Chapter 283 Northern Shipbuilding Company, the starting point of navigation!
The spring breeze of March blows all over the world, and the vast army marches forward brightly. The fields in the north are already covered with green grass, and curls of smoke rise from the villages of Mintun, and 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. Afterwards, he summoned priests from various villages and listened carefully to the details of farming and missionary progress in each settlement. Then, the king should
In the presence of many priests, the monkey Kuruka was appointed 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 in the Hekou Fortress. They would be assigned to farmland for long-term garrison, and they would also be responsible for the food transportation of the king's army going north. The civilian settlement in Hekou County was established earlier, and last year's autumn harvest was still
Not bad. 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 city-state of Otopan to meet the alliance. Shulot will not rely on the vital supply of food and grass in a country that is always short of food.
On the Otomi people.
Afterwards, the king did not stop and inspected the river mouth docks around the fortress. He summoned many craftsmen to explore the construction plan of new ships.
The Estuary Dockyard is actually located on the edge of Lake Quiceo in the south of the fortress. It is located on an inner lake, is small in area, and has very simple facilities. It just accumulates a lot of large logs that can be used to build large canoes. The kingdom's large canoes can carry 40 people.
It needs fir or oak wood that is at least fifteen meters high and two to three meters in diameter as the hull. These woods have been drying in the shade for many years. They are the property accumulated by the Kingdom of Tarasco over the past few decades. Now they are all cheap for the feudal country in the lake.
At 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 sun at noon was warm. There were many warriors in the dock, and the guards were heavily guarded. Hulot looked around and examined the many senior craftsmen standing in the front for a while. The craftsmen were all wearing Prepecha costumes, and they were all tall and tall.
His eyebrows were straight and his eyes were straight, showing full respect. The king nodded slightly and spoke solemnly.
"The Lord God bless you! Today we have called all the masters here for a major event that concerns the gods, the alliance, and all the people!"
"The Quetzalcoatl stepped on a snake boat and went to the great lake in the east, and made a promise of revenge. He left Quetzalcoatl's race 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 divine edict, and the alliance decided to go east, search for traces of the Quetzalcoatl descendants, and build a city in East Lake.
The big ship is sailing!"
Hearing this, the master craftsmen of Prepecha present looked at each other. A low conversation soon sounded in the dock.
The myth of Quetzalcoatl going east has been circulated for hundreds of thousands of years, and everyone in the world has heard about it. What about descendants of Quetzalcoatl, what about white-skinned aliens, what about building big ships, and exploring distant lakes... Prepecha's
In fact, the master craftsmen did not think so in their hearts. But since the construction of the big ship was related to the supreme divine decree, it was a major event that could destroy the family at any time. They had to be cautious and use their full thought and strength.
After a while, an old man with a vicissitudes of appearance stood up. The old man's clothes were eye-catching, with tree patterns on his robes, and a sandalwood necklace around his neck. His movements were capable, his expression was respectful and confident, representing many great craftsmen, and he bowed his head upward.
The king salutes.
"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 copper supply 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 travel in 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 maintain the characteristics of tribal inheritance. With the important skills they exclusively master, they are always in the local area.
They even have a certain degree of influence 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. Hearing the number 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 was 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.
Xiulote touched the material of the roll, and it turned out to be a fig bark roll. This kind of bark roll is similar to the bark paper used by the Mayans. After preliminary soaking, cooking, drying and other papermaking processes, it is quite
It is strong and durable. However, the raw materials are relatively scarce and the manufacturing cost is 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? Or a multi-hulled canoe similar to the New Guinean people?... Well, this design idea is very similar to the chain link of the Chibi water battle."
Shulot moved his sight and saw two canoes side by side drawn on the top of the scroll. The two canoes were connected in parallel with wooden beams in the middle, and wooden boards were laid on the beams to carry goods or people. The tail ends of the two canoes were
Each is equipped with a tail rotor to control the direction of the boat.
Under the leather scroll, there are multiple canoes side by side. Similarly, the canoes are connected in parallel with wooden beams and fixed into one. On the outside of the multi-body canoe, there are also simple horizontal rows that are extended and connected.
Floating in the water can further increase the buoyancy and improve the ship's transportation carrying capacity. Of course, it will also reduce the ship's traveling speed accordingly.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Your Majesty, the wind canoe above moves very fast and is designed for water warfare and marching. The wooden planks between the two canoes can carry multiple warriors, and can
It provides a shooting platform for archers! The snake canoe below is very heavy and is designed for the transportation of people and materials. It can carry people in the horizontal row, or place goods that are not afraid of getting wet! Of course, in order to firmly connect various
Building a boat requires expensive copper nails and chains. But the advantage is that you can build a usable big boat without using real big wood..."
