Giant Ships as Far as the Eye Can See

While the Wolf Tribe and Bear Tribe were active among the Tiger Tribe, the Fire Tribe, located upstream on the Fish River, was also busy. Yan led a grain transport fleet, preparing to depart from the Fire Tribe's administrative center, the Little Fish River Mouth Wharf. This time, the fleet was larger than ever before, with thirty giant ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, moored side by side at the wharf. The ships were enormous and heavy, each resembling a Little Mountain floating on the water. Behind them followed one hundred and twenty large ships with a carrying capacity of 50,000 jin. Although these ships were not as large as the giant ships, they were still enough to make anyone stop and take a second look. Further behind were densely packed small and medium-sized ships—two hundred each with a carrying capacity of 20,000 jin, 10,000 jin, and 5,000 jin—layered upon layer on the river.

The fleet was lined up in a grand procession. Yan stood at the Chuantou of the largest ship, his hands resting on the gunwale, his gaze slowly sweeping over the entire fleet. His expression was calm and focused, revealing little emotion. Jia Li emerged from the cabin, carrying two bowls of hot soup, steam rising from the rims, forming small white wisps of mist in the morning light. He walked to Yan's side, handed him one of the bowls, and spoke in a voice with the characteristic morning hoarseness, "Young Chief, have a bowl of hot soup before you go. It's chilly in the morning; if you don't drink something warm, you'll easily catch a cold on the road. An empty stomach exposed to the wind all morning will make your stomach uncomfortable halfway through the journey."

Yan took the bowl and blew on the steam rising to its surface. The soup was ginger soup, with salt and a little minced meat, and a few thin slices of ginger floated on the surface; the soup was pale yellow. He carefully sipped it, the spicy heat sliding down his throat, warming him from his stomach. He drank a few more sips before putting down the bowl, wiping his mouth with his sleeve, and handing the empty bowl back to Jia Li: "Much warmer."

Jia Li took the empty bowl but didn't leave immediately. He stood beside Yan, looking at the river surface filled with sails. After a moment, he silently calculated the numbers in his mind before speaking, "Young Chief, with so many boats this time, we can transport at least 16 million catties of grain Fire Tribe. After this trip, our Fire Tribe will only have 11 million catties left of the 40 million catties of grain we ordered from the Valley Tribe this year."

He paused, as if mentally reviewing the numbers again. "We can transport all the remaining grain in one more trip."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, we can transport all the remaining grain in one more trip. It's good to get the grain back sooner. In case the situation in the north changes, we can quickly mobilize the fleet to deal with it. These ships are not only the means of transporting grain, but also the source of the Fire Tribe's strength."

Yingmu jumped off the boat behind, dusted off his hands, and walked over to Yan, asking, "Boss, are we going to stop at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost on our way to the Valley Tribe? Or should we go straight to the Valley Tribe and stop on the way back?"

Yan thought for a moment, then tapped his fingers twice on the gunwale. "Let's stop for a bit. I wanted to check on the construction of the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost and also ask how Feiyu's recruitment is going. Last time I went there, he said some small tribes in the surrounding area were willing to join our Fire Tribe. I wonder if they've reached an agreement yet. This matter can't be delayed; the sooner it's settled, the better."

He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, the leader also said that the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost must be converted from a temporary outpost to a formal outpost by the end of this year. This matter cannot be delayed. Letting Feiyu know as soon as possible will allow him to make arrangements. Every day we find out later means one less day of preparation time. We need to see what we need to see and urge those who need to be urged."

Yingmu responded without asking any further questions and turned to check the supplies on the ship. Soon, the sound of horns rang out in the morning light, and the grain transport fleet set off. The entire fleet sailed downstream along the Fish River. After several days, the fleet arrived near the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. From afar, Yan could see the changes at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. Last year, it looked somewhat rudimentary, but now it had been greatly expanded. The dock extended all the way to the deep water area, allowing even giant ships weighing 100,000 jin to dock very close without the need for small boats to transfer them back and forth.

Behind the dock, rows of newly built wooden houses stand on the high ground of the riverbank. The roofs are covered with thick thatch, and the walls are made of thick logs, much sturdier than the simple shacks I saw last year. Some houses have strings of dried chili peppers and dried corn hanging on the walls, swaying slightly in the wind. The walls around the camp have also been reinforced, with a new layer of wooden stakes added, the tops of which are sharpened like a row of neat teeth. The inner side of the wall has also been reinforced with a layer of rammed earth, making it much stronger than the thin wooden fence.

After receiving the news, Feiyu stood on the dock waiting. He was wearing a faded gray linen robe, which was a bit old with frayed edges on the cuffs and collar, but it was very clean and stained. A hemp rope was tied around his waist, from which hung a short knife with a gleaming scabbard. He wore straw sandals, and his trousers were covered in fresh mud, as if he had just come from the fields early that morning and hadn't had time to change.

He saw the Fire Tribe's massive fleet come into view, and his eyes lit up instantly. Starting with the first ship, he counted them one by one, very carefully. His lips moved slightly, as if he were reciting aloud, and his thumbs pressed down on each ship as his gaze moved, as if he were counting their numbers. After finishing, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then he stood at the very front of the dock, hands on his hips, waiting for the ships to dock, his face radiating an undisguised pride and sense of accomplishment.

