Borrowing Troops at the Shu River

After the Tiger Tribe reached an agreement, Hu Bashan sent Hu Yi to negotiate with Can Cong, the leader of the Western Shu Tribe. Hu Yi was Hu Bashan's most capable lieutenant, of medium to thin build, Minjie in movement. He wore a dark brown leather armor over a gray cloth short robe, and a bronze-buckled leather belt around his waist from which hung a bronze short sword, its hilt wrapped with old cloth strips that gleamed in his hand. His face was thin and long, with high cheekbones, slightly sunken eyes, and small but sharp eyes that seemed to pierce into flesh when he looked at someone. He had a short, neatly trimmed beard on his chin. He set off from the Tiger Tribe's main camp with some men and supplies, traveling upstream along the Long River by boat for more than twenty days, finally arriving at the Shu River estuary dock that afternoon.

The Tiger Tribe's main camp is a month and a half's walk from the Western Shu Tribe's main camp, and more than twenty days' journey by boat upstream. In recent years, relations between the Tiger Tribe and the Western Shu Tribe have eased considerably. The two sides no longer engage in large-scale warfare on the border and occasionally even do some small-scale trade. The Western Shu Tribe is quite powerful, with a population of around 150,000 and more than 30,000 warriors. They have built a dock and camp at the mouth of the Shu River, a tributary of the Long River Shu River. They also possess bronze technology and have some connection with the super-large Western Rong tribe, which numbers over a million, further west. Nominally, they are subordinate to the Western Rong, sending them some supplies every year, but the Western Rong don't really care about them.

Hu Yi's fleet docked at the pier, the gangplank was set up, and he was the first to step off the ship. Before he could even steady himself on the wooden planks of the pier, he saw a group of people standing in front of him. Leading them was a young man, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, a head taller than him, with broad shoulders and a thick waist. He wore a dark blue brocade short robe embroidered with silkworm and mulberry leaf patterns, and a wide leather belt with a bronze buckle around his waist, from which hung a long bronze halberd, its broad head gleaming darkly in the afternoon sun. The man's face was square and round, with fleshy cheekbones, fair skin, thick black eyebrows, and small but bright eyes that stared directly at people with an air of defiant determination.

Hu Yi recognized the man as Can Ge, the second son of Can Cong Can Ge, the leader of the Western Shu Tribe Western Shu Tribe. Can Ge was the tribe's foremost warrior, commanding the army and wielding a bronze halberd. He was quite skilled in martial arts, but had a somewhat impatient temper. He had always wanted to fight the Tiger Tribe to establish his authority, but his father had restrained him. Can Ge strode forward and stopped in front of Hu Yi. He first sized him up, his gaze lingering on his face for a moment before speaking. His voice was not loud but clear, and his speech was a beat faster than usual. A slight smile played on his lips, a smile that seemed both amused and probing, "Chief Hu Yi, what brings you to our Western Shu Tribe? The last time your Tiger Tribe sent people was more than half a year ago. Are you here to buy grain or exchange for copper ingots?"

Hu Yi returned the salute with clasped hands, making a short, crisp sound as his palms closed. He then spoke, his voice not loud but clear, his speech a beat faster than usual, a slight smile on his face, which quickly vanished. "Warrior Can Ge Warrior, I have come to discuss an important matter with your leader. Please take me there quickly, it is urgent."

Can Ge glanced at Hu Yi, shifted the long spear at his waist behind him, and then spoke, his voice lower than before, but with an eagerness born from aroused curiosity. "What important matter? Tell me first, so my father can prepare." As he spoke, he turned his head and gestured to a follower behind him, who then ran towards the dock, presumably to deliver the message.

Hu Yi handed the Jiangsheng to his attendant and quickly followed Can Ge. The two walked side by side into the camp. Hu Yi lowered his voice and said, "Our Tiger Tribe has recently withdrawn a lot of troops from the west. You should have seen the commotion here. Those troops were actually transferred back to fight the Fire Tribe upstream of the Fish River. The Fire Tribe has been causing a lot of trouble lately. I've come here this time to buy some grain from your tribe. Of course, don't worry about the price. We will pay a higher price to ensure you don't lose out."

