Wrapping Up and Bringing Them Home
When Yan led his fleet back to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost outpost, the sky was already setting in the west. As the ships docked, people were tidying the mooring lines. Yan disembarked and, without lingering on the dock, headed straight for the council hall. The guards at the entrance saw him and stepped aside, the familiar low creaking of the door hinges turning. Yan crossed the threshold and entered. Jianshi Shi was sitting in the main seat. Hearing the door open, he looked up, his gaze lingering on Yan's face for a moment before he spoke, "Yan'er, you're back? Was the journey smooth?"
Yan sat down opposite him and said, "Father, our tribe's 20,000 people have already migrated to the Valley Tribe. The 20,000 people in the Valley Tribe have all been handed over to Uncle Jianya for resettlement. He has already arranged accommodations and food, and there has been no chaos. Uncle Jianya said that they have 20,000 resettlement slots available for them in the near future, and we can make the arrangements. The houses in the Valley at our headquarters will be vacated soon and can receive new people at any time. The food has also been replenished in advance, so there will be no shortage of food as long as people arrive."
After listening, Jianshi nodded and said, "You did a good job this time. That way, there will only be about 10,000 people left in the Valley Tribe and Bean Tribe. Of the 20,000 people that the Bear Tribe previously settled in several outposts in the north, we can transfer about 10,000 of the better-performing ones to your Uncle Jianya's side. You can also settle the 10,000 people from the Valley Tribe and Bean Tribe there as well."
Yan nodded and said, "Okay, there hasn't been much movement from the north lately. The Tiger Tribe is still constantly converting resources into military force; there's been constant banging and fighting in the shipyard, and you can even see firelight at night. After we intimidated the Wolf Tribe, they no longer dare to covet the Greater Qing Tribe. We've also received news from the Willow Vine Tribe. They're under immense pressure from the Tiger Tribe and are very enthusiastic about joining the Fire Tribe. They're very satisfied with the conditions we've offered and want to find an opportunity to discuss joining the Fire Tribe with us. Their people are already waiting; as long as we have a ship, they can send someone to make contact at any time. Chief Qingya has already sent someone to contact them, and the Willow Vine Tribe has already shown initial interest in the candidates and their attitude."
Jianshi said, "It's good that nothing major has happened in the north. This is more advantageous for us. We naturally welcome the Willow Vine Tribe's willingness to join our Fire Tribe. When you go there, you can speak with them on behalf of the Fire Tribe. The conditions we offer will not change. They will receive the same treatment as the Greater Qing Tribe and the Valley Tribe. Let them know that the Fire Tribe treats all joining tribes equally and will not discriminate based on who arrived first or last."
Yan took over, lowering his voice slightly. "Chief Daiyue agreed that once everyone from the Valley Tribe and Bean Tribe arrives at the Fire Tribe, we can choose an auspicious day to hold my and Qingsui's wedding. He said that once everyone is here, both sides can breathe a sigh of relief, and we can take advantage of that lull to get married."
Upon hearing this, Jianshi Shi's gaze lingered on Yan's face for a moment before he said, "This is a good thing, and we will definitely give our full support. After all the people from the Valley Tribe and Bean Tribe have been brought here, you should choose an auspicious day to get married. This is a symbol of the two tribes truly becoming one family, so it should be a grand and glorious affair, letting everyone know. You should prepare to take your fleet to pick them up in two days, and also get your wedding done as soon as possible. When you go, take 20,000 people with you to settle them. We have already prepared the manpower for you at the Little Fish River Mouth; you can take them directly to the Valley Tribe to settle them."
Yan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll get the fleet ready in the next couple of days. We'll stop at the mouths of the Green Leaf River Mouth and the Big Horse River Mouth to pick up passengers."
The two exchanged a few more words about the details of resource allocation and fleet organization. Then Yan stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to his father, and turned to leave the council hall. Night was spreading from the eastern horizon, painting the outlines of the camp's rooftops and treetops with a pale gray-blue hue. In the distance, people were collecting clothes to dry in the drying yard; the sounds drifted over from several rows of wooden houses, like someone speaking softly in the distance. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but he could sense the relaxed atmosphere before the work was over. He stood on the steps outside the door for a moment, took a deep breath, and then walked towards his quarters.