The ship docked, the gangplank was set up, and Yan stepped off the ship. Feiyu quickly came to greet him, clasped his hands in a salute, and said briskly, "Young Chief! This time, your fleet transporting grain to the Valley Tribe has grown considerably. I counted from a distance, and there must be at least thirty ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin each. That's a lot more than last time."

Yan nodded and said, "Yes, the tribe recently built another batch of new ships, and most of them have been put out to sea. This time, the task of transporting grain to the Valley Tribe is heavy, and the chief asked me to take more ships to try to transport more back in one trip, so as to avoid making too many trips back and forth."

As he spoke, he took a few steps into the camp, his gaze sweeping over the newly built wooden houses and the reinforced walls, examining each one carefully. "Feiyu, how's the construction going here? I see the dock has expanded considerably, and there are more houses now. It's much better than when I last came; it's like a completely different place."

Feiyu followed beside him, pointing in various directions as they walked, his voice brimming with undisguised pride. "Young Chief, our construction here is going well. The camp has been expanded significantly. Before winter, we'll build some more houses, ensuring we can accommodate ten thousand people. There will be enough houses and enough firewood."

He stopped and pointed to a patch of newly turned land in the distance. "We've also reclaimed a lot of land here, all near the river, making it easy to get water. With fishing and hunting, we can basically meet our own food needs, and we no longer need to transport grain from headquarters to make up for the shortfall."

After he finished speaking, he added, "I've also spoken with those smaller tribes who didn't have a chance to join our Fire Tribe before. I explained the rules and benefits of the Fire Tribe Fire Tribe to them, and they are very willing to join. There are about five thousand of them in total. I've told them that they should gather at the Big Horse River Mouth after they finish their first harvest. You can come and pick them up on your way back after you've transported the grain."

Yan stopped and turned to look at Feiyu, patting him hard on the shoulder. "Feiyu, you did a good job. When I came here, the leader also told me that the temporary stronghold here at the Big Horse River is going to be converted into a formal stronghold. About 10,000 people will be resettled by the end of the year. This is settled. You have to be prepared so that there won't be enough houses or food."

He paused, his gaze lingering on Feiyu's face for a moment, then added, "Do a good job here. By the end of the year, I'll have the chief allocate you a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. Then you'll have your own big ship to use."

Upon hearing these words, Feiyu abruptly stopped in his tracks. He stood there, taking two or three breaths to recover. His Adam's apple bobbed, and then his voice suddenly rose, as if to confirm that he hadn't misheard. "Really? This place is going to be converted into a formal base by the end of the year? And they're going to settle 10,000 people here? And we can even afford a ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin?"

His eyes shone brightly as he spoke, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up in a smile. He tried to suppress it, afraid of appearing too excited, but he couldn't; the smile still overflowed from the lines around his eyes and mouth.

Yan looked at him, a smile appearing on his lips, and said, "Really, the location of the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost is extremely important. If you do a good job here, the leader will definitely reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Feiyu puffed out his chest, patted it forcefully, and said in a loud and clear voice, "Don't worry, Young Chief! I will definitely do my best! By the end of the year, this place will be completely transformed! I absolutely won't let you down!"

Bailin, who had been listening nearby, couldn't hold back for a while and finally spoke up. His voice carried a mix of envy and teasing, but his face was all smiles as he said, "Feiyu, you're really lucky, kid. You've only been working for the young leader for a short time, and you've already secured a formal stronghold, complete with a massive ship with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin. I'm truly envious."

Feiyu turned around, beaming as he looked at Bailin, his smugness barely concealed, but his tone still carried the casual banter of old friends. "If you work hard with the young chief, you'll definitely have plenty of opportunities. The Fire Tribe is developing so fast now; today it's me, tomorrow it might be you."

Bailin snorted irritably, but couldn't help but curl up his lips. "You're quite the smooth talker."

The two chatted and laughed for a while, and a soft chuckle echoed across the dock. Several soldiers working nearby couldn't help but laugh along. Yan stood by and watched them joke for a bit before interrupting, saying, "Alright, Feiyu, I know your progress. Keep it up. Send me a message in advance if you need any supplies or manpower before the end of the year so I can prepare accordingly."

He turned and took a few steps toward the boat, then turned back and said, "We still need to hurry to the Valley Tribe to transport grain, so we can't stay here any longer. You finish what you're supposed to do, and we'll come back to pick up the five thousand people after we've transported the grain back."

Feiyu clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and said, "Young Chief, rest assured, I'll keep an eye on things here, nothing will go wrong."

Yan nodded, strode back to the boat, and the fleet set sail again, leaving the dock at the mouth of the Big Horse River Mouth and continuing downstream along the Fish River. The dock at the mouth of the Big Horse River Mouth gradually became smaller behind them, and the fleet rearranged itself and continued along the wide river channel. After traveling for several more days, the fleet arrived near the Little Valley Camp Outpost of the Valley Tribe.

