Chapter Summaries

Jianya led the Fire Tribe’s fleet downstream to deliver supplies to its outposts before continuing to the Valley Tribe to trade for grain. The fleet arrived at the Valley Tribe’s main settlement, where Quyong arranged a place for the visitors to camp as Jianya prepared to load 3.5 million jin of grain.

• Jianya ordered the fleet of 560 vessels to depart and delivered grain, tools, salt, cloth, and other supplies at the Fire Tribe’s river outposts.
• At the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, Dali reported that construction and land clearing were progressing well, and Jianya left extra supplies.
• At the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, Jianya delivered supplies to Dazhuang and continued downstream with pottery and coarse salt for trade.
• Daiyan met Jianya near the Little Valley Camp Outpost and sent guide boats to lead the Fire Tribe’s fleet across the river to the Valley Tribe’s main settlement.
• Quyong welcomed Jianya, arranged a camp near the wharf, and Jianya began organizing the fleet to load 3.5 million jin of grain.

Jianya returned from the Valley Tribe with 3.5 million jin of grain and warned Jianshi that rising conflict with the Bear Tribe could threaten their trade. The Fire Tribe celebrated its growing fleet and production, and Jianshi sent Jianya to fetch more grain for the Fish River Estuary Outpost.

• Qingsui invited Jianya and his attendants to a banquet, and Jianya gave her the spices Yan had sent her.
• Jianya presented pottery and coarse salt to Daiyue and the elders, then learned the Bear Tribe was stirring up trouble and that Wolf Tribe remnants had fled north after attacking two small tribes.
• Jianya and Hefeng completed the exchange, loading 3.5 million jin of grain onto the Fire Tribe’s fleet, which reached the Fire Tribe settlement twenty-six days later.
• Jianya told Jianshi that worsening tensions between the Valley Tribe and the Bear Tribe might disrupt grain transport, and reported that the Wolf Tribe remnants had moved farther north.
• Dabang reported that the Fire Tribe had built more boats and increased production, while Yan said the new Youth Team members were progressing in training and literacy.
• Jianshi ordered Jianya to return to the Valley Tribe in a few days and bring more grain directly to the Fish River Estuary Outpost.

Bear Tribe chief Xiong Lie learned that the Valley Tribe’s growing prosperity came from trade with the powerful Fire Tribe and ordered a closer investigation. He left the council hall wary of the Fire Tribe’s rapid rise and its growing attention from the Tiger Tribe.

• Xiong Lie explained why he had let Xueya and the Wolf Tribe pass through Bear Tribe territory, hoping they would cause trouble in the Great Boulder Tribe’s lands.
• Xiong Zhang reported that the Valley Tribe had grown stronger by trading grain for pottery with the Fire Tribe, which had become larger than the Valley Tribe.
• Xiong Lie ordered Xiong Zhang to gather detailed information about the Fire Tribe and rebuked Xiong Pan for dismissing its rise as luck.
• Xiong Jian reported that the Valley Tribe was focused on farming, and Xiong Lie ordered him to watch its movements and look for a chance to take grain during the autumn harvest.
• Xiong Lie dismissed the council and, alone, contemplated the Fire Tribe’s power and the Tiger Tribe’s interest in it.

After fleeing the Valley Tribe, Xueya led the dwindling Wolf Tribe north and decided to rebuild its strength by raiding weaker settlements. The Wolf Tribe slaughtered the Mud Tribe, Gray Tree Tribe, and Yellow Pear Tribe in three days, and Xueya left the story convinced his people had come alive again.

• Xueya agreed with Yexiao, Xueshou, and Duzhu that the Wolf Tribe needed to raid nearby small tribes to restore morale and gather supplies.
• Xueya led more than ninety warriors in a dawn attack that wiped out the Mud Tribe and seized its supplies.
• After discussing further targets, Xueya led the Wolf Tribe to camp near the Gray Tree Tribe and attack at first light.
• The Wolf Tribe slaughtered the Gray Tree Tribe, then set out that evening for the Yellow Pear Tribe.
• Xueya's warriors annihilated the Yellow Pear Tribe, leaving Xueya pleased that three raids had revived the Wolf Tribe.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe on a campaign to seize supplies and force men from small tribes to join them, using violence to make the captives complicit. After the massacre of the Cowhide Tribe, he judged that the newcomers were beginning to adopt the Wolf Tribe’s brutality and looked east toward further targets.

