Chapter Summaries

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.

Yan reported the Fire Tribe’s growing population, production, and trade prospects at a council meeting, and Jianshi assigned preparations for bringing in new people and draft oxen. Yan then led a fleet toward the Orange River and Red Flower River to begin relocating fifteen thousand people in batches.

• Yan told Jianshi and the chiefs that the Fire Tribe had reached one hundred thousand people and described further populations that could join later.
• Yan reported that Xueya and his remaining Wolf Tribe fighters had been pushed into the Little Valley Camp Outpost’s sphere of influence, and that the Horse Tribe would trade a thousand draft oxen in two batches.
• Dabang reported increased boatbuilding and workshop output, while Jianya reported that he had brought back 2.8 million jin of grain from the Valley Tribe.
• Jianshi assigned Jia Li and Dali to trade for draft oxen and directed Yan, Feiyu, and Bailin to organize the return of people from the small tribes around the Orange River and Red Flower River.
• Two days later, Jia Li and Dali sailed toward the Horse Tribe as Yan led a fleet downstream on the Fish River to begin bringing the small tribespeople back.

Yan and Bailin brought ten thousand people from the Orange River and Red Flower River tribes to the Fire Tribe, with five thousand more waiting until after the harvest. Jianshi approved Yan's proposal for a west-bank outpost, and Jianya departed with a fleet to collect grain from the Valley Tribe.

• Yan left supplies for the Orange River tribes staying through the harvest and sent Bailin back to headquarters with four thousand people.
• Yan supplied the Red Flower River tribes and boarded six thousand people for the return journey.
• Yan proposed to Feiyu that an outpost on the Red Flower River could secure both banks of the Fish River and provide land for future settlements.
• Yan returned to headquarters, where Jianshi noted that the remaining five thousand arrivals would bring the Fire Tribe's population to one hundred thousand.
• Jianshi approved building the Red Flower River outpost during the next pickup and instructed Yan to oversee the Youth Team, the Hunting Team, and the workshops.
• Jianya departed with five hundred and thirty vessels to transport three million jin of grain from the Valley Tribe, while Yan headed toward the Youth Team's camp.

Yan inspected the Fire Tribe’s Youth Team, workshops, and military leaders as the tribe continued to grow, while preparing them for future challenges. He left with the tribe at peace for now, focused on training and development ahead of a possible Tiger Tribe invasion.

• Yan visited Daya and Zhuangchai at the Youth Team camp and learned they were struggling to train four hundred youths brought from the west bank of Fish River.
• Yan told Daya and Zhuangchai that about six hundred more youths would soon join, and advised them to help the newcomers adapt, teach them theory, and identify promising talents.
• Yan fed and rode Chasing Wind and Treading Clouds, then visited the pottery, refined salt, textile, and shipbuilding workshops to check their growing output and plans for larger ships.
• Yan told Yingmu and Shibang that the Fire Tribe was unlikely to fight a war this year and needed time to build its strength, while warning that a Tiger Tribe invasion could bring them into action.
• Yan promised Shibang the vanguard role in the next real fight, then instructed him and Yingmu to train their men into an elite force.

Yan oversaw the Fire Tribe’s bountiful rice harvest and discussed plans to build up grain reserves. After Dali and Jia Li returned from trading for draft oxen, they reported that Xueya had fled north after attacking two tribes, leaving Yan and Jianshi expecting him to seek revenge.

• Yan and Dabang admired the harvest and discussed expanding rice fields and building grain reserves of twenty million jin.
• The Fire Tribe worked for ten days to harvest at least fourteen million jin of grain, with Yan cutting rice alongside the others.
• Dali and Jia Li returned with five hundred draft oxen and news that Xueya’s men had attacked two small tribes before fleeing into Bear Tribe territory.
• Yan and Jianya considered where Xueya might go next and how the Tiger Tribe’s conflicts limited its immediate threat to the Fire Tribe.
• Jianshi and Yan agreed that Xueya would likely return for revenge, and Yan went to train.

Jianshi’s Fire Tribe expanded its fleet, brought five thousand people from Orange River and Red Flower River back to its main valley, and reached a population of one hundred thousand. Jianshi ordered Jianya to retrieve the grain stored with the Valley Tribe and set a new goal of one hundred and fifty thousand people.

• Jianya returned from the Valley Tribe with Fengren and saw that the Fire Tribe had expanded its fleet to twenty boats carrying twenty thousand jin and one hundred and forty carrying ten thousand jin.
• Dali reported that Xueya had raided two small tribes and moved north toward Bear Tribe territory, while Jianya said the Valley Tribe’s grain shipment had gone smoothly.
• Jianshi sent Yan and Dali to bring back the people from Orange River and Red Flower River and establish an outpost on Red Flower River.
• Yan’s fleet collected nearly two thousand people at Orange River and more than three thousand at Red Flower River, while Dali began organizing the outpost.
• Yan brought the newcomers to the Fire Tribe’s main valley, where Jianshi announced that the tribe’s population had reached one hundred thousand.
• Jianshi ordered Jianya to take the fleet back to the Valley Tribe for the reserved grain and said the Fire Tribe could take in up to twenty thousand more people from nearby river basins.