Reports and Relaxation

After Jianshi and Yan sat down in the council hall of the Fire Tribe's management center at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, Qingye and his men brought out some sweet fruits. As the Fire Tribe's territory expanded, many delicious fruit trees were specially cultivated and cared for, resulting in a significant increase in yield. However, everyone could only enjoy these fruits to their heart's content during specific seasons and on specific occasions. Seeing these delicious sweet fruits on display, everyone didn't stand on ceremony and began to savor them heartily. They praised the fruits as they ate. After a while, when everyone had almost finished eating, Qingye brought out several bowls of hot soup, saying it was made with old pumpkins harvested in autumn and wild mushrooms. It was fragrant and rich, and everyone felt warm after drinking it.

Jianshi sat in the main seat of the council hall, holding a bowl of hot soup in his hands. He lowered his head and blew on the steam rising from the surface. He took a careful sip, his eyes slightly narrowed, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down, as if he were savoring some rare delicacy. He put down the bowl, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and exhaled a long breath of warm air.

"This soup is so good; the sweetness of the pumpkin and the umami of the mushrooms are all infused into it. It's so soothing to drink." He said this to Qingye, his eyes filled with gentle approval.

Qingye sat in the corner, picking up the unfinished linen garment again. The needle and thread moved nimbly between her fingers. Hearing her husband's praise, she didn't even look up, only slightly raising the corners of her mouth as she said, "There's still some in the pot. Get more when you've finished. Don't just focus on eating and drinking the soup and forget about the important matter."

Jianshi smiled, took a couple more sips of soup, then put down the bowl, straightened up, placed his hands on his knees, and looked at Yan. His expression changed from relaxed to serious, and the light in his eyes became more focused. He said, "Yan'er, the people you sent back reported that the trip to pick up your Uncle Dazhuang went very smoothly. After you arrived at Jianya's place, did he say anything important to you? How is the situation at his base? Are there any new arrangements for shipbuilding next year? Tell us all in detail, so we don't miss anything."

Yan put down his soup bowl, the bottom of which tapped softly on the table. He wiped his mouth and fingers with a burlap cloth, straightened his posture, placed his hands on the table, fingers interlaced, and his gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on his father's face. He answered in a steady and clear tone, "Father, the trip to pick up the people from Uncle Dazhuang's place went very smoothly. When we arrived at Dazhuang's Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost with our fleet, everything was already arranged. Dazhuang had gathered the five thousand new members who were going to join our Fire Tribe at the dock. They weren't disorderly or noisy, and their luggage was all packed and piled neatly on the other side of the dock. Uncle Dazhuang said he had checked the number of people one by one, and no one was missing, and there were no last-minute changes."

He paused, then continued, "Besides the five thousand new tribesmen, there were also many tribal chiefs and their warriors waiting at the dock. When they saw our Fire Tribe's massive fleet, they were stunned, their eyes wide and mouths agape, speechless for a long time. One older chief, with white hair, leaned on a wooden cane and paced back and forth along the shore several times, counting the ships as he went. Eventually, he ran out of fingers and scratched his head in frustration. Another younger chief, with a few warriors, kept looking up at the bronze battering rams on the bows of the Chuantou, his eyes wide with amazement. Some of the younger warriors huddled together, whispering about how such large ships were built, how much wood they used, how much manpower they employed, and how much time they took."

Upon hearing this, Jianshi Shi smiled and took another sip of soup.