• After celebrating the raid on the Yellow Pear Tribe, Xueya planned to expand the Wolf Tribe by targeting small tribes in the east.
• Xueya’s warriors overran the Mound Tribe and then swept through five small tribes, coercing more than a hundred able-bodied men into joining them.
• Xueya attacked the Cowhide Tribe despite its connection to the Great Boulder Tribe and ordered the coerced leaders to kill chief Zhuangniu.
• Under threats from Xueya and Xueshou, the newcomers killed the Cowhide Tribe’s elderly and children, then ate the tribe’s stolen food and wine.
• Xueya selected newcomers to assault the Cowhide Tribe’s young women and watched as they returned with changed, ferocious expressions.

Xueya expanded the Wolf Tribe by raiding small tribes and forcing their young adults into service. After five days of recruiting, he returned to the Mound Tribe with more than two hundred people in his group and nearly three hundred warriors under the Wolf Tribe’s control.

• Xueya ordered Xueshou to take twenty men and the Cowhide Tribe’s supplies back to the Mound Tribe while he and Yexiao set out to raid the Quanshui Tribe.
• Xueya’s group ambushed the Quanshui Tribe before dawn, took control of its camp, and pressed more than twenty young adults into service.
• Xueya and Yexiao fed and recruited newcomers in the Quanshui Tribe before moving on to the Dewdrop Tribe and capturing more young adults.
• Xueya’s group used the same tactics against the Gale Tribe, Mountain Valley Tribe, Rainwater Tribe, and Mountain Stone Tribe, adding more than a hundred young adults in five days.
• Xueya returned to the Mound Tribe, where Xueshou reported that the stored supplies were all accounted for.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe on a campaign to seize food and expand its ranks, forcing captured tribes to join and making newcomers take part in massacres. After five days of raids, the Wolf Tribe had grown to five hundred warriors and Xueya turned toward further expansion.

• Xueya planned to raid the Berry Tribe for supplies and sent Duzhu to guard the Mound Tribe camp.
• Xueya led the Wolf Tribe in a dawn attack on the Berry Tribe, where veterans seized the camp and newcomers were forced to kill its elderly and children.
• Xueya and Yexiao captured the Moss Tribe and compelled its chief, Lütai, to join the Wolf Tribe in exchange for a feast.
• Xueya led further raids on the Rhizome, Fir Tree, Pinecone, and Slender Vine Tribes, taking their young and able-bodied people.
• After five days of raids, Xueya counted five hundred warriors in the expanded Wolf Tribe.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe in a raid on the Highland Tribe, forcing its newly coerced recruits to take part in the slaughter. He returned to the Mound Tribe with more than five hundred warriors and planned further raids to build the force to a thousand before confronting the Great Boulder and Great Luwei Tribes.

• Xueya and Yexiao led the Wolf Tribe to the Highland Tribe and prepared a dawn attack.
• Yexiao’s veterans overwhelmed the camp, killed the Highland Tribe’s young adults, and captured Gao Cai and the remaining people.
• Xueya made Quanbo, Genshu, Shanmu, Songzi, and Tengsheng kill Gao Cai, then ordered the newcomers to slaughter the captives.
• Xueya fed the recruits after the massacre and told Yexiao they needed at least a thousand warriors to withstand a counterattack.
• Xueya returned to the Mound Tribe with supplies and captives, where Xueshou and Duzhu welcomed the enlarged force.
• Xueya ordered a two-day rest and planned to raid northern tribes before training the recruits and confronting the Great Boulder Tribe.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe to seize five neighboring tribes and force their able-bodied adults into its ranks, growing the force to about eight hundred warriors. After Xueshou and Yexiao warned that the new recruits had not yet seen blood, Xueya decided to take them out the next day to make them fight.

