The Fleet Sails North

Yan, along with his brothers Daya and Gubang, spent three days preparing, loading all the supplies onto the ship. For those three days, the docks were constantly bustling with people from morning till night. On the first day, they moved the grain and tools from the dock, neatly stacking them into the hold. Daya stood by the gangplank with a wooden tablet, noting each bag as it passed, his carving knife moving swiftly across the tablet. Gubang and his men maintained order on the dock, separating the grain carriers from the tool carriers to avoid congestion. On the second day, they moved workshop parts and the belongings of the artisans' families. The copper ingots were much heavier than the grain; two people carried each piece, needing to rest after a few steps. On the third day, they loaded the remaining odds and ends and the last batch of supplies from the warehouse onto the ship. Some tied several copper pots with straw ropes, each carrying one up the gangplank; others carried bundles of hemp cloth on their shoulders, the edges dangling and swaying. Daya checked the numbers on the wooden tablet again, making sure nothing was missing, before putting the tablet away.

Early on the fourth day, before dawn, torches were already lit on the dock. A thin layer of morning mist floated on the river, softening the outlines of the boats moored along the shore. The torchlight scattered in the mist, casting long, short shadows of the people waiting to board the boats along the dock. The dock was crowded with people, some going with the boat, others seeing them off. Those leaving carried bundles, led children, and supported the elderly, forming long queues to board. A young man carrying a bundle stood at the front of the queue, the straps digging into his shoulders. A shallow crease was pressed into the fabric. His other hand held the hand of a five- or six-year-old boy, whose fingers gripped his father's index finger as they walked step by step. Behind them, an old woman leaned on a wooden cane, standing in the middle of the procession, supported by her daughter-in-law. The old woman's steps were slow and careful, each step accompanied by the soft tapping of her cane on the ground. Those seeing them off stood on the outer edge of the dock, craning their necks to look towards the fleet. Some waved to the ships, some whispered to those around them, and some simply stood there watching, their lips slightly pursed.

Yan stood at the Chuantou, checking the final list of supplies. His fingers traced each line on the wooden tablet, confirming every item was correct. Then he turned and looked towards the dock. Qingsui stood on the inner edge of the dock, wearing a light purple linen dress, her hair held back with a wooden hairpin. A faint smile graced her face, but her eyes were slightly red, and a thin layer of moisture glistened on her lower eyelids, flashing briefly in the morning light before being obscured by her drooping eyelashes. Beside her stood Qingye, wearing a dark brown linen robe, her hands clasped in front of her, looking at Yan and Jianshi at the Chuantou, a slight smile playing on her lips. A hint of reluctance flickered in her eyes, but she suppressed it with a gentle curve, not letting it show. Qingsui waved to Yan, the movement subtle, merely raising and lowering her fingers repeatedly. Yan waved back, then shouted, "I'll come back for you as soon as we reach the Valley Tribe!" Qingsui nodded, not speaking, but pressing her hand to her chest, her palm against the fabric of her clothing, as if to tell him she heard her. Qingye Ye, standing beside her, also raised her hand to Yan, not waving, but simply straightening and then closing her fingers, as if to say, "Be careful on the road."

Jianshi stood beside Yan, waved towards the dock, and then shouted into the cabin, "Let's go!" The sound of the bull horn rang out, deep and long, carrying far through the morning mist like a stretched line, passing through the fog, across the river, through the newly sprouting treetops on both banks, and all the way to the depths of the camp. The fleet slowly left the dock of the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, oars striking the water simultaneously, stirring up a white Langhua that coalesced into a continuous, churning wave at the stern. The sails rose one by one in the morning light, their white surfaces gleaming softly in the rising sun. Qingsui stood motionless on the dock until the last ship of the fleet had sailed out of sight, then slowly turned and walked towards the camp, her steps slower than usual.

Jianshi stood at the Chuantou, watching the camps and docks recede into the distance on both banks, and remained silent for a while. His fingers rested on the edge of the gunwale, his fingertips gently adjusting their position as the boat rocked. Then he spoke, his voice low but clear. "Yan'er, don't worry, Qingsui will be fine with your mother Qingye taking care of her. Your mother is meticulous, watching over her food, clothing, and daily necessities, ensuring she doesn't suffer any grievances. Your Dali is also at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost; he'll look after her if anything happens." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the gunwale. "After we reach the Valley Tribe, you and your fleet will bring the people of the Greater Qing Tribe to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost and settle them in. Then, you can bring your mother Qingye and Qingsui to the Valley Tribe as well. By then, Qingsui will be more than three months pregnant, so traveling by boat won't be a problem at all. The first three months are the most crucial; after that, the pregnancy will be stable, and a few days' journey by boat won't be an issue. There's plenty of space on the boat. Prepare a clean cabin for them, and add two extra layers of animal hides to keep her from being tossed around."

Yan nodded, his gaze shifting from the riverbank to his father's face. "Alright, once these matters are settled, we'll spend the winter peacefully in the Valley Tribe. Next year, as long as we gradually relocate the Willow Vine Tribe members from the Greater Qing Tribe to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, we'll have essentially completed our manpower recruitment. With the rear secured, things will be much easier at the front." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the gunwale. "After dealing with these matters, we can focus on dealing with the Wolf Tribe next year."

