Chapter 531: Youfu's New Mission (Seeking votes and subscriptions)

I don't know how many times I have come to the river to see the Han tribe's big sailboat. Niu Wei enjoys the atmosphere of the Han tribe very much. Compared with the Xin tribe, which has been established for who knows how many years, the Han tribe makes him feel more energetic.

Everyone in this tribe is living actively, calculating how much grain they can harvest this year, how much money the grain can exchange for, and how to have another child next year.

The vendors are working hard to make money in their spare time after farming. I don't know when it started, many people found that no matter what kind of small business they do, they can easily make money, so more and more people have joined the army of businessmen.

Luo Chong is actually not surprised about this. The Han tribe now has so many people. If there are people, there will be demand. The current market is blank. As long as you have goods, you don't have to worry about no one buying them. Of course, everything you sell is easy to sell.

But Luo Chong's support is naturally indispensable. For example, the snacks he promoted are very popular.

The life of the craftsmen is more active. For the manufacturing industry, the greatest happiness is not how much salary they earn or how many levels of nobility they are promoted, but to see the things they produce with their own hands come in handy.

The first sailboat has been outfitted for half a month. These days, the crew has been conducting sea trials, one is to test the performance of the new boat, and the other is to train the crew on how to operate the sail.

However, this Chinese hard sail is the easiest to operate, so the crew learns it very quickly. At the same time, they are not only familiar with the various equipment on the boat, but also familiar with the weather and hydrological conditions.

A red wind flag is inserted on the top of the mast. After more than ten days of sailing, the crew has summarized the common wind direction in this season.

The Liuyang River is a large river running from north to south, but I don’t know if it is because there are mountains in the north and south of this area, there will always be east wind and west wind. In this way, for sailboats sailing on the river, this is a cross wind.

It rarely occurs when there is a tailwind or a headwind, and most of the time it is a cross wind, but this wind direction is just suitable for the Chinese hard sail, because as long as the entire sail is raised and the sail surface is pulled to a 45-degree angle with the hull, the boat can still sail.

Although it is always said that the fastest way to sail is with the wind, since there is a side of the wind, there will definitely be a headwind. However, the biggest advantage of the crosswind is that there is no wind or headwind. Whether you are going upstream or downstream, you can always find a suitable angle for the sail to receive the wind and push the boat forward.

These days, the crew has been practicing sail control, and has learned how to control the sailboat to sail into the upwind, and then use the advantage of the wind to complete a 180-degree turn in a river section less than 100 meters wide. After turning the direction, the angle of the sail can be quickly changed to take advantage of the crosswind again.

Luo Chong has also been paying attention to this matter, and he has once again designed two small new boats to cooperate with the large sailboat.

One is a small hydrographic reconnaissance boat, which is less than five meters long and less than two meters wide. It is only for one person, which is slightly larger than the kayak he made at the beginning, but the difference is that this boat also has a sail.

However, the mast on it is movable and can be flexibly disassembled.

The purpose of making this thing is, of course, to clear the way for large ships, because the hydrological environment of inland rivers is relatively complex.

If you don't know the depth of the river, whether there are reefs, the slope of the front, whether there are rapids, and even whether there are waterfalls in front, and you drive the big ship headlong up without knowing anything, the end is likely to be the end of the ship being destroyed and people dying.

With this boat, you can send a person to drive a small boat to the front for reconnaissance. If you find that the front is not suitable for the course of the large ship, you must send a signal to the large ship behind in time to let the large ship stop or turn around.

Although this is somewhat unfair to the scout in front, if you can use the sacrifice of one person in exchange for the survival of the large ship and many crew members behind, Luo Chong will definitely sacrifice the scout without hesitation.

Of course, high wages and high pensions are also necessary. This position is voluntary and no one is forced, because forcing it is more dangerous. If someone is forced to do this, he will have a vengeful heart. There is a waterfall in front, but he doesn't send a signal, then everyone will have to play together in the end.

Another new type of small boat is the sampan attached to the sailing ship. This boat is only five meters long, but two and a half meters wide, with a length-to-width ratio of two to one. The purpose is naturally not to run fast, but to carry more people.

