wild trail

Chapter 286 Winter Solstice
Near the cliff, the recruited peasants cut down big trees and built a simple wooden bridge on the cliff.

Along the ropes tied to the wooden bridge, the mining workers descended to the bottom of the cliff. Although iron ore is also distributed on the cliff, after exploration, people found that the reserves of iron ore under the cliff are even greater.

Below the cliff is a narrow pile of rocks. After the arson, all the vegetation on the surface has been burnt to nothing at this moment, which greatly reduces the difficulty of mining.

The workers put pieces of iron ore into rattan boxes, and the people on the cliff turned the winch vigorously to pull up the baskets of ore. Although the process was extremely difficult, fortunately, no accidents happened.

The soldiers of the Beast Hunting Battalion scattered on both sides of the cliff, killing all the wild animals that dared to approach. It can be said that apart from mosquitoes, not even a bird can fly over.

The ore mining went extremely smoothly, and the ore transported up was sent to the newly built iron-making workshop for sorting and crushing like flowing water with the arrival of the deer cart.

Since Wang Lang's original intention was to make steel, he did not use wood as fuel but treated charcoal.

The workers pulled hard to seal the box, the ample air allowed the charcoal to burn blazingly, and the roiling heat wave made the nearby people feel like they were in a stove.

Working in this hot weather is simply a kind of torture for people. Every time you pull for a while, you have to change a batch of workers. Otherwise, you will easily suffer from severe heat stroke due to the high temperature after working for a long time.

The paper mill near the iron-making workshop is also in full operation. Paper is still an expensive luxury item, and the thousands of sheets of paper produced are sent to Wang Lang as tributes.

Naturally, these paper kings would not regard them as decorations and put them in their palace as decorations.

When I got this batch of paper, I immediately took out the set of clay movable type carved by the craftsmen, and carefully applied black dye to the movable type with a brush.

After experimenting, Wang Lang found that the effect of printing with this kind of dye was very unsatisfactory, and it was easy to produce blurred or unclear characters.

The failed experiment did not dampen Wang Lang's confidence, so he began to study how to make ink.

Just as Wang Lang was concentrating on trying various materials according to his superficial understanding of ink, Wang He, who was nearly four years old, ran over bouncing.

"Father, look, these are the characters taught by the teacher today, and I already know how to write them." Wang He shook a scroll of wooden slips, and looked at Wang Lang with great pride.

Wang Lang stopped his work, took the wooden slip, opened it and looked at it, he couldn't help laughing, it was written a few sentences from the enlightenment textbook he compiled.

"At the beginning of human beings, the nature is good. The nature is similar, but the habits are far away. If you don't teach, your nature will change. The way to teach is to specialize."

Wang Lang edited and subtracted the three-character scriptures, removed some citations from scriptures, and added his own random fabrications, so they can barely be used as enlightenment textbooks for these children. The three-character scriptures can also teach these children the basic principles of life, good and evil. Right from wrong.

"Do you know the meaning of these words?" Wang Lang asked with a smile.

Wang He scratched his head, looked at Wang Lang blankly, and said in a childish voice, "The teacher didn't tell me what it means at this time, just let us know these words."

"This man's nature is good at the beginning. It talks about that when people are born in this world, they are all kind by nature. Their natures are similar, but their habits are far away. As we grow up, our living environments and experiences are different. Let our originally similar personalities change, everyone has their own personalities, which makes us human beings, think about it, if we are all the same, wouldn't that be a terrible thing." Wang Lang carefully explained.

Wang He tilted his head and thought for a while. He didn't know what terrible picture came to his mind, and his face was pale with fright and cold sweat drenched.

Seeing his son's appearance, Wang Lang couldn't help laughing and said, "What did you think of, you're so scared."

"Father, I thought, if all the children in the academy looked like me, I would feel terrible." Wang He said tremblingly.

"Eh..." Wang Lang was at a loss for words for a moment, the child's brain circuit was indeed different from that of an adult.

"Apart from learning to write in the academy recently, what have you learned?" Wang Lang asked.

"The teacher said some things before the Xia Kingdom was established!" Wang He said in a childish voice.

"Oh! Tell me, what did you talk about?" Wang Lang became interested.

"The teacher said that human beings used to live without clothes just like animals. Many people were eaten by wild beasts. Under the leadership of their father, the human beings on the grassland defeated those ferocious wild beasts and built cities so that people could enjoy life. Clothes to cover our bodies and enough food to satisfy our hunger, so that we can never betray our father."

After Wang Lang heard this, the expression on his face was a bit complicated. Of course it is a happy thing that he is so loved in the hearts of the people of the country, but he doesn't know why he thinks of the third fat of the universe nation, so he can't help feeling A chill.

At this time, the guard came in and reported: "Your Majesty, the Secretary of the Ministry of Rites seeks to see you!"

"Oh! Ask him to come in!"

"Yes!"

After the guards retreated, Wang Lang said to Wang He: "Go to your mother and sister first, and play by yourself!"

Wang He nodded, bouncing and running towards the backyard.

"Minister! Wu Yun, Minister of the Ministry of Rites, pay homage to Your Majesty!" Lin Huo bowed and bowed.

"Wu Yun, there are no outsiders here, so there is no need to be so polite, sit down!" Wang Lang said gently.

Although Wang Lang said so, Wu Yun still respectfully said: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Wang Lang shook his head helplessly. After the division of rights and strata became clearer, now he really felt like a lonely family. Those who used to be like brothers and sisters seemed to be getting farther and farther away from him.

Sighing softly, he said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Your Majesty, after a long period of observation, the Qin Tianjian has determined the shortest day." Wu Yun said excitedly.

Hearing the news, Wang Lang quickly asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"The officials of the Qin Tianjian found that every 360 days or so, there would be a day with a very short day. It is obviously not a coincidence that such a thing happened twice, and yesterday was the shortest day." Lin Wuyun said respectfully Said.

Wang Lang nodded. The shortest day should be the winter solstice. Once this day is determined, the astronomical calendar will be more accurate. With a clear calendar, it will also have a great impact on agriculture. Thinking of this, he said to Wu Yun: "The officials of the Qin Tianjian have worked hard. In this way, I will arrange the Ministry of Households to reward these meritorious officials. The shortest day is called the winter solstice! It will be the first day of the year."

(End of this chapter)