Chapter Summaries

Yan reviewed improvements to the Fire Tribe’s workshops, checked on the Youth Team, and considered how to expand the tribe’s farmland and bronze production. He left determined to first settle the arriving tribespeople, build the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, and tend the fields while seeking ways to increase bronze output.

• Yan proposed changes to the shipbuilding, pottery, and weaving workshops, and Jianshi approved testing them.
• Yan visited the Youth Team, heard that his younger brother Shizhua was progressing quickly, and urged its leaders to train youths in discipline and coordination as well as combat skills.
• Yan surveyed the land along Fire Creek and estimated that the valley could support twenty thousand people, with the wider region capable of supporting far more.
• Yan concluded that limited bronze production was slowing land reclamation and considered ways to increase output.
• Yan headed back to the Fire Tribe, resolving to settle three thousand newcomers, build the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, and tend the fields before tackling bronze production.

Yan oversaw improvements to the Fire Tribe’s workshops and Youth Team as the tribe welcomed thousands of people from struggling small tribes. Meanwhile, the Small Gathering Valley Outpost received its full workforce and continued construction, relying on supplies from the main settlement until its fields could produce a harvest.

• Yan visited the workshops to identify production problems and suggest fixes, and he monitored the Youth Team’s training, meals, and health.
• The first fleet, led by Binmao and Dabang, brought about fifteen hundred newcomers to the Fire Tribe, where Jianshi and Yan welcomed them and arranged their settlement.
• Binmao and Dabang set out again the next morning and returned in less than ten days with another fifteen hundred people, who were settled in the same way.
• Jianya sent the remaining outpost workers to Small Gathering Valley in two boat transports, bringing its population to two thousand, including four hundred elite warriors.
• The outpost workers built a permanent settlement while relying on food shipments, fishing, hunting, and gathering until their local crops could be harvested the following year.

Yan and Jianshi persuaded the Fire Tribe’s leaders to explore the upper reaches of the Fish River to learn about nearby tribes, trade, and settlement opportunities. Yan and Dali led a small fleet upstream, setting out to scout and make contact rather than fight.

• Jianshi and Yan proposed exploring upstream to find tribes, resources, and places for future settlement.
• Yan warned the leaders about the powerful Tiger Tribe downstream and argued that the Fire Tribe needed more people and strength.
• The leaders approved a cautious expedition to scout and trade, and Jianshi appointed Yan and Dali to lead it.
• Yan and Dali prepared a fleet of thirty-one boats with supplies, weapons, and trade goods.
• Two days later, Yan and Dali departed upstream as Jianshi, Qingye, and the others saw them off.

Yan and Dali led an expedition up Fish River to assess its waterways and make contact with tribes living along its tributaries. After trading and gathering information about the region, the fleet began its journey home with supplies and a rough map of the upper river.

• Yan and Dali traveled upstream from Fire Creek Mouth, gauging the river’s depth and naming its tributaries Valley River, Wood River, Clear River, and White River.
• At White River Mouth, Yan decided the large boats could not safely continue up Fish River, left Dali to guard a temporary camp, and explored White River with a smaller fleet.
• Yan met the White River Tribe and its chief, Baishi, traded goods for pelts, herbs, and local foods, and learned about the small settlements and hardships of the White River basin.
• On the return journey, Yan’s parties traded with the Greater Qing Tribe and Lesser Qing Tribe along Clear River and with two tribes along Wood River.
• Yan and Dali gathered their boats and supplies and headed downstream toward Fire Creek Mouth with information about the upper Fish River and its tribes.

Yan and Dali returned safely to the Fire Tribe with a fleet full of goods, and Yan reported on the rivers and tribes they encountered. The leaders agreed to build trust through trade before recruiting the upstream tribes and to explore the Fish River’s western bank.

• Jianshi welcomed Yan and Dali back and praised them for returning safely with a large haul of goods.
• Yan reported that the fleet had discovered the Wood River, Clear River, and White River, and described the small, salt-starved tribes living along them.
• Yan advised postponing large-scale recruitment and returning with supplies to build trust through fair trade, and Jianshi approved the plan.
• Yan noted five unexplored tributaries on the western bank, and an elder explained that the Fish Tribe rarely traded there and controlled much of the salt trade.
• Jianshi declared that the Fire Tribe would explore the western bank and establish trade ties, and the leaders supported his decision.

The Fire Tribe expanded its settlements, production, and defenses while Yan improved tools and machinery across the tribe. With shipbuilding advancing and work progressing toward the autumn harvest, Fumu gained approval to develop a ten-thousand-jin boat next spring.