After listening, Can Ge paused, turned his head to look at Hu Yi, and his expression changed from curiosity to caution. He took his long spear back from behind him and held it in his hand, then spoke, his voice lower than before. "Fire Tribe? They dare to fight your Tiger Tribe? It seems that the Fire Tribe is quite difficult to deal with."

Hu Yi didn't respond to that, but quickened his pace. The two walked along the dirt road of the camp for a while. On both sides of the road were rows of wooden houses and tents. Some people were chopping wood at their doorways, some were squatting on the ground mending fishing nets, and some were herding sheep across from the other side. When they saw Can Ge, they all moved aside. Can Ge nodded to the people as they walked, and then continued, his voice more steady than before. "Chief Hu Yi, how much grain does your Tiger Tribe want to buy? Our Western Shu Tribe has plenty of grain. The fields on both sides of the Shu River yield two harvests a year, and the granaries are full. If you buy a small amount, I can make the decision. If you buy a large amount, you'll have to talk to my father."

After listening, Hu Yi nodded, switched the wooden tablet in his hand to his other hand, and then spoke, his voice not loud but very clear. "You bought quite a lot, enough food for 200,000 people for a year. You'll have to tell your father about this number."

After listening, Can Ge paused again, his expression changed, and then he spoke, his voice carrying a cautious tone after being shocked. "Food for 200,000 people for a year?" After he finished speaking, he quickened his pace and led Hu Yi and the others towards the council hall.

As soon as Hu Yi and his group entered the council hall, Can Cong, the leader of the Western Shu Tribe, spoke. Can Cong sat at the head of the table, wearing a dark blue brocade robe embroidered with silkworm and mulberry leaf patterns. A wide leather belt with a bronze buckle fastened around his waist, from which hung a bronze dagger, its scabbard inlaid with several turquoise stones. His face was round and square, with fleshy cheekbones, fair skin, thick black eyebrows, and slightly sunken eyes. His eyes, though not large, were bright, and his gaze was both gentle and shrewd. A short, graying beard adorned his chin. He held a wooden tablet in his hand. Seeing Hu Yi enter, he placed the tablet on the table, pressed his finger along the edge, and then spoke, his voice low but clear. "Chief Hu Yi, I heard you have something important to discuss with me. What is it?"

Hu Yi walked to the table, clasped his hands in a salute, making a short, crisp sound as his palms closed, then straightened up, withdrew his hands from his front and let them hang at his sides, and said, "Chief Can Cong, you should have seen the movements of our Tiger Tribe recently. We've withdrawn a lot of troops from the west, actually because we've been fighting with the Fire Tribe upstream of the Fish River. I've come here to buy some grain from your tribe. Of course, don't worry about the price; we'll offer a higher price to ensure you don't lose out. We need the grain urgently, the sooner the better."

Can Cong was also startled. He withdrew his hand from the table, pressed it against his knee, and then asked in a lower voice, "For your Tiger Tribe to send back such a large number of troops, it seems the Fire Tribe is quite difficult to deal with. Your Tiger Tribe used to be the undisputed leader across the Fish River, but now someone has come knocking on your door and you're asking our Western Shu Tribe for grain. This is the first time. Just what is the background of the Fire Tribe?"

Hu Yi's expression didn't change much after listening, but he tapped his fingers lightly at his side before speaking, his voice carrying a certainty that seemed to have been calculated. "The Fire Tribe was originally a small tribe, only developing in the last few years. They joined forces with tribes from the upper reaches of the Fish River to rebel against us, which is why our Tiger Tribe decided to Dali produce bronze and ships to give them a good beating. Those people were just hastily assembled; they're no match for us. We just didn't want to suffer too many losses, which is why we've kept them alive until now."

After listening, Can Cong withdrew his hand from his knees, tapped it lightly on the table, and then spoke, his voice carrying a sense of relief after being assured of success, "I knew it. There aren't many around here who dare to challenge your Tiger Tribe. Your Tiger Tribe's military strength and equipment are among the best in this area. I've agreed to your request to sell grain. Our Western Shu Tribe has plenty of grain; we can even provide enough grain for 200,000 people for a year. The fields along the Shu River yield two harvests a year, and our warehouses are overflowing with grain. Selling some to you won't be a problem." He paused, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, "However, you said the price would be 10% higher, so we'll go with the 10% higher price. We won't take advantage of you, but we won't be at a disadvantage either."