• Xueya left Duzhu in charge of guarding the Mound Tribe and rode north with more than four hundred warriors.
• Xueya’s force captured the Wild Pig Tribe, and Ya agreed to follow the Wolf Tribe after Xueshou threatened him.
• Xueya’s group took the Wild Pig Tribe’s food and held a feast before setting out for the Ape Tribe that night.
• Xueya’s warriors subdued the Ape Tribe at dawn and then swept through the Thicket Tribe, the Wilderness Tribe, and the Fallen Flower Tribe over the following days.
• Yexiao and Xueshou urged Xueya to make the new recruits see blood, and Xueya ordered everyone to prepare for a raid the next day.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe in conquering the Firewood Fire Tribe and several other tribes, swelling its ranks to about twelve hundred people. He planned to train the recruits and take them out for another bloody raid after two days of rest.

• Xueya explained that attacking the Firewood Fire Tribe would cut the newcomers off from their former allies, then ordered the Wolf Tribe to strike at dawn.
• Xueya’s warriors killed the Firewood Fire Tribe’s young men and forced the newcomers to kill its remaining people, while Xueya planned to target the Thunderbird Tribe next.
• Xueya led the Wolf Tribe north and subdued the Thunderbird Tribe, whose chief agreed to join rather than resist.
• Over five days, Xueya’s forces took the Stone Forest, Mountain and River, Blood Moon, and Great Sun Tribes, bringing the Wolf Tribe to about twelve hundred people.
• Xueya decided the Wolf Tribe had enough recruits for now and planned to rest for two days before taking the newcomers out to see blood.

Xueya led the Wolf Tribe in a series of dawn raids against tribes subordinate to Great Luwei, forcing the newcomers to take part in the killing and turning them into hardened warriors. With twelve hundred warriors and fifteen hundred horses, he called off the raids and headed back to the Mound Tribe to train and strengthen his forces before returning after the autumn harvest.

• Xueya led the Wolf Tribe to the Bone Tooth Tribe and ordered a dawn attack that killed its able-bodied men and captured the rest.
• Xueya made five newly joined chiefs and the other newcomers kill captives, while Chiya died beneath the chiefs' blows.
• The Wolf Tribe attacked the Stone Pillar Tribe, where the newcomers killed captives without being forced and became eager to prove themselves.
• Xueya led further raids against the Dark Cloud Tribe, the Icicle Tribe, and the Great Wind Tribe, gaining supplies, horses, and recruits.
• Xueya decided to return to the Mound Tribe to build up and train the Wolf Tribe, planning to raid again after the autumn harvest.

Xueya returned to the Mound Tribe with the Wolf Tribe greatly strengthened and planned to establish a defensible new camp at Stone Ridge Mountain. As Xueshou and Duzhu left to build it, the Great Boulder Tribe and Great Luwei Tribe began investigating the massacres committed by the Wolf Tribe.

• Duzhu welcomed Xueya and his returning warriors, who brought hundreds of recruits, around fifteen hundred horses, supplies, and captives, bringing the Wolf Tribe to around twelve hundred warriors.
• Xueya decided the Wolf Tribe needed a secure settlement, and Duzhu recommended Stone Ridge Mountain for its defensible terrain, flat ground, and spring.
• Xueya planned to wait until after the autumn harvest before raiding again, then sent Xueshou and Duzhu with four hundred people and supplies to build the new camp.
• Shishan told Dashi that several northeastern tribes had been wiped out and that hunters had found hoofprints indicating hundreds of horses; Dashi ordered him to investigate.
• Lujian reported to Lusheng that six tribes had been slaughtered and that many young women were missing; Lusheng ordered him to continue investigating.
• Xueya remained unaware that Dashi and Lusheng suspected the Wolf Tribe and were preparing to act against whoever had committed the massacres.

