Chapter Summaries

After Yan promised a large advance payment for the Valley Tribe’s next grain trade, Daiyue and the elders argued over how to use the profits amid rising threats from the Bear Tribe. Daiyue postponed the decision and considered approaching Yan about a future military alliance against the Tiger Tribe.

• Daiyue watched Qingsui leave with Yan and considered her growing affection for him and what a marriage might mean for the Valley Tribe.
• Daiyue told the elders that Yan had promised pottery worth five million jin of grain in advance for next year’s trade, and they agreed to strengthen cooperation with the Fire Tribe.
• Lin Feng urged the elders to reward the tribespeople and preserve some profits from the planned twenty-million-jin grain trade, while Jin Ye argued that most profits should buy weapons to defend Little Valley Camp from the Bear Tribe.
• Jin Ye warned that the Bear Tribe had grown to ten thousand people and was equipped with bronze weapons that he suspected the Tiger Tribe had supplied, prompting the elders to argue over military spending and profit distribution.
• Daiyue ended the argument, ordered the elders to focus on clearing fields and securing the next grain trade, and later considered discussing a military alliance with Yan.

Yan and Qingsui walked back from the Valley Tribe council hall, teasing each other and promising to meet again before he left. After parting for the night, Yan looked forward to seeing her the next day and hosting her at the Fire Tribe in spring.

• Dali, Feiyu, Bailin, and the attendants hurried ahead to leave Yan and Qingsui alone on the road.
• Yan and Qingsui joked together, then discussed his grain shipment and his planned departure the morning after tomorrow.
• Qingsui promised to visit the Fire Tribe in spring and ride Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds, and she and Yan walked hand in hand toward camp.
• Qingsui asked Yan to send word when his work was finished the next day, then left for the dock.
• Yan returned to camp, confirmed to Daya that he would see Qingsui tomorrow, and thought about their future visit.

Yan and Dali discussed the Valley Tribe’s coming grain surplus, its future soil problems, and the need for more Fire Tribe boats. After the pottery and grain handover began, Qingsui brought Yan to meet Chief Daiyue, who wanted to discuss strengthening ties between their tribes.

• Yan and Dali discussed how the Valley Tribe planned to provide twenty million jin of grain next year and worried that planting its fields continuously would reduce future harvests.
• Yan told Dali that the Fire Tribe needed to build more boats to transport the grain, and Dali agreed to urge Dabang to increase boatbuilding.
• Yan and Hefeng counted and handed over the pottery while Dali and Fengren organized the grain, completing the pottery handover by noon.
• Dali encouraged Yan to leave the remaining work to him and spend time with Qingsui, so Yan prepared to visit her.
• Qingsui came to fetch Yan and told him that her father, Chief Daiyue, wanted to discuss strengthening ties between the two tribes.
• Yan and Qingsui headed to the Valley Tribe’s council hall, where Yan wondered whether Daiyue would discuss grain trade or a broader alliance.

Yan met privately with Daiyue to discuss the Fire Tribe’s growing demand for grain, its expansion, and cooperation against the Tiger Tribe. Daiyue agreed to deepen trade and advance a possible military alliance, while Yan left with Qingsui to walk by the Fish River.

• Yan told Daiyue that the Fire Tribe’s population had passed fifty-four thousand, would soon reach sixty thousand, and might reach eighty thousand next year.
• Yan said the Fire Tribe would buy at least twenty million jin of grain annually and proposed a military mutual-aid alliance against the Tiger Tribe.
• Daiyue suspected the Fire Tribe could make pottery, salt, and possibly bronze, then asked Yan whether it produced salt; Yan confirmed that it made coarse salt.
• Daiyue promised to strengthen grain trade and continue promoting an alliance, asking Yan to convey his sincerity to Chief Jianshi.
• Yan reunited with Qingsui, told her Daiyue had praised her, and agreed to walk with her by the Fish River.

Daiyue weighed the Valley Tribe’s position between the rising Fire Tribe and the Tiger Tribe, deciding to strengthen defenses and delay any secret alliance until the next year’s grain trade. Meanwhile, Yan and Qingsui shared a pleasant evening fishing and eating together before she left with seasonings he had given her, promising to return in early spring.

