From Robinson Crusoe

Of course, as long as the Spaniards decided to land on the island, not to mention three guns, even three more guns would not necessarily decide the outcome of the battle.

In Chen Zhou's mind, the real heavy weapon is still TNT.

He decided to look for suitable locations to lay TNT on the two beaches in the northeast and southwest corners of the island in advance.

Ceramic pipes were buried under the sand, and fuses were laid in the pipes, leading to hidden trenches.

After the Spaniards landed on the island, no matter how large their numbers were, they only needed to take advantage of the range of Chen's rifles, fight and retreat at the same time, lure them to the location where TNT was laid, and detonate the TNT. Even if they could not completely wipe them out, their manpower and morale would be severely damaged.

Although black powder had been widely used in various weapons in the 17th century, the information Chen Zhou had was not equal to that known by the Spaniards.

This isolated island is an "information black hole" for the Spanish fleet.

Before landing on the island, they could not have imagined that such terrible explosives would be buried on the island, let alone be wary of explosives as a means of attack in advance.

Moreover, black powder easily becomes damp, and the fuse from the 17th century also had obvious defects, making it impossible to bury it in the sand at the seaside for a long time.

As the explosive with the best comprehensive performance in the 21st century, TNT does not have this concern.

TNT has stable physical and chemical properties, extremely low hygroscopicity, very low solubility in water, and almost no absorption of moisture in the air. Even if it comes into direct contact with water or is soaked in water, it can still maintain its explosive properties.

TNT, which is widely used in underwater blasting and special engineering projects, has advantages in all aspects that far exceed the cognition of people in the 17th century.

The tactic of burying explosives was probably an attack method that the Spaniards would never have dreamed of.

At the same time, TNT has one thing that black powder cannot match - explosive power.

When this devastating "firework" exploded on the beach, even if most of the Spaniards managed to escape and return to the ship, it would be difficult for them to reorganize their manpower for the attack.

People only have one life, and without any relatives or friends, who would be willing to challenge this mission that is like a "journey to hell"?
……

Although TNT is reliable, it can basically only be used for defense due to the limitations of its burial location.

When using it as a means of attack, apart from charging with explosive packs in a "suicide squad" style, the only thing Chen Zhou could think of was to use a machine like a trebuchet to project the ignited TNT.

This method of attack is unreliable no matter how you look at it, not to mention whether the thrown TNT can hit the ships parked on the sea.

If the TNT with a lit fuse failed to be thrown out successfully, or was thrown incorrectly and fell next to the trebuchet, all of them would be blown to the sky.

If you want a weapon with a long range and high safety, artillery is the best choice.

……

When transporting supplies, Chen Zhou actually also took a fancy to the six cannons on the ship.

Even if they can't be used for shooting, these heavy blocks can be used as metal materials.

But the artillery is too heavy.

Among the six guns, the lighter ones that use 2-pound shells weigh about 120 to 150 kilograms each.

The two naval guns that use four-pound shells probably weigh more than 240 to 280 kilograms.

At that time, he was under time pressure and was alone with limited strength. The artillery, which had a lower priority than other supplies, naturally became abandoned. Chen Zhou only moved some artillery shells ashore.

After the ship was destroyed, all six guns sank to the bottom of the sea along with the wreckage.

It has been nearly three years now.

Chen Zhou didn't know whether the tide would carry these cannons away from the coast, nor did he know whether these cannons could still be used after being eroded by sea water for a long time, or whether it was possible to repair them, but he wanted to give it a try.

There are many skilled divers among the indigenous tribes.

He planned to repair the two canoes he had hidden earlier, then row to the place where the boats disappeared and have the natives go into the water to see if they could find the cannon.

If the gun could be found, it was tied to a rope and an effort was made to bring it to shore, either by dragging or salvaging.

By then, building several stone turrets on the beach facing the sea will definitely be a greater deterrent to the Spaniards.

However, whether the salvage of the artillery can be successful remains unknown.

Right now, Chen Zhou feels that he should focus on practical things that can be accomplished.

Build more chevaux de frise and create more gullies and potholes between the beach and the coastal woodlands to hinder the speed of attack by those landing on the island.

Then build some fortifications in the woods, dig trenches, and build fortresses to improve the safety of your own soldiers.

There are also indispensable watchtowers and beacon towers.

These things that can be accomplished are obviously more reliable than the illusory artillery.

……

With clear thoughts, it didn't take too long to organize the information and think of countermeasures.

Before nightfall, Chen Zhou had finished dealing with all matters.

The natives who had worked for a whole day also welcomed the handover from the manager at this time and saw Saturday's friendly round face.

……

Tonight they still have no houses, and they still sleep on wooden boards, guarding a campfire that never goes out all night.

However, there was a slight difference from yesterday, as they had to cook their own meals tonight.

Although the teachings on Sunday were harsh, they did help these natives remember them.

Under Saturday's supervision, the natives used the wooden shovels that Chen Zhou had discarded to dig fire-prevention ditches around the land, and then sent the one who was most skilled in using the flint to bring dry firewood to start the fire.

