Fifty people.

Braving the cold wind and walking on the ice, we crossed the Dongliang River.

When we arrived in Jiangdong, Midwinter was already waiting on the shore.

Lin Zhensheng issued straw ropes and nooses to the citizens, and told them to walk around the area first to see if there were any traces of cattle or horses, not to act rashly, and to gather at the foot of the mountain in three hours.

I followed Shengdongdong to Zhongshan Iron Mine.

The mountain ladder is good, it is easy to go up and down, and the two of them reached their destination quickly.

"Brother, where are you going to settle?"

When Sheng Dongdong said this, he pointed to the side of the iron mine entrance and said, "Why don't you put the furnace here? I think it's just right."

Lin Zhensheng glanced at what he was pointing at and saw that the location was indeed just right.

After the iron ore is transported out, it can be smelted directly on the spot, which is extremely convenient, but...the earthen furnace needs to be ignited, and smoke will be produced during the smelting of the iron ore.

You just put it out there so blatantly, aren't you just waiting for others to find out?

Think about how Sheng Dongdong was discovered by Lin Zhensheng.

Isn’t it just because there was a fire at Dongdong’s house in mid-winter and black smoke was discovered by citizens that his workbench was demolished?

Therefore, the earth furnace cannot be built on the open surface, at least not here.

But where could it be if not here?

Lin Zhensheng couldn't figure it out, so he asked Xiang Shengdongdong: "If it doesn't work here, is there a secret place?"

"A secret place?"

Shengdongdong pointed to the mine and said, "That's the most secretive place."

"This will definitely not work."

Lin Zhensheng shook his head.

If an earthen furnace is built into a mine, there will be fire and smoke, and the citizens working inside will not have to think about surviving.

But this is a good idea.

If the open air doesn't work, then build a house to cover the earthen furnace and specifically use it for smelting iron ore, just like a water house.

It just so happens that the outpost that Lin Zhensheng demolished before is not in use yet.

However, there is no space in the Zhongshan sub-territory, and the woods are all occupied.

If you want to build it, you can only build it in the open space in front of the iron mine.

"Brother, just put it here."

Shengdong Dong gestured, pointed to the edge of the woods, and said: "We have our back to the mountain and the building, the door faces north, facing the mine."

"I sealed all the windows and cut out a few exhaust vents on the north wall so that no light would pass through when the furnace was turned on."

"As for cigarettes, won't there be no cigarettes if we practice at night?"

Lin Zhensheng raised his eyebrows when he heard this.

You really have an idea.

Smart.

Yes, it’s pitch dark, who can see the smoke?

Absolutely awesome.

You just have to arrange for people to work night shifts.

But Lin Zhensheng doesn’t need to worry about this, Shengdong Dong will arrange everything.

Build!

The previous outpost turned into a green frame, moved with Lin Zhensheng's fingers, arrived at the designated location, and was installed directly.

Sanlian citizens’ mud and thatched houses were built in full view of the public.

There is no need for mud walls or fireplaces here. When the furnace is lit, it will be hotter than anywhere else.

An earthen furnace is installed inside. A rectangular green shadow of a blast furnace appears in front of you. Click to build.

One and a half meters by two meters, two meters high, overall earthy brown, with a fire pit below and a smelting pit above.

The structure is simple, the operation is bright, and you can start working without training.

The only thing that needs attention is fire prevention.

"Brother, I'll take care of the rest."

Sheng Dongdong casually opened the window twice and continued: "I have a carpenter here, and sealing the windows is simply a small job for him."

"Winter and winter, you must pay attention to fire prevention."

Lin Zhensheng pointed to the tree trunk behind the mud house and said: "If it catches fire, it will be like burning the mountain."

"I know. Let's go back and ask the carpenter to hang a few buckets of water from the beams and set up a small trigger mechanism or something. When he saw something was wrong with the fire, he just pulled it down to put out the fire."

"Okay! Don't worry about the iron, just melt it slowly."

Lin Zhensheng nodded. After the matter at Zhongshan Iron Mine was settled, he had to rush to catch the cattle and horses. Time was very tight, so he said, "I still have something to do, so I'll leave first."

"Ah? Why are you in a hurry? Let's chat for a while. Everything will be fine."

"I brought people here, why is everything okay?"

"Oh, yes!"

Only then did Sheng Dongdong react: "Brother Lin, why did you bring so many people here?"

Lin Zhensheng rolled his eyes at him angrily and told him Jiangdong's winter hunting plan.

When Sheng Dongdong heard this, he shouted "Wow" and said bluntly: "Brother, please take me with you, I'm too bored in the mountains."

"Ah? Don't you have to watch them mine?"

"If they have anything to look at, dig it out yourself."

"Okay. Let's go."

"Wait a moment."

When Sheng Dongdong heard this, he immediately ran to the mine and took a citizen back to the furnace earth house in less than two minutes.

He was the carpenter mentioned by Sheng Dongdong. After handing over the work, the two went down the mountain.

Citizens were groping for cattle and horses in the nearby woods. Only a small number of citizens stayed at the foot of the mountain, waiting for Lin Zhensheng to return.

"Lord."

"Lord."

When citizens saw Lin Zhensheng and the others coming down, they immediately said hello.

Lin Zhensheng asked bluntly: "Have you found the cows and horses?"

The citizens shook their heads one after another, saying that no news of the discovery of cattle and horses had come back.

Alas?

This is impossible.

The last time he saw a large number of cattle and horses, there was no way that there were no traces left behind.

"Brother Lin, do you think there is a possibility that the previous blizzard and severe cold destroyed the footprints?"

"I don't rule out this possibility, but it's not like I can't find any footprints."

As time passed little by little, more and more citizens came back from all directions, but there was still no news of cattle or horses.

Something's wrong!

These cows and horses won’t freeze to death!

The temperature dropped so quickly and drastically in the past period that it is not impossible.

Lin Zhensheng's eyelids twitched. He felt that this trip might be in vain and he might return in vain.

As the sun gradually reached its highest point, Lin Zhensheng checked the number of people and unexpectedly found that only forty people came back and ten people were hanging out outside.

Who hasn’t come back?

Lin Zhensheng took a quick glance and could see everything at a glance.

It's a doctor.

Originally, there was no doctor in the Jiangdong winter hunting plan, but he strongly expressed his intention to come, and the reasons were very good.

Find medicine.

On the west side of the Dongliangjiang River, that is, at the base camp, resources are not very abundant, especially the resources that can be used for medical treatment.

Take coli fruit, for example, it is an important material for making typhoid and cough syrup.
To be continued...