• Yan and Dali returned with encouraging information about the upstream region, while Binmao and Dabang completed the relocation of three thousand newcomers to the valley.
• Qingye and the assigned settlers helped the newcomers adapt as they joined production teams, while workers neared completion of six thousand mu of paddy fields and expanded vegetable plots.
• Jianya led construction at Small Gathering Valley, where teams built defenses, started farmland, and established patrols and an early-warning system against the Wolf Tribe.
• Fumu reported that ten large five-thousand-jin boats had passed trials and that all fifty planned boats would be ready around the autumn harvest; Jianshi approved plans to test a ten-thousand-jin boat next spring.
• Yan improved bronze farm tools, cart wheels, waterwheel components, and the prototype threshing machine, increasing the tribe’s production efficiency.

The Fire Tribe completed a three-day rice harvest and calculated that its grain stores would reach around six million jin by winter. Jianshi called for expanding farmland so the tribe could rely more on its own production next year.

• Jianshi urged the Fire Tribe to harvest all six thousand mu of ripe rice within three clear days, and nearly eight thousand people went to work.
• The teams used bronze sickles, Yan's improved pedal-powered threshers, and prepared drying grounds to harvest and process the rice efficiently.
• Yan reported that the tribe had harvested 2.4 million jin of rice from its own paddies and expected about 500,000 jin of soybeans.
• Yan estimated the Fire Tribe would have around six million jin of grain by winter, enough to feed twenty thousand people through winter and the lean season.
• Jianshi proposed clearing the remaining land to expand rice paddies to twenty thousand mu and reclaiming nearly two hundred thousand mu for other crops, including at least forty thousand mu for soybeans.

Jianshi assigned further boatbuilding, grain-trading, and settlement plans as the Fire Tribe prepared for the next year. Jianya was sent to the Valley Tribe with Fumu, while Yan and Dazhuang were tasked with overseeing the Small Gathering Valley Outpost.

• Fumu reported that the Fire Tribe had completed fifty boats with a five-thousand-jin carrying capacity and planned to develop ten-thousand-jin boats next year.
• Jianshi praised Fumu and arranged for him to join the fleet to the Valley Tribe so he could study its giant ship.
• Jianshi tasked Jianya with leading the trade for the remaining grain and bringing the cargo safely back.
• Jianshi assigned Yan and Dazhuang to oversee the Small Gathering Valley Outpost and prepare a reclamation plan while Jianya was away.
• Jianshi planned for Yan and Dali to explore and trade along the upper Fish River, then for Jianya to seek cattle and ponies from the Horse Tribe.

Jianya led a huge Fire Tribe fleet downstream to transport grain from the Valley Tribe, while Jianshi urged the tribe to expand its own shipbuilding and seek useful seeds. At the Fish Tribe, Julang recognized Fumu, now a leading shipbuilder for the Fire Tribe, and led Jianya to meet Canglan.

• Jianshi warned Jianya to transport 1,150,000 jin of grain carefully and said the Fire Tribe must rely less on other tribes' boats.
• Jianshi set Fumu a goal of raising the Fire Tribe's water transport capacity to one million jin and asked Jianya to seek sesame, mung bean, and cotton seeds.
• Jianya ordered the fleet to set out, and the boats sailed downstream toward the Fish Tribe.
• Jianya and Fumu arrived at the Fish Tribe, where Julang recognized Fumu as a craftsman the Fish Tribe had once traded away.
• Jianya revealed that Fumu was now a leader and key shipbuilder in the Fire Tribe, then asked Julang to take him to Canglan to discuss grain transport.

Jianya negotiated with Canglan for the Fish Tribe to help transport grain from the Valley Tribe and learned that the Pottery Salt Tribe had bought the Fish Tribe’s surplus grain. After seeing the Fire Tribe’s growing fleet, Canglan agreed to future boat purchases and considered how the Pottery Salt Tribe’s stockpiling might protect his own tribe from the Wolf Tribe.

• Canglan warmly welcomed Jianya and his party, and Jianya presented gifts before asking the Fish Tribe to help transport grain from the Valley Tribe.
• Canglan promised ten large boats and ten dugout canoes, while explaining that the Pottery Salt Tribe had already reserved the Fish Tribe’s surplus grain.
• Jianya told Canglan that the Fire Tribe had completed fifty large boats, then offered the Fish Tribe the chance to buy older canoes in the future.
• Canglan assigned Feiyu and Bailin to lead the Fish Tribe’s fleet and help Jianya, and the Fire Tribe prepared to depart the next day.
• After Jianya left, Canglan and an elder discussed the Fire Tribe’s growing strength, and Canglan considered using the Pottery Salt Tribe’s grain stockpile to keep the Wolf Tribe occupied.

Yan and Dazhuang inspected the newly fortified Small Gathering Valley Outpost and discussed its farming, defenses, and strategic role. Yan proposed moving the bronze workshops to the Deer Tribe’s mining area once the outpost was secure.

