CHAPTER 332: CHAPTER 211 GOWES ENTERS THE NIX TRIBE (CONTINUED)

"Water wheel?"

"Another amazing device made by the Nix Tribe, it can automatically transport the river water to the bank without manpower, and then through channels, it flows into the fields..."

"It can automatically transport water to the bank continuously?! If it really works like that, that would be wonderful! Carrying water every day to water the fields is very tiring!" A Skodisqi person was quite surprised.

The others also expressed the same astonishment. Having done years of farming work in the Segestica Tribe, they deeply understood the burden, so the function of the water wheel piqued their curiosity even more: "Let’s go take a look!"

A group of people excitedly ran to the riverbank, and after seeing the water wheel, the excitement remained on their faces, leaving no trace of previous silence and hesitation.

Emmerich saw this and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart: Not only were they amazed, even he, who had some understanding of the outside world through learning in his early years, was attracted by the Nix Tribe’s continuous creation of strange things, and gradually recognized this tribe more and more.

Apart from some additional houses, there wasn’t much change in the Westeni Village. Except for the guards on the wooden walls and the patrol teams within the village, most of the tribesmen had gone out to work in the fields, making the village seem a bit deserted.

Even though Emmerich joined the tribe later, as the Deputy Officer of the Medical Department, he frequently visited the hospitals in the two villages over the past few months, so most of the tribesmen recognized him.

With him leading the group, they walked unhindered in the village, and when they encountered patrolling soldiers, they proactively greeted him, making Gowes and others realize that this Druid Sage likely held a high position in the Nix Tribe. A mere outsider who joined the tribe a few months ago could be entrusted with such a role and genuinely accepted by the tribesmen. Although this was due to Emmerich’s personal abilities, it also showed the Nix Tribe’s tolerant and open attitude toward outsiders, which reassured them greatly.

Emmerich arrived at the agricultural department courtyard of Westeni, where a line of carriages was parked at the gate.

Thankfully, they hadn’t left!... Emmerich felt a rush of joy and quickly walked over to find the leader of these carriages—the transport team leader Bojitalas (Seksepis’s trusted aide, the original transport team leader).

"Hey, Lalala, when are you going back?" Emmerich asked.

"Today, we just finished handing over the wheat seeds with the Agricultural Department and are about to leave. Do you want to ride back with us?" Bojitalas asked with a friendly face.

"Thank you." Emmerich didn’t refuse, and pointed behind him, saying, "Can they ride as well? They are Skodisqi people who just escaped from Segestica and want to join our Nix Tribe."

Seated on the carriage, Bojitalas stood up, glanced over Emmerich’s team behind him, looking at the weary faces, some supported by companions... he nodded and said, "No problem, let them all get on the carriages, a few on each cart, they should all fit."

"Thank you! Thanks a lot!" Emmerich said repeatedly.

"We are all one family, no need to be polite." Bojitalas waved his hand, reminding them: "Be careful when you get on, and let me know when everyone is seated, so we can set off."

"Okay."

After a while, the transport team left the village and took the dirt road leading to Snowdonia.

Bojitalas, driving the ox cart, was at the front, with Emmerich sitting right behind him.

It had been drizzling for the past few days, making the road muddy and bumpy. Despite the ox cart moving slowly and steadily, the jolts were still quite significant.

"By the end of today’s trip, I’m afraid several carts will need repairs again," Bojitalas complained a bit, "This road is already bad, and it gets worse with the constant spring rain. I’ve heard that in April, there still won’t be less rain here, I wonder if this road can still be passable then!"

We should really repair this road, even if it’s not as good as the Roman Road, at least it should be like the town roads between Italian towns. Only then would travel and transport between the two places become more convenient.

Actually, Capito already suggested road repairs in the Political Affairs Hall, but the Agricultural Department hoped to repair the Kupa River embankment first. I heard that the heads of various departments have been debating whether to repair the road or the embankment for several days, but nothing is decided yet. Emmerich, what do you think? Shouldn’t we repair the road first?"

Emmerich sensed that Bojitalas wasn’t just asking casually; he was likely seeking support from him, knowing that Emmerich, as an advisor to the Political Affairs Hall, could attend such important meetings of the tribe and propose suggestions.

Having spent a few months in the Nix Tribe and attended many meetings of the Political Affairs Hall, Emmerich had gained some political awareness, understanding he shouldn’t make statements lightly. So he replied tactfully, "Whether to repair the road or the embankment first, it won’t matter even if it’s decided now because there aren’t enough spare hands in the tribe to do it.

