TPWBI Chapter 119

The Spark Tribe was not widely familiar with English. At present, only a very small number of people have learned it. Therefore, using it to convey confidential information was the most suitable choice.

In her letter, Lan Jian stated that the Western Continent had not given up its covetous gaze toward the Spark Tribe. Especially now that the tribe had managed to produce wine, and its quality even surpassed that of most wines from the Western Continent. The anti-Spark voices there were gaining more and more response.

As more and more goods from the Spark Tribe appeared, the people of the Western Continent grew increasingly envious of the tribe’s prosperity.

Now, many from the Western Continent began to regret. Why had they tried to seize and plunder before the Spark Tribe had even had the chance to grow strong? Now, the Spark Tribe had already become an exceptionally powerful force.

Not only did they possess the mighty iron tools that the Western Continent regarded as divine artifacts, but they also had countless brave and battle-hardened warriors. To attempt a conquest now was simply an impossible task.

Especially since they had also built tall walls and a deep, wide moat filled with fierce beasts. There was no way to make a move.

Yang Yi also learned from Lan Jian’s letter that the Spark Tribe’s safety in the past had been largely due to luck. The Western Continent itself was riddled with factional strife, with every city entangled with one another.

Although there was a royal court at the center exerting control, it was obvious that such control was very weak.

Therefore, no city was willing to send out its sharpest troops, lest once their forces departed, another city might immediately seize the chance to invade from behind.

“The transmigration god truly favors me,” Yang Yi sighed in deep emotion as he read this part.

Ever since he transmigrated here, he hadn’t encountered many unpleasant troubles. Overall, things had gone extremely smoothly. So smoothly that he could build and develop the tribe to such a remarkable extent in such a short time.

“And me.” Hei Lie interjected, unwilling to be left out.

In fact, he even felt that the god’s favor toward him surpassed that toward Yang Yi. Otherwise, how could such a person have been sent to his side, and how could their signing of the life-and-death contract have gone so smoothly?

In the past, Hei Lie had thought that his decision back then was an exceptionally wise one, straightforward and mutually beneficial. But after reading many books, he came to realize that the thoughts of Earthlings were far more complex than he had imagined.

They were more suspicious and sensitive. People like Yang Yi, who were willing to trust others from the very beginning, were few and far between.

Although part of it was because Yang Yi had no choice at the time and was merely trying to survive, it was still a stroke of luck that they ended up together.

Otherwise, if they had begun with mutual suspicion and wariness, it would have taken them a long time to build trust. They might not have even started any construction by now.

Yang Yi smiled. “Yes, we’re both very fortunate.”

“Since those people on the Western Continent are so idle, I don’t mind giving them something to do,” Hei Lie said, his eyes darkening slightly.

Lan Jian had mentioned in her letter that the rulers of the various city-states in the Western Continent were preparing to gather and hold a meeting to discuss how to deal with the Spark Tribe.

Morri’s rank wasn’t high enough to learn the exact details, but it certainly wouldn’t be anything good.

Especially with the establishment of the new city, there were surely quite a few Western Continent spies hidden within.

Compared to the Western Continent, the people of the Eastern Continent knew far too little about what was happening there. The flow of information was completely unequal.

And infiltration? There was simply no comparison. Morri was probably the first person from the Eastern Continent to successfully infiltrate the Western Continent.

“What are you planning to do?”

Yang Yi asked. Hei Lie gave a small smile. “The world bustles for profit. The world clamors for gain. The reason they can gather together this time is to attack us and seize profit. So what’s wrong if I let some people profit as well?”

The great cities of the Western Continent were much like tribes themselves. They each possessed a high degree of autonomy. Only, their ties with one another were closer, and they shared a central authority.

However, the central authority of the Western Continent was far inferior to the Spark Tribe’s control over the new city. The royal court merely held the position of supreme power because it possessed larger territories and greater resources, and because the city-states were bound to it through intermarriage and other forms of entanglement.

Each city-state only showed deference because of the royal court’s considerable influence and its wide network of allies, not because they were of lower standing.

The city-states didn’t even need to pay taxes to the royal court, nor could the royal court directly command their soldiers. It could only negotiate with them.

