From Robinson Crusoe

The design and construction of the temple was an exceptionally difficult task, especially for zebras.

This was the first time he had planned the construction of a building from scratch as a "designer" rather than a worker.

The fact that the leader made no demands was precisely what made things most difficult for him.

There are no clear design specifications, no standards for building functions, and not even a specific description of the building's size.

Zebra knew that although the leader hadn't said anything, he had actually said everything.

He only has one chance, a chance to move from the middle to the top. Whether he can seize it depends on whether he can satisfy the leader this time.

……

The Steelbone was completed in early 1666. Soon after this behemoth with a steel frame and a steel heart was set to sea, Zebra, along with his handpicked skilled craftsmen, plunged into the mountains.

To gain inspiration, he specially built a temporary hut next to the temple, carefully studying the mortise and tenon structure designed by Chen Zhou, which was neither Chinese nor Western. He then meticulously replicated every detail of the building, trying to understand how this seemingly complex and uniquely beautiful shape was designed.

At the same time, the sailors of the Steelbone, after a long period of theoretical study and physical training, finally boarded the giant ship of their dreams and began their practical training.

……

As a "pseudo-sail-powered ship" with a mast on its roof, the Steelbone looked out of place among all ships of its time.

Aside from its streamlined hull and half-wood, half-metal shell, the most striking feature is its tattered sails.

The mysterious reward had failed to deliver a large quantity of fabric to Chen Zhou, leaving most of the islanders without decent clothes.

The Steelbone was also affected, and the sails were still made from the old canvas that Chen Zhou had originally taken from the wrecked ship.

Most of these canvases were used as raincoats on the outside, exposed to wind and sun. It was quite difficult for them to maintain their shape. Their colors were either gray or black. Even in the 17th century, they would probably be the kind of goods used by old and dilapidated fishing boats.

Even so, it took Chen Zhou a lot of effort to gather enough fabric for all the sails.

The sail on the mainmast was too huge, and they couldn't find a canvas big enough for the time being. He even had a skilled seamstress piece together a piece of tanned fur.

When the Steelbone started its steam engine and sounded its whistle on the sea, the dull mechanical noise should have made this monster, which did not belong to the 17th century, appear majestic and terrifying.

But if it were to simultaneously raise its patchwork sails, resembling the sails of the Eight-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect, the suffocating sense of oppression would completely disappear, replaced by a unique kind of comicality that both instilled fear and amusement.

……

Chen Zhou knew that the animal skin sails were rather shabby, but the sailors on board didn't seem to care.

Having only ever ridden in that small sailboat before, how could they possibly be dissatisfied with such an advanced warship?

Knowing that this large ship would be their most reliable and loyal companion on the vast ocean, every sailor cherished the Steelbone.

Islanders at the port often see these young men squatting on the deck, diligently wiping things down.

And the steel-bone ship's extremely penetrating whistle gradually became a familiar sound.

As the fuel reserves were gradually depleted, the sailors on the Steelbone gradually etched the theoretical knowledge from the textbooks into their minds and integrated it into their muscles through practice.

This giant ship is heading to farther places every day.

As it sails into the depths of the sea, bathed in the glow of sunrise, every islander who witnesses it will exclaim with heartfelt pride—

That's our ship.

……

In order to prepare for the next large influx of new people, Chen Zhou began making preparations as early as 1665.

Fields were reclaimed piece by piece, and grain was stored in batches...

The construction of temporary housing for the new population, the training of talented teachers, the selection of patient child caregivers, the compilation of new teaching materials, and the establishment of new regulations are all progressing smoothly.

After the Steel Bones was launched, the shipyard freed up a large number of workers who were originally supposed to devote themselves to other work, such as farming, but Chen Shou stopped them midway.

These people were all experienced shipbuilding workers. Chen Zhou didn't want their skills to become rusty after being put aside, so he specially compiled a batch of shipbuilding-related teaching materials for them.

If the sailors went from theory to practice, these workers went from practice to theory.

When they were working, they only knew how to assemble things quickly and sturdily, but they didn't know the specific principles and had only a superficial understanding of the ship's structure.

Now that they have more free time and have taken classes, they have gone from knowing what to do to knowing why.