Everyone is focusing their efforts on farming and building our village. The wood, cement, stone bricks, and other materials they gather are all used there... Once these tasks are done and we have enough manpower and sufficient materials, actually, road repairs and embankment repairs can proceed simultaneously."

"What you said makes some sense too." Bojitalas tapped his back with a whip handle, sighed, and said, "But when will that happen!"

Emmerich didn’t respond directly, instead quickly changing the topic: "After delivering the wheat seeds today, will you be doing more deliveries tomorrow?"

"We’ve been delivering for three days already, the Agricultural Department said it’s about enough here, no need for more deliveries for now. I heard we consumed a lot of wheat in this seeding, and we’re a bit short on food. Volenus proposed in the Political Affairs Hall to exchange 500 Pannonia captives for more food from the Segestica Tribe. Is that true?"

Emmerich had participated in that particular meeting of the Political Affairs Hall, so he didn’t deny and said, "Volenus indeed proposed that, but after discussion, it wasn’t accepted because everyone felt that with spring coming, there would be more beasts in the mountains and forests, more fish in the rivers, plus we can buy some food from the Aldeans, we should be able to last until the autumn harvest..."

"That’s the way it should be!" Bojitalas gently swung his cow whip, happily saying, "Last year we worked hard to defeat the Segestica people, captured so many of them, forcing them to seek peace with us. If we were to return some captives now, wouldn’t it help them regain their strength more quickly, and then come back to trouble us!

Besides, the last time we returned some captives, the Pannonia Reserve Tribe Members found out, which caused quite a stir, and the tribe had to execute a few escapees to settle matters down. So yes, using captives to trade for food shouldn’t be done again, better to endure a little longer, endure until the autumn harvest solves everything."

Emmerich gave an "hmm," not wanting to discuss the matter further, so he asked, "After the wheat seed deliveries are done here, will you be transporting iron ore from the Alde Tribe?"

"Yes, the Iron Workshop is about to be completed, and they say they want to start intensifying iron smelting soon, so we need to transport more iron ore for reserves. Also, the tribe needs a lot of the cement produced by the lime kilns, and their demand for iron ore is increasing as well, so our transport team will only get busier. We won’t have any spare time at all! But that’s a good thing, shows that our transport team is important, indispensable to the tribe, don’t you think, hahahaha..."

"Yes, every workshop and every team established in our tribe is very important. It’s really due to everyone’s efforts that our tribe is developing so quickly..." Emmerich sincerely said.

While driving the carriage, Bojitalas chatted with Emmerich, and as the carriage convoy rounded a perpendicular river bend, the scenery alongside changed: the number of people working in the fields noticeably increased, starkly contrasting with the cold scene in the Westeni fields, this place was bustling. Each plot, encircled with wooden poles, had hundreds of people diligently working; there were also armored soldiers moving through the fields, shouting loudly, seemingly urging something, and on the edge of the fields, people holding wooden boards and pens were observing and recording something...

"The Sage was right, there are quite a few of our tribesmen working in the fields!" a Skodisqi person sitting on the carriage gazing at the fields happily remarked.

"Look over there, those are all Pannonians!" someone shouted.

For those from the former rebel army, if not looked at closely, they might think the Pannonians and the Skodisqi people looked somewhat similar, making it hard to distinguish at a glance. But for the Skodisqi people, who bore deep resentment towards their enemies, they could recognize them at first sight, even if from afar, even if they had their heads lowered or their bodies turned to the side.

These Pannonians were noticeably fewer in number compared to the Skodisqi in the fields. The fields they tilled were some distance away from where the Skodisqi people worked, with even a small squad of fully armed soldiers patrolling between the two. Perhaps due to these reasons, both sides were burying themselves in their hard work, not hurling abuses, arguments, or even getting physical, thus showing a quiet and peaceful scene.

Though Emmerich had given prior warnings, the Skodisqi people on the carriages still felt indignant, one disregarding the presence of strangers, angrily said, "Damn it! Have these guys really forgotten the hatred and made friends with our enemies?"

"Pannonians and Skodisqi people becoming friends? That’s impossible!" The driver laughed heartily, interjecting, "Previously, fights and brawls between the two were frequent, but later they were suppressed by various punishments from the tribe."

Gowes was stirred, and asked, "What punishments does the Nix Tribe have for their fights and skirmishes?"