Chapter 80: Finalizing the Strategy

"First, we must solve the issue of transportation capacity, based on the plan proposed by the group of logistics experts, which addresses this on two levels to maximize efficiency. First, we fully support your advancement, Major, to fundamentally increase our transport capacity. Second, we aim to use modern technology to make the most of available transport time, pushing the volume to its limits." The spokesperson spoke at a remarkably fast pace—almost as if the speech was sped up twice—but nonetheless conveyed the current challenges and solutions facing Xuanyu with exceptional clarity.

The first step was to enhance Qin Le's extraordinary abilities. Currently, Xuanyu's field of the supernatural was in its infancy; no clear framework had been established, rendering them powerless for now. Their only hope in the short term rested with Aimoia, the mysterious elf whose origins remained unknown.

Maximizing the use of transport time was the main focus—and the only actionable measure Xuanyu could take at present.

The expert group proposed two practical solutions: vehicle convoys and rail transport.

Vehicle convoys involved military trucks delivering pre-loaded supplies directly into the new world—a method already being used by Xuanyu. Its greatest advantage was versatility: it suited most terrains, and as long as a passage was opened, the trucks could proceed without concern for other factors.

The second option, rail transport, meant replacing trucks with trains. Trains could carry dozens, even hundreds of times more cargo than vehicles, making optimal use of transport time. However, this required certain infrastructure: the new world needed to have railway facilities.

Rail transport lacked the flexibility of convoys, but its sheer volume could greatly satisfy the demands of the new world.

This method had already been proposed during the first expansion of the passage, but back then the base was undeveloped and lacked the necessary infrastructure. At the same time, Xuanyu's own underground railway to the air-raid shelter was under construction, making it impossible to implement.

Now, Xuanyu's side was ready—all that remained was to prepare the new world.

"Considering all factors, the engineering department has decided to construct a heavy-duty railway at the base, using trains for supply transport."

After listening, Qin Le asked, "How much can rail transport increase the supply volume?"

Currently, vehicle convoys could deliver enough supplies in one hour to sustain a maximum of fifty thousand people. Physical goods were only a small portion; the bulk was construction materials, equipment, energy, and ammunition. Occasionally, research specimens had to be sent back to the homeland; though the volume was small, it still took up some transport time.

Xuanyu's next three steps would require a tremendous workforce. Building the heavy-duty railway could be managed with the current base personnel, but the second and third steps would clearly demand far more than fifty thousand people.

The increase in transport volume dictated the rise in population capacity.

"Removing the weight of the railway, traction tonnage, and the train itself, each carriage can carry fifty-five tons of supplies. A train consists of fifty carriages, so each trip delivers around 2,700 tons. For safety, the train can't enter too quickly, and unloading takes time. Each day, we can manage about two round trips..."

The intelligence team quickly provided a range of figures.

"All told, our daily supply volume can conservatively be estimated at around five thousand tons. With sufficient transport of energy, ammunition, and construction materials, we can now support at least two hundred thousand people. Still, for security, our garrison must be increased—the ideal number is one hundred thousand."

The intelligence team's 'support' standard meant ensuring daily meals—simply put, enough for everyone to eat. The living standards of the civilians in the base were several times lower than those in Xuanyu's homeland: each person had only two sets of clothes, lived in container-like houses, and every meal was barely touched by oil or meat.

Such conditions were barely above the old era's serfdom—a situation that, in the original world, would be harshly condemned by the international community. Even though those same leading countries practiced such things themselves, it never stopped them from making loud accusations.

If not for Xuanyu's existence, they might have been even more brazen.

No matter what, reality must be considered. For the civilians of this world, three full meals a day was a dream beyond reach. Though the containers were cramped, at least they didn't leak or let in wind, and there were no bugs or rats—one could sleep in peace.

Xuanyu, due to transport limitations, did not bring much meat; most supplies were rice, flour, and diesel. More than half of the meat was reserved for soldiers, the remainder used as rewards or sold to civilians.

With rare wages, civilians could buy precious meat. This incentive greatly increased their willingness to work. Even without wages, the promise of four meals a day was enough to drive civilians to work with astonishing enthusiasm—but human nature is greedy.

It works now, but over time it would fade, and some would begin to take it for granted.

Xuanyu's management experts never relied on the goodness of human nature. The saying "poor mountains and wild rivers breed hard people" was not a joke—especially since these were slaves who had never received any education.

Never trust human nature, nor test it.

Their values included neither helpfulness, lawfulness, nor any spirit of sacrifice. Currently, they lived like animals, their sole motivation being hunger; Xuanyu was, in effect, their master.

What they needed more than a better life was education—an education that could turn slaves into people. True liberation was not material but spiritual, enabling them to recognize their real adversaries.

Xuanyu could not liberate the world's underclass, but those gathered around Xuanyu, contributing to its cause, could be freed.

Three hours later, the meeting ended.

After two hours of discussion, Xuanyu's next steps were settled: first, increase the garrison; then, begin accepting civilians from outside.

Step one was to lay over two kilometers of railway inside the base, and build a supply unloading platform for efficient offloading.

Step two, in the name of the Eastern Grand Duke, was to summon the three counts and various viscounts of the East to cooperate with Xuanyu's highway construction.

Compared to the heavier volume of rail transport, Xuanyu favored building a simple road system first. Railways were fast and convenient, but for military movement, roads needed to be established first. Otherwise, if an emergency arose, the armored units would be unable to reach their destination due to forests and mountains—a troublesome predicament.

Whether the nobles cooperated or not was irrelevant; the steel tide would show them the correct answer. In name, all of the East belonged to Qin Le now—refusal was rebellion, and as Grand Duke, he had the right to crush them.

This was perhaps the only benefit Xuanyu could find in the feudal system of this world.

Nevertheless, Xuanyu hoped they would cooperate, as such a vast territory needed someone to manage it.

Lack of order was more dreadful than tyrannical rule.

On the other hand, civilian education needed to be accelerated.

First, they must understand the importance of obeying rules and the consequences of breaking them—and learn to be competent workers. The requirements were not high: just the ability to pour cement, use a shovel, push carts—simple tasks.

Qin Le stretched, rose from his chair, and walked out of the meeting room. The moment he stepped outside, he saw a blonde girl standing quietly by the door.

"Olina, what are you doing here?" Qin Le asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

Normally, Olina would be mingling with the civilians—put generously, inspecting their lives; put plainly, she was hauling bricks with them.

Olina's daily routine was morning brick-laying with the people, lunch, afternoon brick-laying again, and evening training with the vanguard (fighting).

Hauling bricks, eating, hauling bricks, fighting, sleeping.

The base's everyday scenery was a beautiful blonde girl in work clothes, carrying ten bags of cement in one hand, running back and forth.