Recaps

After defeating the Wolf Tribe, Jianshi warned the Fire Tribe’s leaders that the revealed secret of bronze-making could eventually draw the powerful Tiger Tribe’s attention. The leaders reviewed the tribe’s growing population and workshop output, then prepared to accept more refugees from the upper Fish River.

• Jianshi and Yan discussed how Xueya’s escape would spread news of the Fire Tribe’s bronze weapons, potentially alerting the Tiger Tribe downstream.
• Yan urged the Fire Tribe to use the time before the Tiger Tribe could act to strengthen itself, and Jianshi noted that the tribe controlled over seventy thousand people, including captives.
• Dabang reported increased production from the pottery, shipbuilding, bronze, textile, and saltmaking workshops, and Jianshi ordered him to coordinate supplies for further growth.
• Jianshi announced that five or six thousand people from the western bank of the upper Fish River wanted to join the Fire Tribe, and Yan confirmed that grain supplies could support them.
• Jianshi told Yan and Dali to bring Fish Tribe leaders and trusted members to help persuade the newcomers, then urged everyone to continue their duties without slackening.

Canglan arrived at the Fire Tribe headquarters with the Fish Tribe fleet and agreed to integrate his people into the Fire Tribe. After discussing leadership roles and plans for migration, he returned to the Fish Tribe with Fire Tribe warriors and supplies to prepare for the move next spring.

• Jianshi welcomed Canglan and the Fish Tribe leaders at the dock, and Canglan was astonished by the Fire Tribe's farms, herds, and settlement.
• At a feast, Jianshi credited the Fish Tribe and other allies for helping defeat the Wolf Tribe and assigned Feiyu and Bailin to assist Yan and Dali on a future mission.
• Canglan brought the Fish Tribe's boats and agreed to serve as a Fire Tribe council leader while the Fish Tribe's leaders trained and its ordinary members prepared to migrate next spring.
• The next morning, Canglan sailed back with Fire Tribe warriors and supplies as Jianshi saw him off.

Yan and Dali led a fleet to the five tributaries on the west bank of the upper Fish River and brought more than six thousand people facing hardship back to the Fire Tribe. The newcomers were welcomed and settled in an orderly fashion, pushing the Fire Tribe’s population above seventy thousand.

• Yan and Dali set out with five hundred boats carrying supplies to bring the most vulnerable people to the Fire Tribe.
• At the Peach River, Yan promised Taogen that the Fire Tribe would take people in batches, rescued around five hundred people, and left supplies for those who remained.
• Over the following weeks, Feiyu, Bailin, and members from the west bank helped Yan recruit people from the Grass, Ash, Red Leaf, and Little Water River basins.
• The fleet returned with more than six thousand people, and Jianshi welcomed Yan and the newcomers at Fire Creek Wharf.
• Yan’s people registered, treated, housed, and provided supplies for the newcomers, bringing the Fire Tribe’s population above seventy thousand.

Yan and Dali reported that the Fire Tribe had brought back six thousand people from the west bank of the upper Fish River, with seven thousand more expected in spring, while Jianya confirmed the Valley Tribe could supply twenty million jin of grain next year. Jianshi set plans to expand shipping and cultivate 140,000 mu of new paddy fields next year, leaving the Fire Tribe preparing for rapid growth and greater food independence.

• Yan reported that about thirteen thousand people lived across five tributaries on the west bank of the upper Fish River, and that the Fire Tribe had brought back about six thousand while promising to return for the rest in spring.
• Jianshi calculated that the Fire Tribe would have about 78,000 people to feed including Wolf Tribe captives, rising to 85,000 after the remaining west-bank people arrived, and tasked Dali with retrieving belongings and delivering supplies.
• Jianya reported that he had brought back the final 1.5 million jin of grain for the year and that the Valley Tribe had guaranteed a supply of twenty million jin next year.
• Jianshi ordered Dabang to build 150 ten-thousand-jin boats and, if possible, fifty twenty-thousand-jin boats, while keeping production of tools and goods high.
• Yan presented a plan to develop farmland and settlements across the Fire Tribe's territory, and Jianshi assigned next year's field reclamation targets, totaling 140,000 mu of new paddy fields.
• Jianshi sent Jianya to buy plow oxen and ponies from the Horse Tribe, assigned Dazhuang to oversee projects for several tribes, and divided responsibility for the other outposts among himself and the named leaders.