Jianya returned from the Valley Tribe with grain and information about the powerful tribes along the lower Fish River. Jianshi chose to focus on the Fire Tribe’s harvest and preparations while keeping watch on the Tiger Tribe and its allies.

• Jianya returned with the fleet and reported that he had distributed three and a half million jin of grain among the Fire Tribe’s river-mouth outposts.
• Over a meal, Jianya described the lower Fish River’s major tribes, their populations, and the Tiger Tribe’s control of the river mouth and influence over its neighbors.
• Jianya explained that the Bear Tribe, led by Xiong Lie, was expanding north and had tense relations with the Great Boulder Tribe, while the cautious Valley Tribe intended to stay out of a conflict.
• Jianshi agreed that the Fire Tribe should avoid getting involved and told everyone to prioritize bringing in the year’s grain.
• Yan reported that the Youth Team’s new recruits were settled and training well, while Dabang reported that shipbuilding and bronze production were on schedule.
• After hearing that the outposts were developing smoothly, Jianshi dismissed the others and remained to study the map as Yan left for the Youth Team’s camp.

Jianya led a fleet of 590 vessels downstream to trade with the Valley Tribe for grain while Jianshi organized the Fire Tribe’s autumn harvest. After the main settlement and outposts gathered 18 million jin of grain, Jianshi told Yan to prepare a trading visit to nearby tribes.

• Jianya departed with 590 vessels carrying pottery, salt, and linen to trade for grain, and Jianshi asked him to learn about events downstream on the Fish River.
• Jianshi rallied the Fire Tribe to harvest and dry its rice, and Yan worked in the fields alongside the Youth Team and his subordinates.
• Reports arrived that the outposts had bumper harvests, and Dabang reported that 90,000 mu of paddy fields had yielded about 18 million jin of grain.
• Jianshi celebrated the harvest with the tribe and told Yan to take a fleet to trade with the tribes between the Fire Tribe and the Valley Tribe.
• Yan agreed to prepare for the trip and considered checking on the smaller tribes’ harvests and giving aid if they had fared poorly.

Yan led the Fire Tribe fleet downstream to trade and inspect its outposts, where he saw strong harvests and continued expansion. At the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, Dali reported that four or five thousand people from small Green Leaf River basin tribes wanted to join the Fire Tribe, and Yan continued the journey after asking Dali to prepare them.

• Jianshi sent Yan off with a fleet to trade, make contact with nearby tribes, and consider accepting those who wished to join the Fire Tribe.
• Yan passed the growing Fire Creek River outposts and learned that the Little Gathering River Mouth Outpost had harvested nearly two hundred jin of grain per mu.
• Yan met Dali at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, cooked a feast, and heard that four or five thousand people from small Green Leaf River basin tribes wanted to join the Fire Tribe.
• Dali described the outpost’s growth and planned fields, and Yan asked him to contact the tribes interested in joining while they waited for Jianya’s return.
• Yan left the outpost the next morning and continued downstream with Feiyu, Bailin, and the fleet.

Yan and the Fire Tribe fleet visited the Long Leaf and Short Leaf Tribes to trade and show how prosperous the Fire Tribe had become. Gaogan and Zhuangzhi heard about its population and strength, saw the benefits enjoyed by tribes that had joined, and welcomed future trade as Yan departed for the Clothing River.

• Yan arrived at the Green Leaf River with two enormous ships, and Gaogan and Zhuangzhi welcomed him and marveled at their size.
• Yan gave each tribe ten pieces of pottery and told Gaogan and Zhuangzhi that the Fire Tribe had more than thirty 20,000-jin ships and planned to build fifty, as well as a 50,000-jin ship.
• Yan brought Huaguo, Hongmao, Honglian, Dajutou, and Xiaojutou to describe their comfortable lives in the Fire Tribe, including regular meals, warm homes, clothing, and farming instruction.
• Yan told Gaogan and Zhuangzhi that the Fire Tribe had a hundred thousand people and that tribes could join voluntarily.
• Yan traded pottery and salt to the Long Leaf and Short Leaf Tribes at favorable prices, then left the next morning for the Clothing River.