• Daiyue considered the Fire Tribe’s rapid growth and the Tiger Tribe’s pressure on the Valley Tribe, then planned to transfer bronze weapons to Little Valley Camp Outpost and buy fewer weapons from the Tiger Tribe.
• Daiyue decided that any military alliance with the Fire Tribe should remain secret and wait until after the planned twenty-million-jin grain trade next year.
• Yan and Qingsui caught five duoduo fish, and Yan roasted them with seasonings for the two of them to share.
• Yan and Qingsui walked by the river and talked about their lives and hopes, and Yan promised to show her the Fire Creek River’s night sky on her next visit.
• Yan gave Qingsui seasonings to take home, and she left with her attendant after promising to return in early spring next year.

Yan and the Fire Tribe’s fleet departed upstream with grain after farewells from Qingsui and the Valley Tribe’s chief and elders. Qingsui treasured Yan’s parting gift and looked forward to visiting the Fire Tribe next spring.

• Yan ate rice balls Daya brought him while the Fire Tribe prepared to leave with two million jin of grain.
• Qingsui gave Yan roasted meat, and Yan returned a gift of fine hemp cloth and a carved bone comb before they said goodbye.
• Daiyue and the Valley Tribe’s seven elders came to see Yan and Dali off, promised the remaining grain, and affirmed their plans to supply grain next year.
• Yan ordered the horn blown, and the Fire Tribe, Fish Tribe, and Valley Tribe boats formed a fleet and sailed upstream.
• Qingsui watched the fleet disappear, then returned home and treasured Yan’s gift as she planned to visit the Fire Tribe next spring.

Xueya’s Wolf Tribe decided to raid west for supplies and revenge against the Fish Tribe, then assembled its forces and began the march. The chapter left Xueya leading the expedition toward the western tribes.

• Xueya and the Wolf Tribe’s leaders discussed their dwindling supplies and whether to raid again.
• Yexiao warned against attacking the Horse Tribe and proposed heading west to target the Fish Tribe and other tribes.
• Xueya ordered nine hundred warriors and a fifteen-hundred-person logistics group to prepare for the expedition, assigning leaders to the forces.
• Xueya recalled the losses at Yellow Leaf Camp and vowed to avenge the fallen, including Tujiu.
• The Wolf Tribe assembled at High Pointed Mountain the next morning, and Xueya led the force west.

The Marsh Tribe learned that a large Wolf Tribe force was advancing west and would pass through their lands. Cangbo chose to evacuate to the Pottery Salt Tribe before the attack, leaving the unharvested rice behind as they hurried toward the promised Fire Tribe reinforcements.

• Little Water Grass told Cangbo that the Wolf Tribe was approaching with about nine hundred people, including six hundred cavalry, and a large supply train.
• Tao Qi warned that the Wolf Tribe was likely headed for the Fish Tribe and would pass through the Marsh Tribe, and urged Cangbo to withdraw to the Pottery Salt Tribe while Fire Tribe reinforcements were summoned.
• Cangbo decided to evacuate rather than risk his people to protect the unharvested rice, and ordered Changgāo, Qiantan, Luwei, Xuanwo, and Chaoxi to prepare the tribe.
• The Marsh Tribe organized its departure, sending the old and young first, followed by the women and belongings, while fighters guarded the rear and moved supplies by boat.
• Cangbo led the tribe west toward the Pottery Salt Tribe as the sun set, leaving their camp and fields behind while the Wolf Tribe advanced from the east.

Tao Liu warned Muye that a large Wolf Tribe force was approaching, prompting the Beast Taming Tribe to abandon its unharvested rice and evacuate to the Pottery Salt Tribe. There, Muye and Cangbo joined Jia Li to prepare their combined forces to hold the camp until the Fire Tribe’s reinforcements arrived.

