The Evacuation Agreement

As Yan followed Liuren into the council hall, the room was already warm. Several oil lamps hung on the walls, their flames soft and steady in the afternoon light, bathing the walls and tabletops in a warm yellow glow. On the long table were several large earthenware plates, each containing tenderly stewed wild boar. Steam still rose from the cut pieces of meat, the thick broth coating them and giving them a glossy sheen. Occasionally, a small piece of meat would slip from the bone and bounce gently on the bottom of the plate. Beside them were several plates of stir-fried wild vegetables, boiled beans, and neatly stacked rice cakes. The edges of the cakes were a golden brown from being pan-fried, and when stacked together, they emitted a fragrant aroma mixed with the smell of charcoal. In the center of the table sat an earthenware pot, steam rising from its spout—freshly boiled water. Water droplets slid slowly down the pot's surface, pooling at the bottom in a small damp patch.

Everyone sat down in turn. Liuren sat in the main seat, Yan sat to his right, Bailin and several of his entourage sat at the lower end, Liutiao sat opposite Yan, watching his movements across the table. Liuren picked up a ceramic pot and poured Yan a bowl of hot water, then pushed a ceramic plate containing wild boar meat towards Yan: "Young Chief Yan, have something to eat first. The journey here was quite bumpy on the boat, so have something hot to tide you over. This wild boar was just hunted today."

Yan didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up a piece of wild boar meat, put it in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. The meat was stewed until very tender, the saltiness was just right, and the soup had an indescribable wild aroma, as if it were mixed with several spices gathered from the mountains. He tore off half a rice cake, dipped it in the meat soup, ate a couple of bites, then picked up his bowl, drank some hot water, put the bowl down, and wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Bailin sat at the lower end of the table, also eating his meal with his head down, but his ears were always perked up, listening to the conversation between the two people at the table.

Liutiao barely touched his chopsticks. He sat opposite Yan, holding an empty bowl in his hand, his fingertips gently twirling along the rim, as if waiting for something. His gaze occasionally fell on Yan's face, then returned to the edges of the bowls and plates on the table.

After Yan had finished eating, and most of the dishes on the table were empty, Liuren put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, sat up straight, and looked at Yan, his voice more formal than before. "Young Chief Yan, a few days ago I sent men to eliminate all the Tiger Tribe's surveillance personnel and strongholds. They had set up two small strongholds near our camp, each with several people living there, constantly watching our docks and granaries. They remembered when our people set sail and when they transported grain, and every few days they would send messages to the Tiger Tribe. I had men sneak over at night and eliminate them all, and the strongholds were also dismantled. The wood and sheds were burned to the ground. Now the Tiger Tribe has no informants in this area for the time being."

Hearing this, Yan's gaze lingered on Liuren's face for a moment. He stuffed the last bite of the flatbread in his mouth, chewed, swallowed, then picked up his bowl, took a sip of water, and gently tapped the bottom of the bowl on the table as he put it down. He spoke in a low voice, "It's good that you pulled them out. Leaving those people around means they'll know if you make a move, and if the news gets out, we'll be in a passive position."

Liuren nodded, his fingers pausing on the table. He continued, lowering his voice as if laying out the information he had been mentally preparing for days. "I've already notified my core and peripheral tribes. The core tribes have already gathered here, and their people have arrived at the camp with what they can carry, resting in the open area on the west side. The peripheral tribes will all arrive in the next couple of days. They're farther away, so the journey will take a little longer, but the message has been delivered, and they won't delay any longer. They'll bring their livestock and other portable items. Once they arrive, I plan to integrate them directly into the ranks without waiting any longer. So, how exactly should we evacuate?"

Yan put down the bowl in his hand, the bottom of which tapped softly on the table. He didn't answer immediately, his finger lingering on the rim of the bowl, tracing the edges of each route to confirm their direction and length. Then he spoke, his voice low but each word seeming to be slowly uttered. "Chief Liuren has thought things through very well. I plan to temporarily relocate you all to the Greater Qing Tribe. The houses there are mostly empty and can accommodate you. The Greater Qing Tribe has already moved away, so we can squeeze in some people for you. Although our fleet is quite large, we can't transport all your supplies by boat—the boats need to carry people, food, and other portable items; there's not enough space. I plan to bring the elderly and weak to the Greater Qing Tribe by boat, while your able-bodied men will be responsible for transporting some supplies by land along the paths on the west bank of the Fish River with cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep. This way, we can basically transport everyone over in one trip. The remaining supplies can be transported by our fleet on another trip; that should be enough."