Yan spent two days preparing at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. He reorganized the fleet, confirmed the passenger capacity and supply compartment allocation of each ship, and confirmed the stopping times and liaison personnel at each stronghold along the way. Early on the third day, before dawn and with a thin layer of morning mist still floating on the river, he led the fleet off from the Little Fish River Mouth dock. The sails gleamed softly in the rising sun, and the fleet, carrying 20,000 people, sailed downstream along the Fish River.
When passing the mouths of the Green Leaf River Mouth Clothing River Mouth, Yan sent people ashore to deliver a message, instructing Dazhuang and Feiyu to prepare manpower at their docks so that they could lead the Bear Tribe people back to the Fire Tribe's main valley for resettlement when he returned.
After ten days at sea, the fleet finally arrived at the Valley Tribe's main dock. The afternoon sun shone down from the west, casting long shadows of the waiting people on the dock onto the planks and in the shallow water, swaying gently with the ripples. Daiyue stood at the very front, wearing a dark blue linen robe, his hair neatly combed and held back with a bone hairpin. Behind him stood the seven elders of the Valley Tribe and Shunian, the leader of the Bean Tribe. Behind them were several long lines of about ten thousand people, stretching as far as the eye could see along the open space between the dock and the camp, like a dark ribbon waiting to begin moving.
Some people carried bundles on their backs, the straps leaving shallow marks on their shoulders, as if they had been carrying them for a long time. At the edge of the procession, people were talking in hushed tones, their voices scattered into a soft hum by the river breeze. Daiyue's gaze fell on the sails of the Chuantou that were approaching the shore, his eyes sweeping from bow to stern until the fleet reached the shore.
The ship docked, the gangplank was set up, and Yan stepped off the ship. Daiyue stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Young Chief Yan, our people are ready. There are about ten thousand of them, and they can board the ship and depart at any time. I have already checked the list again, and every household has been verified. No one will be left out."
Yan returned the salute with clasped hands. "Alright, I'll have my 20,000 men disembark first, then you can board." He turned to the side and gestured towards the fleet behind him. Jia Li and Bailin had already disembarked from the ships behind them. The two walked briskly along the boardwalk to the edge of the dock and began guiding the tribespeople from the cabins to disembark. They stood on either side of the gangplank, each responsible for a group of people, drawing a line with their fingers towards the camp. The crowd slowly descended the gangplank, forming several rows on the open ground beside the dock, and then gradually dispersing towards the camp entrance. Jia Li stood at the edge of the dock, holding a wooden tablet in his hand, marking each family he passed. His gaze moved quickly across the figures disembarking, as if he were confirming the number of people and family composition in each group. Bailin stood on the other side, using gestures to indicate the order of disembarkation. His fingers traced lines in the air like silent lines.
Daiyue stood at the edge of the dock, watching the figures disembarking. His hands were behind his back, and his gaze moved from the front of the line to the back. Next to him stood Shunian, Shunian gaze lingered on the dispersing crowd. He occasionally turned his head and whispered something to the person next to him. Daiyue watched the figures leaving.
After all 20,000 people from the Fire Tribe disembarked, Daiyue led the seven elders of the Valley Tribe and Shunian, the leader of the Bean Tribe, toward the edge of the dock. The 10,000 or so people behind them also began to move, the procession resembling a loosened thread, slowly moving along the boardwalk toward the fleet. Daiyue walked at the very front, his pace neither fast nor slow, as if guiding those behind him with his own rhythm. Behind him were the seven elders, with Hefeng leading the way, holding a wooden tablet in his hand, and Shuize following behind Hefeng. His pace was slower than usual. Shunian walked behind Daiyue Daiyue, his steps slightly slower. Jia Li stood at the edge of the dock, guiding the crowd to different boats. His voice echoed across the dock, not loud but loud enough for everyone in each row to hear which boat to go to. "The elderly go first, children follow the adults, don't push." Bailin stood by the boat, gesturing to indicate the boarding order. His fingers traced lines in the air, like silent lines, guiding each group.
