The spring breeze of March blows all over the world, and the vast army marches forward gloriously. The wilderness in the north is already covered with green grass, and the smoke rises from the villages in Mintun. The world is full of life.
Xiulote stayed at the Hekou Fortress for more than half a month, and immediately sent a large number of scouts to the north. Later, he summoned priests from various villages and listened carefully to the details of farming and missionary progress in each settlement. Then, in front of many priests, the king appointed the monkey Kuruka as the chief speaker of Hekou County, that is, the military and political chief.
The First Pike Corps obeyed the king's order and immediately garrisoned the river mouth fortress. They will be arranged to station in farmland for a long time, and will also be responsible for the transportation of food for the king's army going north. The villages in Hekou County were established earlier, and last year's autumn harvest was pretty good. A batch of food and grass has been accumulated in the fortress, which is enough to supply the 6,000 soldiers of the Guards Corps to go to the Otopan city-state to form an alliance. Shulot will not rely on the vital supply of food and grass on the Otomi people who are always short of food.
Then, without stopping, the king inspected the river mouth docks surrounding the fortress. He summoned many craftsmen to explore new ship construction plans.
The Estuary Shipyard is actually located on Lake Quetseo, south of the fortress. It is located in an inner lake. It is small in area and has very simple facilities. It just has accumulated a lot of large logs that can be used to build large canoes. The kingdom's large canoe can carry 40 people and requires a hull of fir or oak at least fifteen meters high and two to three meters in diameter. These timbers have been drying in the sun for many years. They are the property accumulated by the Kingdom of Tarasco over decades. Now they are all cheaper for the feudal country in the lake.
Under the king's call, the inherited shipbuilding craftsmen of the Hekou Fortress and the master carpenters from the capital who came with the army gathered in the open-air dock to listen to the king's will.
The midday sun is just warm. There are many warriors in the dock and they are heavily guarded. Shulot looked around and examined the many senior masters standing at the front for a while. The master craftsmen all wore prepecha costumes, and all of them lowered their eyebrows and showed complete respect. The king nodded slightly and spoke solemnly.
"Blessed by the Lord God! Today we have summoned all the masters here for a major event that concerns the gods, the alliance, and all people!"
"The Quetzalcoatl stepped on the snake boat and went to the great lake in the east, and made a promise of revenge. He left Quetzalcoatl's tribe on the Snake Island in the east, and colluded with the white-skinned foreign races outside the lake. These alien races may drive large ships from the distant East Lake at any time, bringing endless wars, diseases and disasters. For this reason, the Lord God issued a decree, and the alliance decided to go east, search for traces of the descendants of Quetzalcoatl, and build a city in East Lake. A big ship moving in the middle!"
Hearing this, the Prepecha masters present looked at each other. A low voice of conversation soon sounded in the dock.
The myth of Quetzalcoatl going east has been circulated for hundreds of thousands of years, and is heard by all tribes in the world. What about Quetzalcoatl descendants, what about white-skinned aliens, what about building big ships, exploring distant lakes... the master craftsmen of Prepecha actually didn't think so. But since building a big ship is related to the supreme decree of God, it is a major event that can destroy the family at any time. They had to be careful and use their best efforts.
After a while, an old man with a vicissitudes of appearance stood up. The old man's clothing is eye-catching, with tree patterns on his robe, and a sandalwood necklace around his neck. His movements are capable, his expression is respectful and confident, and he represents many master craftsmen, saluting the king above him.
"Your Majesty, when it comes to shipbuilding technology in the world, the Mayans in the far east are the first, and the Prepecha people in our lake are the second! In fact, as long as the supply of copper is sufficient, we can already connect the big wood and the Using wooden planks, we can build a large boat several times the size of a canoe, which can be used to travel on the great lakes!”
Hearing this, Shulot became energetic. He looked at the old man at the head and asked.
"What do you call a master craftsman?"
"Your Majesty, I am Pukuta, the 'Carpenter of the Lake', and I am the chief shipwright of the river mouth fortress! My family has passed down the shipbuilding craftsmanship of the people of the lake from generation to generation. Many of the large canoes of the Kingdom's navy were made by me and my apprentices. In hand!"
Shulot nodded. Pukuta means "forest wood, lake carpenter". In this era, advanced craftsmen still maintained the characteristics of tribal inheritance. With their exclusive mastery of important technologies, they always have a certain degree of influence locally and even in the kingdom. Their status is often equivalent to that of military nobles, and they can also command ordinary craftsmen in their own industry.
"Okay! When the army went north, they specially brought two thousand kilograms of copper materials specifically for shipbuilding!"
