Fame Spreads Far and Wide, Small Tribes Come to Join
The Fire Tribe's victory celebration over the Wolf Tribe lasted for three days, with the valley filled with the aroma of roasted meat and the joyful chatter of the tribespeople. Just as they were immersed in the joy of victory and, following the orders of their chief, Jianshi, began to gradually resume their daily work and training, the aftershocks of this battle were spreading across the mountains and plains within a radius of several "sunsets" far faster than they had imagined.
The battle that took place outside Wild Boar Gully that day was not unseen. Several small tribal groups that were hunting or gathering further away had taken refuge in the nearby mountains because of the approaching Wolf Tribe, and inadvertently became distant spectators of this contest.
Hidden behind dense forests or rocks, they watched from afar as the Fire Tribe's ambush troops suddenly rose, their battle cries shaking the heavens. They saw the infamous Wolf Tribe army, which had just extorted the Bison and White Pig Tribe, utterly powerless against the well-equipped and disciplined Fire Tribe warriors, quickly collapsing and fleeing for their lives. Especially the scene of the Fire Tribe leader, Sharp Jianshi, single-handedly fighting and severely wounding the Wolf Tribe's Xueya —though the view was too distant to be clear—was vividly portrayed by the overwhelming force and Xueya's blood-spitting, backward flight.
These witnesses were horrified and only dared to leave quietly after the Fire Tribe had withdrawn their troops and returned to their camp, bringing back what they had seen and heard to their own tribe.
"Incredible! The Fire Tribe has utterly annihilated the Wolf Tribe!"
"The Wolf Tribe, numbering over a hundred, was chased and slaughtered by the Fire Tribe like sheep!"
"Xueya was kicked by Jianshi, the leader of the Fire Tribe, and coughed up blood. His fate is unknown!"
"The people of the Fire Tribe all wear rattan armor, making them impervious to swords and spears! The Shitou they throw are like shooting stars!"
Exaggerated details were amplified and embellished through word of mouth. The Fire Tribe's reputation, like Jushi thrown into a calm pond, caused ripples that quickly spread in all directions. The Wolf Tribe's ferocity and power were a shared nightmare for many surrounding small tribes. Now, this nightmare had been shattered so decisively by another tribe, and the shock and impact it brought were unimaginable.
Just four days after the battle ended, a Hunting Team of the Fire Tribe, while on a routine patrol in the outer mountains, discovered a group of emaciated, terrified men and women, about a dozen in number, in a secluded mountain ravine. They were dressed in tattered animal skins, had wounds on their bodies, and their eyes were filled with fear and despair. When they saw the fully armed Fire Tribe warriors approaching, they almost collapsed to the ground.
"No... don't kill us! We're not from the Wolf Tribe!" An older man raised his hands, his voice hoarse.
The team leader was none other than Yingmu. He signaled his team members to stop, and after a wary look around, he noticed that although these people were in a sorry state, they did not have the fierce and ferocious aura of the Wolf Tribe. Instead, they seemed more like ordinary tribespeople who had suffered a disaster.
"Which tribe are you from? Why are you hiding here?" Yingmu asked in a deep voice.
"I... we are from the Little Stone Creek Tribe..." the man choked out, "The Wolf Tribe... the Wolf Tribe destroyed our tribe... killed many people, stole women and food... We were captured and then escaped during the chaos of your war, hiding in the mountains. That day... that day we saw you fighting the Wolf Tribe, we were scared, and after running into the mountains we dared not come out. Later we saw the Wolf Tribe being defeated and fleeing, and only then did we dare to come this way... We really had nowhere else to go..."
Survivors from the Little Stone Creek Tribe? Yingmu's heart skipped a beat. Hadn't the tribe just taken in a group of refugees from Little Stone Creek a few days ago?
"Don't be afraid, our Fire Tribe won't kill innocent people indiscriminately." Yingmu's tone softened somewhat. "Some people from your tribe have already fled to our Fire Tribe."
Upon hearing this, the group of people abruptly raised their heads, their eyes gleaming with disbelief. "Really... really? Ashu and the others... are still alive? In your tribe?"
"I'm not sure if it's Ashu, but there is indeed a group of people from Little Stone Creek that we took in. They are now working in the tribe, and they have food to eat and shelter to live in," Yingmu confirmed.