• Tao Liu reported that about nine hundred Wolf Tribe members, including six hundred cavalry, were approaching the Beast Taming Tribe, and said the Pottery Salt Tribe had urged them to evacuate.
• Muye ordered his people to leave before dark, and Liequan led the warriors as the tribe set out for the Pottery Salt Tribe.
• Muye’s people reached the Pottery Salt Tribe, where Jia Li arranged shelter and food for them and Muye discovered that Cangbo had arrived earlier with the Marsh Tribe.
• Jia Li, Muye, and Cangbo agreed to defend the camp with more than seven hundred warriors until the Fire Tribe’s reinforcements arrived.

After learning that a large Wolf Tribe force was approaching, Wu Xiong and the Hundred Crafts Tribe prepared to defend their camp while evacuating their elderly, children, and women to the Pottery Salt Tribe. The chapter ended with Wu Xiong looking east and waiting for Xueya and the coming battle.

• Tao Wu warned Wu Xiong that about nine hundred Wolf Tribe fighters, including six hundred cavalry, were heading toward the Fish Tribe and could threaten the Hundred Crafts Tribe.
• Kaishan, Shifu, and Lieying opposed a full withdrawal, while Ruimu proposed evacuating the vulnerable and keeping able-bodied people to defend the camp.
• Wu Xiong approved Ruimu’s plan after Tao Wu explained that Fire Tribe reinforcements could arrive within two or three days.
• Wu Xiong assigned Kaishan to organize fighters, Shifu to lead the evacuation, Lieying to scout, and Ruimu to strengthen the camp’s defenses.
• The first evacuees set out for the Pottery Salt Tribe as the remaining people prepared for battle, and Wu Xiong challenged Xueya to come.

Canglan learned that a large Wolf Tribe force was advancing on the Fish Tribe and ordered preparations to defend the camp, harvest the grain, and seek help. The chapter ended with him alone in the council hall, uncertain whether the Fish Tribe could withstand the attack.

• Canglan warned the Fish Tribe leaders that their growing population, limited warriors, and nearby Wolf Tribe scouts made the tribe vulnerable.
• Shentan explained that the Fish Tribe had only a little over eight hundred warriors, while the Wolf Tribe had grown stronger and still possessed more than six hundred cavalry.
• Tao Si reported that around nine hundred Wolf Tribe warriors, including six hundred cavalry, were heading toward the Fish Tribe with more than a thousand support personnel.
• Canglan ordered Shentan to track the Wolf Tribe, Laoduo to harvest the nearly ripe rice, Xieqian to request Fire Tribe reinforcements, Langhua to ready the small boats, and Julang to strengthen the camp.
• Canglan thanked Tao Si and sent him back with four pieces of pottery and a message for Chief Jia Li about uniting against the Wolf Tribe.
• After Tao Si left, Canglan returned to the empty council hall and wondered whether the Fish Tribe could hold off the advancing force.

Xueya found the Marsh Tribe’s camp abandoned and learned that the Pottery Salt Tribe had likely warned nearby tribes of the Wolf Tribe’s advance. He ordered Duyan to harvest the Marsh Tribe’s rice, sent Yexiao to scout the surrounding tribes, and led the main force toward the Fish Tribe.

• Xueya and his leaders entered the deserted Marsh Tribe camp and found that its people had evacuated with their supplies at least two days earlier.
• Yexiao concluded that the Pottery Salt Tribe had probably spotted the Wolf Tribe’s forces and warned the Marsh Tribe and other nearby tribes.
• Xueya stopped Shichui from burning the camp and decided to harvest the ripe rice instead.
• After considering an attack on the fortified Pottery Salt Tribe, Xueya chose to target the Fish Tribe first for its grain, people, and livestock.
• Xueya left Duyan with troops and support personnel to harvest the rice, sent Yexiao and forty cavalrymen to scout four tribes, and led the remaining force west toward the Fish Tribe.

Xueya rushed four hundred Wolf Tribe cavalry to the Fish Tribe, but Canglan kept the defenders inside their camp rather than risk a battle against the exhausted cavalry. The two sides ended the day trading insults as the Fish Tribe waited anxiously for reinforcements from the Pottery Salt Tribe and the Fire Tribe.

