Chapter 848 Second Kingdom Exploration, Cassava and Dark Snake

"This kind of cassava, first of all, we have to choose a piece of land...we don't compete with the good fields opened by the river. Cassava doesn't pick the land, just find a slightly taller, loose soil, sandy one... um ? This piece of land is good, and the soil is okay..."

The summer sun is high in July. Even in the early morning, it still makes people sweat. The river not far away flows quietly, and the small moors formed in the rainy season float and shimmer.

Chivako, an old militiaman, wore a sunshade hood, leaned on a digging stick, and carried a straw basket containing cassava stalks on his back. While looking for high ground, he poked in the soil. Behind him, there were three children, Chippawa, Dark Snake, and Didi, also wearing turbans and carrying digging sticks. And the god-inspired priest Mekart also followed behind, coming to help together.

"Well... the soil is very loose, and the roots of these weeds are also shallow, easy to pull out..."

The old militiamen explored all the way until they came to a small flat slope and poked three inches into the soil. Afterwards, he squatted down, pulled out two weeds, and grabbed a handful of sand on the ground, and then said with satisfaction.

"Just here! The land for cassava planting should be deep, thick and loose! Its roots are so deep! Come on, just go from here to here, within a radius of forty steps, and dig out all the weeds. !"

"Eh? . . . yes, Dad!"

The wasteland warrior Chippawa stared blankly at the soil under his feet. He couldn't tell the good from the bad, but he was very strong. After working together for a long time, everyone roughly cleaned up this small piece of sandy soil. Then, the old militiaman was full of energy and a smile on his face. He squatted on the ground and began to teach Chippawa how to grow cassava.

"Dig a small hole in the earth, about half an arm's depth. Then, insert the cassava stick with one end facing down, and cover it with soil... Yes, that's it, don't press it too hard... The soil is a bit dry, Later, I will fetch some water and pour it again..."

"With cassava planted..."

The wasteland warrior Chippawa squatted on the ground, holding the soil with his hands, and carefully inserted the cassava sticks. At this moment, he stared at his mud-covered palm, inexplicably in a trance, and there was something absurd like a dream in the trance. The last time he went to the field with his father was more than seven years ago. And before yesterday, he never thought that these hands, which are used to holding spears and copper axes, and these hands, which are used to killing and hunting, would plant crops again...

"You boy! What are you thinking!"

The old militiaman Chihuaco stretched out his hand and grabbed his son's ear habitually. It felt very good, very good.

"Did you listen to me carefully? You have to memorize it! When I leave, you will have to grow it yourself! The cassava will grow in seven or eight months, and then the stalks will grow again. Quadruple the area of ​​expansion..."

"Ah? Dad! It hurts, it hurts!..."

The wasteland warrior Chippawa dodged subconsciously, and then stopped abruptly, which made the old man catch him. He scratched his hair and made up a question.

"Father... I just thought... why is this cassava planted vertically? Can't I plant it obliquely? Can't I bury it horizontally in the soil? Why do you have to plant it vertically?..."

Hearing such a soul-striking question, the old militiaman was startled and let go of his hand.

"Hey! You boy! This is a good question...Let me think about it..."

"On Snake Island in Cuba, most Taino tribes grow cassava vertically... But I remember that there is a Hejing River that grows cassava obliquely. I also asked curiously, they It is said that the straight root is very deep, resistant to strong winds, has a lot of water, and is not afraid of drought... But there is one disadvantage, that is, the roots grow too deep, and it is too troublesome to dig!..."

"Later, they tried to plant them at an angle...then they found that the roots of the cassava leaned to one side, which was much shallower, and it was much easier to dig..."

"As for the flat planting you mentioned... I think it might be possible! I just don't know, what kind of cassava will be produced if planted this way? Will it grow from one end, or will it be rooted at both ends?..."

The old militiaman squatted on the ground, thinking seriously, and muttering to himself. And Chippawa was close to him, looking at his thinking father with a look of reverence and ignorance, just like when he was a child.

Behind them, everyone smiled knowingly when they saw this warm scene. And Dark Snake Weiqi's father was happy for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head, with a look of sadness on his face.

