Chapter 226 Making new weapons

"It's much more difficult than a straight plow." Capito said truthfully: "The main reason is that it requires a tough, curved solid wood with a more appropriate curvature so that it can be used as a plow shaft. Our carpenters have tried If you go to the mountains and forests to pick, you will need at least a dozen or twenty trees to pick a suitable piece of wood. Some carpenters have suggested that it is best to specially bend the small tree and wait for it to grow up. used to make a plow;

Another thing is that the iron used in the plow is obviously more than that of the straight plow, and it takes more time to make it into such a shape..."

"I understand." Maximus said thoughtfully: "...making a curved shaft plow is much more difficult than a straight plow, but it can greatly improve the people's ability to cultivate land, so it must be popularized in the tribe. If Whoever among the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works can come up with a good way to make more curved plows faster will be rewarded by the tribe!"

"Yes." Capito perked up.

Other officials had no objection to this. On the contrary, after listening to Capito and Volenus' explanation, they were very eager to use this new plow as soon as possible.

"Chief, the ironworks workshop has now started making weapons. Yesterday they made a batch of daggers and spear heads."

Capito's next words did not particularly surprise Maximus, because the iron workshop was in full operation a month and a half ago, smelting iron ore at high temperatures, making pig iron, and forging iron tools...

However, at that time, the Nyx tribe had already signed an armistice agreement with Segestika. With the situation greatly easing, the tribe needed iron workshops to manufacture some daily necessities, such as kitchen knives, forks, iron spoons, hoes, and hammers. ,nail……

While the iron workshop was trying to meet the needs of the people as quickly as possible, it had to repair the soldiers' original, damaged weapons and armor first.

However, at Capito's suggestion, the ironworks workshop quickly built several more shaft furnaces, doubling the output of iron smelting and having excess pig iron for casting weapons.

"Very good, I will go to the iron workshop tomorrow to see the first batch of weapons made by our tribe." Maximus paused and said: "At the same time, I have an idea for a new weapon. Let's see what the blacksmiths can do. It cannot be made. If it can be made, it will give our soldiers the ability to attack from a distance. "

Before Capito could respond, Pheasalus asked excitedly: "Chief, I wonder what the weapon you envision is called?"

"I call it a crossbow. It is somewhat similar to the crossbow we used to transform it from a crossbow. However, the crossbow I envisioned has a simpler structure. A single soldier can easily hold it, launch the crossbow, and attack the enemy." Maximus introduced. .

"Listening to what you say, chief, I think the blacksmiths should be able to make it." The reason why Capito is so confident is because he knows that his group of blacksmiths, mostly from Sarapia, have been providing services to the Roman army for many years. A superb skill was honed in the process of forging weapons. If the materials were enough, they could even make a crossbow. Therefore, he believed that it would be easy for the blacksmiths to make such a simple crossbow as Maximus said.

"That's the best." In fact, Maximus also has confidence in this. After all, the tribe has an iron workshop that was born out of the Roman military industry, as well as senior equipment engineers in the Roman legions. To make a personal crossbow, it should be hand-made. Take a handful.

These days, Maximus has thought many times: Why did Rome, which had developed the mechanical power of this era to a new level, not manufacture a large number of crossbows like the Qin and Han Dynasties of the same period, and design and develop specialized crossbows? Soldier tactics?

The possible reason is that the Roman army had javelins for near- and medium-range projection and crossbows for long-range attacks... This set of tactics was already very mature, and there were few opponents in the Mediterranean. They did not need to manufacture additional crossbows in large numbers and train crossbowmen.

However, the Nyx tribe has this urgent need. In the previous defensive battle of the temporary camp, Maximus had already discovered that his troops lacked long-range attack capabilities. Training archers was too time-consuming. Although harpooneers are easy to become, their attack range is too long. Shortcomings of being short and carrying too little ammunition, only crossbows can be produced quickly, cost little, can be assembled in large numbers, and are very powerful. Especially the main enemy they are facing now is the Pannoni, and most of their warriors are lacking. The lack of armor is just suitable for the crossbow to exert its power.

"Chief, can you take a few of us with you to the weapons workshop tomorrow?" Frontinus pointed at himself, Quintus, and Lebilus: "We also want to know the weapons workshop's current ability to manufacture weapons. What, I want to know more about what kind of crossbow you designed, leader?"

Maximus did not expect that the steady Frontinus would also say flattering words, so he smiled slightly, nodded and said, "Of course."

