Chapter 642 - Better Wish for Luck
An airship was indeed great.
When they saw NAC’s steel airship and the supply blimp sending ammunition six hundred kilometers away, all the merchants travelling at the Sixth Street acutely observed this point.
Due to the six hundred kilometers distance to transport from Hucheng to Wanghai, the raiders or mutants along the way would usually cause sizable damage to the merchant fleets. Based on the road condition of the wasteland, anything sold in Wanghai from Hucheng would cost at least double.
But with the existence of an airship, the situation would drastically be different.
Some merchants even considered ordering a few private airships from the Sixth Street military factory. While they didn’t have the money for the steel version, the normal blimp version would be fine.
But the only obstacle was helium, because of the nuclear fusion power station, helium was abundant before the war. But today after the war, obtaining helium was as difficult as ascending into the air. Without helium and the hydrogen blimp being too dangerous; they had to put a hold on the idea for now.
In NAC, helium was a strategic resource.
Fortunately, UA in the modern world was dumping helium to the market.
As the strategic reverse for blimps, UA’s helium strategic reserve built in 1925 consisted of 30% of the world’s helium reserve. But followed by the blimp making an exit from military operations, the reserve cost a large maintenance bill per year. Therefore, the Congress made the decision to sell all the helium 15 years ago. And this decision made helium in the global market extremely cheap with price twenty times below its actual value.
And because of this, Jiang Chen could obtain large amounts of helium to aid the production in the apocalypse.
But if the production of commercial blimps was made available, the liquid helium he brought from the modern world would not be enough. There were approximately five hundred merchant fleets that conducted trade across long distances at the Sixth Street. If they were to maintain five hundred blimps, the helium consumed per day would be enough to build another airship.
Before the helium production could be resolved, Jiang Chen had no plan to make the helium reserve available.
After discussion with Chu Nan, NAC decided to establish two air transportation cargos between Wanghai and Hucheng with two new 300 tons large blimps. This route would be a supplement to the land trade route to provide transportation service for the larger companies.
The blimps would also provide direct transportation to the survivors traveling between the two locations with a cost
…
Five days passed since Guru Tribe ceased to exist.
Empire and Federation maintained their stalemate across the river, Donggang Plantation insurgents desperately tried to hold their ground with the siege of Empire’s army.
With NAC’s arrival, the entire Hucheng turned into a mess.
Contrary to Empire’s chaotic state, NAC controlled territory was pleasant. Golden River Farm resumed its production with the slaves of mutated humans turned into the owner of the land and began building houses in NAC’s designated area.
Inside the farm, businessmen in suits could be occasionally seen accompanied by a few mercenaries. They were mostly investors of the Sixth Street and luckily purchased land from the bank. The moment they obtained their land permit, the merchants all hopped on to the newly opened airship route and headed to Hucheng six hundred kilometers away.
Brought along with them were concrete, steel, graphene pipelines, and other construction materials. The walls of Golden River Farm were reinforced and a small market sprouted from the ground. The seed of order was planted; it wouldn’t take long before prosperity began to germinate.
While Golden River Farm was undergoing its rebuilding phase, Empire under tremendous stress finally sent an ambassador out to Jiang Chen, expressing their desire for freedom. However, Jiang Chen with an advantage would not agree.
“Get your Emperor to see me, perhaps I will let him keep his palace and let him continue to be the emperor of that arena. Or else, tell him to pray.” This was what Jiang Chen told the ambassador who was kneeling on the ground.
If the emperor recognized the situation and willingly joined under NAC’s banner, it was not a big deal for him to continue to be the Emperor. Although he would not receive the treatment of being above all, he could easily live the rest of his life in peace and comfort.
Unfortunately, the elders and the Emperor were enraged by NAC General’s “arrogant” attitude.
“These rats, how dare they!”
Smashing his cup on the ground, the Emperor cursed out.
“Emperor please remain calm. As long as we mobilize the army of Empire, we will definitely be able to defeat the external bandits!”
“That NAC General is way too arrogant! Does he really think Empire doesn’t have people?”
“But Federation’s army is still across the river…” People who understood reminded in a feeble voice.
With these words, the enraged elders instantly deflated and couldn’t say a word more.
That’s right.
The threat Empire faced not only came from the east, but it also came from Federation, west of Gang River. With the loss of Guru Tribe, Empire was already at a disadvantage against Federation, now they faced the threat of the NAC.
The petrifying firepower advantage was hard for anyone to gain the courage to resist.
Emperor on the dragon chair was silent while he watched the elders gravely. These useless things were witty when discussing how to spend the money in the treasury, they all had a flawless accounting book, and they were all peerless when it came to conspiracy.
But in this critical moment, they couldn’t be lousier.
“Speaking of which, where did Chen Lin go?” An elder suddenly spoke up.
The palace suddenly became rowdy again.
“That’s right! Where did that fool go, why didn’t we see him!”
“Capture him! If it were not for that dumba*s’ idea, our two divisions should be fighting against NAC at the frontline rather than being forced to Donggang Plantation!”
“Right!”
Without being about to think of a solution to solve the difficult problem at hand, the elders put their attention into finding the scapegoat. Even if it served no purpose in resurrecting Empire from the losing situation, it was the only thing they could do and can do.
When the Emperor heard the words of the elders, he began to realize what they said is true.
If it were not for Chen Lin’s recommendation to use the slaves to comfort Guru Tribe, how would the situation evolve to this state? He didn’t come today because he realized his crime.
Emperor looked at the guard beside him with a gloomy expression.
“My order. Arrest Elder Chen Lin, and demote his wife and daughter to slaves.”
“Yes!” The guard nodded and walked away.
Just then, a familiar voice came from the door.
“No need for the trouble, I’m here.”
Elder Chen stood tall at the door.
Beside him was a figure familiar to everyone at the scene – Commander of Empire’s Third Division, Wei Biao.