Welcoming New Tribespeople in Early Spring

Winter passed quickly. All the strongholds of the Fire Tribe survived the winter safely, without large-scale frostbite or any epidemics. Even the elderly, who were usually the biggest worry, mostly made it through safely. With the arrival of spring, the entire Fire Tribe came back to life. The fields began to be plowed, the docks became lively again, and the sounds of warriors training echoed in the camps. Everywhere, there was a lively yet orderly atmosphere.

Not long after the start of spring, Yan set off with his fleet. This time, the task of rescuing people was much more demanding than the last—15,000 people were waiting for him to return. He brought sixteen giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each, eighty large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin each, and several hundred ships with carrying capacities of 20,000 jin and 10,000 jin each. Yan stood at the Chuantou, the river breeze blowing in his face, carrying the moist air and the scent of freshly turned soil from the distant fields. He took a deep breath and felt refreshed. Spring always made him feel cheerful, as if everything was starting anew, and even the things on his mind didn't feel so heavy anymore.

After several days of sailing, the fleet arrived at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. From afar, Yan could see that the dock was packed with people, 15,000 people gathered together, the crowd extending to the open space outside the camp, people everywhere.

Dazhuang stood at the very front of the dock, wearing a faded blue linen robe with a hemp rope tied around his waist and straw sandals on his feet. His face was flushed from the spring breeze, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were deeper than last year. In his hand, he held a wooden tablet covered with names and marks, presumably a record of the headcount taken over the past few days.

Upon seeing the Fire Tribe's fleet come into view, Dazhuang quickly walked a few steps toward the dock, waving his hands vigorously and shouting something. The river wind blew his voice away, and Yan couldn't hear what he was shouting, but judging from his gesticulating manner, he was probably shouting something like "They're here, they're here."

The ship docked, the gangplank was set up, and Yan stepped off. Dazhuang strode over and grabbed his arm, exclaiming, "Yan'er! You've finally arrived! Everyone's here, fifteen thousand people, not a single one missing! I've checked three times, and everyone matches up!"

His voice was loud and clear as he said, "I've been so busy these past few days! People have been asking me every day when you're coming. I kept saying 'soon, soon,' and my mouth is practically dry from talking so much. Today, I'm so glad you've finally arrived! I was going to go crazy from all the questions they've been asking!"

Yan said, "Uncle Dazhuang, you've worked hard. How many tribes are these 15,000 people divided into? Are there any particularly difficult cases that require priority?"

Dazhuang released his arm, raised the wooden tablet in his hand, pointed to the dense markings on it, and said, "It's divided into dozens of small tribes, some with two or three hundred people, and some with only a few dozen. Some tribes have a lot of elders."

Yan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd on the dock. They were looking at him, their eyes filled with curiosity, anticipation, nervousness, and unease. Some elderly people with white hair, supported by their families, stood shakily, tears glistening in their cloudy eyes. Yan straightened his clothes, took two steps forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said in a loud voice, "Everyone! I'm sorry to have kept you waiting! I am Yan from the Fire Tribe, and I've brought a fleet to pick you up today! From today onwards, you are all members of the Fire Tribe! In the Fire Tribe, you will have food, clothes, shelter, and work! As long as you are willing to work hard and endure hardship, your lives will definitely get better and better! I assure you here that the Fire Tribe will not mistreat anyone who sincerely joins us!"

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted in deafening cheers. Some raised their arms and waved them vigorously, some shouted in response at the top of their lungs, and some were moved to tears. Several young people took the lead in shouting, "Fire Tribe! Fire Tribe! Fire Tribe!" The shouts rose in waves, echoing over the dock.

Yan raised his hand and gestured for everyone to quiet down. The cheers gradually subsided. He turned to Dazhuang and said, "Uncle Dazhuang, why don't you call all the tribal leaders over for a chat? I'd like to have a better understanding of the situation."

Dazhuang nodded, turned around and called out to the crowd, "Leaders, come here for a moment!"

