Chapter 273: Artillery in Position!

Chapter 273: The Cannons Take Their Positions!

The intelligence brought by Wang Lizi aligns closely with Lei Jie’s assessment.

The beast tide is gathering, and within at most two weeks it will launch a full‑scale assault.

That means the time left for the Huaxia forces to organize a defence has been whittled down to a final two weeks.

Enough?

For most of the civilians who have just arrived at Base 011, that span is woefully insufficient.

Let alone erecting adequate fortifications, even constructing enough temporary shelters for so many people is no simple feat.

What? You can’t be suggesting that after trekking thousands of miles we must live in makeshift tents, can you?

If it were a regime or a theocratic order with enough authority over the masses, a month or two of authoritarian coercion might be tolerable.

But for a fledgling force like the Huaxia army, if civilians’ needs go unmet, they may not overturn the table in rebellion, yet they could simply walk away.

Thus, after the initial shock of the canned‑food rations subsides, the overwhelming majority of civilians view the days ahead with a grim outlook.

——

Yet, immediately thereafter, the Huaxia troops unveiled what true industrial Cthulhu looks like.

It also made the residents, already acquainted with Base 011’s industrial might, realize that industry is not merely towering factories, intricate machinery, and devastating weapons.

Often, a modest piece of timber is itself a testament to industrial power.

What’s this talk of modular construction, anyway?

Do you even understand what prefabricated panels are?

The pre‑stocked lumber mill roared to life; the felled, now air‑dried logs were hoisted onto the mill’s conveyor tracks, and within seconds of the saw’s shrill roar, each log was sliced into planks.

Next, the stacked planks entered the drilling stage, where a drill punched round holes into their tops to serve as connection points.

Meanwhile, the residents of Qiandao Lake Township, already proficient with excavators, kept the machines running, carving deep pits into the wide ground to anchor the boards.

When the planks arrived, swarms of ant‑like robots assisted the waiting populace, who surged forward, raised the boards in a flash, linked them with a few metal fittings into walls, then erected roofs the same way, covering them with the waterproof canvas stripped from the tents.

From a single log to a semi‑permanent wooden house took less than half an hour.

At full‑scale production, more than twenty wooden houses sprang up each hour within Base 011.

At that rate, the housing problem for the newcomers could be solved completely in just two days.

The civilians from the Imperial Capital were astonished by the staggering efficiency, while those who had arrived a step earlier were already accustomed to it.

A crowd gathered, laboring and chattering about the layout of their new homes, while among them a man named Yu Qian worried more about future work and the still‑uncertain source of his livelihood.

His four‑year‑old son tended to his one‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old daughter inside the fresh dwelling, the little girl wobbling about, reaching out to touch the unpolished yet remarkably smooth boards.

Yu Qian turned his head, a faint, tender smile blooming on his face.

But as he looked back again, a pang of worry crept in.

He did not possess the deep pockets that some of his fellow civilians enjoyed; tools, ammunition, and trinkets he thought might be valuable were worthless here at Base 011.

He had once tried to barter his most prized batteries for supplies, only to be told, “We don’t need them.”

Instead, the cheap white metal jewelry he deemed worthless fetched him several cans of fruit that his children adored.

The food stores were nearly empty.

Although the Huaxia officers still distributed rations for now, word had it that the food allotment would end in three days.

When that day arrives, he will have to trade labor for meals.

What should he do then?

The thought flickered through his mind, and at that moment a voice echoed from above.

“Residents who have completed their shelters, report to the square; labor assignments are now being distributed.”

“Generous pay; first‑come, first‑served.”

“No tools required; just show up.”

Yu Qian’s spirit surged instantly.

He set aside the half‑finished wooden table, gave his son a quick instruction, and turned toward the square.

Likewise, the other newly arrived residents surged toward the square in a noisy mass.

He still wondered how to push his way to the front if the crowd grew too thick, but soon realized his worry was needless.

Dozens of massive, glowing “screens” rose in the square, their white surfaces flashing continuous images.

The colorful pictures resembled the simple drawings a child might make, yet they conveyed the job categories with stark clarity.

“Everyone, select the occupation displayed on the screen that suits you best; to apply, go to the long table in front of the screen.”

“Mind the line, report in order.”

“Those who cut the line will have their registration for the day revoked.”

A warning chime rang overhead, and Yu Qian obediently slipped to the back of the line.

He saw someone try to cheat and slip forward, but a hovering drone instantly locked onto the offender, swooped down, and expelled him from the queue.

After that, no one dared defy the command.

Hundreds split into a dozen or so squads; Yu Qian found himself in the middle of one, weighing his words for the moments ahead.

Unnoticed, the line gradually shortened.

Before he could even register his surprise, he was already standing before the long table beneath the screen.

“Greetings, I am Fuxi.”

“Please state your name and age.”

The cold‑voiced robot opposite emitted a gentle tone; Yu Qian blinked, then answered promptly:

“Yu Qian, twenty‑three.”

“Very young. Here is your identification badge and your personnel card; keep them safe.”

From a square machine beside the robot, two stiff sheets of paper protruded; Yu Qian took them hesitantly, thinking to himself:

Twenty‑three, and they call that young?

I’m already edging into middle age; if I stayed in the Imperial Capital, I’d have only a dozen or so years left.

Perhaps in this new Jinling City it will be different?

“Your assigned duty is: Engineering Transport.”

“As shown, you will be responsible for moving earth and building materials to a site twenty kilometres outside Jinling City’s urban area.”

“Specific instructions will be given by the site foreman upon arrival.”

“You must board a shuttle truck before 8 a.m. each morning to the site and return by 8 p.m. each evening.”

