That night, thousands of people in the Ba Valley caroused all night long.
More than three thousand dollars were scattered, bringing unprecedented excitement and encouragement to all tribes.
These beautifully made small copper coins, which can be purchased for anything, immediately activated the enthusiasm and desire for trade among the participating tribes. Not only did the Ba tribe sell more pottery, copper, salt and other goods, but the transactions of other tribes also increased.
Many, many tribes were unwilling to close until late at night, and were still guarding the stalls by the campfire under the bright moonlight, bargaining with the foreigners who had some money in their hands and were happy to visit the stalls.
The noisy singing, dancing and trading continued until dawn.
Another round of sunrise.
In an instant, golden sunlight filled the valley.
There was a faint hint of the warmth of early summer in the warm morning breeze.
After a simple breakfast, the tribes stationed on the river beach set off one after another, carrying baskets and burdens on horseback and driving carts.
After a group of witches and groups of clan chiefs visited Xu Chen and the big witch one after another, surrounded by the clan members, they set off with trumpets and flags. Everyone turned back frequently as they walked. Everything about the Ba clan was remembered by them.
And attachment, this magical and sacred place carries the bright future and hope of all the tribes who come here.
The burly young man standing on the river beach waving from a distance and the girl beside him wearing a golden hood and holding a golden scepter are the figures who will always be in awe and indelible memories in their hearts.
The huge eye hidden in the mountainside is always watching them like a god, guiding them in the future and direction.
…
The valley, which had been bustling for several days, once again returned to peace and quiet.
What was left on the river beach was another mess.
Inside and outside the compound, up and down hills, kilns, ditches, vegetable gardens and duck pens, they were also trampled like the market after going to the market. The grass and trees were all broken, and the ground was obviously smooth and somewhat solid.
It’s finally over!
After the participating tribes dispersed, and when the reluctant Pi tribe and their young busty witch were finally sent away, Xu Chen rubbed his face and visited all the places before calming down and entering the most peaceful and peaceful place of the year.
Life.
In March, the grass grows long in the valleys and on both sides of the river, and the flowers and trees are in full bloom.
Thousands of acres of farmland on both sides of the river are lush and green, and wheat and beans are in full swing.
The three settlements have also entered into large-scale construction again, and the filling of the courtyard dam in front of the compound is proceeding in an orderly manner, becoming more and more complete day by day.
What excites Xu Chen the most is that some of the vine fruit seeds he planted at the beginning of spring actually sprouted.
But the germinated seeds are very strange.
All the ones planted in the soil on the flat ground were motionless, while the few that sprouted were near the slightly steep rocky slopes.
Although Xu Chen didn't understand the principle of this, since the vine fruit could germinate normally, it meant that his vine fruit cultivation plan should have been officially successful.
If the vine fruit seeds brought to the Mongolian people can germinate, then this fruit, which tastes wonderful and can be used to make wine, will become a very important economic crop in the future, bringing a lot of income to the Ba and Mongolian people.
.
Time flies by and it’s April.
With the arrival of the violent rainy season, construction projects slowly stopped, the rivers swelled, and the tides on both sides of the Wulong River became flat. The river was mighty, but it could no longer prevent all tribes from coming and going.
On the broad Bacang Avenue, which is more than a hundred miles long, there are cars and horses coming and going all day long. Although it is scattered, it also makes the tribes along the way who have cut off communication as soon as summer no longer have the isolation of the past.
, the close connections made each tribe become increasingly prosperous and lively.
Under the pergola in front of the courtyard, two stonemasons led a group of apprentices from various tribes, chopping and carving stones all day long, and began to make the stone mills ordered by each tribe.
In the foundry, charcoal fires were still blazing every day to heat and cast various bronze knives, axes and other tools. In addition, a furnace was built specifically to cast copper coins.
The construction of horse-drawn carriages and carts and wheelbarrows has stopped. Xu Chen summoned several carpenters to open up a site at the foot of the mountain outside the valley mouth and built a wooden house and a pergola. He transported a large amount of wood by horse-drawn carriage and began sawing and processing it inside. It also lasted all day.
It was very busy chopping, chopping, chopping and clinking.
With the continuous development of the tribe, the safety of the river beaches has also been greatly improved. There are almost no ferocious beasts. Since the construction of Bawu Avenue, the two wild wolves that could occasionally be seen in the past have almost disappeared.
The five wolf cubs, which are already ten months old, have grown fat and strong now. They follow Xu Chen and a group of hunters and carpenters on horseback and ride back and forth in the valley every day, having fun on the river beach, chasing and running in the mountains and forests. They have completely transformed into wolves.
He has become a big dog that looks after homes and homes, which not only brings a great sense of security to the tribe, but also adds a lot of happiness and laughter to their lives.
However, Xu Chen was still a little worried about working outside the valley for a long time, so he took the leopard's head, which was almost two meters long, including head and tail, to the entrance of the valley and tied it near the work shed to prevent accidents.
As land transportation gradually opened up, Xu Chen shifted the focus of his work to water transportation.
The simple raft can no longer adapt to the new communication needs, and its safety is completely insufficient. Not only is the cargo easy to get wet and fall into the water, but the seasonal requirements for travel are also very strict.
Except for winter and spring, rafts are almost unusable in other seasons.
Facing the Wulong River that floods in spring and summer, Xu Chen needs safer and stronger boats to meet the demand.
The woodwork workshop he built at the mouth of the river valley was used for shipbuilding.
