The Journey Home and Settled Plans

The morning after Yan and his men took over the Bear Tribe camp, the Bear Tribe's dock was already bustling. The Bear Tribe walked with their heads down, carrying simple belongings; some carried bundles on their backs, others held children, the babies nestled on their mothers' shoulders, their faces buried in their necks, as if still half-asleep; some supported the elderly, the old men's hands resting loosely on the arms of the younger ones, never letting go. They walked quietly, no one speaking, no one looking around, simply following the direction of the procession step by step. Occasionally, a child would glance back at the camp, be tugged at by an adult, and turn back to continue walking. One old man stopped before the gangplank, looked up at the bow of the Chuantou, then down at the plank beneath his feet, as if confirming that the plank could support his weight.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, watching the last person board a boat moored on the inner side, before nodding to the people behind him. A short, steady horn sounded, like a signal to set off, carrying far in the morning light.

The fleet slowly departed from the Bear Tribe's dock, heading upstream along the Fish River. Sails rose one after another, their white surfaces gleaming softly in the morning light. Oars plunged into the water, creating white Langhua that trailed long, thin Shuihen behind the boats before quickly merging into the flowing river and being covered by new Langhua. Inside the cabins, people spoke in hushed tones, their voices muffled by the sounds of oars and water, making their conversation difficult to discern.

After several days of sailing, the fleet arrived at the Valley Tribe's main dock. A number of people were already standing there, with Daiyue and Shunian, the chief of the Bean Tribe, at the forefront. Daiyue was wearing a dark blue linen robe today; the fabric was thick, and the collar and cuffs were edged with dark stitching, as if he had changed it specifically for this day. A bronze-buckled leather belt was around his waist, with a short knife hanging from it. He wore animal-skin boots, the boot shafts polished to a dull gleam in the morning light. His hair had been recombed and secured with a bone hairpin, no stray hairs falling down; he looked much neater than a few days ago. Behind him stood several Valley Tribe leaders, also dressed in clean clothes, craning their necks to gaze at the river, their eyes scanning the increasingly larger sails one by one.

Jiaonian stood beside Daiyue, his build sturdy, his shoulders broad, like a Shitou smoothed by wind and rain. He wore a grey linen robe, the fabric coarse but impeccably clean. A hemp rope tied around his waist, from which hung a short knife, its scabbard gleaming. He wore straw sandals, the soles stained with dried mud. His hair was held back with a wooden hairpin, a few stray strands falling from behind his ears, which he tucked behind his ears with the back of his fingers before letting them fall again. His face bore the expression of someone who had spent years working the land. His hands hung at his sides, his fingers slightly clenched and unclenched, as if using that gesture to calm his inner tension. His gaze fell on the large ships docking at the shore, his lips moving slightly, as if counting something in his mind.

Yan stepped off the boat, Daiyue strode forward to greet him, grabbing Yan's hand and shaking it firmly. His voice carried a sense of reassurance and approval. "Young Chief Yan, I heard that your trip to the Bear Tribe went very smoothly. You're back so quickly, almost two days faster than expected." As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Yan's face, as if checking his expression to see if he was injured.

Yan Hui squeezed Daiyue's hand, tightening it slightly before releasing it, a smile spreading naturally in the morning light, "Yes, when we arrived, the Bear Tribe had been breached by the Wolf Tribe the night before. The able-bodied warriors had all been slaughtered by the Wolf Tribe Wolf Tribe, and even the families of the leaders and above had been mostly wiped out. What remained were mostly the elderly, women, and children, who had only joined the Bear Tribe in the last two years. Their lives in the Bear Tribe were not easy, almost like slavery, so they offered little resistance. Therefore, we took over the camp as soon as we arrived without encountering any obstacles."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at the crowd disembarking at the dock, then turned back. "This time I brought back 10,000 people from the Bear Tribe. We plan to settle them in the strongholds at the Clothing River Mouth, the Big Horse River Mouth, the Green Leaf River Mouth, and the Little Horse River Mouth. The rest will be brought in after the autumn harvest. The land in the Bear Tribe is already being looked after, so the harvest won't be affected."

