The Journey Back and Preparations

As the fleet departed from the Valley Tribe's main dock, the afternoon sun shone down from the west, casting long shadows of those seeing them off on the wooden planks. Daiyue and Qingya stood side by side at the edge of the dock, while Qingshi stood half a step behind Qingya, his hand still wrapped in light-colored linen, a simple bandage he had had after the competition.

Jianshi stood at the Chuantou, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards the dock, the clinking of his palms carrying a short distance on the river breeze. He said nothing, only glancing at Daiyue and then at Qingya, before lowering his hands, his palms resting on the edge of the gunwale. Daiyue returned the salute. Qingya followed suit, his movements slower Daiyue's, as if still recovering from the aftershocks of the competition. Standing behind him, Qingshi raised his uninjured hand, gestured towards the ship, paused for a moment in mid-air, then lowered it. He stood there, his gaze following the ship as it gradually sailed away from the dock, his knuckles slightly bent, his bandaged hand hanging at his side, as the fleet slowly departed the dock.

The fleet traveled upstream along the Fish River for several days, passing the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. The fleet docked briefly, and Yan stood at the Chuantou, watching the Bear Tribe tribe members disembark via the gangplank. On the dock, the stronghold's leader, along with several others, was already waiting. He held a wooden tablet, marking each person as they passed. The Bear Tribe tribe members who had just disembarked walked along the boardwalk towards the camp. Some glanced back at the fleet's sails, then turned back and continued following the others. When the fleet set sail again, the newcomers on the dock had already formed several rows, their figures cast long, thin shadows in the afternoon light, moving deeper into the camp following the guide's gestures.

Then, passing the Clothing River Mouth Outpost, the stop was shorter than before. The soldiers on the dock had already received advance notice and were guiding the disembarking people from both sides of the pier. Yan stood at the Chuantou for a while, confirming that the handover of personnel had gone smoothly, before turning back to the cabin. His gaze shifted from the figures moving on the pier to the smooth, shiny mark on the inner wall of the cabin entrance, worn smooth from repeated friction. He paused for a moment, as if confirming that his men and supplies had arrived at their destinations in sync with the ship's movement.

Then came the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost, followed by the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost. At each stop, a portion of the Bear Tribe members disembarked and were arranged to stay in camp by the outpost leaders. By the time they reached the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, there were few Bear Tribe members left on board. By the time the last group disembarked, it was already dark, and torches were lit on the dock. The fleet did not spend the night at Green Leaf River Mouth. After unloading, they continued upstream along the Fish River. The cabins were much emptier, and the boats were lower in draft, so the oarsmen moved more nimbly than when the boats were fully loaded, and the speed was actually a bit faster than during the day.

After several days at sea, the fleet finally returned to the Fire Tribe's Little Fish River Mouth Outpost dock that afternoon. A considerable number of people were already gathered at the dock; most of the Fire Tribe's high-ranking officials were present. Dabang stood at the front, wearing a dark gray linen robe, the edges of which gleamed softly in the afternoon sunlight. He was dressed more neatly than usual, as if he had changed specifically for welcoming the ships. A hemp rope was tied around his waist, from which hung a short knife. His hands were behind his back, his back ramrod straight, his gaze sweeping over the sails of the ships approaching the shore, from Chuantou to stern and Chuantou again.

Behind him stood Canglan, Wu Xiong, Junfeng, and others, all dressed neatly, craning their necks to look out over the river. The boat docked, the gangplank was set up, and Jianshi and Yan disembarked. Jianshi's gaze swept over the waiting crowd on the dock, pausing briefly on Dabang. Seeing that he was dressed more neatly than usual, a slight smile played on his lips. Dabang stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, the clinking of his palms conveying a warm sense of confirmation. "Chief, you're back. This trip has taken quite a while."

Jianshi nodded, his gaze sweeping across the dock before he said, "Let's go back to the council hall." He didn't linger, heading straight for the council hall. Dabang followed beside him, his steps steady, keeping a half-step distance. Canglan and Wu Xiong followed behind, their paces slightly off-center, one in front of the other. Junfeng walked at the back of the group. Yan walked behind Jianshi, his collar still adorned with fine dust blown by the river wind, appearing a pale grayish-white in the afternoon light, but his spirits remained high, and his steps steady. His gaze shifted from his father's back, sweeping over the familiar wooden houses and threshing grounds on either side of the road.