These words were like heavenly music, instantly shattering the last psychological defenses of the group of fugitives. Several women burst into tears on the spot, and the men's eyes also reddened, becoming so excited that they were incoherent.
Yingmu immediately sent someone back to the tribe to report the news, and at the same time had his team members take out the dry food and water they carried with them to give to these poor people. When Jianya and several members of the original Little Stone Creek Tribe rushed over, the valley was already filled with weeping.
"Uncle!"
"Brother Shitou!"
"You're alive! That's wonderful!"
The sudden reunion of separated relatives and clansmen was a bittersweet mix of relief at surviving a catastrophe and grief at losing their homes and loved ones. Everyone embraced and wept uncontrollably. Even the warriors of the Fire Tribe, witnessing this bittersweet scene, were deeply moved.
After a while, the crying gradually subsided. Listening to their former tribesmen recount their lives in the Fire Tribe these past few days—they had enough to eat and wear, sturdy wooden houses to shelter them from the wind and rain, no need to constantly worry about wild animals and enemies, and although the work was hard, everyone was equal and the chief was just—hope was rekindled in the eyes of these newly found survivors.
"Can... can we join the Fire Tribe too?" The older man, representing everyone, asked Jianya cautiously yet hopefully. "Our Little Stone Creek... is gone. The Wolf Tribe destroyed our home, killed so many of us... We hate them! But we want to live even more... We've heard the Fire Tribe is powerful, capable of defeating the Wolf Tribe. We... we want to join, to have someone to rely on, and perhaps in the future... we'll have a chance to take revenge!"
His voice trembled with excitement, and by the end, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes flashed with deep-seated hatred.
Looking at these people, weathered by hardship, their eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow, longing, and a flicker of vengeance, Jianya solemnly nodded. "The Fire Tribe welcomes all brothers and sisters willing to abide by tribal rules, work diligently, and contribute to the tribe's development. Once you sincerely join, you are now part of the Fire Tribe, protected by the tribe, and expected to serve it. As for the enmity with the Wolf Tribe ... the Fire Tribe has already incurred their wrath, and this debt will be settled sooner or later!"
"We are willing! We are willing to join!" Without further hesitation, everyone knelt down to show their loyalty.
The last survivors of the Little Stone Creek Tribe, about a dozen people, were successfully brought back to the Fire Tribe Valley. Their arrival once again demonstrated the Fire Tribe's benevolence and strength, and also brought more details about the Wolf Tribe's atrocities, further increasing the Fire Tribe's vigilance and hostility towards that evil neighbor.
However, an even larger wave of defections was yet to come.
The day after the survivors from Little Stone Creek joined, an even larger group, with families in tow, appeared within the Fire Tribe's sentry post's perimeter. There were over three hundred of them! Most of them came from several small tribes that had previously been affiliated with the White Pig Tribe.
The leading elders, trembling with fear, requested an audience with the Fire Tribe chief.
Inside the council chamber, Jianshi, Jianya, Wang Yan, and others received the representatives of these visitors.
"Respected Jianshi of the Fire Tribe," an old man, almost toothless but still with clear eyes, spoke on behalf of the group, his tone respectful and even humble, "We are people from the small settlements of ' Little Rock Cave,' 'Tree,' and ' Clear Water Hollow ' near the White Pig Tribe. We have come here with the audacity to... to implore the Fire Tribe to take us in."
Jianshi remained calm. "Oh? You live near the White Pig Tribe, why do you want to come and seek refuge with our Fire Tribe? Doesn't the White Pig Tribe want to accept you?"
The old man's face showed bitterness and indignation. "Chief Jianshi, to tell you the truth, the Wolf Tribe came to extort the White Pig Tribe a few days ago. The White Pig Tribe's Zongmao chief... he summoned all of us from the small tribes, saying we would fight together. But... when the Wolf Tribe came, the Zongmao chief didn't put up much resistance at all. He just negotiated with them, and in the end, he handed over ten pigs and some grain, and sent us away."
Another middle-aged man couldn't help but interject, his voice trembling with emotion. "That's not all! Afterwards, the White Pig Tribe felt they'd been cheated and actually demanded that we, the smaller tribes, share the loss of those ten pigs! We already had very little food stored up, and winter was already tough enough; if they impose this burden on us, how would we possibly survive!"