After listening, Daiyue nodded, his expression relaxing as if a long-burdened Shitou had been lifted. He glanced in Yan's direction at the people disembarking, then looked away. "As long as the leaders of the Bear Tribe are eliminated, our Valley Tribe's revenge will be avenged. We won't hold a grudge against these people. You can make the arrangements; we have no objections."

He turned to the side, gesturing towards Shunian beside him, and raised his voice slightly, as if to say the same thing to both of them at once, "Chief Yan, this gentleman next to me is Shunian, the chief of the Bean Tribe. When he came yesterday, I told him about our Valley Tribe joining the Fire Tribe, and Chief Shunian is also willing to bring his affiliated tribes to join the Fire Tribe." As he said this, he opened his palm slightly towards Shunian, as if pushing a confirmed piece of information back to him.

Yan turned to face Shunian, his gaze lingering on his face. He first noticed Shunian's broad shoulders and thick knuckles; his fingers were thicker than average, with prominent bumps at the knuckles, marks left from years of handling farm tools. Yan spoke with a sincere welcome, as if addressing a door that had already opened to him. "Chief Shunian, our Fire Tribe warmly welcomes you to join us. The Bean Tribe's grains and bean products have always been renowned. After joining us, these techniques can be preserved and further developed. Whatever you need, we will arrange it."

Shunian clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, bowing slightly before straightening up. His hands clasped together with a soft click, a crisp sound like the result of years of hard work. His voice carried the earnestness of someone who had toiled the land for so long; each word seemed to have been firmly placed on the ground before being uttered. "Young Chief Yan, although the Bean Tribe is small, its people are all hardworking and won't neglect the work in the fields. We are willing to join the Fire Tribe Bean Tribe with the Valley Tribe, and we are happy to lend a hand in any future matters."

Daiyue chimed in, glancing at the sky and then at Yan's collar and hem, which still bore the marks of travel. "Young Chief Yan, it's lunchtime now. Let's go to the council hall and get something to eat while we chat. You've been traveling for days, and life on a boat is not the same as on land. Rest first, fill your stomachs, and then we'll talk."

Yan did not refuse and nodded. The group walked along the dirt road between the dock and the camp toward the council hall. Shunian walked beside Daiyue, taking small but firm steps. Occasionally, he would turn his head to whisper something to Daiyue. Daiyue would listen with his ear slightly turned, nod, and then turn back to continue walking. The shadows of the trees along the road cast interlaced shades in the afternoon sun. A few leaves fell on the road and were trampled into the soil by passing footsteps, leaving faint marks.

Several large tables had already been set up in the council chamber, covered with clean linen cloths. The cloths were stretched undulating by the bowls and plates beneath them. Stewed meat, boiled fish, stir-fried wild vegetables, flatbread, and hot soup were laid out on the tables, each dish steaming hot. The aromas mingled and rose from the tabletops, filling the room with a warm atmosphere. Qingsui was standing by the table, placing the last dish. Today, she was wearing a light blue linen dress, embroidered with a few small white Little Flower on the hem, like wildflowers commonly seen by the river. The stitches were fine and dense, as if it had taken a long time to complete. Her hair was tied in a braid that hung down her shoulder, the end of the braid tied with a light-colored string. As she put down the dish, she glanced at Yan, a faint smile playing on her lips. The smile was not strong, but it was genuine, as if she had stored away unspoken words in that glance, or as if confirming that he had returned safely. Her gaze lingered on Yan's face for a moment, then she lowered her eyes, turned, and went to attend to her work.