The solidified knowledge was deeply ingrained in the minds of these workers, and it would come in handy when construction began on the island's second steam-powered ship.

And this won't take long.

……

In mid-March 1666, on a drizzly day, the Steelbone grew its own sharp teeth.

It took Chen Zhou nearly half a year to successfully fulfill his requirements and manufacture three types of cannons for the Steelbone.

On both sides of the bow deck of the Steelbone-class destroyer were its main weapons, the Chen-class 1666 long-barreled heavy cannons.

The Steelbone had three long-barreled heavy guns, all of which were fixed to the deck and could not be moved.

Just as Chen Zhou had planned, the long-barreled heavy cannon used solid shells weighing over 24 pounds, with an effective range of up to 1000 meters. Moreover, its accuracy far surpassed that of other naval cannons of the 17th century.

Don't be fooled by the fact that there are only three of them; every inch longer is an inch stronger. If they were to encounter each other at sea, these guys with their extra-long cannons would surely teach the enemy an unforgettable lesson.

Below deck, 12 short-barreled cannons were lined up on both sides of the cabin.

When the distance between the two ships is reduced to a certain extent, the Steelbone will open its reserved firing port, revealing its dark gun barrel, and unleash a barrage of shells at the enemy ship.

While short-barreled cannons could not match the range and accuracy of long-barreled heavy cannons, they were superior in number and speed of reloading. Their range and accuracy were also far ahead of other cannons of the same period. When six short-barreled cannons fired at the same time, they could completely suppress any armed merchant ship with firepower.

As for mortars, which were early howitzers, they were used as multi-purpose artillery.

There were four mortars on board, which were equipped with wheels at the bottom and could be towed flexibly between the deck and the cabin.

The mortar has a longer range than the short-barreled gun but a shorter range than the long-barreled gun, which can make up for the Steelbone's lack of medium-range firepower.

It could use solid shot, chain shot, or explosive and incendiary shells as needed, with incendiary and explosive shells being the most lethal. These two types of fire-causing shells first appeared in 17th-century naval warfare, and against solid wooden sailing ships, they were nothing short of messengers from hell.

Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of TNT used to manufacture explosive and incendiary shells, the difficulty in manufacturing shell casings, and the need to ensure the safety of the fuse, the production of these two types of shells was not very large.

Sailors were not allowed to use either of these two types of shells during training; they could only practice accuracy and feel using relatively inexpensive solid shot.

Explosive and incendiary shells deal area damage. In actual combat, there is no need to precisely hit a specific part of the enemy ship; simply getting the shells to land on the enemy hull will achieve the desired effect.

Of course, the parameters of a projectile using a fuse will inevitably differ from those of a solid shot.

If it weren't for his "poor family background" and inability to produce many special shells, Chen Zhou would never have been so stingy as to deny the sailors opportunities to practice.

……

The weather was gloomy on the day the artillery was installed.

Brand-new cannons covered with plastic sheeting and shells in wooden crates were transported in batches to their new homes via ramps.

On deck, some sailors were struggling to drag and move heavy cannons, but the gangplank was not wide enough for most to help. They could only stand upright on the ship's side, watching the weapons being installed with a mixture of excitement and tension.

For such an important matter, even Chen Zhou, the leader who is rarely seen, made a rare personal appearance.

Although the sailors had seen the leader many times during their physical training and professional courses, they had not seen Chen Zhou for a long time since they boarded the ship.

Unsure whether their leader was satisfied with their recent training performance, the workers buried themselves in their work, putting in their utmost effort.

Standing on the ship's side, everyone stood tall and strained to keep their eyes open. Even though it was dark and their bodies were soaked by the rain, nothing could dampen their spirits.

……

The artillery was transported and installed starting in the early morning, and it wasn't until the afternoon that all of it was delivered to the Steelbone and placed in its designated positions.

As the captain of the warship, Sunday warmly received Chen Zhou and showed him around the sailors' living quarters, explaining how the sailors lived on board.

Unlike the ship Robinson Crusoe was on, the HMS Steelbone, as a warship primarily designed for combat, was designed from the outset to provide the sailors with the best possible living conditions.

The sailors lived in small dormitories with four people sharing a room. The dormitories contained bunk beds fixed to the ground, as well as lockers for storing personal clothes and small desks.

