Picking Up the New Tribespeople and the New Ships

Yan only stayed at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, the management center of the Fire Tribe, for two days before setting off again. He was quite busy during those two days. On the first day, he unloaded goods, stored them, and counted the quantities. Early the next morning, Yan sat down with Jianshi to go over the arrangements from beginning to end. His mother, Qingye, took advantage of these two days to prepare several delicious meals, serving each one to Yan and watching him eat before she felt at ease. Early on the third day, before dawn, Yan led his fleet off from the Little Fish River Mouth dock. The fleet sailed downstream along the Fish River. Yan stood at the Chuantou, looking at the river ahead, his hands resting on the wooden railing of the gunwale, his knuckles occasionally tapping the planks with the rise and fall of the boat. The scenery on both banks flashed past him. A few days later, the fleet arrived at the dock of the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost.

From afar, Yan could see the dock and the open space behind it densely packed with people, stretching from the dock to the slope surrounding the camp. Feiyu stood at the very front of the dock, wearing a new gray linen robe that had just been washed, with a clean collar and cuffs. A hemp rope was tied around his waist, from which hung a short knife with a gleaming scabbard. His hair was combed, and he looked much more energetic than usual. Behind him stood several leaders and a group of young soldiers.

As the ship docked, Yan stepped off. Feiyu quickly approached, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, and grinned from ear to ear, his eyes crinkling into slits. His voice shone with excitement. "Young Chief! All the people from the smaller tribes who wanted to join our Fire Tribe have arrived! About five thousand in total, and they're all waiting here! You can take them directly when you arrive!"

Yan stood on the dock, his gaze slowly sweeping over the crowd. On the dock and the open space behind it, the crowd stretched like a carpet, all the way up the gentle slope of the riverbank. Most of their clothes were made of linen; some were newly made and still bore the marks of folds, while others were faded from washing, their cuffs frayed. Some had mud on their shoes, as if they had walked a long way. Their faces carried similar anticipation, as well as an undisguised nervousness. Some were talking in hushed tones, while others stood silently.

Yan nodded and said, "Feiyu, you did a good job this time." He turned his gaze back to the group's luggage and said, "They don't have much with them, so boarding should be quick. Invite the tribal chiefs over; I'll talk to them for a bit, and then we can arrange for them to board."

Feiyu replied, "Okay! I've already told them, and they know you're here to see them."

He turned around and shouted into the crowd, his voice loud and clear. "Chiefs! Young Chief Yan of the Fire Tribe has arrived! Come here, everyone!"

A commotion arose in the crowd, and soon, dozens of leaders emerged. Some were old, with gray hair and wrinkles on their faces like dried-up riverbeds, walking slowly but with their backs straight. Others were in their prime, with strong physiques and scrutinizing eyes. Some were younger, with a hint of naivety and restraint on their faces, their hands unconsciously twisting the hem of their clothes as if searching for an inconspicuous spot to stand. They walked to the dock and stood in several rows in front of Yan.

Yan stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said in a loud and Chenwen voice, "Esteemed leaders! You've all worked hard! I am Yan from the Fire Tribe. I've heard that many of you are willing to join the Fire Tribe, and on behalf of the Fire Tribe, I welcome you all!"

His voice echoed on the dock, like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating ripples in the crowd. A moment of silence followed, then a middle-aged chieftain spoke up, "Young Chief Yan, our small tribes have lived in this land for generations. Life used to be tough, but we managed. However, in recent years the situation has become increasingly chaotic. We heard that the Fire Tribe is doing well and their people are kind and righteous, so we all decided to come here."

As he spoke, he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, as if trying to wipe away the fatigue that had accumulated over the past few days.

Yan listened attentively, nodded, and his gaze swept over the faces of the leaders one by one. He said, "Don't worry, once you arrive at the Fire Tribe, you'll have food, clothes, shelter, and work. As long as you're willing to work hard and endure hardship, no one will go hungry or cold. This is our Fire Tribe's promise to every member of the tribe."

The leaders exchanged glances, their tense expressions gradually relaxing. An elderly man with white hair took half a step forward. His back was slightly hunched, and he leaned on a smoothly polished wooden cane, the cane touching the ground first before his foot followed. He stood before Yan, slightly raising his head, his voice trembling slightly, and said, "Young Chief Yan, we ask for nothing but peace and quiet. We just want our children to grow up safely, and for us old bones to live out the rest of our days in peace. That's enough. We are eternally grateful that your Fire Tribe has taken us in."

As he spoke, his fingers gripped the wooden cane tightly, his knuckles turning white, as if he were holding onto that cane all the unease and turmoil of those years.

