Roger took a long breath, calmed down, and asked: "Is there a simpler dam, the simplest one."

"There are many kinds of dams, and there is no one that is the simplest."

Amir began to recall again: "I went to Yemen mainly to see the water conservancy ruins in Marib, which was the place where the 'Alim Flood' mentioned in the sixth section of the 'Saba' of the Quran occurred.

Do you know what Alim is?"

This Arabic talker didn't give Roger a chance to answer at all. He continued talking to himself: "Alim means the dam in the valley, and the Alim flood means the disaster caused by the failure of the dam."

Roger reluctantly interrupted: "Did the Marib people fail to build the dam?"

"Of course not, it's time. Time can turn all tangible things into nothingness."

The Arabs explained: “There are dozens of river valleys in Marib, and seasonal rivers wash away from west to east into a waterway, flowing from the Marib Plateau to the Ezna Valley.

There are more than 80 dams in total. The nearest and most important dam to the city of Marib is called the Marib Dam, which lasted 600 years.

The local people did not repair it well, and then it was washed away by a flood. After the flood, the local people re-strengthened the dam and it lasted another 500 years.

Later, due to the war, no one repaired it, and it collapsed again. Then the ruins have been waiting there for 500 years, waiting for me to see them, haha."

Roger ignored the shameless boast and reminded, "You haven't answered my question yet."

"Ah, yes, I just mentioned that there are more than 80 dams there. Not all of them have collapsed, and some are still in use.

Most of them are earth dams, which can probably be regarded as simple dams.

It doesn’t require much technology, but it is very labor-intensive, so it is not simple. If there are not enough people, it will be exhausted and it will not be completed.”

Roger seemed to have seen a light in the dark night. He said excitedly: "We have the manpower. Let's talk carefully about what the earth dam looks like."

Amir was less interested and said: "Earth dams have no technology, so what's there to say? Let me tell you about the structure of the Marib Dam. Its dam body is made of hard stones mined from the Balak Mountains.

Each stone block is hewn into a rectangular shape, weighs several tons, and fits neatly together..."

"No, no, no, please continue talking about the earth dam. Do you think it can be used here?"

"Earth dam seepage."

"It doesn't matter if there is water seepage. We are preparing to dig a trench outside. Can it be used here?"

"It can be used, but it's too labor-intensive."

"We have people, many people."

Amir looked at the Baron and asked: "How many people have you prepared?"

The baron began to scratch his head.

Roger interrupted: "Ignore him, tell me, can you tell me about the earthen dam used here, how to build it, and do you have the dimensions?"

"That's right, tell him that he makes the decision and leave me alone." The Baron decisively gave up scratching his head.

Amir looked at the two people in surprise and nodded slowly. He said: "If you build an earth dam, it will be built up with earth and rocks. According to my calculation just now, the top width is 13pes, the bottom width is 270pes, and the height is 13pes.

The total length of the roads and dams is 1350pes.”

Roger started to do mental calculations. The width of the top of the dam is 13pes, which is 4 meters. The width of the bottom is 270pes, which is 80 meters. The height is 13pes, which is 4 meters. The total length of the two dams is 1350pes, which is 400 meters. That is 67,200 cubic meters. One person can take one day.

To build one cubic meter, it is estimated that 750 people will come, which will take about three months.

But he was worried that "habits" would sneak in, so he said: "Five mountain villages should be able to recruit 750 people. How many months will it take to complete the project? If it is not enough, the riverside villages can also recruit people."

Amir thought for a while and said: "It is best to dig a foundation, use clay as a core in the middle to prevent leakage, and use earth and stone to bear pressure on the outside. If there are 750 people, three months is enough."

Roger was excited. There was no "habit" in his estimation, and the flame of hope burned brightly in his heart.

He said happily: "Just use earth dam, just use earth dam, that'll be fine!"

"There are also weirs. A bare earthen dam cannot stop the flood coming straight down."

Amir's words plunged Roger into the winter flood, and the fire in his heart suddenly turned into a wisp of smoke.

"Is there any way?" Roger asked feebly.

"There is a way." Amir gave another hope.

But Roger no longer had the energy to get excited, he was worried that it would just be another soap bubble.

He leaned against the big tree and said lazily: "Let's talk about it."

Amir looked at the riverbed from a distance and said: "Use wooden stakes and drive a row of wooden stakes down at intervals along the riverbed to stop the water."

Roger was still lazy and said, "Finish your conversation and tell me any questions you have."

Amir said: "There is a disadvantage. I think you must not have dry wood. If you use a freshly cut tree trunk and soak it in water, it will be almost rotten by this time next year. It will be damaged once the water washes it off. So this is a one-time use."

Yes, the weir will have to be repaired during the dry season next year."

The Baron interjected: "That's all money."

Roger thought for a while and asked: "How sure are you?"

"Give me ten people, bring axes and hammers, and I will watch and drive piles along the riverbed. It should be completed before the dam is completed."

"What about the dam construction site? Who is in charge if you don't care?" Roger asked.

The Baron interjected: "Don't you need Master Tom?"

Amir replied to Roger: "I will draw the construction drawings of the earth dam for you. You have to do it yourself. Who makes you the mastermind?"

Roger was no longer lazy, his eyes were filled with fighting spirit, and he said: "I think I can do it."

The Baron interjected: "I can help, too."

Roger continued: "Thank you, I will give you the highest reward."

The Baron interjected: "It seems that I should be the one to say this."

Amir said to Roger: "Have you thought about it? This is also a gamble for me. If my calculation goes wrong, it will be a disaster."

The Baron interjected: "Gambling? Disaster?"

Roger said: "I believe you, let's gamble with God together."

Roger crossed himself and he and Amir looked at each other and smiled.

The Baron interjected: "Is this settled?"

Roger invited Amir to go back to the village with him, saying that he would discuss the details in the evening, and Amir happily accepted.

Roger called to the Baron: "Let's go, Baron Rollo, let's go back."

The Baron finally showed his worth.

Roger and Amir chatted almost all night.

The next day Roger went to the village entrance to find Master Tom. He had already made a decision and should give others a reply.

Roger regretfully told Master Tom that he decided to use Amir's plan to build an earth dam.

The master's face remained as usual, showing no displeasure. He wished Roger success in a very gentlemanly manner, and then bowed politely and left. However, after he turned around, Roger's little ears caught the master's slight sigh.

Roger knew that the master would have a hard time in the future, but there was nothing he could do. The master was not helpful to his plan, he was not a philanthropist, and the master would not accept charity. He could only watch the master leave.

But soon, Roger changed his mind.

He saw a few familiar figures outside the village from a distance, and he had a new idea.

"Master, Master Tom." Roger ran to catch up with the master.
Chapter completed!