Several large tables had already been set up in the council hall, covered with clean linen cloths. The edges of the cloths were slightly curled up by the wind, weighed down by bowls of water. On the tables were water and some dried fruit—freshly sun-dried dates and other dried fruit, their surfaces still covered with a thin layer of white frost, as if they had just been brought back from the drying ground. Qingye was standing by the table, holding a bowl of freshly poured water. The water was warm, and thin white steam was still rising from the rim of the bowl. She placed the bowl of water in front of Jianshi's usual seat, then moved to a corner to sit down and picked up a half-finished garment to begin mending. Her needlework was slow, slower than usual, her hands moving across the fabric only once every few stitches before re-stitching. Her gaze occasionally lifted, not falling on anyone's face, but lingering on the spot above the table where the heat was gradually dissipating.

Everyone took their seats in turn. Jianshi sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping around the council hall before he spoke, "This time, Yan and I led the fleet there very smoothly. We not only settled the ten thousand tribesmen we brought with us in the Bear Tribe and the Bean Tribe, but also settled the remaining ten thousand or so people of the Bear Tribe in several strongholds in the north. Even the Greater Qing Tribe has agreed to join our Fire Tribe."

After he finished speaking, the council chamber fell silent for a moment. That brief silence seemed to be gently suppressed by something; everyone's breathing slowed slightly for a split second, then, as if someone had simultaneously lifted a lid, everyone began to speak. Dabang slammed his hand on the table, producing a short, muffled thud, and a smile curved his lips, "That's excellent! The Greater Qing Tribe's position on the west bank of the Fish River is perfectly strategic. With their addition, our western defenses can be extended a little further north!"

Wu Xiong leaned back in his chair and said, "The Fire Tribe's population is about to increase significantly again. Adding the more than 30,000 people from the Greater Qing Tribe, we'll soon exceed 400,000."

Various voices mingled in the council hall, each finding its place. Someone turned to the person next to them to add a detail about the Bear Tribe's land, while someone picked up a glass of water that had cooled down, took a sip, and then put it down. After a while, the voices gradually subsided.

Jianshi raised his hand, pressing his palm down to signal everyone to quiet down. His gaze swept around the council hall before he continued, "Yan and I recently made a trip there. The development and construction of the several river mouth strongholds in the north are progressing well. The autumn harvest is over, and this year's grain harvest Fengshou. I plan to rest for a couple of days and have Yan take 10,000 tribesmen to settle in the Valley Tribe, along with some bronze weapons and other supplies, and settle 1,000 warriors in the Greater Qing Tribe to strengthen their defenses. On the way back, we'll also bring 20,000 tribesmen from the Valley Tribe back to our main valley for resettlement and training. The rest can be picked up gradually next spring."

Dabang, sitting opposite, asked, "So, how do we plan to relocate the management center to the Valley Tribe? When will we start? How will we proceed? Should we move the people over first, or transport the supplies?" His gaze fell on Jianshi's face, waiting for him to answer.

Jianshi thought for a moment, then tapped his finger lightly on the table and said, "The location of the Valley Tribe is excellent, and it's well-positioned, situated in the northern part of the middle section of the Fish River. I plan to relocate people there gradually. The Valley Tribe will be perfectly suitable as the new management center for our Fire Tribe. There's no rush now; let's prepare the manpower and supplies first, and relocate in batches. We don't need to finish moving everything in one day; let's start by transporting the necessary supplies."

He paused, lowered his voice, and his gaze slowly swept across the council hall, following the curve of his words: "Our Fire Tribe now has about 300,000 people, the Valley Tribe and Bean Tribe together have about 50,000, and the Greater Qing Tribe, along with its affiliated tribes and surrounding tribes, has about 35,000. With their addition, our Fire Tribe's population will soon reach about 400,000. Even if the Willow Vine Tribe doesn't join us, our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe's population will soon exceed 400,000. Our current goal is to continue expanding production, stockpiling various resources, cultivating more land, finding ways to increase the population, strengthening warrior training, and constantly monitoring the movements of the Tiger Tribe and Wolf Tribe to the north. If we are given a few years to absorb these people and territories, the Tiger Tribe will be no match for us."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the council hall, and said, "Yan was right before. The Tiger Tribe is not our target. The outside world is vast, and we cannot let our guard down. Only by continuously improving our strength can we ensure our people live in peace."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Jianshi's gaze swept over the faces of those who nodded, then a smile appeared on his face, spreading from the lines at the corners of his eyes to the corners of his mouth. He changed the subject, his voice softer than before, as if shifting from official business to something more personal. "Also, there are two more things."

