other leaders for a few more minutes, asked about the situation at various strongholds, and inquired about the movements in different directions before turning around and leaving the council hall with his men.