The Fleet's Journey Home

On the afternoon of the day Yan prepared all the supplies for the Willow Vine Tribe Willow Vine Tribe the dock, as the sun began to set, the familiar sound of cow horns finally rang out from the dock. The sound drifted from upstream, deep and resonant, carrying far across the river and startling several water birds foraging near the dock into taking flight. Yan was standing at the dock when he heard the horn. He looked up and gazed downstream along the river. In the distance, the sails of a fleet of boats emerged one after another from the bend in the river. The white sails gleamed softly in the afternoon light. The oars entered the water in perfect unison, each row of blades rising and falling almost simultaneously, making it appear from afar as a single body of water rose and fell in rhythm with the fleet.

Bailin stood at the Chuantou of the foremost boat, wearing a greyish-white linen robe tied at the waist with a hemp rope, and straw sandals on his feet. His face was flushed from the river wind, and the skin on his cheekbones was cracked with a few fine lines, but he was full of energy. His gaze swept over the figures waiting on the Chuantou, from bow to Chuantou and back again. When the boat docked and the gangplank was set up, Bailin stepped off the boat, his boots landing on the wooden planks of the dock. After he steadied himself, he first stretched his shoulders, as if he needed to loosen his muscles after being on the boat for so long, and then strode over to Yan. His steps were... He acted quickly, but didn't rush to speak. He first glanced at the supplies piled up on the dock before clasping his hands in a salute, the clinking sound of his palms making a short, crisp sound. His voice carried the satisfaction of someone who had just finished a task. "Young Chief, I've settled the Willow Vine Tribe's men in the Greater Qing Tribe. The journey has been relatively smooth, without any trouble. The Greater Qing Tribe has enough empty houses, and everyone is settled. The elderly and weak are housed in the houses on the south side, while the able-bodied are in the barracks near the dock, ready to be deployed at any time. How is things on your side? Has the Tiger Tribe sent a large force over?"

Yan shook his head slightly, a smile slowly spreading across his lips. He switched the empty wooden tablet in his hand to his other, tapping the edge of the tablet lightly with his fingers, and then spoke, "The Tiger Tribe hasn't recovered its strength yet. They need manpower in many places, so where would they find the strength to deal with us? The Shu Tribe to the west and the Wuyue Tribe to the east are both restless. They need people to guard their own camps, and they've also drawn a lot of manpower from the Long River to absorb population. They're lucky if they can even hold onto their own camps; where would they find the strength to deal with us? It's good enough that our Fire Tribe isn't causing trouble for the Tiger Tribe. How could the Tiger Tribe dare to cause us trouble? These days, they've only sent some boats to gather near the Great Luwei Tribe, which they control, to monitor and guard against us. Those boats don't dare to go upstream; they just circle back and forth on the south bank twice a day, morning and evening, along similar routes, like a routine. Their boats just watch us from a distance, and then leave after a while."

After listening, Bailin nodded. His voice was softer than before, but his tone was steady. "That's good. I was worried about what problems we might encounter here. After settling the people of the Willow Vine Tribe in the Greater Qing Tribe, I immediately brought the boats to the Willow Vine Tribe. We didn't stop along the way, and even our supplies were handled on the small boats. From the Greater Qing Tribe to the Willow Vine Tribe, I had the rowers take turns resting, and the boat didn't slow down. I just wanted to get here as soon as possible to check on the situation. On the way, I kept thinking, what if the Tiger Tribe sent a large force while you were still in the Willow Vine Tribe? That would be troublesome for us. Fortunately, they didn't make a move."

Yan nodded, turning his gaze from the river to Bailin's face. "It's good that you're being cautious. I've gathered all the necessary supplies at the Willow Vine Tribe's dock. We'll have our people load the supplies onto the boats. As for the other supplies, I've had Liutiao hide them. The millstones have been removed and taken into the mountains, hidden behind Dashi and covered with dry branches. If they come, they won't find a single grain of food. We'll rest here for the night, and leave with the boats first thing tomorrow morning. After all, the relocation of our Fire Tribe management center to the Valley Tribe isn't finished yet. You also need to go to the Bean Tribe to hand over the reins. Shibang is waiting for you at the Greater Qing Tribe. After that, you'll officially take over the defense and management of the Bean Tribe."

