The Greater Qing Agreement

By the time Yan led his fleet back to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost estuary stronghold, the sky was already beginning to set. As the ships docked, some people on the pier were tidying the mooring lines. Seeing the fleet return, they called out towards the camp, their voices carried far by the evening breeze. Yan disembarked and, without lingering on the pier, headed straight for the council hall. The guards at the entrance stepped aside to let him through. Yan crossed the threshold and entered. Jianshi was sitting in the main seat, holding a wooden tablet in his hand, with a bone needle resting on the table. Hearing the door open, he looked up, his gaze lingering on Yan's face for a moment before he spoke, his voice carrying a gentle warmth that only came upon seeing someone return. "Yan'er, you're back? Sit down and rest for a bit, have some water, and then tell me in detail about your trip."

Yan sat down opposite him, picked up a ceramic pot from the corner of the table, poured a bowl of water, took a couple of sips, put down the bowl, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and then spoke, his voice steady after days of sailing. "Father, our fleet's trip to the Valley Tribe went very smoothly this time. All 20,000 tribesmen we brought were settled in the Valley Tribe headquarters and the Little Valley Camp. The Valley Tribe had prepared houses and food in advance, so people could settle in immediately upon arrival without any chaos. The 10,000 or so people from the Valley Tribe and the Bean Tribe were also all taken to our main valley camp. Uncle Jianya's arrangements were excellent; he divided the people into two groups to guide them, and there were no traffic jams along the way. The 10,000 or so people from the Bear Tribe who performed well were also taken and settled."

He picked up the bowl and took another sip of water to moisten his throat. "Chief Daiyue also said that we should choose a good day for Qingsui and me to get married. He said that once everyone is settled, both sides can breathe a sigh of relief and take advantage of that time to hold the wedding."

After listening, Jianshi nodded and said, "That's good. We've been preparing for your wedding with Qingsui recently. Your mother has already made a list, and everything that needs to be prepared is being prepared. I plan to have you take a group to the Greater Qing Tribe, and then the wedding can be held directly after you return. That way, the timing will be perfect, and after the wedding, you can go and pick up the next group of people without worry."

Upon hearing the words "go to the Greater Qing Tribe," Yan paused slightly and asked, "Go to the Greater Qing Tribe? Father, what are the arrangements there?"

Jianshi nodded and said, "Although you led your fleet around the Greater Qing Tribe last time and drove away the Wolf Tribe's ships, you know the Wolf Tribe isn't easily intimidated. They retreat every time you drive them away, but they always come back as soon as you leave. We need to go there from time to time to demonstrate our strength, so they don't think we're just passing through. This time, take some supplies with you and also send two thousand elite warriors to garrison there. That way, even if the Wolf Tribe has any ideas, they won't dare to act rashly. The Greater Qing Tribe's location is too important; we can't afford any mistakes."

He traced a line on the table with his finger, as if marking a route on a map. "And while you're on this trip, you can also transfer some people from the Greater Qing Tribe to the Valley Tribe and several strongholds in the north. This mainly involves people from the outer and core affiliated tribes of the Greater Qing Tribe. They have a large population there, and relocating too many at once could cause chaos. Moving them in batches is safer. This will reduce the pressure on us when we go to pick them up next time, and it will be more convenient."

Yan nodded, put the bowl back on the table, and paused his finger on the rim of the bowl. "Okay, I plan to go over in two days."

Jianshi thought for a moment and said, "Take more boats with you. After you arrive at the Greater Qing Tribe, hand over the supplies and soldiers, pick them up on the boats, and go directly to the Valley Tribe. After settling them in the Valley Tribe, settle them in the several strongholds in the north, and then come back."

Yan continued, "Yes, Father. When I went to the Valley Tribe to pick up the people, Chief Daiyue said that the Willow Vine Tribe downstream of the Fish River is very enthusiastic about joining our Fire Tribe. If I go to the Greater Qing Tribe this time, I'm very likely to run into the Willow Vine Tribe. They're being pressured badly by the Tiger Tribe and have already sent people out to look for us."

Jianshi thought for a moment, then tapped his finger on the table again, saying, "If the Willow Vine Tribe wants to join our Fire Tribe Fire Tribe, we would be more than happy to. You can represent our Fire Tribe to negotiate with the Willow Vine Tribe. The conditions and treatment we offer are the same as those for the Valley Tribe joining us. The chief will serve as the council leader, the chiefs of the core subordinate tribes will enjoy the same council leader treatment, and other chiefs will be granted reserve titles. We will properly settle their people; houses, food, and tools will all be prepared in advance. If their people come back with you, you can also take them to our main valley to see for themselves. Let them see our resettlement conditions firsthand; that will be more effective than any amount of talk we could give."

Yan nodded, mentally reviewing his words, and then said, "Yes, Father. There hasn't been much movement in the north lately; the Tiger Tribe is just accumulating strength and developing its power. When I left, Feiyu and Yingmu both said that the north was temporarily peaceful, and the Wolf Tribe's ships haven't come south anymore."