“However, today you may head to the site at any time.”

“The site provides two meals a day, and a dinner will be served upon return to the base.”

You can learn about additional benefits by listening to the repeatedly broadcasted announcements on the site.

If you deem the work unsuitable, you may choose another assignment after three days.

All right, you may leave now.

His thoughts, already a little tangled, were interrupted; someone behind him urged him to depart quickly. Yu Qian stepped aside, glanced up at the screen marking the shuttle's position, and hurried toward it.

The drone continued to broadcast a stream of information overhead; Yu Qian had expected finding his team to be a daunting task, yet in truth he scarcely wasted any time.

He located the freight truck, boarded it under the drone's incessant guidance, waited two minutes, and set off once it was full. The carriage felt a touch cramped, but for those accustomed to the stifling, narrow compartments of the Mechanical God's steam locomotives, it was bearable.

After a little over half an hour, the truck halted, and he had arrived at the construction site where he was to work.

The people who disembarked looked bewildered.

They possessed no tools, nor any notion of what they were to do, and could only stand there, staring into space.

Soon, a man approached.

"Is everyone accounted for? Did anyone take a wrong turn?"

"Lord Fuxi, could you please verify whether Transport Group Twelve has arrived in full?"

"Transport Group Twelve is present; we may commence work."

The drone overhead replied, and the man uttered a brief "thank you" before turning to address the crowd:

"Allow me a brief introduction: my name is Jin Zan, a merchant—once a merchant."

"But for now, I am your foreman—well, temporarily."

"Over the coming week, I shall direct you to fulfill the tasks as required."

"And your job, you see, is quite simple."

"Do you see that pile of earth and stone? Do you see those tools?"

"With those tools, load the earth and stone onto the truck's platform—nothing more."

"I have but one demand of you: be swift."

"Within two hours we must clear all the soil and rock, making way for the subsequent construction crews. Understood?"

"Understood!"

The crowd answered in unison; Jin Zan swept his hand, signalling them to begin. Yet at that moment, someone suddenly asked:

"Aren't we just transporting? It's only a short distance to move, right?"

"Heh."

Jin Zan sneered lightly.

"Do you think this is anywhere else? This is Jinling New City! This is the domain of the Huaxia army!"

"Do you truly believe the officers and commanders expect you to shoulder the load themselves?"

"You overestimate yourselves; a single truckload would keep you busy for an entire day!"

"All you're tasked with are the little jobs that the machines cannot yet perform."

"Now stop the chatter and get moving!"

With those words, no one offered further objection.

Yu Qian stepped forward, grasped a shovel of unknown material—so light it seemed impossible, yet astonishingly effective—and began flinging soil onto the platform, scoop after scoop.

Others followed suit; their pace was brisk, and within half an hour the platform was already brimming.

Yu Qian straightened, catching his breath, and just as that truck pulled away, another truck reversed into the group’s midst.

Good heavens, they gave them no respite at all!

Jin Zan continued to prod them from the side, and the workers dared not slacken, burying their heads in relentless toil.

At that moment, each of them felt a twinge of regret over their original choice.

Had they known the work would be so grueling, perhaps they'd have selected a different trade.

Surely they wouldn't be digging until nightfall, would they?

Yu Qian's hands grew sore and weak, yet the good news was that after hauling away four loads, the massive mound of refuse had visibly diminished.

By five o’clock in the afternoon, the entire site was cleared of soil and rock.

Yu Qian collapsed onto the ground, his body limp, while Jin Zan, having inspected the spotless floor, prepared to rally them again—only to announce:

"Meal time!"

The words hung in the air as a drone descended from above.

Within its cargo hold lay the pre‑heated meals, still steaming.

The workers, now with food in hand, devoured it ravenously; once their hunger was sated, someone finally posed the first question:

"What on earth are we building?"

"Is it a house? Why construct it so far away?"

"I have no idea—perhaps a outpost?"

"This place is at least twenty‑plus kilometers from Jinling New City's core; a outpost would make sense, right?"

"That can't be right—if it were an outpost, why the fanfare? Wouldn't it be better hidden?"

"I can't read the Huaxia army's intentions; I'm utterly clueless."

The fragmented chatter faded beneath the sounds of chewing, and Yu Qian swallowed the last bite of meat porridge, letting out a satisfied belch.

As he lifted his head, he suddenly sensed something approaching.

It was the same truck that had been hauling the refuse.

But this time, it was not pulling a platform.

Yu Qian strained his eyes, and in the next heartbeat he discerned what the truck dragged behind it.

A cannon.

A cannon he had never seen before, yet its purpose was unmistakable at a glance!

A massive cannon.

Someone murmured:

"This is the Mechanical God's colossal cannon!"

"I understand now—the Huaxia army isn't building an outpost here; they're erecting a cannon fort!"

When the words fell, the crowd snapped awake as if from a dream and rose.

At that moment, the truck rolled up to them.

A few workers, evidently also from the Imperial Capital, leapt down, and under Jin Zan's direction they strained to push the wheeled cannon onto the pre‑arranged temporary gun position.

The barrel pointed skyward, bathed in the sunset, like a towering ancient tree.

Yu Qian inhaled a sharp gust of cool air, stood, surveyed his surroundings, and then noticed, not far away, a series of cannon barrels rising one after another.

All of them were cannons.

There were at least dozens of them!

They were arrayed along a sweeping arc, like a shield guarding the newly founded city of Jinling.

Yu Qian finally understood what he had been building.

Indeed, it was a shield.

Yet it was a shield forged from the mightiest, sharpest spears!

(End of Chapter)