Chapter 246: High-Altitude Balloon

Chapter 246 High-Altitude Balloons

Wang Lizi initially believed he had uncovered no leads in Chang'an, but in truth, he had already brought back a vital clue.

If things were truly as he described, and no brain-computer interfaces were found within the monster carcasses at the Chang'an "ancient battlefield" ruins, then it implied the beast tide was likely nothing more than a crude weapon of offense, while behind this particular spearhead lay a sophisticated system sustaining its operations.

This would include the preliminary deployment of brain-computer units, tactical command during the onslaught, and the subsequent recovery of equipment and battlefield cleanup.

To achieve such a feat, the faction controlling the beast tide would inevitably require a far more massive logistical and support vanguard to sustain themselves.

So, did this vanguard still exist?

If they did, where could they be?

Chen Jian felt a faint, creeping sensation

The finalization of the high‑altitude balloon and vacuum isolation belt plan added the missing final link to Chen Jian’s defensive strategy; once these two conditions are met, information and firepower can achieve an initial closed loop, and when the beast tide strikes, the Huaxia troops will have ample reaction time to organize their defense.

Chen Jian believed that, with such thorough preparation, the odds of the Huaxia forces against the beast tide were still far greater than those of the mimetic heretics.

After all, according to the data at hand, they merely possessed stronger firepower and combat capability, yet their operational and technological systems harbored many fatal gaps.

With all tasks essentially arranged, Chen Jian felt a rare relaxation settle over him.

Stepping out of the operations command room, he immediately issued orders, directing Shen Yue to rally the first, second, and third squads of the Huaxia army, ready to take them on an external field exercise while sweeping the remaining monsters nearby.

‘You already know what to do and how the script is set, so I’ll say no more.’

‘My demand is absolute: no unnecessary casualties.’

‘After all, these Huaxia soldiers have already been screened once as promising seedlings; one round of training isn’t enough, so we’ll run several, without resorting to extremes.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ve got it under control.’ Shen Yue nodded in reply.

‘This high‑pressure test will mainly be a non‑combat trial, with Fuxi monitoring the whole process, and two Saint‑blooded units providing rapid‑response support; in short, no major issues should arise.’

‘If luck truly deserts us and the script stalls, I’ll abort the operation early and look for another chance.’

‘Understood.’

Chen Jian nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand, signaling the ant‑swarm robot nearby to lift a large crate before Shen Yue, and said:

‘This time go a bit farther, and bring these items along; set them up.’

‘What’s this?’

Shen Yue asked, puzzled.

‘A simple seismic detector, salvaged from the underground depot of the Zijinshan Observatory; after repairs most of it still works.’

‘The giant eel‑loach has been missing ever since; I fear it may have started burrowing.’

‘I can’t control it over in Suzhou‑Hangzhou, but if it has tunneled near us, we must be prepared.’

‘As soon as we pick up an abnormal seismic signal, we can triangulate its position.’

‘When that happens…’

‘Got it.’

Shen Yue nodded and said:

‘What about the deployment zone? Has it been mapped?’

‘Fuxi will send it to your PDA; just follow the instructions.’

‘Understood.’

Shen Yue saluted Chen Jian, offered no superfluous words, quickly formed the three squads, and the Huaxia troops set off at once.

From the side, Huang Yu watched the departing warriors with envy, a hint of melancholy flickering in his eyes.

Chen Jian walked over, teasing lightly, and asked:

‘What’s the matter? Two missions in a row you’ve missed, feeling unbalanced?’

‘Nothing, commander!’

Huang Yu replied immediately:

‘Just a bit jealous.’

Chen Jian patted Huang Yu’s shoulder and reassured:

‘Don’t worry, we’re at war now; opportunities to earn glory will come aplenty.’

‘I have an even more important task for you.’

‘In about ten days the first wave of refugees from the Imperial Capital will arrive.’

‘I need you to devise a comprehensive plan to screen and train those refugees.’

‘The Huaxia army must expand; I want you to rise beyond the mindset of a mere platoon leader.’

‘You will become the first company commander of the Huaxia forces, understand?’

‘Understood!’

Huang Yu shouted his affirmation.

Company commander?

He had never coveted rank or title, yet after Chen Jian’s promise he felt a surge of swagger.

It was the company commander of the Huaxia army.

Such a post, even if offered by a commander of a Sacred Hall guard brigade, he would refuse without a hint of hesitation.

But could he truly live up to it?

He yearned for more confidence from Chen Jian, but the latter had already turned away, marching straight toward the charred wasteland.

—

Chen Jian cared little for Huang Yu’s thoughts.

The burden will be placed on you, and you must shoulder it for me, no matter what.

Now his greater concern was whether the scorched earth could be reclaimed for sowing.

After all, this directly affected the Huaxia army’s food security.

‘How’s the soil here? Can we grow anything?’

Leijie, crouching on the ground with a woman from Huangshi City inspecting the earth, looked up and answered:

‘We lack finer testing tools, but we can basically confirm that secondary monsters and the toxins from the fungal carpet have been completely incinerated.’

‘Planting will be fine; the massive ash of grass and wood provides ample fertility.’

‘The only snag now is irrigation—I’m discussing water‑drawing with her. Her name is Huang Fei.’

‘The preliminary plan is to cut a canal from Xuanwu Lake, then build a network of irrigation channels atop the main ditch.’

‘She’s an expert; the irrigation system in Huangshi’s fields was her design.’

‘A heroine among women, impressive.’

Chen Jian gave a thumbs‑up; Huang Fei smiled shyly and then said:

‘You flatter me, commander.’

Not at all.

And it was clear that these residents too were buying into the same spiel.

So far, the entire base's operations could be said to run quite smoothly, vaguely having reached a level of “orders obeyed without question.”

After a brief discussion with the two, Chen Jian rose to his feet, intending to proceed to the armaments factory overseen by Ji Xing to inspect the production of the Type‑75 rifle.

But at that very moment, a voice rang in his ear—Fuxi's voice.

“Commander, a large group of refugees has been spotted 20 kilometres south of Base 011. A drone approached for observation and identified a previously recorded facial image.”

“It’s Jiang Yu; she has brought people from Qiandao Lake Town.”

“That fast?!”

Chen Jian was stunned.

Only a little over four days had passed, and she had already brought the people?

No matter how she managed it, that efficiency was, frankly, a touch exaggerated.

“Yes, identity confirmed.”

“Commander, the other side is carrying a substantial amount of supplies; should we dispatch a truck for support?”

“Go ahead, quickly.”

Chen Jian nodded immediately.

He was somewhat impatient.

Because he truly wanted to know how that girl named Jiang Yu could, within five days, lead a troupe of more than two hundred people to traverse nearly two hundred kilometres.

(End of chapter)