The boat has a flat head at the head and tail, and there is no power, all relying on manual paddling.

In fact, this is a landing boat. When there are too many rocks on the shore or the water level is too shallow, the large ship can be anchored in the middle of the river, and then the crew can land on the small boat.

That's why Luo Chong designed the length of this sampan to be only five meters, because when it is not in use, this boat is placed on the deck of the large ship, and it can also be used as a lifeboat at critical times.

At the same time, in order to deal with possible situations, Luo Chong asked people to equip the sailing ship with two such landing boats, which are usually placed side by side on the stern deck, just enough to put down two boats, and four hydrographic reconnaissance boats are placed on the front deck, reserved for accidents.

Usually, the crew stays in the middle cabin, and there is a terrace above the cabin.

Finally, in order to ensure that the crew can survive in the event of an accident, the ship is equipped with a lot of leather bags, which are all peeled sheepskins, with the head and legs removed, inflated, tied tightly, painted with a layer of white paint, and then put into a large red fine hemp rope net bag, used as a lifebuoy, and can also hold this leather bag if it falls into the water.

As for why a net bag is added on the outside, of course it is to make it easier to catch, otherwise it is really difficult to hold such a large balloon floating on the water.

Several small boats were quickly equipped on the big ship, and the crew were also doing corresponding training. Of course, swimming training is also indispensable.

The shipyard was not idle either. After the experience of successfully building the first sailboat, the progress of the rest was much faster. Now the overall progress of the assembly line has reached the speed of preparing materials for one ship, building one ship, testing one ship, and outfitting one ship.

Four ships with different progress are progressing at the same time, and the speed is not slow. Almost every week, new ships can be seen launching, just like dumplings.

The first ship was also constantly recruiting crew members and training in various navigation subjects to train crew members for future new ships.

Luo Chong even thought about setting up a driving school to train carriages and sailboats, only accepting adult students, and then issuing them driver's licenses. In the future, people without a small license cannot drive a car casually. No, they cannot drive a boat casually.

After thinking about it, it is really feasible. After all, whether it is driving or operating a boat, it is very demanding. Otherwise, even if ordinary people save money to buy one, it will be very painful if they don’t know how to use it.

Moreover, running such a driving school can, firstly, reserve more driving talents for the tribe, secondly, it can also charge fees to increase the government’s fiscal revenue, and thirdly, even if it is necessary to recruit drivers and sailors in the future, it will be easier to select and summon them. You can find out by looking through the household registration files.

Just when the third large sailing ship began to be equipped, another convoy came from Hanyang City. This time, they came to deliver sails. After all, the textile factory is there, and only Hanyang City has the ability to manufacture large sails.

But this is not the key. The important thing is that the people who delivered the goods this time are the You brothers who have been idle for half a year.

"Chief, you finally remembered us. Please assign us tasks. I'm so tired of staying here that hair is growing all over my body."

You Fu couldn't help complaining as soon as he saw Luo Chong.

Since the beginning of this spring, Luo Chong decided to build a new county, and did not let You Fu continue to go to the grassland to do business, but let him stay at home to help with the construction.

But how could the two brothers be law-abiding people? They had been looking forward to continuing to travel far away, but Luo Chong seemed to have deliberately forgotten them and never assigned them any tasks to go out.

"Oh, really? But I heard that you have been doing well in the past few months. Both wives are pregnant again." Luo Chong smiled and joked.

"Well, isn't that idle? Anyway, you are idle anyway." You Fu showed an embarrassed expression.

"Haha, you don't have to be idle anymore. I summoned you here this time because I have tasks for you two to do." Luo Chong said slowly.

"What mission? Where are we going this time? Are we going to the grassland again? As long as the leader points out a place, You Fu will definitely arrive there and resolutely complete the tasks assigned by the leader. He will never turn back until he reaches the goal." You Fu promised solemnly.

"Haha, it's not that serious, but this mission is also a bit dangerous. Do you know what is loaded on the car you escorted?" Luo Chong did not answer You Fu's question, but asked a counter-question.

"What, isn't it called a sail? But that thing looks so big, and some of it looks like a national flag." You Fu thought about it and answered honestly, not quite understanding what Luo Chong meant.

