Chapter Summaries

Jianshi arrived at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and began transferring the Fire Tribe’s management center there, while assigning Jia Li to help Yan prepare for a future campaign against the Wolf Tribe. Yan departed with the fleet to deliver the Greater Qing Tribe people and bring Jianshi’s mother and Qingsui to the Valley Tribe.

• Jianshi and Yan arrived at the Valley River Mouth Outpost, where Jia Li welcomed them and described how exhausting it had been to manage the growing settlement.
• Jianshi thanked Jia Li, announced that the Valley Tribe would become the Fire Tribe’s management center, and asked him to support Yan against the Wolf Tribe next year.
• Jia Li agreed and shared his knowledge of the Wolf Tribe’s strength, routes, sentries, and granaries, along with updates on the Wolf Tribe’s losses and the Tiger Tribe’s efforts to control its absorbed population.
• Jianshi ordered the people and supplies from the fleet organized and stored, then discussed the Valley Tribe’s defenses and plans for wearing down the Wolf Tribe.
• Once the Greater Qing Tribe people had boarded, Jianshi told Yan to deliver them to Jianya at the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, then stop at the Little Fish River Mouth to bring Jianshi’s mother and Qingsui to the Valley Tribe.
• Yan led the fleet upstream from the dock as Jianshi and Jia Li watched it disappear around a bend.

Yan led the fleet along the Fish River, collecting thousands of people from the Greater Qing Tribe and several outposts to resettle with the Fire Tribe. He arranged to transfer Julang from the Hundred Crafts Outpost next year to join the fight against the Wolf Tribe, then sailed toward the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

• Yan arrived at the Big Horse River Mouth Outpost, where Feiyu had organized more than three thousand Greater Qing Tribe people into family groups for boarding.
• Yan told Feiyu he planned to deal with the Wolf Tribe next year, and Feiyu explained the Fish Tribe’s blood feud and Julang’s wish for revenge.
• Yan agreed to transfer Julang from the Hundred Crafts Outpost next year so he could join the campaign against the Wolf Tribe.
• Yan’s fleet collected the people gathered at the Clothing River Mouth Outpost, including those from the Little Horse River Mouth and Green Leaf River Mouth outposts.
• Dazhuang explained how he had cared for the relocated people and helped them regain their strength before assigning them work.
• After Daya confirmed everyone had boarded, Yan set sail toward the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

Yan brought more than twenty thousand people to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost and coordinated their resettlement with Jianya before continuing downstream. After discussing the Fire Tribe’s campaigns and future appointments, Yan set sail for Little Fish River Mouth to collect Qingsui.

• Yan arrived at Fire Creek River Mouth with more than twenty thousand people, and Jianya arranged to ferry them to the Fire Tribe’s main valley.
• Yan told Jianya that Qingsui was pregnant and that he would collect her at Little Fish River Mouth before returning to Valley River Mouth.
• Yan reported that the Wolf Tribe had lost warriors and crops, while the Tiger Tribe was struggling to control the tens of thousands of people it had absorbed.
• Jianya agreed to keep supporting the front and accepted that he might be assigned a larger area when the management center moved to Valley River Mouth.
• Yan described plans to eliminate the Wolf Tribe and later weaken the Tiger Tribe, while his father intended to put him in charge of military operations.
• After the newcomers were divided into groups for resettlement, Yan departed with the fleet for Little Fish River Mouth.

Yan arrived at Little Fish River Mouth, reported on the northern tribes, and heard Dali had the outpost running smoothly. After resting with Qingye and Qingsui, Yan took them aboard the fleet and set off for Valley River Mouth.

• Yan arrived at Little Fish River Mouth and told Dali that he had safely delivered the Greater Qing Tribe and described the Wolf Tribe and Tiger Tribe's situation in the north.
• Dali reported that he had checked the outpost's warehouses, ferry shifts, and sentry posts, and promised to keep the Fire Tribe supplied.
• Yan visited Qingye and Qingsui, shared a meal with them, and talked with Qingsui about the journey and her pregnancy.
• The next morning, Yan helped Qingye and Qingsui board the fleet and checked the supplies and boats with Daya and Gubang.
• Yan gave the order to cast off, and the fleet sailed downstream toward Valley River Mouth with Qingye and Qingsui aboard.