Yan inspected the Fire Tribe’s workshops and Youth Team, then traveled with Yingmu to visit Shibang at the Deer Tribe’s mining area. He promised Shibang that Gubang would soon take over his post and that the Fire Tribe would face more battles as it continued to grow.

• Dali and Jianya led separate supply fleets away from the Fire Tribe’s headquarters, while Yan began inspecting the tribe’s workshops.
• Yan confirmed that pottery, bronze goods, and other workshop production could support the Fire Tribe’s growth and that bronze weapons were stocked for another two thousand fighters.
• Yan told Gubang he would take over Shibang’s mining-area post after the coming-of-age ceremony, and assigned Daya and Zhuangchai to manage the Youth Team.
• Yingmu reported that Xueya had raided two tribes and was hiding between Little Valley Camp and the Horse Tribe, so Yan postponed pursuing him and planned a visit to the Deer Tribe.
• Yan and Yingmu met Shibang at the mining area, where Yan promised Gubang would soon relieve him and said more battles lay ahead for the Fire Tribe.

Yan inspected the Deer Tribe’s mining and refining operations, then proposed moving the bronze workshop there and relocating coarse-salt refining to Jumbled Stone Slope. Jianshi approved planning both moves, and Dabang began preparing detailed plans as Yan considered the Fire Tribe’s future expansion.

• Yan inspected Colorful Stone Mountain, the refining workshop, and the miners’ residential area, and praised Shibang’s management while promising to improve the miners’ benefits.
• Yan told Shibang and Yingmu that the bronze workshop should gradually move to the Deer Tribe, and warned them to prepare for future conflicts involving Xueya, the Bear Tribe, the Valley Tribe, and the Tiger Tribe.
• Yan returned to the main valley and proposed moving the bronze workshop to the Deer Tribe; Jianshi agreed and told him to have Dabang prepare a plan.
• Yan proposed moving coarse-salt refining to Jumbled Stone Slope while keeping fine-salt processing at the main settlement, and Jianshi approved planning that move as well.
• Yan explained both proposals to Dabang, who enthusiastically began preparing detailed plans, while Yan returned home and thought about the Tribe’s future projects.

Yan and Dabang oversaw plans to relocate the bronze and coarse salt workshops, while Dali and Jianya returned with supplies and reports from the western bank and the Horse Tribe. Jianshi assigned the next steps for resettlement and warned that Xueya’s presence between the Horse and Valley Tribes threatened future grain trade.

• Yan and Dabang presented the workshop relocation plan, and Jianshi approved moving bronze production to the Deer Tribe and coarse salt refining to Rocky Slope while keeping the old workshops available.
• Jianshi appointed Tongchui to manage the bronze workshop and Yanbo to manage the coarse salt workshop, then ordered Yan and Dabang to complete the relocation before heavy snow.
• Yan learned from Dali that seven thousand people near Peach River, Grass River, and Ash River welcomed joining the Fire Tribe and were awaiting boats to bring them over in spring.
• Jianya returned with four hundred ponies and five hundred draft oxen, and reported that Xueya and his men were hiding between the Horse Tribe and Valley Tribe territories after raiding two tribes.
• Jianshi rejected Yan’s suggestion to send troops against Xueya and told Yan to raise the issue with Leader Daiyue in spring so the Valley Tribe and Horse Tribe could act together.
• Jianshi ordered Jianya to use the Fire Tribe’s boats to transport the remaining people and supplies to outlying settlements before winter, while Yan left the hall concerned that Xueya would threaten future grain trade.

Yan and the other youths came of age in a Fire Tribe ceremony, and Jianshi assigned Yan to help lead the newcomer camp while preparing him to command two thousand men in spring. Gubang left for the Deer Tribe to take over from Shibang, who welcomed him and promised to show him the mining area.

• Jianshi gave three hundred youths adult identity tokens and celebrated their coming of age with a feast.
• Jianshi told Yan to report to Dali's newcomer camp, keep overseeing the Youth Team, and take command of Shibang and Yingmu's troops in spring.
• Yan said goodbye to Gubang, who rode to the Deer Tribe to take over his older brother's position.
• Shibang welcomed Gubang at the Deer Tribe camp and told him to learn the work and take responsibility for the mining area.