Everyone sat down in turn. Yan and Daiyue sat on either side of the main seats, with Shunian sitting next to Daiyue. The other leaders took their seats as well. Yan was indeed hungry; he had only eaten dry rations and simple hot meals on the ship for the past few days. Seeing the steaming food laid out before him, he didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a piece of stewed meat, stuffing it into his mouth. The meat was stewed until tender, melting in his mouth, and the saltiness was just right. He swallowed it along with the broth. He then picked up a piece of wild vegetables and drank a couple of sips of hot soup. He felt as if a layer of warmth had been restored to his body, and the fatigue accumulated from days of sailing seemed to dissipate. The steam gradually evaporated the heat. The atmosphere at the table warmed up as people ate and drank. Some chatted quietly about the battle situation of the past few days, while others inquired about the specifics of the Bear Tribe, such as Bear Tribe terrain and the distribution of its warehouses. Occasionally, someone would chuckle, the crisp sound of bowls clinking against each other echoing across the table. A leader sitting near the wall asked about the whereabouts of the remnants of the Wolf Tribe. Yan gave a brief answer, saying that they had retreated north and wouldn't be returning for the time being. He then picked up a piece of fish without elaborating further.

After everyone had finished eating and drinking, Yan put down his chopsticks and said, "Chief Daiyue, I left four thousand men with the Bear Tribe to guard the autumn harvest. We'll consider whether to withdraw them after the harvest is complete. I've brought over ten thousand men from the Bear Tribe, intending to settle them at the Clothing River Mouth Outpost, Big Horse River Mouth Outpost, Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost Estuary, and Little Horse River Mouth Outpost. Once they pass the inspection, they'll be transferred to the headquarters valley for training and resettlement. As for the remaining ten thousand men from the Bear Tribe, I plan to continue resettling and inspecting them at these strongholds after the autumn harvest."

He paused, as if considering the best way to proceed, his palms flattening on the table before closing again. "Later, I will also relocate some of my people to the Bear Tribe to cultivate land, making the Bear Tribe a forward outpost for the Fire Tribe on the east bank of the Fish River. This way, the defense line on the east bank will be connected, and there will be no more gaps."

Shunian put down his chopsticks, straightened up, and said, "Young Chief Yan, what are the specific arrangements for the Bean Tribe? I've already sent five thousand men back to the Bean Tribe camp to rush to plant crops. The rest are here with the Valley Tribe. Those people are used to farm work; they don't feel at ease staying in the camp without working."

Yan turned to him, his voice steadying and his speech slowing, as if pointing out a route on a map. "I will have Yingmu send a thousand warriors from the Bear Tribe to defend the Bean Tribe camp, so there's no need to worry about safety. We will gradually send people to take over the Bean Tribe camp, and the Bean Tribe members will be gradually relocated to the rear. The Bean Tribe will become our Fire Tribe's forward outpost on the west bank. The fields there will not be abandoned, nor will they be allocated to others. The Bean Tribe members in the Valley Tribe can work together here for now."

Daiyue listened and then chimed in, his voice slightly lower than Shunian's, as if the question had been on his mind for a while, "So what will be the arrangements for our Valley Tribe? We've already made a list of the first batch of people to move away after the autumn harvest."

Yan thought for a moment, his fingers lightly gliding along the edge of the table, as if slowly unfolding a map that wasn't fully revealed. He lifted his gaze from the table and landed on Daiyue's face. "With the addition of people like you, the Fire Tribe's strength will increase significantly again. Our Fire Tribe will definitely clash with the Tiger Tribe again in the future. As our Fire Tribe's population and territory grow, the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost will become a bit inconvenient as our Fire Tribe's management center—it's too close to the south, and it takes a lot of time for news from the north to get there."

He raised his head, looking at Daiyue, his voice carrying a stronger sense of deployment than before. "I will propose that my father relocate the Fire Tribe's management center to the Valley Tribe. Its location is just north of the middle section of the Fish River. To the north, we can keep an eye on the Tiger Tribe's movements, and to the south, we can contact various outposts, making management very convenient. The Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost and the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost can be developed as secondary management center outposts, while other river estuary outposts will be developed as important outposts for the Fire Tribe. Of course, we will prioritize relocating the Valley Tribe's people to the rear; they will be very safe even in the event of a conflict. You don't need to worry about being placed on the front lines."

Upon hearing this, Daiyue's expression visibly relaxed, and he said, "Then thank you very much, Chief Yan. The people of the Valley Tribe have followed me all these years with great difficulty. Being able to settle them in a safe place is more important than anything else. I thank you on their behalf."