Yan stepped forward and gently touched the old man's arm, saying, "Don't worry, old man, the children of the Fire Tribe are all taken care of, and the elderly are also looked after. When you get there, you won't feel like outsiders. Everyone will live together, help each other, and life will only get better and better."

Upon hearing this, the old man's eyes reddened slightly, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. He lowered his head and nodded vigorously, his fingers loosening their grip on the wooden cane, as if his confidence had finally settled.

Yan then chatted with the other leaders one by one, asking them how many people were in their respective tribes and how long they had traveled. Some asked about farming, some about how they survived the winter, and some about whether young people could learn a trade. Yan answered them all calmly and patiently, as if he were sitting at his own doorstep chatting with his neighbors.

After they finished talking, Yan stood up and said to Feiyu and the warriors, "Let the new people board the ship."

The dock instantly sprang into action. Warriors from the Fire Tribe stood on either side of the gangplank, maintaining order and guiding the crowd to board the ship in batches. Feiyu moved back and forth through the crowd, his loud, clear voice drowning out the surrounding din. "Line up! Don't push! Elderly and children first! Hold on tight! Put your luggage in the cabin, don't block the aisle! Everyone has a place! Don't rush!"

Guided by the warriors, the crowd moved slowly forward. Yan stood on the dock, watching the five thousand people board the ship one after another, a calm smile on his face. When a young woman holding a child passed by him, she hesitated for a moment and asked softly, "I heard that children in the Fire Tribe can read?" Her voice was tentative and expectant, and she tightened her arms around the child.

Yan turned to look at her, nodded, and said, "Yes, they can. Once they get there, the children will all be learning together."

The woman didn't say much after hearing this, but the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. She looked down at the child in her arms and then followed the group.

Feiyu walked over to Yan and looked at the people boarding the ship. He wiped the sweat from his brow and said, "Young Chief, I've registered everyone here. The names and number of people in each household are recorded on wooden slips. They include which tribe they belong to, where they originally lived, and the total number of people. Once we get to headquarters, we can just check and assign houses without any confusion."

Yan withdrew his gaze, nodded, and said, "You've done a very thorough job. Keep an eye on the area at the mouth of the Big Horse River Mouth. Get the official base established by the end of the year. Then you'll have large ships, manpower, and territory, and you'll be able to truly stand on your own."

Feiyu straightened up, his gaze firm, and said crisply, "Young Chief, rest assured, I will definitely not let you down."

After all the new tribesmen boarded the ship, Yan briefly explained the construction of the stronghold to Feiyu before turning and boarding his own ship. The fleet slowly departed from the Big Horse River Mouth dock. On the pier, Feiyu and the other leaders were still standing, waving to the departing fleet. Several warriors from Big Horse River Mouth and a few remaining tribal leaders were also waving. Their figures grew smaller and smaller as the distance increased. The fleet traveled upstream along the Fish River for more than ten days. That morning, the fleet finally arrived at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

From afar, Yan saw ten brand-new, massive ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, moored at the dock of the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost. The ships were moored straight along the dock, their planks still bearing the pale yellow hue of new wood, as if they had just been pushed out of the shipyard. Neat planing marks were still visible on the surface of the wood. Yan's eyes lit up instantly. He strode to the very front of the Chuantou, gripping the gunwale and leaning slightly forward, as if trying to get a better look. His gaze swept over the ten ships one by one, from left to right, then from right to left, as if he were counting each piece of treasure he had acquired. When the ships docked, he was practically there as soon as the gangplank was set up. He took a step forward, Jianya was already waiting at the dock. Today he was wearing a dark gray linen robe, newly changed, without creases, the collar neat, a hemp rope tied around his waist, his hands behind his back, his back straight, his gaze calmly fixed on Yan, a hint of understated satisfaction on his lips. Yan walked to the nearest new ship, stretched out his hand, placed his palm on the gunwale, and slowly slid his fingertips across the wooden planks, feeling the smooth touch and warm texture unique to the new wood. He bent his fingers and tapped lightly twice, the planks making a dull thud, indicating their sturdiness.

He bent down to examine the seams at the bottom of the boat, testing the tightness of the tenons with his fingers, before straightening up, turning to look at Jianya, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement, and said, "Uncle Jianya, are these all the new large boats you built? With these, our Fire Tribe's total carrying capacity of 100,000 jin should be close to fifty this year, right?"

Jianya followed his gaze and glanced at the ships, then nodded, saying calmly, "Yes, these were all completed by everyone working together over this period. The craftsmen have been working since the beginning of spring, day and night in shifts. The lights in the dock have hardly ever gone out. The hull has been thickened, the planks used are half a finger thicker than last year's, the masts are also thicker than before, and the canvas is made of newly woven, dense material, which is more stable in the wind and less prone to tearing."