After listening, Liuren nodded, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and his knuckles made a soft tapping sound on the wooden board, "Okay, we'll follow your arrangements. We'll go wherever you say. Our people will cooperate well. We have plenty of cattle, horses, pigs, and sheep here, and the able-bodied men are all familiar with how to herd livestock. There won't be any problem traveling by land. Although the path on the riverbank is narrow, it's enough for the livestock."

Yan continued, his voice more steady than before, as if he had carefully placed the words on his lips before speaking, "We'll relocate our people there first. The Willow Vine Tribe is too close to the Tiger Tribe. Although we have a huge advantage on the water, if they fight desperately and engage us on land, it will be troublesome. Along the route from the Willow Vine Tribe to the Greater Qing Tribe, I've already had Shibang deploy men at the ferry crossings and Qiantan, with a sentry post every so often. Even if the Tiger Tribe's cavalry wants to pursue, they'll have to break through those sentry posts first. By the time they break through, you'll have already reached the Greater Qing Tribe. The Greater Qing Tribe has walls, docks, and thousands of elite warriors stationed there. Even if the Tiger Tribe wants to make a move, they'll have to think twice. However, I estimate that the Tiger Tribe won't dare to pursue."

After listening, Liuren remained silent for a moment. His gaze fell on the edges of the scattered ceramic bowls and wooden tablets on the table. His fingers lay flat on the table, his palms resting on the surface of the wood. When he spoke, his voice carried a sense of relief at being persuaded, but there was still a hint of lingering reluctance in his tone. "We understand all of this, but it's a pity that we can't take so many fields and large objects with us. We've cultivated those fields for many years, we know the soil like the back of our hand, we know which plots are suitable for which crops. And those large objects, the stone mill, the pottery, the wooden frames, we've accumulated them slowly, we can't move them."

As he spoke, he lightly traced a line on the table with his finger, as if marking the locations of the fields and objects. His gaze lingered on the line for a moment, then he looked up at Yan, as if waiting for him to finish his sentence.

Yan looked at him, not rushing to reply. He placed the bowl back on the table, his fingers lingering on the rim for a moment before he spoke, his voice low but each word carefully crafted. "Chief Liuren, don't feel sorry. Forcibly defending the land might result in losing both people and land. By keeping the people now and letting go of the land, both will be ours in the future. Don't worry. In a few years, the Willow Vine Tribe camp will still be ours, and even the Tiger Tribe's territory will be ours. As time goes on, our Fire Tribe's advantage will only grow. Our ships are increasing every year; our population is growing every year. Although the Tiger Tribe has a strong foundation, they are expending resources while we are accumulating. With this ebb and flow, we will eventually turn the tables."

He paused, as if finding a more solid footing for his next words. "Please believe our promise. When you arrive in the Fire Tribe, you will be properly settled, just like in the Greater Qing Tribe, the Valley Tribe, and the Bean Tribe. Houses, food, and tools will all be prepared in advance. Your tribesmen will not be separated, and your leaders will receive appropriate positions."

Upon hearing this, Liuren's expression relaxed slightly, as if something had been moved from his shoulder. He nodded, his fingers pausing on the table, his fingertips tracing the wood grain back and forth. "The Fire Tribe's strength is undeniable, I have complete faith in them. The fact that you can build so many large ships, that you can drive the Bear Tribe and Wolf Tribe to their knees, that you can defeat the Tiger Tribe twice in a row—it all speaks for itself. Leaving the Willow Vine Tribe for now will make us much safer. We've lived in this area for so many years, and never before have we had to send people to watch the river every night, fearing the Tiger Tribe's ships might sneak in at night. Sometimes, even hearing dogs barking in the middle of the night makes our hearts leap. Once we're with the Greater Qing Tribe, at least we won't have to live in constant fear."

Yan nodded. "Yes, I will temporarily settle you in the Greater Qing Tribe. Once there are vacancies in our Fire Tribe's main valley camp, we will pick you up. Don't worry, it will be quick. The space there has already been cleared out, the houses have been prepared, and the food has been replenished. After you arrive, settle in first, don't rush to work, familiarize yourself with the environment first. The Greater Qing Tribe's camp is bigger than this one, and the dock is wider, so there will be plenty of room for you to move around after you arrive."

Liuren nodded, picked up the bowl in front of him, took a sip of water, put the bowl down, looked at Yan, and said with a certainty that came from being pushed forward, "Okay. I'm very interested in everything about the Fire Tribe and hope to complete the initiation ceremony as soon as possible. I've heard that the Fire Tribe's salt is whiter than the Tiger Tribe's, and Tiger Tribe cloth is denser. I want to see all of this with my own eyes."

