Chapter 17

Time quickly moved to mid-September. It was already the end of winter and the beginning of spring, but the temperature in Uruguay still hovered around zero degrees. This winter had seen several heavy snowfalls, but the harsh weather could not dampen the fiery determination of the穿越者们.

The banks of the Big Fish River were bustling throughout the winter, with the construction of residential areas, factories, public facilities, office and storage facilities, and docks. The穿越者们 worked diligently like industrious ants, building their new home bit by bit.

On both sides of the Xiaoxi Reservoir, large tracts of farmland had been cultivated, reaching nearly several thousand acres. Although it was winter and most things were withered, there were still 70 acres of wheat fields and 30 acres of vegetable fields. The thin layer of snow could not conceal the hope in people's hearts. The vast, leveled fields promised a year of hope and bountiful harvests.

The scale of the livestock bureau had also grown significantly. The cows and mares brought by Captain Kuait had all become pregnant, and Jin Kela now took meticulous care of these animals, visiting them several times a day to ensure nothing went wrong.

His middle school apprentice, Zheng Bin, had also become quite adept at his tasks, mainly responsible for the sheep pens and pigsties. The number of pigs and sheep introduced initially had increased to dozens, and he and his classmates were busy all day, quietly contributing to the future life of everyone.

In August, two ships returning to Europe from Santiago passed by. The two Spanish merchant ships were greatly surprised to find a port here, and the captain of one of the ships even requested to dock.

The Executive Committee had always been extremely cautious with the Spanish, so after the Spanish merchant ships were resupplied, they were asked to leave quickly. Intimidated by the presence of the Yunsheng No. 1 ship in the port, the Spanish left after hurriedly trading a few sets of 1631-style full-body armor.

However, they were clearly not the only visitors.

At the beginning of September, a Swedish merchant ship unexpectedly arrived at the port of the穿越者们.

Upon inquiry, it was learned that the rumor of Chinese porcelain in "Tartar Port" was secretly spreading in the Netherlands and Germany. The captain of the Swedish merchant ship, after paying a large sum to learn the details of Captain Kuait's transactions with the "Tartars," decisively recruited over 200 farmers who had been ruined by war or natural disasters from Livonia and Finland. He then loaded various goods and made the long journey to "Tartar Port," hoping to trade for porcelain.

Considering the agreement with Captain Kuait, the Executive Committee politely informed the captain that they could not sell porcelain. Instead, they recommended the 1631-style full-body armor, which they had been developing as a new export product.

The 1631-style full-body armor, made of high-carbon steel and forged with a water-powered hammer, weighed about 40 pounds and could withstand the direct fire of a matchlock gun at a considerable distance, providing some protection at medium range. This armor was specifically designed for the European nobility of the 1630s.

After seeing a demonstration of the matchlock gun firing, the Swedish captain immediately purchased 50 sets. Each set of 1631-style full-body armor cost 400 reals, and with the Swedish King Gustav II Adolph leading the Swedish army in Germany, these armors were expected to have a good market.

The Swedes were well-prepared, bringing a variety of goods, including seeds, cloth, canvas, rigging, copper, lead, matchlock guns, Finnish horses, and some cannons. Specifically, they brought: 2 24-pound bronze ship cannons, 2 18-pound cast iron ship cannons, 2 18-pound bronze ship cannons, and 2 12-pound cast iron ship cannons, along with a supply of ammunition. The Finance Bureau estimated the value of these goods, plus the cost of the settlement, to be around 50,000 reals.

When the Finance Committee member Tang Yuan calculated the figure, he was immediately troubled. This amount was nearly one-sixth of the cash the穿越者们 currently had. Even after deducting the 20,000 reals from the sale of the armor, the穿越者们 still needed to pay 30,000 reals in silver. If such transactions continued, the穿越者们 would quickly go bankrupt.

Moreover, the new immigrants were not easy to manage. The Swedes brought immigrants mainly from the Baltic region, including Livonia and Finland. Of the 227 immigrants, nearly half were Finnish, and the rest were a mix of Estonians, Latvians, Samogitians, Swedes, Prussians, Poles, Lithuanians, and even Russians, creating a diverse mix of ethnicities.