Yan continued, "The tribal chiefs who will migrate here next spring, after seeing the supplies and the size of our fleet, all wished they could come back with us this time. Several chiefs held my hand tightly at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost dock, asking if they could move to our Fire Tribe earlier. They said their tribes, though small, wanted to start living a better life soon and didn't want to wait another winter. I reassured them, saying I would definitely come to pick them up next spring, and told them to focus on getting through the winter and use the supplies we brought, not to be stingy or wasteful. They listened, still a little reluctant, but nodded in agreement. Several older chiefs had tears in their eyes, wiping them with their sleeves and saying a string of words of thanks. The five new members who joined our Fire Tribe..." The Qianxin tribespeople cooperated very well. When boarding the ship, everyone lined up without pushing, shoving, or cutting in line. Although some were a little scared looking at the large ships, they all gritted their teeth and boarded, and no one backed down. Along the way, they took the initiative to talk to the warriors on the ship, asking all sorts of questions: what was it like in the Fire Tribe, how would they live there, would it be cold in winter, would there be a place to stay, and would they have enough to eat? The warriors patiently answered them, telling them about the Fire Tribe's rules and customs, and assuring them that they didn't need to worry, as everything would be taken care of in the Fire Tribe's main valley. After hearing this, the people nodded and said they were willing to follow the rules and work hard. The expressions on their faces gradually changed from initial tension and anxiety to anticipation and reassurance.

He paused, then emphasized, "Once all these people join our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe next spring, our population will reach 200,000. Moreover, these people are very proactive in integrating; they actively ask about the rules, inquire about customs, and express their willingness to work, which will save us a lot of trouble."

Jianshi nodded in satisfaction and said, "It's good that they actively integrate. Being proactive is better than being passive, and being willing is better than being forced. These people are willing to learn the rules and abide by them, which saves us trouble and effort. The reason why our Fire Tribe can develop so quickly is because each time a new member joins, it goes smoothly without causing any trouble."

Yan added, "After I arrived at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost with five thousand new tribesmen, Uncle Jianya and his men greeted us at the dock. He told me that the plan to build forty 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) cargo ships over there will be completed next year."

Yan's voice carried a hint of excitement as he said, "He said the shipbuilding workshop has expanded its workforce. This year, they've transferred a batch of young craftsmen from various outposts, and they've also trained many apprentices. The number of capable workers is more than double that of last year. They've also stockpiled a lot of timber, all of which has been pre-dried and is ready to use. Barring any major unforeseen circumstances, they're sure they can achieve their goal of building forty 100,000-jin (50,000 kg) cargo ships next year. He also mentioned that the output of various supplies at their outposts will increase significantly next year, and the land will be Dali cultivated. Many new acres of land will be added next year, and grain production will also increase considerably."

Upon hearing Jianshi, Jian Shi's face broke into a genuine smile, a smile even more relaxed than before. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he reached out to stroke his chin, his fingertips tracing back and forth across his rough skin, making a soft sound.

"The Jianya are doing a good job. They'll be able to build forty giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin next year. Our Fire Tribe will then have sixty ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin next year." He held up his fingers, counting them one by one. "Twenty plus forty, sixty ships."

He then stretched out his other hand and gestured. "Next year, our Fire Tribe's Little Fish River Mouth Outpost will be able to build 100 ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each. Next year, our Fire Tribe will be able to build 200 ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each. By this calculation, our Fire Tribe will have more ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each and more ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each than the Tiger Tribe. They currently only have about 20 ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each and a few dozen ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each. Next year, our Fire Tribe will not only surpass the Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe in the number of large ships, but our shipbuilding speed and quality may not be inferior to theirs."

His voice grew stronger as he said, "Next year, our Fire Tribe will have the upper hand on the water. This isn't a small advantage, it's a huge one. This will be extremely beneficial for our Fire Tribe 'Fire Tribe future development. We'll have more initiative and more options. When the Tiger Tribe wants to the Fire Tribe us again, they'll have to think twice about their position on the water."

The leaders in the council chamber nodded in agreement. Someone tapped the table lightly, making a soft thud, as if silently applauding. Even Qingye in the corner looked up, a smile on her face, before lowering her head again to continue sewing.

Jianshi continued, "The land reclamation work at our other Fire Tribe outposts is also progressing well. The Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost Dazhuang, the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost under Da Dali, as well as the outposts on the Clothing River South Bank, the Little Horse River Mouth, Pottery and Salt, and Stone Creek —a lot of land has been reclaimed this year, and yields have increased significantly. Next year, our Fire Tribe's self-produced grain will increase considerably. Adding to that the 40 million jin of grain we ordered from the Valley Tribe, our Fire Tribe's grain reserves will be even more abundant."

