It was past noon, the sun was shining coldly on the earth, and there was nowhere to hide. White clouds float high in the sky, elusive. The autumn wind passed by slightly, and there was a chill in the dryness. Under the sun, the warriors were wearing armor and armed with weapons, besieging the hostile city, and there was a murderous killing in the world.
After coming out of the big tent, Shulot first went to visit his father.
After a month of recuperation, Shusoke was able to get up and move around. His face was slightly rosy and he seemed to be in good spirits.
Shulot said hello to his father, and the two chatted for a few words, and then naturally the topic shifted to Trakaeler, who had made a comeback.
"Father, what kind of person is Elder Tlaka Elal?"
Shusok thought for a moment, looked at the sky outside the tent, and then spoke slowly.
"Elder Trakaeler is the sun in the sky and a symbol of majesty. I grew up hearing his name. His eyes are above the clouds, and he never cares about the birds and beasts fighting at his feet. His thoughts As high as the clouds, it is difficult for ordinary people to comprehend. The only thing that is certain is his strong will! Like the autumn sunshine, it falls from the sky with coldness and murderous intent, making the subjects obey in awe, unable to avoid or change. "
Shulot thought in his mind. After chatting with his father for a few more words, he hurriedly left the tent and left.
He recruited Kuaud, an old carpenter whom he had not seen for a long time. Since taking on the responsibility of making longbows, the old carpenter's status has rapidly improved. He has now been appointed by Avitt as the chief craftsman of the army, and is protected by several warriors when traveling.
"Master Priest, during the more than twenty days of your expedition, fifty new longbows were made in the camp, and they can be delivered to you now."
Kuaud reported respectfully, followed by several new disciples.
Xiulote nodded. Due to the lack of metal tools and skilled craftsmen, the production of high-quality longbows was extremely slow. Excluding war losses, we have only managed to save two hundred. He has ordered Kuaud to recruit more apprentices, gather more copper tools, and maximize efficiency. If you want to obtain a breakthrough increase in production, you can only obtain the huge craftsman population in the capital.
"Kouod, choose a high-quality longbow and add fine decorations and patterns for me. I will use it as a gift to the elders. Then help me make a small wooden trebuchet, just half a person's height." Finally, did you do what I told you before setting off?"
Kuaud called an apprentice to ask, and then answered with a smile.
"Master Priest, you asked me to soak the excess bark from bow making in a pond of lime water. It has been soaked for three weeks now. As for the fine linen mat you mentioned, it has already been prepared."
Hulot then went to the pond of bubbles under the leadership of Kuaud. Yes, he has had the idea of making paper for a long time. Pao Lao's task has been given several times, and now he finally has the urgent need and time to light up the papermaking technology.
It is worth mentioning that limewater was a necessity for survival in Central America, and it was widely used in the ashing process of corn. Natural corn is not a nutritionally complete food. It lacks niacin, which is vitamin B3, that can be absorbed. Eating unprocessed corn as a staple food can lead to anemia, pellagra, and severe skin inflammation. Pellagra patients will die within five years if diet is not improved
In fact, there is actually enough niacin in corn, but it is compounded with hemicellulose. If corn is soaked in lime water and heated, the hemicellulose will be hydrolyzed and niacin will be released. This treatment can also soften the corn and improve the taste. It is a prerequisite for making delicious masa flour.
Hulot thought about the process of papermaking. In his memory, the essence of papermaking is: breaking up plant fibers to form pulp, processing the pulp to reorganize the fibers, and the pulp is uniformly condensed into paper.
In order to break up the plant fibers and remove impurities, there is a process of soaking, washing and cooking the ingredients. In order to reorganize the fibers, manpower or water power is used to pound the slurry into a paste. Finally, distribute the paper evenly, pick it up with a bamboo curtain or linen mat, and dry it into shape.
This is all about papermaking in Shulot's memory. As for the sun-bleaching treatment, the papermaking techniques, the baking of bamboo clay paper, and the drying temperature, they all do not exist. He still had the impression that paper making with clinker and paper making with raw material was different. The only difference was that clinker had to be cooked and raw material had to be trampled.
