Chapter 1537: Matters of Waterproofing

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and the snakes, insects, rats, and ants on the Wasteland are increasing, as is the rain. The Soldiers often have to continue marching in the rain; they cannot stop just because it is raining, unless the rain is truly too heavy to continue.

The main issue is that on such plains, water accumulates very easily. Once you set up camp, you cannot find a dry place, and you cannot start a fire. Even finding a spot with slightly higher elevation is a difficulty.

At times like these, Xuanyuan also ponders: if he were to build a city in such a place in the future, how should the city be designed, and how should the houses be constructed? Otherwise, it would be very easy for the houses to be soaked in water.

Furthermore, the old earth-and-wood structures probably cannot be used. In high-elevation areas, earth walls are fine, and after a few years of wind and rain, there is no major problem. But in places like this, it is easy for the foundations to rot, and the walls to rot as well. A house cannot last very long; houses with brick and stone as the main body are essential.

Then there is the matter of drainage; drainage must be done well. Huaxia has already taught them how to drain water. In Qingqiu City, they have also accumulated some experience. Therefore, as long as they raise the foundation when building houses here and plan the entire city's water conservancy system in advance, they will not face the problem of being flooded.

Also, inside the city, it would be best if the ground could be paved with stone. That way, one would not have to worry about the entire city becoming a muddy mess after it rains. It is a pity that there is no Cement manufacturing technology from Huaxia; if there were, he would also build a city like stone.

This is the problem Xuanyuan is thinking about while drenched in the rain. Baifeng naturally will not let himself get drenched. He naturally did not bring something like an umbrella, but he did bring a straw raincoat. By putting on the straw raincoat, he can keep most of his body dry.

However, the straw raincoat is very heavy and takes up a lot of space; it is impossible to bring one for everyone when setting out on a campaign. Therefore, only Baifeng has one. Apart from Baifeng, everyone else is getting drenched in the rain.

The Bomb and some key Weapon components are the most precious; they are carried by two Laborers from the Xuanyuan Tribe, either held in their hands or carried on a pole.

Besides the outermost layer of animal hide, underneath is a layer of thatch, under the thatch is thin animal hide, and under the hide is oil paper, which can ensure that nothing gets soaked by the rain.

Xuanyuan is actually worried too, because he already knows that the weakness of the Bomb is water. If it gets soaked by water, the Bomb cannot be used, which would be a huge loss for this war.

Food is equally precious, but it can only be covered with thick thatch, using thatch to make something like a straw hat to block the rain. Huaxia does not have the strength to cover such a massive amount of food with oil paper and animal hide.

Xuanyuan worries about Huaxia's Bomb: "Baifeng, are you sure your Weapon really won't get wet from the rain?"

"Rest assured, it won't. We in Huaxia have our own technology to ensure it won't be soaked through by rainwater."

Last year, when he did not know that the Bomb was afraid of water, Xuanyuan would not have worried about these things. But after knowing it, Xuanyuan started to fret. Baifeng is so confident, and coupled with the fact that there were no losses due to rain last year, it should be fine.

"Then this method you mentioned is also a secret, right? You definitely won't tell me, will you?"

Baifeng acts contrary to his usual self: "Why wouldn't I tell you? Of course I can tell you, but even if I tell you, it will only make you feel troubled. Because even if you know it, you can't make it, or rather, you wouldn't be willing to make it. Let's just forget it."

Xuanyuan is indifferent: "Since you can tell me, why not tell me? Perhaps I might be willing to do it. Just consider it me learning from you."

Baifeng half-truthfully and half-deceptively fools Xuanyuan: "Actually, it's simple. You've discovered it too, right? When you use cold water to wash your hands after eating meat, is there no way to wash the grease off your hands?"

Then you just need to use oil to soak a very tightly woven cloth or Silk thoroughly, and that can provide a certain waterproof effect. However, what we use in Huaxia is a very thick, high-quality paper that can be waterproofed after being soaked.

But Xuanyuan, I suggest you don't try it, because we only tested it with paper. I don't know if Silk will work. If it doesn't, it won't just be a waste of Silk, but also a waste of oil. This stuff is very precious to us in Huaxia; we can only use a little bit on the Bomb, and we can't bear to use it anywhere else. If you don't succeed, you might even come to blame me, right?"

《Disclaimer》

Baifeng both misled Xuanyuan, causing his thinking to deviate, and told him that the effect might not be good, so if it didn't succeed, he shouldn't blame him.

Baifeng was not entirely wrong; he uses Tung Oil, not animal oil, and certainly not Soybean Oil. Xuanyuan does not have Soybean Oil and knows even less about Tung Oil. If he wants to try, he will definitely use animal oil.

When he discovers the effect is not good, he will naturally think it is a problem with the base material, thinking the problem lies in Huaxia's paper, and will turn to researching how to make paper instead of researching what kind of oil to use. Half-truthful guidance is the easiest way to lead others' development in the wrong direction.

It is estimated that the Xuanyuan Tribe will not know how to make paper for decades. The paper Huaxia exports to the Xuanyuan Tribe is the best paper, the kind where you cannot see a trace of plant fiber. No matter how Xuanyuan thinks, he will not guess it is made of trees. Although the texture is a bit like Silk, it cannot be woven.

The paper Baifeng uses to wipe his bottom is the worst and coarsest bamboo paper, made from bamboo fiber. It is very thick and definitely cannot be used for writing, but it is fine for wiping one's bottom. It is much better than using bamboo strips, wooden sticks, or clods of dirt, and it can wipe clean.

Furthermore, when selling some items, the wrapping paper is also this kind of worst paper, which is more cost-effective than using cloth.

Huaxia's papermaking industry is very developed and large in scale, but the number of people in all of Huaxia who actually use paper is not high. After all, the proportion of people who are literate is not high. Even some who can read and write do not use paper after engaging in work that does not require writing.

However, if the scale of papermaking decreases and personnel are reduced, it may cause industrial regression and also reduce some job positions. Therefore, the paper produced by Huaxia's paper mills is still mainly this kind of worst paper.

Moreover, selling it at a low price can not only support some Workers but also generate profit, and it allows the food in the hands of ordinary people to circulate. It is a very cost-effective matter. It is just that those below the middle-income class still cannot bear to use paper to wipe their bottoms; they basically choose to use bamboo strips to scrape or clods of dirt to wipe. Most of them also entered Huaxia later, and in many things, their thinking and habits have not kept up with Huaxia; they are somewhat backward.