CHAPTER 357: CHAPTER 165: WOODEN AIRPLANE

The next day.

For most people, it was a fulfilling night, and the joke "plowing eighty acres overnight" became a reality.

Early the next morning, when Chen Jian walked out of the door of Structure 011, he was nearly stunned by the sight before him.

All the wasteland as far as the eye could see had been thoroughly cleaned up, with rocks, tree roots, and unfinished rusted steel bars and debris excavated and piled into a small hill.

The newly appointed excavator operators had bloodshot eyes, but their spirits were high and excited.

If Jiang Yu hadn’t forcibly stopped them, they probably wouldn’t be willing to leave the excavators even now.

Chen Jian amusingly watched the residents yawning and lining up for food, shaking his head and said:

"This is really interesting, the excavator has become a toy."

Hearing his words, Huang Yu, who happened to be standing behind him, unexpectedly stepped forward and said:

"Commander, actually when most of us first learned to drive, we treated it as a toy too."

"I actually think this mindset is pretty good, it keeps the enthusiasm up."

"I didn’t say it’s bad... how was the training yesterday? Did you visit the injured?"

"I visited them all, and the funerals are arranged."

Huang Yu immediately straightened up, then responded:

"The training went relatively well, the intensity was high yesterday, but no one was eliminated."

"From my experience, if they can get through three days, there won’t be any more dropouts."

"However, these newcomers are a bit different from us, so I’m worried giving them too much at once is overwhelming. We plan to rest today."

"It’s perfect timing, Lei Jie organized some logistical tasks, we’re all going to help."

"Alright."

Chen Jian knew what the logistical tasks Huang Yu mentioned referred to.

Previously, after Fu Xi completed the gun production line in the smart workshop, it rapidly pivoted towards the long-planned ammonia synthesis direction, with the high-pressure cylinder, critical in ammonia synthesis, taking precedence.

At this point, the farsighted design of this smart workshop became apparent.

If it had used a more ’opportunistic’ assembly scheme, relying heavily on metal 3D printing technology, while it wouldn’t be impossible to produce such large, high-material-demand components, both efficiency and reliability would be significantly compromised.

But now, within just over four days, a 13.5-meter-high high-pressure cylinder had already been produced.

Next, once the cylinder is prioritized for installation, subsequent equipment, whether in manufacturing or installation, shouldn’t face major issues.

Certainly, installing the high-pressure cylinder is not that simple.

Theoretically, without a large crane, aligning the high-pressure cylinder is nearly impossible.

Lei Jie adopted a strategy that can be described as opportunistic, finding a low-lying area to realize installing the cylinder from high to low.

This way, the crane issue was addressed.

But the relatively complex transportation process had to rely heavily on manpower.

This wasn’t an easy task.

Thinking of this, Chen Jian spoke:

"You trained them too hard yesterday, those new recruits probably haven’t recovered."

"When working later, try not to have them do heavy labor."

"Safety first. If there’s a workplace injury, it’ll be a bit embarrassing."

"Understood, rest assured, Commander."

Huang Yu agreed promptly, and the two headed to the kitchen to take their breakfast, ate a simple meal, and Lei Jie began to lead everyone into Structure 011 to prepare for the transport.

Most areas inside the structure had high-load-bearing tracks laid, and there were dedicated logistics elevators for the passages, ensuring they faced no issues until the cylinder was brought out of the main passage.

But once the cylinder left the structure, the real challenge began.

The expression "shoulder-carrying and hand-dragging" may not accurately describe the Huaxia Army, which boasts large machinery, but indeed almost everyone in the whole base was mobilized, each performing their roles.

Like ants, they desperately transported the massive object bearing their future, with commands, shouts, and chants echoing everywhere.

Men sweating profusely took water bottles from children and women, took a sip, then turned back to their stations.

As the temperature gradually warmed up, some began to shed their clothes.

Their knotted muscles, under the noon sun, contrasted astonishingly with the mountainous steel structure, creating a picture full of tension and post-modern industrial aesthetics.

Chen Jian also joined the team, doing his part.

When the sunset gradually deepened, and the high-pressure cylinder finally landed at its designated spot, there was a great cheer among the crowd.

They had accomplished a great feat.

Even if it’s just the beginning.

It wasn’t any less than a major victory, so Chen Jian unhesitatingly ordered a "feast tonight".

When everyone sat together, drinking a "beverage" not containing alcohol but loaded with sugar, all the barriers disappeared.

Chen Jian, satisfied, watched the group feasting together, saying to Lei Jie beside him:

"We were somewhat worried about cohesion before, but now it seems this issue doesn’t exist at all."

"Large-scale industrial production naturally carries a ’spectacle’ aspect, and as long as everyone participates, they will inevitably come together subconsciously."

"A sense of identity will quickly emerge, and all we have to do is guide it along this path."

"Looking at it this way, things aren’t as bad as we thought?"

"Indeed."

Lei Jie agreed, nodding profoundly, then said:

"The ’ideological soil’ of this world is actually a bit better than we anticipated."

"In many aspects, it presents a polarized state."

"Religion runs rampant, brainwashing is severe, but at the same time, what they believe in just happens to align with what we can offer."

"The mass production route is correct, we don’t even need to correct their ’religious beliefs’, because if we keep going, their beliefs will soon erode...."

"Of course, the prerequisite is, they must see it and participate."

"Exactly."

Chen Jian put down his chopsticks, continuing:

"That’s why we must gather as many people from the wasteland to us as possible...."

"Let’s not talk about this now."

"Back to the matter at hand, how’s the DF-26 repair progress?"

"Just short of fuel, no movement from the Ring Chamber of Commerce, we have to wait."

"But about the aircraft you mentioned the day before yesterday, I have an idea."

"Go on."

Chen Jian looked at Lei Jie expectantly, the latter smiled slightly and replied:

"I’ve thought of a shortcut."

"We indeed don’t have the capability to manufacture aircraft engines, but we have plenty of high-power motors."

"These motors are enough to make a bomber fly—provided it is light enough."

"In this case... wood is quite a good choice."

"Huh?"

Chen Jian was stunned.

"You’re not thinking of replicating those biplanes from World War I, are you?"

"Of course not."

Lei Jie shook his head and said:

"It’s the Mosquito."

"Mosquito Bomber!"