• Xueya split off with four hundred cavalry and hurried toward the Fish Tribe while Shichui followed with the remaining troops and logistics personnel.
• Xueya learned that the Fish Tribe was harvesting rice and led a charge, but Julang and Shentan joined more than five hundred infantry to block the cavalry, forcing Xueya to retreat to high ground.
• Xueya tried to provoke Julang and Canglan into fighting outside the camp, but Canglan refused and warned that the Pottery Salt Tribe and Fire Tribe might send reinforcements.
• Xueya threatened to destroy the Fish Tribe, and Canglan ordered the defenders to trade insults with the Wolf Tribe to maintain morale.
• At night, Canglan and Shentan waited to learn whether the Pottery Salt Tribe would arrive soon and whether the Fish Tribe could hold out until the Fire Tribe came.

Xueya’s Wolf Tribe lured the Fish Tribe into a disastrous battle while harvesting their rice and destroying their crops. The Fish Tribe lost more than three hundred people, and the Wolf Tribe resumed harvesting as the defeated defenders fell silent.

• Xueya’s cavalry lured Julang and the Fish Tribe horsemen away from their camp, then escaped without pursuing them.
• Yexiao reported that the Beast Taming Tribe and Marsh Tribe had gathered at the Pottery Salt Tribe, while many from the Hundred Crafts Tribe remained behind.
• Xueya sent Shichui and two hundred infantry to guard logistics workers harvesting the Fish Tribe’s early rice.
• Canglan ordered Shentan, Laoduo, and Xieqian to harass the Wolf Tribe, but Shichui’s attack on the vegetable plots provoked the Fish Tribe infantry into a full charge.
• Xueya’s cavalry and Shichui’s forces overwhelmed the Fish Tribe fighters; Laoduo died, Xieqian was gravely wounded, and more than three hundred Fish Tribe people were lost.
• The Wolf Tribe taunted the silent Fish Tribe survivors and continued harvesting the rice without further interference.

Dazhuang and the Fire Tribe cavalry arrived at the Pottery Salt Tribe camp, where Jia Li briefed them on the Wolf Tribe’s invasion and the allied tribes’ forces. After Fish Tribe messengers pleaded for help, Dazhuang organized a cavalry force to ride to their aid the next morning.

• Dazhuang arrived with six hundred Fire Tribe cavalry and met Jia Li and the other tribal leaders at the camp.
• Jia Li reported that the Wolf Tribe had nine hundred warriors, including six hundred cavalry, and that the allied tribes could muster more than eleven hundred warriors, though many Hundred Crafts Tribe fighters remained behind to guard their grain.
• Dazhuang explained that the Fire Tribe could send further reinforcements by boat after receiving the beacon signal.
• Two Fish Tribe messengers arrived and said Xueya had attacked with four hundred Wolf Tribe cavalry, pleading for help.
• Dazhuang decided to support the Fish Tribe, and Jia Li, Cangbo, and Muye assigned one hundred cavalry to join his six hundred.
• Dazhuang prepared to lead the seven hundred cavalry to the Fish Tribe at dawn.

After beacon fires warned that the Wolf Tribe was attacking the Fish Tribe and neighboring tribes, Jianshi ordered the Fire Tribe to send reinforcements while protecting its autumn harvest and trade. Jianya’s thousand warriors sailed downstream to support the threatened tribes as the headquarters mobilized for war.

• A lookout spotted beacon fires from the Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost, and Jianshi called the Fire Tribe’s leaders to an emergency council.
• Dabang described the tribe’s boats and forces, while Jianya and the other leaders urged sending support without disrupting the autumn harvest.
• Jianshi ordered Dabang to reinforce the outposts and send troops to Stone Creek River Mouth, while Jianya led a thousand elite warriors by boat to support the Fish Tribe and Pottery Salt Tribe.
• Jianshi worried that Yan and Dali might encounter the Wolf Tribe while transporting grain, and Qingye comforted him.
• Dabang mobilized troops and strengthened defenses as Jianya’s fleet departed downstream toward the threatened tribes.