The Steelbone ship used a large amount of metal materials inside its hull for fire protection, so the control of oil lamps on board was not as strict as on other ships of the same era.

When the crew returned to their cabins to rest at night, they could light an oil lamp, play a game of chess, or chat, spending their own little moments in the dim light.

In addition to oil lamps, the Steelbone also has two photovoltaic panels and one energy storage battery.

With the pre-installed wiring, this energy storage battery can turn on the LED lights in an emergency, providing exceptionally bright light to the cabins of the Steelbone.

Even on dark nights when storms rage, the powerful electric lights ensure that sailors can clearly see every detail inside the cabin, giving them a unique sense of security.

The convenience that the Steelbone design brings to the crew is not only reflected in the lounge.

When traveling at sea, food is an important aspect that cannot be ignored.

The Steel Bone has a separate dining room with fixed long tables and benches, and metal cabinets for storing tableware.

The filtered fresh water in the water storage room is piped to the boiler, where some is heated and some is circulated to the kitchen and dining room. After meals, the crew can use the hot water to wash and disinfect their tableware.

Of course, if they want hot water, they can get it from the restaurant's tap or the kitchen.

Fresh water heated to boiling in a boiler cannot breed mold, ensuring that crew members can drink safe and harmless water throughout their long lives at sea, thus maintaining their health.

Chen Zhou does not object to drinking, but he does not approve of sailing while intoxicated.

17th-century wooden ships could not boil water on board at any time, and Europeans at that time did not understand the importance of drinking boiled water. As a result, sailors on board often suffered from various diseases, ranging from mild physical discomfort to life-threatening conditions.

Ordinary fresh water will mold and grow algae in a short time on a ship, and even if silver ingots are placed in the water buckets for disinfection, it will not have much effect.

Out of desperation, people who made a living at sea resorted to drinking rum, which was less likely to spoil, to quench their thirst.

Alcohol is addictive, and long-term consumption of alcohol will inevitably lead to various alcoholics. On a warship that values ​​discipline, drunken sailors are obviously harmful and not beneficial.

In this respect, steamships have a clear advantage.

The quality of life for the seafarers on board was significantly higher than that of sailors of the same period, not only in terms of drinking water but also in terms of food.

The spacious, bright, and clean kitchen, along with a dedicated cook, can provide the crew with hot meals, including staples such as rice, wheat flour, and barley, as well as cured meat and some durable vegetable products.

For example, dried chili peppers, dried tomatoes, and potatoes.

Modern people know that a lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy.

People who made their living at sea in the 17th century had only a vague understanding of scurvy, so they often carried candied fruit or citrus fruits to alleviate or prevent scurvy.

However, that only applied to the wealthy. Most lower-class sailors couldn't afford fresh fruit. After contracting scurvy, they could only pray that "God" would have pity on them and save them from falling into hell.

However, most of these prayers are in vain.

After contracting scurvy, sailors would initially experience fatigue and weakness, loss of appetite, followed by joint pain, bruising, swollen gums, bulging eyes, and slow-healing wounds. Eventually, even a small wound could take their lives.

Compared to those who bear a tragic fate, the sailors on the Steelbone were clearly fortunate.

The ship's food storage room not only contains rice and flour, bags of dried vegetables and fruits, and seasonings such as scallions, ginger, and garlic, but also has a separate refrigerated room.

The cold storage compartment uses saltpeter for refrigeration and contains some fresh peppers, potatoes, citrus fruits, lemons, and even two boxes of autumn white apricots.

That was a new product of the island in early 1666.

The apricot kernels that Chen Zhou planted a few years ago finally bore their first fruit this year.

With abundant food to replenish various nutrients, the crew of the Steelbone don't need to worry about health issues, whether they are just operating near the island or engaging in ocean trade.

It can be said that, apart from the slightly bumpy life at sea, the sailors are treated better than most islanders.

At least they could wear clothes made of cloth and shoes made of leather, and they didn't have to endure the strange looks from the veterans when they came ashore. The new islanders envied their work and hoped that they could also become "the chosen ones".

Many female workers even developed a stronger liking for these dashing young men and wanted to start families with them. (End of Chapter)