CHAPTER 362: CHAPTER 168: THE SIMPLEST EDUCATION (PART 2)

"Theoretically, sending a unit to Han Shui City should resolve the crisis they are facing."

"But Han Shui City is too far from Jinling, nearly a thousand kilometers round trip, too many variables."

"I’m not particularly inclined towards this strategy, what do you all think?"

"I also disagree."

He Shuo’s voice rang out again, and then he said:

"According to intelligence, there are a large number of mercenaries gathered near Wuxue Town, close to Han Shui City."

"If the situation is indeed critical, we can hire a batch of mercenaries to support Han Shui City."

"Their weapons are relatively outdated, so we will supply weapons to strengthen them."

"Doing it this way, in terms of efficiency and safety, it will be relatively high."

"You have the resources?"

Chen Jian immediately asked.

"I do, I can get in touch right now."

"Meanwhile, I can mobilize limited supplies from the Ring Chamber of Commerce to provide weapons to the mercenaries."

"Currently, the weapons stalled in Wuxue Town are enough to arm a mercenary team of over 100 people."

"Although it might not be enough against level three monsters, dealing with level four monsters should not be too much pressure."

"After all, their loss ratio is not something we need to worry about, right?"

"...That’s true."

Chen Jian nodded thoughtfully and then decided:

"Then let’s do it that way first!"

"Execute immediately today, let the mercenaries take the front first."

"If the mercenaries can’t hold, once the plane comes out, we will go support Han Shui at the first opportunity."

"Be diligent in planning this support, it’s crucial."

"Han Shui City’s current situation is very delicate, if we hit well, it could be the first city to...change color."

"This means a lot to us!"

"Understood."

"Received."

Everyone responded one after another, while Chen Jian waved his hand to dismiss the meeting.

The support plan for Han Shui City has been drafted; now they must see how long they can endure...

...

Meanwhile, as the core members of the Huaxia Army discussed more "macro" strategies, in the newly established simple factory outside the fortifications, Ji Xing was tightly gripping onto the smallest details.

"...I’ve already told you, when stacking, you must ensure fiber alternates horizontally and vertically; this is a key step to ensuring the strength of the plywood!"

"Look at the plywood you stacked, how many layers have incorrect fiber directions?"

"Do you think this is a trivial matter?? These plywoods are used to make airplanes!"

"If issues with material strength cause the plane to fail to take off, tell me, can you bear that responsibility??"

The worker standing opposite her hung his head, not daring to speak, but a flash of dissatisfaction appeared in his eyes.

He knew what he was doing, but couldn’t understand the reasoning.

Stacking pieces of wood together and gluing them, if the final purpose is making wooden boards, why not cut the wood directly into boards?

Moreover, using wood to make airplanes?

He knew what an airplane is, he had even seen with his own eyes that enormous, angel-like machine rise from the ground and then soar into the sky.

But he could never believe that such a terrifying, holy, unparalleled majestic angel could be made from wood.

Perhaps this was just an excuse, a way to wear down his faith, and that of his compatriots.

Just like they let their compatriots ride that machinery they called a "bulldozer."

It seemed to offer everyone a chance to be close to the creations of the Holy Trinity, but in reality, it was just another form of blasphemy.

---These people were mere mortals!

What right do mortals have to stand above the Mechanical Soul? What right do they have to deprive Mechanical Soul of control over mechanical creations? And what right do they have, to boldly claim they are the true masters of machines?

A trace of disgust arose in his heart.

If it weren’t for his safety, if it weren’t for a meal, he would have fled to the true Jinling City long ago.

---No, even Jinling City had become impure.

Even the Saint has been replaced under their control, perhaps the last pure land belonging to the Holy Trinity can only be found by heading towards the legendary "Mountain City"...

Thinking of this, the worker took a deep breath.

Then, he said:

"I understand now, sir."

"I’ll be meticulous, such mistakes won’t happen again."

"It better not happen again!"

Ji Xing’s voice was harsh, and the worker bowed his head again without speaking.

"Keep working!"

"If I find any unqualified products again, all of your ration coupons will be deducted by 1 today!"

"Yes."

"Yes, sir."

The workers inside the factory answered in turn, Ji Xing shook her head and gestured for everyone to continue working.

At this moment, having finished the meeting, Chen Jian was inspecting the factory when he noticed Ji Xing’s expression and curiously approached to ask:

"How’s the progress?"

Ji Xing shook her head and replied:

"There’s a bit of a problem."

"These workers can execute orders, but they can’t execute orders a hundred percent."

"It’s like there’s...a steel plate in their minds."

"They instinctively question what they are doing, so they have no initiative at all when working."

"Mistakes abound, that’s all I can say..."

"I don’t know how to solve this problem, if there’s no other way, I can only...make an example out of someone."

"I understand."

A trace of a helpless smile appeared on Chen Jian’s face.

In fact, he was quite familiar with the situation.

Back when he was still leading new recruits, he’d experienced similar things; two soldiers with the same quality and intelligence, if one naturally resisted training and the other embraced it fully, they would ultimately display vastly different results.

Often, it’s not a matter of ability.

It’s a matter of consciousness.

Ji Xing is unable to solve it and it’s normal, her ability to identify the nature of the problem in such a short time is already outstanding.

Thinking this way, Chen Jian comforted her:

"Don’t worry, this problem is easily solved."

"They just don’t believe they can do it."

"What they are doing not only subverts their religious beliefs, but also their judgment of their own abilities and value."

"So, resistance is normal."

"What we need to do is simple — show them the result."

"Lei Jie! Come over! Bring a W-4 Sky Hawk."

"On it."

Lei Jie’s voice came from the earphones, and shortly afterward, he arrived in front of Chen Jian and asked:

"What’s up?"

"Do what you do best, dismantle a drone for them to see."

Lei Jie glanced at Chen Jian, then at the workers, instantly understanding Chen Jian’s intent.

With no unnecessary words, Lei Jie directly went to work, initially controlling the somewhat ineffectual, barely used single-soldier hand-thrown drone to fly inside the roofless workshop; then, after capturing everyone’s attention, dismantling the drone completely in front of them.

Everyone watched his actions with bated breath, and as all the parts of the W-4 drone were disassembled, the workers’ faces nearly unanimously displayed an expression of "cluelessness."

Without further ado, Lei Jie waved his hand and said to the still dazed crowd:

"Come and have a look."

"See what this thing is made of."

"What you are creating is just this kind of thing, the large plane you’ve seen was merely its upgraded version."

"Now, what you need to create is the simplest mosquito fighter."

"But one day, you will be able to manufacture Attack-17 with your own hands."

"There’s no Mechanical Soul in this world."

"All machines are creations of humans!"

"Come on, who wants to see how this plane actually flies?"

As the words faded, the crowd, who had been hesitating, came forward.

The worker Ji Xing singled out for criticism stood somewhat shrinking at the back, wanting to avoid it, but couldn’t resist stretching his neck to see Lei Jie’s actions over the crowd.

He didn’t believe a plane dismantled this way could be restored.

Even if the plane had a Mechanical Soul, such damage should be enough to destroy it, right?

---He guessed wrong.

When the drone flew again from the crowd, it was met with continuous exclamations.

He closely watched the airborne drone.

Then, he looked at the wood piece he held in his hand, forgotten to put down.

After a long silence, he suddenly seemed to understand something, quietly turned the wooden piece in his hand...