"Well, that's right, it's a sail, used for the newly built big ship. Let's not talk about it here, let's go to the ship and talk about it directly." Luo Chong said while calling the two to follow him.

"Ah? Oh." The two didn't react a little, but still quickly agreed.

A quarter of an hour later, the three arrived at the riverside and saw a large sailing ship parked by the river. The hull was black, and the side and window fences were painted yellow and red, which made the whole ship look bright.

The large ship did not have a sail at this time, but was quietly parked in the middle of the river. Many crew members were standing at the stern, practicing the training subject of retracting and launching landing craft, which was a skill that the crew must master.

At this time, another large ship that was practicing sailing also came back, sailing quickly across the water, and finally docked at the dock of the shipyard. This somewhat magical scene directly shocked You Fu and You Ye.

They said what everyone would say when they saw a sailing ship for the first time, "Can this ship run by itself?!"

"That's right, do you see the sail on it? It's the one you sent over. This thing is the same principle as a windmill. As long as the wind blows on the sail, it can push the ship forward. If the wind direction changes, the angle of the sail can also be turned according to the wind direction." Luo Chong explained to the two of them.

"Oh! So that's how it is. The leader is really amazing. He can even think of this." You Ye said with a sigh of enlightenment.

"Then the leader brought us to see this. Could the new mission also be related to the sailboat?" You Fu also asked tentatively.

"That's right. I want you two to lead a fleet each. One will go downstream to open a route from here to the Jinsha River in Wuxia Mountain, and then go downstream from the Jinsha River to see how long this river is. There must be many tribes along the coast. I want you to collect information about these tribes, as well as the geographical features and various specialties along the coast. This information can be obtained by doing business with local indigenous people.

This matter will be handled by You Fu. He has more contact with tribes outside and has organized several grassland trades. He is more experienced.

As for You Ye, your fleet will go upstream from here and enter the Great Lake. First, measure the geographical features of the Great Lake and draw a map. The most important thing is to see if there is an upstream entrance to the Great Lake so that you can continue to explore to the north in the future;

second, cooperate with Yun Zhi, the governor of Weishan County, to help him communicate with the tribes along the coast of the Great Lake and be responsible for contacting and transporting materials and population. He promised me to get me 50,000 people, and this must be completed within two years."

After saying this, Luo Chong saw that You Ye looked unhappy. Naturally, he knew what he was thinking, so he warned him.

"You don't have to look so bitter. Don't think you're unhappy because your mission is not as far as your brother's. Although your mission seems to be quite close, it is not easy at all.

The hydrological environment in the big swamp is more complicated than that in the downstream. The water level there is mostly shallow, and there are many swamps. If you are not careful, your life will be in danger, so you should be serious.

Also, when you come into contact with the tribes along the coast, you must also handle the relationship well. Remember, they will all be our people in the future. Do you understand what I mean?

That's tens of thousands of people. If you succeed in this, it will be no less than your brother's contribution. You should do your best."

Hearing what the leader said, Youye became serious and his unhappy attitude just now disappeared. The leader did not always treat him as a child. The task assigned to him was no less important than that of his elder brother, which showed that the leader still valued him very much, Youye thought to himself.

"Promise to complete the leader's orders and cooperate with the governor of Weishan County to bring back our people." Youye immediately stood up straight and promised loudly.

"Well, that's more like it.

Youfu, your mission is also very important. Although it won't increase our population, it can be regarded as an outpost to prepare for the expansion of our Han tribe's territory in the future. Only by understanding the situation outside can we make targeted countermeasures, whether to absorb them peacefully or send troops to conquer them. You have to find out all these.

In addition, you have to draw a sketch of the downstream coast and write a navigation diary every day. Not only should you record the situation encountered that day, including the geographical features of the coast, but also the time and weather, hydrological changes, the health of the crew, psychological emotions, material reserves on the ship, etc. All of these should be written down, every day, as long as you are alive. Even

if you die outside, you must find a way to have someone bring the diary back. Do you understand?"

"I understand. I will ensure that I complete the tasks assigned by the leader." Youfu also answered loudly.

(End of this chapter)