Recaps

Yan joined Jianshi and the Fire Tribe leaders at the council hall to review next year’s production, settlement, and military plans. The meeting ended with preparations to eliminate the Wolf Tribe after the Willow Vine Tribe’s people were relocated, as the Fire Tribe aimed to expand its territory and population.

• Yan reported that more than twenty thousand people from the Greater Qing Tribe had been settled and that over thirty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people would be moved in batches starting early next year.
• Dabang reported expanded workshops and docks, plans to build three hundred ships of two sizes, and abundant weapons, armor, and grain; he also explained that a two-hundred-thousand-jin ship remained beyond the Fire Tribe’s current capabilities.
• Jianshi approved prioritizing more smaller ships and said the Fire Tribe would have the advantage over the Tiger Tribe on the water.
• Jianshi announced that Yan would lead an army to eliminate the Wolf Tribe after the Willow Vine Tribe’s people were settled, opening the way to advance the defensive line toward the Tiger Tribe.
• The leaders discussed raising copper production, building more granaries, and speeding messages between outposts before Jianshi urged them to grow the Fire Tribe beyond one million people.

Yan settled into life at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and took over its affairs from Jia Li. He and Jianshi planned to increase the outposts’ population by admitting people from the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes and weakening the Wolf Tribe, while Yan prepared to rest before bringing the Willow Vine Tribe’s people over after spring began.

• Yan lived with his family near the council hall, where he spent his days handling documents and inspecting the outpost with Jianshi.
• Jia Li handed over his responsibilities, and Yan took full charge of affairs at the Valley River Mouth Outpost.
• Jianshi set a target of raising the populations of the Valley River Mouth and Little Valley River Mouth outposts to eighty thousand next year, while Yan described the land’s capacity for further settlement and farming.
• Yan told Jianshi that the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes were suffering and proposed taking them in, separating those with clean records from those assigned to hard labor and assessment.
• Jianshi approved Yan’s plan and discussed the order and resources for bringing people over, settling them, sorting them, and then striking the weakened Wolf Tribe.
• Jianshi told Yan to rest and spend time with his family before he went to bring the Willow Vine Tribe’s people over after spring began, and Yan returned to the courtyard.

After a safe winter, Yan led a fleet to the Great Green River Mouth to relocate the first twenty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people to Fire Tribe territory. The fleet departed with Liutiao aboard, while Liuren stayed behind to organize the remaining people for the second trip.

• Jianshi told Yan that the outposts and main valley were ready to receive the Willow Vine Tribe, and Yan checked the fleet’s supplies and boarding equipment.
• Yan said goodbye to Qingsui and Qingye, then sailed downstream and reached the Great Green River Mouth after several days.
• Liuren reported that twenty thousand people were organized and ready to board, and Yan explained that the relocation would take two trips.
• Shibang and Liuren described how the Fire Tribe had cared for the Willow Vine people and how the Tiger Tribe mistreated its own members; Yan promised fair treatment and noted the Tiger Tribe’s weakness.
• Yan assigned Shibang to watch the northern movements of the Wolf Tribe and Tiger Tribe, while Liuren stayed behind to prepare the next group.
• Yan ordered the fleet to depart with the first twenty thousand people and Liutiao aboard, heading upstream toward the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

Yan brought twenty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost and arranged for another twenty thousand to reinforce the Greater Qing Tribe. He left with the new group, intending to strengthen Shibang’s position and then return to bring over the remaining settlers.

• Yan told Liutiao he could join him on the front lines after studying with Jianya, and Liutiao eagerly agreed to keep learning and prepare to lead people.
• Liutiao reported that Shibang had strengthened the Greater Qing Tribe’s defenses and that the Wolf Tribe was retreating while the Tiger Tribe continued recruiting slowly.
• After more than a month traveling upstream, Yan’s fleet reached the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, where Jianya welcomed him and learned that he had brought twenty thousand settlers.
• Jianya arranged to send another twenty thousand people to the Greater Qing Tribe so Shibang would have enough support to defend it.
• Yan’s people helped the Willow Vine settlers disembark, then boarded Jianya’s group and sailed toward the Greater Qing Tribe.

