Starting from scratch, passing on the torch
The morning sun leaps out of the sea, casting its golden rays upon the newly awakened land. The hustle and bustle of the camp replaces the tranquility of the island, bringing with it new challenges.
The primary concern was survival. While the food on board could sustain them for a while, living off the land was not a long-term solution. The exploration team, led by Hu Sanniang and Wang Ying, expanded their scope and discovered a rich and productive area: wild fruits and vegetables abounded in the mountains and forests, fish and shrimp teemed in the streams, and wild animals like deer and roe deer roe roamed the forests.
However, unfamiliar surroundings also present unknown dangers. Several soldiers, while picking wild fruit, were scratched by a thorny plant. The wounds quickly became red, swollen, and ulcerated. Had Qiongying not recognized it as a poison ivy and promptly applied herbal compresses, a disaster could have been avoided. On another occasion, Wang Ying led a hunting expedition and encountered a massive wild boar. Its tusks were sharp and it charged recklessly, injuring several men. Ultimately, Zhang Qing, despite the pain in his arm, hurled a flying stone into the boar's eye socket, effectively killing it.
"This place is not easy to navigate. We must proceed with caution." Zhu Wu, looking at the massive wild boar carcass, felt a lingering fear. He suggested organizing a team, led by experienced hunters, to systematically explore the surrounding area, create a more detailed map, and mark dangerous areas and available resources.
Qiongying agreed. She organized a separate group of former hunters, woodcutters, and fishermen in the team, with Hu Sanniang as the overall manager, to oversee food gathering. At the same time, she began organizing the women and children to cultivate small plots of land near the camp, trying to grow the small amount of corn and vegetable seeds they had brought from the ship. She also sent people to search for edible crops similar to rice.
Living conditions were equally harsh. The initial shacks provided little protection from the wind, not the rain. A sudden downpour left the camp in ruins, and many people developed high fevers. Qiongying, along with Sun Erniang and others, worked tirelessly day and night to boil decoctions to dispel the cold, preventing further casualties.
"We must build stronger houses!" Zhang Qing declared firmly, looking at the wounded, women, and children shivering in the rain. He personally participated in the design, drawing on the characteristics of northern adobe houses and southern stilt houses. He directed the construction of more solid wooden houses with elevated floors, utilizing abundant wood and clay. The process was slow and laborious, but when the first row of weatherproof wooden houses was completed, the camp erupted in heartfelt cheers.
Besides the pressure of survival, personnel management was also a formidable challenge. The crew arriving on the island was a complex mix, encompassing not only the original Liangshan leader, but also some family members, later recruits from the merchant protection team, and Zheng Lao Da's sailors. Initially, the external pressures of survival held them together, but as the camp began to stabilize, inherent conflicts and bad habits began to surface. Some former Liangshan soldiers, proud of their achievements, refused to be controlled by the leader, a member of Yan Qing's "merchant protection team." Other sailors, accustomed to the freedom of adrift at sea, chafed at the camp rules established by Zhu Wu and his team. Even minor matters like the distribution of food and tools often led to arguments.
Once, two soldiers from different factions almost came to blows over a handy axe, which attracted a crowd of onlookers and the scene was tense for a while.
"Stop!" Zhang Qing rushed over upon hearing the news. Though his injuries hadn't healed, the majesty of his long-held position remained. He swept a cold gaze over the crowd, "We've come here through untold hardships, escaping death, just to fight this internal conflict? Have we forgotten the lessons we learned on the shore?!"
He pointed at the two soldiers, their faces flushed, and sternly declared, "From today on, you two will go cut wood together. You can rest when you've cut enough wood to build three cabins! If you dare to cause trouble again, you'll be expelled from the camp and left to fend for yourself!"
This punishment was both severe and left room for maneuver, effectively deterring everyone. That night, core figures including Zhang Qing, Qiongying, Zhu Wu, and Yan Qing reunited.
"Without rules, there is no order," Zhu Wu said solemnly. "Now that people's hearts are beginning to settle, the rules need to be more detailed and strictly enforced. I suggest setting up a 'discussion hall' where all major matters in the camp will be discussed by representatives elected by us and each team. For daily management, we will set up a 'discipline team' composed of people trusted by all parties, responsible for mediating disputes and enforcing rewards and punishments."
Qiongying added, "Furthermore, we must make everyone understand that we are one, sharing honor and disgrace. We can organize joint labor, such as building fortifications and developing public fields, so that people of different backgrounds can deepen their understanding through labor. Children's education must also not be neglected. Someone needs to teach them literacy, arithmetic, and the reasons and rules for our establishment."
These suggestions were unanimously approved by the entire group. Soon, a "Council Hall" and a "Discipline Team" were established, formalizing and institutionalizing the camp's management. Zhang Qing, due to his prestige and fairness, was elected head of the Council Hall. Qiongying, with her wisdom and leadership at crucial moments, became the de facto "military advisor." Zhu Wu, Yan Qing, and others each performed their respective duties.
The days passed in a state of busyness and hardship. The camp gradually expanded, with rows of wooden houses and the beginnings of ridges in the fields. They even built a simple watchtower and a wooden hall for meetings and gatherings. Although the people's faces remained dark and rough, their eyes were less confused and despairing, and more filled with a growing sense of belonging to this land.
One evening, Zhang Qing and Qiongying stood side by side on that high slope again. The setting sun dyed the sea a golden red. Smoke rose from the camp below, and the sounds of children playing could be heard faintly.
"I remember when I first arrived here, it was completely desolate." Zhang Qing looked at the scene before him, a hint of relief in his tone, "Now, it's finally starting to look somewhat better."
Qiongying smiled slightly, the sea breeze ruffling her hair. "Yes, even a small spark can start a prairie fire. We are here, not only finding a way out for ourselves, but perhaps... we've also left a possibility for future generations."
Zhang Qing turned to look at her. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm glow over her. An indescribable feeling welled up in his heart. After enduring life and death together, supporting each other, something had quietly changed.
"Qiongying," he called softly, no longer "Princess" or "Master," but her real name, "Thank you."
Qiongying met his gaze without avoiding it, with the same warmth and determination in her eyes: "It's us, we have come here together."
Their hands, illuminated by the setting sun, naturally clasped together. No further words were needed; everything was said without words.
The stars above the island gradually lit up, illuminating the campfires. In this new world, a new order based on equality, mutual assistance, and pioneering spirit was taking root, with difficulty but tenaciously. The torch had been passed on.
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