The old man sighed and continued, "We've long heard of the Fire Tribe's wealth and benevolence. Last autumn at the market, we saw Fire Tribe hunters; they were indeed strong and well-fed. We've always envied them. But the arrival of the Wolf Tribe and the actions of the White Pig Tribe have truly disheartened us. Rather than staying there and living in constant fear, it's better... better to join a truly powerful tribe that can protect our people."
He raised his head, his eyes filled with awe and anticipation. "Our people witnessed firsthand the mighty warriors of the Fire Tribe utterly defeating the Wolf Tribe in the wilderness just a few days ago! Even the ferocious Xueya was driven to the brink of death and forced to flee by Chief Jianshi! Such power is unheard of! In this world, the strong are respected. We admire the strength of the Fire Tribe and believe that under Chief Jianshi's leadership, we can live a peaceful life, no longer needing to fear villains like the Wolf Tribe! We implore you, Chief, to take in us, these rootless people!"
More than three hundred people knelt down in unison, their attitude earnest.
Jianshi was overjoyed, but maintained the dignity and Chenwen of a leader. He glanced at Jianya and Wang Yan, both of whom also showed approval in their eyes. More than three hundred people—that was no small number! Moreover, these people had come to join the Fire Tribe voluntarily after witnessing its true strength, so their sense of identity and belonging was bound to be even stronger.
"Rise, all of you." Jianshi stepped forward and personally helped the old man to his feet. His booming voice echoed in the council hall. "You've probably heard of some of the Fire Tribe's rules. As long as you sincerely join, abide by the tribe's rules, work diligently, and harbor no disloyalty, then from today onward, you are members of the Fire Tribe! You will have a share of the Fire Tribe's food; the Fire Tribe's walls will protect your safety; Fire Tribe's enemies are your common enemies!"
"Thank you, Chief! Thank you, Chief!" The crowd below was moved to tears and kowtowed repeatedly.
"Jianya, you're in charge of the arrangements. Following the old rules, first gather them together, check their health, and distribute basic rations and supplies. Qingye, you lead a group to assist, especially taking good care of the elderly and children. The Farming Group, see if anyone among them is skilled in farming or handicrafts, and register them. All able-bodied men will be temporarily assigned to the reserve team for training to quickly familiarize themselves with the Fire Tribe's methods."
Looking at the new people of the tribe who were being led out of the council hall, their faces filled with hope and curiosity, Jianshi couldn't help but finally reveal the most carefree and undisguised smile he had shown in the past few days.
"I really didn't expect this," he laughed at Jianya and Wang Yan beside him. "Winning over the Wolf Tribe has brought such benefits. These people who come to join us are much more proactive and faster than we were when we tried to persuade and integrate them one by one."
Wang Yan nodded with a smile, "Father, this is the effect of 'establishing authority.' We have demonstrated enough strength to protect ourselves and even defeat powerful enemies. Those small tribes struggling in the dog-eat-dog world will naturally regard us as their most reliable refuge and future. This is much more effective and more solid than us exchanging food for it."
Jianya exclaimed, "Yes, with these three hundred-plus people joining, our tribe's population will probably exceed eighteen hundred, right? It's only been a little over two years... It's like a dream."
"Population is fundamental, but more important is how to unite so many people into a cohesive force, how to ensure they are well-fed and clothed, and how to transform them into a true power." Jianshi's smile faded, his gaze becoming profound. "Coming to join us is a good thing, but also a challenge. Make arrangements; the integration and education of the new tribe members must be expedited to prevent any mishaps. Continue building the walls, continue cultivating the fields, and never stop training. We must show everyone who comes to join us that choosing the Fire Tribe was the best decision they ever made!"
"Yes!"
Fire Tribe Valley has become busier and more vibrant with the constant influx of new members. The momentum from defeating the Wolf Tribe is continuously translating into tangible demographic dividends and development momentum. Following this victory, the foundation of the Fire Tribe has become visibly stronger and more solid.
The name "Fire Tribe," associated with that legendary battle where the few triumphed over the many and the strong defeated the fierce, is rapidly becoming a new and powerful symbol in the hearts of all the tribes in this region.