Yan led the fleet downstream, reinforcing Shibang with twenty thousand people and arranging for Julang and Shinian to prepare for a campaign against the Wolf Tribe. After learning that Qingsui was close to giving birth, he hurried on toward Great Green River Mouth to collect the remaining Willow Vine Tribe people.

• Yan stopped at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and asked Dali to summon Julang and Shinian with a few hundred elite fighters each for the coming campaign against the Wolf Tribe.
• Yan visited Dazhuang at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, reported his plans, and heard that the outpost had planted early rice and stored enough grain for the year.
• Feiyu warned Yan that Shinian could charge too far ahead in battle, and Yan said Julang would cover him while he led the attack.
• At Valley River Mouth, Yan told Jianshi that he had settled twenty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people and sent twenty thousand people to reinforce Shibang, while more than ten thousand remained to be collected at Great Green River Mouth.
• Jianshi told Yan that Qingsui was close to giving birth, and Yan hurried to depart for Great Green River Mouth to retrieve the remaining people and return to Fire Creek River Mouth.

Yan coordinated the evacuation of the remaining Willow Vine Tribe and the arrival of twenty thousand newcomers at the Greater Qing Tribe. He left for Fire Creek River Mouth with the fleet, planning to return to Qingsui before helping Shibang and Yingmu finish off the Wolf Tribe.

• Yan met Shibang and Liuren at the Great Green River Mouth Outpost, where Liuren prepared the remaining ten-odd thousand Willow Vine people to board for relocation.
• Yan reassured Liuren that Liutiao was studying at Fire Creek River Mouth and told Shibang that twenty thousand people had arrived to settle in the Greater Qing Tribe.
• Shibang reported that the Tiger Tribe was watching the Fire Tribe while the Wolf Tribe had dwindled to around six thousand warriors and was considering retreating upstream.
• Yan instructed Shibang to keep harassing the Wolf Tribe, monitor the Tiger Tribe, and let the newcomers adjust before assigning them heavy work.
• After the newcomers settled in and the Willow Vine Tribe boarded, Yan told Shibang to send any urgent news to Valley River Mouth and sailed upstream toward Fire Creek River Mouth.

Yan led the fleet carrying the Willow Vine Tribe upstream to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, where Jianya organized the newcomers’ settlement. Eager to return before Qingsui gave birth, Yan set off downstream for the Valley River Mouth Outpost as soon as the people had disembarked.

• Yan stopped at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and told Jianshi that the last people from the Willow Vine Tribe were aboard and that he would hurry back to see Qingsui before the birth.
• Jianshi urged Yan to deliver the people promptly but warned him not to endanger the fleet by rushing.
• After more than a month, Yan reached the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, where Jianya arranged for the Willow Vine Tribe’s people to be divided and settled at two locations.
• Yan and Jianya discussed screening people from the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes for resettlement, excluding those with blood on their hands or records of oppression.
• Once the newcomers had disembarked, Yan said goodbye to Jianya and ordered the fleet to depart for the Valley River Mouth Outpost.

Yan hurried back to the Valley River Mouth Outpost while Daya and Gubang led the fleet onward, arriving just as Qingsui began labor. He stayed by her side as she told him she was glad he had returned.

• Daya and Gubang urged Yan to take a fast boat ahead of the fleet, and he left them in charge of its supplies and journey.
• Yan traveled day and night to the Valley River Mouth Outpost and learned from Jianshi that Qingsui was expected to give birth that night.
• Yan went to his mother's house, where he found Qingsui in labor with Qingye and the midwife attending her.
• Yan held Qingsui's hand and wiped her sweat as Qingye and the midwife stepped out, and Qingsui quietly told him she was glad he was back.

Qingsui went into labor as Yan and his family waited anxiously, and she safely gave birth to a son. Yan named the baby Yi and stayed beside Qingsui and their newborn as they rested.

