Chapter 189: Chip Equipment

Chapter 189 – The Chip Device

After Zhang Tao and Jin Zhong departed, Chen Jian found himself steeped in gloom about the negotiations that lay ahead.

After all, your men have all come to warn me—what are you plotting? Your intentions are as obvious as Sima Zhao’s ambition to the world.

Yet the final outcome far exceeded his expectations.

The so‑called “sage” Jin Cheng, two hours before the deadline, fixed the venue, prepared the documents Chen Jian required, arrived early, and, amid an exceedingly cordial atmosphere, concluded the talks.

The proceedings unfolded so smoothly that Chen Jian could scarcely believe his eyes.

The other side acquiesced to virtually every resource demand he put forward; the sole reservation was that nothing could be delivered in a single lump, but rather in monthly, phased installments.

Chen Jian could not reasonably contest such a fair request, and in under two hours the negotiation was sealed.

Jin Cheng even arranged a banquet for all the Huaxia troops, Chen Jian included.

Wine, meat, fruits, vegetables, even candies—luxuries almost mythic on the wasteland—were laid out; though after the canned braised pork and canned yellow peaches the soldiers had grown somewhat indifferent, the extravagance of the feast still startled Chen Jian.

Could this truly be called a high‑level reception?

What on earth were they after?

Flattering words poured out in abundance, friendly remarks followed one after another.

For a fleeting instant, Chen Jian even doubted whether they had genuinely come to an understanding.

Especially when he saw the gentle, humble smile on Jin Cheng’s face; even if Chen Jian wished to question or pick at flaws, he found no foothold.

“Indeed, the fault lay with us before.”

Jin Cheng stood before Chen Jian, his demeanor reverent, and said:

“We fell into an inexplicable inertia and hostility, leading us to misjudge you.”

“Linking you with those brutal, ferocious, inhuman simulacrum heretics was the gravest error we have ever made.”

“Even in the long history of the Mechanical Cult, that was a monumental mistake.”

“Fortunately, the mistake was corrected in time.”

“Although we needlessly lost an entire elite guard regiment at Huangshi, perhaps destiny intervened, and you rescued us in another form.”

“I must admit, it is a story that astonishes.”

“Our greatest hope is to let such a beautiful tale continue its course.”

Hearing this, Chen Jian nodded slowly.

He had almost come to trust Jin Cheng’s sincerity.

Yet the interrogation and counter‑interrogation techniques he had learned were not in vain.

He keenly sensed that the other side deliberately avoided any mention of religion; such a linguistic pattern clashed with his own identity.

That meant their words had been meticulously crafted.

And any speech that is meticulously crafted is, by nature, untrustworthy.

So Chen Jian showed little enthusiasm; he offered only perfunctory replies before ending his conversation with Jin Cheng.

After waiting and observing for a few minutes, his mind a knot of confusion, suspicion, and vigilance, Chen Jian led his team away from the banquet hall.

Back at the manor, he immediately erected a small‑scale electromagnetic shield, and then Fuxi’s voice whispered in his ear.

“The latest data has been decoded and archived.”

“Target Jin Cheng, credibility now at twenty‑four percent.”

“Commander, his demeanor at the banquet is wholly unreliable; please proceed with caution.”

“Understood.”

Chen Jian nodded, then turned to the others and asked:

“What do you think he means?”

Upon hearing this, Lei Jie answered at once:

“Whatever his meaning, his display unsettles me.”

“I believe our current defenses are not truly impregnable; if they wish us harm, they will find a way.”

“And it will be a method we cannot even imagine.”

“I suggest we withdraw to Base 011 as soon as possible and rebuild our defenses there.”

“Jinling City is still someone else’s territory; the uncertainties are too many, staying here only adds risk.”

“In any case, the matters have essentially been settled; there’s no need for us to linger.”

“That’s my thought as well.”

Shen Yue, unusually frowning, then said:

“A smiling tiger is the most dangerous; you never know when it will leap and bite.”

“Let’s retreat.”

“Leave one or two representatives, or have the Ring Chamber’s Wang Lizi act as our envoy for subsequent supply logistics; we should pull back and cease entangling ourselves with them.”

As Shen Yue’s words faded, Ji Xing suddenly raised her hand.

Chen Jian nodded at her, and she spoke:

“I understand your concerns.”

“But the question is: if we fear the Pope of the Mechanical Cult might threaten us, why not eliminate him outright?”

“I mean, we have the capability, don’t we?”

“Moreover, Zhang Tao, who visited today, has already shown clear signs of apostasy.”

“Why can’t we exploit that?”

“Removing the Pope, installing a newcomer, forging a truly stable partnership— isn’t that the optimal path to maximize our interests?”

“—It’s not, in fact.”

Chen Jian sighed, then said:

“It’s not that we cannot replace the Pope; it’s that we cannot do so at this juncture.”

“The Mechanical Cult is not a Holy Blood Hall; it is a religious organization.”

“The internal cohesion and solidarity of a religious group are unpredictable.”

“Seeing a potential rebel does not mean the whole body is rebellious—especially since we still don’t know whether Zhang Tao is merely acting.”

“Our preparations are insufficient, and our popular base is thin.”

“If we eliminate the Pope now, we will inherit a chaotic Jinling City.”

“That city would drain our resources and jeopardize our cold‑start plan.”

“Thus, the most advantageous choice for now is to let Jinling City and the Mechanical Cult remain as they are.”

When we truly possess the capacity to ‘receive’ the city, we will find a way to act.

"But now, the moment is not yet ripe."

"Understood."

Ji Xing nodded as if a revelation struck him, then, pensively, he said:

"By now, the mindless disciples they've cultivated have become their most steadfast walls."

"Who can say otherwise?"

Chen Jian let out a slow sigh, then asked:

"What about the others? If our opinions align, we shall prepare to withdraw."

"Yet we cannot abandon Jinling."

"We need someone here to establish a party branch——a liaison outpost—to ensure our presence endures."

"Who will take on this task?"

"I'll do it."

He Shuo raised his hand and said:

"I, Zeng Yi, will requisition more protective gear; the safety concerns are minimal."

"Very well, it's yours."

Chen Jian nodded, then continued:

"Fuxi, calculate the equipment needed to meet the minimum safety requirements, then allocate with a 20% surplus."

"Understood. Distribution and labeling complete. Comrade He Shuo, Comrade Zeng Yi, I wish you success."

When Fuxi's words faded, the group exchanged glances, their expressions tinged with complexity. This would be the squad's first true dispersal.

Simultaneously, this seed of flame would for the first time cast sparks outward.

The path to a blazing prairie may well begin at this very moment.

Chen Jian exhaled deeply, then said:

"No further objections."

"It is now eleven o'clock; at six tomorrow morning we shall depart Jinling punctually and return to Facility 011."

"Do you agree?"

"Agreed!"

At six the following dawn, as per the original plan, Chen Jian led the main force out of Jinling.

When the 'vast' contingent slipped away, the city's elite all breathed a sigh of relief.

They knew this signified the peace accord's activation, granting temporary safety to their lives.

Conversely, the common folk felt a pang of regret.

They perhaps still believed that the so‑called 'Supreme Eight‑One' came to shield them, and would forever do so.

Yet now, they have departed?

No one knows what truly transpired.

The only solace is that the battle machines, guided by mechanical souls, have not all vanished.

Their silhouettes still linger on the streets, though far fewer in number.

Perhaps Supreme Eight‑One has more pressing matters to attend to?

After completing those greater tasks, they will return.

When will they return, and in what manner?

This question haunts the common folk, who have yet to realize how perilous this seemingly ordinary expectation is to the Mechanical Cult.

As Chen Jian's contingent receded, a roar of farewell rose like a mountain‑tide.

Seated in the cat‑cart, Chen Jian glanced back, yearning to speak, yet he fell silent.

Shen Yue, nearby, noted his expression and teased:

"Aren't you going to leave a word? Something like, 'When we return, we'll bring you liberation'?"

"Forget it; can those people even grasp what liberation means?"

Chen Jian shook his head and said:

"No need to force growth; let nature take its course."

"Great deeds are not spoken, they are done."

"When our forces re‑enter Jinling, it will truly be the hour of the Mechanical Cult's downfall."

"Yet that matter lies far ahead—let us first ask: have the Mechanical Cult's promised inventories arrived?"

"They have arrived."

Leijie, standing nearby, replied:

"This truly is a bountiful harvest; we seem to have everything we could wish for."

"Food, fuel, metal alloys, even rare metals."

"What the Jiangnan Chamber cannot procure, the Mechanical Cult can."

"Moreover, judging by the samples they supplied, they possess a considerable stock."

"It seems the Cult's foundation remains strong; at least its leadership can fully comprehend profound knowledge and technology."

"Only, they have not disseminated this wisdom downward."

"It is evident."

Chen Jian nodded and said:

"Their ability to operate and maintain internal‑combustion engines speaks volumes."

"I believe their advanced tech reserves belong to the Second Industrial Revolution era."

"In other words, this organization’s potential has yet to fully reveal itself to us—no wonder they sustain such a vast order for so long."

"Indeed."

Leijie concurred:

"One should not lightly deem them heroes of the world—though they are no heroes, they are at least lenient in judging foes."

"By that logic, the Ring Chamber is no simple matter either."

"I think those folks are a bunch of lunatics—unaware of how to forge shells, yet versed in crafting nuclear bombs."

"By the way, what did they send? What did they uncover in the Lu Zhou ruins?"

"You haven't seen?"

Chen Jian exclaimed in astonishment:

"Just ahead—go see for yourself."

“I have already seen it today; I can only say, no wonder the people of the Ring Chamber can't figure out what it is.”

“If Fuxi weren't here, I wouldn't understand it either.”

“So high‑end?”

Lei Jie, curious, leapt from the cat‑car and scrambled onto the electric truck that trailed the procession.

Then he pried open the cargo hatch and lifted the lid of the standardized transport crate.

When the contents within unfolded before his eyes, he let out an involuntary shout.

“Holy crap, what the hell is this?!”

“A lithography machine?!”

“It looks like a lithography machine, but no, it doesn’t seem to be one.”

“Yet it resembles a chip mask or something—what’s going on?”

Lei Jie, rambling and contradictory, gasped in amazement, his hand instinctively reaching to touch the device, only to recoil at the last moment.

He feared he might damage what lay inside.

For he knew that, to them now, this thing was of incalculable worth.

If this truly were a lithography machine, paired with other relatively simpler gear, they could hand‑craft chips on the wasteland.

And with that, the goal of intelligent industry could leap forward by a great stride!

Lei Jie inhaled a sharp breath of cold air and asked again:

“Fuxi, can you see the equipment before me? Do you know what it is?”

“Of course.”

Fuxi’s voice resonated through his headset.

“Professor Lei, as you have observed, this is indeed equipment for manufacturing chips.”

“However, it is a rather paradoxical device with ample room for improvement.”

“Yet for our plan, such equipment is already sufficient.”

“Give me the result directly!”

Lei Jie, impatient, cut Fuxi off, and Fuxi immediately halted the superfluous preamble, then answered succinctly:

“To be precise, there are two pieces of equipment.”

“Two devices for chip fabrication.”

“One is a growth‑type chip maker based on vapor‑phase deposition.”

“The other is a more traditional imprint‑type chip maker.”

(End of chapter)