The rain, which started as a drizzle in the morning, had intensified by noon, turning into a heavy downpour that soaked the banks of Dayu River (the river where the travelers were located, named after Xiao Bailang, who caught a fish weighing more than 30 kilograms in this river) in a fine mist. The once peaceful area now looked muted under the thick curtain of rain.
Nearly 100 simple wooden houses stood in the residential area on the north bank, with a large number of travelers having settled in, moving their belongings into these new homes. A thin wooden fence had been constructed around the residential area, the wood processing plant, the canteen, warehouse, and toilet. Two gates—one at the south and the other at the north—allowed access to this space. The south gate led to the floating bridge that connected the two sides of the river, while the north gate faced the newly reclaimed vegetable field and the water treatment plant, the heart of the travelers' community. This area had been fortified since the third day after the crossing when Wang Qinian brought security guards to patrol the area. The wooden fence and the tall watchtower had been established early on to ensure safety.
On the south bank, the industrial zone planned by the committee was starting to take shape. Three key strongholds—logging, brick kilns, and mining—formed an equilateral triangle, each contributing to the community's self-sufficiency. The logging site stretched deep into the forest, which had provided thousands of large trees for the travelers' needs. The Indians who had once spied on the community in the forest seemed to have disappeared, allowing the workers to continue their tasks in relative peace. The brick kiln site, newly completed, was already covered in a layer of mud, with transplanted grass starting to take root. A large number of bricks were drying in the sheds, protected from the rain with thick layers of thatch and rain cloths. Outside the mining site, simple shacks had been erected, with the unmistakable sound of hammering echoing as workers made limestone powder.
The heavy rain had put a temporary halt to most industrial and agricultural activities. The travelers, now with some rare free time, gathered in small groups to smoke, chat, and play cards. After days of intense labor, this moment of leisure was welcomed by all, though everyone knew it wouldn't last long.
Just after lunch, the tranquility was shattered. Wang Qinian burst into the committee's office cabin, a look of urgency on his face. His voice, usually calm, was now filled with alarm as he reported a shocking piece of news: a sailboat had broken into the mouth of Dayu River, heading directly toward the settlement.
The committee members were deeply shaken by the news. Xiao Bailang made a swift decision, returning to the freighter to broadcast the news repeatedly through the ship's tweeter. He then sent word to the time travelers scattered on both sides of Dayu River. Peng Zhicheng quickly began gathering the guard squads, ensuring they were ready for any potential conflict. At present, there were four squads: two stationed in the residential area, one in the vegetable field and water treatment plant, and one at the brick kiln site. All units needed to converge as quickly as possible.
Wang Tiechui began distributing hunting crossbows to those left on the freighter. The rain had kept many of the workers on board, which, in hindsight, was a stroke of luck. The air on the ship grew tense as people crowded around the hatch, anxiously watching for any sign of the approaching threat.
Dayu River, though not very deep, was still a formidable natural barrier. The average water depth where Yunsheng No. 1 was stranded was just over 3 meters, and the river mouth was about 4 to 5 meters deep. Any sane captain would know that attempting to sail upstream in such shallow water would lead to getting stuck. Yet, to everyone's surprise, the sailboat pressed on, navigating into the shallows before sinking into the soft mud, rendering it immobile.
Peng Zhicheng, leading 45 guards from three squads, made their way through the soft, treacherous mud toward the sailboat. The large vessel had run aground about 100 meters downstream from Yunsheng No. 1. People could be seen moving about the deck, and occasional shouting drifted over the distance. A few small boats were lowered from the sailboat, and some sailors surrounded a group of people as they rowed toward the north bank.
"Everyone, load 8mm featherless arrows, listen to my orders!" Peng Zhicheng commanded, uncertainty clouding his thoughts as he speculated on the intentions of the strangers. Despite the ambiguity, he had no choice but to prepare for the worst.
The enemy appeared to abandon their ship and make their way ashore. Ten individuals, armed with various weapons—including swords, knives, and several antique muskets—stood on the shore. From Peng Zhicheng's observation, the muskets appeared to be matchlocks. However, given the heavy rain, such weapons were rendered nearly useless, as the dampness would likely prevent them from firing.
The sight of weapons, however outdated, made the guards uneasy. The tension in the air was palpable, and the travelers, though prepared, were unsettled. The strangers continued shouting, getting closer, and the guards' hands tightened around their weapons. The situation was growing more dangerous by the second, and it was clear that the travelers needed to act quickly.
"Swish!" The 8mm featherless arrow landed just a meter in front of the leader of the group. The sharp whistle of the arrow caused the enemy's footsteps to falter for a moment, and their previously casual approach turned more cautious. The leader's voice grew louder, signaling a heightened urgency.
"It's a European!" one of the guards murmured, clearly understanding the foreign appearance of the strangers. The group on the opposite bank was now more visible, but they were speaking in a language none of the travelers could comprehend.
Peng Zhicheng tried his luck and called out a few questions in English, but the response was more confusion from the other side. They simply continued speaking in a language that seemed entirely foreign.
"Go back and call someone. Doesn't Gao Mo claim to know French? Let him try," Peng Zhicheng ordered.
A moment later, Gao Mo, one of the few people among the time travelers fluent in French, made his way through the muddy field, holding a shovel in one hand and his pant legs caked with mud. He stepped forward, slipping slightly on the wet ground, and shouted toward the strangers in French. The foreign group hesitated, exchanging looks, but it was clear they recognized the language. They seemed to understand, though not entirely, and their confusion was evident.
Gao Mo, encouraged by this response, continued to converse with the leader, speaking more slowly and clearly. The tone on the other side shifted. The foreign leader, still hesitant but now aware that a common ground could be found, began to lower his weapon. With a brief pause, the rest of the group followed suit. One by one, swords, knives, and muskets were placed on the muddy ground, though the weapons remained within easy reach.
"Go back and call for reinforcements," Peng Zhicheng instructed his guards, watching the situation with growing concern. They had managed to avoid immediate violence, but the situation was far from resolved.
As the rain continued to pour, the standoff between the two groups persisted. Tension hung in the air, broken only by the sounds of raindrops and the occasional muttered words. It wasn't long before the reinforcements from the time travelers arrived.
Ma Qianzu, Ma Jia, and Shao Shude had gathered more than fifty volunteers, but they hadn't had time to equip themselves with proper weapons. Instead, they rushed forward armed with woodcutting axes, shovels, and pickaxes, ready to support their fellow travelers. The ragtag group approached with urgency, drenched in rain but determined to assist.
As they approached, Gao Mo, still conversing with the leader in French, turned to the reinforcements. His words seemed to ease the tensions slightly, as it was now clear that the language barrier had been significantly reduced.
For a moment, the rain seemed to ease slightly, as though even nature was holding its breath. The travelers, on high alert but no longer immediately hostile, waited for the conversation to unfold.