He paused, glanced at the ships, then looked at Yan's face and said, "Including these ten, we now have nearly fifty ships with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin this year."

Yan's gaze remained fixed on the ships. "The Fire Tribe is currently hostile to the Tiger Tribe. The sooner these ships are built, the more confident our Fire Tribe will be. Every additional ship adds another layer of confidence."

Jianya nodded and said, "You're right. Since the beginning of spring, the shipyards haven't stopped work for a single day."

Yan turned around and looked at Jianya Fang seriously, saying, "Although our Fire Tribe has just as many ships as the Tiger Tribe, the Tiger Tribe is an old and powerful tribe that has accumulated countless resources over the years. They are located at the confluence of the Long River and the Fish River, and their accumulated ships, weapons, and provisions far exceed ours. If we launch a preemptive attack on the Tiger Tribe and make them feel threatened, they will unite internally due to external pressure and convert all their accumulated resources into military force. In that case, we will be suppressed by them."

He slowed his speech and continued, "Therefore, before we gain an absolute advantage, we shouldn't take the initiative to attack them. Developing our own strength and accumulating more resources is the most advantageous option for us. Time is on our side."

Jianya listened, his eyes filled with approval, and said, "You're right. Although the Tiger Tribe is powerful, they are all divided and don't work together. Our Fire Tribe is different. We're all in the same boat, thinking and working together. As time goes by, our advantages will become more and more obvious, and it will be more and more beneficial to our Fire Tribe."

He reached out and patted the gunwale of the new ship beside him, his palm landing on the wooden planks with a soft echo, "When you go back this time, take these ten giant ships, each with a carrying capacity of 100,000 jin, with you. This will make it easier for you to transport grain, and you'll have more confidence. With so many ships lined up together, sailing on the Fish River, everyone who sees them will have to stop and take a look."

Yan nodded and said, "Okay, thank you very much, Uncle Jianya."

He turned around and pointed towards the dock. "By the way, Uncle Jianya, the five thousand new tribesmen I brought back this time were brought back from the Big Horse River Mouth to join our Fire Tribe. They're all on the boat now, and their subsequent arrangements are up to you. They've been on the boat for over ten days, and some of the older ones aren't quite used to it, so they might need to be settled in first."

Jianya glanced towards the dock and said, "No problem. I've already cleared out enough rooms and space in the valley at headquarters. These people can settle in immediately upon arrival without any further hassle. Leave the rest to me; you don't need to worry."

Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good. New clansmen are most afraid of not having a place to settle down when they arrive in a new place. Let them settle down first, and once they are settled, they will feel at ease."

He recounted to Jianya what he had learned during his last trip to the Valley Tribe to transport grain, lowering his voice as he said, "The Tiger Tribe in the north hasn't made any major moves for the time being. The three major powers are still grappling with each other and can't spare the resources to deal with us right now. However, the leaders of the Wolf Tribe and the Bear Tribe haven't shown up in their territories for quite some time. Chief Daiyue has also sent people to investigate, and they say there are indications that they went to the Tiger Tribe and are likely plotting something behind the scenes."

Jianya frowned slightly upon hearing this, then relaxed and said, "The Wolf Tribe and the Bear Tribe are both restless. They went to the Tiger Tribe, most likely to negotiate terms. The Valley Tribe is closer to them. Next time you transport grain, remind Chief Daiyue to strengthen their defenses. The watchtowers and patrols cannot be relaxed; repair what needs repairing and maintain what needs maintaining."

Yan nodded and said, "I will. Also, the temporary outpost at the mouth of the Big Horse River Mouth is going to be converted into a formal outpost, and about 10,000 people will be settled there by the end of the year. Feiyu has already started preparations, and Uncle Dazhuang also went to talk to the Horse Tribe. Chief Junfeng said he wants to come to our Little Fish River Mouth in person to take a look before making a decision."

Upon hearing Jianya, Fang's eyes lit up slightly, and he said, "The fact that the chief of the Horse Tribe is willing to come and see for himself means that he is already somewhat willing."

As the two were talking, all five thousand new clansmen had disembarked and formed several long queues on the dock, waiting to be taken into the main valley. Yan glanced at the crowd on the dock, then turned to Fang and clasped his hands in Jianya salute, saying, "Uncle Jianya, I won't stay any longer. I'll leave things here to you."

Jianya returned the greeting with clasped hands, saying, "Go ahead. Come over next time you have time and have a proper rest. You don't have to rush every time. Trees don't grow overnight, and ships aren't built in a day. Take a break before you go; the road ahead is long."

Yan nodded in agreement, turned around and quickly walked onto his ship. At the same time, the ten newly built giant ships weighing 100,000 jin each also untied their moorings and joined Yan's fleet. The sails were raised, and the fleet sailed down the Fish River towards the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost.