Chapter Summaries

The Wolf Tribe returned to Stone Ridge Mountain with plunder and captives, celebrated its victories, and planned to defeat the Great Boulder Tribe next year. At their own camp, Dashi recognized the Great Boulder Tribe’s weakening influence and resolved to seek allies and buy more bronze weapons.

• Xueya and Xueshou reunited their forces with Yexiao and returned to Stone Ridge Mountain with supplies and captives.
• Duzhu welcomed the returning warriors, and Xueya ordered the Wolf Tribe to celebrate their victories.
• Xueya, Xueshou, and Yexiao discussed how their gains and the destruction of the Great Boulder Tribe’s subordinate tribes would help them attack next year.
• Shishan and Shizhua returned to the Great Boulder Tribe’s camp, where Dashi berated them for failing to defeat the Wolf Tribe and protect its subordinate tribes.
• Shishan and Shizhua explained the Wolf Tribe’s tactics and why they had withdrawn rather than risk an ambush.
• Dashi concluded that the Great Boulder Tribe had lost influence and decided to court the Great Luwei Tribe, buy more bronze weapons from the Tiger Tribe, and unite other tribes against the Wolf Tribe.

The Great Luwei Tribe debated how to respond to the Wolf Tribe’s growing power and its attacks on the Great Boulder Tribe. Lusheng chose to promise the Great Boulder Tribe support only in words, leaving the Great Luwei Tribe free to decide later as events unfolded.

• Lujian reported that the Wolf Tribe had grown to more than five thousand cavalry, defeated the Great Boulder Tribe’s last two core subordinate tribes, and weakened the Great Boulder Tribe’s influence.
• Lusheng argued that the Great Luwei Tribe should avoid making the Wolf Tribe an enemy and rely on its ties to the Tiger Tribe while building up its own forces.
• Lujian asked whether the Great Luwei Tribe should agree to join the Great Boulder Tribe in attacking the Wolf Tribe next year.
• Lusheng decided to give the Great Boulder Tribe a vague verbal agreement without making a firm pledge, so the Great Luwei Tribe could respond according to the situation.
• Lusheng and the leaders planned to recruit more people, buy bronze weapons, strengthen their defenses, and send mounted scouts to watch the Wolf Tribe.

Xiong Lie and Xiong Pan discussed how the Wolf Tribe’s attacks had driven smaller tribes to join the Bear Tribe and weakened the Great Boulder Tribe. Xiong Lie planned to make the Wolf Tribe help the Bear Tribe attack Little Valley Camp before he would introduce them to the Tiger Tribe.

• News of the Wolf Tribe’s rampage reached the Bear Tribe, and more small tribes fled to join it, growing its population to over twenty thousand.
• Xiong Pan praised Xiong Lie for allowing the Wolf Tribe to enter the region and cause trouble for the Great Boulder Tribe.
• Xiong Pan worried that the Wolf Tribe might attack the Bear Tribe after taking the Great Boulder Tribe’s territory.
• Xiong Lie argued that the Wolf Tribe would need the Tiger Tribe’s approval to hold the territory and would seek the Bear Tribe’s help to gain an introduction.
• Xiong Lie planned to demand that the Wolf Tribe join the Bear Tribe’s attack on Little Valley Camp before he would introduce them to the Tiger Tribe.

Xiong Zhua reported that the Bear Tribe was growing stronger but that the Valley Tribe was also thriving with the Fire Tribe's support. Xiong Lie ordered an expanded intelligence operation to learn everything about the Fire Tribe.

• Xiong Zhua told Xiong Lie that the Bear Tribe had over four thousand warriors, increasing supplies, and growing numbers of bronze weapons.
• Xiong Lie asked why the Valley Tribe remained strong and why its Little Valley Camp Outpost had been suppressing the Bear Tribe.
• Xiong Zhua explained that the Valley Tribe continued secret trade and received support from the rising Fire Tribe, whose fleet carried enormous quantities of grain.
• Xiong Zhua reported that the Valley Tribe had more than thirty thousand people and a growing supply of bronze weapons, likely provided by the Fire Tribe.
• Xiong Lie ordered Xiong Zhua to send more scouts to investigate the Fire Tribe's population, military strength, supplies, leaders, and defenses.

Daiyue heard that the Wolf Tribe had devastated the Great Boulder Tribe’s territory and discussed the threat with the Valley Tribe’s elders. He sent Fengren to consult their Fire Tribe allies and ordered stronger defenses at Little Valley Camp.

• A scout reported that the Wolf Tribe had seized more than two thousand young men, destroyed two Great Boulder Tribe subordinate tribes, and grown to more than five thousand cavalry.
• Daiyue and Hefeng warned that the Wolf Tribe could threaten the Valley Tribe, while Jin Ye insisted their bronze weapons would help them resist.
• Daiyue told Fengren to take men to the Fire Tribe and discuss the Wolf Tribe’s advance with their allies.
• Daiyue ordered more warriors to Little Valley Camp, round-the-clock patrols, a higher fence, and deeper trenches.

Leader Fengren warned Jianshi and Yan that the Wolf Tribe was growing stronger after destroying two Great Boulder Tribe subordinate tribes and could threaten the Valley Tribe and Fire Tribe. Jianshi declined to send troops but gave the Valley Tribe its promised bronze weapons early, and Fengren departed with them.

• Leader Fengren arrived at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and was warmly welcomed by Jianshi, Yan, and the Fire Tribe leaders.
• Fengren reported that the Wolf Tribe had destroyed Great Boulder Tribe's last two core subordinate tribes and might soon attack the Great Boulder Tribe, then join forces with the Bear Tribe and possibly the Tiger Tribe.
• Jianshi and Yan discussed the danger and recognized that the Valley Tribe feared the Wolf Tribe's revenge and needed support from its military ally.
• Jianshi refused to commit troops to the conflict but advanced the Valley Tribe all the bronze weapons promised for the following spring.
• Fengren thanked Jianshi and Yan, then left with the bronze weapons loaded onto his boats.

Tiger Tribe Chief Hu Zheng proposed dividing the Valley Tribe from the Fire Tribe before attacking, but First Elder Tongding overruled him and ordered preparations to strike the Valley Tribe next year. After the council dispersed, Hu Zheng brooded over Tongding’s contempt and resolved to establish his authority.

• A Bear Tribe envoy reported that the Fire Tribe had sent huge ships carrying grain to the Valley Tribe and was supporting it with trade and military aid.
• Hu Zheng proposed winning over the Valley Tribe and joining with the Bear Tribe to attack the Fire Tribe before the two tribes could unite.
• Tongding dismissed Hu Zheng’s plan, declared that the Tiger Tribe would prepare for war and attack the Valley Tribe next year, then left the council hall.
• Hu Zheng dismissed the envoy with a message for Xiong Lie and remained alone in the hall.
• Hu Zheng recalled his father’s dying wish that he make his own decisions and resolved to become the true master of the Tiger Tribe.

Yan inspected Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost and Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost on Jianshi’s orders, checking their harvests, winter preparations, and development. After finding both outposts active and well supplied, he returned downstream to report back.

• Dali arrived at Little Fish River Mouth Outpost to ride the hundred-thousand-jin boat, and Yan promised Red Flower River Mouth Outpost would receive one next year.
• Yan sailed upstream with Feiyu, Bailin, Jia Li, Shibang, and Yingmu, and Jia Li reflected on how much the former Pottery Salt Tribe’s land had grown.
• Yan inspected Pottery Salt River Mouth Outpost’s fields, warehouses, docks, and houses, questioned its leaders about supplies and winter preparations, and gave them safety instructions.
• Yan reached Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost and observed its people preparing fields and irrigation channels for the next spring.
• Yan inspected Stone Creek River Mouth Outpost, met with its leaders, and then led the fleet downstream to report back.

Yan reported that the Pottery Salt and Stone Creek river mouth outposts were thriving and had room for more settlers, while Jianshi approved the Fire Tribe’s plan to focus development northward. Jianshi assigned Yan to collect about five thousand people who had agreed to join the tribe, and the chapter ended with Yan preparing to leave in two days as shipbuilding preparations continued.

• Yan returned to the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and told Jianshi that the Pottery Salt and Stone Creek outposts were growing, producing surplus grain, and could accommodate many more people.
• Jianshi said the tribe’s leaders had unanimously agreed to focus resources on developing river mouth outposts and asked Yan to report any problems from the two settlements.
• Jianshi told Yan that small tribes near the Clothing River and Little Horse River had agreed to join the Fire Tribe, and assigned him to collect the newcomers.
• Yan urged the tribe to prioritize fertile river mouths and expand its influence north toward the Valley Tribe and the Horse Tribe.
• Dabang reported preparations to increase the fleet to at least five ships carrying one hundred thousand jin and sixty ships carrying fifty thousand jin by early spring, as Jianshi warned that rival tribes might threaten them.
• Jianshi ordered Yan to take a fleet to Dazhuang’s Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost in two days and bring back about five thousand newcomers, while leaving another group there with supplies until winter ended.

Yan led the Fire Tribe fleet north to collect people from the Green Leaf and Little Horse River Mouth Outposts. More than four thousand new tribespeople boarded, and the joined fleets sailed upstream toward the Fire Tribe’s main settlement.

• Yan departed the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost with a fleet loaded with supplies.
• Yan met Dazhuang at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, where more than four thousand people were ready to join the Fire Tribe.
• Dazhuang organized the people to board, with the elderly and children going first, followed by the women and young people.
• Yan left bulky possessions behind for a later trip and watched the new tribespeople board the ships.
• Yan’s fleet joined the ships from the Little Horse River Mouth Outpost and sailed upstream toward the Fire Tribe’s main settlement.

Yan brought more than four thousand newcomers to the Fire Tribe, whose ships, outposts, and abundant food convinced them they had made the right choice. After Jianya arranged their settlement and discussed the region’s plans with Yan, Yan reported back to Jianshi, who approved the arrangements and assigned Yan to transport grain from the Valley Tribe next spring.

• Yan led the fleet upstream, and the newcomers marveled at the Fire Tribe’s huge ships, plentiful meals, and prosperous river-mouth outposts.
• At the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, Jianya welcomed Yan and arranged for the newcomers to travel by smaller boats to the main base valley, where they received houses, grain, and clothes.
• Jianya told Yan he planned to develop the Fire Creek River Mouth and Little Gathering River Mouth outposts, and that four more 100,000-jin ships would be built by next spring.
• Yan agreed to bring more than five thousand people to Jianya’s area next spring and to transport grain from the Valley Tribe because Jianya could not leave his post.
• Three days later, Yan reported to Jianshi that the newcomers had been settled and relayed Jianya’s shipbuilding plans; Jianshi approved Yan’s spring assignment and sent him to rest.

Yan led the Fire Tribe’s fleet north to bring back more than five thousand people who had wintered away from headquarters, then prepared to sail to the Valley Tribe for grain. The chapter ended with Yan’s grain-transport fleet departing the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost aboard five newly completed hundred-thousand-jin ships.

• Yan set out with the fleet to collect the new tribespeople waiting at the Green Leaf River Mouth and Little Horse River Mouth outposts.
• Yan and Shibang met Dazhuang at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, where Dazhuang described plans to establish two more outposts using abandoned camps.
• Yan’s fleet collected more than five thousand people, reunited with Feiyu and Yingmu’s ships, and sailed toward the Fire Tribe headquarters.
• Yan saw four newly built hundred-thousand-jin ships at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, and Jianya told him to take all five such ships to the Valley Tribe for grain.
• Yan reported the trip to Jianshi, then departed the next morning with Jia Li, Feiyu, Bailin, Yingmu, and Shibang to transport grain from the Valley Tribe.

Tong Dachui led the Tiger Tribe’s fleet toward the Valley Tribe and Fire Tribe, but sent most of his force back when Hu Bashan’s conflict with the Wuyue Tribe threatened the Tiger Tribe’s eastern defenses. He joined forces with Xiong Lie’s Bear Tribe and set out upstream to attack the Valley Tribe and Fire Tribe.