Yan's lips curled slightly, a small but steady smile, "It will be soon. Once you reach the Fire Tribe's headquarters in the valley, you'll be official members of the Fire Tribe. This year, our Fire Tribe plans to relocate its management center to the Valley Tribe, making it easier for us to manage and respond to the Tiger Tribe's provocations. The Valley Tribe has a good location, situated in the northern part of the middle section of the Fish River. To the north, we can keep an eye on the Tiger Tribe, and to the south, we can contact our rear. After the management center moves there, you can settle in the headquarters in the valley; it'll be convenient for both sides."

After listening, Liuren nodded and tapped his finger lightly on the table. "That's a good idea. With the management center located in the Valley Tribe, dealing with the threat from the Tiger Tribe will be much easier. Transferring troops from there to the north is much faster than transferring them from the Fire Tribe's main valley. The Fish River will definitely be the Fire Tribe's domain from now on." As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Yan's face for a moment, as if to confirm that his words were not an exaggeration, before he looked away and placed his fingers flat on his knees.

Yan didn't respond to the statement "The Fish River will belong to the Fire Tribe from now on," but instead changed the subject back to the situation in the north. He lowered his voice as if to put the following words in a more casual tone. "The Tiger Tribe hasn't been making any moves lately, has they? You're closer to them, so your information should be more readily available than ours."

Liuren put down his bowl, sat up straight, and his fingers paused on the table, as if rearranging the information that had been lingering in his mind for some time. Then he spoke, his voice not loud, but every word carrying a certainty that had been confirmed. "Recently, the Tiger Tribe has been Dali improving its military. They plan to convert all their resources into strength. I heard that they have recently raided many small tribes on the Long River, increasing their population by tens of thousands. Their shipyards are constantly building ships, their workshops are constantly forging weapons, and their training grounds are filled with people practicing from morning till night. This has greatly tied down the Tiger Tribe's energy; otherwise, the Tiger Tribe would have already annexed our Willow Vine Tribe." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "To the east of the Tiger Tribe are the Wuyue Tribe, and to the west is the Shu Tribe. These two tribes haven't had any major battles with the Tiger Tribe yet, only occasional skirmishes. I heard from those who have returned that there are occasional small battles on the border, but none have escalated; both sides are holding back. Neither side wants to make the situation too tense at this time."

Yan nodded after listening. His finger tapped the rim of the bowl, as if he were incorporating that information into his next task. "It seems the Tiger Tribe has been quite provoked. However, they don't have the energy to deal with our Fire Tribe Tiger Tribe. They're expanding in the north, defending on the east and west, and keeping an eye on us in the south. They're dealing with three fronts, their energy is severely scattered. They're like a person stretched into three pieces, wanting everything but unable to attend to everything. As long as we hold our ground and don't give them any opportunities, they'll eventually give out."

The two then chatted for a while about the details of the evacuation. Yan had someone call Bailin over and asked him and Liutiao to arrange the organization of the Willow Vine Tribe's personnel and the order of loading supplies onto the ships. Bailin stood up from the lower seat, walked to the table, and held an empty wooden tablet in his hand, waiting for Liuren and Liutiao to give him the numbers. The elderly, weak, and grain would go first, while the young and Liuren would take the livestock by land. The route would start from the Willow Vine Tribe's camp, follow the path along the west bank of the Fish River northward, pass two ferry crossings, and finally enter the camp from the south side of the Greater Qing Tribe's dock. Liu Ren listened from the side, occasionally adding a word or two about which sections of the road were suitable for cattle and horses and which sections were prone to being washed away by water. He traced the line on the table with his finger and pointed to a certain spot. "This road will become rotten when the snow melts in the spring, and cattle and horses will easily sink on it. We should go around to the slope above. Although it's a longer route, the roadbed is sturdy." Liutiao took notes, drawing the route on the table with his finger, glancing up at his father after each section to make sure he hadn't made a mistake.

Once everything was arranged, Yan stood up, the chair scraping against the floor with a short, sharp sound. He clasped his hands together in a fist salute to Liuren, the clasping of his hands producing a crisp, short sound. "Chief Liuren, it's settled then. We'll begin our evacuation in three days. You should gather everyone together and pack what you need to take. Don't force yourself to bring large items; just take what you can carry."

Liuren also stood up, clasped his hands in return, and his palms made a short, crisp sound as he closed them, "Yes, Young Master Yan. See you in three days."