Hulot once carefully analyzed that Central America is located in the tropical zone where plants flourish, and the sources of raw materials for papermaking are very wide, making it easy to develop a large-scale papermaking industry.
The most common raw materials for papermaking are various hemp plants. The cheapest is naturally jute, which is widely distributed and produces a lot of fiber. Then there is the daily application of sisal agave. The ropes used by warriors to capture prisoners were made of sisal. Next is cotton. America is the hometown of cotton, and various types of cotton are planted in a wide area. However, in various parts of Mexico, cotton cloth is often used as currency, and the cost of making paper from cotton is obviously too high.
The second is the bark of various trees, such as the bark of sandalwood used now. There is no shortage of trees in Central America. What is lacking is the metal tools to cut down the trees and peel them. Then there is bamboo. There are very few types of bamboo in Central America. They are mainly concentrated in the eastern region. Various bamboo utensils used in the Celestial Dynasty have not been developed. Instead, they are used by tribesmen to make blowguns. Finally, there are various fodders, such as reeds in coastal areas.
Shulot had seen corn stalks and was a little unsure whether such a large amount of material could be used to make paper. The skin of corn stalks feels very hard and has many nodes. It should not be a good papermaking material. We can let craftsmen try it later.
Thinking of cotton and linen, Hulot thought of Mexica armor. Due to the lack of domesticated large livestock, strong leather armor was often owned only by senior warriors, while cotton armor was the most widely used equipment by warriors.
Armor is the distinguishing mark between warriors and militiamen. The standard equipment of the warriors was the Ichikawipili, "cotton top", a light armor made of cotton and linen. It looks like a thick vest, each layer is woven from a mixture of cotton and jute, and then pressed into shape in multiple layers. Cotton acts as a cut protection, while jute acts as a heat dissipator and sweat absorber. This kind of cotton armor can effectively improve the protection of warriors against obsidian war clubs and stone arrowheads.
As the level of warriors rose, and they reached the second level of Vastek Hunter, they began to equip traviztli, "battle clothes", light armor for the whole body. The battle suit is usually worn over the iqikawipili and is also made of a mixture of cotton and linen. As the level of the warrior continues to increase, the suit will be painted with various patterns, becoming more and more gorgeous and powerful.
The fourth-level senior warriors began to wear various feathers, sew various animal skins, and depict eagle and jaguar patterns on their uniforms. When it comes to the noble eagle and jaguar chapters, the suit will be upgraded to leather armor with hanging feathers.
As for head protection, low-level warriors will wear various cotton, linen or leather pointed hats, while high-level warriors and commanders will wear various animal-shaped helmets. The beast helmet Kukaratra, a symbol of honor, is actually made of wood rather than bone.
The beast helmet that Shulot often wears looks extremely majestic, with a brightly colored and lifelike tiger head, but it is actually extremely thick and breathable. This made him always give orders majestically and coldly, while sweat dripped from his face.
He planned to make bronze helmets first once he obtained the copper mines in Tarasco. Wooden beast helmets were neither defensive nor comfortable. The bronze armor is a bit heavier. It was based on the half-length shape of the ancient Greek armor in advance, with the addition of skirts and leggings. Only after the shallow iron deposits in Colima are developed can we consider more advanced scale armor, pierced armor, and chain mail. As for the most advanced plate armor technology, it seems that it is still far away.
Under the command of Hulott and the operation of the craftsmen, the first papermaking experiment was carried out gropingly.
The preparation for soaking the ingredients has been completed, and the next step is to cook the ingredients. The craftsmen built a wooden stove with a stove and boiled the bark with lime water for a day. Shulot pinched the bark with his hands, but the fibers were not completely spread out. He thought for a while and asked the craftsmen to cook it again with more alkaline plant ash. Another day passed and the bark finally became a suitable pulp.
The next step is to wash the material to remove the lime residue and some dissolved matter in the pulp. The manpower is enough, Xuelote only needs to watch, and will not be satisfied until the pulp is pure enough.