Yan returned to the Valley River Mouth camp with Qingye and Qingsui after a ten-day journey, and Jia Li arranged a prepared house for the women. Qingsui entered the new house on her own as Yan and Qingye accompanied her.

• Yan led the fleet downstream, stopping at several outposts to check in and collect fish, greens, hemp cloth, and supplies.
• Qingye cared for Qingsui aboard the boats while Qingsui rested and slowly regained strength during the journey.
• After ten days, Yan's fleet reached the Valley River Mouth dock, where Jia Li greeted them and arranged for the cargo and passengers to be received.
• Jia Li told Yan that the chief had prepared a house for Qingye and Qingsui near the council hall.
• Yan supported Qingsui as she walked to the house with Qingye, and Qingsui entered on her own.

Yan joined Jianshi and the Fire Tribe leaders at the council hall to review next year’s production, settlement, and military plans. The meeting ended with preparations to eliminate the Wolf Tribe after the Willow Vine Tribe’s people were relocated, as the Fire Tribe aimed to expand its territory and population.

• Yan reported that more than twenty thousand people from the Greater Qing Tribe had been settled and that over thirty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people would be moved in batches starting early next year.
• Dabang reported expanded workshops and docks, plans to build three hundred ships of two sizes, and abundant weapons, armor, and grain; he also explained that a two-hundred-thousand-jin ship remained beyond the Fire Tribe’s current capabilities.
• Jianshi approved prioritizing more smaller ships and said the Fire Tribe would have the advantage over the Tiger Tribe on the water.
• Jianshi announced that Yan would lead an army to eliminate the Wolf Tribe after the Willow Vine Tribe’s people were settled, opening the way to advance the defensive line toward the Tiger Tribe.
• The leaders discussed raising copper production, building more granaries, and speeding messages between outposts before Jianshi urged them to grow the Fire Tribe beyond one million people.

Yan settled into life at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and took over its affairs from Jia Li. He and Jianshi planned to increase the outposts’ population by admitting people from the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes and weakening the Wolf Tribe, while Yan prepared to rest before bringing the Willow Vine Tribe’s people over after spring began.

• Yan lived with his family near the council hall, where he spent his days handling documents and inspecting the outpost with Jianshi.
• Jia Li handed over his responsibilities, and Yan took full charge of affairs at the Valley River Mouth Outpost.
• Jianshi set a target of raising the populations of the Valley River Mouth and Little Valley River Mouth outposts to eighty thousand next year, while Yan described the land’s capacity for further settlement and farming.
• Yan told Jianshi that the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes were suffering and proposed taking them in, separating those with clean records from those assigned to hard labor and assessment.
• Jianshi approved Yan’s plan and discussed the order and resources for bringing people over, settling them, sorting them, and then striking the weakened Wolf Tribe.
• Jianshi told Yan to rest and spend time with his family before he went to bring the Willow Vine Tribe’s people over after spring began, and Yan returned to the courtyard.

After a safe winter, Yan led a fleet to the Great Green River Mouth to relocate the first twenty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people to Fire Tribe territory. The fleet departed with Liutiao aboard, while Liuren stayed behind to organize the remaining people for the second trip.

• Jianshi told Yan that the outposts and main valley were ready to receive the Willow Vine Tribe, and Yan checked the fleet’s supplies and boarding equipment.
• Yan said goodbye to Qingsui and Qingye, then sailed downstream and reached the Great Green River Mouth after several days.
• Liuren reported that twenty thousand people were organized and ready to board, and Yan explained that the relocation would take two trips.
• Shibang and Liuren described how the Fire Tribe had cared for the Willow Vine people and how the Tiger Tribe mistreated its own members; Yan promised fair treatment and noted the Tiger Tribe’s weakness.
• Yan assigned Shibang to watch the northern movements of the Wolf Tribe and Tiger Tribe, while Liuren stayed behind to prepare the next group.
• Yan ordered the fleet to depart with the first twenty thousand people and Liutiao aboard, heading upstream toward the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost.