• Qingsui's contractions intensified, and Yan waited outside while Qingye and the midwife helped her deliver the baby.
• Jianshi comforted Yan and encouraged him to sit and wait calmly.
• Qingye announced that Qingsui had safely given birth to a son.
• Yan named his son Yi, and Jianshi praised the name before leaving for the meeting hall.
• Yan entered the room, held Yi, and told Qingsui he hoped their son would surpass his achievements; Qingsui said she only wanted him to be safe and healthy.
• Qingye went to rest, and Yan kept watch beside the sleeping Qingsui and Yi.

Yan cared for Qingsui and their newborn son Yi while preparing to lead a large force against the Wolf Tribe. After the fleet arrived at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and its supplies were unloaded, Yan confirmed the campaign would begin the next morning.

• Yan agreed to take seven thousand soldiers, including Daya and Gubang, to join the Greater Qing Tribe and Bear Tribe forces against the Wolf Tribe.
• Jianshi ordered Yan to set out on the third day, coordinate with Shibang and Yingmu, and surround the Wolf Tribe from several directions.
• Yan met Daya and Gubang as their fleet arrived, told them Qingsui had safely given birth to a boy named Yi, and began arranging the supplies.
• Julang arrived and told Yan that he and Shinian had trained their men for years to fight the Wolf Tribe.
• Yan told Julang he would lead the attack and confirmed that the troops would set out early the next morning for the Great Green River Mouth Outpost.

Yan led a fleet and seven thousand elite warriors downstream to join forces against the Wolf Tribe, planning to coordinate with the Bear Tribe and Greater Qing Tribe while preventing the Tiger Tribe from intervening. The fleet reached the Bear Tribe, where Yingmu welcomed Yan and awaited his orders.

• Jianshi instructed Yan to destroy the Wolf Tribe, absorb eligible subordinate tribes, preserve their own forces, and meet Yingmu and Shibang before finalizing plans.
• Yan boarded the fleet and ordered it to set off from the Valley River with seven thousand warriors and a large supply of ships and provisions.
• Yan told Daya and Gubang that he planned to use Bear Tribe cavalry to sever the Wolf Tribe's forces and station the navy to deter the Tiger Tribe.
• After several days downstream, Yan's fleet arrived at the Bear Tribe's dock, where Yingmu welcomed him and said he had been monitoring the Wolf Tribe's movements.

Yan and Yingmu planned a coordinated attack to destroy the Wolf Tribe’s remaining forces at the Great Rock River camp. They arranged supplies, troops, cavalry, and scouting, leaving the assault to begin after preparations were complete.

• Yan told Yingmu that the Willow Vine Tribe had been settled, his newborn son Yi and his mother were safe, and he had arrived with ships, seven thousand elite warriors, and leaders seeking revenge against the Wolf Tribe.
• Yingmu reported that the Wolf Tribe had about five thousand warriors left, with four thousand at the Great Rock camp and the rest defending a mountain stronghold, and described their deployments on both riverbanks.
• Yan and Yingmu planned to attack the south-bank force with a frontal feint and a flanking assault through eastern woods, while Shibang’s forces would strike the north-bank position.
• Yan and Yingmu agreed to use ships to transport troops and supplies, gather horses, and coordinate Shibang’s attack with theirs.
• Yan assigned Daya to organize supplies and later scout the route and defenses, while Gubang arranged shipboard shifts and the next day’s disembarkation.

Yan prepared the Fire Tribe’s forces at Bear River Mouth Outpost and led cavalry and naval troops toward the Wolf Tribe’s Great Rock River camps. After learning the enemy’s positions, he sent Daya, Shinian, and Julang with the hunter Linyan to scout a possible eastern route before the attack.

