If power armor is the full-body plate armor of heavy cavalry, then the mechanical exoskeleton is the chain mail of light infantry.

Weighing less than 10kg, the frontal polyethylene armor can defend against 7-12 rounds of 7.62mm rifle rounds. If it's a rifle on the other side of the world, you don't even want to pierce its armor.

When equipped, the maximum weight of an individual soldier will rise to 300 kg.

The power source is two fist-sized shaped batteries, attached to the pelvis. On a single charge, the wearer can run at a speed of 12 km/h with a 300-kilogram load for one hour, or fight for 12 hours in a conventional environment. When the power is exhausted, it can be charged by a solar charger or instantly charged by subcrystalline.

It can be said that in addition to the aerospace technology that has not been effective for the time being, another major reason for Jiang Chen to recruit Jiang Lin is for the mechanical exoskeleton technology of the prosthetic leg boutique. Although he did not inherit his father's business, he still learned some related skills under the compulsion of his father.

After personally experiencing the strength of the K1 mechanical exoskeleton, Jiang Chen immediately raised the question of whether it could be installed in the army.

"Mass production and installation of the army?" Jiang Lin was stunned after hearing Jiang Chen's inquiry, and then a strange expression appeared on his face, "Do you know the cost and time of producing such a set of mechanical exoskeletons?"

"How much?" Jiang Chen asked indifferently.

"According to the market price of the sixth block, the cost of the one you are wearing now is about 900 crystals. 900 Yajing can buy a dozen slaves and issue them a rifle. And no matter what super soldier he is, he can't win a dozen guns. Sighing, Jiang Lin calculated the economic account for Jiang Chen.

"But now the Sixth Block is no longer for sale. ”

Pressing on the metal piece attached to the back of his neck, a slight electric current sounded, and Jiang Chen took off the mechanical exoskeleton he wore on his body.

"The Sixth Block doesn't sell people, but it sells somewhere else. For example, in Suzhou City, where there is the largest slave market in Suzhou and Hangzhou Province, they will come to the sixth block next spring—" Jiang Lin tried to convince his boss.

"But we can't wait for next spring. Jiang Chen smiled and stuffed the mechanical exoskeleton into his hand, "The snow will melt next year." The mutants will march from Land Seven to Qingpu. And we, as the only survivors in this area, will bear the brunt of the mutant pressure. ”

Hearing this, Jiang Lin's face turned pale in an instant.

He had never heard of it, if he had. He didn't dare to come here to work. The reason why he wanted to persuade his boss to give up mass production of mechanical exoskeletons just now was only because he was worried that his time for research on rockets would be squeezed out.

"Regret coming here?" Jiang Chen smiled.

Jiang Lin swallowed and foamed, looked to the side and said, "Don't dare." ”

"Don't be afraid, and your heart rate already tells me you regret it. Jiang Chen smiled and patted him on the shoulder. did not accuse him of timidity, "It's normal to be afraid, it's a person who is afraid of death." If you're afraid, do as I say. ”

"I've heard that the mutants in Land Seven use a few thousand. Jiang Lin said with difficulty.

"Three thousand, to be exact, maybe a little more, but it's not something you need to worry about. Mechanical exoskeletons must be mass-produced. No matter how much it takes, you're going to have to get me 50 sets by January next year. Jiang Chen said in an unquestionable tone.

Even if there is a set of 900 subcrystals, 50 sets are only 45,000 subcrystals. The fish bone base is not short of money, and the wealth accumulated in the early stage is time to be cashed into combat power.

Swallowed and foamed again. Jiang Lin looked at the serious look in the boss's eyes and nodded with difficulty.

"I can't do it alone, I need helpers. ”

"Just say as much as you want. ”

"I think it takes 10 people to build a metal skeleton by hand, 4 people to solder chips, 8 people to draw circuits, and a rough estimate of how to modify the power system, and it takes at least 40 workers to complete an assembly line. In this case, it should be barely possible to complete 50 sets of mechanical exoskeletons by January next year. Jiang Lin smiled bitterly.

The total population of the base is just over 200, and everyone has a job. I can't draw these 40 people at all.

However, Jiang Chen's next words made him dumbfounded.

"Give you 80 people, can you double the production?"

"Yes, but are there so many idlers in the base?" Jiang Lin couldn't help but say in a loud voice.

"You don't have to worry about that. It was right away. From now on, all you have to do is figure out how to design the line, how to train your assistants, and what supplies you need to procure. Personnel will be in place after 5 days. Jiang Chen laughed.

There are not so many people in the fish bone base, but there are in Shenxiang Town.

More than 700 survivors were captured by mutants, as long as they were brought back.

As for whether they will be obedient or not?

On the wasteland. There is no essential difference between being rescued and being captured.

If they want to live, they have to be obedient

Coming out of Jiang Lin's laboratory, Jiang Chen went to the community center and found Wang Qing, who managed the base's warehouse.

When Jiang Chen came to the office, the girl with a little freckles was checking the ledger of the warehouse as usual. After seeing Jiang Chen, her eyes lit up, and she immediately put down the work she was doing and got up to greet her.