With such a complex ethnic composition, while it was beneficial for governance, communication became a significant issue. There was no choice but to gradually address it, and the language school would need to expand soon.

***

Wang Qian was overjoyed with the addition of eight naval cannons. Ignoring Peng Zhicheng's resentful gaze, he rushed to Ma Qianzu's office and, after much persuasion, finally got Ma to agree to support the construction of the port fortifications.

Currently, the defensive facilities of "Tartar Port" were limited, and the other members of the Executive Committee did not make things difficult for Wang Qian. Thus, the construction of the fortifications was confirmed.

Wang Qian and civil engineering expert Shao Shude spent a week surveying the area around the port and finally determined the construction plan for the fortifications.

On the south side of the dock, there was a small limestone hill about 20 meters high, with a steep and advantageous position and a wide view. Wang Qian and Shao Shude planned to build the main fortification (Fort No. 1) here. About 500 meters to the left front of the main fortification, on the north side of the dock, there was a coastal promontory where they planned to build Fort No. 2. On the right front of the main fortification, on the south side of the Big Fish River estuary, there was a small alluvial island where they planned to build Fort No. 3. Forts No. 2 and No. 3 would be within the firing range of the main fortification, forming a triangular layout with overlapping fire zones.

It was no exaggeration to say that with the construction of these three fortifications, equipped with numerous cannons and a sufficient number of skilled gunners, the port's maritime defense would be impregnable.

Before this, the穿越者们 had not completely neglected the maritime defense. Several gun positions had already been built on the small hill near the dock. These gun positions were constructed with a mix of bricks and stones, forming a semi-enclosed structure. Currently, there were six gun positions, equipped with 2 24-pound bronze cannons, 2 18-pound steel cannons, and 2 12-pound steel cannons. The two 24-pound bronze cannons were naval guns purchased from the Dutch, while the remaining four cannons were steel cannons cast by the European gunsmiths in the armory.

These steel cannons were cast from steel produced in different crucibles with varying ratios of graphite, making them lighter and longer than bronze cannons, with excellent range and power. Unfortunately, the gunsmiths' skills were mediocre, and their lack of experience resulted in a shockingly low success rate, less than 50%, making the cost extremely high, which made Wang Qian gasp in dismay.

After casting four cannons, Ma Jia refused to let the gunsmiths continue practicing. Although failed cannons could be melted down and recast, this process consumed coal, which the Executive Committee was short of.

After the plan was confirmed, the construction team quickly moved into the dock. Some of the new immigrants were assigned to various units, while the rest were sent to the dock to build the fortifications. The construction team sent by the Executive Committee numbered 250 people, including several穿越者 and the rest being new and old European immigrants.

With ample supplies, the construction team overcame the adverse effects of the cold weather and worked hard for a month. By early October, on the one-year anniversary of the穿越者's arrival, the basic infrastructure of the fortifications was largely completed, and all types of cannons were installed.

The two 24-pound bronze ship cannons were also installed on the main fortification. Thus, the main fortification was equipped with 4 24-pound bronze cannons, 2 18-pound steel cannons, 2 18-pound bronze cannons, and 2 12-pound steel cannons, covering the entire outer sea of the port. Fort No. 2 was equipped with 2 18-pound iron cannons, facing the anchorage and channel within the port. Fort No. 3 was equipped with 2 12-pound iron cannons, facing the open sea.

The gun positions and shelters were constructed with a mix of bricks, stones, and cement, making them extremely sturdy. The shelters were also piled with a large amount of soil and sandbags. The gun positions had a wide field of fire, and the gun carriages were fixed with sandbags inside the shelters, allowing for quick repositioning and significantly increasing the firing rate. Each fortification also had reserved gun positions for future expansion.

After the installation of the 14 cannons, the fortifications finally took shape. Wang Qian, rejuvenated, spent his days training the newly recruited gunners, familiarizing them with the firing procedures and the performance of the cannons. He also conducted regular live-fire drills, which made the hearts of the Executive Committee members ache, as each shot cost money. However, Wang Qian was firm: without skilled gunners, even the most solid fortifications and the best cannons would be useless. For the safety of the port, extensive live-fire training was necessary.