Jianshi nodded, placing his hand flat on the gunwale, as if marking a conclusion to the matter. His voice was lower than before, but every word carried a calculated certainty. "Yes, the Wolf Tribe now borders our Fire Tribe. Before, we were far away, and we had other matters to attend to, so we could only guard and monitor them. Next year, when we have the time, we must eliminate this scourge of the Wolf Tribe, so we can focus on dealing with the Tiger Tribe." As he spoke, he lightly tapped his fingers on the gunwale, his knuckles making a soft click on the wooden planks. "The Wolf Tribe is like a fishbone stuck in our throat; we can't eat comfortably until it's removed. Moreover, their relationship with the Tiger Tribe is ambiguous. If we attack them, the Tiger Tribe won't stand idly by, but they also won't come to our aid with all their might. This is precisely our opportunity to defeat them one by one."

Yan continued, "The Wolf Tribe and the Tiger Tribe have an ambiguous relationship now. If we eliminate the Wolf Tribe, we can not only avenge our people who joined our Fire Tribe, but also cut off the Tiger Tribe's peripheral forces. It will also greatly help us take over the territories of the Great Luwei Tribe and the Willow Vine Tribe. The Tiger Tribe has occupied the Willow Vine Tribe Tribe's territory, and the Great Luwei Tribe Tiger Tribe also in their hands. Once we deal with the Wolf Tribe and advance from the south, the Tiger Tribe's southern defenses will completely collapse. At that time, they will only be able to retreat to their old territory at the Fish River Mouth, and they will no longer have the ability to extend their influence outwards."

Jianshi nodded, his gaze fixed on the widening river ahead. His voice steadied slightly. "After we eliminate the Wolf Tribe, I plan to station you at the forefront of the Fire Tribe, giving you full authority over military operations against the Tiger Tribe. You need to be mentally prepared. You'll have enough ships, enough soldiers, and enough provisions. Your job is simple—to suppress the Tiger Tribe, giving them no chance to rise again. Every time they come out, you fight them back; when they build ships, you burn their ships; don't let them have a single day of peace. We'll slowly wear them down until they can't hold on any longer, and they'll naturally collapse."

Yan's expression didn't change much after hearing this, but his fingers gripping the ship's gunwale tightened and then loosened slightly. He spoke softly, but each word seemed to be carefully crafted before being uttered. "Father, rest assured, I will definitely suppress the Tiger Tribe on the front lines. As long as we win a few battles, the Tiger Tribe will no longer have the strength to fight against our Fire Tribe. They have fewer ships and fewer people than us; they won't last long." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the gunwale. "Besides, I've pretty much figured out the waterway over there. Shibang and Yingmu have been watching for so long; they know what's going on."

Jianshi nodded to him, said nothing more, and simply withdrew his hand from the gunwale, letting it hang at his side.

The fleet sailed downstream along the Fish River for several days. When they passed the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost, the fleet did not stop for long, but only slowed down at the dock. Jianshi, standing at the bow, sent someone to shout a few words to the Chuantou leader, instructing him to gather the people of the Greater Qing Tribe who had been temporarily housed there. Yan Valley Tribe would come to pick up the people and settle them at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost after returning. The dock leader waved to the ship to indicate that he understood, and the fleet continued on its way.

When they passed the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, Jianshi had the fleet dock for over an hour. He disembarked and walked to the pier, where Dazhuang was already waiting. The two exchanged a few words along the pier. Jianshi instructed Dazhuang to gather the Greater Qing Tribe members on the Green Leaf River Mouth side as well, and gave him some instructions regarding the outpost's defenses and production arrangements. Dazhuang nodded in agreement, patted his belt, and said with the decisiveness characteristic of someone who gets things done, "Don't worry, brother, I'll keep an eye on things here." Jianshi nodded to him, then turned and went back to the boat.

When the fleet passed the Clothing River Mouth Outpost, the stop was even shorter. Jianshi simply sent someone to stand at the bow of the Chuantou and shout a few words to the leader on the dock, instructing the people there to gather the remaining members of the Greater Qing Tribe. The leader on the dock responded and waved to the ship.

When they passed the stronghold at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost, Jianshi also had the fleet dock. He went ashore and chatted with Feiyu for a few words. Feiyu stood on the dock, wearing a gray-brown linen robe, a hemp rope tied around his waist, and straw sandals on his feet. After exchanging a few words, Jianshi told him to gather the Greater Qing Tribe members on the Big Horse River Mouth as well, and encouraged him to manage the stronghold well. Feiyu nodded, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Jianshi, and then watched the fleet set sail again.

The fleet continued downstream along the Fish River, heading towards the Valley River Mouth Outpost. The fields on both banks of the stronghold stretched out under the afternoon sun, the freshly turned soil gleaming with a deep brown sheen. Farmers were bending over, turning the Chutou on the ridges, their hoes falling and rising again. Occasionally, a few water birds would skim across the river, their wings flashing in the sunlight before folding back and disappearing into the Luwei in the distance. Yan stood at the Chuantou, his gaze fixed on the river ahead, his fingers resting on the edge of the gunwale, gently adjusting his grip with each Jianshi stood beside him, their shadows stretched long on the deck by the afternoon sun, moving back and forth.