noveltune Chapter 103 Blackstone New Base
Chapter 103 Blackstone New Base
In the twelfth lunar month, the wind at Eagle's Beak Gorge is biting cold. A deep valley is flanked by iron-gray cliffs on both sides, the wind howling mournfully as it cuts through, whipping up snow and ice fragments that sting the face. At its narrowest point, the valley is only a dozen or so feet wide, with a stream of thick ice winding among the rocks, adding to the desolate atmosphere.
Lin Yan stood atop a high point at the valley entrance, followed by seven or eight men. Besides two close attendants, there were three other men of varying ages, all weathered and bearing the calm focus characteristic of craftsmen. Leading them was Master Li, whom Zhou Yan had specially transferred from the Qingzhou Prefecture Construction Department. It was said that three generations of his family had served in the Ministry of Works, and Master Li himself was a highly trusted head craftsman, having overseen many crucial construction projects. Zhou Yan's assignment of him to Lin Yan clearly demonstrated his trust in him. Behind Master Li were his two prized apprentices, both trained from childhood on construction sites, quick-witted and sharp-eyed.
Su Qingyao was also by her side, wrapped in a thick, moon-white cloak, intently gazing at the terrain of the valley, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones with Master Li beside her. She gestured with her fingertips, as if indicating something, while Master Li nodded frequently, clearly discussing the possibility of constructing something in this treacherous terrain.
"Lord Lin, please look," Master Li, an old craftsman with a dark complexion and large knuckles, pointed to the narrowest part of the valley, his voice faltering in the wind, "This rock foundation is solid, indeed an excellent location for building a pass. According to conventional methods, a thick wall must be built here, spanning the valley entrance, connecting to the cliffs at both ends. The wall must be at least five zhang high and three zhang thick to be considered sturdy. Enemy towers and crenellations must be erected on top of the wall, and barracks, armories, granaries, and other ancillary structures must be built behind it. However…"
He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "This place is windy, bitterly cold in winter, and threatened by flash floods in summer. Not only will construction be labor-intensive and time-consuming, but maintaining it will also be difficult. Moreover, the required stone, timber, and manpower are enormous. With the current resources of Blackstone Town, I'm afraid it will be difficult to complete in one go."
His apprentice behind him nodded in agreement: "Master is right. It will take at least half a year to build a decent fortress, and we also need favorable weather."
Lin Yan listened quietly, his gaze sweeping back and forth across the valley entrance. He wasn't an expert in construction, but his intuition, honed through years of life-or-death battles, always allowed him to grasp the most crucial points. He suddenly pointed to a few protruding boulders at the narrowest point of the valley: "Master Li, what if we don't build the entire fortress, but just set up a huge, retractable gate here?"
"A sluice gate?" Master Li was taken aback.
"Exactly." Lin Yan's gaze was sharp. "At this narrowest point, relying on the natural rock walls on both sides, two sturdy stone gate piers were built. Between the gate piers, a giant gate with a frame of refined iron and covered with thick wood was set up. The gate could be raised and lowered by the power of a winch. Normally, it was suspended to allow the passage of vehicles and horses; in case of an emergency, it was lowered and became an iron wall."
He paused, and seeing Master Li deep in thought, continued, "After the sluice gate is lowered, its height should be similar to the cliffs on both sides, forming a vertical barrier. The defensive forces don't need to be entirely deployed behind the sluice gate. We can choose easily climbable sections of the cliffs on both sides of the sluice gate to build several short walls and watchtowers, connected by walkways. Then, at key points in these fortifications, we can set up battle formations, along with a small number of elite soldiers, which will be enough to control the entire valley entrance."
As Master Li listened, his eyes gradually brightened. He squatted down, grabbed a handful of sand and rubbed it in his palm, then looked up carefully to examine the contours of the cliffs on both sides, muttering, "Brilliant... This way, the workload is greatly reduced, and the main focus is on the sluice gate and a few key fortifications. Relying on the terrain to control the area from key points... It's indeed much less strenuous than building a long wall, yet the defensive effect is not necessarily worse, and it's even more flexible!"
Su Qingyao nodded thoughtfully, "Brother Lin's suggestion is indeed brilliant. The gate itself can be regarded as a giant 'talisman artifact.' If reinforcement and shock-absorbing runes can be inscribed inside it, the defensive power will be greatly increased. The short walls and watchtowers on the cliffs on both sides can also be pre-embedded with array foundations, which can be activated in wartime to form a combined defense. The required guards do not need to be too many, but they must be elites who are proficient in talismans and array formations."
The more she talked, the more feasible the plan seemed to her, and an excited blush rose on her beautiful face: "Moreover, with this arrangement, we can still claim to be building an ordinary pass, so as not to attract attention. The actual formation and talisman setup can be carried out in secret."
Seeing that the two had grasped the essence, Lin Yan said, "The specific construction methods, the design of the gate, the location of the short wall, the direction of the plank road, and even how the array and talismans should be coordinated—these details will require Master Li and Qingyao to plan together. I only have one requirement—it must be hidden, sturdy, and practical. The construction period can be a little longer, but the foundation must be solid."
Master Li was completely captivated by the idea. Upon hearing this, he immediately bowed and said, "Rest assured, sir! Although I dare not claim to be an expert in formations, I do have some experience in civil engineering. With Miss Su's guidance, I am confident that I can design a plan that is both concealed and sturdy!" He looked at Su Qingyao, his eyes filled with eagerness, "Miss Su, what kind of structure do you think this gate should have? How should the fortifications on both sides be arranged to best integrate with the formation?"
