Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Power Plant
Seeing these newly appeared buildings, Ye Fan immediately asked Nana to introduce them to him.
"Sir, the military reserve warehouse is a giant warehouse, divided into two areas."
"One is the storage area; all the materials the Commander collects can be stored here. The internal space uses the black technology principle of the Red Alert System. It works similarly to the Commander’s Backpack. What seems like a 50,000 cubic warehouse actually has a 500,000 cubic space, so there is no need to separately build many warehouses."
Ye Fan thought this function was great. The storage space of the resource recycling station is also limited. Now, the first batch of Walls has been completed, and some materials have been transported to the recycling station, but many are still piled outside.
In the future, he will also need to collect materials. He can’t just build a vast area of warehouses; that would take up too much space.
"The second function is that some military supplies can be purchased through the reserve warehouse, Sir."
"Oh! What kind of supplies?"
"For example, winter clothing for soldiers, military equipment, vehicle parts, compressed biscuits, canned food, etc."
This function is also good. It’s autumn now, and Ye Fan was wondering how to solve the soldiers’ winter clothing problem. Now there’s a way.
"But please note, Sir, that purchasing materials from the military supply warehouse is for emergencies. The actual cost-effectiveness is not high, and it is best to produce them independently if possible."
"I understand, I understand."
"The field hospital is the hospital for the Red Alert Team, but I suggest you upgrade to a Battalion Commander before building it, so the scale can be larger."
"Alright, what about the armory?"
"The armory is the place to produce various weapons, mainly consumable bullets, shells, rockets, landmines, and special fuel for the Flamethrower Warrior, etc."
"Do all of these need to be purchased?"
"Yes, but if the Commander can provide the corresponding production materials, the purchase price can be reduced."
The issue of bullets has always been one of the main problems troubling Ye Fan. The number of bullets for the soldiers is fixed and can only be replenished by waiting, which also limits the troops’ ability to expand outward.
If the armory could provide a large number of bullets, this problem would no longer exist.
With enough materials carried when going out, attacking small towns would become feasible.
"What about this Officer Training Center?"
"The Officer Training Center has two functions: One is direct production, and the other is to send existing soldiers in for training. But since existing soldiers are combat units, after training, they can only serve as low-rank officers, at most as a Company Commander. Positions above the Company Commander and some special positions still rely on production."
"What are special positions?"
"For example, staff officers, logistics troops, etc."
Ye Fan thought this building was crucial and should be prioritized when possible.
Otherwise, the scouts under his command are not suitable for becoming officers. They are fine dealing with zombies, but they are somewhat inexperienced in actual command.
Three Company Commanders and nine Platoon Leaders need to be selected, like Xu Haoran, Qiao Sanyou, Jiang Hao, etc. They all should have a position.
Zhuge Yunxue...?
To show care for female comrades and promote humanitarian spirit, Ye Fan does not intend to burden her with too many responsibilities and will continue to keep her by his side as a guard.
Shen Ruihui...?
Let’s look at the next building first.
The last one is Ye Fan’s Commander’s Mansion.
This doesn’t need much introduction; it’s a villa.
It looks almost like a regular three-story villa, and vehicles can drive directly into the underground garage.
Only the top floor is different; it’s possible to take off and land helicopters on the roof.
Seeing this villa, Ye Fan felt a little troubled.
Should he bring his parents and sister to live in the Commander’s Mansion?
The mansion is at the core of the inner layer, involving many secrets, and Xiaoba is in the pond beside the villa. He doesn’t want his family to know too many magical things.
Being able to live simply is actually happiness.
This matter will be put aside for now. Ye Fan’s priority is still to construct the Power Plant.
With four Power Plants, he can use the method of exclusion.
Firstly, a solar power plant is not feasible. The north already has short sunlight hours and inadequate illumination; in winter, it is even less worth considering, as the sun is seldom seen.
The hydro power plant isn’t suitable either. Although there is a river nearby, it’s not big enough.
That leaves the thermal power plant and wind power plant. After thinking it over for a while, Ye Fan believes a thermal power plant is better.