Thus, internal strife was constant, for there was no truly strong central government to lead them.

“Sowing discord?” Yang Yi quickly understood what Hei Lie was getting at.

“Although that’s roughly the idea, the phrasing sounds too unpleasant. We’re not that despicable,” Hei Lie said with righteous conviction. “At most, we’ll simply treat them differently. If jealousy or other emotions among them lead to worsening conflict, that’s beyond our control.”

“No matter how you phrase it, the result’s the same,” Yang Yi said with a smile.

“My suggestion is to start with those hypocrites. Since they’ve been so eager to humble themselves and profit from us, we don’t have to be accommodating to them.”

In her letter, Lan Jian mentioned several city-state trade caravans that had shown completely different attitudes. One when dealing with the Spark Tribe directly, and another when back in the Western Continent.

A large part of the Spark Tribe’s damaged reputation was caused by these very people.

Even now, many of the common folk and even nobles still believed the Eastern Continent to be barbaric and barren, and that the Spark Tribe was a wicked and sinister power.

They happily used goods brought from the Spark Tribe, yet at the same time sneered at the Eastern Continent’s “backwardness”, using that disdain to boost their own sense of superiority.

That much could still be tolerated. But when it came to opposing the Spark Tribe, their voices were always the loudest.

Hei Lie nodded. “They will be the first choice.”

The implication was that, for the sake of the bigger picture, adjustments might be made further down the line.

Yang Yi had no objection. As long as it achieved the goal of keeping the Western Continent from paying attention to them.

“Besides, I think we’ve been too conservative these past years. It’s time to let them know how strong we are.”

If possible, Yang Yi did not want war, even if their odds were high.

Even if they could profit from war, Yang Yi still didn’t want to do that.

As a Chinese man, he had never liked killing and plundering. He firmly believed in creating wealth with one’s own hands and that mutual benefit and cooperative building were the means for long-term development.

Hei Lie was well aware of Yang Yi’s view. Although he liked fighting, he likewise disliked seeing his own kind hurt.

“At the next major trade fair, we can let them see our powerful weapons.”

The Spark Tribe had always actively researched various weapons. After all, security came first.

Now their smelting technology had progressed further than before. Although the smelting machines Yang Yi had brought were already ruined, they had developed replacements.

The efficiency wasn’t as high as those machines, but their refining capability was still very good.

They had even begun studying from books how to make steel, and had already achieved some results.

Beyond ironware, they were researching the powerful offensive weapons described in the texts, such as multi-row crossbows and the like.

The books didn’t provide enough detail. The technicians had been developing these designs little by little based on rough descriptions.

They had now managed to produce a heavy crossbow cart operated by two people that could fire over a hundred bolts at once.

The range was long and the power immense. When several of the carts fired side by side, the bolts rained down on the enemy like a storm of arrows.

Previously, the accuracy hadn’t been good enough, so they hadn’t displayed them publicly. But now, with the margin of error much smaller, they were ready for use.

In addition to cold weapons, research on gunpowder had also never ceased, and great progress had been made.

They still couldn’t yet achieve the kind of explosive effect that could kill a large group in one blast.

However, the power was already considerable enough to serve as a deterrent.

Yang Yi and Hei Lie soon formulated a plan targeting the Western Continent. In summary, it consisted of three parts: First, to throw the Western Continent into chaos, making them distrust one another and too wary to send troops. Second, to display their own military strength. Third, to let the compliant city-states benefit, so that they would have no desire to disrupt the current order.

Destroying the Spark Tribe wouldn’t mean everyone would profit. Most of the gains would still fall into the hands of the powerful city-states.

As for the specific operations, Yang Yi didn’t involve himself much. He had never been skilled at nor fond of such political maneuvering. He found far greater joy and fulfillment in peaceful construction and farming.

While Hei Lie worked on his arrangements, Yang Yi devoted himself entirely to development.

The new city gradually stabilized, and more and more people came to join them. When the city’s population finally reached fifty thousand, the canal, or rather, the man-made river, was at last completed!

“The water’s here! The water’s here! We did it!”

As everyone watched the surging flow rush down the channel, cheers erupted all around.