Yan brought twenty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost and arranged for another twenty thousand to reinforce the Greater Qing Tribe. He left with the new group, intending to strengthen Shibang’s position and then return to bring over the remaining settlers.

• Yan told Liutiao he could join him on the front lines after studying with Jianya, and Liutiao eagerly agreed to keep learning and prepare to lead people.
• Liutiao reported that Shibang had strengthened the Greater Qing Tribe’s defenses and that the Wolf Tribe was retreating while the Tiger Tribe continued recruiting slowly.
• After more than a month traveling upstream, Yan’s fleet reached the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, where Jianya welcomed him and learned that he had brought twenty thousand settlers.
• Jianya arranged to send another twenty thousand people to the Greater Qing Tribe so Shibang would have enough support to defend it.
• Yan’s people helped the Willow Vine settlers disembark, then boarded Jianya’s group and sailed toward the Greater Qing Tribe.

Yan led the fleet downstream, reinforcing Shibang with twenty thousand people and arranging for Julang and Shinian to prepare for a campaign against the Wolf Tribe. After learning that Qingsui was close to giving birth, he hurried on toward Great Green River Mouth to collect the remaining Willow Vine Tribe people.

• Yan stopped at the Little Fish River Mouth Outpost and asked Dali to summon Julang and Shinian with a few hundred elite fighters each for the coming campaign against the Wolf Tribe.
• Yan visited Dazhuang at the Green Leaf River Mouth Outpost, reported his plans, and heard that the outpost had planted early rice and stored enough grain for the year.
• Feiyu warned Yan that Shinian could charge too far ahead in battle, and Yan said Julang would cover him while he led the attack.
• At Valley River Mouth, Yan told Jianshi that he had settled twenty thousand Willow Vine Tribe people and sent twenty thousand people to reinforce Shibang, while more than ten thousand remained to be collected at Great Green River Mouth.
• Jianshi told Yan that Qingsui was close to giving birth, and Yan hurried to depart for Great Green River Mouth to retrieve the remaining people and return to Fire Creek River Mouth.

Yan coordinated the evacuation of the remaining Willow Vine Tribe and the arrival of twenty thousand newcomers at the Greater Qing Tribe. He left for Fire Creek River Mouth with the fleet, planning to return to Qingsui before helping Shibang and Yingmu finish off the Wolf Tribe.

• Yan met Shibang and Liuren at the Great Green River Mouth Outpost, where Liuren prepared the remaining ten-odd thousand Willow Vine people to board for relocation.
• Yan reassured Liuren that Liutiao was studying at Fire Creek River Mouth and told Shibang that twenty thousand people had arrived to settle in the Greater Qing Tribe.
• Shibang reported that the Tiger Tribe was watching the Fire Tribe while the Wolf Tribe had dwindled to around six thousand warriors and was considering retreating upstream.
• Yan instructed Shibang to keep harassing the Wolf Tribe, monitor the Tiger Tribe, and let the newcomers adjust before assigning them heavy work.
• After the newcomers settled in and the Willow Vine Tribe boarded, Yan told Shibang to send any urgent news to Valley River Mouth and sailed upstream toward Fire Creek River Mouth.

Yan led the fleet carrying the Willow Vine Tribe upstream to the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, where Jianya organized the newcomers’ settlement. Eager to return before Qingsui gave birth, Yan set off downstream for the Valley River Mouth Outpost as soon as the people had disembarked.