Bailin nodded, asking no further questions. He turned and walked towards the fleet behind him. As he reached the edge of the pier, he raised his hand and gestured to the soldiers on the ships, his fingers moving through the air as if conveying orders in another language. The soldiers on the ships quickly sprang into action. Some came out of the cabins, some readjusted the gangplanks, and some began moving the supplies piled up on the dock. Bundles of rattan were carried onto the ships, copper pots were carried by two men onto the gangplanks, and sacks of grain were carried on one man's shoulder. Their steps were steady, and the dock quickly became bustling with activity. The sounds of footsteps and heavy objects hitting the ground mingled together, as if filling the day with that rhythm.

Early the next morning, before dawn, a thin layer of morning mist still lingered on the river, like a lingering dream from the night. Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet away from the Willow Vine Tribe's dock, heading upstream along the Fish River. The fleet carried the last batch of supplies; the boats were slightly deeper in the water than on the way there, but they still moved steadily. The Willow Vine Tribe's dock gradually shrank behind them, the outlines of the empty wooden houses and the unfinished campsite blurring in the morning light, eventually disappearing into the bend of the river. Yan stood at the Chuantou, his gaze lingering on the river ahead for a moment before returning to the warriors in the cabin who were organizing supplies, as if confirming with his eyes that everyone and everything was still safely in their proper places. Qingsui stood beside him, holding a wooden tablet with the final list of the Willow Vine Tribe's supplies. She checked the markings on the tablet one by one, then put it away, looking up at the unfolding river ahead without saying a word.

When the fleet passed the Greater Qing Tribe, it docked and remained there for over an hour. Yan had all the supplies unloaded. Rattan was piled at the warehouse entrance, Great Copper were carried into the kitchen, and grain was moved into the granary. Standing on the edge of the dock, after the last bag of grain was moved into the warehouse, he spoke to Shibang, who was standing beside him, his voice low but clear: "These are the last batch of supplies the Greater Qing Tribe brought back from the Willow Vine Tribe. Keep these safe here. Register what needs to be registered, distribute what needs to be distributed. Give the rattan to the basket weavers. Put the Great Copper in the kitchen, and put the grain in the granary." "Don't let these things pile up on the dock for too long, they'll get wind and rain." Shibang nodded, patted his chest, and said with a sense of satisfaction after being given instructions, "Don't worry, boss, I'll have someone put them away this afternoon. I'll have the rattan moved to the shed on the west side of the warehouse, where it's well-ventilated. The Great Copper will be sent to the kitchen today, and the grain will be registered this afternoon." Yan gave a few more instructions about the patrols at the northern ferry and the duty roster inside the camp, then looked at the soldiers on the dock who were unloading supplies to make sure there were enough men, before turning back to the ship.

When they passed the Bean Tribe, the fleet docked and lingered for half a day. Yan had Bailin disembark with his belongings. Bailin stood on the dock and first checked the numbers and defense arrangements with the deputy sent by Shibang. He took out a wooden tablet from his pocket, on which was the handover list Shibang had left him. He looked through it item by item, from the height of the walls to the number of sentry posts, from the grain stored in the granaries to the defenses at the ferry crossing. After reviewing each item, he glanced towards the dock, as if confirming the records on the tablet with his own eyes. The contents matched. Then he walked around the camp's perimeter wall, bent down to check the reinforcement of several sections of the foundation, pressed the soil at the corner of the wall with his palm to confirm that it had been compacted, stood up, and raised his hand in Yan's direction, indicating that this side was ready. Yan nodded to him, did not disembark, and stood at the Chuantou watching Bailin and the leader of the Bean Tribe walk towards the camp together, their figures disappearing between the rows of wooden houses. Then he turned and shouted into the cabin, "Let's go!" The fleet continued on its way.