He had heard about it, but he didn't quite know that some of the equipment he had helped design and improve for the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Agriculture had greatly improved the working efficiency of the people. After being spread by interested people, it even made the majority of the people They firmly believe that "the leader is favored by the gods", so several officers of the Ministry of War are full of expectations for the new weapons designed by Maximus.

"Does the Ministry of Works have anything else to report?" Maximus then asked.

Capito wanted to say that "the Ministry of Works is considering starting construction of the road between Snodia and Westene", but considering that the tribe's first priority now is to fully ensure the harvest in September, there are still other steps to follow. To send troops to assist the Aldi people, under such circumstances it was impossible to mobilize enough manpower to construct roads under the command of the Ministry of Works, so he opened his mouth and finally said: "There is nothing to report for the time being."

Volenus and Capito speak the most at every tribal meeting. Of course, this is related to the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Works they are responsible for are in charge of many affairs of the tribe's national economy and people's livelihood, and are currently the key development departments of the tribe.

The third person who spoke the most was Sidonios, the head of the Legal Department. This time was of course no exception: "Chief, there have been no more fights among the reserve tribesmen in Snodia and Westney in the past few days. "

"Sidonius, I heard good news from you." Maximus said half seriously and half jokingly.

Sidonius changed the topic: "However, some tribesmen have disputes over excrement in the wild, and there are several cases that have gone to court."

"Fighting for feces?" Maximus was stunned.

Volenus explained somewhat complacently: "Chief, since our Ministry of Agriculture continues to promote composting and retting methods to the people, and they have also seen that the crops do grow better after fertilizing the fields than without fertilizing, so They now regard feces as a treasure and collect as much as possible..."

Maximus subconsciously touched his chin. He was a little curious about how the Ministry of Justice would rule on such a dispute, but he still held back. After all, it was a bit inappropriate to spend more time talking about feces in an important tribal meeting. Too serious. However, with this kind of self-awareness among the people, they no longer need to worry about the hygiene problem of open defecation, and may not need to consider building public toilets for a long time.

"There are indeed fewer open fights among the reserve tribesmen, but the number of injuries caused by their excessive efforts during rugby matches has not decreased!"

Horace, the director of the medical department, interjected: "Even after they were hospitalized, they would make noises with each other if the nurses neglected their care. Chief, can you make some stricter rules for rugby games? To prevent reserve people from being on the field. Too much fighting, resulting in unnecessary injuries.”

Volenus immediately stood up and retorted: "Horace, you don't know that the reason why the leader invented this rugby in the first place was to let these preparatory peoples from Pannoni and Skodisci vent their hatred towards each other. to the competition, rather than on other occasions where brawling affects the unity of the tribe.

Judging from what Sidonios just said, this good method that the leader came up with has indeed achieved its goal, and it has also allowed our Ministry of Agriculture to better manage them. If you don't let them do this during games as you said, they may have conflicts in normal times, and more people will be injured and hospitalized. "

For a moment, Horace, who was not good at words, did not know how to respond.

Maximus sighed softly: "The hatred between the Pannoni and the Skodisci is very deep and difficult to resolve, but our tribe has settled here. If we want to continue to grow, the new tribes that will join in the future will They are indispensable in the battle, but if this situation cannot be changed and the tribe cannot unite as one, how can it defeat powerful enemies in the future..."

Maximus put on a very embarrassed look. After hesitating for a while, he looked at everyone and said solemnly: "I have been thinking about this issue these days. Maybe build a temple so that they all believe in the same thing." Gods may be able to resolve this hatred, what do you think?”

Emmerich, who often attended political hall meetings and seldom spoke unless asked, immediately stood up and said excitedly: "Chief, what you said is very correct! Although the Pannonians do not belong to the Celts, But they have been with us for hundreds of years, and like us, they not only believe in druids and worship sacred stones and sacred groves, but also worship our Celtic goddess of creation Danu, goddess of plants and earth Matres, and hunting god Hades. The god and the king of beasts Cornunnos and the thunder god Taranis are full of awe, and at the same time they are also rejoicing for our female war goddess Morrigan, the sun god Nuada, and the horse god Epona——"

"Emmerich, please wait a minute, these are all Celtic gods you are talking about, but most of the formal people of our tribe have no idea about these gods at all!

Leader, since you want to build a temple in your tribe, why not build a god that everyone is familiar with and willing to worship! "