Seven natives and the isolated Werner shared a large clay pot.

Next to the wooden board were four wooden barrels filled with water and a small wicker grain basket filled with a shallow layer of barley and some coarse salt.

The natives had to apply all the knowledge they had learned during the day, carry their own water, collect their own firewood, make their own fires and cook, cook barley porridge to fill their stomachs, and clean the dishes before they could rest.

The instruction they received was not nearly as detailed as that which they received on Saturday and Sunday.

But the natives do have the advantage in numbers after all.

On Saturdays, they are not prohibited from communicating, and if there are any steps forgotten during the cooking process, the natives can ask their companions.

Although this was my first attempt at cooking using a new method, the process was inevitably a bit bumpy.

After some effort, the natives finally succeeded in cooking the barley porridge. They even imitated Saturday and pinched a few grains of coarse salt from the grain basket and put them into the clay pot.

However, the "chef" in charge of cooking the porridge obviously did not know the role of salt in the cooking process.

He put too little in it, and it would be hard to taste the saltiness in this big clay pot of barley porridge.

But the natives don't care about this.

After a busy day and a day of fright, they didn't care whether the food was salty or bland, as long as it could fill their stomachs. What's more, the porridge tasted much better than the food they usually ate in the tribe.

……

Having never used cooking utensils, the natives made a joke after cooking -

The native who was responsible for carrying the pottery jar down actually forgot that he needed to use something to cushion the hot pottery jar and just grabbed it with his hands.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and pulled his hand back in time, otherwise serious burns are no joke. Even if his life is not in danger due to infection, he will need at least half a month to recuperate before he can recover his ability to work.

When the barley porridge cooled down a little, a small incident occurred when the natives were eating one by one with their clay bowls.

The natives shared the same suffering. They all came from the same tribe and were unfortunately captured captives. Even if they were reduced to hard labor, they could find time to talk and exchange ideas when they got together.

Werner, an outsider who always beat or scolded them, used to be able to act arrogantly by relying on the knife in his hand and his good relationship with the leader.

Now he was stripped naked, covered with wounds, and walked with a limp. He, a "superior man", was being ostracized.

When cooking, he had no part in collecting firewood or making a fire. When the barley porridge was cooked, Werner licked his face and took the bowl to get the rice, but was pushed away by the "zebra" who was guarding the pottery pot without saying a word.

At first, Werner thought that the natives had pushed him away unintentionally.

Everyone is tired after a day's work, so it's normal to forget to respect him.

Werner considered himself not a petty person, so he did not want to act like a superior and question or scold these ignorant natives.

When he leaned over to serve the rice for the second time, he was pushed away again.

Werner finally realized that in the eyes of these natives, he, a disheveled guy with his clothes off, was probably no different from a "wild monkey".

Werner was furious that the person who was usually firmly under his control dared to do such an extraordinary thing.

He wanted to strangle these lowly natives by the necks and loudly ask them how dare they do this to him!
But thinking about the Saturday he was supervising and the beating he received this morning, Werner finally gave up all his radical thoughts.

Crouching on the edge of the wooden board, Werner could only watch helplessly as the natives poured food out of the pottery jars again and again; watching the tall native who blocked his way take out a piece of black unknown food from the bowl and share it with other natives;
Seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of the natives who got the food, they murmured in admiration like monkeys;

Watching the bonfire being extinguished...

Finally, when the damn "wild monkeys" had eaten their fill, Werner was able to carefully walk to the clay pot with his empty bowl and pour out the thin barley soup to comfort his hungry stomach.

The natives had big appetites, and the thin soup left at the bottom of the wide clay pot was not even enough to fill Werner's small bowl.

Werner was holding the leftovers that he had obtained with great humiliation, and before he had even taken two sips, he saw Saturday coming towards him with a whip.

"The last person to eat, clean the jar. Clean it well. The water is over there."

After saying this, Saturday put the rag used to clean the kitchen utensils next to Werner, and without caring whether he could understand it or not, he turned around and walked straight towards the wooden house.

……

The coolies have their own food standards, and naturally they also have good meals on Saturdays and Sundays.

While supervising the natives on Saturday, Sunday had already gotten up and prepared meals in the "kitchen" at the other end of the field and brought them over.

Although they didn't do any heavy physical work that day.

But supervising the natives and demonstrating and teaching them is not easy, and ending a day's work with a delicious meal is the most appropriate.

……

After a day of adjustment, Chen Zhou successfully resumed his work and rest schedule.

Full of energy, he was finally able to let go and help Saturday and Sunday manage and educate the natives.

At the same time, they built fortifications and prepared a gallows for the brown-haired guy.

……

In the early morning of July 7, after listening to the report on Sunday, Chen Zhou went to see the brown-haired man.

This fellow, who was full of high spirits when they first met, was clearly divided into two teams with the natives. The whip marks on his body had not yet healed and were swollen into long ridges. There was a whip mark on his face right next to his eye, making it difficult for him to open that eye.

