Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi became proficient with the new combat light-seed and increasingly skilled with Unit 2.

The only downside was that the two bodies couldn't be stacked; he had to switch between them to use their respective skill sets.

Everything else was excellent.

The Red Falcon also successfully completed the synchronization connection to the Poseidon.

Unlike Zhou Yi's situation, the Red Falcon could operate both the main unit and the sub-unit simultaneously, which was a mechanism advantage of mech-electric lifeforms.

Zhou Yi was very envious of this: "If a high-level mech-electric lifeform had enough resources, they could store a large number of sub-units for use, making one person an army or even a city."

"Theoretically, that's possible, but it's difficult to achieve in practice."

Red Falcon said, "Internally, mech-electric lifeforms have a limit to their computing power. If they simultaneously operate multiple sub-units for different activities, it can easily cause computational overload and serious damage."

"Externally, the long-distance transmission of consciousness signals has its own risks. It can affect the outside world and be affected by it. If it is interfered with or countered by some signal equipment, even the main body can be in danger or even completely controlled."

"Therefore, sub-units are basically used for the same type of work, which reduces the amount of calculation and complexity. For example, transport ships or vehicles, reconnaissance and exploration in various places, or repetitive processing of existing processes, etc."

Zhou Yi nodded in understanding.

So, in that case, he and Unit 2 were more stable, as they were two sets of consciousness systems within the same closed body.

Next, Red Falcon demonstrated the operation of the Poseidon.

On the remote control screen, the black submarine slowly sailed out of the cave.

Its movement was initially slow and cautious, but after advancing a certain distance, it submerged and touched the bottom of the Dead Sea. Then it resurfaced from underwater, patrolling the coast around Emerald City.

The Red Falcon also conducted a public address broadcast in the air.

"To all employees and residents, the company's 'Poseidon' is patrolling at sea, please do not panic."

Repeated several times.

The workers resting on the dam gathered at the edge, watching and talking among themselves.

Red Falcon continued, "I have conducted a series of tests and internal data docking on the Poseidon, confirmed its current situation, and made a simple assessment."

An electronic illustrated book popped up on the remote control screen.

...

【Poseidon】

Strength: B+

Skills: C

Vitality: C

Rating: B

...

It was more extreme than the St. Petersburg, with all its strength focused on damage.

The drone explained, "The Poseidon's weakness is insufficient defense; it is easily damaged if hit."

"Apart from attack, its other advantage is speed, reaching a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour in the Dead Sea. This is already excellent among Dead Sea vessels."

"In addition, the Poseidon can fire unimpeded on the surface and underwater of the Dead Sea. Judging from the shooting and explosion methods, it is a death-ray torpedo. I cannot parse its light-print structure, but I have obtained its specific damage data."

On the screen, a square with text appeared at the front of the Poseidon.

...

【B+ Grade Death-Ray Torpedo】

Damage: 360-994

Cooldown: 16

Range: 1100

...

The Poseidon's damage and range are excellent.

Red Falcon added, "The death-ray torpedoes are powerful but also consume a lot of energy. Each shot requires 2 light-seeds or 20 energy packs."

Zhou Yi's originally happy face instantly froze.

One shot cost the farmhand brothers a month's salary.

The expenses for high-level weapons were terrifying.

No wonder the territorial lords had to manage their territories. Without strong logistics, military preparations couldn't be supported. If the basic industries weren't solid, a single battle could collapse a city.

It was still more cost-effective to use flesh and blood light-seed, mech-electric lifeform warriors were too expensive to raise.

Zhou Yi then thought again.

Flesh and blood light-seed, like the Spine Hunters, were fine in balanced or advantageous situations, but they had the biological instinct to seek good fortune and avoid disaster. If they faced high-intensity enemies, they might run away while fighting.

Mech-electric lifeforms were more reliable in this regard, fighting until they could no longer support themselves.

It could be said that each had its own advantages and disadvantages.

In any case, the company finally had its first armed warship, allowing it to defend the nearby waters. No matter how strong or experienced the St. Petersburg was, it was a mercenary ship, it was certainly more reassuring to have its own military unit.

With the company's maritime security guaranteed, Zhou Yi shifted his attention back to the core area of the company's production and development.

...

Since his return, agricultural advisor Zheng Tao had repeatedly suggested one thing.

"Chairman, the company's current arable land is too small and needs to be expanded as soon as possible. Only large-scale planting can spread the costs and produce a profitable amount of crops."

"100 acres of land is only enough to feed 200 people, and the initial investment in reclamation and trial and error is understandable. However, farmland output must generate income, otherwise it will be difficult to sustain in the long term."

Now was the time to expand the land.

Zhou Yi and Zheng Tao, who had recovered his health, first went to the farmland next to the mushroom forest.

After a month of soil rest and legume planting, the farmhand brothers were preparing for the next round of cultivation. Sun Chonglai, the bone man from the neighboring mushroom forest, was also here.

