Armed Train in the Apocalypse-Chapter 355 - 242: Going Into the Water

In his past life, he didn’t witness artillery combating zombies until two or three years after the apocalypse, and it was against a Tier Three spiked dog at that time.

After bombarding for a long time, it hit just one shot, and the creature merely shook its head and stood up again.

In the end, it was an Evolver that went up and took it down.

Perhaps it was because the Steel Council’s caliber was too small. Back then, the cannons were only 80mm, nothing like the satisfaction of these 155mm ones.

The caliber is almost twice as large.

He Jie noticed him thinking, slapped his thigh and said, "This is artillery! Never mind carbon-based creatures; even our armed train would have a big hole from one shot. It’s incredible if some fragments are left behind, alright?"

Su Huan felt an increased sense of awe towards artillery, or rather, towards pre-apocalypse weaponry.

"How many shells were used?"

"Twenty shells, demolished several buildings, killed thousands of zombies, and incidentally, blew up some schools of fish as well."

He Jie said nonchalantly.

"There are still 180 rounds of 120mm mortar shells left; I used them to tidy up. Six full sets are remaining, with thirty rounds per set, totaling one hundred and eighty. Howitzer ammo is a bit more complicated; there are two sets, 60% are high-explosive shells, 10% are anti-armor shells, and the remaining 30% are precision-guided and functional ammo like flares."

He Jie casually recited the ammunition count.

As a commander, he was very familiar with these ammo numbers. Previously, when only managing twenty people, he even knew how much ammo each person had left.

Seeing Su Huan’s gaze fall onto the mortar in his hand, He Jie passed it to him.

In his past life, He Jie earned the title "Master of Firearms" in Tier Three by carrying a heavy machine gun in one hand and a mortar on his back.

Naturally curious, Su Huan weighed it and felt some confusion, "Is a mortar this light?"

"The tripod and base plate have been removed; just the barrel itself is around 75 kilograms."

He Jie pointed at the racks soldiers were loading on the train.

Su Huan suddenly understood.

The construction of a mortar is simple, just a smooth barrel with two racks and a round disc.

When used, it’s set directly on the ground with the muzzle facing skyward. Toss a shell into it and have two people squat aside with their heads held.

But for someone like He Jie, an evolver specializing in firearms, such troubles are unnecessary.

He can hold the barrel, aiming and shooting wherever he pleases.

"Captain, what do we hit next?"

He Jie asked with some excitement.

Su Huan tossed the mortar barrel to Bai Lu behind him, snorting coldly, "Wait until we find the electromagnetic weaponry, then fire these shells to your heart’s content!"

...

"March 22nd, rapid waters."

"The ’Floating Giant Wood’ project comes to a close, intending to showcase it at Jingchao Lake."

As Su Huan put the pen down, a voice emanated from the train-wide announcement system.

Su Huan walked out of the cabin, stepping onto the top of the train to gaze at the distant generator factory.

Presently, besides the bustling personnel, a towering giant tree stood there, its branches and leaves lush and vibrantly green.

The seven or eight-meter-high cultivation capsule is like "iron shoes" compared to the forty-meter-tall Crown Pear tree, merely able to encase its base while over three-quarters of the trunk and canopy grow outside the capsule.

"All departments prepare for the final setup."

"The Armed Corps, recheck the explosive charges."

"The combat team, tally personnel counts to ensure everyone’s evacuated from the generator factory."

"Research department, check the status of the Crown Pear tree..."

"Alright, teams withdraw."

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Boom——"

The generator factory, drenched in rain, simultaneously erupted with smoke and dust on all supporting walls and pillars. Instantly, the expansive structure collapsed.

Falling like a toppled golden mountain and a jade pillar into the water.

A monstrous wave, several meters high, surged up, pushing the nearby armed train five or six meters away.

The water’s surface instantly turned murky.

The thud of something colossal hitting the water echoed in the haze of smoke and mist.

The factory head and others in the locomotive wiped a cold sweat, soon seeing the drone-projected visuals on the panoramic screen.

A giant tree, forty meters tall, swayed precariously on the water’s surface. Its base was a "giant iron basin" emerging four or five meters from the water, an ambitious cultivation capsule crafted at substantial expense by the Armed Corps.

"It’s achieved!"

Someone exclaimed as the train erupted in cheers.

Though it’s not the first time the armed train has manufactured something, it symbolized the organizational coordination capabilities of the Armed Train reaching maturity.

The real ability to independently design and develop has been established.

Standing at the train head, Su Huan exhaled lightly, feeling relieved to see the cultivation capsule stabilize on the water.

Resources might not be particularly precious; even if the Crown Pear tree toppled, it wouldn’t drown.

But time couldn’t be wasted.

To establish this tree, nearly a month was delayed.

He wasn’t inclined to go through it again.

"All departments prepare for docking the cultivation capsule..."

Su Huan smiled and walked from the train roof to the end.

Currently, pulled by the rear locomotive, the train’s tail approached the cultivation capsule floating on the water’s surface.

A large group of manufacturing and research personnel emerged from the train.

Seeing Su Huan on the rooftop, they quickly greeted him.

Every face wore a smile of excitement.

Witnessing a project from design to realization brings a sense of accomplishment, especially as they were personally involved.

In this world where destruction has become the main theme, each act of construction is humanity’s struggle against succumbing to the abyss.

Once the cultivation capsule approached, docking wasn’t immediate.

A sizable team of experts was dispatched to inspect the capsule first.

Only then did docking begin.

Though interfaces were considered at design time, the connection of various energies and equipment made "docking" itself a cumbersome project.

"How long until completion?"

Su Huan asked.

The secretary, who shadowed him, calmly replied, "At least three hours."

"Let them take their time. Let’s go up and see first."

With a running start, Su Huan jumped onto the cultivation capsule.

The cultivation capsule wasn’t sealed like the armed train.

On one hand, the Crown Pear tree and internal plants needed rainwater. On the other, the internal space was vastly large, requiring an immense weight to submerge.

If anything happened, it would be cumbersome for the train to submerge and hide.

It simply couldn’t sink.

Better to leave it open; if something goes wrong, just pour water inside.

Anyway, the Crown Pear tree couldn’t drown.

From this perspective, Su Huan could see Professor Ma below directing students to carry the supercomputer into the cultivation capsule.

From the outside, it appeared to be just transporting metal cabinets.

Fearing damage from shock, the supercomputer was transported after submerging.

The supercomputer would be reassembled in the space beneath the Crown Pear tree roots, its massive weight contributing to stabilizing the cultivation capsule’s center of gravity.

Below that was a reserved space for the data center, likely filled with water now.

When the data center is placed there, it’ll have direct cooling capability.

The Crown Pear tree trunk is encircled by a spiral upward staircase.

These steps are movable; if the Crown Pear tree thickens, it will pull them outward, preventing damage to the tree body.

Beneath the roots is a lush green lawn, shaped like a naturally styled hill, with a couple of small pear trees and some low-impact plants growing on it.

Huang Sea planted half the {Fertile Soil Heart} from the caravan farm here.

Above the lawn are crisscrossing corridors.

These were later added by Vice President Deng.

Precisely calculated, these corridors can extend transparent walkways on both sides, sealing off the whole lawn.

Keeping only the Crown Pear tree canopy exposed, ensuring the carefully tended plants aren’t turned into a mess during flooding.

The corridors also prevent people from being suddenly attacked by some evolving plants below.

’Perhaps a garden... or park floating above the water can be built.’

Su Huan suddenly thought as he gazed down at the geometrically shaped paths slicing the circular lawn into aesthetic patterns.