Chapter 375 - Dongsha Island
The most problematic was phosphorus fertilizer. After much deliberation, the easiest natural phosphate source was animal bones. The Agricultural Committee had been using leftover fish bones and scraps from the seafood processing plant for fertilization, occasionally obtaining animal bones. But improving 1,500 mu of land—where would they find so many bones?
Wood ash could also supplement phosphorus, but again the problem was insufficient quantity.
After much brainstorming, they decided to call Luo Duo.
Luo Duo now worked at the Political Security Bureau's Social Department compiling incriminating files—a fulfilling life. But after hours, he continued serving as a living encyclopedia.
Wu Nanhai's question was: how to manufacture phosphorus fertilizer without phosphate ore?
"That's easy," Luo Duo said. "Boil wood ash..."
"I know that. Animal bones too. But I need to fertilize 1,500 mu of severely phosphorus-deficient soil."
"Get steel slag from the Metallurgy Department," Luo Duo replied. "I recall they use small converters, right? Perfect." He continued: "Steel slag mixed with lime produces a crude phosphate fertilizer."
Converter steelmaking's slag-making process used sand to create acidic slag, displacing phosphorus from pig iron. So converter slag contained considerable phosphorus.
"Good." Wu Nanhai immediately called the Metallurgy Department.
Ji Wusheng told him, however, that most accumulated steel slag had already been used for road paving. Only a few tons remained at the steel plant.
"A few tons will do," Fa Shilu said. "Let's make do. If not enough, use lots of wood ash—have the Citizens' School students launch a wood ash recycling campaign. Also apply peat heavily."
"I wonder if External Trade Committee ever finalized Nanbao?"
Nanbao's mines produced lignite and peat that in modern times were Lingao's main fertilizer source. The transmigrators naturally wouldn't ignore this. But Nanbao was near Li territory in hilly terrain. The Long-Range Reconnaissance Team had visited several times and concluded self-extraction was too expensive—too distant, practically like opening a branch base. Better to have locals extract then purchase or requisition.
But nothing had materialized yet. Locals weren't interested in mining this black stuff. Even with transmigrator purchasing offers, no one wanted to extract and transport it.
After Wu Nanhai reported the need for lignite fertilizer to the Executive Committee, Wu De decided delay was unacceptable. They would use compulsory quotas for collection. Liaisons from all villages near Nanbao were summoned and assigned quotas for extracting and transporting specified "heavy jin" of lignite to Bairren—in return, their grain obligations could be offset with lignite and peat.
"Many thanks," Wu Nanhai was nearly moved to tears. "Actually, phosphate ore would be even better..."
"I've no source for that," Wu De said helplessly. "There's none locally."
"How about sailing to Yulin Harbor for mining?" Wu Nanhai suggested. He'd seen in bulletins that phosphate deposits were found near Tiandu.
Ma Qianzhu shook his head: "The Yulin phosphate isn't at the coast—must go over ten kilometers inland. No roads, no equipment—can't get it back in under a month."
"I see." Wu Nanhai was disappointed. "Can we think of something—send a small mining team first for ten tons or so?"
"Well—" Ma Qianzhu considered. The Agricultural Committee wasn't the only one needing phosphorus. The Chemical Industry Department and Weapons Group had also requested phosphate ore. Making everyone wait half a year for Tiandu development—other things could wait, but grain couldn't.
"Let me ask Resources Department if there's a quick, economical method." Ma Qianzhu picked up the telephone on his desk: "Switchboard, this is Planning Committee—connect me to Office 22."
"For the fastest solution, go to Dongsha Island for guano," came the Long-Range Reconnaissance Team secretary Zhao Xue's reply. "Per resource maps, it's not far from here. The island has mountains of guano deposits—easy open-pit extraction. One shipload should be enough."
"Guano would be even better," Wu Nanhai said. Guano was rich not just in phosphorus but also nitrogen and potassium—natural compound fertilizer. This would save potassium fertilizer too.
"Alright, deploy the Navy," Ma Qianzhu immediately decided. "Invite Naval People's Commissar Chen Haiyang. Let's plan which ships to send."
Wu Nanhai felt overwhelmed by the favor—such efficiency, such decisiveness! Much better than endless "let's discuss this, let's think it over."
The decision was made: Zhenhai would sail to harvest guano—time was of the essence. Sending sailing ships would take ten-plus days; the hybrid-powered ship was far more convenient. After all, close-hauled sailing was skilled work. Among transmigrators, only the Qian brothers from North America were reasonably experienced—they'd at least sailed small boats before.