"Papa Qi...found his son..."

Priest Mecate next to him narrowed his eyes, keenly noticing the expression of the young Dark Snake. He pondered for a while, then silently walked to Dark Snake, and patted the boy on the shoulder.

"The lord god blesses you! That's great!"

"Well, God bless you!"

Dark Snake lowered his head and responded softly. There was obvious loss on his face, and he seemed to remember something, revealing an unconcealable sadness.

"Dark Snake, this time, we survived the storm because of the Lord God's blessing! Captain Qi, us, and you are all people who have been watched and blessed by the Lord God!..."

Priest Mecate had a gentle smile, and his words were persuasive and persuasive, just like when he was preaching, they fell silently into his heart.

"The Lord God protects you!...Dark Snake, as I remember, you were born in the area of ​​Water Valley City, a Tlaxcala, right? Have you ever thought about your father...maybe he He's still alive!..." Hearing this, Dark Snake's body trembled, but he still bowed his head and remained silent. Priest Mecate took another step forward and rubbed Dark Snake's head, as old militiaman Chivaco liked to do. And this familiar intimate action made the boy tremble uncontrollably.

"Dark Snake!... This journey to the east has experienced so many obstacles and storms... There are more than 200 people in the four longships on the return journey, but there are only 20 of us left..."

Priest Mecate's voice was low, his eyes were gentle, and his words were full of sincerity.

"You are the youngest crew member in the fleet, and we all treat you like a child... No matter where your father went, or whether Papa Qi found his son... You are all children of our fleet!... From now on, Just follow us! With us, there is your home..."

"Home?…"

Hearing these words, Dark Snake was shaken. He raised his head, stared blankly at the amiable priest of Mecate, and suddenly burst into tears.

"Woo!...Father Meccat...Woo!...I don't have a father anymore... On the day when Water Valley City fell, my father left me and ran to the north...He didn't want me anymore...Papa Qi also had a son...Woo Woo!..."

Hearing this, Priest Mecate raised his brows, and a gleam flashed in his eyes. He lowered his head and hugged Dark Snake's shoulders, his footsteps were soft but strong, leading him to the other side of the field.

"Hey! Dark Snake...Don't cry...Your father...It was time for war after all! But, it's different now! Your Majesty said that the people of Tlaxcala are also the people of the Kingdom! The Middle Kingdom even formed the Tlaxcala Long Snake Legion and recruited thousands of Tlaxcala warriors!... Both you and your father have now been pardoned by His Majesty and become members of the Kingdom !"

"Huh?... Really...Really?"

Dark Snake's voice trembled a little. After a long voyage and exploration, and so many lives and deaths, he has long had a strong sense of belonging to the fleet. And for the always gentle Priest Mecate, he also had some trust in his heart. At this moment, with hope, he opened his eyes wide and looked at Priest Mecate.

"Has His Majesty really pardoned us? Even... the descendants of Tlaxcala..."

"God descendant? Sure enough!..."

Hearing this, Priest Mecate was shocked. His eyes are still gentle, his actions are still kind, and his tone is full of sincerity.

"Of course! Even the descendants of Tlaxcala are still accepted by the kingdom..."

"Dark Snake, believe me... If you want, tell me your father's name, and I can find out for you!...Maybe, I can help you find him among the hundreds of thousands of Tlaxcala tribes who have migrated... "

This time, Dark Snake was silent for a long time, and did not speak for a long time. Priest Mecate's eyes flickered, and he sighed secretly, it seemed that it was not yet time. But he still smiled gently and gave Dark Snake a warm hug.

"Forget it! Dark Snake, let the past go!...From now on, you will be our child, and we will all be your father..."

"His name is Black Snake..."

"Um?"

Dark Snake lowered his head, holding Priest Mecate, his body trembling slightly. His voice was small, but it could be clearly heard by Mekart.

"My father, his name is Black Snake... the lord of Water Valley City...'Black Snake' Telcott..."

"The lord of Water Valley City? 'Black Snake' Telcott?!..."

On the other side of the embrace, Priest Mecate suddenly raised his head with a smile on the corner of his mouth.

"Good boy, I remember..."