• Yan and Dazhuang arrived at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost and saw its palisade, ditch, and more than three hundred newly built houses.
• Yan and Dazhuang surveyed the prepared paddy fields and vegetable plots, and Yan noted that a shortage of cattle limited further land clearing.
• Yan approved of soldiers and civilians working together and learned that cavalry patrols and three beacon towers guarded the northern approach.
• Yan told Dazhuang that moving the bronze workshops to the Deer Tribe’s mines could reduce ore transport and increase production.
• Yan and Dazhuang stood on the lookout platform and considered the outpost a defensive barrier and a base for the Fire Tribe’s expansion.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe north to plunder the Niujiao Tribe and Sheep Horn Tribe, but found their pastures deserted and learned they had migrated north. He sent Tujiu scouting for other vulnerable tribes while the main force waited nearby, intent on gaining horses and supplies without provoking the Horse Tribe.

• After rebuilding the Wolf Tribe through raids and extortion, Xueya set out from High Pointed Mountain with four hundred warriors to raid the Niujiao Tribe and Sheep Horn Tribe.
• Xueya’s force reached the tribes’ former pastures and found them empty, with fresh tracks leading north.
• Tujiu reported that both tribes had migrated together, and Duyan and Shichui suggested they might have sought shelter with the Horse Tribe.
• Xueya decided not to attack the Horse Tribe’s main camps and ordered Tujiu to scout north for smaller tribes and report back before engaging.
• Tujiu rode north with thirty cavalrymen while Xueya’s main force camped nearby and awaited his report.

Tujiu found the Green Grass Tribe, and Xueya led the Wolf Tribe in a massacre and plunder of its camp. After learning that the Niujiao Tribe and the Sheep Horn Tribe had joined forces in a valley to the northeast, Xueya prepared to attack them the next day.

• Tujiu spotted the Green Grass Tribe camping in a meadow and sent riders to report to Xueya.
• Xueya ordered Tujiu, Duyan, and Shichui to surround the camp while he led the main force in an assault.
• The Wolf Tribe overwhelmed the Green Grass Tribe’s defenders, killed the people left behind, and plundered the camp.
• Duyan told Xueya that the Niujiao Tribe and the Sheep Horn Tribe had joined together in a valley two days northeast.
• Xueya ordered the Wolf Tribe to rest overnight and march toward the valley the following morning.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe in a night raid that destroyed the Niujiao and Sheep Horn tribes and seized their supplies, livestock, and women. As the survivors fled into the mountains, Xueya ordered his force to burn what they could not carry and retreat to meet Duyan before the Horse Tribe learned of the attack.

• Xueya left Duyan behind with fifty men to gather the Green Grass Tribe's goods and guard its captive women while he marched toward the hidden valley with the rest of his warriors.
• Tujiu reported that the Niujiao and Sheep Horn tribes had around seven or eight hundred people but few warriors, so Xueya ordered his force to hide and wait until night.
• Xueya led a surprise attack on the sleeping tribes, and Shichui's men captured Niuyan after his counterattack failed.
• Xueya had Niuyan killed, and the Wolf Tribe slaughtered the defenders, leaving fewer than twenty survivors to escape into the mountains.
• After Shichui reported a vast haul of livestock and supplies, Xueya ordered his warriors to take the captives and valuables, burn what remained, and retreat to meet Duyan.

Xueya returned from raiding the Green Grass Tribe and Niujiao Tribe with a vast haul, then led further attacks on nearby settlements before bringing the spoils back to High Pointed Mountain. There, Xueshou welcomed him and the Wolf Tribe celebrated its growing wealth and cavalry.

• Xueya met Duyan at the rendezvous point and ordered him to escort the first haul and captives back to High Pointed Mountain.
• Xueya sent Tujiu scouting and, after learning of the Short Grass Tribe, led roughly three hundred warriors to attack it.
• Xueya's forces destroyed three more small tribes, gathering livestock, supplies, and captives through surprise raids.
• Xueya turned back toward High Pointed Mountain when the overloaded column could no longer travel quickly.
• Xueshou welcomed Xueya and celebrated the haul, while Yexiao led the spoils and warriors into camp.

After celebrating their northern raid, Xueya and the Wolf Tribe leaders discussed their vulnerability to stronger neighboring tribes and devised a plan to force small tribes to supply fighters while holding their relatives hostage. Xueya approved the scheme, ordering preparations for an attack on western tribes in half a month and setting his sights on the Pottery Salt Tribe and Fish Tribe.