Commanded by Lin Chuanqing, Zhenhai quickly located Dongsha Island following navigation charts. The island was about 2.5 kilometers wide, very flat without peaks, but covered with coconut palms. Masses of seabirds constantly circled and swooped above the island, flying around Zhenhai's masts, occasionally leaving "gifts" for the deck crew.
"Damn it!" Lin Chuanqing cursed, spitting. His cap had already been blessed. Fishermen were somewhat superstitious about such things—considered bad luck.
"So many birds—guano must be abundant," said the enthusiastic Bai Guoshi.
"To hell with your guano," Lin Chuanqing grumbled, putting on a straw hat. "How did I get stuck with this assignment!"
Lin Chuanqing, a fisherman who'd also been a smuggler guide for years, knew the Dongsha route without charts. But he'd never approached this place before—the Taiwan Marine Corps stationed there made inspections troublesome. A bad-tempered officer might suspect espionage and treat you to a burst of gunfire—extremely unappetizing.
"Depth 8.3 meters, distance 3 cables!" a sailor reported loudly.
"Reduce speed, lower boats, sound depths!" Lin Chuanqing ordered. Several sailors lowered a small boat and rowed toward the island.
"Dongsha has a lagoon—can't we sail directly in?" Bai Guoshi asked.
"Too shallow." Lin Chuanqing shook his head. Though he'd never visited Dongsha, he'd heard about it. The lagoon was very shallow. "Under a meter at low tide. Go in and you'll ground."
The entire Dongsha Island formed a crescent shape, roughly one square kilometer, with a lagoon in the western section. This lagoon was barely one meter deep at low tide, with an outlet only twenty meters wide—almost useless as a coral island anchorage. The extremely narrow opening caused minimal water exchange, leading to long-term accumulation of organic debris on the bottom. Overall, it resembled coastal swamp ecosystem rather than the clear-watered, coral-rich lagoons typical of coral islands. Several transmigrators hoping to enjoy tropical coral island scenery were disappointed.
Following the sounding boat's guidance, the ship circled the island's west side. Dongsha was actually the only exposed island in a chain of atolls. The entire Dongsha atoll was roughly 20 kilometers in diameter. Ships could enter this atoll lagoon to anchor, but lacking exposed coral reef barriers for shelter, it had limited value as a storm harbor.
"Stop engines! Drop anchor!" Lin Chuanqing maneuvered as close as possible to shore, not anchoring until the forward keel nearly scraped bottom.
"Assemble the pontoon bridge!" Lin Chuanqing continued giving orders.
Guano extraction required moving heavy loads. Without a lagoon suitable for large-ship berthing on Dongsha, shuttling small boats was too inefficient. So Zhenhai carried floating pontoon sections to temporarily bridge ship and beach.
"Are there people on the island? Should everyone arm up?" Bai Guoshi asked Lin Chuanqing, putting his pistol in a waterproof holster.
"Shouldn't be. Summer isn't fishing season—fishermen won't come here. But there are lots of sharks." Lin Chuanqing raised a megaphone and shouted: "Everyone be careful—many sharks in the water! Don't fall overboard! If injured, return to the ship immediately! Don't pee in the ocean! Stay calm if you see sharks..."
The lagoon's organic-rich bottom created feeding attractants as water flowed to nearby seas, drawing scent-hunting predators like sharks. Shark density here was exceptionally high. Besides sharks, the atoll lagoon contained many fierce predatory fish with significant attack capability and lethality.
Two more boats were lowered. Sailors detached pontoon sections from the hull and began linking them with chains. Lin Chuanqing ordered the marine guards to stand armed watch along both sides of the ship. Each small boat also carried a dedicated anti-shark guard equipped with harpoons, wearing chain-mail arm armor and gloves.
The atoll lagoon indeed had many sharks of various species. In the clear water, these ocean apex predators could be seen happily swimming about. Everyone was tense. Tension caused fumbling—the pontoon bridge took twice as long as usual to assemble. The nearly 100-meter floating bridge rose and fell on the surface, with shark fins occasionally visible nearby. The first group crossing the bridge to land had pale faces. Several transmigrators who'd planned to visit the island decided not to go.
Bai Guoshi, tasked with directing guano extraction, had no choice but to steel himself. Holding his breath, trembling, he crossed the pontoon and reached the island. It matched the Dongsha overview he'd learned in geography class.
The island's northeast was slightly higher, southwest slightly lower, with a low central depression. Average elevation was roughly five or six meters; the highest point in the northeast reached about ten meters. The entire island was higher around the edges, lower in the middle. The central lowland was the silted-up lagoon, occupying about one-third of total area, with its mouth opening westward.
(End of Chapter)