Know When to Stop

After Yan led his men to a crushing defeat of Tong Dachui's navy, they continued their advance downstream along the Fish River towards the Tiger Tribe's main camp. Along the way, the fleet captured several small boats belonging to the Tiger Tribe that had slackened. Some of the people on board surrendered, while others tried to flee to shore but were caught by the Fire Tribe. The further downstream they went, the wider the river became, and the denser the camps along its banks grew. The small outposts and sentry posts surrounding the Tiger Tribe's main camp had long been emptied; the wooden fences stood crookedly on the banks, some charred and broken. Some of the wooden stakes were half-removed, the remaining wood piled on the ground like a half-eaten biscuit. Yan stood at the Chuantou, took out a wooden tablet from his robes and glanced at it. It was marked with bone needles indicating the location of the Tiger Tribe's main camp and the surrounding terrain. He marked two spots with the bone needles, then put the tablet away. He spoke to the Yingmu beside him, his voice low but clear. "The outer perimeter of the Tiger Tribe's main camp is just ahead. Tell the fleet to slow down; don't rush in. Send scouts up first to assess their defenses."

The scout took a small boat and made a preliminary exploration, returning to report that the Tiger Tribe had set up a defensive line around their main camp. The walls along the shore were also filled with people, and archers were waiting behind the battlements with arrows nocked. The walls were much thicker than those at the mouth of the Willow Vine Tribe River Mouth, and there were trenches dug at the base of the walls, with sharpened bamboo sticks stuck in them. After listening, Yan nodded, ordered the fleet to stop, and sent someone to bring the Shibang and Yingmu to his boat. The three of them squatted in the cabin and discussed for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

The Tiger Tribe is currently at a significant disadvantage in its battles against the Fire Tribe. All 5,000 troops stationed on the Long River have been withdrawn to the Tiger Tribe 'Tiger Tribe main camp. Even on the western border, only 1,000 troops have been left to guard against the Western Shu Tribe Wuyue Tribe. These 1,000 men are stationed on the western border, sending out scouts daily for a quick patrol before returning, not daring to venture far. On the eastern Wuyue Tribe. These 5,000 men are guarding the eastern riverbanks and mountain passes. The Tiger Tribe's scouts have been very active lately, frequently patrolling the area. The Tiger Tribe's eastern garrison dares not move, unable to spare a single soldier. Now, the Tiger Tribe has essentially concentrated all its available forces at its main Tiger Tribe. This time, the Fire Tribe's offensive is extremely fierce, forcing them to gather all their strength to counter it.

When Yan arrived with over 20,000 elite troops, the Tiger Tribe had also amassed nearly 20,000 soldiers at their main camp. Boats were packed onto the docks, people were shoulder to shoulder on the shore, the barracks behind the stockade walls were overflowing, and even the open space next to the warehouses was filled with tents, one after another, completely occupying the area. The camp was bustling with activity and smoke from cooking fires; from a distance, it resembled an anthill that had been poked open. Yan led his navy in several daring battles against the Tiger Tribe's navy, resulting in losses on both sides.

Shibang squatted in the cabin, his short knife resting on his knees, the cloth strip on the hilt crumpled from his grip. He spoke in a low but sincere voice, "Boss, lately the Tiger Tribe seems to have taken some kind of drug. Their counterattacks are incredibly fierce. Before, they would hold back, fighting if they could win and running if they couldn't. Now they neither retreat nor run; they charge in and fight to the death. We rammed one of their ships, and they immediately sent two more to follow. We repelled one wave, they retreated to rest, and then came out again. It's completely different from before."

Yan squatted down beside him, laid the wooden tablet on his lap, tapped it with a bone needle, and then spoke, his voice low but clear. "The Tiger Tribe must have sensed a life-or-death crisis and started fighting desperately. They know that if they lose their base, the entire Tiger Tribe is finished, so they've brought back all the people they can. They've staked everything on their base, wanting to fight us to the death. It seems unrealistic to wipe out the Tiger Tribe in one go. Their 20,000 men are holed up behind the stockade walls, with a navy, archers, and trenches. If we attack head-on, our losses won't be small."

Yingmu emerged from outside the cabin, his face blackened by the river wind, a shallow mark from an arrow grazing his cheekbone. He loosened his belt, then squatted down, his voice carrying a caution honed by the harsh realities of life. "Boss, our logistics are starting to strain. From the mouth of the Great Rock River Mouth to the Great Luwei River Mouth and back here, the fleet has to transport grain and arrows back and forth, taking several days. The Tiger Tribe is holed up in their camp, and our ships are just drifting on the river, consuming a considerable amount of food and arrows every day. Moreover, we only have a slight advantage in troop numbers. Although we have many more and larger ships, the Tiger Tribe is retreating, and we can't utilize those advantages. This dragging on is very disadvantageous for our Fire Tribe."

After listening, Yan nodded, retrieved the bone needle from the wooden tablet, and then spoke, his voice steady and clear. "Yes, although we have a high probability of successfully storming their main camp, the losses will certainly be significant. Our tens of thousands of elite troops are the foundation of the Fire Tribe; we can't afford to lose them all here. We still need them to defend our territory. I plan to lead the troops to defend the Willow Vine Tribe and the Great Luwei Tribe in two days, and also to rest and regroup. We'll make further decisions after I Fire Tribe management center and discuss the matter with my father. The Tiger Tribe's main camp is right here; they can't escape. Let's digest what we've already taken before thinking about the next step."

After listening, Shibang withdrew his hand from his short sword, slapped it on his knee, and then spoke, his voice filled with a sense of satisfaction at being confirmed. "That's good. This time, we not only successfully captured the Willow Vine Tribe and the Great Luwei Tribe, but also annihilated more than 10,000 men from the Tiger Tribe, gaining over 50,000 people and a large amount of supplies. The food alone will be enough to feed us for a while. As long as we digest all of this, absorb the population, consolidate our territory, and train our troops well, we will soon be able to wipe out the Tiger Tribe in one fell swoop."

Yan nodded, put the wooden tablet into his robes, stood up, pressed his palm against the cabin wall, and spoke, his voice lower than before, but with a calculated certainty. "Yes, it should be within the next year or two. Once we take over the Tiger Tribe, our Fire Tribe will completely control the entire Fish River Basin, from the Fish River upper reaches to the Fish River Mouth, it will all be our Fire Tribe's territory. We'll prepare to retreat in two days. When we get back, Shibang, you take some men to repair the camp on the Willow Vine Tribe's side, raise the fences, re-dig the pits, and move the sentry posts further north; Yingmu, do the same on the Great Luwei side, strengthen the camp, guard the dock, and store the grain. I'll take part of the fleet back to the management center to discuss the next steps with Father, and also report the situation here so that the rear can send another batch of grain and arrows."

Shibang and Yingmu nodded simultaneously, crawled out of the cabin, and went to arrange the retreat. Yan stood in the cabin, took the wooden tablet out of his pocket again, glanced at it, then put it away. He lifted the curtain and walked to the Chuantou. The wind on the river blew, making the stray hairs on his forehead flutter. He stood at the Chuantou for a while, looking at the Tiger Tribe's main camp in the distance. The Hutou- head flag was still flying on the stockade wall, its fluttering in the afternoon sun. He turned his gaze back and shouted into the cabin, "Send the order: all boats to retreat. Break camp early on the third day and retreat to the Willow Vine Tribe River Mouth."