The king said loudly. When they heard the amount of two thousand kilograms of copper material, the master craftsmen all took a breath. At this time, the value of two thousand kilograms of copper material is approximately equivalent to that of two thousand kilograms of gold sand!
"Pukuta, you said that you can build a large boat that is several times the size of a canoe and can travel in the big lake. Do you have any actual objects or drawings?"
After hearing the king's question, Pukuta hesitated for a moment, then took out a treasured leather scroll from his arms and handed it to the king carefully.
Shulot touched the material of the roll, and it turned out to be fig bark roll. This kind of bark roll is similar to the bark paper used by the Mayans. After preliminary papermaking processes such as soaking, steaming, and drying, it is quite strong and durable. It’s just that raw materials are relatively scarce and manufacturing costs are high.
The king opened the scroll and looked carefully, and soon let out a soft sigh.
"Eh! A catamaran canoe similar to the Polynesian people? And a multi-hulled canoe similar to the New Guinea people?... Well, this design idea is very similar to the chain link of the Chibi Water Battle."
Shulot moved his eyes and saw two canoes side by side painted on the top of the scroll. The two boats are connected in parallel with wooden cross beams, and wooden boards are laid on the cross beams to carry goods or people. There is a tail rotor installed at the stern end of the two boats to control the direction of the boat.
Under the leather scroll, there are multiple canoes drawn side by side. Similarly, the canoes are connected in parallel with wooden beams and fixed into one. On the outside of the multihull canoe, there are also simple transverse rows of extended connections. Floating horizontally in the water can further increase buoyancy and improve the ship's transportation carrying capacity. Of course, the speed of the ship will also be reduced accordingly.
"Your Majesty, the Wind Canoe above moves very fast and is designed for water warfare and marching. The wooden planks between the two boats can carry multiple warriors and provide a shooting platform for archers! And the Snake Canoe below The load is very heavy, and it is designed for the transportation of people and materials. The horizontal rows can carry people, or place goods that are not afraid of getting wet! Of course, in order to firmly connect the boats, expensive copper nails and chains are needed. But The good thing is that you don’t need real big wood to build a usable big boat..."
Pukuta raised his head, his eyes were bright, he looked up at the king, his words were full of confidence.
Shulot nodded slowly with admiration on his face. This method of connecting two or more bodies, or even installing outboard brackets, can not only increase the carrying weight, but also greatly improve the stability and resistance to wind and waves of the canoe. The improved canoe will have basic ocean navigation capabilities, which is the ultimate development of canoes under current technology.
The Austronesian tribes relied on this type of canoe to sail continuously and conquered islands throughout the Pacific Rim. They went from Yizhou to Luzon, from the Indonesian islands to New Zealand, from the New Guinea islands to Fiji, Tonga, Honolulu, and even Easter Island. There was even one group that went west from Sumatra and drifted across the entire Indian Ocean. Establish your roots in Madagascar!
After thinking for a moment, the king referred to the Polynesian design and made a pertinent suggestion.
"Pukuta, a very good design! For this kind of catamaran canoe, you can erect two cotton sails with adjustable directions on the head and the middle connecting beam! This way you can sail with the help of the wind..."
Shulot took out a pen and paper and drew a simple diagram. Pukuta was surprised to hear such professional advice. He looked at the improved icon carefully, thought for a while, and then nodded sincerely.
"Your Majesty is absolutely right!"
Shulot smiled with satisfaction and patted Pukuta on the shoulder.
"Pukuta, the water is the home of fish and the habitat of water snakes. From this drawing, I know that you are not a short-sighted river fish, but a water snake that can swim and hunt! Since Prepecha's big The craftsmen have such exploration ability and enough experience in metal riveting, then I can safely hand over the important task to you!"
As the king spoke, he took out three drawn drawings from his arms. He waved to the master craftsmen around him, and several of the most senior shipwrights came forward to watch with Pukuta.
Pukuta looked carefully and saw that the first painting was a large flat long ship with a slender hull, shallow waterline, and low freeboard.
The marked dimensions of the vessel are approximately 18 meters long and 3 meters wide. The longship is divided into upper and lower sides by the deck. On both sides of the bottom layer under the deck, a dense row of paddles protrudes, and there is a tail rotor at the tail to adjust the direction. In the middle and head of the deck, two sails, one large and one small, were erected. The sail in the center has a larger area and is the main sail; the sail at the head has a smaller area and is the auxiliary sail. On the head of the longship, there is also a shiny and sharp metal horn marked.
"This kind of ship is a galley warship! Below the deck are rowers, and above the deck are used to carry soldiers and supplies!"
