The current policy of the Ant Alliance to deal with the indigenous ant tribes on the eastern border is similar to the policy implemented in similar environments in the southern and southeastern borders on the south bank of Qinghe River.
It is difficult to completely conquer these indigenous ant tribes. The local area is too barren, and barely occupying them is not worth the gain, and requires a lot of local support.
And these indigenous ant tribes are inexhaustible. Even if they are swept away in the first year and emerge like weeds after the fire in the second year, the newcomers will still be killed by the harsh environment and poor output. Take the path of plunder.
The red imported fire ant kingdom and its vassal red forest ant colony that previously controlled this area have been facing cross-border harassment from indigenous ant tribes all year round, but they have no good strategy and only respond passively.
In contrast, the current countermeasures taken by the Ant Alliance are more reasonable. They occupied part of the barren border as a buffer zone and built small fortresses scattered here, usually with dozens to hundreds of ants stationed inside.
These small fortresses do not have many garrisons, but they are well fortified. Most of the defenders are retired soldiers, equipped with iron armor, and some even have iron cannons. Their combat effectiveness is enough to protect themselves, and the food they search for in daily life is generally self-sufficient. , only a small amount of supplies such as weapons require local support.
With these small fortresses acting as barriers, a general-scale invasion of indigenous ants cannot threaten the mainland. If many indigenous tribes unite to attack on a large scale, the fortress group can also act as a delay and inform the local people. The local area will have time to recruit an army to respond.
Zhu Jue patiently explained the border strategy of the Ant Alliance on the floor of the conference room with his tentacles. The other young noble ants put their tentacles on the ground and expressed their deep agreement.
Afterwards, Zhu Jue and his party visited the gold mining industry, the core industry of [Golden Beach City].
As the largest source of gold in the United Kingdom, the bend of the Qinghe River here causes a large amount of gold sand to accumulate on the local river beach after the rainy season every year. Although gold sand can occasionally be found in other nests along the river, their combined output is less than half of [Golden Beach City]'s output.
The main job of the local resident big-headed ants, pavement ants, and bellied ants, in addition to foraging, is to collect gold sand seasonally. Basically, the gold mining season is from late summer to early winter every year.
The mined gold sand will be transported to the treasury of [Xinyang City]. It was once an important means of external payment for the Ant Alliance. Ant tribes of all civilizations are willing to accept this beautiful metal that cannot be eaten or drunk.
Nowadays, although the production of honeydew has greatly increased and the popularity of crow wine has reduced the need to pay with gold, the local gold mining industry has not been greatly affected, and it is still extremely busy at this time.
In the southwest of [Golden Beach City], the canal that extends here reaches its end. The canal that was originally large enough for boats suddenly turned and narrowed, turning into a narrow canal that discharged directly to the river beach with a large drop.
There are several waterwheels beside the canal, rotating rapidly driven by the rapid water flow. Next to the waterwheel, there is a workshop made of ant concrete, which is the working place of the goldsmith.
Some ant-hunting ant goldsmiths are forging the gold into the required shape with water hammers driven by waterwheels. This job is a test of eyesight and reaction speed. Among all the tribes in the Ant United Nations, only the ant-hunting ant can do it. Other ants will come. Dry can be easily injured.
These gold products are mainly gold containers, such as gold plates, gold bowls, and some gold discs. They will then be sent to the finishing workshop to carve out the talismans of the gods on the envelopes of various ethnic groups. Fortunately, most of the talismans have simple patterns. , the engraving is not difficult, otherwise it would be difficult for ants to do fine work with their craftsmanship.
Gold containers are mainly for personal use within the Ant Alliance, and only the ants with the highest status are eligible to use them. The golden talismans are exported. Many religious nobles of the ant tribe like these talismans very much. They only display them in major ceremonies and are also willing to import them at high prices.
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After leaving [Golden Beach City], Zhu Jue and his party returned to the nearby main nest [Xinyang City] that day. They took a short rest here, replaced a group of guards, and then embarked on a journey to inspect the south bank of Qinghe River.
Crossing the undulating Qinghe River from the pontoon bridge to the west of [Xinyang City], many young nobles crossed the pontoon bridge for the first time, and their natural fear of water frightened them.
After arriving at the largest nest on the south bank of Qinghe River [Pioneer City], they had to rest for an extra half day to allow the bridge-sick ants to recover.
The local Ten Ant Group reported local development to Zhu Jue. Today's [Pioneer City] is already the de facto vice-capital of the Ant Alliance, the de facto capital on the south bank of the Qing River, and an industrial center, transportation center, and metallurgical center, and is becoming increasingly prosperous.
Thanks to the open terrain around it, although [Tuohuang City] is not as easy to defend and difficult to attack as [Xinyang City], it has flat terrain, fertile land, and convenient transportation, so it obviously has greater development potential.
On the ground of this nest, there is the tallest ant mound in the Ant Alliance. Six skyscraper-like ant mounds several meters high are formed in a circle, with a taller ant mound in the center, and a second circle of ant mounds on the periphery. Some tall ant mounds are being built.
Further to the periphery, solid city walls and forts equipped with iron cannons guarded the ant mound in the center. There were two legions of defenders on duty at any time on the city walls, watching vigilantly for any approaching threats.
Every entrance and exit of [Pioneer City] is filled with a constant flow of ants, insects, and logistics at all times.
Coal transported from the black fire ant country along the Qinghe River, salt and other goods from other civilized ant tribes transported by air, crow wine and crow honey transported from the newly built south bank canal, and ant felt and ant silk transported from the north bank of the Qinghe River are all The gathering here gave birth to local prosperity.
The local ants include yellow-colored big-headed ants and dark pavement ants; there are also leaf-cutter ants, bellied ants and red forest ants that like to live in trees; the sturdy hunter ants and the sturdy black turtle ants. , dull burrowing ants, and all ant groups in the Ant Alliance can be seen in [Pioneering City]. In addition, black fire ants, hairy forest ants, and bullet ants who come to trade often come and go, and ants of all races coexist peacefully in the same nest.
This is not only a huge ant international city, but also like an insect zoo. Here you can see migratory locusts pulling walnut ships, giant dragonflies engaged in long-distance trade, star beetles carrying messengers, and patrolling flying knights riding Bees and flies, various beetles such as dung beetles, scarabs, and carabids used as labor animals, aphids, scale insects raised in livestock, mealworms, various worms, and purple butterfly larvae kept in captivity.
If you go deep into the underground, which is inaccessible to foreign ants, you can also see scorching blast furnaces, tinkling workshops, secret weapons manufacturing plants, and smelly insect acclimation rooms.
This is a diverse nest, a prosperous city, a unique place in the ant world, and a wonder created by Zhu Jue!
