diskusbooks Chapter 576 Fire is the Origin of Civilization
Chapter 576 Fire is the Origin of Civilization
Pang Liao felt like his lungs were about to explode with pain.
At this time, his eyes were sore and difficult to open, so he could only use his left eye alternately.
He closed his left eye tightly to relieve the pain and squinted his right eye to look at the road ahead.
While closing your right eye, look forward with your left eye.
Cycle like this.
But the heat in his body made him extremely painful, and the smoke and dust that entered his mouth and throat made him almost nauseous.
The scorching air and the trees that had burned black turned Weiyang Mountain into a living hell on earth.
Pang Liao saw with his own eyes a soldier with his body on fire, screaming and rushing towards him, and was killed by him with one sword.
He could no longer shout to charge, so he could only lean on his sword and walk forward with his back bent.
Many people around me threw away their armor because the hot armor was not only a burden, but also caused blisters when touched, which was extremely uncomfortable.
They ran out with their bare hands and fell on the road.
“Run…Run…”
"Kill the Yan dog, kill the Yan dog!"
Pang Liao called out softly, not noticing that there were fewer and fewer people around him.
Finally, he ran halfway up the mountain, but he stopped.
In front of him was a large area of fallen trees, burning with flames, completely blocking his way.
Pang Liao looked at the sea of fire in front of him with despair, smiled bitterly, and loosened the sleeves that were covering his mouth and nose. He knelt on one knee, holding the sword, and howled to the sky.
"Shen Changgong! You beast! You shall not die a good death! I curse your whole family to die miserably, and I curse you to never give birth to a son!"
"The dog Yan must die! The Great Wei will live forever!"
After saying this, he picked up the sword, faced south, and placed the sword across his neck.
"Dad! Mom! I'm such an unfilial child!"
He drew his sword and committed suicide!
Pang Liao, commander of the northern army of Wei's 500,000-strong force, perished in the sea of fire at Weiyang Mountain.
The fire is still burning.
Outside, Shen Changgong, Ma Ling and others were sitting on the high platform in the east, looking at the mountain with binoculars.
The wind is blowing from the east today, and they are all in the east, so they won't be choked by the smoke.
But even at such a distance, they could still feel the terrifying temperature.
They saw many Wei soldiers in a miserable state escaping from the sea of fire and crawling towards the Yan army.
The Yan army shouted to put down their weapons, otherwise they would be shot.
The Wei army had escaped death and no longer had the courage to fight. They immediately dropped their weapons and ran to the open gate of the Yan army's camp. They were then escorted to the prisoner-of-war camp in the rear by the Yan army.
If the injured were too serious to require medical treatment, the Yan army would decisively end their suffering.
The fire did not start from one direction, but burned from all directions and the center. It was arson, not a natural fire.
So it burns very quickly.
Except for some soldiers in the surrounding areas who managed to escape, most of the soldiers inside died.
Such a big wildfire doesn't give them any hope of escape.
Gongsun Wan'er sat aside and sighed,
"Wildfires are truly terrifying. Fire and water are merciless. Once a fire starts, no one can escape and will be burned or suffocated to death.
No wonder the government often promotes fire prevention; fire is simply a demon."
Shen Changgong smiled slightly and said,
"Fire is not a demon. It is the seed of hope and the beginning of civilization. In ancient times, fire was the most sacred thing.
It can be said that without fire, humans today would still be like wild beasts, living a life of eating raw meat and drinking blood."
"Hmm? What do you mean? Fire is the seed of civilization?"
Gongsun Wan'er asked with her big stupid eyes.
Shen Changgong chuckled and said,
"Of course, long, long ago, when humans were still apes..."
"Our ancestors were monkeys?"
"No, ape is just a metaphor. Great apes and monkeys are completely different species.
But the people at that time were no different from monkeys, except that they were taller.
Like other animals, we live in the wild. We don’t have sharp teeth and claws, so we can’t defeat jackals, tigers and leopards, and can only survive with difficulty.
The reduction of forests and the increase of plains forced our ancestors to come down from the trees and walk upright.
Our ancestors worried about finding food every day.
Until one day, a bolt of lightning struck a dry tree, and the sparks caused the tree to catch fire, which in turn caused a wildfire and ignited a forest.
Well, just like what we see before our eyes, that’s how the term “thunder and lightning” came about.”
Shen Changgong pointed to the fire in front of him and continued,
“After the fire, there were many burnt animal carcasses left inside.
Our ancestors picked up the roasted meat and ate it, and found that it was not only delicious, but also very filling and easy to swallow.
Gradually, they discovered that meat roasted over fire could absorb nutrients better, satisfy hunger better, and was less likely to make people sick after eating it.
They learned to keep the fire burning.
They learned to throw stones and make spears, bone knives, and stone knives for hunting. They could roast the prey over a fire and eat it.
They discovered that the land burned by fire was very fertile, and after sowing grain seeds in it, more grain could grow.
Thus, mankind entered the agricultural age.
This is where the term slash-and-burn comes from.
They also discovered that fire could drive away wild beasts and prevent them from harming the farmers and their tribesmen.
They also discovered that flames could burn clay, turning it into pottery, which could then be used to boil water and cook food, whether it was meat or vegetables.
Cooked food is more nutritious and easier to digest.
They also discovered that drinking hot water could cure illnesses.
Because of the greatly reduced mortality rate from diseases, the human population grew explosively, and we finally became the masters of this land.
Because they walked upright and ate healthy food, and because the amount of food increased, they didn't need to worry about food every day, so they didn't need to evolve their limbs. Instead, they could evolve their brains, making them smarter and smarter, thus giving birth to human civilization.
So, fire is a really good thing, it is the origin of human civilization."
Everyone around was stunned. They didn't expect that this was how fire came about and how humans evolved.
Southern King Ma Ling laughed and said,
"I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable."
Shen Changgong chuckled and said,
"Of course, fire has many more uses. It can also be used to smelt iron and create sharper weapons.
Fire can boil water, and the steam from the boiling water can be converted into kinetic energy.
When there are no more wars, I will invent the steam engine and the internal combustion engine for you, and then the Industrial Revolution will break out.
It’s just that for thousands of years, all of human civilization has been nothing more than boiling water and throwing stones.”
No one understood and didn't know how to ask.
In front, the fire was still burning fiercely, and fewer and fewer Wei soldiers ran out.
After a whole hour, no one came out.