Standing atop the high wall, Yang Yi lifted one of the few remaining telescopes to look into the distance, his heart surging with excitement.

With the tribe’s growth, the wells had temporarily met their needs, but they had clearly become a bottleneck for further development. Irrigation was an arduous and exhausting task.

Each time they irrigated the fields, they had to keep pumping water without rest. After a whole day of work, the labor was immense, and the flow speed was quite limited.

Normally, they also made an effort to collect rainwater and the like, but it was still far less convenient than using a river.

Now that the water had been diverted, they had already prepared waterwheels in advance, allowing water from the canal to be lifted to higher ground for irrigation.

Not only that. They had also designed water mills, using the current to save manpower, making it easier to pound rice, press oil, and more.

The canal wasn’t built solely for irrigation. It was also meant to harness the power of the river itself.

Therefore, during excavation, they had planned how to best use the flow’s impact to further improve efficiency.

“Divine Envoy, the water mill is turning! Just as you envisioned. It can pound rice without anyone having to do it by hand!”

“The waterwheel is also bringing river water into the fields! From now on, we won’t have to keep pumping water for the paddies! Once the wheel starts turning, the water just gushes right into the fields!”

“With so much water, we don’t even have to worry anymore about the wells running dry and leaving us without drinking water!”

Everyone reported excitedly to Yang Yi, although they had already expected the changes that would come once the canal was opened.

After all, the waterwheels and mills had been erected along the canal long ago. Before construction, they had even built small models to test their designs.

Later, those models became the children’s favorite toys, so everyone was familiar with the concept.

Yet seeing it truly work with their own eyes felt completely different. Everyone cheered in excitement, still finding it all so unbelievable.

Yang Yi was likewise immersed in joy. The opening of this canal brought more than just water. It would also bring flourishing growth to all the lands surrounding it.

“Divine Envoy! Someone’s coming over on bamboo rafts!”

Yang Yi was startled. He lifted his telescope for a look. Sure enough, people were poling along on bamboo rafts.

“That fellow Jing… even after becoming a city lord, he’s still so reckless.”

With his exceptional eyesight, Hei Lie quickly recognized who was leading the group. Though his words sounded like reproach, his tone was full of admiration.

“It really is them!” Yang Yi soon confirmed it as well. Dozens of bamboo rafts were lined up neatly in formation, advancing majestically from a distance.

Back when they were digging the canal, they had also planted bamboo along the way. Even though it had taken a long time to transplant and grow, and they hadn’t yet been able to enjoy bamboo shoots as a proper dish, it was all for the sake of cultivating a large number of bamboo plants.

Now the canal was lined with tall bamboo stalks. It not only forms a beautiful landscape but also brings vibrant life to the area.

Bamboo could produce delicious shoots, attract small animals like bamboo rats, be crafted into all kinds of daily necessities, and even be used for papermaking. Its uses were vast.

And now, it could even be made into bamboo rafts for transportation.

Yang Yi and Hei Lie descended from the wall just as Jing stepped off his raft. As soon as he landed, he knelt before Yang Yi in salute.

“Divine Envoy, we’ve returned by water route!”

Yang Yi helped both him and Rong up. “You two are far too daring. The canal just opened, and you already dared to come this way. Weren’t you afraid the current might sweep you off?”

Rong burst out laughing. “We got swept apart several times along the way! But this river was built by our tribe. It would never drown its own people!”

Hei Lie clenched his fist and gave a playful punch. “That’s just like you two. How long did it take?”

“About the same speed as riding an ostrich. But we hardly had to do anything. The current carried us most of the way. It was a bit dangerous, sure, but far more comfortable than bouncing around on a bird’s back.”

Jing sighed with satisfaction. With this canal, transportation between places would become much easier. However, the return trip wouldn’t be as simple. They’d have to go against the current.

This time, Jing and Rong hadn’t just come to test the waterway. They had also brought something Yang Yi had long been waiting for: fish.

“We brought a lot of fish at first, but we released them bit by bit along the way, so now there’s only this much left,” Jing explained.

Only then did Yang Yi notice that each bamboo raft had a large net tied to the back, filled with many small fish. Though some nets also held a few larger ones.

