It’s still unclear how the negotiations are going on Han Ya’s side, but Wen Le believes that those who have gone out will definitely not miss this opportunity to make as much profit as possible. After all, their food didn’t come from nowhere. While the main purpose is to appease the Tibetan military district and prevent them from acting rashly, they can’t just keep supporting them for no reason, right?!
Wen Le is emptying and organizing four containers in the space, arranging enough ice to keep the slaughtered livestock fresh enough to be transported to the Tibetan military district. As for how to preserve them once they arrive there, he believes that the military district will be able to handle it. Then, based on the list sorted out by Han Ya, he is organizing the items that will be sent out in the space.
The amount of goods being donated this time is huge, and the two large warehouses in the base may not be able to hold them all. When the other party’s transport vehicle arrives, Wen Le will directly transfer the sorted goods from the space to the vehicle.
The work inside the space was carried out only by Wen Le and Xiao Wen, and it took them nearly six days to complete it.
Calculating the time, Han Ya and the others should be almost back by now.
After stretching their muscles a bit, Wen Le pulled Xiao Wen out of the space and into the conference room.
Although there were almost half fewer personnel in charge of the conference room than before, the work of the others was still being carried out in an orderly manner. The two of them first looked at the location of the convoy on the display screen. From the screen, they could see that the majority of the team was already on their way back and, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they should arrive the day after tomorrow.
“Staff Officer Li, how is the progress on your side?” Xiao Wen asked Li Ran as he regained his composure.
Li Ran waved the folder in his hand and walked to the corner of the conference table, and Xiao Wen and Wen Le followed suit and sat down.
“This is the production volume of the past few days, take a look,” Li Ran said as he opened the folder in his hand and handed it to Xiao Wen. “We arranged for three groups of personnel to rotate shifts from the beginning, so we can ensure uninterrupted production for twenty-four hours in the entire arsenal. Our production volume has reached the maximum limit of the highest machine.”
Xiao Wen looked at the data in his hand and nodded.
“Have the produced ammunition been transported back?”
Li Ran nodded, “Two days ago, the engineering department had already installed tracks in the tunnel between the base and the arsenal. Starting from the day before yesterday, the boxed weapons have been transported directly from the tunnel to the base, which can save fuel consumption for ground transportation. It is expected that with one more day, the reserved weapons can be transported completely, and then we can use the current production line for transportation. However, there is one thing that needs to be reported to both of you.”
Xiao Wen looked up, signaling him to speak directly.
“Wasn’t it decided six days ago to add heavy weapons production? The exploration team has been put back into nearby geological exploration. But to be honest, if heavy weapons production is really urgently needed, building another underground arsenal would be too time-consuming. Even if we dig day and night non-stop, it would take at least a month to build another arsenal like the one currently running. But if we put it into use now, one month is enough for us to reserve a batch of heavy weapons.”
Xiao Wen frowned, understanding that Li Ran’s suggestion was well-intentioned, but the conditions did not allow for early production.
“I understand what you’re saying, but even if we expose the machines directly to the surface for production, the temperature difference in the Tibetan area cannot allow the soldiers to work for twenty-four hours, let alone the temperature here will damage the life span of the machines. After the underground arsenal is built, the temperature and humidity settings are strictly according to the requirements in the data.”
Li Ran nodded. He had also been struggling with this issue earlier.
“WenShao’s food reserves. Since we can support tens of thousands of soldiers in the Tibetan military district, our base, which has less than 10,000 people at most, should not be a problem, right?”
Wen Le was taken aback, and he nodded in response to Li Ran’s gaze.
Li Ran smiled and continued, “I just happened to pass by the agricultural greenhouses and indoor pastures.”
Wen Le raised an eyebrow. The agricultural greenhouses and indoor pastures were located at the back of the base, so it was quite difficult to happen to pass by them.
Just as they were thinking about it, Xiao Wen and Wen Le widened their eyes and looked at Li Ran.
Seeing their expressions, Li Ran nodded affirmatively, “Although we previously built these two places to achieve self-sufficiency within the base, it’s obvious that we have more urgent matters to attend to now. As long as Wen Shao has enough food reserves to support the base’s survival, grazing and farming aren’t necessary. Moreover, when we built these two greenhouses and the base warehouse, we already installed temperature and humidity control instruments. We can completely produce weapons directly in these three locations.”
Xiao Wen and Wen Le exchanged a glance, thinking it over and completely affirming the feasibility of Li Ran’s proposal.
“I remember the agricultural greenhouse had just harvested, and it probably hasn’t been planted again. I’ll go take a look now. You guys arrange for the technicians to plan and place the machines that are about to be put into production based on the sizes of these three locations as much as possible.” As he spoke, Wen Le got up and prepared to leave.
