Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

"Ai Si, arrange for some people to build houses in the north these next couple of days, just enough for the brothers who are training to live in. Also, have them build a fence around it."

"Master, isn't that separated from this side? There's water in between."

"Just follow my instructions. Don't let anyone out to the north. If a group of people comes and takes over the north one day, will our ships still be able to come and go as they please?"

"Yes... sir."

"When the time comes, we can use our cargo ship to transport whatever we need. It's up to you. The sooner the better."

"Understood, sir."

After handing over the new construction tasks, Chi Honghai didn't say anything more and walked up the mountain along the dirt road.

It must have rained on Hong Kong Island a few days ago.

Chi Honghai's steps were on the still slightly damp muddy path, making it difficult to push off with force.

Before long, the toes of the shoes and the hem of the clothes were covered in mud.

He walked halfway, then stepped hard on the wet mud and rolled it up. When he lifted it up, he saw a small pit that had filled with water and become a small depression.

Some people working on the mountainside saw the master coming up and bowed to greet him, reminding him that the mountain road was slippery after the rain and he should be careful.

Chi Honghai nodded with a smile and also cleared his throat.

"Is it difficult to go up the mountain to farm on a rainy day?"

The villagers who were working in the fields put down their weeding and stood watching Chi Honghai.

"Oh, sir, to be honest, when it rains, the mountain roads are slippery and difficult to walk on. In the two days you were away, the rain was heavy, and a lot of mud and rocks from the mountain slid down and hit the fields. Oh dear, these good seedlings were just sprouting and they're gone just like that. It breaks my heart."

"Do you usually irrigate the fields?"

"Reporting to you, sir, if it doesn't rain on ordinary days, we have to scoop water from the small ponds at the foot of the mountain or on the mountain, fill buckets, and carry them over to water the crops. You tell me, isn't that tiring? With these kinds of crops, if it's not tiring, we might not have anything to eat."

Listening to the old farmer's words, Chi Honghai turned around from the mountain path and stepped onto the muddy embankment. When he reached the middle of the field, he looked around.

The fields around here are planted with all sorts of things, scattered here and there, without any order or method.

He pointed to the field at the old farmer's feet and asked.

"What kind of thing are you?"

"Master, the sweet potatoes planted under your feet are the ones you brought back back then. They grow fast. They were planted not long ago, and the seedlings have already covered the field."

Chi Honghai bent down and touched the leaves, then lifted the vine with his fingers, tilted his head to look at the ground, trying to see how many sweet potatoes were growing in the soil.

"Okay, that's all. Thanks for your hard work, get back to work."

After finishing his speech, Chi Honghai got up and continued his journey up the mountain.

Once he reached the mountainside, he saw the small pond the villagers had mentioned earlier, surrounded by potholes.

The water in the pond was quite clear, and even when it rained a few days ago and the surrounding area was still quite damp, it did not become murky.

He picked up a stone and threw it towards the center of the pond.

"Thump!"

The sound of the stone hitting the water was rather dull, creating a spray of water about ten centimeters high.

Upon reaching this point, they stopped climbing and instead turned to look down at the village and the orderly rows of fields below.

Even from here, you can still hear the shouts from the training field below.

"Ai Si, leave one hundred brothers here."

"Ah? Master?"

Ai Si didn't understand the meaning behind Chi Honghai's words.

"Are you suggesting that these hundred or so brothers clear land and farm it?"

"It's land reclamation, but not farming."

After saying that, Chi Honghai led Shen Er and Ai Si down the mountain.

Back in the village, he went to where the craftsmen were working and invited them all to his presence.

"Gentlemen, it's been quite a while since I arrived. How are you finding it?"

The craftsmen dared not speak ill of Chi Honghai. Besides, it made no difference whether a family was here or someone was alone.

Having food to eat every day, with a hint of meat, is quite a rare thing in this world.

"Reporting to you, sir, everything is fine, and everyone is taking good care of us. I wonder if you have any new instructions for us that you have summoned us all here today?"

"I hope we're not lacking in the tools we need for work lately?"

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen's faces darkened.

After all, the person in front of him was a pirate captain. It wasn't something he couldn't do if he used him and then threw him away.

"Still missing, still missing."

Chi Honghai gave a cold snort.

"When I came back, I passed by your area and couldn't hear a sound. Does this mean you're lacking anything? Or are you just wasting time here without putting in any effort?"

Upon hearing this, the craftsmen became terrified and knelt down on the ground, shouting that they were innocent.

"Sir, that's absolutely not true. We made all the axes and shovels the brothers on this island use. We eat your food, how dare we slack off under your nose?"

Chi Honghai spread his hands and raised them slightly: "Alright, alright, just kidding. Everyone, don't get so excited. It's good to rest when there's no work to do."

"I just came down from the mountain. The villagers who farm work so hard. The mountain roads are slippery in this rain, and mud and rocks roll down and hit the fields. If it only hits the fields, it's not a big deal, just a few seedlings. But if it hits a person and rolls into this village, it's a different story."

"I plan to take some people to improve the situation on the mountain. Gentlemen, at this critical juncture, we must put our efforts into action."

The person kneeling on the ground got up with the help of Shen Er and Ai Si.

"Master, just tell us what you need us to do."

"Sir, just tell us what you need us to do. We eat food from the mountains and fields. If we don't do a good job on the mountains, wouldn't we be ruining our own livelihood?"

Chi Honghai didn't speak at first, but turned around and went into the carpenter's room.

Seeing Master Chi's behavior, everyone was unsure what he was up to. They could only hear the sounds he made as he picked through the pieces of wood inside the room.

What exactly does he mean by talking about transforming the mountain?

We've only ever heard of the Foolish Old Man Who Moved Mountains, but this kind of transformation? I've certainly never heard of it before.

Chi Honghai came out carrying the piece of wood that had been cut in two and placed it on a table outside the house.

He pointed to the inside of the wood and said to the carpenter.

"Dig out the whole thing here." After saying that, Chi Honghai thought for a moment and said, "No, we need to use bamboo. Shen Er, have someone cut bamboo on the mountain later, and pick the big ones."

"Yes, sir, don't worry, I'll take care of it right away!" Shen Er replied.

"The cut bamboo is split in half like this, and the inside is emptied out."

The carpenters were somewhat puzzled after listening to Chi Honghai's explanation.

"Sir, you know our skill level from when we were in Xin'an County. We can hit the hollow even without splitting the bamboo."

Chi Honghai shook his head.

"No, this is for transporting water; it has to be chopped up."

Shen Er listened from the side and remembered that the fish pond in the master's house used to have this thing, which was made of bamboo to supply fresh water to the fish in the pond.

"Master, isn't this the thing we used to use to deliver water to the fishpond? We didn't even split the bamboo tube back then!"

Chi Honghai stared at the wood on the table for a moment, then looked back down the mountain.

"What we're going to make isn't a small fish pond like the ones you have at home."