• Yan sent Xiaoshi downstream with orders for Shibang to prepare supplies and personnel for three thousand men and stand ready to attack Yexiao’s force.
• Yan and Yingmu assigned troops and boats to defend the outposts, transport supplies, and prepare the northern attack.
• The cavalry and naval forces departed together and traveled for several days toward the Wolf Tribe’s territory.
• Yingmu explained that Xueya and Duzhu commanded about three thousand warriors in the fortified south-bank camp, while Yexiao had about a thousand at the north-bank camp.
• Yan assigned Yexiao’s camp to Shibang and decided to scout an eastern path around the south-bank camp before moving against it.
• Yan sent Daya, Shinian, and Julang with Linyan to check whether the route was passable and whether the Wolf Tribe had added sentries or pits.

Xueya, Yexiao, and Duzhu discussed the Wolf Tribe’s losses and worsening position between the Fire Tribe and the Tiger Tribe. They decided to abandon the Great Rock River camps and withdraw toward the north bank of the Long River, leaving in three days.

• Yexiao and Duzhu reported that Fire Tribe attacks had depleted the Wolf Tribe’s warriors, destroyed its outlying camps, and strengthened the Fire Tribe’s foothold at the Great Green River Mouth.
• Xueya said the Tiger Tribe had refused to help and revealed that scouts had found a route to the sparsely populated north bank of the Long River.
• Duzhu warned that leaving before the autumn harvest would sacrifice fields, supplies, and subordinate tribes, but Xueya said the Wolf Tribe could not afford to wait or bring the discontented tribes along.
• Yexiao agreed that the subordinate tribes were a burden, and Xueya declared that the Wolf Tribe would rebuild north of the Long River and later take revenge on the Fire Tribe.
• Yexiao prepared to gather supplies on the north bank of the Great Rock River while Duzhu organized warriors’ families on the south bank, and Xueya ordered the withdrawal to begin in three days.

Xueya prepared to withdraw the Wolf Tribe from its camps on both banks of the Great Rock River toward Stone Ridge Mountain, while Daya discovered the evacuation and reported it to Yan. Yan organized a night march and coordinated ambushes to attack the Wolf Tribe as it left its defenses.

• Xueya ordered Duzhu to finish preparations for the Wolf Tribe’s departure the next morning, leave behind burdensome supplies, and request troops from Xueshou to meet them.
• Daya, Julang, and Shinian secretly observed the south-bank camp and concluded that the Wolf Tribe was preparing to retreat toward Stone Ridge Mountain.
• Daya left three warriors to watch the camp and rode with the others to report the withdrawal plans to Yan.
• Yan ordered Gubang and Jia Li to send three thousand cavalry to ambush Yexiao’s north-bank column, and assigned Julang to block the route toward Stone Ridge Mountain.
• Yan divided the remaining troops between himself, Shinian, and Daya to ambush Xueya’s column, then ordered the army to pack and depart after three shichen of rest.

Yan divided the Fire Tribe’s six thousand cavalry to attack the Wolf Tribe’s southern-bank camp from the front, flank, and retreat route while Shibang led three thousand more to encircle Yexiao’s force on the northern bank. Both forces hid near their targets and waited for the Wolf Tribe to evacuate.

• Yan sent Julang with a thousand cavalry to ambush the road to Stone Ridge Mountain and ordered Daya to attack the eastern side of the southern-bank camp.
• Yan led the main force toward the southern-bank camp, where scouts reported that the Wolf Tribe was still loading carts and gathering to leave.
• Gubang and Jia Li told Shibang that the Wolf Tribe was preparing to evacuate both camps and that Yan had launched an attack on the southern bank.
• Shibang boarded three thousand cavalry onto the fleet, crossed the Fish River, and advanced toward the northern-bank camp.
• Shibang hid his force in woods near Yexiao’s camp and ordered his men to wait until the Wolf Tribe had evacuated before attacking.

The Wolf Tribe’s evacuation plan was exposed when subordinate tribespeople surrounded its supply convoy and demanded food and a place in the evacuation. After Xueya ordered an attack that left many people dead or wounded, the Wolf Tribe began its departure toward Stone Ridge Mountain.

