Good News and Hidden Concerns

After Yan led his men to conquer the Willow Vine Tribe and the Great Luwei Tribe, they stationed themselves at the Great Luwei Tribe. Yan had the village gate repaired, the hinges replaced, and the gate no longer creaked when opened and closed. He also reorganized the wooden houses and tents in the camp that had been damaged in the battle, clearing out some houses to serve as temporary meeting halls and warehouses. The wounded soldiers were placed in the houses further inside, and the prisoners were held in the open area on the north side of the camp, with men assigned to watch over them.

During these days, Yan had Shibang and Yingmu recruit people while sending boats to the upper reaches of the Fish River to collect supplies. The fleet transported grain, cloth, salt, medicine, and spare weapons and arrows from the Great Rock River Mouth and Great Green River Mouth. Rows of grain sacks were piled up on the dock, covered with straw mats, and guarded by people, who stayed by them even at night. Shibang led people to register households one by one in the Great Luwei area, while Yingmu did the same thing in the Willow Vine Tribe. The two of them returned every evening to report the number of people and households registered that day to Yan in the temporary council hall. Yan wrote down each item on a wooden tablet, and then they discussed the next day's matters.

Three days later, both Shibang and Yingmu brought good news. The two returned to the temporary council hall one after the other. Yingmu came in first. His face was tanned dark by the sun, and the skin on his cheekbones was rough and firm, but he was full of energy, with bright eyes. He strode to the table, sat down, put the wooden tablet in his hand on the table, and then said, "Boss, the Great Luwei has absorbed 30,000 people. In three days, everyone who could register has registered. As soon as they heard that the Fire Tribe had come, they were all very willing to join. They were all very enthusiastic. When our people went to the shed area to register, they lined up. Some people were afraid of not getting a turn, so they got up before dawn to wait. Some families came together, young and old. We registered those who could work separately from those who couldn't. Although the old and weak can't do heavy work, they can do some light work, such as weaving baskets, twisting ropes, and taking care of children."

After finishing speaking, Yingmu withdrew his hand from the wooden tablet, patted it on his knee, and continued, "Boss, as soon as our Fire Tribe warriors arrived, the people here came to help us. When we were attacking the camp, they ran out of the sheds to give us directions. When we asked to recruit people, they agreed without hesitation and were very enthusiastic. Some even asked us when we would start registering, worried that we wouldn't accept them."

Shibang sat down, placing the wooden tablet on the table. His face was darker than Yingmu, the skin on his cheekbones reddened by the river wind, but his eyes were bright. He took the lead, his voice low but sincere. "The twenty thousand or so people from the Willow Vine Tribe are also very willing to join the Fire Tribe. Some of them are from tribes on the Long River, forcibly absorbed by the Tiger Tribe and assigned here. They work hard but eat little, and most of their harvest has to be given to the Tiger Tribe, leaving them only a small portion. They've been dissatisfied for a long time. Now that the Fire Tribe has come, they are all very willing to join us. Some have grabbed our Fire Tribe ' hands, saying they were captured from the Long River, and they've wanted to escape every day, but they couldn't. Now they've finally waited for us." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of the tablet. "The several thousand prisoners are also laborers. Most of the Tiger Tribe's garrison, apart from the dead and wounded, are willing to stay and work. There are a few who look like leaders; we've locked them up separately, and will deal with them later after further screening."

After listening, Yan nodded, picked up the wooden tablet from the table, and used a bone needle to draw several lines on it, adding up the number of people in both places. Then he spoke, his voice not loud but very clear. "Not bad. This time our operation was very swift, with minimal losses but a great harvest. We absorbed more than 50,000 people, as well as the territory, grain, and fields of two tribes. The Tiger Tribe's autumn harvest grain hadn't been transported away yet, but that grain alone is enough to feed us for a while. Some of the crops in the fields haven't been harvested yet; they'll be ready in another month or so, and then there will be another batch of grain."

He paused, tapped his finger lightly on the wooden tablet, and continued, "Although we have occupied these two territories, the Tiger Tribe will definitely send reinforcements to reclaim them once they receive the news. The Tiger Tribe's Great Elder, Tongding, won't just stand by and watch his territory fall; he will certainly send troops to seize it. Only by defeating them can we gain a foothold here. In the meantime, everyone should prepare to face the Tiger Tribe's counterattack. Repair the camp's fence, move the sentry posts further away, prepare the boats, train the troops, and stockpile provisions. When the Tiger Tribe arrives, we will give them a crushing defeat."

After listening, Shibang slammed his palm on the table, producing a short, muffled thud, and then spoke, his voice carrying a fierce intensity. "Don't worry, boss, if the Tiger Tribe dares to come, we'll teach them a lesson! We'll make sure they don't leave alive!"

Yingmu pressed his hand on the table, then spoke, his voice lower than Shibang's. "Only by defeating the Pain Tiger Tribe will they give up this place. Simply occupying the land isn't enough; we also need to defeat their troops who come to seize it. Once their troops are badly hurt and frightened, they'll think twice before sending troops again. If it's not worth it, they won't come back. Only then can we settle down here peacefully, gradually assimilate those 50,000 people, cultivate the land, harvest the grain, and make this place ours."

After listening, Yan nodded, put the wooden tablet into his robes, stood up, pressed his palm on the table, and said, "Then it's settled. Shibang, you repair the Willow Vine Tribe's camp again, raise the fence, re-dig the pits, and move the sentry posts further north. If the Tiger Tribe comes from the north, you hold them off while I lead men to flank them. Yingmu, do the same here in the Great Luwei. Strengthen the camp and guard the dock. If the Tiger Tribe's boats come by water, you block them first while I send boats to support them. Everyone guard one area and look out for each other. When the Tiger Tribe arrives, we'll deal with them together." Shibang and Yingmu nodded simultaneously, stood up, put away the wooden tablet, and walked towards the door.