“Wen Shao, wait a minute!” Li Ran quickly called out to Wen Le.
Wen Le looked at him in confusion.
Li Ran smiled bitterly and explained, “Now that it’s decided, we have a problem to solve first.”
Xiao Wen vaguely thought of where Li Ran was going with this. “Are you referring to the power supply?”
Li Ran nodded. “Yes, it’s the power problem. Our current power generation equipment supports both the internal operations of the base and the machine production of the underground weapons factory, and it’s already close to saturation. If we add more machines, our power generation equipment is likely to break down. So I think we should first find technicians to solve this problem.”
Wen Le nodded. “You guys take care of this. Don’t worry about the power generation equipment. When we were at the weapons factory, I happened to collect a lot of independent heavy industry type generators that can be directly installed.”
After getting confirmation from Wen Le, Li Ran finally felt relieved. He wasn’t worried about Xiao Wen and the others using the greenhouse and warehouse to produce weapons, but he was concerned that Wen Le didn’t have the necessary power supply for weapon production.
Leaving the meeting room, Wen Le immediately went to the farmland greenhouse and indoor pasture, calling Zhao Lei, Zhao Xiaogang, and Qi Rui.
He explained his intentions, and they confirmed that Zhao Lei had not yet started a new round of planting, and the farmland greenhouse had just finished harvesting all the crops and could be put to immediate use. As for Zhao Xiaogang and Qi Rui, as long as Wen Le put the livestock into the space, there would be no problem.
Wen Le brought the three of them directly to Xiao Tao, who was responsible for the allocation of labor and points exchange within the base. He arranged for non-military personnel in the base to quickly collect the mixed black soil layer from the surface of the two greenhouses. The black soil suitable for planting in the space was limited, and as the base gradually expanded, large-scale farming in the Tibetan area was inevitable. Therefore, the soil layers that could already be used for planting crops could not be wasted. Once the two greenhouses started producing weapons, a layer of cement would have to be laid on the surface. Otherwise, when the large machines started running, displacement would inevitably occur. For those who were not very familiar with weapon and ammunition production, everything had to be done carefully.
With many hands, the work was quickly completed. Except for the Ministry of Defense personnel who were busy producing in the arsenal, everyone else was involved in the repair of the two greenhouses. Just as Han Ya and the transportation truck from the Tibetan Military Region arrived at the gate of the base, the new power equipment and newly installed heavy weapons production line had already been completed and passed the trial run. They were now ready for official use once the transportation truck from the Tibetan Military Region left.
Han Ya led the highest commander of the Tibetan Military Region on this operation into the base. Xiao Wen and Wen Le, who had received the news, were at the gate with Yan Wei Guo to greet them.
“Commander Zhang? I didn’t expect you to come in person.” Seeing the arrival of the visitors, Yan Wei Guo’s expression froze for a moment and he stepped forward to greet them.
The elderly man, who was also in his sixties and standing beside Han Ya, smiled and saluted Yan Wei Guo.
“Last time when Zhao De Yang came back, he said he saw Bai Yang. I guessed you must be here too, so as soon as the leader spoke, I applied to come and see you, my old comrade-in-arms!”
“Hahaha, aren’t we old comrades-in-arms! Back in the day, we served together and fought against enemies together! Come on, let’s catch up first. Let me introduce you. This is our highest leader in this small base, Xiao Wen. Xiao Wen, this is Zhang Zhifeng, the commander of the 631st Division of the 11th Group Army in the Tibetan Military District.”
Hearing Yan Wei Guo’s words, Zhang Zhifeng’s heart stirred, but he still smiled calmly without revealing anything.
“Hello, Commander Zhang. I am Xiao Wen.” Xiao Wen stepped forward and shook hands first.
Zhang Zhifeng shook hands and nodded, “Hello, I’m Zhang Zhifeng. You’re a good young man!”
Xiao Wen’s lips twitched, and his steady face pulled a smile that was invisible to others.
“You’ve come a long way. Come in and rest for a while. Since the two commanders are old comrades-in-arms, you can catch up.” Xiao Wen stepped aside to make way.
Zhang Zhifeng stepped aside and walked into the base with Xiao Wen and Yan Wei Guo.
Wen Le had been standing in the crowd near the back and was not noticeable. When the three men entered, he turned his head and glanced at Han Ya.
Han Ya returned a discreet glance and then continued to smile at the two strangers in military uniforms beside him. Then Lin Yan, Bai Yang, and several staff members who had gone out with them earlier welcomed the guests into the base.
Yin Chengyang followed directly after Mo Yan, afraid that he would report to Wen Le in detail in front of everyone.