Shulot smiled faintly. This is an ancient ship type that he roughly recalled based on film and television works. It was formed in the ancient Greek period, that is, the historic galley. Galleys relied on both wind power and manpower, and the manufacturing technology was relatively simple. They were used from the 10th century BC to this time in the 15th century. It was a warship used in early Mediterranean naval battles, and now it is mostly used as an offshore trading ship.
"The one above is a simple single-row galley, that is, the oarsmen rowing on both sides line up in a horizontal row. It is relatively easy to make... The one below is a two-row galley. That is, the boats are built on both sides of the ship. The curvature and the placement of two rows of rowers of different heights can increase the number of rowers and increase the rowing speed! By analogy, there are also faster triremes."
Having said this, the king paused and his expression became serious.
"Pukuta, these are the divine revelations given to me by the ship owners. I can only draw a rough outline and point out one direction! As for the specific hull design and the connection of the components, you have to explore and realize it yourself. For this Do you have the confidence to build a galley?"
In the dock, a group of master craftsmen discussed in a low voice in Prepecha for a while, and then asked Pukuta to reply as a representative.
"Your Majesty, the Mayans have similar paddle-sail giant boats. Although they are not as complex as this drawing, the basic principles are still similar. We Prepecha people have experience in splicing hulls. As long as there are enough copper and wood, we can After about a year of exploration, it shouldn’t be a big problem to produce a qualified prototype ship!”
Pukuta is bright and energetic. Although his words are a little cautious, he is still confident.
Shulot nodded in approval, not hiding his joy.
Shipbuilding is a difficult job that requires a lot of technical exploration and practice, and it cannot be easily accelerated by one or two people. Even if he, as a time traveler, knew the shape and general structure of the ship, it would be extremely difficult to make it if the craftsmen did not have sufficient technical accumulation. Pukuta was overjoyed to be able to promise to trial-produce a paddle boat within a year.
Immediately, the king unfolded the second volume of drawings and looked expectantly at the master craftsmen present again.
The second volume of drawings shows a sand boat that was common in the Celestial Dynasty. It was also a flat-bottomed canoe used in large rivers or offshore waters. It was generally formed during the Tang and Song Dynasties. It has a square nose and square tail, a spacious deck and low freeboard. The most striking feature is that it has multiple masts and sails, and is wide and shallow. Because of the multi-sail design, the boat speed is faster. There is also a lifting rudder at the stern. More importantly, the sand ship adopts the flat keel pioneered by China, which is both wide and thick, able to withstand wind and waves, and travel unimpeded in the sea!
Shulot couldn't remember the complete structure of the sand ship. He just drew the five masts "three in the front and two in the back" based on the fragments of the Jiangnan water town in his memory, then drew the rudder at the stern of the sand boat, and finally highlighted the flat keel of the hull.
The marked dimensions of the sand ship are 20 meters long, 4 meters wide, and 1.5 meters high, which means the total volume is about 120 cubic meters, and the effective transport capacity should be 50-60 cubic meters, which is about 500-600 shi in the Ming Dynasty. This kind of sand boat usually only requires seven or eight people to operate it freely. It is the most classic Chinese sailing style. Different sail surfaces can take advantage of the wind in all directions, the transportation is extremely cost-effective, and the carrying capacity has far exceeded the needs of the Alliance and the Kingdom.
Pukuta's eyes widened and he looked at the ship map of "Shenqi" carefully. He scanned every corner of the ship map and saw many unclear labels and large gaps in the connecting parts, and couldn't help but frown.
"Your Majesty, this ship map...does it have more detailed internal illustrations?"
Shulot was slightly embarrassed and shook his head calmly.
"God's revelations are always fleeting, just like the unpredictable divine will... This kind of sand boat is mainly used for transportation. It can sail in the big lake and resist strong winds and waves. The most noteworthy among them is the rudder at the stern that controls the direction, and the hull Formed keel.”
"Tail rudder? Keel?"
Pukuta chewed on these two unfamiliar words, his eyes full of exploration.
"Your Majesty, please give me more details."
Shulot thought about it carefully, recalled the principles he had learned in the physics textbook, and then explained it aloud.
"The function of the stern rudder is actually similar to the paddle at the stern of the canoe that controls the direction. It includes the rudder blade in the water, which is the tail rotor in the steering direction. Then there is the rudder stock that transmits power, and the rudder that is controlled by people at the stern. Horizontal rudder. When the sand boat is sailing, if you want to turn left, you turn the rudder left and drive the tail rotor to the right, and then the water flows against the hull to the left..."