Soon, dozens of tribal chiefs emerged from the crowd and lined up on the dock. Some were elderly, with gray hair and leaning on wooden canes; others were in their prime, robust and with piercing eyes; still others were younger, looking no more than twenty, with a touch of naivety on their faces. They stood together, varying in height and build, but their expressions were all similar—a mixture of tension and anticipation, as if waiting for a moment that would change their destiny.

Yan started from one end of the group, greeting each chieftain with a bow, handshake, pat on the shoulder, and a few words. He asked each person their name, how many people were in their tribe, and if they had encountered any difficulties on the way. His attitude was gentle, sincere, and unpretentious.

The first leader was an elderly man with gray hair and a thin build, but he stood ramrod straight. He held Yan's hand and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I am the leader of the Little Stone Gully Tribe, named Shigen. Our tribe only has about forty people, mostly the elderly, women, and children. If it weren't for the Fire Tribe taking us in, we don't know how we would have survived this winter."

Yan held his hand and said, "Chief Shigen, don't worry. When you arrive at the Fire Tribe, everyone in your tribe will be taken care of. The elderly will be cared for, the children will have access to education, and the young people will have jobs. No one will be left behind."

The old man's eyes suddenly reddened, and he nodded vigorously, his lips trembling, unable to speak, but he squeezed Yan's hand tightly again.

The second leader was a middle-aged man, broad-shouldered and burly, who said in a loud voice, "I am the leader of the Big Willow Tree Tribe, named Liugen. Our tribe has more than a hundred people, all of whom are good laborers, capable of farming and hunting. When we arrive at the Fire Tribe, we will definitely work hard and not slack off!"

Yan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Good! I'm relieved to hear that. The Fire Tribe likes people who are willing to work. We're not afraid of you doing a lot of work, we're just afraid of you not wanting to do it."

The man grinned, revealing a set of strong, Baiya, and patted his chest vigorously.

The third, the fourth, the fifth... Yan met with each of them one by one, chatting with each of them for a few words. Some chiefs were not good with words, only saying a few simple words of thanks; some chiefs were talkative, pulling Yan aside to talk about a lot of things about the tribe; some chiefs were taciturn, only shaking Yan's hand tightly, their eyes full of gratitude.

After meeting all the leaders, Yan Chao Dazhuang nodded, then turned to Bailin, Jia Li, Yingmu, and Shibang and instructed them, "Start getting people onto the ship. As usual, the elderly and children go first, women second, and men last. Don't push or shove, make sure everyone gets on the ship safely."

The four men split up and got to work. Getting 15,000 people on board was no easy task, but thankfully everyone cooperated well. There was no shoving, no pushing, no chaos. The elderly, supported by the soldiers, shakily walked onto the gangplank, children were held in their mothers' arms, and young people carried luggage behind them. Once a boat was full, it left the dock and lined up in a row on the river. Then another boat, full, also left the dock and followed behind.

Yan stood on the dock until the last person was ready to board the ship. He turned around and said to Dazhuang, "Uncle Dazhuang, I'm leaving this to you."

Dazhuang nodded, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things here."

Yan clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and strode quickly onto his boat. The fleet sailed upstream along the Fish River. The river was much more lively in spring than in winter. The trees on both banks were green, the grass was lush, and people were working in the fields. Occasionally, a few egrets could be seen foraging on the Qiantan by the river. The cabins were crowded with people, but no one complained. Everyone sat quietly. Some were chatting in hushed tones, some were looking around every corner of the cabin, and some were leaning over the side of the boat to watch the scenery on the river. Yan walked around the deck to make sure that there was nothing wrong in any of the cabins before returning to the Chuantou.

Footsteps sounded behind him, Jia Li came over carrying a bowl of hot soup, saying, "Young Chief, have some soup. You haven't eaten much since this morning; you can't go hungry."

Yan took the soup bowl, blew on it to cool it down, and carefully sipped it. There were a few pieces of wild vegetables and some scraps of meat in the soup. The taste wasn't great, but it was hot and warmed him up. He finished it in a few gulps and returned the empty bowl to Jia Li.