He paused, then continued, "Next year, we'll see if we can absorb the Horse Tribe into our Fire Tribe. If the Horse Tribe Fire Tribe us, our Fire Tribe's population will reach around 220,000. Moreover, the Horse Tribe's location is crucial; they're situated between us and the Big Horse River Basin. If they join, we can completely connect the territory on the other side of the Big Horse River, eliminating any barriers. The flow of supplies and personnel will be much smoother, and support can arrive much faster."

Yan picked up the conversation, placing his hands crossed on the table and leaning slightly forward. He said, "This time, I was with Uncle Dazhuang. He told me that Chief Junfeng of the Horse Tribe has repeatedly sent people to inquire about the details of our Fire Tribe. They asked about our Fire Tribe's rules, how we would settle new members, and what kind of treatment we could offer them. They asked very detailed questions, as if they were genuinely considering the matter, not just making empty promises. Chief Junfeng is interested in joining our Fire Tribe, but he's still hesitant, as if he's weighing something or observing the surrounding winds. Uncle Dazhuang said he'll talk to the Horse Tribe more often, letting Chief Junfeng see the sincerity and strength of our Fire Tribe. After we bring those 15,000 people back next spring, the Horse Tribe should make a decision. By then, our Fire Tribe will be stronger and have a larger population, and the Horse Tribe will have no reason to hesitate any longer."

Jianshi nodded and said, "There's no rush. Let's bring the remaining 15,000 people back to the Fire Tribe next spring. Our Fire Tribe has food in hand, so we're not worried; we have manpower, so we're confident. When we talk to the Horse Tribe then, it will be easier to negotiate, and they'll be able to see the bigger picture. We won't need to waste our breath; the Horse Tribe will naturally understand by then."

He paused, his gaze falling on Yan's face, his voice softening slightly as he said, "Alright, take it slow, do things one at a time. You've been leading people to transport grain and pick up people non-stop these past few days, and you've lost some weight from exhaustion. This pick-up mission is temporarily over; take a few days to rest and don't rush back to work."

Yan opened his mouth, as if to say he wasn't tired, but Jianshi raised his hand and pressed his palm down to stop him, saying, "I know what you want to say, you want to go inspect the strongholds as soon as possible, right? No rush, the sky isn't falling. You should rest for a few days, get enough sleep, eat well, and recharge your energy before taking people out to inspect the outer strongholds and check on their winter preparations. If there are any problems, you can see them and solve them in time. Next spring, you can go to Dazhuang's place to pick up the remaining new clansmen."

Yan listened and didn't argue anymore. He smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, Father. I'll take a good rest these few days and use the free time to organize my observations and thoughts from these past few days. I can share any insights I have with everyone."

Jianshi smiled, his wrinkles smoothing out. He reached out and patted Yan's shoulder, saying, "That's right. It's good for young people to be energetic, but they also need to know when to rest. Rest when you should rest, and work when you should work, so you can go far. Like drawing a bow, if the string is too taut, it will break easily; if you loosen it, it can shoot farther."

Everyone in the council chamber laughed. Qingye put down the linen clothes she was holding in the corner, stood up, patted the loose threads off her clothes, and said, "Alright, now that we've finished the important business, I'll go get you some more hot soup. The pumpkin soup is still warm; have a bowl before you go."

She turned and walked towards the door, her steps unhurried. Her figure appeared exceptionally composed in the lamplight. Yan watched his mother's figure disappear through the doorway, then turned to look at his father and the others present. He picked up the bowl of soup in front of him, which he hadn't finished, and took a sip. The soup was no longer hot, but lukewarm, with the sweetness of pumpkin and the freshness of mushrooms. It slid down his throat, warming his stomach.