Chapter 44

The plan to suppress Black Wind Stronghold had been set, but the arrow was on the bow and yet was not released immediately.

Chen Wen deeply understood the saying "sharpening the knife does not hinder the woodcutter's work"; before launching a deadly strike, he had to secure the rear.

And at present, the most urgent internal problem of Jiao Tu Zhen, besides food, is water.

Summer rains are not always reliable; relying solely on the small stream beside the town, irrigating the newly reclaimed fields is barely manageable.

To support the ever-growing population and possible future handicraft development would be like trying to extinguish a burning cart with a cup of water.

Building a reservoir or pond capable of storing and regulating water, and digging diversion channels, has become a top-priority matter vital to survival and development.

Thus, amid the tense atmosphere of war preparations, another massive project of Jiao Tu Zhen

—water conservancy construction, also kicked off in full swing.

This time, Chen Wen focused his 8-times ability on technical breakthroughs and organizational coordination.

The site had been surveyed earlier—a relatively low-lying valley upstream of the town, flanked by mountain ridges on both sides.

The ideal was splendid, but reality gave everyone a rude awakening.

In the early stages, relying on sheer numbers and enthusiasm, clearing vegetation and marking the dam foundation proceeded smoothly.

But when it came to the most critical core task—building the rammed-earth dam—problems piled up one after another.

First, the efficiency of ramming earth was low.

Traditional wooden pestle ramming relies entirely on manual pounding, making progress slow.

Moreover, the rammed earth layers had uneven density; such a dam could not withstand rainwater soaking and erosion.

"Boss, this won't do!"

The person in charge of this section was Old Lazy Zhao.

That is, the old hunter from Xiaohe Village, promoted to squad leader for his steady work.

At that moment, he was wiping sweat.

He said to Chen Wen, who had come to inspect, with a worried, grim face.

"Our hands are numb from shaking; we can't ram much higher in a day, and with the rainy season approaching, this dam..."

Chen Wen looked at the slowly progressing embankment, his brow slightly furrowed.

He squatted down, grabbed a handful of rammed earth, and kneaded it in his hand.

The 8-times sensation let him immediately notice the problem with the soil quality and density.

"The tools and methods must be changed."

Chen Wen stood up, his gaze turning toward the workshop.

"Shi Dun!"

The blacksmith Shi Dun trotted over, his body also covered in mud.

The water conservancy project required a large amount of iron tools, and his workshop was practically running nonstop.

"Shi Dun, we need heavier tampers."

"Using a whole huge stone, chiseling a hole in the middle, inserting a thick wooden bar, to make a stone tamper that requires four or even eight people to lift!"

"Only with increased weight will the tamping effect be effective!"

Chen Wen spoke quickly, and a schematic of a simple lever stone tamper already appeared in his mind.

Shi Dun's eyes lit up:

"Exactly! How did I not think of that! It's you, boss, who has the idea! I'll go pick stones right away!"

【Insight into the engineering bottleneck, proposing an effective tool improvement plan, engineering application ability increased (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP)+100!】

【Current WP: 6541】

The tool problem was initially solved, but another difficulty surfaced: seepage.

After a trial water storage, the initially piled dam base showed obvious seepage.

This meant that the density of the rammed earth and the treatment of the dam base were still inadequate.

"Water can't be held; building this dam is pointless!"

Some of the refugees participating in the project began to lose morale, chatting incessantly.

Chen Wen blamed no one, and once again immersed himself in the 8-times analytical state.

He carefully inspected the seepage points, observed the soil composition, and even personally went down into the muddy foundation pit.

He touched and stepped on every inch of soil layer with his hands and feet.

"It's not just a compaction problem."

Chen Wen drew a conclusion.

"The soil here is sandy, lacking in cohesion."

"We need to mix in clay, and also add a layer of 'impermeable core wall' in the center of the dam."

"Use finer, more cohesive soil and tamp it layer by layer."

This requirement undoubtedly greatly increased the workload and difficulty.

Where can we find a large amount of clay?

How can we ensure the quality of the core wall construction?

"Boss, I know a place!"

A boy from Xiaohe Village, originally, timidly raised his hand.

"There's a depression west of our village; the soil there is red and sticky—my mother used it to patch the stove and it never leaked!"

"Good! Immediately organize people to fetch clay!"

Chen Wen gave the order immediately, then turned to the crowd.

"As for tamping the core wall, I'll demonstrate it!"

Having said that!

Chen Wen took off his upper garment, revealing his sturdy torso.

He jumped straight into the foundation trench that needed the heart wall tamped.

He did not use the heavy stone tamper, but instead exerted his full strength, alternating his feet.

With a unique rhythm and tremendous force, he stamped heavily on the soil.

With eight times the strength and control, each of his steps was like a small tamper, and the soil became dense and level at a visible speed.

"Do you see clearly? It's not about blindly stomping with brute force; you need to pay attention to rhythm and coverage!"

"Each time you tamp a layer solid, lay a new layer of soil, then tamp it solid!"

Chen Wen demonstrated while loudly explaining.

Sweat flowed down his spine, glistening in the sunlight.

Seeing the leader lead from the front, the originally somewhat disheartened artisans and refugees were greatly encouraged.

"The boss himself jumped in—what more is there to say! Let's go!"

Zhao Lao Nian let out a loud shout, leading the people to jump down as well, imitating Chen Wen's manner to tamp vigorously.

On the worksite, the work chants shook the heavens, and the atmosphere was bustling with fervor.

【Leading from the front, solving the key technical difficulty, greatly boosting morale, leadership and engineering practical ability increased (x Bonus)! Diligence Points (WP) +160!】

【Current WP: 6701】

Having solved the core difficulties of tamping earth and preventing seepage, the subsequent excavation of the irrigation canal proceeded relatively smoothly.

Chen Wen used eight times spatial imagination and measurement ability to plan the optimal water diversion route, making use of natural slopes as much as possible to reduce the workload.

The entire water conservancy project became the best manifestation of Jiao Tu Zhen's cohesion.

The newly arrived villagers of Xiao He Cun and the old townsfolk worked side by side; the militia came to help during training breaks, while women and children were responsible for carrying water and food.

The worksite turned into a great forge, tightly melding everyone's hearts together.

Ten-odd days later!

When the final section of the canal was connected, clear stream water gurgled along the newly built channel into the just-completed, sparkling little reservoir, and the whole of Jiao Tu Zhen boiled over!

People gathered around the reservoir and canal, cheering and jumping for joy; the children excitedly flicked water with their hands.

Old Lady Wang gazed at this man-made lake, her eyes filled with hope:

"With it, our crops won't fear drought; maybe we could even raise fish later……"

Zhang Cheng, meanwhile, paid more attention to its strategic value:

"This reservoir, situated on high ground, is also a natural defensive barrier."

Chen Wen stood on the dam's crest, gazing at the rippling blue waves below, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

This was not merely a water conservancy project; it was also a symbol of Jiao Tu Zhen's tenacious vitality.

It proves that, as long as we unite as one, adding just a bit of 'unconventional' effort, there is no difficulty we cannot overcome.

The victorious completion of the water conservancy project was like injecting a shot of strong medicine into Jiao Tu Zhen.

Logistical support became more secure, and people's hearts grew more united.

Chen Wen's gaze once again turned westward.

With rear worries resolved, it's time to bare our sharp fangs and eradicate the malignant tumor lurking in the mountains.

The final war council to exterminate Black Wind Stronghold was quietly convened that very night in the council's wooden hut, following the success of the water project.

The clouds of war, accompanied by the fresh vapor from the reservoir, slowly spread.