Yan trained three hundred recruits through the winter, building their physical skills, literacy, and bonds across tribes. As spring approached, Jianshi ordered Yan to take them to fetch seven thousand people from the west bank of the upper Fish River, then arrange for Canglan and the Fish Tribe to begin migrating.

• Yan organized the recruits into groups and oversaw their daily physical training and lessons in characters and arithmetic.
• Dali visited the camp, praised the recruits’ progress, and encouraged them with the prospect of becoming Fire Tribe leaders.
• Yan taught the recruits ten characters and coached them individually as they practiced writing.
• Dali told Yan that he would lead two thousand people in spring, with Shibang and Yingmu following him, and that recruits would be assigned under him.
• As winter neared its end, Jianshi ordered Yan to take the three hundred recruits to fetch seven thousand people from the west bank of the upper Fish River, then visit the Fish Tribe and begin Canglan’s people’s migration.

Yan led a fleet to bring seven thousand people from the Peach River, Grass River, and Ash River back to the Fire Tribe, then began relocating newcomers and supplies to its outposts. He ended the chapter transporting more than four thousand Fish Tribe people after their tribe formally joined the Fire Tribe.

• Yan departed with 650 boats and 300 newly trained young people to collect the people waiting along the rivers.
• Yan picked up everyone from the Peach River and Grass River, then reached the Ash River and brought its people aboard after an overnight camp.
• Yan returned to the Fire Tribe headquarters with seven thousand newcomers, where Jianshi arranged for them to be settled at several outposts.
• Yan delivered people and supplies to the Pottery Salt River Mouth, then continued to the Fish Tribe dock.
• Yan loaded more than four thousand Fish Tribe people and their supplies onto the fleet, and Canglan and Yan agreed that they were one family.

Yan returned to the Fire Tribe with Canglan and more than four thousand Fish Tribe members, then set out with Jia Li on a large grain-trading voyage to the Valley Tribe. Along the way, Yan learned about two nearby river basins whose tribes might join the Fire Tribe and planned to approach them after the trade.

• Yan and Canglan arrived at the Fire Tribe headquarters with more than four thousand Fish Tribe members, and Jianshi welcomed them.
• Jianshi told Yan to leave the next morning for the Valley Tribe to trade pottery and other goods for grain, and assigned Jia Li to accompany him.
• Yan led a fleet of 480 vessels downstream, carrying supplies to trade for the twenty million jin of grain reserved with the Valley Tribe.
• Feiyu and Bailin told Yan that about six thousand people lived along the Orange River and about nine thousand along the Red Flower River, and that their tribes might want to join the Fire Tribe.
• Yan planned to visit both river basins after returning from the Valley Tribe, first trading with their tribes and then gradually bringing them into the Fire Tribe.

Yan led the Fire Tribe fleet to the Valley Tribe to collect twenty million jin of grain and was warned by Daiyan not to challenge the Valley Tribe’s control of the Fish River. The fleet reached the Valley Tribe headquarters dock and made camp, while Yan resolved to strengthen the Fire Tribe’s ships.

• Yan and Jia Li arrived at the Valley Tribe’s Little Valley Camp Outpost, where Daiyan greeted them aboard a massive ship and emphasized the Valley Tribe’s naval strength.
• Daiyan warned Yan that the Bear Tribe and other downstream threats made independent travel dangerous, offering to transport anything the Fire Tribe needed.
• Yan agreed to focus on the grain trade, then told Jia Li that the Fire Tribe needed to develop its own fifty-thousand-jin ships.
• The Valley Tribe’s guides led the fleet to headquarters, where Quyong welcomed Yan and arranged a prepared campsite.
• Yan settled the fleet into camp and considered the grain transport, future trade discussions, and the Fire Tribe’s need for larger ships.

Yan reunited with Qingsui and attended a banquet with Daiyue and the Valley Tribe elders, where he negotiated next year’s grain trade and warned them about the Wolf Tribe’s surviving raiders. After the banquet, Qingsui kissed Yan goodbye and planned to visit him before he left.