He paused, as if recalling something or organizing his thoughts. "We are quite familiar with the Greater Qing Tribe. They have always greatly admired the Fire Tribe. I sent people there recently, and I'm sure there will be good news. The Willow Vine Tribe also has a good relationship with us. They are next to the Tiger Tribe, and they will be oppressed by the Tiger Tribe in the future. They will have a great chance of joining our Fire Tribe. Young Chief Yan, rest assured, I will definitely make this happen before next spring."

Yan nodded, his eyes serious, as if he were taking those words and placing them in a place in his heart that he would never forget. "With Chief Daiyue's words, I'm relieved. If we succeed, the tribe will definitely recognize our great merit. I will explain all this to my father so that he has a clear understanding of the situation."

He chatted for a few more minutes about the details of resource allocation and personnel resettlement, then stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Daiyue, and said, "Chief Daiyue, I'll be leaving now. This time, we've been rescuing the Bear Tribe Valley Tribe resettle the new tribespeople. Time is tight, and I need to return to the tribe's management center to give my father a detailed report and explain the situation here in person."

Daiyue also stood up, clasped his hands in return, and his gaze lingered on Yan's face for a moment. "Alright, be careful on your journey. I'll keep an eye on things here in the Valley Tribe. The first group of migrants will be ready after the autumn harvest."

Yan turned and walked towards the entrance of the council hall. When he reached the door, Qingsui stood up from the table and quickly followed him. She turned to Yan and said in a low voice, "I'll take you to the dock." She didn't look at Yan when she spoke; her gaze was fixed on the ground a few steps ahead of him, as if checking if the path was smooth.

The two walked out of the council chamber one after the other, strolling slowly along the path leading to the dock. The afternoon sun shone down from the west, casting a slanted shadow on the ground between them, stretching their side-by-side distance into two parallel long lines that occasionally intersected and sometimes separated.

After walking for a while, Qingsui spoke first, "Yan, we are so grateful to your Fire Tribe for coming to our rescue in time. Otherwise, our Valley Tribe would have been in trouble. After the autumn harvest, we will be one tribe."

Yan turned his head to look at her, slowed his pace to match hers, and said, "This is what our Fire Tribe should do. From now on, we'll be one tribe, and we'll spend more time together."

Qingsui walked a short distance with her head down, as if measuring the length of her next sentence with each step. The toes of her shoes alternated on the pavement, each step making a soft, even sound on the dry soil. After a while, she raised her head, glanced at Yan, and spoke softer than before, but still clearly, as if she had kept these words in her heart for days and finally found the right opportunity to let them out. "We're not young anymore, and many things are basically over now. The Tiger Tribe has been driven back, and the Bear Tribe has been wiped out. You promised me before that you would consider our relationship after dealing with the Tiger Tribe."

Her voice softened slightly as she spoke the last few words, as if she had placed the sentence in a position where it didn't need further emphasis, as long as it was heard. Her fingers lightly twirled the edge of her sleeve, then released it.

Yan slowed his pace and turned to look at her. He didn't answer immediately, first confirming that her gaze was on him. The afternoon sun shone from the side, falling on her profile and turning the stray hairs by her ears a pale gold. His voice wasn't loud, but every word seemed carefully chosen before being uttered. "How could I forget you about this? Don't worry, I've got it in mind. I'll find an opportunity to talk to my father about it when I get back, and I'll formally bring it up with him next time I come."

After listening, Qingsui glanced at him, and the lingering look in her eyes seemed to be caught by something. The curve of her lips widened from a faint line to a more defined arc, particularly clear in the afternoon light. "Okay, I'll wait." She didn't say anything more after that, nor did she quicken her pace; she simply continued walking beside him.

When the two reached the dock, the fleet was already preparing to depart. The gangplank was erected, and most of the mooring lines had been untied, with only a few still tied to the stakes. The knots were half-loosened, the other ends floating in the water, gently swaying with the waves. The sails were already raised, their white surfaces gleaming softly in the afternoon sun. Yan stopped in front of the gangplank, turned to Qingsui, and said, "I'll be going now."