After traveling for several more days, the fleet finally arrived near the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost. From afar, Yan could see something different on the dock of the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost —ten brand-new, massive ships weighing 100,000 jin each were neatly moored on the dock. Yan's eyes lit up instantly, and his breathing became a little rapid. He quickly walked to the front of the Chuantou, put his hand on the gunwale, and leaned slightly forward. His fingers unconsciously gripped the wooden planks of the gunwale, and his knuckles turned slightly white. He counted them once, and then counted them again, confirming that there were ten ships.

As the fleet docked, Yan practically jumped off the ship and strode toward the ten new ships. He took a few steps and then quickened his pace, running and walking until he reached the first new ship.

Jianya was standing by the dock, wearing a blue linen robe with a rope tied around his waist and straw sandals on his feet. When he saw Yan striding around, the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth smoothed out, revealing a Chenwen and proud smile.

Before Yan even reached him, he spoke impatiently, his voice slightly breathless from walking too fast. "Uncle Jianya! Were all these ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin manufactured this year?"

Jianya nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes, and said, "Yes, these giant ships were all rushed out during this period. We had plenty of materials and manpower. The timber was stockpiled last year, and the craftsmen worked day and night, so this batch of ships was completed much faster than expected."

He pointed to a boat next to him and said, "Look at the grain of this boat's planks. It's made of old wood, so it won't warp. The hull has also been thickened, making it more stable than last year's batch. The sails are also newly woven, denser than the old ones, and it'll catch the wind better."

Yan walked to the nearest ship, reached out and gently touched the hull. The planks were smooth and flat, with the cool touch of new wood. He tapped them twice with his fingers, making a solid, thumping sound. He then looked up at the sails, dazzlingly white, slightly billowing in the spring breeze, as if they were eager to set sail.

His palm rested on the deck, feeling the warm, smooth wood, before he released it after a while. Turning to Jianya, a smile almost overflowing from his eyes, he said, "Uncle Jianya, you guys are amazing! With these big ships, our Fire Tribe's naval strength will be greatly enhanced. With these ships, transporting grain to the Valley Tribe will be much easier; we can carry much more in one trip."

Jianya patted the hull and said, "This is what we should do. We will also build the remaining thirty ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each as soon as possible. The weather is gradually warming up now, and it is much easier to work than in winter. We have already broken ties with the Tiger Tribe. The sooner these ships are built, the more confident our Fire Tribe will be."

He paused, his gaze lingering on the horizon, and said, "The faster the ships are built, the sooner we can feel at ease. The Tiger Tribe won't let us grow stronger forever. Once their internal strife subsides, they will eventually turn their attention to us. At that time, the Fire Tribe's naval power will be our strength, and the water will be our battlefield."

Yan nodded heavily and said, "Uncle Jianya, I will tell my father what you said when I get back. He will be very happy to hear your confident words. He has been talking about shipbuilding these days, saying that this year is a crucial year and we must not lag behind."

Jianya chuckled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Alright, tell him to rest assured, with me keeping an eye on things at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, nothing will go wrong."

The two chatted for a while longer. Jianya arranged for people to transfer the new tribesmen from the large ship to the small boats and send them along the Fire Creek into the Fire Tribe's main valley. The new tribesmen got off the large ship and onto the small boat. Although it was a bit of a hassle, no one complained. As they looked at the increasingly familiar valley scenery around them, the expressions on their faces slowly changed from curiosity to relief, as if they had finally arrived home. Even their breathing became easier.

Jianya pulled Yan along, saying, "Come on, let's go to the council hall for a meal. There's no rush."

Yan couldn't refuse, so he followed him into the council hall. The food was already prepared, and it was served hot on the table, looking very appetizing. While eating, Yan chatted with Jianya about the situation of this stronghold. Jianya also asked about the progress of other strongholds, and Yan answered them one by one, giving a general overview of the construction progress of the strongholds at the Red Flower River Mouth, the mouth of the Green Leaf River Mouth, the Clothing River South Bank, the Little Horse River Mouth, and the mouth of the Big Horse River Mouth.

By the time they finished talking, all 15,000 new clansmen had been transferred.