Yan stood at the edge of the dock, watching everyone board the boat, then turned and walked onto the gangplank. He stood at Chuantou bow, waved to the dock, and shouted into the cabin, "Let's go!" The fleet slowly left the Valley Tribe headquarters dock, heading upstream along the Fish River. The cabin was full of people; some were talking in hushed tones, their voices muffled by the sound of oars and water, as if filling the gaps in their migration in their own way; some leaned against the cabin walls, resting with their eyes closed, their breathing steady and even, as if they had already adapted to the swaying of the boat; some turned their heads to look out the window at the receding riverbank, their gaze moving along the edges of the fields and tree shadows, as if measuring the length and direction of this journey in their own way.
When Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet past the stronghold at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost, Feiyu was already standing on the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. He wore a gray-brown linen robe, tied with a hemp rope around his waist, and straw sandals. Behind him stood members of the Bear Tribe. Some were adjusting the ropes binding their bundles, tightening loose knots; others were conversing in hushed tones, their voices carried a short distance by the river breeze; still others were bending over, checking their shoes and belongings. Feiyu stood at the edge of the dock, holding a wooden tablet, his gaze fixed on the sails of the ships approaching the shore. Seeing the Fire Tribe's fleet dock, he raised a hand to those behind him. The Bear Tribe members began to move along the boardwalk towards the dock, their steps orderly and without pushing or shoving. It was as if the order had been pre-arranged. Feiyu stood on the edge of the gangplank, his gaze shifting from the front to the back of the line, as if confirming the numbers matched the records on the wooden tablet. His fingers traced the edge of the tablet, as if memorizing the names and numbers. After the Fire Tribe's fleet docked, the Bear Tribe members slowly boarded the ships one after another. Some paused at the cabin entrance, glanced towards the dock, then turned back and followed the others deeper into the cabin. Yan didn't disembark or linger at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. He stood at the Chuantou, checked the numbers with Feiyu, confirmed they matched, gave a few more instructions, and then ordered the Fire Tribe's fleet to continue its journey.
As Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet past the Clothing River Mouth Outpost, Dazhuang and his men were already waiting on the dock. He wore a dark blue linen robe, a bronze-buckled leather belt, and gleaming animal-hide boots. Behind him stood another group of the Bear Tribe members, lined up in several rows, their spacing seemingly measured with their steps. Dazhuang stood at the front of the group, holding a wooden tablet. Seeing the fleet dock, he tucked the tablet into his robes, clasped his hands in a fist salute towards Yan, and said nothing. Yan stood at the Chuantou, his gaze sweeping over the Bear Tribe members to confirm their numbers and formation. He returned the salute, then looked at the neat rows behind him and nodded. All ten thousand Bear Tribe members from the two strongholds at the mouths of the Big Horse River Mouth Clothing River Mouth were brought aboard by Yan. The seats in the cabin were gradually filled, and the waterline slowly lowered.
Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet upstream along the Fish River, heading towards their Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost. The river breeze carried the dampness of melting snow and the scent of budding Water Grass, continuously brushing the bow and stern of the Chuantou. The sails swayed slightly in the afternoon sunlight, adjusting their positions one by one with the changing wind and current. The cabins of the fleet were full of people, their footsteps and whispers mingling with the rhythm of the oars, like a line being stitched back together—starting from the Valley Tribe's dock, passing the boardwalk at the mouth of the Big Horse River Mouth and the embankment at the mouth of the Clothing River Mouth, then continuing along the Fish River, picking up those who had waited all winter, and slowly moving in the same direction.
The docks of the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost gradually came into view ahead. Yan stood at the Chuantou, the wind blowing across his clothes and the stray hairs on his forehead. He looked at the river ahead, his gaze slowly moving over the outlines of the docks he was about to reach. In the distance, figures were already moving on the docks, and several people stood along the edge of the boardwalk, looking towards the river.