Qingsui stood on the edge of the dock, one foot already on the plank closest to the water. Her gaze shifted from Yan's face to the diving board, then back again. "Be careful on the way. Next time you come, I'll cook you something delicious."

Yan nodded, turned, and stepped onto the gangplank. The gangplank wobbled slightly beneath his feet, the planks creaking softly, but he walked steadily, each step landing squarely on the center of the gangplank, until he reached the Chuantou. Once he was in place, he waved towards the dock, his hand lingering for a moment in the bright afternoon light before lowering it. Then he turned and called into the cabin, "Let's go!"

The fleet slowly departed from the dock, oars striking the water simultaneously, stirring up white Langhua coalesced into a continuous, churning wave at the stern, then slowly spread into fine ripples, dispersed and gathered again by the oars behind. The sails gleamed with a pale golden light in the afternoon sun, like clouds billowing in the wind, as they moved slowly upstream along the surface of the Fish River.

After several days of travel, the fleet arrived at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. On the dock, Yan stood at the Chuantou, waiting for the ship to come to a stop before disembarking. He said to Feiyu, "These three thousand people from the Bear Tribe are now yours. Settle them at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost and conduct inspections in batches according to regulations."

Feiyu nodded, his gaze sweeping over the disembarking crowd as if surveying their numbers. "Young Chief, rest assured, I've already had the western side of the camp cleared out. Let them settle down here; food and supplies are all prepared. I'll have people take them in batches to familiarize them with the camp's layout and rules."

Yan didn't linger. He gave a few more instructions regarding personnel placement and daily management, then turned and boarded the boat. The fleet continued upstream along the Fish River, arriving at the Clothing River Mouth Outpost. Dazhuang was already waiting on the dock. He wore a dark blue linen robe, a leather belt with a bronze buckle around his waist, and animal skin boots with fresh mud specks on the boot tops, as if he had come straight from the fields. When he saw Yan disembark, he strode forward to greet him, his steps large and quick, the wooden planks on the dock making short, thumping sounds under his feet.

After disembarking, Yan spoke immediately, gesturing with his hand in the air. "Uncle Dazhuang, these three thousand people from the Bear Tribe are stationed at the Clothing River Mouth Outpost. You need to send someone to keep an eye on them."

Dazhuang nodded, patting his belt as if to catch up on what he was about to say, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. There's enough space and enough houses at the Clothing River Mouth. I'll have someone show them around the camp layout, help them get their bearings, assign them accommodations, and then arrange meals. Once they're all settled, we'll proceed with the inspection in batches according to protocol."

He didn't linger, exchanging a few more words with Dazhuang about resource allocation. The fleet continued upstream, reaching the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. Dazhuang then accompanied Yan off the ship, leading the remaining four thousand members of the Bear Tribe to disembark and settle down at the Green Leaf River Mouth estuary. At the dock, some were unloading supplies, others were piling debris cleared from the holds onto the shore, and still others were squatting by the dock washing muddy tools with river water. Dazhuang stood by the dock, watching the disembarking people, and turned to Yan, his voice lower than before, as if he didn't want those further away to hear. "Yan'er, take the fleet back to the Fire Tribe's management center first. You still need to go to the Bear Tribe to pick up more people, and while you're at it, bring some supplies from the Fire Tribe's management center to the Valley Tribe and the Bear Tribe."

He paused, then lowered his voice slightly, as if to gather up the last few words: "My elder brother knows about your leading the rescue of the Valley Tribe, defeating the Tiger Tribe, annihilating the Bear Tribe, and getting the Valley Tribe and other tribes to join our Fire Tribe. He said you did a good job this time, but you need to go back and tell everyone the details so they know what happened."

After listening, Yan nodded. "Okay, I'll lead the fleet back to the Fire Tribe's management center right away."

He turned and boarded the boat, then turned back and waved to Dazhuang. Dazhuang also raised his hand, his palm briefly gleaming in the afternoon sun, before turning and walking towards the camp. The fleet slowly departed from the Green Leaf River Mouth dock, continuing upstream along the Fish River.