Chapter 76

The internal organs and bones of the whale are also very useful. Besides being able to extract whale oil from the organs, a type of fish liver oil can also be refined, which is more nutritious than ordinary fish liver oil and is a high-quality tonic. The bones can be boiled to make a very strong ship adhesive. Not only is the ship planking bonded with whale bone glue not afraid of water, but it can also prevent shipworms from eroding it. Most importantly, the yield of glue from whale bones is very high; a few large bones can produce several kilograms of glue, which is of great practical value for large shipbuilding. Moreover, the processed remains of the organs, bones, and blubber are the best fertilizers. Spreading them in the fields can make crops grow vigorously.

Finally, there is the whale skin. Those who have never seen a whale up close would surely think that the whale's skin is smooth. However, this is not the case. The whale's skin has a layer of very short fur. After processing, it is an excellent insulating material, suitable for making clothes and shoes. It is softer than cowhide, sheepskin, and pigskin and is more water-resistant and cold-resistant. In short, anything that can be made from cowhide and sheepskin can be made from whale skin, and it can be made even better. Another advantage is the large surface area of whale skin. A large adult whale, at least ten meters long and weighing over ten tons, can yield enough skin for dozens of cows or hundreds of sheep. Moreover, whale skin is very thick, and even with less advanced processing techniques, it can easily be cut into several layers, producing a large quantity.

Now, let's count: from head to toe, almost every part of a whale is useful to humans. This is the main reason why Western countries once went to great lengths to hunt them. It is said that from the 19th century to the early 20th century, the number of whales in the world's oceans decreased by more than 90%, all killed by Western developed countries. In the 19th century, more than half of the oil lamps in the United States were lit with whale oil, and this continued for several decades!

"Hongtang, find a few strong men, sharpen the knives, and I'll tell them how to butcher the whale." Hongtang climbed down from the back of the boat after a few seconds. His arms were very sore, but his waist and legs were still usable. The whale was already tied with several ropes and pulled onto the beach. Hongtang, using the light of the bonfire, roughly examined the prize and was quite satisfied with its size.

Does Hongtang know how to butcher a whale? Not at all! But he had seen it on TV a few times, so he could imitate it. Even if he didn't do it well, he wouldn't ruin it. Besides, the Dan people usually have someone to slaughter pigs and chickens during festivals, and although they don't have professional butchers like the locals, they can still manage to dissect a dead whale.

"Oh my God! Let me die!" According to the plan, a few young Dan men stepped onto the whale with machetes and began cutting from the abdomen. As soon as they made a two-meter-long cut in the whale's belly, they ran away. The smell of blood and decay, carried by the sea breeze, almost knocked Hongtang off his feet. Did this whale have constipation? Or did it have a stomach infection, storing half a year's worth of waste in its belly?

"Why are you running? Whose kids are these? I'll tell your grandfathers when I get back!" Old Rong, despite his age, stood firm against the wind, without even holding his breath, and shouted loudly.

"Cover your mouth and nose with wet cloth and go back! Second Brother, get a piece of cloth for Old Man Rong too." At this moment, Hongtang showed his skill in dealing with people. He took care of the workers' feelings, maintained the leader's authority, and won the leader's favor, patting the small back of the leader with a loud slap. This is one of the main reasons why Hongtang is willing to mix with the Dan people—they are simple and easy to satisfy and control.

Under the combined pressure of Old Rong's authority and Hongtang's cunning, a group of young Dan men, despite the overwhelming stench, took turns to dissect the massive whale, which was over ten meters long, into meat blocks the size of a dining table. The whale meat, blubber, organs, bones, and baleen were all loaded onto the Dan people's small wooden boats, filling more than thirty of them. Only the whale skin could not be obtained in one piece because no one among the Dan people knew how to skin it. They could only manage to peel it off in pieces, as large as possible, and roll it up, placing it on Hongtang's sailboat.

When the beach was left with only a pool of blood, the sky in the east was already faintly bright. It took more than a dozen people all night to finish butchering the whale. Besides the smell, the main reason was that no one had ever butchered a whale before and had to figure it out as they went. Additionally, the short machetes used for chopping wood were not very suitable for butchering a whale, and several of them were broken just to separate the whale bones.

"Old Man Rong, I'll take these boats back to Zhenzhou first. The meat and oil can't be stored for long; once they spoil, they won't be worth much. When you and the others return, be sure to come to Zhenzhou Port. The oil and other things will be mine, and I'll distribute the meat to everyone. Each family can keep some, and it will be delicious when cooked. It can be considered our Dan people's beef."

Hongtang, although he had rested for a night, was still in pain, even more so than yesterday, but his spirits were much better. The pain was just a normal muscle reaction, and he could endure it. Looking at the small boats piled high with whale meat, Hongtang was anxious. He needed to return to Zhenzhou Port quickly to arrange the next steps. Although whale blubber doesn't spoil easily, it's still a significant amount of wealth.

"Good boy, I accept your kindness on behalf of the Dan people. Don't worry, I'll come to Zhenzhou Port in a few days. Old Man Rong is getting old and needs to rest. I was worried that after this sea expedition, I wouldn't be able to lead the next one in the spring, but now I'm relieved. The Dan people have never lacked leaders for sea expeditions."

Old Rong, who had hardly slept all night, was still very energetic. He patted Hongtang's back with a strong hand, making a loud slapping sound.

It was still dark when Hongtang's sailboat raised its main sail again. This time, he became the leader of the fleet, with a string of small wooden boats tied together following him back to Zhenzhou. Most of these people were older or younger Dan people who had to come out and take risks for their livelihood. With Hongtang's whale meat, they could return and live comfortably for a while.

Hongtang plans to sell some of the whale meat to Zhenhai Tower, believing that many sea travelers and rich people would be willing to try the taste of whale meat. The money earned will be distributed to the Dan people. They can also take some of the whale meat back, salt it, and eat it for a long time. Combined with the fish caught by the young people in their families, this winter should be more comfortable than previous years.

PS: Clicks, favorites, and recommendations! Throw them all to Hongtang...

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