• Xueya dismissed the female captives and warned the Wolf Tribe leaders that their supplies and numbers were inadequate to face the Fire Tribe, Fish Tribe, or Horse Tribe.
• Duyan proposed forcing nearby small tribes to join the Wolf Tribe, but Duzhu argued that feeding their families would exhaust the tribe's stolen supplies.
• Yexiao suggested compelling small tribes to send able-bodied men on raids, trapping them through their involvement in plunder and offering them only a small share.
• Tujiu proposed taking the small tribes' relatives as hostages, and the leaders praised the plan as a way to control outside fighters without feeding whole tribes.
• Xueshou urged expansion and revenge against Jianshi, intensifying Xueya's ambition to defeat the Fire Tribe.
• Xueya approved the plan, gave his leaders half a month to recover and prepare, and ordered them to begin with the small tribes to the west before targeting the Pottery Salt Tribe and Fish Tribe.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe west to force small tribes into joining its raids, using cavalry to prevent them from escaping. After massacring the White Stone Tribe, he displayed its dying chief to frighten the White Creek Tribe into submission and prepared to continue onward.

• Xueya gathered about four hundred Wolf Tribe warriors and led them west to subdue the small tribes.
• Tujiu’s cavalry trapped the White Stone Tribe as it tried to flee, and Xueya demanded its warriors join his raids.
• When Baiyan refused, Xueya ordered the White Stone Tribe destroyed, and the Wolf Tribe massacred its people.
• Xueya ordered Shichui to plunder and burn the settlement, then took the wounded Baiyan to the White Creek Tribe.
• Xueya had Duyan kill Baiyan before the White Creek Tribe, and its chief agreed to join the Wolf Tribe to spare his people.

Xueya forced the White Tree and White Fur Tribes to join his campaign after using the White Stone Tribe’s destruction and the White Creek Tribe’s submission to intimidate them. With three tribes’ warriors added as auxiliaries, he planned to recruit more and eventually confront the Pottery Salt Tribe and the Fish Tribe.

• Xueya ordered Daxi to bring thirty-odd White Creek warriors along as auxiliaries on the march to the White Tree Tribe.
• Xueya threatened Gaoshu with the destruction of the White Stone Tribe, and Daxi urged him to submit; Gaoshu agreed and provided thirty warriors.
• Xueya’s enlarged force reached the White Fur Tribe, where Daxi and Gaoshu described their tribes’ submission and the White Stone Tribe’s fall, prompting its chief to surrender forty warriors.
• Xueya’s forces camped outside the White Fur Tribe, while the newly recruited auxiliaries remained under guard.
• Yexiao praised Xueya’s recruitment strategy, and Xueya planned to gather more auxiliaries before confronting the Pottery Salt Tribe and the Fish Tribe.

Xueya’s violent campaign forced tribes to submit and drove many others to flee, spreading panic toward the Fire Tribe. When refugees arrived at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost, Yan raised the alarm and rode out to assess the situation while warning Jianshi.

• Xueya compelled the White Horn Tribe to surrender able-bodied men, as fear of his expanding force spread among nearby tribes.
• Xueya’s vassal army grew to nearly five hundred, and he forced its recruits to attack tribes that resisted, changing their attitudes through violence and plunder.
• News of the Wolf Tribe’s campaign sent small tribes fleeing toward neighboring powers, including a group of several hundred refugees heading south for the Fire Tribe.
• A lookout at the Small Gathering Valley Outpost spotted the refugees, and Yan and Dazhuang learned that they were fleeing Xueya’s attacks.
• Yan ordered the beacon towers lit, told Dazhuang to secure the outpost, and rode north with twenty cavalrymen to meet the refugees.
• Yan sent a warrior by boat to report the emergency to Jianshi at the Fire Tribe’s main camp.

After building his force to nearly a thousand, Xueya chose the Marsh Tribe and Green Grain Tribe as easier targets while ordering Tujiu to distract the Pottery Salt Tribe. As Xueya's army marched toward the Marsh Tribe, Cangbo began evacuating vulnerable people and preparing his tribe to flee or defend itself.

• Xueya gathered nearly a thousand Wolf Tribe warriors and vassal troops after absorbing two more small tribes.
• After learning the remaining small tribes had fled, Xueya rejected an immediate attack on the well-defended Pottery Salt Tribe and chose the Marsh Tribe and Green Grain Tribe as targets.
• Xueya sent Tujiu with fifty cavalrymen to feint near the Pottery Salt Tribe and ordered Yexiao to scout ahead toward the Marsh Tribe.
• Xueya led the main force toward the Marsh Tribe, while Cangbo's leaders discussed the growing threat and possible defenses.
• Cangbo ordered Xuanwo to take the elderly, children, weaker women, and portable supplies to the Fish Tribe, and tasked Chaoxi with recruiting about three hundred newcomers.
• Cangbo told the remaining people to pack valuable supplies, watch for the Wolf Tribe, and be ready to flee through the swamps or toward the Fish Tribe.