• Qingsui welcomed Yan, gave him news of the Valley Tribe’s dispute over trade profits, and brought him to Daiyue’s banquet.
• Yan and his companions presented pottery gifts, and Yan explained that the Fire Tribe’s population had grown to about eighty-five thousand.
• Yan negotiated a deal for twenty million jin of grain next year, agreeing to provide the Valley Tribe with twenty percent more pottery.
• Yan warned Daiyue that Xueya and about a hundred Wolf Tribe survivors were hiding near Little Valley Camp, but Daiyue said the Valley Tribe would watch for them.
• Qingsui walked Yan back to the Fire Tribe’s camp, kissed him on the cheek, and arranged to visit him before he departed.

After Yan left, Daiyue and the Valley Tribe's elders debated how to spend the profits from trading grain with the Fire Tribe and how to defend the Little Valley Camp Outpost against the Bear Tribe. Daiyue divided this year's profits between the tribe's welfare and armaments, then resolved to speak privately with Yan about his suspicion that the Fire Tribe could smelt bronze.

• Hefeng and Shuize discussed the Fire Tribe's rapid growth to eighty-five thousand people, while Lin Feng credited its pottery and Yaoshan argued that its leaders' ability had also driven its expansion.
• Jin Ye urged the Valley Tribe to spend all its trade profits on bronze weapons to defend the Little Valley Camp Outpost, but Lin Feng objected that the people deserved a share of the gains.
• Yaoshan proposed sending more people to the outpost, and Daiyue postponed that decision while ordering that forty percent of this year's profits improve tribal life and sixty percent fund armaments.
• After the elders left, Daiyue reflected on the Fire Tribe's growth and his suspicion that it could smelt bronze, deciding to seek a private conversation with Yan before he left.

Yan coordinated the Fire Tribe and Valley Tribe as they completed the handover of 2.5 million jin of grain and pottery. Afterward, Qingsui brought Yan to the council hall for a private discussion with Daiyue about closer cooperation between the tribes.

• Hefeng and Jia Li arrived early, and Yan arranged for the pottery and grain handovers to proceed at the same time.
• The Valley Tribe and Fire Tribe loaded 1.8 million jin of grain on the first day, while Quyong reflected on the Fire Tribe's growing population and fleet.
• By noon the next day, the Fire Tribe had received all 2.5 million jin of grain and the pottery handover was complete.
• Qingsui told Yan that Daiyue wanted to speak with him privately and led him to the council hall.
• Yan entered the council hall after a guard announced his arrival to Daiyue.

Yan met with Daiyue to discuss the Fire Tribe’s expansion, grain needs, and future relations with the Valley Tribe. Daiyue agreed to support their growing grain trade but postponed a mutual military assistance pact, and Yan left with Qingsui.

• Daiyue asked Yan about his coming of age, his roles in the Fire Tribe, and what he thought of Qingsui.
• Yan explained that the Fire Tribe expanded to protect its scarce techniques and revealed plans to grow its population to around one hundred and fifty thousand.
• Yan and Daiyue agreed to strengthen grain trade, with Daiyue promising the Valley Tribe would try to meet the Fire Tribe’s future demand.
• Daiyue said he was willing to consider mutual military assistance but needed time to consult the Valley Tribe’s leaders.
• Yan left the council hall, told Qingsui that Daiyue had praised her as gentle and beautiful, and walked with her toward the river.

Yan and Qingsui shared a meal and a moonlit walk before Yan’s Fire Tribe prepared to leave the Valley Tribe. They parted with promises to meet again, while discussing future grain trade and nearby threats.

• Yan cooked a feast with Qingsui, who helped prepare the ingredients and eagerly learned his methods.
• Yan and Qingsui shared the food with Jia Li, Feiyu, Bailin, and the others before eating together.
• During their walk by the Fish River, Yan explained that the Fire Tribe planned to grow to at least 150,000 people and would need to buy more grain from the Valley Tribe.
• Qingsui told Yan that the Valley Tribe had kept the Bear Tribe in check, and Yan warned her about Xueya and the Wolf Tribe remnants near the Little Valley Camp Outpost and Horse Tribe.
• Yan and Qingsui said goodbye at the Fire Tribe’s temporary camp, promising to visit again, and Yan returned to his tent thinking of her.