Pukuta raised his head, his eyes were bright, he looked up at the king, his words were full of confidence.
Shulot nodded slowly, with a look of admiration on his face. This method of double-body or multi-body connection, and even the installation of outboard brackets, can not only increase the carrying weight, but also greatly improve the stability and wind and wave resistance 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 traveled from Yizhou to Luzon, from the Indonesian islands to New Zealand, and from the New Guinea islands to Fiji.
, Tonga, Honolulu, until Easter Island, there is even one that goes west from Sumatra, drifts across the entire Indian Ocean, and finally sets its foundation on 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 that can be adjusted in direction 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. Hearing such professional advice, Pukuta was very surprised. He looked at the improved diagram 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 sufficient 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 ship are about 18 meters long and about 3 meters wide. The long ship 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 the head of the deck, two sails, one large and one small, are erected. The sail in the center is larger and is the main sail; the sail at the head is smaller and is the auxiliary sail. At the head of the long ship,
A shiny and sharp metal collision corner is also 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!"
Hulot smiled faintly. This was 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, a galley. The galley relied on both wind power and manpower, and the manufacturing technology was relatively simple, starting from A.D.
It was in use from the tenth century BC until this time in the fifteenth century. It was a warship used in early Mediterranean naval battles, and now it is mostly used as an offshore trading vessel.
"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.
By making a curvature and placing two rows of oarsmen of different heights, the number of oarsmen can be increased and the rowing speed can be increased! 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 a 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 giant paddle 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
It will take us about a year of exploration to produce a qualified prototype ship without any problem!"
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. It cannot be easily accelerated by one or two people. Even if he is a time traveler and knows the shape and general structure of the ship, if the craftsmen do not have enough technical accumulation
, is also extremely difficult to produce. Pukuta was able to promise to trial-produce a paddle boat within a year, which was enough to make him overjoyed.
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 ship that was common in the Celestial Dynasty. It was also a flat-bottomed canoe used in large rivers or offshore waters. It was roughly formed in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Its shape has a square head and square stern, a spacious deck, and low freeboard. The most notable features
It is characterized by multiple masts and sails, wide and shallow. Because of the multi-sail design, the ship speed is faster. There is also a lifting rudder at the stern. More importantly, the sand ship uses the flat keel pioneered by China, which is both wide and
It is thick enough to withstand wind and waves, and can pass through the sea without obstruction!
Shulot couldn't remember the complete structure of the sand boat. He just drew the five masts "three in 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 ship is usually
It only requires seven or eight people to operate it freely. It is the most classic Chinese sailboat 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. He couldn't help but frown.
frowned.
"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."
Shurot 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 controlled by a person 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 were corroborated by what he saw and heard at this moment. He soon came to a sudden realization 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 solid 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 stable in the wind and waves of East Lake. As for the flat keel..."
Having said this, Shulot paused instantly. He only knew the basic concepts, but did not understand the specific details of the dragon bone. After a while, the king spoke in a slightly embarrassed tone.
"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 bowed his head and saluted, then discussed with the master craftsmen for a while, and then carefully replied.
"Your Majesty, this kind of sand boat is quite new. Its style has never been seen before. It also has a stern rudder and some kind of keel. It needs everyone to think about it. If you are lucky, maybe it can be built in four or five years. If you are not lucky, it can be built.
..maybe ten years or more.”
Hearing this, Shulot's expression changed. He stared at Pukuta sharply, 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 this 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 manufacturing process of 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 gold, silver, feathers and fields!"
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 clear, and 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 uniform trumpets in his ears, followed by the roar of artillery fire. The towering sail battleship spread its sails and slowly crossed the hull, revealing several rows of
The neat barrel...the thunder explodes 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 map 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" repeatedly. Many shipwrights also knelt down on the ground, looking worried.
Hulot left the ship plan 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 was not until the first catamaran canoe began to be improved that he
He led his guards and left.
March is coming to an end in the blink of an eye. The banks of the Leman River are full of swaying green reeds, and there are birds chirping happily. The envoys from Otopan City have been waiting in the fortress at the mouth of the river for a long time, requesting His Majesty to go north as soon as possible.
Xiulote 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 for the last time. Kuruka had already initially sorted out the government affairs of Hekou County.
Arrangements have been made for the logistical transportation of food and fodder.
The king expressed his approval with satisfaction, and then led the 6,000 Royal Guards Corps in a navy boat, crossed the turbulent Leman River, and headed north of Otopan City again. A few days later, the massive Royal Guards Corps of the Kingdom
, under the respectful and guarded eyes of the Otomi people along the way, they arrived at the indestructible mountain city.