At the dock of Little Valley Camp Outpost, Daiyan had been standing there for a while. He was wearing a gray linen robe, which was a bit old but clean and tidy. A hemp rope was tied around his waist, with a short knife hanging from it. The scabbard was a bit worn. He was holding a ceramic bowl in his hand, and steam was rising from the rim of the bowl. He was drinking water when he heard that the Fire Tribe's fleet had arrived.

He squinted at the massive fleet of ships approaching on the river, his gaze sweeping over each vessel as he counted them from the first to the last. His lips moved slightly as he finished counting. Then he shook his head slightly, wiping his mouth with the back of the hand holding the biscuit, as if he had finally accepted a fact that was no longer surprising.

A young leader nearby leaned forward and asked, "Chief, the Fire Tribe's fleet has arrived. This time... it seems like there are quite a few more ships? I see a significant increase in the number of ships compared to the last time they came."

Daiyan put down the earthenware bowl, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and said with a sigh that had been repeated too many times, "There are more. There are more boats with a carrying capacity of 100,000 catties. Last time there were twenty boats, and this time it looks like there are thirty. There are also more boats with a carrying capacity of 50,000 catties. And those small boats, they are densely packed, as if they have covered the entire river. You can hardly see the surface of the river."

He paused, then continued, "The Fire Tribe's shipbuilding speed is unstoppable, wave after wave. If this continues, it won't be long before their strength on the water surpasses that of the Tiger Tribe. At that point, it'll be a question of who's in charge on the Fish River."

He didn't say anything more, but turned around and shouted to the warriors behind him, "Send guide boats over there and lead the Fire Tribe's fleet to the other side! Be quick, don't leave them waiting on the river! Send two more, there are too many boats, one won't be enough to guide them!"

Several small boats untied their mooring lines at the dock of the Little Valley Camp and rowed off. The warriors on the boats waved their flags, which fluttered in the morning breeze as if signaling. They lined up and headed towards the Fire Tribe's fleet, indicating that the fleet should follow them.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, saw the guide ships, nodded, and signaled the helmsman to adjust the course. The massive ship slowly turned in the water, the waves it stirred up crashing against the riverbanks with a rushing sound.

The fleet followed the lead ship, heading towards the Valley Tribe tribe's headquarters dock on the opposite bank.

At the Valley Tribe's main dock, Quyong was already leading his men in clearing the area. He wore a dark gray linen robe, thicker than usual, as if he had changed it specifically knowing he would be doing heavy work today. His trousers were rolled up above his knees, revealing a section of his muscular calves, covered in mud and grass clippings. He wore straw sandals, the soles worn thin, but still wearable. Standing on the dock, hands on his hips, he directed the Valley Tribe warriors to move the debris aside, making enough space for the Fire Tribe's large ships to dock. Several pieces of timber piled in the corner were moved elsewhere, and several broken gangplanks were replaced with new ones; the dock was now spotless.

As the Fire Tribe's fleet slowly came into view, Quyong paused slightly. His gaze lingered on the row of giant ships for a few breaths, as if measuring their size and number with his eyes. Then he looked away and continued directing the people on the dock to get back to work, but he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This Fire Tribe really knows how to build ships. It's like rain, one ship after another, they just can't stop."

The fleet docked, one ship after another. The low scraping sound of the ships as they approached the pier was like whispers between pieces of wood. The warriors of the Fire Tribe jumped off the ships with swift movements; some tied the mooring lines, some set up gangplanks, and some carried supplies. They cooperated seamlessly, as if they had done it countless times before. No one spoke much, but every step they took was perfectly placed.

Yan stepped off the ship, his footsteps thumping on the wooden planks of the dock. Quyong quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a greeting, and smiled warmly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening with his joy. "Young Chief Yan! Welcome, welcome! Your Fire Tribe's fleet has grown even stronger! I counted from afar, and this time there are thirty ships, each weighing 100,000 jin! Truly remarkable! Quite more than last time we came!"

Yan returned the greeting with a clasped fist, a smile on his face, "Yes, another batch of new ships has recently been dispatched. We brought them all this time. We pre-ordered 40 million catties of grain from your tribe this year, and we need to get it back as soon as possible to feel secure. If we wait until summer, with more rain and rising river levels, it will be more troublesome to sail."

Quyong nodded, leading Yan Chao toward the temporary camp as he said, "The grain is ready. The warehouses are full, just waiting for you to load it. It's all this year's new grain, plump and dried so it won't mold. You brought so many ships this time, so loading will be quick; it should only take a few days."

He pointed to the open space next to the dock. "The temporary camp is still in the same old place. Settle in first, and if you need anything, just call me. Don't hesitate to ask."

Yan nodded. "Thank you very much, Chief Quyong. You always go to so much trouble."

Quyong waved his hand and laughed, "No trouble at all. We, the Valley Tribe, are overjoyed that your Fire Tribe is here. The more you come, the more grain we can sell, and the more space we can free up in our warehouses to store new grain. It's a win-win situation, and I can't wait for you to come more often."

He exchanged a few more polite words, then turned and went to attend to other matters.