Pukuta thought for a moment, and his many years of shipbuilding experience and what he saw at this moment were all confirmed. He soon realized it and praised loudly.
"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened! However, this kind of rotation requires great force, so the rudder stock needs to be made of fine hardwood. Well, birch, red oak, and rosewood are all suitable... As for this keel, what kind of bone is it?"
Shulot shook his head and laughed. he said with a smile.
"The keel is just a metaphor, meaning a strong skeleton of a giant beast. It is actually a longitudinal structure at the center line of the bottom of the ship that runs from stem to stern. If a strong material, such as a long-standing log, is used to run through the entire hull, it will It can make the ship very strong and remain stable in the wind and waves of East Lake. As for the flat keel..."
Having said this, Shulot paused momentarily. He only knew the basic concepts, but did not understand the specific details of the keel. After a while, the king spoke in slight embarrassment.
"A flat keel is a keel made of flat plates... As for the specific structure, you just have to try it and explore it hard!"
Pukuta looked at the king's face and suddenly understood. He lowered his head and saluted, then discussed with the master craftsmen for a while before carefully replying.
"Your Majesty, this kind of sand ship is quite new. Its style has never been seen before. It also has a stern rudder and a keel. Everyone needs to think about it. If you are lucky, maybe it can be built in four or five years. If you are not lucky. ..maybe ten years or more.”
Hearing this, Shulot's expression changed. He stared at Pukuta with sharp eyes, like a majestic eagle. Pukuta bowed calmly and bowed his head deeply. The surrounding master craftsmen also bowed their heads and saluted.
After a long time, the king thought about the difficulties of exploring the shipbuilding industry, and then he sighed softly and finally made a decision.
"Pukuta, in that case, you should explore carefully! From today on, the Northern Shipbuilding Department will be established, directly subordinate to the Divine Inspiration Institute in the capital, with you as the director! Copper materials from the south will be given priority to you. First, start with the two-body shipbuilding department. Start with multi-body canoes, familiarize yourself with the craft of connecting ships, and upgrade the kingdom’s navy. Then, you will hurry up and explore the process of making galleys. Within a year, I want to hear good news from you!”
"As for the more complex sand ships..."
Shulot pondered for a moment and made a generous promise.
"I will not limit the time for your exploration. As long as you can build a qualified prototype ship, the leader will be given the title of hereditary noble and a 2,400-acre hereditary fiefdom in Hekou County! The rest of the subordinate senior craftsmen can be promoted to military honors Nobles, reward them with gold, silver, feathers and fields!”
Upon hearing such a generous reward, the craftsmen's breathing suddenly became heavy, and even their eyes shone with light. Pukuta took two deep breaths and kept his face calm. His eyes were sharp as he looked at the last album in the king's hand.
"Your Majesty, what kind of ship does this last album of yours contain? Can you let me have a look?"
Hearing this, Shulot lowered his eyes and his thoughts drifted away. He seemed to hear the sound of trumpets in his ears, followed by the roar of artillery fire. The towering sail battleship spread its sails and slowly moved across the hull, revealing several neat rows of gun barrels... Thunder exploded in an instant, destroying all enemies on the shore and at sea!
After thinking for a long time, the king shook his head. He put away the last ship diagram and said with a smile.
"This is a gift from the goddess of truth and justice, and it is far from being opened! I hope that I can see it coming in my lifetime and bring the broad truth to the alliance... Pukuta, do your best! The kingdom is vast The future lies in your hard-working hands!"
Hearing the king's high hopes, Pukuta knelt down and saluted, saying "dare not". Many shipwrights also knelt on the ground, looking worried.
Xiulote left the ship's map and slept beside the dock that night. Then, he discussed with senior master craftsmen for several days and personally presided over the establishment of the shipbuilding department. It wasn't until the first catamaran canoe began to be improved that he led his guards away.
March is coming to an end in a blink of an eye. The Leman River is full of swaying green reeds and the chirping of birds. The envoy from Otopan City has been waiting in the river mouth fortress for a long time, requesting His Majesty to go north as soon as possible.
Shulot was as stable as a mountain. He first summoned the scouts who had returned from the north to understand the situation around Otopan. Then he summoned the monkey Kuruka one last time. Kuluka has initially sorted out the government affairs of Hekou County and arranged the logistics and transportation of grain and grass.
The king expressed his approval with satisfaction, and then led the 6,000 Guards Corps, took the navy's boat, crossed the turbulent Leman River, and headed north of the city of Otopan again. A few days later, the massive Royal Guards Corps of the Kingdom arrived at the indestructible mountain city under the respectful and guarded eyes of the Otomi people along the way.
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