Yan put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and stood up. "Uncle Jianya, it's almost time. I'll be leaving now. I'll leave things here to you. Let's get together properly next time you come."

Jianya stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go on, I know you're in a hurry. Give my regards to my brother and tell him not to overwork himself. He can come over next time he has the chance. He doesn't have to rush every time. If he needs my help, just send someone to deliver a message."

Yan nodded in agreement, clasped his hands in farewell, and led his fleet downstream along the Fish River towards the Fire Tribe's administrative center, the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. Three days later, at dusk, the fleet returned to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost.

Yan didn't rest and went straight to the council hall. His feet were still wet from the boat, and the hem of his clothes was wrinkled by the river wind, but he didn't care. He pushed open the door of the council hall and went in. Jianshi Shi was sitting in the main seat, with several wooden tablets spread out in front of him. He was holding a thin bone needle in his hand, carving something on them. Hearing the door open, he put down the bone needle, looked up from the wooden tablets, and landed on Yan's face. With a concerned and questioning expression, he said, "You're back? Did the pick-up go smoothly? Did you encounter any trouble on the way?"

Yan sat down opposite him, picked up the earthenware pot on the table, poured himself a bowl of water, gulped down more than half of it, then wiped the water from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve. After putting down the bowl, he said, "Successfully, all 15,000 people have been received. Uncle Jianya has already arranged for small boats to take them to the main valley for resettlement. The population of the Fire Tribe has now reached 200,000."

Upon hearing this, Jianshi smiled genuinely and nodded slightly. Yan then said, "Father, there's one more thing. When I Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, I saw ten brand-new, massive ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each docked at the pier. Uncle Jianya said they had just finished building them. He also said that the remaining thirty ships planned for this year will be manufactured as soon as possible, with sufficient materials and manpower, so the construction schedule won't be delayed."

Jianshi, who was just about to drink water, paused upon hearing this, his eyes lighting up. He exclaimed, "Ten ships? It's only been a short spring, and they've already built ten? That's fast! It means the shipbuilding workshop over there has matured in terms of manpower and technology. Jianya is doing a good job; now they're building ten at a time."

Yan nodded and continued, "Uncle Jianya also said that he would try his best to complete the remaining thirty ships this year ahead of schedule, and not delay them until the end of the year. He said that since we are hostile to the Tiger Tribe, the sooner the ships are built, the more confident we will be. When he said this, his eyes shone, and it made people feel at ease."

Jianshi nodded in satisfaction and said, "Good! That's good. With these ships, our Fire Tribe's naval strength will be more secure. At the management center, twenty ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin have recently been built. Combined with the existing ships, our fleet is now large enough to transport grain to the Valley Tribe. We can bring back 40 million jin of grain in just a few trips."

Upon hearing this, Yan sat up straight and said, "Twenty ships? Then we now have over a hundred ships weighing 50,000 jin each, right?"

Jianshi nodded and said, "Yes, so go and make preparations. Three days later, take the fleet to the Valley Tribe to transport grain. The 40 million catties of grain agreed upon with the Valley Tribe this year need to be transported back as soon as possible."

Yan stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said swiftly and forcefully, "Yes, Father, I will make the arrangements immediately."

He turned and walked out of the council hall. It was completely dark outside. The cool spring breeze blew from the river, carrying the coolness of the water and the fragrance of the new grass on the bank. He stood at the door, took a deep breath, and felt refreshed. Three days later, early in the morning, the fleet was all ready at the dock of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost.

Twenty giant ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin were lined up at the front, followed by one hundred large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin, and then hundreds of small ships with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin and 10,000 jin. Yan stood at the Chuantou ship, with Jia Li, Bailin, Yingmu, and Shibang standing beside him. Jianshi stood on the dock, followed by several leaders including Dabang, Canglan, and Wu Xiong.

He waved to Yan, said nothing more, and simply nodded.

Yan waved to him, then turned around and shouted into the cabin, "Let's go!"

The sound of horns rang out, and the fleet slowly left the dock, one ship after another entering the main channel and sailing downstream, meandering along the Fish River towards the lower reaches.