Wei and Jin Cooks

Chapter 1242 Condolences

Zhao Hanzhang: "Then you let them study hard and learn some textile, medical and engineering skills. With a talent in hand, they will never be hungry no matter what in the future."

Sister Feng nodded in agreement and asked, "Are women more in need of spinners, weavers or medical workers?"

“We are all lacking,” Zhao Hanzhang said, “We are also lacking powerful mathematicians, astronomers and various craftsmen.”

She pointed to the dug driveway not far away: "Don't underestimate the craftsmen. The craftsmen once belonged to the Mohist family. The Mohist family's craftsmanship is unrivaled in the world. A good tool can save more than ten hours of manpower."

Sister Feng’s eyes widened, “Does this mean that one utensil can be used by ten people?”

 Zhao Hanzhang nodded.

 The crowd onlookers were buzzing and talking, "Nothing Shangshu has made can achieve this effect..."

Fu Tinghan on the side said: "Compared with the powerful Mohists, I am still far behind."

Having seen the migrant workers in this camp, Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan went to other camps to visit and express their condolences.

Only then could Fu Chang and the others crowd around Zhao Hanzhang.

Zhao Hanzhang asked Fu Chang, "I heard from Tinghan that the section of the river bed you are responsible for has increased a lot, and the embankment must be raised. It is very difficult to build?"

 Fu Chang nodded: "It is difficult to build, but now that we have gunpowder to break stones and a large amount of lime, both the cost and the construction speed are much faster."

Zhao Hanzhang asked: "Someone proposed to use cement to build river embankments before, but why didn't it work?"

 Fu Chang glanced at Fu Tinghan: "This..."

Fu Tinghan explained: "Cement crushing requires a lot of force. At this time, it is expensive and time-consuming to rush to build a suitable hydraulic grinding mill."

“I asked the craftsmen who have built embankments here over the years. They all used local yellow soil mixed with straw ore to build the embankments, and then applied a layer of lime soil on the outside. That layer of lime soil is a kind of gray clay, and it is also made from local materials. Add lime and glutinous rice juice, and mix it with a local vine sap to have a very good waterproof effect."

"I have calculated that you have to finish it before February and reduce the cost. This is the best way."

Chao Hanzhang could have done better if he had not kept the construction period so short, even if he had been given less money.

 But she said that there might be heavy rains in March, so they would have to repair the dam one month in advance. This was the most cost-effective and efficient solution.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded and turned to look at the quiet and peaceful Yellow River. "I will definitely use such good water in the future."

Fu Chang sighed: "Yes, the Yellow River harms people, but it also leaves countless people alive. If we can manage the Yellow River well, make the best use of the resources, and irrigate the fields on both sides, I don't know how many fertile fields can be created and how many people can be fed."

Fu Tinghan knew that Zhao Hanzhang was not only talking about irrigation, but also that the application of hydraulic power was too extensive. The premise was that their technology could be in place.

 The technology required is so complex that it is obviously not possible for Fu Tinghan alone. Therefore, they not only need to cultivate technical talents from an early age, but also absorb existing ones.

I don’t know how many Mohists can be found in the world.

Fu Tinghan glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, took his horse and said, "Let's go, the second battalion is already waiting."

Zhao Hanzhang mounted his horse and took a hundred cavalrymen with Fu Tinghan and others to visit each camp.

From officials and generals to migrant workers and soldiers, everyone was happy and excited.

Most of the camps are built on the south bank, but there are also three camps on the north bank, because that section of the Yellow River is the most dangerous. The north bank, like the south bank, is lower than the river bed. Every time it floods, not only the south bank is seriously damaged, but also the north bank.

In recent years, the Jin Dynasty has not implemented large-scale management of the Yellow River. It all depends on the conscience of the county magistrates and governors on both sides of the strait. Those with a greater conscience will organize civilian labor to repair the dams and clean up the sediment; those with a lesser conscience, burdened by the situation, will Just let it be.

 So the river bed is much higher than before.

Fortunately, it was winter and there was little water in the river. She looked at the traces and was afraid that the water would overflow the river bed during the rainy season. This damaged embankment cannot stop it at all.

 Generally, it is not bad if it spreads. At most, the land on both sides of the river bank will be washed away. If it is washed away by floods, the fields and villages on both sides of the river will no longer be wanted.

 Because the river bed is higher than the villages on both sides, if the embankment is broken, it is equivalent to a waterfall rushing down from the sky, directly flooding the fields and villages.

Zhao Hanzhang visited the camp here and crossed the river to see the people on the other side and the dam they were building.

Two-thirds of the section they are responsible for has been completed, and the remaining one-third has also taken shape. The stones are piled up layer by layer. If it is unstable, they are paste with mixed yellow mud and then filled.

Dikes built in this way are less likely to collapse.

Zhao Hanzhang stepped on the piled stones and asked, "Where did this stone come from?"

Fu Tinghan pointed to the distance and showed her, "There are still a thousand people stationed over there. Their task is to blast and knock rocks. People will be sent here to transport them. There are another five thousand people on the other side of the river responsible for this."

 The stones are not just blown up with explosives. Some stones are very large when they are blown up, so they have to be cracked open to facilitate transportation and construction.

 Some places also require particularly large stones, which have requirements on size and shape. This kind of stone cannot be excavated entirely with explosives and must be excavated by manpower.

Building the Yellow River is already very hard, but cutting mountains and transporting stones is even harder.

Zhao Hanzhang looked down at their wheelbarrows transporting sand and stones, and clenched his fists. The productivity was still too low, too labor-intensive, and the work was too hard.

When it got dark, their group did not cross the river and return to the first camp, but stayed on the other side.

Chen Shen happily handed over the main tent to Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, and then guarded the tent door for them.

Zhao Hanzhang refused, "There are personal guards. Aren't you going to start work tomorrow? If you guard the tent for me tonight, won't you be delaying your work tomorrow?"

She said: "Don't delay because of us. Finish it early and let the soldiers return to camp early."

 Chen Shenjiang looked a little nervous under the firelight. He opened his mouth several times to ask but did not dare to ask.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and said, "You look so coy. If you have anything to say, talk openly."

General Chen Shen then asked in a low voice: "General, after we have repaired the Yellow River, do we still have to go back to the camp to train and fight?"

 Zhao Hanzhang asked him, "Do you want to fight?"

General Chen Shen immediately said loudly: "Think! As long as the general gives the order, the general will not be timid to fight!"

Zhao Hanzhang did not speak, but turned to look at the countless bonfires behind him and the cheerful soldiers beside the bonfires.

Because of her arrival, they still had a carnival tonight. They killed fifteen more pigs today and made a delicious dinner together with yesterday's pig's feet, pig meat, etc. At this time, everyone was full and full by the campfire. sing and dance.

 Occasionally there will be a battle between the two teams.

 This is a military camp. They have fought side by side and are familiar with each other, so the atmosphere is more intimate and relaxed than in the migrant workers camp on the other side.

 Compared to ordinary civilians, they know how to enjoy themselves in time.

 Everyone is making fun.

Zhao Hanzhang stood up, signaled General Chen Shen to follow him, and sat up on a fire at random.

 (End of this chapter)