Chapter 141: Harpoon Gun and Fishing Net
Over the next few days, Li Meng stayed in the Yue Clan and didn't go anywhere else.
During the day, he played with Yue E, and at night, he spent time with Bai Ling.
On the third day, a goblin team appeared in the waters east of the Yue Clan.
The team was made up of over a hundred goblins.
They approached on bamboo rafts from the eastern waterway and landed on the shore.
By noon, the eastern gate of the Yue Clan was bustling with noise.
"Boss, what are these?"
Bai Ling looked confused as she watched the goblins unloading goods from the rafts.
Those goods appeared to be some kind of long-pole weapons.
The tips were spearheads shaped like a trident.
Li Meng picked up one of the harpoon guns.
"This is a harpoon gun. It can be used for fishing and also as a weapon."
Although the harpoon gun was entirely forged from metal, its shaft was hollow, so it wasn't very heavy.
Holding the harpoon gun, Li Meng strode toward the water's edge.
When he reached the shore, he gripped the harpoon gun and stared at the water's surface.
After a while, a dark shadow flashed beneath the water.
Li Meng reversed his grip on the harpoon gun and stabbed it into the water.
The harpoon gun splashed into the water with a "whoosh."
When he pulled it out, the harpoon head had speared a plump green catfish.
This scene made the eyes of the lizardmen elders behind him light up.
Li Meng removed the catfish from the harpoon head and tossed it to the lizardmen elders.
Gray Scales quickly caught the fish.
"To catch live ones, we need another tool."
At this moment, goblins carried down bundles of spider silk from the rafts.
Li Meng turned and pointed at the spider silk while addressing the lizardmen elders.
"In the next half month, I will teach you how to weave fishing nets!"
The bustle outside the eastern gate continued for a long time.
It wasn't until the afternoon that the goblins, having delivered their goods, pushed their bamboo rafts back into the water and departed.
In the days that followed, Li Meng began teaching the Yue Clan how to weave fishing nets.
There were many types of nets: casting nets, surrounding nets, and drag nets.
For the lizardmen, these three types of nets were the most suitable.
Compared to the goblins, the lizardmen were far more intelligent.
Not only did they learn quickly, but they also thought critically about the new techniques they were learning.
Half a month later, one afternoon.
Outside the eastern gate, it was bustling once again.
Hundreds of lizardmen had gathered in the shallow waters.
From a distance, it looked like a dense, dark crowd.
"A dozen of you will handle the drag nets. Maintain your speed; once you enter the water, don't stop!"
Facing Li Meng's gaze, a dozen lizardmen nodded nervously.
Li Meng turned to another group of lizardmen.
"You are responsible for dragging the fishing nets from both sides. Make sure the nets don't snag on the bottom."
That group of lizardmen quickly nodded in response.
"And you will drive the fish!"
Thus, Li Meng carefully assigned tasks to each team of lizardmen.
"Start, move out!"
The lizardmen responsible for dragging the nets tied the ropes to their shoulders.
They dove into the deep waters.
The drag nets were pulled from the shallow waters into the deeper areas with a "splashing" sound.
The other two groups of lizardmen quickly followed, jumping into the water.
On the surface, the lizardmen swam vigorously.
Underwater, the enormous drag nets loomed like a massive, devouring mouth.
Onshore, other lizardmen watched the fishing team curiously as they disappeared into the water.
Within a kilometer-wide water area, the fishing team moved back and forth.
From the sky, one could see lizardmen chasing schools of fish in the water.
Although the fish darted back and forth, they sometimes inadvertently swam into the drag nets.
After less than half an hour, the lizardmen pulling the drag nets began to look exhausted.
The fishing team had no choice but to return to shore.
"They're coming up, they're coming up!"
Seeing the lizardmen dragging the nets ashore, the lizardmen on the bank quickly rushed to help.
Dozens of lizardmen worked together to haul the drag nets onto the shore.
"It's fish! So many fish!"
Even before the nets were completely out of the water, splashes erupted within them.
Various kinds of fish crowded the nets.
The surrounding lizardmen watched in amazement.
They had never imagined that fishing could be so simple.
In the past, catching fish had been very difficult for them.
Fish were far faster and more agile in the water than they were.
Their method of fishing involved driving the fish into shallow waters, then using stone cleavers to stun them.
"Boss, did… did you come up with this idea?"
With his round belly, Bai Ling looked at the boss beside her in disbelief.
Although the boss had previously explained how the three types of fishing nets worked, Bai Ling hadn't truly believed it.
Because the drag net didn't have a sealed end, Bai Ling thought that even if fish swam into it, they could easily escape.
But reality proved that they were completely wrong.
The lizardmen elders nearby were equally astonished.
Just a single net had captured those fish so easily?
The efficiency of this method was astonishing.
This single haul was enough to feed the tribe for several days.
Li Meng grinned and pointed at his head.
"I told you, I'm a smart goblin!"
Bai Ling stared blankly at her boss.
She had always thought he was a special and intelligent goblin.
But today, she realized she had still underestimated his wisdom.
In the days that followed, the noise outside the eastern gate continued for a long time.
Li Meng also taught the lizardmen how to use surrounding nets and casting nets.
Drag nets were suitable for deep waters, while casting and surrounding nets worked better in shallow areas.
For several days in a row, the waters around the Yue Clan were bustling.
The lizardmen were learning how to skillfully use harpoon guns and fishing nets.
Half a month later, one night, Bai Ling gave birth.
For the first time, Li Meng saw how females gave birth to small goblins.
Another new day arrived, in the morning.
Inside the chieftain's wooden house, chaos filled the air.
More than a dozen small goblins, like little rabbits, were running around and playing noisily.
"You little brats, quiet down and sit!"
Unable to tolerate it anymore, Li Meng roared.
The noisy little goblins froze in fright.
They quickly scrambled into a straight line, obediently sitting down.
Their little eyes darted curiously at the lizardmen elders inside the room.
Seeing the little goblins finally quiet down, the lizardmen elders heaved a sigh of relief.
Although the little goblins were only newborns, their claws and teeth were exceptionally sharp.
It was easy to get scratched by them.
Seated on animal hides, Li Meng looked around at the lizardmen elders.
"It's been nearly a month. It's time for me to leave."
The boss's words caused the lizardmen elders' expressions to shift slightly.
"Teaching you how to weave fishing nets was to improve your fishing efficiency. In the future, you will need to provide a certain portion of military rations."
The lizardmen elders nodded repeatedly.
The boss had already explained what military rations were.
It was simply preparing some dried fish for the goblins.
This task was simple and not difficult at all.
Li Meng stood up and strode toward the exit.
"Let's go, you little brats!"
The boss's shout made the little goblins jump up happily and run toward him.
Like geckos, they climbed onto Li Meng's body.
Some clung to his shoulders.
Others grabbed onto his hide clothing.
Bai Ling and the lizardmen stood up to see them off.