Chapter 73: Mist

Chapter 73: Mist

Although they talk about dividing, the matter of dividing land by attacking the rich is obviously impossible to perfect in a short time.

But Chen Jian also had no intention of doing it perfectly.

He simply wanted to give the residents here an attitude.

Nobody is blind; everyone knows that counting and fairly dividing all that stuff is not easy.

But seeing those who just killed the monsters, who just drove the Mechanical God Sect fleeing with their heads in their hands, yet had no chance and were instead pressed dead into the lake to become fish food, the warriors personally stepped forward to divide the property for them—this educational effect can be said to be stronger than anything.

Thus, on this post-apocalyptic wasteland, such a harmonious scene actually appeared.

After most things were simply divided, the people here also deeply realized a problem:

Now the things belong to us, but what about the future?

If the Mechanical God Sect comes again, what will we do?

In fact, the land policy the Mechanical God Sect implements in the wasteland is not 'especially harsh'; it's just that good land and resources are in high demand and security is difficult, so they 'appropriately' raised the security taxes and rents.

Put accurately, the civilians' lives here are similar to those of tenants who relied on landlords during the Eastern Jin period.

A large amount of output is plundered, leaving them only a bare minimum of resources to barely fill their stomachs and survive.

Although the overseer has changed now, and taxes may be collected later, at least the goods have been truly divided into our hands.

Not only food and supplies were divided, but guns and ammunition as well; their stance shows they truly intend not to go back on their word.

The residents of Huangshi City instantly became enthusiastic, and when Chen Jian proposed needing people to go out for reconnaissance, many volunteered.

Because Chen Jian promised that anyone who agreed to go would receive priority distribution of the spoils from the next battle upon return.

Although no one can be certain Huangshi City will definitely win, they all hope to win.

The reconnaissance team quickly filled up; Chen Jian watched satisfied as the people began to equip themselves, thinking silently:

This is exactly right.

The timing is not yet mature; the policy of military-civilian fish-and-water relations won't work.

But if subsidies are not put in place, how will their hands have the strength to pull the trigger?

Raise your guns high!

The reconnaissance team's city defense members set off quickly; Lei Jie also selected personnel to return to the 7025 fortifications to transport equipment, while Chen Jian stayed behind, but he was not idle.

Digging trenches, building cover, and also needing to find a way to clear the monsters' corpses.

——

Such a huge corpse, if not properly handled and left to rot and stink, the contaminated water source would instead become Huangshi City's greatest crisis.

"What to do? Blow it up?"

Shen Yue, who was beside Chen Jian, asked:

"I saw that the Mechanical God Sect's church basement still stores a batch of explosives; although the quantity is not large, it should be enough to dismember the monster."

"Then bring it over."

Chen Jian spoke decisively, then ordered the Huangshi ordered the Huangshi organization to gather a group of residents, using ropes to drag the monster to the shore.

When this huge beast floated up from underwater and fully revealed itself before everyone, people finally truly felt how strong the weapons of those who call themselves 'ancestors' are.

Unlike the Mechanical God Sect's round ammunition, their fired shells are pointed, like enlarged bullets.

And when these bullets pierce the monster's body and explode, they create a horrifying huge cavity.

Neither carapace nor metal armor.

The Mechanical God Sect spent over two years, consuming thousands of lives and countless resources, finally producing this 'weapon,' which in front of them is utterly useless.

Huang Yu, while watching Shen Yue and He Shu fill the monster's limbs and torso with explosives, remarked:

"Sir, I fear there is no monster in this world that can withstand your artillery."

"Even if it's the monster from the Han Water Ruins, it would probably end up like the Mongols in the end."

"That one is already dead."

Chen Jian replied lightly.

"Already dead?!"

Huang Yu exclaimed in disbelief:

"You killed that monster first, then came to Huangshi?"

"Exactly."

Chen Jian nodded and continued:

"Otherwise, why would the Mechanical God Sect want to be our enemy? It must be related to these two monsters."

"They seem to think those who can kill monsters are all 'mimetic heretics,' laughable, we don't even know what mimetic heretics are."

"Mimetic heretic?"

Huang Yu blinked, then shook his head:

"You guys are not, you don't resemble them at all."

"You know?" Chen Jian snapped his head.

Good grief, earlier they said only 'round-ring merchants' could know such information, yet the people of Huangshi City know?

What is a surprise?

This is!

Seeing his expression somewhat unusual, Huang Yu dared not be slow and quickly replied:

"I know."

"The turmoil caused by mimetic heretics occurred over a hundred years ago; at that time Huangshi City already had many residents."

"They came here, but only stayed briefly."

"But they brought many things to Huangshi City. I remember that the ships we now build, with their sails, were taught to us by them."

"Those who truly saw them have long died; I only heard my grandfather talk about them—he heard it from his own grandfather."

Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully.

That is because Huangshi City settlement is relatively closed and stable, so events from over a hundred years ago could be passed down so long.

But does this also mean that the mark those 'mimetic heretics' left on this settlement is extremely profound?

He asked again:

"So what did those mimetic heretics do? Were they good people or bad people?"

".I can't say."

Huang Yu shook his head and replied:

"I have never seen them, but according to my grandfather, they were like demons."

They resemble our ancestors in many ways—intelligent, powerful—but they lack the benevolence of those forebears.

When they arrived at Huangshi City, they had already slaughtered many, their bodies drenched in blood.

Yet they spared the people here, leaving behind food and seeds instead.

No one knows what they are doing; they are certainly not good, and they are unlike you.

But they also seem... not entirely evil?

Having finished speaking, Huang Yu fell silent, and Chen Jian said nothing.

This passage contained no useful information, and there was no way for him to glean any helpful clue.

Too much time had passed; perhaps many details had dissolved across generations of transmission.

In Huang Yu's view, the so-called 'mimic heretics' were perhaps no different from the 'Xiong Gu Po' of the tales he'd heard—just a symbol carrying a touch of horror and gloom.

Chen Jian sighed, about to speak, when Huang Yu added another sentence:

"But I know why the Machine God Sect calls them 'mimic heretics'."

"Why?"

Chen Jian's eyes lit up.

"Because each of them looks very much alike."

"It's as if they are some sort of monster that can only shift into one form."

"That's also what my grandfather said, though I don't know if it's true."

Everyone looks alike?

Chen Jian didn't understand what this meant, but he could feel that the mist shrouding the truth was growing ever thicker.

Perhaps to uncover this secret, we must first solidify Huangshi City, then organize an outward expedition.

At that very moment, Shen Yue and He Shuo had already set the explosives.

At Chen Jian's command, the explosives detonated, and the massive 'Mongol' body instantly tore apart.

Flesh and blood flew everywhere, and the invincible monster was reduced to a pile of minced meat.

He was about to call the crowd forward to deal with the corpse, but Shen Yue ahead suddenly raised his hand.

"Wait!"

"There's something inside its belly!"

(End of chapter)