Learning the Game: The Xia Dynasty (Part II)

We’re back in ancient China, peeps for another episode of Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom’s tutorial missions. This time we’re going to learn about how to farm for sustainability in a mission we’ll call “Seeds of Civilization.” Enjoy!

Welcome back to the village of Banpo!

Several generations have passed and the village that your people founded along the banks of the Wei River has prospered. There is a renewed sense of excitement in the town today. Word has just arrived of a nutritious new food source — millet. As a highly respected village elder, you are needed to plan the establishment of farms where millet can be grown to supplement the diet. Hemp farms can also be built. The fibres from the hemp plant have many uses, not the least of which is for durable garments.

XIA 02 – SEEDS OF CIVILIZATION

Banpo – February 2002 BCE

Objectives:

• 250 people in Attractive Cottage or better

The venerable Liao Taizu has led the village of Banpo for 36 successful years, during which the people have lived in perfect harmony with the land. Now, at the start of the New Year, more immigrants from the North have arrived and settled down along the banks of the Wei River and they brought with them news of an incredible new technology.

The people have learned the art of farming and have cultivated crops such as millet and hemp. Liao Taizu quickly called a meeting of the village elders and considered this news.

Cai Yun, a diviner from the village Ancestral Shrine, said that this is a blessing from the ancestors.

Xiao Dazhong, the young water carrier, agreed and volunteered to lead some men to begin farming hemp.

April 2002 BCE – Xiao Dazhong gathered men to farm hemp along the Wei.

The hemp farm was successful and millet farming followed not long after.

July 2002 BCE – A farmhouse were constructed and millet seedlings were planted just outside the village square.

The city suffered worker shortages as farming and hunting took quite a number of people preoccupied. In response to this problem, Liao Taizu shuffled around some workers and built gardens to beautify Banpo. These recent developments attracted quite a number of immigrants who were just glad to have jobs as soon as they arrived.

Farming season ended by November and the food vendors cooked Steamed Meat Buns with pheasant and millet. It was a bountiful harvest. The Hemp Shop opened and people enjoyed new garments weaved from the durable fibers of the hemp plant.

December 2002 BCE – “Hemp cloth is durable and practical. What else could one want?” – Wang Yin, Hemp Vendor

Energized by the new food, new clothes and new gardens, they have remodeled their houses into Attractive Cottages to hold more people.

And before the New Year arrived, Victory was achieved.

That’s it for today! Join me and Liao Taizu tomorrow as we discover The Good Things, and as usual keep on reading my blog for more Rocket Powered Stuff from around the world. Or China. Whatever. Lol!

Advertisements