• Heitou led subordinate tribespeople to confront the Wolf Tribe’s convoy, demanding to see Xueya and asking why they were being left behind without enough supplies.
• Duzhu told Heitou and Baipi that the Wolf Tribe had left food in the storehouse and that the grain on the carts was payment for protecting the camp’s autumn harvest.
• As the crowd pressed toward the carts and reached for grain, Xueya accused Heitou and Baipi of rebellion and ordered his guards to cut down the people surrounding them.
• Xueya’s mounted guards attacked, wounding Heitou, breaking Baipi’s leg, and killing dozens before the crowd scattered.
• Xueya told Duzhu to evacuate east through the south gate and meet Yexiao’s group at Stone Ridge Mountain; Duzhu organized the convoy, and the Wolf Tribe departed.

After learning that Xueya’s guards had killed people from the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes, Yan prepared the Fire Tribe’s cavalry to attack the Wolf Tribe’s departing convoy. He waited for the entire column to leave camp and enter the eastern road before giving the signal to strike.

• A Fire Tribe scout reported that subordinate tribespeople had surrounded the Wolf Tribe’s transport convoy and that Xueya’s guards had killed dozens while driving them away.
• Shinian urged Yan to attack immediately, but Yan explained that the Wolf Tribe’s violence would make it easier for the Fire Tribe to win over the subordinate tribes and chose to wait until the convoy was exposed on the road.
• Yan promised Shinian he could lead the charge to block the convoy while Yan and Daya attacked from both sides.
• Yan ordered the chiefs and leaders to prepare their horses, weapons, and arrows in silence and advance toward the camp.
• Yan marked positions on a tablet and watched as carts and people streamed from the south gate onto the eastern road, waiting for the whole column to leave before attacking.

Yexiao led the Wolf Tribe’s north bank convoy out toward the northeast after learning that affiliated tribes had delayed Xueya’s group on the south bank. Shibang watched the convoy depart and prepared three thousand cavalry to strike Yexi and his people.

• Yexiao learned from Xueya’s messenger that affiliated tribes had blocked the south bank convoy and ordered the north bank group to leave without waiting.
• Yexiao ordered the convoy to take remaining supplies from the camp and set out toward the northeast, planning to regroup after the ferry crossing.
• The Wolf Tribe’s families, carts, livestock, and cavalry departed the north bank camp while affiliated tribes watched from afar.
• Shibang spotted Yexiao and the convoy leaving, then sent a warrior to order his forces to mount and assemble.
• Shibang rode toward the assembly point, where three thousand cavalry waited to attack Yexi and his people.

Yan sent Shinian to attack the Wolf Tribe’s supply convoy while he prepared to support him, and the two forces met in a violent cavalry clash. The battle left Xueya’s warriors under heavy pressure as they fought to protect the convoy.

• Yan ordered five hundred cavalrymen to seize the Wolf Tribe’s abandoned camp and sent Shinian with two thousand men to attack the convoy.
• Duzhu spotted Shinian’s approaching cavalry, organized the carts into a makeshift barrier, and then withdrew east with five hundred cavalrymen escorting the convoy.
• Xueya kept his remaining cavalry behind to block Shinian, while the Fire Tribe’s improved bows outranged the Wolf Tribe’s weapons and inflicted heavy casualties.
• Shinian led his cavalry in a charge, and Xueya ordered his men to meet them head-on rather than abandon the supplies.
• The Fire Tribe and Wolf Tribe cavalry collided on the eastern dirt road, fighting amid heavy casualties, dust, and clashing weapons.

Xueya’s Wolf Tribe cavalry suffered a devastating defeat in its head-on clash with Shinian’s better-equipped, battle-hardened Fire Tribe forces. After losing around a thousand men, Xueya looked back at the fallen as the battle left him unable to breathe.