Yan returned to the Fire Tribe with the Valley Tribe fleet after securing a large grain trade and deposit. At the dock, he discovered that the Fire Tribe had built its first twenty-thousand-jin ship, astonishing Fengren and signaling a major advance in shipbuilding.

• Yan and Jia Li prepared to leave the Valley Tribe, and Daiyue promised to supply twenty million jin of grain next year in exchange for an advance pottery deposit worth eight million jin.
• Yan departed with the combined fleet, while Qingsui watched from the dock until the ships disappeared; Fengren followed with six Valley Tribe ships carrying grain.
• During the twenty-six-day voyage, Fengren and the others regularly joined Yan for meals as the fleet traveled upstream toward the Fire Tribe.
• Yan arrived home and learned from Jianshi that the Fire Tribe had completed and tested a twenty-thousand-jin ship.
• Fengren saw the new ship, praised the Fire Tribe's shipbuilding progress, and left after the Valley Tribe grain had been unloaded and counted.

The Fire Tribe celebrated building a twenty-thousand-jin boat and discussed plans to expand its fleet and population. Yan agreed to explore tribes west of the Fish River while Jianya and Binmao prepared another grain voyage, as the Fire Tribe kept its sights on matching the Tiger Tribe.

• Dabang announced that the shipbuilding workshop could meet its targets for one hundred and fifty ten-thousand-jin boats and fifty twenty-thousand-jin boats, and was developing a fifty-thousand-jin boat.
• Jianshi and Yan said the Fire Tribe's larger boats would support grain transport and help the tribe grow, while Yan named the Tiger Tribe as a future benchmark.
• Yan reported that the Fire Tribe had brought back two million five hundred thousand jin of grain and agreed to buy twenty million jin from the Valley Tribe next year at a twenty percent higher price.
• Yan told Jianshi that the Valley Tribe could not spare many people to pursue the Wolf Tribe remnants, though the grain trade would continue for now.
• Jianshi assigned Yan, Feiyu, and Bailin to contact the Orange River and Red Flower River tribes, and sent Jianya and Binmao to collect more grain from the Valley Tribe.
• Yan left the council hall thinking about the Tiger Tribe and the Fire Tribe's future fleet.

Yan led a Fire Tribe fleet to the Orange River to trade supplies and invite local tribes to join the Fire Tribe. The Big Orange Tribe and Little Orange Tribe agreed to consider joining and to gather representatives from nearby tribes for a future visit.

• Jianya led a fleet of 511 pottery-laden vessels downstream, while Yan prepared to depart with a separate fleet of 40 ships and canoes.
• Yan's fleet traveled down the Fire Creek River and Fish River as Feiyu described the surrounding tributaries and settlements.
• At the Orange River mouth, Feiyu introduced Yan to Dajutou and Xiaojutou, chiefs of the Big Orange Tribe and Little Orange Tribe, and told them the Fish Tribe and several other tribes had joined the Fire Tribe.
• Yan traded fine pottery and offered supplies, explained the Fire Tribe's size and crafts, and invited the two tribes to join.
• Dajutou and Xiaojutou asked to send people to visit the Fire Tribe and agreed to contact nearby small tribes; Yan left supplies with them at favorable prices.
• After staying at the Orange River mouth for a day, Yan's fleet continued downstream toward the Red Flower River.

Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet to the Red Flower River and offered the Flower, Big Red, and Little Red Tribes a chance to join the Fire Tribe. The three chiefs agreed to contact the smaller tribes and wait for Yan's fleet to return, while the fleet continued toward the Green Leaf River.

• Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet upstream to the Flower Tribe, where Feiyu introduced chiefs Huaguo, Hongmao, and Honglian.
• Feiyu and Bailin explained that the Fish Tribe and several other tribes had joined the Fire Tribe, and told the chiefs about its population, production, and food supplies.
• Yan invited the Red Flower River tribes to join the Fire Tribe and offered the chiefs a chance to visit its main settlement.
• Yan traded salt, hemp cloth, pottery, cured meat, and straw sandals to the chiefs and asked them to contact the smaller tribes.
• Huaguo, Hongmao, and Honglian agreed to prepare for Yan's return, and the Fire Tribe's fleet sailed toward the Green Leaf River.

