CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 156: HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOONS (PART 2)

"If the performance isn’t enough, make up with quantity. As long as there are enough flying, the coverage will eventually expand."

"I don’t care where that so-called ’mastermind’ is hiding, nor what intentions it has towards us."

"However, our territory absolutely cannot allow any unidentified outsiders to enter."

"The fire is already burning, the next step is to burn a barrier 30 kilometers outside the perimeter of Base 011."

"There cannot be any shelters that might obstruct high-altitude reconnaissance. Anything that tries to approach us must pass through the detection of the barrier."

"Goodness, a dry moat, huh..."

Lei Jie shook his head amusedly and said:

"Why didn’t I think of such an exaggerated idea?"

"Because your mindset hasn’t completely shifted yet."

Chen Jian said earnestly:

"In our times, setting fire to the mountain could lead to sitting in prison, but considering the situation here now..."

"There’s really an annoying abundance of forests and plants."

"Some must be burned off!"

...

The confirmation of high-altitude balloons and vacuum isolation strip plans filled the last missing link in Chen Jian’s defensive strategy. Once these two conditions are met, information and firepower can achieve a preliminary closed loop. When the Beast Tide comes, the Huaxia Army will have enough reaction time to organize defense.

Chen Jian believes that with such perfect preparation, the Huaxia Army’s odds of facing the Beast Tide are significantly higher than those Mimic Heretics.

After all, based on current information, they only have strong firepower and combat capabilities, but there are still many fatal gaps in their combat and technical systems...

Everything is basically arranged, and Chen Jian’s mood finally relaxed.

After leaving the command room, he immediately issued orders, asking Shen Yue to gather the Huaxia Army’s first, second, and third squads, preparing to take them out for field training, and by the way, clear any remaining monsters nearby.

"...You know what to do and how to arrange the script, so I won’t elaborate."

"My requirement is absolutely no unnecessary casualties."

"After all, these Huaxia Army members have been selected as promising candidates. If one training isn’t enough, then do more, no need to go to extremes."

"Rest assured, I’m aware."

Shen Yue nodded and replied:

"This high-pressure test will mainly focus on non-combat testing. With Fu Xi monitoring throughout and two Holy Blood as high-mobility support team covering, there shouldn’t be any major issues."

"If things really don’t go well, I’ll end the operation prematurely and find another opportunity."

"Okay."

Chen Jian nodded with satisfaction, then gestured to the swarm of ant-robots waiting beside to move a large box in front of Shen Yue, and began speaking:

"Go a bit further this time, and take these with you, set them up."

"What is this?"

Shen Yue asked puzzled.

"Simple earthquake detectors, taken from the underground warehouse of the Zijin Mountain Observatory, most can be used after repairs."

"That Whale Catfish is still unaccounted for, I’m worried it might have started tunneling."

"I can’t control it if it’s over in Su Hang, but if it’s already tunneling close to us, we must be prepared."

"As long as we detect abnormal seismic signals, we can triangulate and pinpoint its position."

"Then..."

"Understood."

Shen Yue nodded:

"What about the deployment area? Is it planned?"

"Fu Xi will send it to your PDA, just follow the instructions."

"Understood."

Shen Yue saluted Chen Jian, without further ado, quickly organized the team, and the three squads of Huaxia Army immediately set out.

Standing to the side, Huang Yu watched the soldiers’ departing backs with envy, his eyes seemed somewhat lost.

Chen Jian walked over to him, playfully asked:

"What’s wrong? Feeling unbalanced after missing out on combat twice in a row?"

"No, sir!"

Huang Yu immediately replied:

"Just a bit envious."

Chen Jian patted Huang Yu’s shoulder, comforting him:

"Don’t worry, it’s wartime now, there will be plenty of opportunities to achieve something great."

"I have more important tasks for you."

"In about 10 days, the first batch of refugees from the Imperial City will arrive."

"I need you to come up with a comprehensive plan to screen and train these refugees."

"The Huaxia Army needs to expand, I hope you can advance further, don’t limit yourself to ’platoon commander’ mode."

"I want you to be the first company commander of the Huaxia Army, understand?"

"Understood!"

Huang Yu replied loudly.

Company commander?

He actually had little desire for so-called "military rank" or "position", but after receiving Chen Jian’s promise, he indeed felt an invigorating sense.

This is the company commander of the Huaxia Army.

In such a position, he wouldn’t hesitate to refuse even if a captain of the Holy Temple Guard wanted to trade.

But can I really handle it?

He wanted more confidence from Chen Jian, but the latter had already moved on, directly heading towards the vast burned land.

----Chen Jian didn’t care what Huang Yu thought.

Anyway, the burden is yours to carry, no matter what, you must shoulder it for me.

He was more concerned about whether the land burned could be cultivated into fields for planting.

After all, this truly concerned the Huaxia Army’s food security.

"What do you think, is the soil here enough to grow crops?"

Squatting on the ground with a woman from Yellow Stone City inspecting the soil, Lei Jie raised his head and replied:

"Without more detailed testing methods, but it can be basically confirmed that the toxic substances brought by second-level monsters and those fungal mats have been completely burned away."

"It should certainly be possible to plant, a large accumulation of ash, the fertility should be sufficient as well."

"Now, the irrigation issue is more troublesome — I’m discussing with her — she’s Huang Fei, I’m discussing the matter of water channeling with her."

"The current preliminary plan is to dig a canal from Xuanwu Lake over, then build a network-like irrigation channel on the main canal."

"She is very competent in this aspect, the irrigation channels for fields in Yellow Stone City were planned by her."

"A remarkable woman, not bad."

Chen Jian gave a thumbs up, Huang Fei smiled a bit shyly, then said:

"It’s an honor, commander."

"There’s no need for honor and praise."

Chen Jian waved his hand:

"Rewards are according to contributions, solve a problem and receive appropriate rewards. If things go well, you could be entirely in charge of the water works at Base 011."

"Of course, you also need to continue learning, advance further in knowledge level."

Chen Jian spoke more "officially," but it was intentional.

The team is growing, though he doesn’t need privileges, he must establish a certain sense of boundaries among the other residents.

If not, future management would be quite difficult.

And clearly, these residents indeed adhere to this procedure.

As of now, the entire base operation can be said to be running smoothly, indistinctly reaching a kind of "military order must be followed" degree.

After briefly discussing a few sentences with the two, Chen Jian stood up, preparing to check the production status of the Type 75 rifles at the ordnance factory managed by Ji Xing.

But just then, Fu Xi’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"Commander, a large group of refugees discovered 20 kilometers south of Base 011. After drone close observation, face images recorded."

"It’s Jiang Yu; she’s brought people from Qian Island Lake Town."

"So soon?!"

Chen Jian was stunned.

It’s just over 4 days since she brought the people here?

No matter how she managed it, the efficiency is somewhat... exaggerated.

"Yes, identity confirmed."

"Commander, the opposite side is carrying quite a lot of supplies, should we deploy trucks to intercept?"

"Go, quickly."

Chen Jian immediately nodded.

He was quite impatient.

Because he genuinely wanted to know how that girl named Jiang Yu managed to lead a team of over two hundred people, covering close to 200 kilometers in just five days...