Hu Yi was very satisfied with what he heard. He switched the wooden tablet in his hand to his other hand and said, "Then thank you very much, Chief Can Cong. We'll pay the price you set, and cover the extra ten percent."

He paused, tucked the wooden tablet into his robes, and then continued, his voice lower than before, but with a calculated caution in his tone. "Actually, besides buying grain, I have another matter I'd like to ask Chief Can Cong for help with."

Can Cong smiled and took his hands off the table, placing them on his knees. His voice was gentle, tinged with amusement, and he spoke slowly, "What is it? Tell me. It's rare for the Tiger Tribe to be so polite, buying grain and offering help. It seems the Fire Tribe has really put you through a lot this time."

After listening, Hu Yi leaned forward, placed his hands on the table, and said, "This time, the Fire Tribe caused trouble at the Fish River. Of course, our Tiger Tribe Tiger Tribe wants to completely eliminate them. However, we also want to find some helpers to suppress them together, so that we can reduce our losses. Therefore, I would like to borrow some troops from your Western Shu Tribe Tiger Tribe to assist in the battle. Chief Can Cong, rest assured, as long as you are willing to send 20,000 troops, our Tiger Tribe will not only give up the territory we previously acquired from your Western Shu Tribe, but also give you territory of equal size."

Can Cong was very tempted. He leaned forward, placed his hands on the table with his fingers interlaced, and spoke, his voice filled with a startled urgency. "Really? Your Tiger Tribe keeps its word? Your Tiger Tribe has never been this generous before. You'd argue for ages over giving up a piece of land. This time you're giving up two pieces at once. It seems the Fire Tribe really hurt you."

After listening, Hu Yi nodded, took his hands off the table and placed them on his knees, then spoke in a steady and clear voice, "Of course we keep our word. If you agree, our Tiger Tribe will first cede the territory that your Western Shu Tribe originally occupied. As long as you send troops to help us in the battle, we will cede territory of equal size. Our Tiger Tribe always keeps its word; a promise is a promise."

After listening, Can Cong tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his mind in turmoil. When had the Tiger Tribe ever been willing to pay such a high price for help? But then he thought, this was a once-in-a-century opportunity— the Tiger Tribe was offering to cede two territories and pay a high price for grain. It was a windfall; why not take it? He pressed his palm on the table and spoke, his voice filled with the satisfaction of confirmation. "Alright, I agree to send troops to help. Your Tiger Tribe will cede the territory first, and I will naturally have the tribe send troops to assist. Twenty thousand men. I'll have Can Ge take them; he's been wanting to fight for a long time, this is a good opportunity for him."

Hu Yi said happily, his smile extending from the corners of his mouth to the corners of his eyes, even widening the lines around them. He pressed his palm on the table and then spoke, his voice slightly louder than before. "Alright, Can Cong, with your words, I can go back and report. We do indeed need to order enough food for 200,000 people for a year. I only brought some copper ingots and cloth with me this time, so let's unload them at the dock as a deposit. We will send the rest of the supplies later; there will be no delays."

After listening, Can Cong withdrew his hand from the table, patted his knee, and then spoke, his voice warm and gentle. "No problem, no problem. We'll take the copper ingots and cloth. The copper ingots from your Tiger Tribe are of good quality, and the cloth is sturdy; we'll need them. The deposit will be unloaded at the dock first, and I'll have someone count and store it. We've also prepared the grain; you can send people to transport it after you go back. Grain for 200,000 people for a year is no small amount; it will need to be transported in several batches. Do you have enough ships? If not, we can lend you some."

After listening, Hu Yi took the wooden tablet out of his pocket and glanced at it. It contained several matters to be discussed. He used a bone needle to draw two lines on it, noting down the agreed-upon points, then put it back in his pocket and said, "We have enough ships. I'll have someone arrange for them to be transported in several batches when we get back." The two then chatted for a while about the specific arrangements for transporting grain and sending troops to assist in the battle. Can Cong had someone bring up a meal, including stewed fish, boiled meat, and flatbread. Hu Yi ate there, then toasted with Can Cong a few times with wine before leading the fleet back.