Chapter 26: Mobilizing Troops

At the current stage, lacking the capacity to produce firearms, cold steel weapons are the only option that can rapidly bolster combat strength and be manufactured in a short amount of time.

Li Qingsong must rely on these weapons to hold his ten critical outposts, the main base, and the railway lines, using them to buy enough time to develop modern ballistics. Facing such a vast swarm of strange birds, only firearms could offer a true possibility of victory.

Under Li Qingsong’s command, all steel produced in the mills—possessing the high hardness and durability suitable for weaponry—was immediately requisitioned and urgently transported to the metal processing plants. Thousands of clones, who had been occupied with other tasks, broke into a run, rushing to their stations at the casting facilities with solemn expressions.

Production began at once. Massive metal-processing machines roared to life. Amidst the shrill sounds of cutting and grinding, the first long blade was produced in just one hour. It was approximately 70 centimeters long, 6 centimeters wide, and featured a slight curve with a sharp edge, optimized for hacking and slashing.

With the emergence of the first blade, it was as if a switch had been flipped; the production line began to churn out blade after blade like a flowing stream. An hour later, 200 long blades were complete. Small transport trucks arrived, racing at top speed to deliver the weapons to the front lines. The 200 clones there discarded their steel pipes and immediately took up the blades.

Li Qingsong felt a slight sense of relief. At last, they had proper weapons. But clearly, this was not enough.

That was fine; more factories were currently producing other types of armaments. At a facility urgently converted to manufacture shields, hundreds of clones stood ramrod straight before various machines, operating them without pause. No sooner was the steel heated to the required temperature than the forging equipment followed, and in the next moment, the pieces moved to the final processing stage.

At this moment, these hundreds of clones seemed to act as one. Under their operation, the production line appeared to possess a life of its own, running with extreme fluidity. Consequently, a vast number of shields were produced in a continuous flow; in just one hour, another 200 shields were completed and dispatched to the front.

Next came the production of spears, daggers, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, and armor—all being churned out with full-throttle effort. At this stage, it was clearly too late to manufacture space suits with sufficient protective capabilities. Since that was the case, they would have to make do with external protective gear for now.

At this moment, hundreds of factories within the main base were linked together. Tens of thousands of clones, responding as if they were extensions of his own limbs, were fully engaged in work under Li Qingsong’s control. Their coordination was impeccable, and their efficiency reached its peak.

In just two days, a total of 4,000 sets of combat equipment—enough to outfit all personnel at the main base—were delivered to the front and donned by every combat clone.

Subsequent production continued unabated. Producing 4,000 sets was not enough. Li Qingsong intended to produce 10,000, then 20,000, to arm the clones at the other bases as well. Even that was not enough. He aimed for 100,000, then 150,000, ensuring that any reserve clones brought online would have equipment ready immediately. On top of that, he had to account for equipment wear and replenishment.

With that in mind, he set a target of 200,000 sets!

Hundreds of massive factories roared day and night as tens of thousands of clones bustled between their workstations and collective dormitories. Steel mills, power plants, chemical plants, agricultural bases—every facility comprising the main base was mobilized by Li Qingsong, all committed to this war effort.

Once the equipment for the main base’s personnel was complete, trains rumbled forth, transporting the gear to the ten core mining bases. Beyond cold weapons, there was a small supply of explosives. Originally intended for industrial construction, they were now being diverted for defense without a second thought.

Under these conditions, in just four days, 8,000 clones had been armed.

It was then that the clones dispatched as scouts to monitor the nearby bird clusters finally returned with unsettling news. These swarms were moving slowly, foraging as they advanced. By some cruel twist of fate, their direction was leading them straight toward the base cluster. Or perhaps, the vast concentration of complex organic matter within the bases had drawn them in?

Li Qingsong did not know the specifics, but it did not matter; they were coming regardless. The total number of these birds was likely over 70,000. Furthermore, they were approaching from all directions, and it was projected that in due time, all 11 of his important bases, including the main one, would face the onslaught.

In particular, the No. 1 Copper Mine Base, located at the outermost perimeter of the cluster, was expected to be reached by the swarm in just five hours.

"Five hours? That is enough!"

With this new intelligence, Li Qingsong began shifting his forces once more. The No. 1 Copper Mine Base currently had only 500 fully armed clones—clearly insufficient to face the 10,000-plus birds heading its way. While the main base had plenty of clones, only 5,000 sets of equipment were ready.

Li Qingsong immediately dispatched 3,000 clones by train, carrying food, oxygen, and water, heading straight for the No. 1 Copper Mine Base.

Meanwhile, having finished the initial emergency production and finally finding a moment of breathing room, Li Qingsong took half of the remaining armed clones at the main base—1,000 in total—and had them train in pairs across the desolate, silent surface of Luoshen Star.

This was, of course, not actual combat, but drills. If a move threatened a partner’s life, the clones would stop immediately. Through these 500 pairs of sparring clones, Li Qingsong tested various offensive and defensive tactics: the hacking, slashing, and stabbing of the attackers, the parrying and shield-blocking of the defenders, and the transitions between these movements.

As a result, massive amounts of combat data were generated and summarized in Li Qingsong’s mind, which he then instantly propagated to every clone under his control.

At the same time, he mobilized the final 1,000 men, split into two teams of 500, to begin collective combat drills. Throughout this process, he continued to experiment with various strategies, such as having one team focus entirely on defense while the other focused on offense.