"I'm just here to check the material situation of the base, so don't be so nervous. Jiang Chen smiled mildly and quipped.

Wang Qing's face turned red embarrassedly. Pushing the glasses on the bridge of her nose, she took out the tablet terminal from the table and showed Jiang Chen the statistics.

The first is subcrystalline.

After several trade accumulations, the stock of subcrystals in the fish bone base has reached a terrifying 790,000. Due to the addition of many production lines, the consumption of subcrystals reached 30,000 crystals last month. These include the procurement of raw materials, as well as the direct consumption of energy by industrial production.

Jiang Chen asked Wang Qing to set aside 50W Yajing as working capital to acquire shares in the soon-to-be-established Sixth Block Bank. The other 290,000 subcrystals will be used as production expenses, even if a mechanical exoskeleton production line is added, it will be more than enough to maintain until January next year.

The other is the arms stockpile.

At present, there are 200,000 rounds of ammunition in the base, of which 60 percent are produced in the base's military factories. Since obtaining the bullet production line of the Gray Gu Mercenary Group, the Fish Bone Base has begun to develop in the direction of self-produced munitions.

There is also a 5kg mass bullet, which is the standard ammunition for the Type 50 electromagnetic gun. With the departure of five Hunting Tigers converted from trucks, the production capacity of military factories has also begun to tilt towards mass ammunition. At present, the reserve is 200 rounds, and it is being replenished at a production rate of 50 rounds per day.

And then there's the grain reserves.

After a period of consumption with a large replenishment from the last return. There are 8 tons of rice, 2 tons of potatoes, and 5 tons of easy-to-preserve vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, carrots, and celery. 2 tons of marinated products such as sausages and bacon. Since Jiang Chen found that buying canned food is not as cheap as buying fresh food, the canteen at the fish bone base does not provide canned food. All canned food is for sale only. Or reward the survivors who have merit.

According to the algorithm of one pound of rice a day per person, these foods are more than enough to support 200 people for two years. Considering that more than 700 survivors will soon join, the rate of food consumption is bound to accelerate. But even so, there is no problem in supporting this batch of grain for half a year.

"By the way, the base is preparing to add a new mechanical exoskeleton production line. After a while, Jiang Lin will send the purchase list over, and you will send someone to the sixth block to purchase it. ”

"Hmm. Wang Qing nodded seriously, and then wrote down Jiang Chen's words on the tablet.

As the amount of supplies in the base increases, it is clear that one storekeeper is not enough. After consulting Wang Qing's opinion, Jiang Chen added a logistics department to the administrative department of the base, which was responsible for managing warehouse materials, daily use, and trade-related matters. Originally, the trade was in charge of Sun Jiao's little girl, but she seemed to have a headache with these "little things", so this work was thrown on the head of the logistics department.

The head of the logistics department is naturally Wang Qing, and the number of people in the department has increased to 5, managing a total of 6 warehouses.

"Anyway, don't be so nervous. "Look at the little girl taking notes carefully. Jiang Chen couldn't help but wonder.

Although this little girl is much more mature than when she first came to the base, only the characteristics of this blushing love do not seem to have changed.

"By the way, how is the tavern opened by Zhou Guoping in the sixth block?"

Regaining his previous composure a little, Wang Qing pushed his glasses and said seriously. "In October, 4,000 cans of beer were consumed, with a total profit of 40,000 crystals. ”

Hearing this, Jiang Chen nodded.

He didn't care about the profitability of the tavern, what he cared about was how much useful information Zhou Guoping could bring him with the flow of people in the tavern. Anyway, those beers are only three or five yuan a can in the present world, and they are not worth anything at all.

Of course, no matter how small a mosquito is, it is still meat. That's a good income.

"Oh, and one more thing. Seeing that Jiang Chen seemed to be in a good mood, Wang Qing hesitated and spoke.

"Huh?"

"The raw material for the plastic used to produce automatic rifles and hummingbird drones, namely Cam resin, is out of stock. ”

"Out of stock?" Jiang Chen was stunned. Frowning slightly.

That's a big problem.

The threat of mutants is looming, and the military factories at the Fish Bones base are almost working in shifts to produce munitions, but now Camu resin is out of stock?

"The plantation that originally supplied us with kamu resin terminated the contract and paid us liquidated damages of 1,000 crystals. Wang Qing said helplessly.

"Why?"

"As the volume of industry in the sixth block increased, the price of kamu resin increased by 20 percent, which is significantly higher than the price we had when we signed the contract. In addition, other companies have signed large long-term orders with them. So they shamelessly and suddenly terminated the contract. Wang Qing said indignantly.

"How much stock of Cam resin is left in the base now?" Jiang Chen said in a deep voice.

"There are still 2 tons left, which is enough to maintain a month's production at the base. ”

"Well, I'll take care of that. Jiang Chen nodded.

Since the sixth block can't supply it, the fish bone base can produce it itself. (To be continued.) )