Upon hearing the news, Ye Fan's spirits, which had been somewhat sluggish due to his lack of sleep the previous night, suddenly soared.
"So fast?" he exclaimed.
The engineers had initially estimated that the base vehicle would take about half a month to complete. Yet here they were, just over a week later, with it set to be finished in less than ten days.
"Yes, sir. We've enlisted a platoon of soldiers to assist with some basic tasks, which has helped improve efficiency a bit. If all goes well, it should be ready by tomorrow, making it a total of nine days," one of the engineers explained.
Ye Fan quickly did the math. With the base vehicle nearing completion ahead of schedule, it became imperative to prioritize its deployment.
"The base vehicle is the cornerstone of all our operations. Without it, we're limited to constructing only basic defensive structures like walls and guard towers, with no electricity available at night," Ye Fan mused.
Placing the base vehicle and establishing a power plant were crucial steps in solidifying the base's infrastructure.
"Xu Haoran, listen carefully. Once the base vehicle is ready, deploy a platoon of soldiers along with an engineer platoon to protect both the engineers and the vehicle. Have them report to Kaoshan Farm immediately. Leave two platoons behind to guard Chengguan Town until my signal. Once everything is in place here, rush over with the survivors. Understood?" Ye Fan instructed.
"Understood, sir! We anticipate reaching Kaoshan Farm within three days," Xu Haoran replied.
After concluding the call, Ye Fan returned to his planning. Reviewing the soldier roster, he realized he already commanded a considerable force. The first and second companies numbered 260 soldiers combined, with an additional 300 including his own guard platoon. The newly formed third company boasted 72 recruits, while the engineer platoon contributed another 30 members.
Adding in the soldiers stationed at the guard towers, as well as the recently produced armored vehicles and heavy machine gunners, Ye Fan's Red Alert unit comprised a total of 422 individuals, leaving a gap of just over 100 from his full complement of 550.
With ample funds at his disposal, Ye Fan decided to arm the entire battalion at once. First, he filled out the ranks of the three companies, each totaling 130 men. This initial step cost over 30,000 gold. Once completed, the Red Alert unit stood at 480 soldiers, leaving only 70 vacancies to reach full strength.
Turning his attention to vehicle production, Ye Fan focused on replenishing their transportation fleet. Dining cars, ambulances, warriors' vehicles, and military trucks were swiftly constructed. Additionally, he invested in roadblock clearing vehicles and a mine-laying vehicle, although the latter would be reserved for future use.
Despite his inclination to fortify their defenses further, Ye Fan restrained from filling all vacancies immediately. He recognized the importance of leaving room for future developments, such as new unit types or infrastructure expansions.
As soldiers returned from their material transport mission, Ye Fan oversaw the influx of resources, using the excess steel to construct two water gates. These gates, although costly, were essential for safeguarding their perimeter against potential threats.
With the completion of the water gates, Ye Fan turned his attention to enhancing the material recycling station, fortifying it with additional defenses. As the wall construction neared completion, the inner defensive circle of the base began to take shape.
With funds dwindling to two hundred thousand, Ye Fan deliberated over the construction of an outer wall. While recognizing its importance in protecting survivors, he hesitated to allocate substantial resources to the project just yet.
"The survivors haven't arrived yet, so there's no need to rush. We'll wait until the base vehicle arrives to devise the most suitable solution," Ye Fan concluded.
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On the third day, the entire battalion mobilized. Even John's platoon joined the operation, utilizing all available transport vehicles and heavy trucks. Ye Fan aimed to complete all defensive structures within the base by the day's end, redirecting focus to internal construction planning thereafter.
Amidst the bustling activity, Ye Fan received a call from Xu Haoran, confirming the completion of the base vehicle's construction in Chengguan Town. An engineer platoon and the first company's platoon were dispatched to safeguard its journey. With an anticipated arrival in two days' time, Ye Fan eagerly anticipated the vehicle's contribution to their operations.
With the day's tasks completed, Ye Fan took a moment to listen to a radio broadcast from Huacheng City. The announcement, made by the Burning Legion, outlined plans to search for survivors along the Qixing River Basin, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of the post-apocalyptic world.