Chapter 184: Tank Cannons Are Truth

Outside Songjiang, on a vast construction site, the roar of machines never ceased.

Lin Yu stood before the temporarily erected Engineering Command Center, gazing at the miraculous sight before him. Hundreds of machines emitting a faint blue light were automatically constructing, bulldozers, excavators, and cranes cooperating as if endowed with life, transforming the original farmland into industrial land at astonishing speed.

These are the construction crews provided by the system; each machine far surpasses the technological level of this era. They work day and night without stop, their efficiency exceeding that of ordinary construction crews by more than tenfold.

"Director Lin," a blond‑blue‑eyed German engineer stepped forward, his body also emitting a faint blue light, obviously a special existence condensed by the system, "The basic engineering is 30% complete; at the current pace, the main factory building will be finished within a month."

This is Chief Engineer Hans·Schmidt, a top expert of the Krupp company simulated by the system.

The workers on the construction site are likewise not ordinary people. Clad in uniform gray work clothes, their movements are neat and uniform, as if completing each procedure after precise calculation. These are the special engineering teams generated by the system, possessing technological levels surpassing the era.

"Very good," Lin Yu nodded, "How is the construction quality?"

"We are constructing entirely according to future standards." Schmidt pointed to the foundation being poured in the distance, where the concrete showed an unnatural silver‑gray color, "We are using a special material whose impact resistance is five times that of ordinary reinforced concrete."

Lin Yu followed Schmidt toward the construction site. In the distance, a huge steel‑frame factory building was rising at a speed visible to the naked eye. Those steel beams automatically docked and welded, blue sparks bursting in the air.

"This will be the tank assembly line," Schmidt introduced, "We adopt a modular design, allowing production capacity to be adjusted as needed."

Several system workers passed by them, moving in unison to salute Lin Yu. Although these workers look like ordinary people, their eyes reveal a mechanical precision.

"The system's construction speed is indeed astonishing," Lin Yu sighed, "If it were ordinary construction crews, they probably couldn't finish even in a year."

"That's natural," Schmidt smiled slightly, "Each of our workers and each machine is designed for maximum efficiency. Give us one month, and I guarantee you'll see a complete modern arsenal."

Lin Yu gazed at the bustling scene before him, his heart full of anticipation. With the system's miraculous construction crew, this arsenal capable of changing the tide of war will soon be put into use.

"Mr. Schmidt, show me the other production lines," Lin Yu said.

"Of course." Schmidt pointed to the eastern area where factory buildings were under construction, blue‑light‑flashing machinery operating quickly there, "That is the artillery production line, capable of producing anything from 75mm field artillery to 150mm heavy howitzers. Each production line uses a modular design, allowing model switches as needed."

They walked across a vast expanse where several system machines were installing a complex track system.

"This is an automated conveyor belt," Schmidt explained, "The entire factory's production lines are uniformly coordinated by the Central Control Room. Raw materials enter here, undergo the various processes, and finished products exit there, with no manual handling required throughout."

Lin Yu noticed a building complex wrapped in special material: "What is that?"

"It's a gunpowder manufacturing plant," Schmidt said, "The walls are made of special blast‑proof material; even if an explosion occurs inside, it won't affect the outside. Our smokeless powder formula is the latest development from Krupp, its power is thirty percent greater than ordinary powder, yet it is more stable."

They arrived at a huge workshop under construction. Through the unfinished walls, Lin Yu saw the precision equipment being installed inside, each emitting a faint blue light.

"This is the precision machinery workshop," Schmidt said proudly, "All machine tools use the latest technology, achieving precision of 0.01 millimeter. With this equipment, we can independently produce any parts needed for weapons, without relying on external supply."

"What about the smelting equipment?"

"Over there," Schmidt pointed to a distant vast industrial zone, "The annual steel production capacity is 100,000 tons, most importantly the special steel production line. Tank armor, gun‑barrel steel, spring steel—all special steels can be produced independently."

Lin Yu nodded: "That way we needn't worry about raw material problems."

"And this," Schmidt led Lin Yu to an independent building, "the Research and Development Center. It is equipped with complete laboratory facilities for researching and testing new weapons. The system's provided technical database contains thousands of weapon design drawings, all cutting‑edge technology."

Lin Yu surveyed the entire construction site. The system's construction crews were advancing the project at astonishing speed, a modern arsenal complex rapidly taking shape on this land.

"Mr. Schmidt," Lin Yu asked, "What is this factory's greatest advantage?"

"Self‑sufficiency," Schmidt answered without hesitation, "From raw materials to finished products, from design to production, we can operate completely independently. In the present Great Dry, this is something no other arsenal can match."

Lin Yu deeply agreed. This is not merely an arsenal, but a complete industrial base. With it, one can truly grasp one's own destiny.

Lin Yu stood on high ground, looking down over the entire site. In the sunset, the system's machines emitting blue light continued to work tirelessly.

"Mr. Schmidt," do you know why the Great Dry has fallen to this state?"

The German engineer pondered for a moment: "Industrial backwardness."

"That's right," Lin Yu sighed, "It's because of isolationism, missing the Industrial Revolution. The result? Facing the strong ships and powerful cannons of the Great Powers, we can only obey and be slaughtered."

He pointed to the tank assembly line under construction in the distance: "These steel beasts, these modern cannons, are the true voice. Even if I had summoned more troops from the system, without a steady ammunition supply they would be mere paper tigers."

Schmidt nodded: "We realized this in the European War. Victory often depends not on frontline soldiers but on rear factories. Whose production line runs nonstop, whose shells can fire longer."

"This factory," Lin Yu's gaze swept over the entire site, "is not merely an arms manufacturer. It represents a complete modern industrial system—from raw material smelting, to precision machinery machining, to final weapon assembly. These technologies, these crafts, are the true foundation."

"You are right," Schmidt agreed, "Krupp became Europe's strongest military‑industrial enterprise not because we can make big guns, but because we mastered the full industrial chain from steel smelting to precision machining. These technologies are power."

Lin Yu gazed at the distant horizon: "The technology provided by the system is more precious than gold. Once this factory is built, we will never again have to look at others' faces. What Britons, Frenchmen, trying to choke us? No way!"

"Moreover," Schmidt added, "With these production lines we can not only arm ourselves but also continuously train technical workers for you. Those who master modern industrial technology are the seeds of the Great Dry's industrialization."

Lin Yu nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. In this age of war and turmoil, a modern arsenal is the best cornerstone.