When the fleet passed the Bear Tribe Outpost, it paused briefly at the shore. Yingmu strode over from the dock, stood on the edge of the gangplank, and spoke a few words to Yan. Yingmu wore a dark gray linen robe, a leather belt with a bronze buckle around his waist, and animal-skin boots, the boot shafts stained with mud from the riverbank. His face was darker than the last time Yan had seen him, and the skin on his cheekbones was roughened by the river wind. Yan asked him if there had been any new activity at the northern outposts. Yingmu said that the Wolf Tribe hadn't sent anyone south recently, but occasionally figures could be seen moving on the opposite bank, as if counting the boats on this side. Sometimes their people would stand on the bank for a while and then leave, sometimes they would ride over, look around, and then ride back. Yan nodded after listening, telling him not to relax and to keep an eye on things. He gave a few more instructions about the rotation of outposts and the defense of the ferry crossing, and then let the fleet continue its journey.

When passing the Valley Tribe, the fleet docked for an afternoon. Yan disembarked and found Jia Li. The two stood on the dock's pier, facing the pier under expansion and a row of newly built warehouses behind it. Several bundles of timber, not yet moved, were piled on the pier, and several workers were planing planks, shavings scattered all over the ground. Yan's voice was more formal than usual when he spoke, as if he were bringing up something that had been on his mind for some time: "Chief Jia Li, the Fire Tribe is about to relocate its entire management center here. You should prepare in advance, clear out all the available space on the dock, repair the warehouses where needed, and build the houses where necessary." "The repairs are in progress. After the management center moves here, there will be more fleet deployments and manpower allocations. You need to arrange the personnel in advance to avoid chaos later." Jia Li nodded, tapping his fingers at his side as if to include those words in the upcoming arrangements. "Yes, young leader. I've already had a space cleared on the west side of the dock to build new sheds. The warehouse has also been listed, and the necessary mats and planks have been prepared. As for manpower, I plan to draw a group of people from various outposts to help out first, and then rearrange the personnel after the management center officially moves here." Yan nodded, said nothing more, and turned back to the ship.

When the fleet passed the stronghold at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost, it docked for more than an hour. Feiyu stood on the dock, a smile still lingering on his face from his conversation with people a few days ago. He wore a gray-brown linen robe, a hemp rope tied around his waist, straw sandals, and his trousers were covered in dried mud. Yan jumped off the boat and walked over to him. The two chatted about the repatriation. Feiyu said that the resettlement at the Big Horse River Mouth had been arranged properly, and the new tribesmen would be allocated houses, food, and tools without any problems. Yan nodded after listening and asked a few more questions about the surveillance of the northern ferry crossing. Feiyu answered one by one, saying that there was nothing unusual in the north; neither the Wolf Tribe's boat nor the Tiger Tribe's boat had come. Yan nodded to Feiyu after listening and then returned to the boat.

When they passed the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, the fleet docked for most of the day. Dazhuang stood on the pier and greeted Yan as he disembarked. He wore a dark blue linen robe, a leather belt with a bronze buckle around his waist, and animal skin boots with gleaming clean tops. The two walked along the edge of the pier for a while. Dazhuang said that the warehouses at the Green Leaf River Mouth were ready, and the new tribespeople could be settled comfortably. Yan briefly explained the evacuation of the Willow Vine Tribe and mentioned the recent movements of the Tiger Tribe. Dazhuang nodded after listening, without asking any further questions, and simply said to Yan, "Take care on the road, and have a safe journey."

After a journey of stops and starts, Yan finally led his fleet back to the Fire Tribe's Little Fish River Mouth Outpost. By the time the boats docked, it was already dark. Torches were lit on the pier, their flames flickering gently in the evening breeze. Yan disembarked, his boots thumping on the wooden planks of the pier. He stood on the pier; the door of a wooden hut was open, letting in a warm yellow light. Someone was speaking softly inside, their voices mostly drowned out by the wind outside. He took a deep breath. The night wind blew from the river, carrying the damp scent of water and churned earth, invigorating him on his face. He stood there for a moment, then strode towards the council hall. The Fire Tribe 'Fire Tribe administrative center hadn't completely relocated yet; this was still the administrative center. He needed to explain the journey there and then begin arranging the final steps of the relocation. Qingsui followed half a step behind him, the two walking one after the other on the camp's dirt path, their footsteps alternating in the night.