• Yan stopped at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and told Jianshi that the last people from the Willow Vine Tribe were aboard and that he would hurry back to see Qingsui before the birth.
• Jianshi urged Yan to deliver the people promptly but warned him not to endanger the fleet by rushing.
• After more than a month, Yan reached the Fire Creek River Mouth Outpost, where Jianya arranged for the Willow Vine Tribe’s people to be divided and settled at two locations.
• Yan and Jianya discussed screening people from the Wolf Tribe’s subordinate tribes for resettlement, excluding those with blood on their hands or records of oppression.
• Once the newcomers had disembarked, Yan said goodbye to Jianya and ordered the fleet to depart for the Valley River Mouth Outpost.

Yan hurried back to the Valley River Mouth Outpost while Daya and Gubang led the fleet onward, arriving just as Qingsui began labor. He stayed by her side as she told him she was glad he had returned.

• Daya and Gubang urged Yan to take a fast boat ahead of the fleet, and he left them in charge of its supplies and journey.
• Yan traveled day and night to the Valley River Mouth Outpost and learned from Jianshi that Qingsui was expected to give birth that night.
• Yan went to his mother's house, where he found Qingsui in labor with Qingye and the midwife attending her.
• Yan held Qingsui's hand and wiped her sweat as Qingye and the midwife stepped out, and Qingsui quietly told him she was glad he was back.

Qingsui went into labor as Yan and his family waited anxiously, and she safely gave birth to a son. Yan named the baby Yi and stayed beside Qingsui and their newborn as they rested.

• Qingsui's contractions intensified, and Yan waited outside while Qingye and the midwife helped her deliver the baby.
• Jianshi comforted Yan and encouraged him to sit and wait calmly.
• Qingye announced that Qingsui had safely given birth to a son.
• Yan named his son Yi, and Jianshi praised the name before leaving for the meeting hall.
• Yan entered the room, held Yi, and told Qingsui he hoped their son would surpass his achievements; Qingsui said she only wanted him to be safe and healthy.
• Qingye went to rest, and Yan kept watch beside the sleeping Qingsui and Yi.

Yan cared for Qingsui and their newborn son Yi while preparing to lead a large force against the Wolf Tribe. After the fleet arrived at the Valley River Mouth Outpost and its supplies were unloaded, Yan confirmed the campaign would begin the next morning.

• Yan agreed to take seven thousand soldiers, including Daya and Gubang, to join the Greater Qing Tribe and Bear Tribe forces against the Wolf Tribe.
• Jianshi ordered Yan to set out on the third day, coordinate with Shibang and Yingmu, and surround the Wolf Tribe from several directions.
• Yan met Daya and Gubang as their fleet arrived, told them Qingsui had safely given birth to a boy named Yi, and began arranging the supplies.
• Julang arrived and told Yan that he and Shinian had trained their men for years to fight the Wolf Tribe.
• Yan told Julang he would lead the attack and confirmed that the troops would set out early the next morning for the Great Green River Mouth Outpost.

Yan led a fleet and seven thousand elite warriors downstream to join forces against the Wolf Tribe, planning to coordinate with the Bear Tribe and Greater Qing Tribe while preventing the Tiger Tribe from intervening. The fleet reached the Bear Tribe, where Yingmu welcomed Yan and awaited his orders.

• Jianshi instructed Yan to destroy the Wolf Tribe, absorb eligible subordinate tribes, preserve their own forces, and meet Yingmu and Shibang before finalizing plans.
• Yan boarded the fleet and ordered it to set off from the Valley River with seven thousand warriors and a large supply of ships and provisions.
• Yan told Daya and Gubang that he planned to use Bear Tribe cavalry to sever the Wolf Tribe's forces and station the navy to deter the Tiger Tribe.
• After several days downstream, Yan's fleet arrived at the Bear Tribe's dock, where Yingmu welcomed him and said he had been monitoring the Wolf Tribe's movements.

Yan and Yingmu planned a coordinated attack to destroy the Wolf Tribe’s remaining forces at the Great Rock River camp. They arranged supplies, troops, cavalry, and scouting, leaving the assault to begin after preparations were complete.