Yan led the Fire Tribe's fleet into the Green Leaf River basin, where he traded with the Long Leaf and Short Leaf tribes and assessed the prospects for bringing local tribes into the Fire Tribe. After leaving the basin, Yan continued toward the Clothing River to meet its tribes.

• Yan decided to prioritize trade and build relationships in the Green Leaf River basin rather than pressure its two large tribes to join the Fire Tribe.
• Yan and the fleet reached the Long Leaf Tribe, where Chief Gaogan learned that the Fire Tribe had around eighty-five thousand people and welcomed Yan.
• Yan presented Fire Tribe goods to Gaogan, and Gaogan and Short Leaf Tribe Chief Zhuangzhi bought salt, pottery, and hemp cloth at reasonable prices.
• Yan concluded that the Long Leaf and Short Leaf tribes could support themselves, while smaller tribes would be more likely to join the Fire Tribe.
• Yan led the fleet away from the Long Leaf Tribe and traveled to the Clothing River, where the Clothing Tribe was known for fine cloth and processed hides.

Yan led the Fire Tribe fleet on a trading trip, securing a successful exchange with the Clothing Tribe and then trading with the Maple Leaf and Toon Tribes along the Big Horse River. He headed toward the Horse Tribe with Feiyu and several dozen warriors, leaving Bailin to guard the boats.

• Yan met Chief Zhixia of the Clothing Tribe and traded Fire Tribe pottery, salt, meat, and sandals for cotton cloth, quilts, and cotton seeds.
• Zhixia hosted Yan and his party at a feast, where Yan described the Fire Tribe's growth and resources.
• Yan led the fleet to the Big Horse River, where Chief Feng's Maple Leaf Tribe traded furs and mountain goods for salt and pottery.
• Yan traded with Chief Chunmu's Toon Tribe and stayed there overnight.
• Yan returned to the Fish River, sailed upstream for five days, and arrived at the Horse Tribe's territory.
• Yan left Bailin to guard the fleet and led Feiyu and several dozen warriors into the grassland toward the Horse Tribe.

Yan traveled to the Horse Tribe to trade, gather information about the surviving Wolf Tribe fighters, and arrange a purchase of draft cattle. He returned to the Fire Tribe with representatives from the Red Flower River and Orange River, who were amazed by the settlement and welcomed the chance to join.

• Yan met Chief Junfeng, exchanged pottery and salt for hides, furs, and mountain goods, and learned that Xueya's surviving fighters were hiding north of the Big Horse River.
• Junfeng agreed to assemble a thousand draft cattle for the Fire Tribe, with five hundred ready in a month and the rest after the autumn harvest.
• Yan returned to the Fish River, met Bailin, and sailed upstream toward the Red Flower River.
• Huaguo, Hongmao, and Honglian joined Yan's fleet with more than thirty representatives, and Dajutou and Xiaojutou later boarded with representatives from the Orange River.
• The representatives saw the Fire Tribe's houses, fields, and livestock, then knelt and thanked Yan and the Fire Tribe.

The Fire Tribe welcomed leaders from the Orange River and Red Flower River basins, who agreed to join after seeing its wealth and prosperity. The chapter ended with Jianya returning with grain and Fengren departing after confirming the Valley Tribe would continue helping with transport.

• Yan and Jianshi showed the river-basin representatives the Fire Tribe’s granaries, livestock, houses, warehouses, and communal meal.
• Huaguo and Dajutou told Jianshi that their peoples would join the Fire Tribe, with smaller tribes arriving first and larger tribes waiting until after the harvest.
• Jianshi praised Yan, Feiyu, and Bailin for helping bring about fifteen thousand new members, raising the Fire Tribe’s population above one hundred thousand.
• Jianya returned with 2.8 million jin of grain and learned that the Fire Tribe had built nineteen more large boats and gained fifteen thousand people.
• Fengren praised the Fire Tribe’s shipbuilding and assured Jianshi that the Valley Tribe would continue helping transport grain despite tensions with the Bear Tribe.
• Jianshi and the others escorted Fengren to the wharf after the Valley Tribe’s grain had been unloaded.