Since I didn’t know about tanning, I went directly to the mixing process after washing the materials. Dozens of peasants used thick and long wooden pestles to pound the slurry repeatedly in the stone mortar, while picking up impurities and coarse materials. After several hours of this, the paper pulp was finally pounded into mud. Xuelote looked at it and felt that it was not much different from the pulp in his memory, only slightly yellowed.
Then comes the papermaking process, which requires technical skills. The paper pulp is dissolved in a water tank, and then spread evenly on the hemp mat to form a thin wet paper. Despite Shulot's strict requirements, the wet paper at this stage is still uneven in thickness. The accumulated wet paper should need to be gently squeezed out of water, but he didn't remember this item, so he went directly to the next step of drying the paper.
Shulot first baked it directly over a campfire. When he saw the cracks and deformation of the paper, he immediately realized that the drying temperature should be even and not too high. He asked craftsmen to build an earthen oven and stick the wet paper to the outer wall to slowly dry it. Of course, he still didn't know the polishing process.
Over the next few days, various aspects were revised and repeated repeatedly. When Shulot finally got a piece of bark paper that was rough, tough, thick, yellowish and gray, he had mixed feelings in his heart.
"This is a small step for me, but also a giant step for Indian civilization!" The young man thought quite complacently, temporarily ignoring the unevenness and thickness of the paper.
Papermaking technology was introduced to Arabia in the eighth century and to Europe in the twelfth century. In Europe today, parchment rolls and paper are still used equally. At this point, America still has enough opportunities to catch up with Europe.
Thulot ordered the craftsmen to continue making paper and not stop. He needed a sufficient amount of paper to prove the superiority of the new technology. Then he carefully copied a thousand commonly used Chinese characters on the paper with a brush.
During this period, he visited little Avelot several times. As soon as he met, the little golden eagle called "chirp" enthusiastically and flapped its wings. Then Avelot smiled and gently stroked the little golden eagle's head. The little Avelot immediately became silent and obedient.
Shulot smiled happily. It seemed that Avitt and the little golden eagle were getting along well. The young man turned and left, ignoring little Avelot's "affectionate" expectations and desires. Avitt stood at the door of the wooden house with a smile, and the little golden eagle was covered by his shadow.
Ten days later, Shulot looked at the gifts in front of him with satisfaction: a finely decorated longbow, a small trebuchet model, a set of wooden boards with "oracle bone inscriptions/graphics" and Chinese characters corresponding to them. A thousand-character paper book and three loads of paper.
During this period, Avit also successively rewarded and dismissed city-state warriors from the seven states. The heads of regiments and commanders at all levels bid farewell to Avitt respectfully, and then led the warriors on the long-awaited return home.
Orosh and the Teotihuacan Army also bid farewell to Shulot and left. Shusok gave his son a gentle hug and then left weakly in a small boat.
Two days later, Gillim finally came from the capital. He was so busy that he paid homage to Avitt as soon as he saw him.
"Your Majesty, the Immortal Sun Tlacaeler summons you to the capital. You are required to stay at least 20,000 Mexica warriors and continue to siege the city of Xilotepec until it falls."
"What did the ancestor say?" Avitt's face was serious and his eyes were bright.
"Congratulations to the king! The elder has agreed that you will inherit the throne, but he needs to meet with you once. It should be a conclusion to the death of Tisok to avoid affecting the majesty of the royal family. It may also mediate the conflict between you and the chief priest Kechar. "
Gilliam saluted solemnly again.
"Okay, without further ado! Gather ten thousand warriors, march south along the waterway, and set off as soon as possible!"
Avitt smiled confidently. Things were exactly as he expected. He was the only suitable heir.
Gilliam bowed and retired. He tilted his head slightly, looked at Shulot's face full of joy, and sighed slightly in his heart.
"Your Highness, for the sake of the King, I have no choice but to apologize to you!"
The next day, two thousand noble battle groups and eight thousand direct warriors boarded a mighty thousand boats and sailed upstream to the majestic capital city on the lake.