After listening, Jianshi Shi's expression relaxed somewhat, and he said, "Okay, this is very beneficial to us. We will arrange your wedding soon, and you only need to bring the fleet to pick them up when you return. We will continue to increase resource allocation to the Valley Tribe and strive to relocate the Fire Tribe's management center to the Valley Tribe before this winter."

Yan stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to his father, and then turned and walked out of the council hall. The door slammed shut behind him with a low thud. He stood on the steps outside and took a deep breath. The air, carried by the river, was damp with melting snow and the scent of churning earth, invigorating him on the face. Dusk began to spread from the eastern horizon, painting the outlines of the camp's rooftops and treetops in a pale gray-blue. He stood there for a moment, then strode towards his quarters.

Yan only stayed at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost for two days before leaving with the Fire Tribe's fleet. When the fleet departed the Little Fish River Mouth dock, a thin layer of morning mist still lingered on the river. The fleet sailed downstream along the Fish River, making only brief stops at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost and the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost. Yan disembarked and told Dazhuang and Feiyu that they would settle about ten thousand people at these strongholds upon the fleet's return, instructing them to prepare empty houses in advance. Dazhuang, standing on the dock, nodded after hearing this, patted his belt with his thick hand, and said, "Don't worry, the empty houses are already prepared," before turning to arrange for preparations. Feiyu, standing beside him, waited for Dazhuang to finish before speaking, his voice lower than usual. "Houses have also been vacated at the Dazhuang Big Horse River Mouth. When you return, just dock directly; I've arranged for someone to wait at the dock." Yan nodded to them, didn't linger, and turned back to the ship. The fleet continued its journey.

After several days of sailing, the fleet finally arrived at the Great Green River Mouth Outpost. From afar, Yan could see that the outline of the shore was more orderly than when he last visited—a row of new wooden stakes had been added along the dock's edge, the boardwalk had been extended, and the newly laid planks gleamed a pale yellow in the afternoon sun. Several boats of the Greater Qing Tribe were moored on the inner side of the dock, their sails furled, their hulls gently swaying with the waves. Further downstream, several small boats were moving rapidly downstream, their oars paddling furiously, leaving winding Shuihen in their wake. Yan squinted for a moment, recognizing... These were the Wolf Tribe's boats, retreating downstream, their Chuantou already turned towards more distant waters. He stood at the Chuantou, motionless, giving no order to pursue, simply watching the boats grow smaller and smaller on the river's surface, finally disappearing at the bend in the channel. Then he withdrew his gaze, glancing back at the fleet behind him. The sails formed a continuous white wall, the oars striking the water in perfect unison, each row of blades rising and falling almost simultaneously, appearing from afar as a single expanse of water rising and falling in rhythm with the fleet. Seeing such a display, the Wolf Tribe's boats probably wouldn't even entertain the thought of probing.

A considerable number of people had already gathered on the dock. Qingya stood at the forefront, wearing a dark blue linen robe with dark stitching at the collar and cuffs. His hair was held back with a bone hairpin, and a few strands of white hair fell behind his ears. Behind him stood Qingshi, Qingshi was wearing a dark gray linen short robe today, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms. His gaze fell on the large ships that were docking, scanning from Chuantou to stern. On Qingya's other side stood a young man, slightly thinner than Qingshi, but with equally broad shoulders. He wore a light brown linen short robe, a dark leather belt around his waist, from which hung a short knife, its scabbard engraved with vine-like patterns. His hair was tied back with a leather cord, a few stray strands falling from his ears to his cheekbones. His gaze also fell on the docking ships, but with a scrutinizing quality that Qingshi held.

The ship docked, the gangplank was set up, and Yan stepped off. Qingya stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and made a short, crisp sound as his palms closed. His voice carried a sense of reassurance after being confirmed. "Young Chief Yan, you've come in person this time. I felt relieved when I saw your fleet at the dock. Look at those ships downstream; the Wolf Tribe scouts turned and ran as soon as they saw your ships. They didn't even dare to get close." As he spoke, he turned to the side and pointed downstream, then turned back, a slight smile on his lips.

Yan returned the salute with a clasped fist, his palms making a short, crisp sound as they closed. "Yes, Father was worried the Wolf Tribe might make some trouble, so he sent me personally with the fleet." He paused, his gaze shifting from Qingya's face to the warriors unloading supplies on the dock, then back again. "This time I brought two thousand elite warriors to reinforce your defenses here, along with some bronze weapons and leather armor. As long as the Tiger Tribe doesn't come with full force, the Greater Qing Tribe needn't worry."

Upon hearing this, Qingya's expression visibly relaxed. "That's wonderful. You've arrived just in time." He paused, lowering his voice slightly, "The Wolf Tribe has recently started eyeing our Greater Qing Tribe again. A few days ago, several ships circled our dock a few times. Although they didn't dock, their actions were unsettling. With you here, they shouldn't dare to come again."

Yan nodded. "The Wolf Tribe shouldn't dare to do it again. I also came here this time to pick up 20,000 people from you and settle them in the Valley Tribe and our several strongholds to the north. That way, it will be easier for us to pick up people next time. We have already prepared places for them to settle down. The houses and food are all in place, and the people can move in as soon as they arrive."