His gaze fell on Yan, paused for a moment, and then he said, "This time in the Valley Tribe, Yan sparred with Qingshi, the number one warrior of the Greater Qing Tribe. Yan defeated Qingshi within three moves, and Qingshi immediately expressed his willingness to follow Yan." After he finished speaking, a low murmur of admiration rippled through the council hall. Jianshi continued, "Furthermore, Yan and Qingsui, the daughter of Chief Daiyue of the Valley Tribe, have been engaged for next year. The tribe will hold a grand wedding." Everyone congratulated Yan upon hearing this.

Jianshi then inquired about the tribe's specific situation, "How is the harvest? How long will the grain in the granary last?"

Dabang, sitting opposite, said, "The harvest is Fengshou. We have enough grain to last a year. The new grain has been gradually stored in the granaries, and I've had the old grain moved to the front so we can eat that first."

Jianshi nodded and then asked, "What about the shipbuilding progress?"

Canglan continued, "This year's shipbuilding plan is almost complete. There are only a few ships left to finish. The planks have been installed, and they can be launched as soon as the sails arrive, without being delayed until winter."

Jianshi then asked, "How is the stockpiling of supplies? Are there enough pottery, salt, and cloth?"

Wu Xiong's voice came from the other end of the table. "The tribe's production of supplies has increased significantly. We have stored up a lot of salt and pottery, and there is more than enough cloth. There is still a lot of surplus in the warehouse. Even if all the people from the new tribe join, it will be enough to get through the winter."

Jianshi turned his gaze to Junfeng: "How's the horse feed coming along?"

Junfeng sat up straighter, his voice low but clear. "The hay is ready, enough for winter. We can harvest another batch of hay before winter. I've also raised the ground of the stables so rainwater won't flow in."

Jianshi nodded in agreement, his gaze sweeping across the council hall, lingering on each person's face for a moment before he spoke, "Everyone has worked hard. The tribe's success today is due to everyone's tireless efforts. Go back and get back to your work; don't let new information distract you from your tasks."

People gradually stood up and left.

Two days later, before dawn, the docks were already ablaze with lights. The fleet was ready, and the docks were bustling with people. Soldiers were carrying bundles of bronze weapons and supplies onto the ships. Some were counting the items, some were checking the tightness of the ropes, and some were squatting by the ship's side, tightening a loose rope. They would pull the rope loop with their fingers to make sure it was secure before standing up.

Yan stood at the dock, confirming the final batch of supplies with Dabang. The morning mist condensed into fine white vapors before his mouth and nose as he spoke, then quickly dissipated. He held a wooden tablet in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the lines of inscriptions, his fingers tracing each line. Then he looked up and said to Dabang, his voice exceptionally clear in the morning air. "The number of bronze daggers matches. Two bundles of leather armor are still needed; they're being sent to the ship."

Dabang stood beside him, his gaze also fixed on the supplies being moved. After watching for a while, he spoke, "The leather armor is piled up at the back of the warehouse. I've already sent people to move it; it'll be here soon."

Jian Jianshi shone from his side, gilding the shoulders of his dark gray robe with a pale gold trim. His gaze fell on the warriors loading the ships. He watched for a moment, then turned to Yan, who stood beside him, and said, "On this trip to the Valley Tribe, settle the people first, deliver the supplies to the Greater Qing Tribe, then come back to pick up the people. No need to rush, just walk steadily on the road; we'll make it."

Yan carefully put away the wooden tablet, tucked it under his arm, and nodded, saying, "Yes, Father." He turned and walked up the gangplank onto the ship. Standing at the Chuantou, he watched the busy figures on the dock. The morning light fell on his face, softening the weariness left by days of travel. After the last few bundles of supplies were loaded onto the ship, the mooring lines were untied, and the gangplank was stowed away, he called out towards the cabin. His voice carried through the morning mist and was carried upstream by the wind. "Let's go!"

The fleet slowly left the dock, oars dipping into the water simultaneously, creating white Langhua, and the fleet moved forward with the current.