Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Base Core Area
After more than a day of travel, during which they encountered two waves of zombies, the convoy finally arrived safely at Kao Mountain Farm.
So-called Kao Mountain refers to the farm’s location to the north, which is the Xing’an Mountain Range.
The towering mountain range is to the northwest of the farm, blocking some of the cold winds from the Bolia Plain to the north, and allowing the warm and moist air to gather here, making the climate slightly better than the surrounding areas.
Mei City is over three hundred kilometers to the east, Ice City is four hundred kilometers to the south, and Huacheng City is one hundred kilometers to the southwest.
There are a few small towns around, but the population here is not large.
This is because the north and northwest are both mountainous areas, making transportation less convenient.
The Star River originates in the Xing’an Mountain Range and flows through the middle of the farm, nourishing this land even more.
For hundreds of kilometers around, most of the area is fertile farmland, and there used to be a gold mine near the Xing’an Mountain Range.
Ye Fan remembers hearing people say when he was a child that gold could be mined here, but as he grew up, the stories gradually disappeared; perhaps the gold reserves were not large.
However, Ye Fan wants to give it a try; the Red Alert’s mining technology is absolutely world-leading. As long as there are minerals, they can be detected by the mining vehicle.
Ye Fan’s convoy traveled all the way to Kao Mountain Farm and stopped by the edge of Star River.
Engineer Luo Jiaxin, along with two newly arrived engineers, came to Ye Fan’s side.
"Officer, I think the spot you’ve chosen is quite good. Look, the mountain range to the north is a natural barrier, and the Star River can provide us with a continuous water source. I suggest you establish the base at the river’s mouth at the foot of the mountain, including the upstream section within the base to ensure an endless supply of drinking water."
"Are you suggesting letting the river flow through the base?"
"Exactly, water is the source of life. Without ample water, survival can’t be guaranteed. We must ensure the water source is under our control; it’s one of the prerequisites."
Ye Fan agreed that Luo Jiaxin made a valid point, but doing so would make the project quite extensive.
A base accommodating a river would not just be a base, but more likely require the description of a small city.
Enclosing the area with a Wall alone would be a significant expense; his current ten thousand Gold would not suffice if he followed Luo Jiaxin’s proposal.
Luo Jiaxin continued outlining his plan: "Officer, I suggest you not consider too many issues for now; your first concern should be our Red Alert team’s internal base, such as deciding on your residence."
Saying this, Luo Jiaxin took out a prepared blueprint.
"After you instructed me to design the base’s blueprint, I have been working on it. Yesterday, after using your walkie-talkie to communicate with Chen Guanzhong and Huang Jie, I have a general understanding of the situation."
"First, you need a core area in the safest spot of the entire base. Our team members can be reproduced, and buildings can be rebuilt, but you can’t be lost; you are the only one."
Ye Fan nodded in agreement, fully aware of this point.
"So first, identify an area for your residence, marking a spot for your future Commander’s mansion. I recommend choosing a place close to the river for easy access to water and a scenic view."
"Keep talking," Ye Fan showed interest.
"The core area is your residence, then it’s our Red Alert internal base. I suggest this section be closed to the outside, and the area here is quite significant as well."
Luo Jiaxin pointed out on the blueprint to Ye Fan: "I consulted with Huang Jie; a Power Plant alone requires around ten thousand square meters, and a Barracks takes up even more space. Then there’s the Radar construction here, the Tank Factory construction here, and the Air Command, which needs a large area for fighter jet takeoff and landing."
Ye Fan looked at the overwhelming array of buildings on the blueprint, including the Combat Laboratory and nuclear plant constructions.
The list goes on with Field Hospitals, Super Weapons, and Repair Factories, covering an extensive area.
"Officer, I also recommend having Walls between these buildings; the Barracks and Tank Factory should be a bit apart to avoid disturbing the soldiers’ rest.
It’s best to have a side door near the Tank Factory and Barracks for quick deployment of troops, without having to go through the survivors’ area during wartime."
Ye Fan listened for a while: "Then what size of area do you suggest for our internal region?"
"That depends on what type of unit structure you want to establish, Officer. For a battalion, about one square kilometer should suffice. For a regiment, at least three square kilometers, since Barracks need to expand to four, and Tank Factory too, since vehicles need garages, and more Power Plants for the increased number of buildings."
"And for a brigade?"
"A brigade would mean multiplying the area, potentially needing at least eight or nine square kilometers."
Ye Fan looked around; for a brigade, this place might be a bit insufficient.
Not only does he have Red Alert Units, but there will be more and more survivors in the future, possibly even more in number than the Red Alert Units.
That would make the cost of the Walls astronomical; even a ten-meter-high Wall at 500 Gold per meter, let alone a five-meter-high Wall at 100 Gold per meter, Ye Fan finds hard to bear.
"Let’s do it this way: design the internal area to be four square kilometers, equivalent to an enhanced regiment. We’ll expand as the team grows. Ensure the design is reasonable and easily manageable, with buildings not affecting each other."
"Understood, Officer. First, please confirm the location of your residence so we can design the base around it."
Ye Fan called over armored vehicle driver Han Haoyu. Together with three engineers and two scouts, they got in the vehicle and drove along Star River.
After a bumpy ride along the riverbank, they arrived at the foot of the Xing’an Mountain Range.
This is where the Star River descends, creating a small pool due to the river’s erosion.
The pool isn’t large, about two thousand square meters, with extremely clear water, even visibly containing fish.
Along the river, there’s a silver sand beach, a gentle slope beyond, surrounded by birch and ginkgo trees, and even some hawthorn trees.
There’s also a thatched hut here, built by farm guards during patrols, but now it stands vacant.
Building a house here attests to the scenic view.
"It’s a great spot. I think it’s very suitable," Ye Fan remarked.
Ye Fan examined the slope area; it would indeed be the first choice for constructing a residence.
With mountains, water, and a vast plain at its feet, it’s an ideal location whether built into a base or used for continued agriculture.
This river can even allow navigation of small ships, with a highway nearby, and just seven kilometers away, there’s a Kao Mountain Farm train station allowing for train transport.
The abandoned gold mine should be in the mountains nearby, probably not far off.
Even if it’s further away, more trips for the mining vehicles would solve the problem.
"Please confirm the center coordinates, Officer!"
After walking around, Ye Fan finally stood at the slope’s center.
He stomped on the ground: "This is the spot; this is the center of my residence. Design according to this coordinate."
"Understood! We’ll build from this central point, based on an enhanced regiment model, with an internal area of four square kilometers."
The engineers swiftly commenced designing.
While the engineers planned, Ye Fan began calculating the cost of the Walls.
Unaware initially, the calculation was quite shocking.
Ye Fan didn’t plan to construct ten-meter-high Walls, but even a five-meter-high Wall would cost 100 Gold per meter.
Even with a rectangular internal area, the perimeter means ten thousand meters!
The five-meter Wall would cost a million Gold!
This doesn’t account for the various internal Walls, just the price of the outer Wall.
It also doesn’t consider the Walls for the survivors’ living area, which would surely be astronomical.
Originally thinking ten thousand Gold was plenty, Ye Fan now saw it was far from enough.
"It turns out Walls are the real moneysuckers; it looks like the base will cost several million just to build the walls."
Just as Ye Fan was at a loss, Nana’s voice notification came through.
"Engineer has completed the drafting, Officer; initiating base construction, unlocking material recycling center to cut costs; please review!"