• Tong Dachui learned that Hu Bashan’s renewed fighting with the Wuyue Tribe had left the Tiger Tribe’s home camp vulnerable, so he sent Hu Ben back with seventy percent of the men and ships.
• Tong Dachui continued upstream with the remaining fleet, dismissing concerns about the Wolf Tribe’s attacks on the Great Boulder Tribe and deciding the Tiger Tribe could exploit the turmoil later.
• Tong Dachui and his leaders reached the Bear Tribe’s dock, where Xiong Lie welcomed them and hosted a feast.
• Xiong Lie described the Valley Tribe’s growth and its ties to the Fire Tribe, and Tong Dachui declared that both tribes would be attacked.
• Tong Dachui invited the Bear Tribe to join the campaign, and Xiong Lie agreed.
• The next morning, Tong Dachui and Xiong Lie led the combined Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe fleet upstream toward the Valley Tribe.

The Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe launched a massive river assault on the Valley Tribe's Little Valley Camp while Daiyue and the elders discussed grain shipments at headquarters. Daiyan rallied the camp's warriors to defend it as he secretly packed his valuables, leaving the battle about to begin.

• Daiyue confirmed that the Valley Tribe could supply the Fire Tribe with twenty million jin of grain after a successful spring planting.
• Tong Dachui and Xiong Lie led a huge Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe fleet toward Little Valley Camp, and the fleet rammed a Valley Tribe patrol boat.
• Daiyan learned that the attacking fleet flew both tribes' flags and ordered the camp's three largest ships withdrawn to headquarters.
• Daiyan hurried back to Little Valley Camp, where he sent trusted aides to pack his treasures while more than a thousand warriors assembled.
• Daiyan told the warriors to hold the camp until reinforcements arrived, and they rallied and raised their weapons.

Daiyue learned that the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe had launched a massive attack on the Valley Tribe’s Little Valley Camp and ordered the headquarters to prepare for defense while seeking help from the Fire Tribe. After three major ships and other vessels were sunk, he kept his fleet back and fortified the camp, uncertain how the battle was unfolding.

• Quyong and a messenger reported that the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe’s fleet had reached Little Valley Camp and begun attacking.
• The messenger described the enemy fleet’s overwhelming size, while Quyong reported that the Valley Tribe’s ships had gathered at the headquarters docks and Fengren was on his way.
• Daiyue ordered Fengren to muster warriors and fortify the headquarters, sent Quyong to watch the enemy fleet and warn the Fire Tribe, and assigned the elders to prepare the camp.
• Quyong reported that the attackers had sunk three of the Valley Tribe’s fifty-thousand-jin ships and more than ten smaller vessels at Little Valley Camp.
• Daiyue refused to send his fleet into a direct fight, ordered Quyong to monitor the enemy and preserve his ships, and had Fengren deploy four thousand warriors to guard key positions.
• Daiyue watched the preparations at headquarters and worried about his younger brother Daiyan and the people at Little Valley Camp as the battle continued.

The Tiger and Bear Tribes’ fleet devastated the Valley Tribe’s ships at Little Valley Camp, then the Tiger Tribe pursued the Valley Tribe’s main fleet upstream. Tong Dachui withdrew to blockade the river and planned to demand the Valley Tribe’s surrender, while the Bear Tribe prepared to attack Little Valley Camp the next morning.

• The Tiger and Bear Tribes’ fleet sank the Valley Tribe’s ships at Little Valley Camp, and Xiong Lie urged Tong Dachui to attack the outpost immediately.
• Tong Dachui refused, ordered Xiong Lie to wait for the Bear Tribe’s cavalry and attack the outpost the next day, then led the Tiger fleet against the Valley Tribe’s main fleet.
• Quyong fled upstream with the Valley Tribe’s ships, but the Tiger fleet pursued and sank two more large ships before turning back at dusk.
• Tong Dachui returned toward Little Valley Camp, ordered the Tiger Tribe to blockade the river, and instructed Hu Zhua to offer the Valley Tribe surrender or threaten its outpost with destruction.

After the Tiger and Bear Tribes badly damaged the Valley Tribe’s fleet, Quyong welcomed Yan and the Fire Tribe’s immense fleet as reinforcements. Yan agreed to help and sailed with Quyong toward the Valley Tribe’s main settlement to prepare for a strike.