Yan led the Fire Tribe fleet to trade with the Clothing Tribe, then the Maple Leaf Tribe and Toon Tribe, exchanging pottery, salt, linen, and sandals for hides, cloth, herbs, timber, and other goods. After splitting off ships to deliver supplies to the Fire Tribe's main camp, he continued the return journey with the remaining fleet.

• Yan arrived at the Clothing Tribe's dock, where Zhixia welcomed him and teased him about finding a sweetheart.
• At a feast, Yan told Zhixia and the leaders that the Fire Tribe had more than thirty large ships and was building a fifty-thousand-jin ship.
• Yan traded pottery and salt to the Clothing Tribe for five hundred top-quality hides, a thousand medium-quality hides, and three hundred bolts of linen.
• Yan sent several dozen supply-laden ships toward the Fire Tribe's main camp and led the remaining fleet to the Big Horse River.
• Yan traded with Feng of the Maple Leaf Tribe and Chunmu of the Toon Tribe, taking their hides, herbs, timber, and mountain produce in exchange for pottery and salt.
• Yan and the fleet sailed upstream toward the Fire Tribe's main camp, and he remarked to Feiyu that both sides benefited from trading their different goods.

Yan visited Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and decided to propose moving the Fire Tribe's management center there because the main settlement was crowded and the outposts were growing. Before sailing back, he arranged for Dazhuang to prepare several thousand migrants from the Little Horse River basin for the Fire Tribe to take in.

• Yan arrived at Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and saw its expanded docks, growing settlement, and vast rice fields.
• Dazhuang told Yan that the outpost had settled ten thousand people and harvested grain from ten thousand mu of fields; Yan proposed moving the Fire Tribe's management center there.
• Dazhuang explained that he was overburdened overseeing numerous outposts, and Yan promised to raise the relocation with his father.
• Dazhuang reported that four or five thousand people from small tribes in the Little Horse River basin wanted to join the Fire Tribe, and Yan agreed to send a fleet to collect them.
• Yan and Dazhuang planned which tribes to pick up first, then Yan departed at dawn with Feiyu and Bailin for the Fire Tribe's main settlement.

Yan returned to Fire Tribe headquarters after seeing its river outposts grow, then reported that nearly ten thousand people wanted to join the tribe. He proposed moving the administrative center to Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, and Jianshi agreed to discuss the idea with everyone at the end of the year.

• Yan, Feiyu, and Bailin traveled upstream past the thriving outposts and saw expanding settlements, farmland, and docks.
• Yan told Jianshi that trading directly with tribes in several river basins had increased sales and that nearly ten thousand people wanted to join the Fire Tribe.
• Jianshi approved accepting the newcomers and told Yan to take a fleet in two days to bring them back in one trip.
• Yan proposed moving the Fire Tribe's administrative center to Little Fish River Mouth Outpost because it offered more room, farmland, and strategic access to the Fish River.
• Jianshi approved the proposal in principle but said he would consult others before discussing the move at the end of the year.
• Jianshi promised to send more people to help Dazhuang manage the outposts, while Yan prepared to sail out and collect the newcomers.

Yan led a fleet of more than 620 ships to collect people joining the Fire Tribe from two river outposts. He left half the fleet at the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost and continued to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, where another large group awaited transport.

• Yan, Shibang, and Yingmu admired the fleet and discussed the nearly completed 50,000-jin ship as the ships set off down the Fire Creek River.
• At the Red Flower River Mouth Outpost, Yan met Dali and learned that more than five thousand people were waiting to join the Fire Tribe.
• Yan ordered Feiyu and Yingmu to organize the boarding at Red Flower River Mouth, prioritizing the elderly and children, then women, then young people.
• Yan took the rest of the fleet downstream to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost, where Dazhuang reported that more than four thousand people were waiting.
• Yan told Bailin and Shibang to organize the people at Little Fish River Mouth and load their belongings where space allowed.