• Xueya led the Wolf Tribe cavalry into battle, where Fire Tribe archers and elite warriors inflicted heavy losses.
• Shinian led his personal guards in a wedge that broke through the Wolf Tribe formation and drove its cavalry back.
• Xueya brought his three hundred personal guards forward, but Shinian’s men continued to overpower them.
• Shinian and Xueya briefly exchanged blows as their forces rode past each other.
• The first cavalry clash left the Wolf Tribe with around a thousand dead and most survivors wounded, while the Fire Tribe lost fewer than two hundred.
• Xueya reined in his horse and stared at his fallen veterans, guards, and young warriors, gripping his blade until his knuckles turned white.

Yan arrived with fifteen hundred cavalry and joined Shinian in attacking Xueya’s disorganized Wolf Tribe force. Xueya escaped east with more than a hundred riders, while Yan pursued him and Shinian stayed to finish off the surrounded remnants.

• Shinian reformed his cavalry after their first clash with Xueya’s troops, while the Wolf Tribe’s ranks fell into disarray.
• Yan arrived with fifteen hundred elite cavalry and ordered an attack, prompting Xueya to abandon the supply convoy and lead several hundred men toward Shinian’s line.
• Shinian split his forces to surround the scattered Wolf Tribe cavalry and block Xueya, but Xueya broke through with more than a hundred riders.
• Yan reassured Shinian, ordered him to finish off the Wolf Tribe remnants and pursue their supply convoy, then rode east with two hundred guards after Xueya.
• Shinian led his men in surrounding and killing the remaining Wolf Tribe fighters.

Daya ambushed and defeated Duzhu’s five hundred Wolf Tribe cavalry, capturing her and securing the convoy. He left men to collect the scattered supplies and led six hundred cavalry west to support Yan, while Xueya remained uncaptured and the battle continued.

• After hearing Yan’s ox horn, Daya led a thousand cavalrymen out of the eastern woods to attack the Wolf Tribe convoy.
• Duzhu rallied her five hundred riders to charge Daya’s force, and the two cavalry groups clashed on the road.
• Fire Tribe elites overwhelmed the Wolf Tribe riders, and Daya led a second charge that broke their remaining resistance.
• Daya knocked Duzhu from her horse and wounded her, after which the surviving Wolf Tribe riders were killed or surrendered.
• Daya counted fewer than a hundred losses, ordered more than three hundred men to gather the convoy’s supplies, and led six hundred cavalrymen west to support Yan.

Xueya led the surviving Wolf Tribe cavalry through repeated charges against the Fire Tribe, but his force dwindled as he tried to escape. After finding Duzhu’s convoy destroyed, he broke through another Fire Tribe line with only five riders and fled toward Stone Ridge Mountain to reach Xueshou.

• Xueya rallied his exhausted cavalry and charged Daya’s six hundred Fire Tribe riders, slipping through the first clash as most of his men were cut down.
• Daya’s second cavalry wave attacked, and Xueya broke through again with only twenty-odd riders remaining.
• Xueya found Duzhu’s cavalry nearly wiped out and the supply convoy scattered and plundered.
• Fire Tribe cavalry guarding the supplies formed a hurried defensive line, but Xueya led his remaining riders through it, leaving only five survivors beside him.
• Xueya fled northeast toward the Wolf Tribe stronghold and Stone Ridge Mountain, intent on reaching Xueshou.

Yan pursued Xueya after Daya’s forces defeated the Wolf Tribe convoy, and he left Daya to secure the captured supplies and tribes. Yan rode east with five hundred cavalrymen toward Stone Ridge Mountain to destroy the Wolf Tribe’s lair.

• Daya reported that Xueya escaped with five riders after breaking through his lines twice, while Duzhu and her five hundred cavalrymen were killed and the Wolf Tribe’s supplies were captured.
• Yan praised Daya’s success and ordered him to hold the southern bank, manage the captured camp and subordinate tribes, and send Shinian and Shibang to Stone Ridge Mountain.
• Daya selected three hundred cavalrymen to join Yan’s two hundred personal guards for the pursuit.
• Yan rode east with five hundred cavalrymen, while Daya stayed behind to organize the battlefield cleanup and care for the wounded.