“These fish breed quickly but aren’t very aggressive. They taste quite good, too. I think they’ll be perfect for raising in the canal.”

The construction of the canal had been done with careful planning. They had drawn the water from a great river deep within the wilderness, one teeming with all kinds of fish, many of which were extremely ferocious.

To ensure that the canal fish could reproduce safely, they had reinforced the junction where it connected to the wilderness river, using a considerable amount of iron to block out those massive and dangerous creatures.

“Today’s full of wonderful things!” Yang Yi exclaimed, finally able to see live fish in Yi City.

Before this, for reasons unknown, transporting fish from elsewhere had always been a huge challenge. They would often die during the journey.

No matter how hardy the species, none could survive long enough to reach the Spark Tribe. And even when a few did, their taste was never very good.

But now, with the canal keeping them in constant water, Yang Yi could at last see living fish swimming in Yi City.

Yang Yi’s mind was already running through countless ways to cook fish. Although they could normally eat fish if they wanted, it was never this fresh.

When it came to food, Yang Yi could be quite particular, at least when the conditions allowed for it.

Hei Lie, seeing what Yang Yi was thinking, chuckled. “Let’s have all these big fish cooked tonight so everyone can enjoy some fresh fish!”

Cheers erupted all around.

That night, during the celebration, all the large fish Jing’s group had brought were turned into a variety of delicious dishes. As the tribe grew wealthier, the dining hall’s menu became more diverse by the day. The food only got tastier.

Yang Yi had once suggested that, since there were now so many people and many had started families and had their own small homes, it might be good to let households have their own stoves. That way, people could cook what they personally liked instead of always eating communal meals.

The dining hall food was excellent, but it was still mass-cooked in huge pots. It could never be as refined or suited to individual tastes as a home-cooked stir-fry.

Yet nearly everyone opposed the idea. They felt that being able to eat at the dining hall was already a blessing.

After all, most people hadn’t received professional cooking training and couldn’t make food that tasted as good as the dining hall’s.

Moreover, metal was precious. They only had clay pots to boil food, so frying or deep-frying was impossible, leaving them with very limited cooking options.

It was far better to eat in the dining hall: the meals were delicious and incredibly convenient. All they had to do was finish their work, line up for food, and enjoy. How easy was that!

Those who were truly passionate about cooking had mostly joined the dining hall staff to put their skills to use, so there was no need to secretly cook on their own just to satisfy their culinary interests.

Thus, aside from a very, very small number of people who occasionally liked to cook for themselves, most still preferred eating at the dining hall and hoped to keep doing so.

Communal meals are made for better resource integration. Compared to everyone cooking individually, it actually saved more ingredients overall.

So, the dining hall continued to operate as usual, though a special cooking area was later built for those who wanted to prepare their own favorite dishes.

It was the tribe’s first time having so much fresh fish. The dining hall’s chefs truly showed their skills—pickled fish, chopped chili fish head, spicy boiled fish slices, fresh fish and tofu soup, grilled fish. It was an endless variety of dishes.

Yang Yi ate to his heart’s content. He had always loved fish, though he was a bit picky. He only liked it fresh.

No matter how well-made dried or cured fish might be, nothing could ever compare to the taste of freshly cooked fish dishes.

Yang Yi had always wanted to raise fish in the tribe. Not only to enrich everyone’s meals but also to satisfy his own craving.

“Another goal achieved,” Yang Yi sighed, taking a sip of wine.

He had rarely drunk alcohol before, but ever since he and Hei Lie began brewing wine together, he would occasionally have a few sips.

The wine they made was truly excellent. Though Yang Yi wasn’t a wine connoisseur and couldn’t describe it in technical terms, he still knew good quality when he tasted it.

He had even stored some of his very first batch in his spatial storage. If one day he could return home, he wanted to bring it back for his father to try.

His father loved alcohol, any kind of alcohol. But as he grew older and had to watch his blood pressure and cholesterol, he drank much less.

“This is only the beginning,” Hei Lie said, lightly clinking his glass against Yang Yi’s.

Yang Yi gazed at the brilliant stars scattered across the horizon. “Yeah… even with both cities combined, we’ve only just passed a hundred thousand people. We’re still a long way from our goal.”