Qingya picked up the conversation, his voice carrying a certain certainty after confirmation. "That's for the best. I've already received the news and started making arrangements. Everyone will be assembled by tomorrow morning; they just need to board the ship. I've already divided the 20,000 people into groups, organized by family; they won't be separated." He paused, turned to the side, and gestured to the young man next to him wearing a light brown linen robe, "By the way, this gentleman next to me is Liutiao, the young chieftain of the Willow Vine Tribe. He's here on behalf of his Willow Vine Tribe to discuss joining your Fire Tribe Fire Tribe. He's been here for two or three days, waiting for your fleet. Let's go to the council hall and get something to eat; we can talk while we eat."

Yan's gaze shifted to Liutiao, scrutinizing him before speaking. He noticed Liutiao's shoulders were about the same width as Qingshi's, but his posture was slightly different— Qingshi's were outward-spreading, like a tree already stretching its branches, while Liutiao's were inward-curving, like a taut vine, its strength concealed within. His gaze fell on the scabbard at Liutiao's waist, then moved to the leather cord tied behind his head and the stray hairs hanging by his ears, as if judging the other's origins and habits from those details. Then he spoke, his voice low but clear. "The Willow Vine Tribe wants to join our Fire Tribe, and we certainly welcome them. Come, let's eat and talk."

Liutiao Branch clasped his hands in a salute, bowing slightly deeper than Qingya. He paused for a moment before straightening up. "Young Chief Yan, thank you. I've come here on behalf of the Willow Vine Tribe to discuss this matter with the Fire Tribe. I will explain the details to you in detail." His voice sounded more steady than someone his age, as if he had been repeatedly instructed before leaving home.

The group headed towards the council hall of the Greater Qing Tribe. The Greater Qing Tribe's camp was more tidy than when they last visited. A new section of wall had been built on both sides of the road, and the soil at the base of the wall had been tamped down smoothly. Several diagonal braces had been added to the corners of the wall, as if it had been recently reinforced. On the open ground to the left, newly harvested grain was piled up. The grains had been dried and were being packed into sacks. Several people were bending over tying the sacks. When they saw the group passing by, they straightened up, glanced in their direction, and then lowered their heads to continue working. The council hall was not large, but it was clean and tidy. After everyone sat down, Qingya had hot tea and dried fruit brought out, and also asked the kitchen to hurry up and bring out the hot dishes.

After everyone had taken a few sips of water, Qingya put down his bowl and looked at Yan, saying, "Young Chief Yan, Liutiao has come this time with the sincerity of their tribe. They are currently under great pressure from the Tiger Tribe and want to settle things as soon as possible."

Yan put down his teacup and looked at Liutiao's face. He tapped his fingers lightly on the rim of the bowl, then spoke, his voice low but each word sounding as if he had slowly rehearsed it before uttering it. "Liutiao, tell me about the situation on your side. What has the Tiger Tribe done to you recently?"

Liutiao straightened up, his fingers pausing on the table as if rearranging the words that had been lingering in his mind for some time. Then he spoke, his voice steadyer than before. "The Tiger Tribe has come three times recently. The first time, they sent someone to deliver a message, asking us to send supplies regularly; the second time, they sent a small squad of warriors, ostensibly for patrol, but they lingered on our border for a long time, as if surveying the edge of our camp; the third time, they came directly with a message saying that if we don't respond, they will send troops." He paused, his gaze lingering on Yan's face for a moment, as if to confirm that he was still listening, "My father originally wanted to negotiate for a little longer, but the Tiger Tribe's deadline is getting shorter and shorter. We estimate we can't hold out much longer."

Yan listened but didn't answer immediately. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, as if mentally reviewing the information, tracing its every line to confirm its depth and direction. Then he spoke, "We warmly welcome your joining the Fire Tribe. The conditions and treatment we offer are the same as those of the Valley Tribe, Bean Tribe, and Greater Qing Tribe. The leader of the Willow Vine Tribe will serve as the council leader, the leaders of core subordinate tribes will enjoy the same council leader benefits, and other leaders will be granted reserve titles, with outstanding performance leading to direct promotion to full leader." He paused, "We will properly settle your people; houses, food, and tools will all be prepared in advance."

Upon hearing this, Liutiao's expression shifted slightly, as if a taut string had finally loosened. He clasped his hands in a respectful bow, his waist bending even deeper than before. "Thank you, Young Chief Yan. I will report to my father as soon as I return. If all goes well, our Willow Vine Tribe will express our stance as soon as possible."

Yan nodded. Then he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and put it down. His gaze shifted between Qingya and Liutiao, and his voice softened. "I've received the messages from both sides. When I return from the Greater Qing Tribe, I can take some people from the Willow Vine Tribe with me so they can first check out the resettlement environment in the Valley Tribe. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Liutiao's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll arrange it right away."

Qingya nodded beside him, his voice low as he spoke, "Then it's settled. Let's eat first, and we'll discuss the specific arrangements afterward. The food's getting cold."