Wen Le also returned to the base with the crowd, but did not go directly into the courtyard. Instead, he stopped in a relatively hidden place.
After a moment, Han Ya also flashed to Wen Le’s side.
“How did it go?” Wen Le asked.
Han Ya waved his hand. “Give me a bottle of water first, I’m thirsty to death.”
Wen Le smiled and handed him a bottle of mineral water. Han Ya drank most of the bottle before he recovered.
Wiping his wet chin, Han Ya said, “The talks went quite smoothly. As soon as they heard that we could support them with some food, they didn’t stubbornly hold onto their weapons. The military region is probably facing a very serious food crisis internally. So, the tanks, armored vehicles, and fighter planes that I requested didn’t need much bargaining and were far above my previously estimated minimum line.”
Wen Le widened his eyes. Although he guessed that Han Ya wouldn’t miss this opportunity, “Tanks and armored vehicles? Although we lack oil, as long as we get enough fuel, these two types still have considerable destructive power. But fighter planes? The global satellites are down now, what’s the use of this fighter plane? It can fly, but besides flying above our own base, what’s the point?”
“Because they are useless, compared to tanks and armored vehicles, fighter jets are easier to acquire. It may not be useful now, but it’s already been a year since the end of the world. Do you think our country will never be able to contact satellites again?”
“That’s not the case right now.”
Han Ya shook his head. “The situation in the Tibetan military region is probably similar to what we guessed. Do you think they can still offer us anything to exchange for our food? Don’t take things for nothing. Instead of giving away our food for free, we might as well trade for some fighter jets. Once the satellite is back, we won’t have any air combat capabilities at the base. Their subordinate military region in Tibet has an air force, you know!”
Wen Le wiped his forehead. “Let’s just not take things for nothing then!”
“Do we still give them the supplies according to the previous list?” Wen Le asked.
Han Ya nodded. “Don’t worry for now. The tanks and transport trucks for the fighter jets will only arrive tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll invite everyone who came to the base, and when there’s no one around, you can find an opportunity to put the supplies into their transport truck. When those big guys arrive tomorrow, they can just deliver the supplies to the base directly, and then we can take the remaining supplies out of the warehouse and put them back into the original vehicle.”
After listening to Han Ya’s words, Wen Le remembered that there was something Han Ya didn’t know yet.
“We can’t use the warehouse,” Wen Le explained when he saw the doubt in Han Ya’s eyes. “After you left, we made some modifications to the farmland greenhouse, indoor pasture, and two warehouses. The new batch of heavy weapons production lines have been installed, and as soon as they leave, we can start production.”
After Wen Le finished speaking, Han Ya widened his eyes and quickly analyzed the situation in his head, understanding the reasons. However, he felt a headache when he realized that he had originally planned to use these three places to place the big guys they had traded for.
“I didn’t expect us both to have our eyes on these three places!” Han Ya smiled bitterly.
Wen Le thought about the things that would be delivered tomorrow and understood the meaning of Han Ya’s words. He shrugged and said, “It’s okay, we can deal with it when the stuff arrives. If it doesn’t work, we can just put it outside the base. Building on the ground is much faster than underground construction.”
Han Ya nodded, acknowledging that it was the only option.
To avoid unnecessary attention and exposure of the base, all the people from the Tibetan military district who came this time were arranged to stay in the soldier dormitory building led by Yan Wei Guo’s troops. They were closely monitored by the base soldiers and even their meals were personally delivered by the soldiers.
On the other hand, Zhang Zhifeng and the other three military officers were arranged to stay in a small courtyard. The rooms in the courtyard that belonged to Yin Chengyang, Han Ya, Mo Yan, and Zhou Quan were cleared in advance for them to use. Yan Weiguo and Bai Yang accompanied them for their meals in the courtyard.
The other side was also well-behaved. After Xiao Wen and the others arranged everything, they followed the schedule without causing any trouble.
The food served in the soldier dormitory was exactly the same as that of the base soldiers, with two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, rice, steamed buns, and soup. The food within the base was always provided in unlimited quantities, so not only were the main dishes and soup unlimited, but also the meat dishes were not scarce, such as braised pork, braised beef, and other similar dishes. The soup was either a clear bone broth or fish soup. Until they left, the soldiers from the Tibetan military district who came to the base were envious of the base soldiers who were clearly used to such food.
In the small courtyard, Zhang Zhifeng and the others started their feast as soon as they arrived. The table was set to the same standard as that of a pre-apocalyptic hotel banquet, with everything from the sky, the earth, and the water.
When all the dishes were served, Zhang Zhifeng took a deep breath and sighed at the sight of the king crabs and lobsters on the table. Yan Wei Guo and the others pretended not to notice and happily filled his cup with wine.
Thanks for the update! ^^)❤