Hei Lie sat down beside him. “One day, it’ll be achieved.”

Those words weren’t meant as comfort. They were simply a statement of fact.

Things on the Western Continent were progressing smoothly. Not only did that keep the people over there too busy to interfere with them, it also gave Morri the perfect chance to shine.

He had already begun using supplies to rally more and more slaves, preparing to open up a new territory and build a new city.

It was nearly impossible for Morri alone to overturn the slave system of the Western Continent. One man’s strength was simply too small.

But to build a city founded on his own principles and a new order was something he could accomplish.

Morri’s forces were growing larger by the day. With Yi City and Rong City as models to follow, his progress would only become smoother.

Though none of it was easy, it wasn’t impossible either.

On the Eastern Continent, more and more tribes and people were also choosing to join them.

Now that the canal was completed, cultivating fertile farmland had become far easier. With that, they could feed even more people.

Reaching the goal was only a matter of time. It wasn’t something that could be rushed.

Increasing numbers were easy enough, but maintaining stability and ensuring everyone was fed had to be done step by step.

“If I said that at this point… I’ve already started to feel satisfied. Would you think I’m someone with no ambition?”

Yang Yi looked toward Hei Lie, his expression carrying a hint of guilt.

To be honest, even though the city had been established, large stretches of farmland opened up, and the fruit trees they’d planted earlier were now bearing edible fruit, there were still many areas that needed improvement.

But Yang Yi no longer had the same drive and fiery determination he’d once possessed. Though he still enjoyed the process, he couldn’t deny that the sense of novelty had faded quite a bit.

Hei Lie pulled him into his arms, his gaze firm.

“What you’ve accomplished so far is already remarkable. From here on, it’s time for the rest of us to take the lead.”

“You really think so? There’s still a lot that needs to be refined.”

“Of course,” Hei Lie replied with absolute certainty. “The framework is already in place. If even the finer details still need you to guide us step by step, then we really would have cause to worry for the future. City-building has never been a one-man task. It’s time for others to absorb and learn, bit by bit.”

Yang Yi smiled. He had been here for five years now, watching this place transform from a wild, barren land into a thriving city.

The weeds were gone, replaced by rows of houses and sprawling fields.

Back then, they had never known where their next meal would come from. Now, the warehouses were stacked to the brim. The only question each day was what to order from the canteen.

Yang Yi felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and pride, even though he kept reminding himself that this was far from enough, that they still had a long way to go.

Compared to life back on Earth, this was still an enormous gap.

Yet, deep down, he felt that his efforts had reached a certain stage. The fire that had once burned so brightly was dimming, replaced by a growing sense of fatigue.

“I think… I want to rest.”

After a moment of hesitation, confirming his true feelings, Yang Yi finally spoke those words aloud.

When Yang Yi said those words, he exhaled deeply, feeling as though an invisible shackle around him had finally been released.

For five years, he had spent every single day thinking about how to build and improve, never stopping, never resting, always confined to this place, rarely stepping outside.

Honestly, he had never lived like this before. The idea of a weekend or a vacation simply didn’t exist.

Even when he occasionally wanted to slack off, the moment he thought about all the work that still needed to be done and that if he didn’t complete it, the entire tribe might go hungry, he would force himself to get up, no matter how exhausted he was.

For someone like Yang Yi, who had always lived an easygoing, leisurely life, these past five years had been truly extraordinary.

Hei Lie paused for a moment, then gently pressed a kiss to his forehead.

“Just hold on for one more year, alright? Once certain matters come to a close and I’ve arranged everything, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

Yang Yi chuckled. “What nonsense are you talking about? If both of us leave at the same time, the whole tribe will fall into chaos.”

“We’ll have to let go eventually.”

Yang Yi clasped Hei Lie’s hand tightly. “But not now. The tribe hasn’t truly stabilized yet. I don’t want all our hard work to be washed away just because I acted on impulse.”

“Then let’s wait for that day,” Hei Lie said softly. “When it comes, I’ll make good on my promise. I believe it won’t be too far away. I won’t let it take too long.”

Yang Yi’s smile was radiant, his eyes shimmering like starlight. “Alright. I’ll wait.”