The Wolf Tribe harvested the Fish Tribe’s rice while Xueya weighed the risks of attacking their defended camp and worried about the Fire Tribe. When scouts reported at least seven hundred Fire Tribe cavalry approaching, Xueya ordered his warriors to assemble and prepare for battle, abandoning most of the grain.

• Canglan told Shentan that only a little over four hundred Fish Tribe warriors could still fight, and they had received no reply from the Pottery Salt Tribe.
• Xueya rejected a costly frontal assault after two probing attacks failed to break the Fish Tribe’s defenses, while Wolf Tribe workers continued harvesting rice.
• Yexiao reported that scouts sent to the Fire Tribe’s Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost had not returned, so Xueya ordered more scouts south and planned to withdraw with the grain.
• A scout arrived and reported that at least seven hundred elite Fire Tribe cavalry were half a shichen away.
• Xueya ordered the Wolf Tribe to assemble and meet the approaching cavalry, telling Shichui to take only the grain they could carry.

Dazhuang’s seven hundred Fire Tribe cavalry confronted Xueya’s Wolf Tribe over the grain they had seized. After the Fire Tribe won three duels, Xueya withdrew east with his forces while Dazhuang rode toward the Fish Tribe’s camp to wait for reinforcements.

• Xueya arranged his cavalry and infantry to face Dazhuang’s approaching Fire Tribe forces and refused Dazhuang’s demand to surrender the grain and apologize to the Fish Tribe.
• Dazhuang sent Yingmu to challenge the Wolf Tribe, and Yingmu defeated Shichui, who fled after more than fifty exchanges.
• Mangu challenged the Wolf Tribe next, and Yexiao fought him for thirty rounds before retreating.
• Shinian challenged Xueya and defeated him after sixty rounds, leaving the Wolf Tribe’s morale broken.
• Xueya ordered the Wolf Tribe to withdraw east with the harvested grain, while Dazhuang held back from attacking and led the Fire Tribe cavalry toward the Fish Tribe’s camp.

After the Wolf Tribe’s humiliating defeat, Xueya planned to retreat while the Fish Tribe welcomed Fire Tribe reinforcements and agreed to join them. At the council, Yan devised a plan to circle behind the Wolf Tribe at night and attack from both sides at dawn.

• Xueya decided to retreat toward the Marsh Tribe the next morning, fearing reinforcements from the Fire Tribe would arrive soon.
• Dazhuang arrived at the Fish Tribe camp, where Canglan recounted the losses caused by the Wolf Tribe and offered to have the Fish Tribe join the Fire Tribe after the Wolf Tribe was defeated.
• Jianya and Yan arrived with more Fire Tribe forces, and Canglan confirmed to Yan that the Fish Tribe would formally join the Fire Tribe.
• Jianya reported that the Fire Tribe and Fish Tribe forces outnumbered the Wolf Tribe, but the leaders worried Xueya would flee if they attacked directly.
• Canglan showed the leaders a mountain trail leading behind the Wolf Tribe, and Yan volunteered to take cavalry along it while Jianya attacked from the front at dawn.

Yan and Jianya led a two-pronged assault on the Wolf Tribe, routing its forces and capturing its camp and supplies. Xueya escaped the encirclement with fewer than a hundred followers, while Yan vowed to pursue him after the battlefield was cleared.

• Yan led four hundred cavalry through the night and set an ambush behind the Wolf Tribe’s camp, while Baitou guided them there.
• At dawn, Jianya attacked the camp with a large force, and his bronze-armed cavalry overwhelmed Xueya’s warriors as they tried to fight back.
• Xueya fled with his cavalry, abandoning the camp’s trapped warriors and supplies; Dali and the Fish Tribe’s people seized the camp and sought vengeance.
• Jianya pursued Xueya as Yan’s ambush blocked the escape route and unleashed a volley from two hundred horsebows.
• Yan killed Shichui in the clash, and his cavalry pursued the fleeing Wolf Tribe until Xueya escaped at a crossroads with fewer than a hundred followers.