After listening to Wu Yong's description, Han Du finally understood how they spent a year in the past.
When winter comes, they drive all their cattle, sheep, horses, camels, donkeys, etc. into the city and rely on the stored fodder to survive the winter.
At the beginning of the year, when the ice and snow melt and spring flowers bloom, people drive their livestock out of the city and start grazing.
This kind of grazing method is different from that on the grassland. In the winter on the grassland, you can only rely on migration to avoid the wind and snow. If you really can't escape, then you have to fight hard.
The method here in Liaodong is a bit like the transition from a pure nomadic method to a farming method.
"You can survive by relying on the city wall to block the wind and snow?"
When Wu Yong saw that Han Du was not angry, but was actually considering his request, Wu Yong suddenly felt excited, thinking that maybe the Marquis was really thinking about them. He quickly said: "No, Lord Marquis. Hiding in the city, and burning firewood in winter, we can barely keep ourselves warm. And even if we hide in the city, many people freeze to death every year. "
"Since it's possible to burn firewood to keep warm in the city, isn't it possible to burn firewood to keep warm outside?" Han Du asked with some confusion.
Wu Yong shook his head after hearing this and explained: "The Marquis doesn't know something. There is not only heavy snow in Liaodong, but also strong winds. In the coldest winter, you can even pour water into ice. In the past, it was not that no one could not afford the city entrance fee. They chose to build a house outside the city to live by themselves, but without exception, they all froze to death. The wind was so strong at night that sometimes the bonfire was blown out without anyone noticing. It was not until the next year that it was discovered that the entire family had been frozen. Die by the fire.”
Hearing what Wu Yong said was so serious, Han Du hesitated.
If they were allowed to continue building roads outside the city, they would probably encounter resistance, and in serious cases they might even mutiny. Moreover, Han Du had made a promise to everyone just now. If he doesn't even agree to their life-threatening request now, I'm afraid his credibility will be instantly wiped out in the hearts of these people.
Although it doesn't have much credibility in the first place, it still has a little bit, which is better than nothing.
Han Du felt that he could still save him again.
But if these people were asked to suspend road construction and move all back to the city, Han Du would be a little unwilling. If this road can be built at once this year, many things will be much easier to handle next year. If we wait until next year to repair it, it will not be a good thing if something happens in the meantime.
Moreover, delaying until next year is equivalent to delaying half a year. I still want to return to Beijing as soon as possible, how can I delay here for half a year?
Han Du pondered for a moment and thought of an idea. He raised his eyes and looked at everyone and asked: "If I can find a way to let you live outside the city without worrying about freezing, can you continue to complete the road?"
"This..." Wu Yong was greatly hesitant after hearing this. He was originally not prepared to agree, but faced Han Du's burning eyes, he had to give in.
He said the next best thing: "Well, if the Marquis really has a way to let the children survive outside the city, then we can continue to build the road. Does the Marquis really have a way?"
Han Du did not answer affirmatively, but said uncertainly: "It should be possible, let's give it a try."
This made Wu Yong feel a lot more relieved. As long as the Marquis's method doesn't work, he can still ask to enter the city. If the Marquis indeed has a way to spend the winter outside the city, that would be a good thing for many people. After all, the fees paid every year when entering the city are a considerable amount of wealth, and whoever pays them will feel distressed.
If you can't live without entering the city, who is willing to pay?
If Lord Marquis can really find a way to allow everyone to survive outside the city in winter, it will really be a blessing to the entire Liaodong.
Time is of the essence, just do it if you think of it.
Han Du recruited some people to build the house. The house was very simple. It just used wood as beams and wooden boards as walls. It was built like this. It was not much different from the houses built by people in the past.
Houses made of wood and planks are very rough. There are gaps between the planks. One disadvantage is that air leaks everywhere. This is why houses outside the city have difficulty withstanding the cold winter winds. Because there are always gaps that allow wind to penetrate into the house.
"Master Hou, a house like this cannot withstand the cold wind and heavy snow in winter." Wu Yong looked worried.
Han Du smiled faintly and said: "Don't worry, it's not over yet. Since these gaps are leaking air, let's find a way to block them. In this way, as long as the wind can't blow in, then the houses in the city will also There’s not much difference anymore.”
If it is really possible to plug all these gaps, it is indeed the case... Wu Yong nodded in agreement. But the reason why the houses in the city don't have too much air leakage is because when they were built, every pillar and every board was trimmed to fit perfectly. Even so, there will still be a little air leakage, but it's not serious.
But now there is no time for everyone to slowly repair it. What can the Marquis do?
Wu Yong looked at Han Du doubtfully.
Han Du didn't explain too much to Wu Yong. He directly asked people to mix withered grass and mud, and paste them on the inside and outside of the house in a thick layer.
Mud has a good thermal insulation effect. The adobe houses in rural areas in the 1970s and 1980s can't get through no matter how strong the sun is in summer, and the room can be kept cool; in winter, as long as there is a fire in the room and the door is not opened, the heat in the room will It won't go away any time soon.
"How is it?" Han Du looked at the house in front of him with some satisfaction.
There is absolutely no draft in this room, and the thermal insulation effect is also first-rate. Paste mud on the wall. Even if there is a crack somewhere, you can just put a little more mud on it to seal it tightly.
You no longer have to worry about ventilation issues in your house.
The only bad thing about this house is that it's a bit ugly. Since the original wood is completely covered with soil, the beauty of the wooden building cannot be seen at all.
Moreover, the black mass of soil is also very ugly.
There are also no windows. Once you enter the house, it is pitch black and extremely unchanged.
But whether it looks good or not, Wu Yong doesn't care at all. He didn't care whether the room was dark or not.
I saw him walking into the house and looking carefully up, down, left and right. He couldn't see any gaps, and couldn't feel any wisps of cold wind.
The house pleased him greatly.
After lighting a pile of firewood in the house, Wu Yong soon felt that the temperature in the house was rising rapidly, and it didn't take long for him to feel a warmth.
"Master Marquis, this house is so nice. It's better than anything in the city. With a house like this, a kid won't have to worry about living outside the city in winter."