• Quyong counted the Valley Tribe’s losses and feared its Little Valley Camp would fall if the Bear Tribe sent land forces.
• Quyong spotted the Fire Tribe’s fleet approaching, sounded the ox horn, and raised torches to signal the allies.
• Yan moored beside Quyong and asked about the attack; Quyong described the losses and urged the Fire Tribe to help protect the Valley Tribe.
• Yan reassured Quyong, learned the enemy’s likely strength, and conferred with Feiyu, Bailin, Jia Li, and the others before agreeing to advance toward the main settlement.
• Quyong sent messenger boats to inform the main settlement and Little Valley Camp that reinforcements had arrived.
• Yan resupplied the Fire Tribe’s warriors, then led both tribes’ fleets down the Fish River toward the lower reaches.

Hu Zhua tried to persuade Daiyue to surrender to the Tiger Tribe, but Daiyue refused and ordered archers to attack Hu Zhua’s ship. Tong Dachui prepared to storm Little Valley Camp with the Bear Tribe’s cavalry as Daiyan waited for the Fire Tribe’s promised reinforcements.

• Hu Zhua sailed to the Valley Tribe headquarters’ dock and demanded that Daiyue surrender to the Tiger Tribe.
• Daiyue rejected Hu Zhua’s accusations and demands, then ordered Fengren’s archers to fire on Hu Ya’s ship.
• Hu Ya withdrew to report to Tong Dachui, who ordered the Tiger Tribe fleet to blockade the river and prevent Valley Tribe reinforcements from reaching Little Valley Camp.
• Three thousand Bear Tribe cavalry arrived and surrounded Little Valley Camp while Daiyan chose to hold the outpost, trusting Quyong’s report that the Fire Tribe fleet was nearby.
• The Tiger Tribe fleet, Bear Tribe cavalry, and Valley Tribe defenders prepared for battle as the outpost awaited relief.

Xiong Lie launched a probing attack on Little Valley Camp while the Valley Tribe secretly ferried Shi Lei and two thousand cavalrymen across the Fish River. Yan and Quyong then set their allied fleets moving downstream to attack the Tiger Tribe and Bear Tribe.

• Xiong Lie prepared the Bear Tribe's elite cavalry and veterans to seize Little Valley Camp, then slapped Xiong Pan for suggesting the Bear Tribe might challenge the Tiger Tribe.
• Xiong Lie ordered Xiong Jian to guard the Bear Tribe's fleet and led a probing assault against Little Valley Camp, where the defenders held their ground.
• Quyong and Yan helped transport two thousand Valley Tribe cavalrymen across the Fish River, and Shi Lei rode ahead to reinforce Little Valley Camp.
• Yan and Quyong agreed that the Fire Tribe would attack the Tiger Tribe's fleet while the Valley Tribe attacked the Bear Tribe's fleet.
• Yan ordered the allied fleets to sail downstream toward the Tiger Tribe's and Bear Tribe's naval forces.

Yan and Quyong brought the Fire Tribe fleet to the Fish River and routed Tong Dachui’s Tiger Tribe fleet, forcing the Bear Tribe to flee as well. Their reinforcements reached Little Valley Camp Outpost, where Daiyan’s defenders celebrated their survival.

• Tong Dachui refused to send Tiger Tribe warriors to aid the Bear Tribe, ordering the fleet to seal off the river and wait while Little Valley Camp Outpost continued to resist.
• Daiyan opened his storehouses and promised rewards to keep the outpost’s wounded and exhausted warriors fighting.
• Yan and Quyong led the Fire Tribe fleet into the guarded waters, and Yan ordered an attack on the disorganized Tiger Tribe fleet.
• The Fire Tribe’s armored ships and catapults sank several Tiger Tribe vessels, so Tong Dachui ordered a retreat and Yan pursued the fleeing ships.
• Quyong broke off his fight with the Bear Tribe fleet and sailed to Little Valley Camp Outpost, while the Bear Tribe fled after seeing the Tiger Tribe’s defeat.
• Shi Lei arrived with two thousand Valley Tribe cavalry, Xiong Lie retreated with the Bear Tribe, and Daiyan’s warriors cheered as the outpost was relieved.