seattlejaycees Chapter 513 - 42: Harbor Wharf
Chapter 513 - 42: Harbor Wharf
Just as Chen Zhou expected, the indigenous people of the Archipelago were powerless against the six-person squad’s surprise attack.
The capture of the indigenous began in the morning and results were achieved by dusk.
When the silhouette of the wind-driven sails appeared on the sea bathed in the glow of sunset, all the islanders who witnessed this scene were thoroughly uplifted.
...
That night, over 40 naked new members joined this "big family."
This time, Sunday did not deliberately select; the captured indigenous people varied in age and gender, adding diversity to the island’s population composition.
...
As soon as the new captives disembarked, they were escorted by the six-person squad to the rudimentary barracks prepared for them in advance.
They would undergo unified cleaning here and then be dressed in simple clothing.
Middle-aged individuals, young people, and women would also be separated here and moved to different areas to live.
Middle-aged and young people with labor capacity would be assigned to other islanders, following them to learn Mandarin while working.
Children with poor physical condition and women who easily cause disputes would have priority in schooling, living in school dormitories, receiving education while being assigned tasks suitable to their talents.
Especially the children.
Compared to middle-aged or young indigenous people whose minds have already been "polluted," these children, who have no clear understanding of the world, are the future in Chen Zhou’s eyes.
To ensure these children fully accept the modern education system, he plans to manage them under a "semi-closed system."
Children with surviving parents can meet them twice a month, but the rest of the time, they must stay obediently in school, learning subjects such as language arts, math, chemistry, physics, and agriculture.
Once they complete their studies, these indigenous children will enter the island’s middle and upper management positions one by one, using their acquired knowledge to contribute to the island’s development and to illuminate and warm their kin.
...
In this era not yet modernized and unable to fully rely on automated assembly lines, population equates to productivity.
No matter how much knowledge Chen Zhou possesses alone, he cannot build a nation.
But these indigenous—
Even if they are ignorant and backward in thought, completely unaware of natural science, as long as they obey orders, one building after another will rise from the ground.
Much like Chen Zhou’s plan long ago, on the other side of the mountain, surrounding Execution Square, a flat circular square and "court" emerge like mushrooms after the rain, expanding slowly from the center outward.
Originally occupying a small area, the gallows transformed from wood to stone; besides the gallows it also includes a beheading stage and lingchi frame, and a whipping platform.
Chen Zhou originally intended to emulate the late 18th century design, building a tall guillotine to display his inviolable authority and prestige.
But recalling the fate of Louis XVI, he ultimately did not implement this project.
The beheading stage replacing the guillotine employs manual beheading, and firearms may also be used in the future; though far less impactful than guillotining, it reassures Chen Zhou much more.
...
A small prison capable of holding more than 20 people was built around Execution Square.
Though the island’s penal law had been promulgated some time ago, until the prison was completed, no one dared to break the law.
The veterans behaved themselves, living their lives as usual, getting up early for work, finishing in the evening, cooking, chatting, perhaps fishing, playing chess or cards with friends, utterly lacking opportunity for crime.
Newly added island indigenous were busy learning Mandarin, absorbing knowledge amidst their fear of the new world, transforming bit by bit.
They are under surveillance almost 24 hours a day, not only having no criminal thoughts, but even if they did, such thoughts would be nipped in the bud.
Therefore, since its construction, the prison has stood there, serving only as decoration.
Like the execution stage and court, this empty building represents the consequences of crime.
Every day, when islanders labor in the fields and pass by the square, seeing these two buildings, they caution themselves, thereby dispelling bold ideas.
This kind of effect is enough for Chen Zhou.
...
Along with the court and prison, the new indigenous residential area was completed.
To make this group of newcomers have a clear understanding of the hierarchy among islanders, Chen Zhou set three standards for all residences.
The most basic housing is the four-person shared dwelling, entirely wooden.
These homes have no floors inside, no windows, only a door, with four beds, a dirt stove, a wooden storage rack, and some simple furniture.
After learning basic labor skills and Mandarin, new members will move into these wooden houses.
Those with strong learning abilities, good work performance, or credited accomplishments will be given priority to move into more advanced housing.
At a higher level, houses have windows.
But with limited glass on the island, these houses don’t use glass windows, but wooden shutters that can be opened in the daytime for ventilation and lighting, and at night, once closed, it’s difficult to see outside through the windows.
During the rainy season, these windows can only block part of the wind and rain, and during storms, rainwater will inevitably make its way inside, causing inconvenience.
Level 2 homes evolve from four-person to two-person dwellings, with wooden floors, separate kitchens and bedrooms, and a small room for storage or used as a living room.
For new members, living in a level 2 home is a lifelong goal worth striving for.