Recaps

The Fire Tribe absorbed refugees, strengthened its defenses and food supply, and drew the Deer and Green Sheep Tribes into its ranks while negotiating trade with the Fish and Pottery Salt Tribes. The arc ended with the tribe developing secret horse tack and fine salt as it prepared to expand its farming and military strength.

• Jianshi welcomed waves of refugees, growing the Fire Tribe to around 2,800 people, and ordered more housing, food production, training, and defenses.
• After the Fire Tribe defeated Xueya, Jijiao and Zongmao tried to form an alliance against possible Wolf Tribe retaliation, while Lu Ming and Wenshi hesitated and considered approaching the Fire Tribe instead.
• Xueya escaped with a handful of followers, raided small tribes for supplies, and reached High Pointed Mountain, where Xueshou took charge of the Wolf Tribe’s survivors and defenses.
• Jianshi expanded the Fire Tribe’s warriors, youth training, agriculture, granaries, and trade, while Jia Li arranged for trained dogs and fifty ponies to reach the tribe.
• Jijiao and Zongmao settled their alliance leadership dispute through three warrior bouts, while Lu Ming and Wenshi inspected the Fire Tribe and chose to bring their tribes into it.
• Jianshi welcomed Lu Ming and Wenshi’s people, bringing the Fire Tribe close to 4,000, and negotiated a trade with Canglan for 200,000 jin of rice despite the Fish Tribe’s warning against travel downstream.
• Jia Li delivered fifty ponies and described powerful downstream tribes, while Jianshi arranged for more horses and trained selected warriors and youths to ride.
• Wang Yan developed secret saddles and stirrups that improved the riders’ stability, then refined a small batch of snow-white salt for limited use among the Fire Tribe’s core members and in important situations.

Wang Yan and Jianshi strengthened the Fire Tribe with bronze tools, farming, boats, and new recruits as the Wolf Tribe resumed its attacks. After defeating Xueya’s forces and taking in the Bison and White Pig Tribes, the Fire Tribe sought grain from the Fish Tribe while Xueya continued raiding smaller tribes.

• Wang Yan and Jianshi secretly developed bronze smelting, produced tools and weapons, and prepared the tribe for spring expansion.
• Xueya and Xueshou rebuilt the Wolf Tribe through violent raids, while neighboring tribes recruited refugees and strengthened their defenses.
• Jianshi welcomed nearly nine hundred refugees into the Fire Tribe, and Wang Yan organized new farmland, boats, education, and weapon production.
• Xueya attacked the Bison Tribe and drove the White Pig Tribe from its camp, but Jianshi led the Fire Tribe to defeat the Wolf Tribe’s pursuing force.
• Zongmao and Jijiao pledged the White Pig and Bison Tribes to Jianshi, bringing nearly one thousand newcomers into the Fire Tribe.
• Jianshi and Wang Yan organized livestock work and sent Dali and Dazhuang to buy grain, while warning Jia Li and Canglan about the Wolf Tribe’s raids.
• Canglan agreed to sell the Fire Tribe 100,000 jin of grain and arrange another 100,000 jin from the Valley Tribe at twice the previous price.
• Xueya gathered his surviving warriors and launched raids on the Little Mountain Tribe, then ordered attacks on the Little Water and Little Flower Tribes.

The Fire Tribe expanded its fleet, population, food stores, and influence while Xueya rebuilt the Wolf Tribe and moved against the Pottery Salt Tribe. The arc ended with Jia Li’s allies preparing to defend their camp as Xueya paused to reconsider his attack.

• Xueya returned to High Pointed Mountain after raiding nearby tribes and planned to train new recruits before seeking horses, while vowing to settle the score with the Fire Tribe.
• Jianshi strengthened the Fire Tribe’s food supply and fleet, welcomed survivors from tribes attacked by the Wolf Tribe, and began training cavalry and exploring the river tributaries.
• Jianya and Wang Yan expanded trade, brought thousands of Valley River people to join the Fire Tribe, and secured grain from the Fish Tribe as the Fire Tribe’s population and harvest grew.
• Jianya and Wang Yan showed Jia Li and Canglan the Fire Tribe’s growing fleet, leading the Pottery Salt Tribe to expand trade and the Fish Tribe to treat the Fire Tribe as a stronger equal.
• Jianshi approved plans for more large boats and welcomed additional newcomers, promising them food and equal treatment if they followed the tribe’s rules and worked.
• Xueya led the Wolf Tribe south toward the Pottery Salt Tribe, prompting Jia Li to prepare defenses and seek help from the Hundred Crafts Tribe, Beast Taming Tribe, and Fish Tribe.
• Kaishan and Liequan brought reinforcements to Jia Li, but Canglan delayed the Fish Tribe’s aid so it could intervene after the fighting had weakened both sides.
• Jia Li rallied the defenders as Xueya approached, after Duyan’s probing attack met organized resistance, Xueya ordered his warriors to rest and strengthen their camp while he reconsidered his assault.

The Wolf Tribe attacked the Pottery Salt Tribe and raided neighboring tribes, while Jianshi and Yan secured a major grain agreement with the Valley Tribe. The Fire Tribe returned with grain and expanded its population, industries, and northern defenses.

• Jia Li resisted Xueya’s siege with allied help, and Xueya ambushed Julang’s reinforcements before extorting grain from neighboring tribes.
• Jia Li secured supplies and a pony escort from the Fire Tribe, while Jianshi and Yan planned expanded farming, trade, and northern defenses.
• Jianshi and Yan sailed with a large fleet to the Fish Tribe, and Canglan accompanied them to the Valley Tribe to arrange grain purchases.
• Yan rescued Qingsui from a bolting horse, and Jianshi agreed to buy three million jin of grain from Daiyue in exchange for pottery.
• Daiyue rejected taking control of Yan’s pottery technique and sent Fengren to inspect the Fire Tribe, while Qingsui gave Yan two horses and grew close to him before his departure.
• Jianshi and Yan returned with 850,000 jin of grain, impressed Canglan and Fengren with the Fire Tribe’s strength, and paid the Fish Tribe with boats and pottery.
• Jianshi ordered faster farming and shipbuilding, and Binmao and Dabang departed to bring back three thousand prospective members.
• Jianya sent two thousand people to establish the Small Gathering Valley outpost, and the Fire Tribe built beacon towers to guard the route against the Wolf Tribe.