Tie Ma strongly agreed with Zheng Tao's proposal: "Chairman, we brothers think so too."

"The soil here isn't fertile or high-quality, but the terrain is flat. From Emerald City to the oasis belt, and then to the mushroom forest, the entire area of over 2,500 acres can be used for farming."

"We brothers can handle this scale, and sweet potato and peanut seeds aren't a problem either. We can select and produce them using the fruits from the previous round."

"It's just that with the significant increase in land area, the demand for fertilizer will also greatly increase, so we have to buy fertilizer."

"Also, the reclamation may affect the underground tunnels, so we need the sand rats to cooperate and avoid accidental injuries."

Zheng Tao, as a senior practitioner in the grain industry, immediately provided a solution: "Actually, this is not difficult. The fertilizer produced by mech-electric cities is very effective, but it is too expensive. Human cities make their own fertilizer. As long as you go to Jitou Town and Shagang City, you can buy a lot of cheap manure with dried mushrooms. There are people who specialize in this business."

"These feces, as long as you dig deep pits to pile them up, add grass leaves and water to react, are high-quality fertilizer that can be used for planting."

"In addition, you can also put in some grain moths and grubs, which can speed up this process."

"In addition, the gray mountain behind the original site of Maogu Town can also be mined for a considerable amount of soil ash, which is also a good natural fertilizer supplement."

Zhou Yi nodded: "That's good. What difficulties do you have?"

"I think we should add new crops."

Zheng Tao said in a deep voice: "What does the chairman think of sweet red melon?"

Red Falcon gave relevant graphic information.

Zhou Yi then realized that it was watermelon. It was called sweet red melon in the wasteland era, and there was another kind of sweet yellow melon - referring to cantaloupe.

Speaking of which, he hadn't eaten fruit for many years. The only things he could eat were canned yellow peaches and canned pears, but the cans tasted like sugar, lacking the flavor of fresh fruit.

Watermelon was a fruit with almost no shortcomings. On a hot day, it was perfect to chill the watermelon, cut it open, and eat it with a spoon.

"Plant sweet red melon!"

Zhou Yi suddenly shouted, scaring Zheng Tao next to him.

The other party came back to his senses and said, "Yes, Chairman."

"The temperature is rising now, the winter is about to end, and spring is the right time to plant. The soil in the Maogu Town area is naturally suitable for planting sweet red melon. Due to the long planting cycle, open-air growth is easily destroyed by various animals and light-seed, and there must be long-term sunlight... This leads to the yield of sweet red melon has not been high, but its transaction value is very high."

"According to last year's market price, a 4-5 pound melon can be sold for 500 mushrooms, which is 5 copper."

Zheng Tao began to calculate: "Assuming we plant late-maturing sweet red melons, this kind has the best appearance and taste, and is the easiest to sell. It can be completely harvested 4 months after planting in the spring."

"The yield per acre of melon is 1000-1200 pounds. Calculated at 5 pounds, each acre can produce 200 melons. If it can be expanded to 500 acres, it can produce 100,000 melons, which can earn 500,000 copper, which is 50 light-seeds. The cost accounts for only one-tenth at most. Considering the factors of damage and manpower, 500 acres can earn at least 40 light-seeds."

"Shagang has a pier. Many merchants are willing to re-sell high-quality fruits like sweet red melon, which are in short supply."

He paused and said, "If we expand production, with dried sweet potatoes and dried peanuts as year-round staple foods, plus sweet red melons, we can directly open the grain market in the Shagang area and occupy a place. In order to make money, merchants from all walks of life will cheer for our company."

Zhou Yi didn't think so far.

The main reason was that he really wanted to eat watermelon. He was tired of eating canned food for many years, so he wanted to have the freedom to eat melon to his heart's content.

Hearing that the income from fruit was not bad, he was even more satisfied.

In the end, after a series of discussions, Zhou Yi decided to directly expand the farmland to 2,500 acres. Among them, 500 acres were used to grow melons, 1,000 acres were used to grow sweet potatoes, and 1,000 acres were used to grow peanuts.

Zheng Tao also suggested: "Chairman, although the planting of sweet red melons is enough with two farmhands. However, because the fruit itself is fragile, daily inspection, adjustment and picking are required, and some manpower to supplement the effect will be better."

"I think we can hire retired members of the farming group to take care of it."

"They are older, their bodies are aging, and they usually live in poverty, but what is needed here is rich experience. This is also a natural publicity to the outside world. We welcome experienced and skilled farmers, which can attract more people with professional knowledge to the company."

Tie Ma did not object.

Zhou Yi immediately agreed: "Then I will leave this matter to you."

"Yes, Chairman."

In the wasteland era, farming requires high technology and resources. You can't rush, you have to continue to invest, and you have to pay attention to various emergencies at any time...

Fortunately, the difficult wasteland period has passed, and now it is finally on the right track.