526 The Mission during Peaceful Time (2/2)
”No need to inform them; the merchant fleets from Hang are outsiders. As for the smaller commerce chambers, there are too many of them to control effectively and that would just disrupt more than help.” Jiang Chen shook his head. ”This task is extremely important. NAC needs this technology to rebuild the ruins, so I'm giving you the task.”
”Thank you for your confidence in us; we won't disappoint you.” Zhao Chenwu nodded, raised his head, and smiled. ”What exactly is this technology? Or, what kind of technology is NAC willing to pay such a high price for?”
The focus of merchants was always maximizing profits. The number of credits NAC was willing to pay directly correlated with the energy the merchants had for the technology recollection work. Jiang Chen knew this point too well.
”More advanced 3D printing equipment or related technical documents, commercial or experimental quantum computers, and any equipment and papers related to aerospace technology. This is the current focus of our collection. As for the other technologies, we'll offer a reasonable price based on their practical value.” Jiang Chen smiled.
Zhao Chenwu nodded.
”I understand. Is that all?”
”There's one more thing. I heard that Zhao Corporation imported a batch of production drones from Wu City?” Jiang Chen asked.
”That's right. It was the 'Ant drone.' Nothing can escape your eyes,” Zhao Chenwu joked. ”What about them?”
”Are they useful?”
”They're great. They can be used to harvest crops, collect tree sap, and even replace simple streamline work. All in all, the drones are very interesting little equipment,” Zhao Chenwu said.
Followed the increase in average income at Sixth Street, aside from slaves and refugees who were willing to perform farming and planting work, most survivors would rather ”collect garbage” than do low-paying farm work. In order to alleviate the labor shortages, Zhao Chenwu purchased a batch of Ant drones from Wu City to replace human labor.
”Could you provide a few samples for us? We'll pay, of course.”
”No problem. They don't cost a lot to begin with - I can even gift you a few,” Zhao Chenwu generously offered. ”If you successfully decipher their technology, remember to sell us some units.”
”Thank you then.” Jiang Chen smiled. ”On the other hand, what's the strength of the survivors in Wu City?”
”The strength? How should I put it... the survivors south of Yangtze River are mainly farmers and Wu City is also similar. It's located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River plains, so survivor groups are distributed around the fertile suburban soil. Perhaps because they inherited part of the pre-war production technology that in general, their mechanical manufacturing capacity is pretty good.
They are similar to how Wanghai was two years ago - local survivors are under constant disruptions from mutated humans and raiders, so their population density isn't high. Their economy mostly relies on the exports of Bullet Shell Grain, Carm Tree Sap, and mutated fruit. They occasionally pitch their hand-made robots and drones to passing merchants. Is there a problem?”
”No, I was just asking. Also, I have another task for you.” Jiang Chen smiled.
”Oh?” Zhao Chenwu looked at him.
”When you're doing business, remember to keep an eye out for information related to the local survivors. For example, their population, economic condition, military power, and force distribution.”
”Didn't you say that NAC has no military operations on their agenda?”
”That doesn't mean we only collect information when there is a military operation.” Jiang Chen crossed his fingers and clasped them on his knee. ”In times of peace, we can conduct research on where we will have to fight.”