Su Qingyao didn't refuse. She took out a charcoal pencil and some rough paper from her bag and squatted down next to Master Li on a slightly flat rock. They sketched a rough draft and discussed it in hushed tones. Her charcoal pencil moved quickly across the paper, sometimes drawing the cross-sectional structure of the gate, sometimes marking the possible locations of the base; Master Li would occasionally point out that a certain structure needed to be reinforced, or that a secret passage could be carved out of a certain section of the cliff.
Lin Yan stood to the side, watching the two figures intently discussing, and felt a sense of reassurance. Although he didn't understand the specifics of the process, he could grasp the general direction and propose the most crucial ideas. The rest could be left to the professionals. This was the demeanor a leader should possess—not needing to do everything personally, but knowing how to appoint the right people and manage the overall situation.
He carefully observed the terrain at the valley entrance, paying particular attention to several corners that the enemy might use for climbing or hiding. He secretly noted them down, intending to remind Su Qingyao to take precautions when setting up the formation later.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Su Qingyao and Master Li had sketched out a rough plan. Master Li, holding the sketch, walked up to Lin Yan, his face still showing excitement: "Sir, look. The main body of the gate is made of century-old ironwood as the core, covered with iron plates, and the key hinges are made of high-quality steel. The gate piers are embedded deep in the mountain, cast with rice paste mixed with iron sand, making them exceptionally sturdy. The gate's raising and lowering is driven by a winch, and the winch chamber is located inside the mountain, connected by a secret passage, making it hidden and safe."
He pointed to the cliffs on both sides of the sketch: "Select five high points along the cliffs and build stone watchtowers, each three stories high. The lower level will be for storage, the middle level for garrisoning troops, and the top level for observation. The watchtowers will be connected by suspended walkways, with trapdoors at the bottom. Small caves will be carved into the mountain below each watchtower to serve as storage points for ammunition and talismans. In addition, trigger-activated array bases will be pre-buried in several key and dangerous locations, controlled by the guards inside the watchtowers."
Su Qingyao added, "Regarding the formation, my initial plan is to set up three layers. The outermost layer is the 'Mist Illusion Formation,' covering an area of a hundred feet in front of the valley entrance, which can interfere with sight and confuse spiritual senses. The middle layer is the 'Golden Spear Killing Formation,' set up in front of the gate and in strategic locations on both sides, mainly for killing. The innermost layer is the 'Solid Rock Formation,' with the gate and several watchtowers as the core, to enhance its defensive capabilities. The core array plates of all formations are located in the most concealed underground chamber of the central watchtower."
She paused, then added, "This is just a preliminary idea. The specific rune inscriptions, spiritual energy connections, and array base materials still require detailed calculations and experiments. In particular, we need to consider the consumption required for long-term maintenance, and how to use it in conjunction with talismanic artifacts."
Lin Yan listened attentively, nodding occasionally. This plan was more meticulous and comprehensive than he had originally envisioned. It made full use of the terrain, incorporated formations and talismans, achieving a unified offense and defense, and saving manpower and resources to the greatest extent possible.
"Very good." He praised, "Following this approach, produce detailed design drawings and a list of materials as soon as possible. Master Li, Qingyao, this matter will be entirely handled by the two of you. If you need any manpower or materials, just contact Zhou Fu for allocation. As for Shi Hu, I will also have him select a team of absolutely reliable Black Stone Guards to be specifically responsible for the security and safety of the Eagle's Beak Gorge construction site."
"Yes!" Master Li and Su Qingyao replied in unison, their eyes filled with enthusiasm.
Lin Yan then said to his two team members, "You will stay here and follow the instructions of Master Li and Miss Su. Assist in surveying specific data and be responsible for liaison with the town."
With everything arranged, Lin Yan lingered. He knew that staying might actually hinder the work of the professionals. He took one last look at the massive rocks in the valley that would become the foundation stones of the future fortress, then turned and braved the cold wind to return to Blackstone Town.
When he returned to the large tent in the town that served as a temporary command post, it was nearly dusk. Zhou Fu was inside the tent checking a stack of lists of supplies that had just been delivered. When he saw him return, he quickly got up.
"My lord, you're back. News has come from Shi Hu that all the new equipment for Black Stone Guard has been distributed, and the morale of the team members is high. They even did an extra half hour of training this evening, and no one complained. In addition, the recruitment of laborers is progressing smoothly, and the number of workers expected to be on duty tomorrow is about sixty."
Lin Yan nodded and walked to the charcoal brazier to warm his hands. "Over at Eagle Beak Gorge, I've already discussed the general plan with Master Li and Miss Su. They're refining the plan and will submit the detailed design and material requirements soon. You need to be prepared here; once the list is ready, start coordinating immediately without delay."
"Yes."
After Zhou Fu left, only Lin Yan remained in the tent. He walked to the table, spread out a rough piece of parchment, and slowly sketched on it with a charcoal pencil. First, he drew the general outline of Black Stone Town, then marked the location of Eagle Beak Ravine in the southwest, and drew the imagined sluice gate and several watchtowers. He then extended several roads to the east and north, marking along the way several possible locations for setting up sentry posts or small fortresses.
His pen finally landed deep in the Canglang Mountain, where he drew a small circle with extremely light strokes to represent the Lingquan Base.
A rudimentary yet nascent strategic sketch gradually took shape under the charcoal pencil. Blackrock Town was the heart, Eagle Beak Gorge was the gateway, Spirit Spring Base was the lifeline, and the outposts scattered throughout and the expanding town area were the extended veins and muscles.
Lin Yan put down his charcoal pencil and gazed silently at the sketch. He knew that all of this was currently just lines on paper; turning it into reality would require countless efforts and overcome numerous trials. But he also knew that this was the path he had to take. In this world rife with demons and unpredictable people, without one's own foundation, one is like a drifting duckweed, vulnerable to being swallowed up by raging storms at any moment.