• Yan told Yingmu that the Willow Vine Tribe had been settled, his newborn son Yi and his mother were safe, and he had arrived with ships, seven thousand elite warriors, and leaders seeking revenge against the Wolf Tribe.
• Yingmu reported that the Wolf Tribe had about five thousand warriors left, with four thousand at the Great Rock camp and the rest defending a mountain stronghold, and described their deployments on both riverbanks.
• Yan and Yingmu planned to attack the south-bank force with a frontal feint and a flanking assault through eastern woods, while Shibang’s forces would strike the north-bank position.
• Yan and Yingmu agreed to use ships to transport troops and supplies, gather horses, and coordinate Shibang’s attack with theirs.
• Yan assigned Daya to organize supplies and later scout the route and defenses, while Gubang arranged shipboard shifts and the next day’s disembarkation.

Yan prepared the Fire Tribe’s forces at Bear River Mouth Outpost and led cavalry and naval troops toward the Wolf Tribe’s Great Rock River camps. After learning the enemy’s positions, he sent Daya, Shinian, and Julang with the hunter Linyan to scout a possible eastern route before the attack.

• Yan sent Xiaoshi downstream with orders for Shibang to prepare supplies and personnel for three thousand men and stand ready to attack Yexiao’s force.
• Yan and Yingmu assigned troops and boats to defend the outposts, transport supplies, and prepare the northern attack.
• The cavalry and naval forces departed together and traveled for several days toward the Wolf Tribe’s territory.
• Yingmu explained that Xueya and Duzhu commanded about three thousand warriors in the fortified south-bank camp, while Yexiao had about a thousand at the north-bank camp.
• Yan assigned Yexiao’s camp to Shibang and decided to scout an eastern path around the south-bank camp before moving against it.
• Yan sent Daya, Shinian, and Julang with Linyan to check whether the route was passable and whether the Wolf Tribe had added sentries or pits.

Xueya, Yexiao, and Duzhu discussed the Wolf Tribe’s losses and worsening position between the Fire Tribe and the Tiger Tribe. They decided to abandon the Great Rock River camps and withdraw toward the north bank of the Long River, leaving in three days.

• Yexiao and Duzhu reported that Fire Tribe attacks had depleted the Wolf Tribe’s warriors, destroyed its outlying camps, and strengthened the Fire Tribe’s foothold at the Great Green River Mouth.
• Xueya said the Tiger Tribe had refused to help and revealed that scouts had found a route to the sparsely populated north bank of the Long River.
• Duzhu warned that leaving before the autumn harvest would sacrifice fields, supplies, and subordinate tribes, but Xueya said the Wolf Tribe could not afford to wait or bring the discontented tribes along.
• Yexiao agreed that the subordinate tribes were a burden, and Xueya declared that the Wolf Tribe would rebuild north of the Long River and later take revenge on the Fire Tribe.
• Yexiao prepared to gather supplies on the north bank of the Great Rock River while Duzhu organized warriors’ families on the south bank, and Xueya ordered the withdrawal to begin in three days.

Xueya prepared to withdraw the Wolf Tribe from its camps on both banks of the Great Rock River toward Stone Ridge Mountain, while Daya discovered the evacuation and reported it to Yan. Yan organized a night march and coordinated ambushes to attack the Wolf Tribe as it left its defenses.

• Xueya ordered Duzhu to finish preparations for the Wolf Tribe’s departure the next morning, leave behind burdensome supplies, and request troops from Xueshou to meet them.
• Daya, Julang, and Shinian secretly observed the south-bank camp and concluded that the Wolf Tribe was preparing to retreat toward Stone Ridge Mountain.
• Daya left three warriors to watch the camp and rode with the others to report the withdrawal plans to Yan.
• Yan ordered Gubang and Jia Li to send three thousand cavalry to ambush Yexiao’s north-bank column, and assigned Julang to block the route toward Stone Ridge Mountain.
• Yan divided the remaining troops between himself, Shinian, and Daya to ambush Xueya’s column, then ordered the army to pack and depart after three shichen of rest.