The wood has been prepared in sufficient quantities, and they are all thick logs that have been cut down and dried for more than a year.
The tools have already been prepared, including knives, axes, saws, chisels, planes, wood drills, and rulers, gauges, and ink fountains. Although they are relatively rudimentary, they still meet the basic needs.
After more than a year of practice, a group of carpenters started making simple wooden hoes, plows, and farm tools, and then wheelbarrows and carriages. Now they are now able to skillfully use various tools to make more complex utensils.
Although Xu Chen is not very wild and has no intention of unifying the world and becoming the common master of mankind and creating a new human era, with the accumulation of craftsmanship and the passage of time, some things have become a matter of course.
If he clicks on the shipbuilding technology, the door to the southeast of Jicang River and even to the distant sea will be opened for him.
Of course, he also has self-awareness, knowing that it is easier to do than to do will always exist objectively, but now that he has done enough preliminary preparations, it is now time to put this matter into practice.
Once the shipbuilding is successful, let alone the stars and the sea, at least there will be no problem in conquering the Wulong River Basin. It will also greatly strengthen the exchanges and goods exchanges between the Jicang River and Wulong River Basins. At least it will be possible for the Mongolian people and the Ba people to
The pottery metal can be more conveniently transported to where it is needed.
The first boat was considered a work of practice, so Xu Chen designed it to be very small, three meters long and one meter wide. It was just an ordinary small river boat that could accommodate two or three people.
The style is modeled on the common fishing boats in rivers and lakes, with a flat bottom and a single cabin, narrow in front and wide in back.
However, drawing is easy, but actually making it is extremely troublesome.
Although several carpenters have practiced making carriages and carts for more than a year and have become very skilled, they are a little helpless when dealing with this new tool. It is not difficult to smooth the wooden boards, but the difficult thing is how to make the wooden boards in different positions.
The desired arc style is then spliced together tightly.
In addition, there is no suitable wood glue at the moment, so the splicing of wooden boards must be done tightly without leaving too big a gap, otherwise it will be difficult to deal with water leakage.
Anyway, the drawings are easy to draw and the ideas are simple, but when the workshop is built, the wood is transported, and preparations begin to build, various problems arise.
So throughout April, Xu Chen had to brave the risk of being soaked in heavy rain at any time almost every day. He would go out early and come back late to go back and forth in the valley, constantly revising the drawings at home, and constantly discussing plans with several carpenters in the workshop. While building,
, continuously adjust and deal with the problems encountered.
Compared with tying up rafts, which can be completed in half a day, this small wooden boat can be said to have given Xu Chen the most headache and trouble in his history.
Because this is not about firing pottery or pouring bronze, which can be hauled away if it breaks down, nor is it a horse-drawn carriage or rickshaw, which can be used if it is not made well. Once there is a problem with the launching of the wooden boat, it may be a disaster for both people and cargo.
.
The nickname of a raft is that it capsizes quickly, but if the boat is not well built, it sinks quickly.
Therefore, he did not dare to be careless at all.
Of course, this is the first boat after all, and Xu Chen’s goal is not to look good or be easy to use. As long as it is strong and safe, at least it must be able to float smoothly on the water without leaking, and then he can study the balance and speed.
The problem.
Xu Chen is busy every day, and the entire Ba tribe also knows that Xu Chen wants to build a tool called a wooden boat, which can drive safer on the water.
However, just like the previous construction of the carriage, the construction of this ship began in late March and was busy until the end of April. The construction was still not successful. Instead, I saw him riding back and forth non-stop every day, covered in sawdust and tired, with his hair pulled back in depression, and even
Sometimes I stay in my room with the lamp on and work on my drawings until midnight.
A large group of women such as Muba and Amu are not good at comforting people, and they also know that they don't understand anything about what Xu Chen does, so they can only carefully prepare food and drink for him every day.
Although the little witch wanted to comfort her, she would chat with him and accompany him to draw pictures when she had time. She would even ride her horse to the workshop at the mouth of the valley every now and then to watch the progress of building wooden boats. But every time she went there, she would definitely see Xu Chen in person.
Holding knives and axes, a few carpenters worked furiously on a pile of wood. They were so busy that they were sweating profusely and didn't have much time to communicate with her. The little witch also knew that she couldn't help, so she could only follow along in a hurry, with a look on her face.
I also carry a bit of anxiety every day.
Ye Geng is not good at comforting people. Although she wants to be with Xu Chen every day, like the little witch, Xu Chen's innovative invention is obviously too difficult. Even Xu Chen himself can hardly figure it out. She is even more
I was helpless, and as an adult I could no longer pester Xu Chen like I did when I was a girl, so I could only silently help him with laundry and water, and then secretly go to the room in the middle of the night to help him relieve his boredom.
Gu Heju, the two personal assistants, are even more stupid. They only ride horses and follow Xu Chen in the wind and rain every day to act as personal guards.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days passed, and it was May, the most violent month. There would be heavy rain almost every day, making traveling to and from the valley even more difficult.
Xu Chen's trips in the rain became more and more frequent.
Finally one day, a hunter rushed back to the compound on horseback, shouting excitedly that the boat was successfully built. The whole family rejoiced, and hundreds of people, men, women, old and young, rode horses, cars and walked straight to the river beach outside the valley.
The little witch and Ye were the most excited.
After the wooden boat was successfully built, Xu Chen would no longer be so busy and hard-working.
And they are also looking forward to this vessel that makes Xu Chen feel extremely difficult. What is the difficulty and where is the magic?