He still walked with a limp, and picked up a wooden stick from somewhere. He followed the team alone to cultivate new fields. He looked as pitiful as he could be.

……

"They say it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death. I think your life is too miserable. I'd better be kind and give you a quick death!"

We already knew what kind of people these Spaniards were from the stories told by the natives.

Chen Zhou did not feel any sympathy for the miserable condition of the brown-haired man.

Now, he just wanted to solve this trouble as soon as possible to avoid causing trouble if it was delayed for too long.

……

They hadn't seen Chen Zhou for nearly a day. When his tall figure appeared at the edge of the field, all the natives consciously stopped swinging their pickaxes and digging the land and looked up at him.

Two supervisors appeared at the same time and stood beside Chen Zhou.

Sunday still looks cold -

Yesterday Chen Zhou went to the wooden house and gave him a private lesson, telling him some knowledge about how to manage the indigenous people.

His attitude today was no longer as harsh as it was yesterday, but his serious expression had become a habit and it was difficult to change it in a short time.

As for Saturday, even if he wanted to act cruel and fierce, he couldn't do it because his round face ruined his temperament.

……

Let Sunday call all the natives out of the fields.

Chen Zhou spoke one sentence and Sunday translated it, assigning new tasks to the natives.

They need to go to the building materials storage area on the beach on Sunday. Some people use carts, and some carry the wood and bricks on their shoulders to move them to the designated location. On Saturday, the number of times each person goes back and forth, as well as the amount of materials they carry, will be counted there.

Of course, in this job, the person who uses the cart will definitely have the advantage.

Therefore, Chen Zhou would let the natives who worked diligently and behaved well in the past two days use the carts on Sundays to set an example for other natives.

So that they understand that here, obedience is the best way to gain profit.

As compensation for the heavier physical work, the natives can have a full meal at noon and in the evening as long as they complete the assigned work.

The person who does the most work can get an extra piece of chocolate as a reward.

Yesterday, "Zebra" generously shared the piece of chocolate that Chen Zhou gave him to other people. The natives already knew that "chocolate" was an exceptionally sweet and fragrant food, which could make people full of strength after eating it.

……

The natives, who had received the promise, became excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood when they thought about filling their stomachs soon.

Led by Sunday, the seven naked natives ran down the mountain like hyenas out of a cage, leaving only Werner.

Even though Werner had been getting along with the natives for the past two days, he felt more and more disgusted and even hated them for ostracizing him.

When the moment came when they were really alone, he felt fear instead.

Standing at the edge of the field, facing Saturday, who was holding a whip and a rope around his waist, and the tall and strong Chen Zhou, who had an inexplicable smile on his face, Werner suddenly felt a strong sense of uneasiness in his heart, as if he had foreseen the shadow of death.

"God will not forgive you, you heretics!

You guys deserve to go to hell!"

With a curse, Werner could only fight for the last chance. He turned his head sharply, supported his body with a wooden stick, and ran hard towards the forest not far away.

However, all his efforts were in vain. Saturday, who was well prepared, caught up with him in a blink of an eye, tied his hands and feet, and dragged him back to Chen Zhou.

……

"Why bother?"

Chen Zhou still had a smile on his face. Werner's escape and resistance did not cause him any emotional fluctuations.

Crouching beside the brown-haired man, he unfolded the drawing board that had been placed beside him. A piece of A4 paper was fixed on the board, and a building that Werner felt was clearly outlined on the paper.

Gallows.

This architectural structure, which symbolizes punishment and legal authority, is very simple.

Two thick pillars were buried deep underground, with a horizontal beam above the pillars. In the center of the beam, a hemp rope noose with a slipknot was hung.

There is a wooden platform under the pillars, connected to the ground by stone steps on both sides.

With Chen Zhou's sketching skills, drawing the gallows was a piece of cake. He even drew the texture of the hemp rope hanging on the beam vividly.

So when Werner saw what was drawn on the paper, he immediately knew what his fate would be.

At this moment, all the previous compromises, pretense, illusory hopes, and even other pursuits in life were solidified on the noose.

Having lost hope of survival, Werner finally tore off all his disguises.

He cursed loudly with a ferocious face, wishing he could spray his saliva on Chen Zhou's face.

Using all the vicious words he had mastered in his life, he cursed and struggled, trying to break free from the ropes that bound his hands and feet.

But to no avail.

Chen Zhou ignored the angry brown-haired man as if he was treating a stubborn insect. He just put away the drawing board and stood up slowly.

Then he spoke to Saturday in a calm tone.

"Give him a few lashes to calm him down."

……

From the field where the natives had long gone, there were suddenly several crisp whip cracks and Werner's inhuman screams.

Soon, the screaming gradually subsided, leaving only a faint sob.

……

Tears, snot and blood flowed down Werner's face. This sailor who boasted of having sailed the seas for many years and seen a lot of things could not figure out what was going on even when he was about to die.

Why did his life become like this in the blink of an eye? (End of this chapter)