CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 164: OPERATING EXCAVATORS IS THE ULTIMATE ANTI-CHARM (PART 2)

"Besides stockpiling them as essential bargaining chips for future trade, giving them to capable residents for use can also be considered a kind of capacity consumption."

"Alright."

Chen Jian nodded again, while Shen Yue pondered and said:

"In this way, our militia formation is basically completed."

"What do we still lack now? Law enforcement?"

"Yes, the law enforcement team needs to be established quickly as well."

"The thousands of refugees arriving in the Imperial City pose a significant challenge to the security of Base 011. We need a certain shock force to manage them."

"This is also the first step in establishing true order—frankly speaking, we are still just warlords now."

"How well we transition from being warlords to a government depends on how well we manage this step."

"However, we’re currently short-staffed. Initially, the law enforcement tasks can be handled by unmanned combat units."

"To the civilians here, these units actually have a stronger deterrent power than us ’humans,’ in some sense, making use of our resources."

After speaking, Shen Yue couldn’t help but laugh.

He looked at Chen Jian and, with a slightly teasing tone, asked:

"Do you know there’s a certain belief among the new residents now?"

"They think those machines are the true rulers of the base, and we’re merely servants to those ’Angels’....."

"Well, it’s time to demystify that belief."

"Whatever you wish, do as you see fit."

Shen Yue stepped toward Huang Yu, intending to check on the new recruits’ training and convey some details regarding ideological education.

Meanwhile, Chen Jian decisively raised his hand and called over the radio:

"Jiang Yu, report to me!"

After the command was issued, Jiang Yu came running from the wasteland in the distance.

"Captain... Captain, Jiang Yu reporting!"

Her breath was slightly hurried, and Chen Jian didn’t speak immediately but let her catch her breath before saying:

"I need you to do something."

"Captain, you say!"

Jiang Yu immediately stood at attention. She didn’t know what command the captain would give, but from his serious expression, she could vaguely sense that the task wouldn’t be simple.

However, Chen Jian’s next words left her completely stunned.

"You go operate the excavator."

"Huh?"

Jiang Yu looked at Chen Jian in confusion.

"Captain... the excavator you’re talking about, is it those... working on the ground?"

"Correct, you’re going to operate them."

Chen Jian emphasized again, leaving Jiang Yu entirely at a loss.

What does "operate" an excavator mean?

In the long history of civilization’s decline on the wastelands, the meaning represented by this word has gradually faded away.

She could roughly understand that "operate" meant to control.

But the problem is, how do you control that thing?

Hasn’t such a large machine always been controlled by the so-called ’Mechanical Soul’ hidden within the structure?

Wait, so the captain’s idea is for her to become the machine’s Mechanical Soul?

This doesn’t seem quite promising.

A terrifying image flashed through Jiang Yu’s mind in an instant.

She was trapped in a narrow and cramped space, her body hollowed out, her soul extracted, merged with the large machine, only able to feel the pain of labor day after day...

She shivered instinctively, and while fear surged in her heart, she also felt somewhat inexplicable.

How could she suddenly be asked to do such a thing?

Or is she just mistaken?

Watching her expression constantly change, Chen Jian couldn’t quite figure out her exact thoughts.

But actually, it doesn’t matter.

Isn’t it just operating an excavator? How difficult can it be? If you don’t know, just learn!

Thinking this, Chen Jian led her toward the excavator, saying:

"I’ll demonstrate once, you follow along and learn."

"Afterward, Fu Xi will give you guidance through voice prompts."

"Once you’ve learned, try to teach others among the residents as much as possible."

"After all, not all places have network coverage, and we need people with mechanical operation skills."

"Don’t worry, as long as you strive to learn, we won’t treat you poorly."

"We can consider raising the compensation for skilled workers."

"Understood!"

With this, Jiang Yu, whose heart had been hanging, instantly felt relieved.

If the captain demonstrates personally, what’s the problem?

It turns out she was overthinking it...

After all, religious beliefs are deceiving... In a normal human world, how could there be so many horror stories?

Jiang Yu cheerfully followed behind Chen Jian, watching his actions attentively.

She watched as Chen Jian gave the command to "disconnect remote operation," then promptly opened the door of the "excavator" and sat in what she had previously been unsure of as its "cockpit."

After Chen Jian pushed the lever and stepped on the gas, the excavator immediately started moving.

"This is the throttle, this is the large arm retract, this is the large arm extend, this is left rudder, this is right rudder..."

Chen Jian’s actions weren’t all that skilled. During the rudder turn, he almost toppled Jiang Yu, scaring her into scrambling out of the danger zone.

"Sorry, sorry, I’m not that skilled either; I’m just giving you a basic demonstration..."

"Come on, want to give it a try?"

Chen Jian opened the door and jumped out, leaving Jiang Yu with a residual sense of fear as she watched the cooling fan still buzz on the excavator, hesitating for a moment.

"What are you dawdling for? Isn’t it just an excavator? Are you scared of that?"

Chen Jian deliberately put on an impatient look, urging Jiang Yu to get on.

To demystify, one must do it thoroughly.

Chen Jian was determined to show these people how those machines with so-called ’Mechanical Souls’ actually worked. So when he noticed residents of Qian Island Lake Town curiously looking over, he didn’t stop them but instead invited them to come closer for a look.

At this point, Jiang Yu was finally ready psychologically.

She quickly hopped into the cockpit, cautiously wiggling the joystick.

When the excavator began to move silently, something shattered in her mind.

----No, not shattered; accurately speaking, that concept previously forced into her by the Mechanical God Sect had long since collapsed.

Now, these ruins were completely pulverized, turning to dust in an instant.

Machines are controlled by humans.

This thought emerged and couldn’t be suppressed again as she excitedly experimented with various controls, initially cautiously, but after getting used to it, she completely let go.

Advance, retreat, rotate.

Dig, push, fill, chisel...

Though her operation could not match Fu Xi’s remote-controlled precision, accuracy, and fluidity, there was no doubt that given a bit more time, she could truly unleash the excavator’s purpose!

After playing around for nearly twenty minutes, Jiang Yu suddenly realized Chen Jian was still waiting by the side.

She, slightly "dreadful," got off the vehicle, only to find Chen Jian’s face devoid of any dissatisfaction.

"Anyone else want to try?"

"Fu Xi, bring over two more for everyone to try."

Chen Jian gave the order, and shortly afterward, two more quadruped excavators were ready.

Jiang Yu was still eager to try.

----The first one was a simple track-type structure; she also wanted to try the claw-like quadruped wheeled structure...

Seeing her intentions, Chen Jian waved his hand and said:

"Go ahead."

Jiang Yu wasn’t shy; with a swift motion, she leaped up.

Following her lead, others in the curious crowd began to approach the excavators gradually.

Initially, they only dared to touch.

Gradually, some ventured into the cockpit.

When another excavator started moving, Chen Jian knew his demystifying task had been preliminarily completed.

Most of these people wouldn’t go to the battlefield or experience handling advanced weapons directly.

But now, they had a way to truly understand the faction they’ve joined and the assets they have.

From their expressions, Chen Jian could tell that although the faith in the Mechanical God Sect couldn’t be completely eradicated in the short term, there would likely be no more questions about who the real masters were....