Armor-Piercing Munition: Face Me, Carbon-Based Monster!
Chapter 296 - 130: Economic Issues 2

Chapter 296: Chapter 130: Economic Issues 2

"But in this regard, let the Ring Chamber of Commerce communicate with you."

"You only need to convey the message back to your... Saint, that’s enough."

"Understood, understood."

The bishop was excited and confirmed again:

"So, we can trade directly with you for weapons like those of your team?"

"No."

Chen Jian decisively shook his head.

"Not exactly the same."

"But I’ll provide you with ’suitable’ weapons."

"Of course, of course!"

The bishop beamed with joy.

"Everyone knows your name for kindness. I believe this will be a deal that satisfies both sides!"

"Then, I will report back to the Saint as per your request."

"I’ll handle everything here, and I’ll also send the captured supplies to the Jinling Ruins as soon as possible, waiting for your reception."

"Very well. Do not attempt to deceive us."

Chen Jian said solemnly:

"Whether in Jinling or Huadu, I believe you have seen our strength."

"What I want to tell you is that the Huadu people couldn’t defeat us with these weapons, and you... certainly can’t either."

The bishop straightened up and replied loudly:

"I absolutely understand!"

....

The work of receiving Quan City is still ongoing, but Chen Jian and his team no longer need to keep a constant watch.

The battle shattered not only Huadu City but also the morale of those stationed in the "remote areas" of the Mechanical God Sect’s Guardian Army.

In one morning, less than five hours, Huadu City was largely destroyed effortlessly, and by the time the sun rose, the city’s flag had already changed.

What terrifying power is this?

At least for this bishop in charge of the reception work, after witnessing it firsthand, he already understood one thing in his heart:

No one can contend with this Huaxia Army, even if they are just a dozen people, they are an almost invincible team.

Never mind fighting them; actually, most of the time, you simply can’t even see them on the battlefield.

By the time they appear in front of you, the battle is most likely already over.

So, the bishop had no intention of "defying" the Huaxia Army.

After all, even the Saint has already compromised; what need is there to show his laughable "loyalty"?

All are working for the Holy Trinity; does it matter where I do it?

Besides, there was an unexpected joy on this mission.

He even facilitated a transaction with the Huaxia Army, which is a great accomplishment from any perspective...

Therefore, when Chen Jian’s convoy departed from Huadu and continued northward, his farewell was exceedingly sincere.

He even handed over precious supplies from his own team to Chen Jian for use.

The Huaxia Army soldiers originally from Yellow Stone City found this very puzzling, but the others did not think much of it.

"...So, Captain, what you really plan to do isn’t just trading, but more about creating divisions?"

In the vehicle, Ji Xing asked curiously.

"Of course."

"If it were just trading, I wouldn’t need to offer them such favorable terms."

"The core of this trade is to divide the Mechanical God Sect’s centralized power structure."

"----Although their centralized power is not that strong to begin with."

"But think about it, who is our transaction partner? Is it the Mechanical God Sect?"

"....No, it’s the Church Protection Army of Huadu City."

Ji Xing replied thoughtfully:

"Or more precisely, it’s the steel plant in Huadu City."

"Exactly, it’s this steel plant."

Chen Jian nodded in satisfaction, Ji Xing’s sharpness had surprised him several times already.

Perhaps, if she wasn’t a Holy Blood, she would naturally have the makings of a businessman.

After a brief pause, Chen Jian continued:

"And based on what we saw in Tongling and Anqing, the management of these steel plants and industrial workshops are actually somewhat detached from the Mechanical God Sect’s theocratic system."

"The ones directly responsible for managing these workshops are not the bishop, but lower-level priests."

"They are not part of the core of the Mechanical God Sect’s power, and precisely such individuals are easier to transform with benefits."

"Someday, when these people realize they have leverage to negotiate with the Holy Hall, you can guess what will happen?"

"Will they establish a new Holy Hall?"

Ji Xing instinctively answered, but then shook her head:

"They might not necessarily establish a new Holy Hall; they should seek legitimacy in theocratic terms."

"They should reinterpret the doctrines."

"More likely, they will directly create a new sect!"

"Exactly, that’s what we want."

Chen Jian took a deep breath and explained:

"The vast majority of the population in this Wasteland World is already completely controlled by religious ideologies."

"They are incapable of accepting another system and it’s very difficult to erase their ingrained beliefs through ’blanket’ education."

"So you see, that’s also why our team has Yellow Stone People and Holy Bloods, but up until now, not a single follower of the Mechanical God Sect."

"The reason is simple; transforming them is too difficult."

"We have to employ a different method. Do you know what that is?"

"...Let the change happen from within."

Xie Liu from the back seat interrupted.

"Absolutely right."

Chen Jian nodded again, adding:

"And to make change happen, we must create the soil for transformation."

"I was initially pondering how to create such soil, but now, this ’steel workshop’ has provided us with inspiration."

"The only troublesome part is that for quite a long period, most of the workers in the steel workshop will probably be those Huadu people."

"They..."

"Won’t be."

Ji Xing suddenly interrupted Chen Jian, then said:

"Those Huadu people... won’t live much longer."

"Their bodies have already completely broken down; in just a few months, they will be replaced by newcomers..."

After her words, the people in the vehicle fell silent.

In reality, Chen Jian had long expected this outcome.

One man’s mistake inevitably cost hundreds or thousands of people to bear.

He certainly wanted to change all this, but with the current capabilities of the Huaxia Army, it’s completely insufficient to make that change.

Ideals always shine from a place far out of reach; they can illuminate the path but cannot smooth out the obstacles along the way.

Upon this thought, Chen Jian took a deep breath.

After contemplating briefly, he spoke:

"Then let’s allocate a bit more resources."

"Most of the people here shouldn’t die so meaninglessly; we can give them a chance."

"How?"

Lei Jie’s voice came through the radio.

"Unless you personally manage this city, otherwise those entrenched rules can’t be changed."

"It’s not that difficult."

Chen Jian chuckled and replied:

"Rules serve interests; just by slightly altering the way interests are distributed, different rules can be obtained."

"This can also be part of the plan."

"The thing we need to do is very simple. To make these people live... just let the people of the Mechanical God Sect understand that they’re perhaps more valuable alive than dead."

"How to do that?"

Lei Jie pursued further.

"Isn’t that simple?"

"Expand the demand."

"Got it..."

Ji Xing reacted even before Lei Jie.

"Perhaps we originally needed only 10 tons of steel, and the Mechanical God Sect would then desperately squeeze the existing workforce to maximize value at that capacity."

"But if we need 100 tons of steel... they’ll find that they don’t have enough manpower."

"When there’s not enough manpower, you can’t afford people dying."

"Exactly."

Chen Jian stretched his neck, continuing:

"Anyway, our demand for steel is continuously increasing; there’s no harm in stocking up early."

"However... we’ll need to seriously think about what to trade them with."

"The munitions factory at 011 still needs to be built as soon as possible."

"After all, in this era, weapons are equivalent to currency..."

"Damn it."

Lei Jie finally realized.

He exclaimed in surprise:

"So you’re planning to flood the market?!"