There may not be many things up north, but there is plenty of coal. After taking Kao Mountain Town, there is actually quite a bit of coal there. He just hasn’t had the time to transport it back yet.
First, construct a thermal power plant. If power becomes insufficient in the future, then set up a wind power plant. Two power plants will be enough to support this base.
The construction of the thermal power plant requires 50,000 Gold, which is very expensive.
"Sir, 50,000 Gold is just the price of the plant. You also need to staff it with the appropriate personnel."
"How many people are needed?"
"The thermal power plant requires thirty workers, including one Engineer and other staff members. However, these numbers are not part of your camp’s combat sequence but belong to the logistics division, requiring an additional 5,000 Gold to add."
That makes it 55,000 Gold, Ye Fan thinks his 250,000 Gold might not be enough.
However, Nana gave him a pleasant surprise.
"If the Commander decides to build a thermal power plant in reality, the virtual world’s power plant is unnecessary and can be recycled."
"How much can be recycled?"
"The Red Alert World’s power plant is also a thermal power plant and can be recycled for half the price of the building, which is 25,000 Gold."
"Alright, recycle it immediately and construct a new thermal power plant."
"Construction confirmed. Recycling completed. Subtracting the recycling price, 30,000 Gold will be consumed, requiring five hours. Please be patient, Sir!"
During the waiting time, Ye Fan didn’t stay idle and went out to check the Engineers’ construction progress and ordered people to hurriedly collect coal in Kao Mountain Town.
The thermal power plant is almost ready, and coal will become an essential resource for the Dawn Army in the future.
Once the professional Engineers arrived, the construction speed doubled.
The streets and alleys inside the base already have their initial shape.
After the base vehicle entered, the main roads quickly started paving. With ample materials, some asphalt roads were already in the drying stage.
The drainage ditches were also dug, and even the Star River’s water supply project to the base was nearing completion under the Engineers’ construction.
After inspecting outside and having lunch, the thermal power plant was finally completed.
Ye Fan came to the reserved location for the plant and set up the thermal power plant there.
Covering an area of over 30,000 square meters, the power plant appeared!
The vast main factory building houses boilers, turbines, and generator sets.
The outdoor main transformer also has a separate building.
The coal storage area is still full, built-in as the power plant was constructed, requiring supplementary collection after it’s exhausted.
There is also a water supply system, water treatment system, and dust removal equipment, etc.
Such a large plant requires only thirty workers, thanks to the centralized control system, where many technical problems are solved by computer control. Technology is the primary productive force.
And with the thermal power plant as the center, the predetermined locations for setting up utility poles by the Engineer were quickly connected by one pole after another, high voltage lines linking each unit area.
The electric grid on the internal Wall sparked blue for a moment; now, they are electrified, no longer just ordinary wire fences.
The spotlights on the watchtowers where soldiers are stationed also lit up, previously being decorative as the towers had no electricity.
Ye Fan stood in front of the power plant, watching the workers busy inside.
These workers could reside within the plant area, as there are dormitories and a cafeteria here.
Nevertheless, food supply still needs to be provided by Ye Fan.
With the power plant built, every building has its foundation.
With the time just past midday, Ye Fan immediately started the next construction without any rest.
Before tonight, he plans to complete the construction of the Barracks so everyone has a place to live.
Before tomorrow morning, he also intends to finish the Commander’s Mansion and the radar.
The physical radar is crucial with a coverage range of a 50-kilometer radius. Once constructed, his base will basically be secure, and any issues can be dealt with in advance.
The mansion also needs to be completed; otherwise, everyone else will have a place to stay except him.
He not having a place to stay is a minor issue, but what about his guard Zhuge Yunxue?
The Red Alert Soldiers have sleeping bags, but he doesn’t as a Commander.
Would they end up squeezing into one sleeping bag?
This thought barely crossed his mind before he instinctively shook his head.
That’s downright ridiculous.
"Hehehe~~~!"
With time pressing, construction needs to start immediately. It will be dark soon.