Chapter 13: Industrial Zone
Currently, the inside of Base No. 2 was more than just an uneven, rubble-strewn surface; it was also cluttered with large piles of cables, planting racks, and other items.
For now, they couldn’t begin assembling the planting racks. The ground needed to be leveled first.
Large amounts of rubble were hauled out with wheelbarrows, and the uneven spots were hammered flat. After a rough leveling, while the surface was still far from smooth, it was at least no longer as chaotic as before.
If he had insisted on making it perfectly flat, Li Qingsong could have done it. It would have just been a matter of firing limestone to make cement. But there was no need.
’Why make it so pretty? As long as it works, it’s fine.’
After the rough leveling was complete, the 15 Clones got busy following the blueprints to lay wiring throughout the cave. Only then would they assemble the planting racks.
This massive cave had a total area of about 11,000 square meters, of which roughly 8,000 were designated as a cultivation area.
In addition, following a standardized development model, Li Qingsong also partitioned off a 200-square-meter storage area with a total volume of 1,000 cubic meters, as well as a 300-square-meter dormitory.
The beds in the dormitory were triple-bunks. There were 100 beds in total, enough to accommodate 300 people.
Additionally, there was a 100-square-meter mess hall and kitchen, a 100-square-meter warehouse, a 100-square-meter equipment room, and a 200-square-meter area for a nutrient solution mixing room and recycling station. The overall goal was to allow the Clones to survive within the base without ever needing to step outside.
This would both reduce risks and cut down on the use of Space Suits.
Even for the low-quality version of the Space Suits, each one that broke at this stage was a permanent loss, so they had to be used sparingly.
As for issues like crowding or cramped spaces, Li Qingsong gave them no thought whatsoever.
’The Clones don’t have self-awareness. Why would they need to be comfortable?’
Of this 8,000-square-meter cultivation area, 3,000 square meters were equipped with four-level racks, providing 12,000 square meters of planting space. This area was still dedicated to growing sweet potatoes.
Every three months, it could produce about 80,000 kilograms of sweet potatoes.
Another 3,000 square meters had two-level racks, providing 6,000 square meters of planting space, which Li Qingsong used to grow wheat.
It also had a three-month growth cycle. The wheat harvested every three months would yield approximately 4,000 kilograms of flour when milled.
The remaining 2,000 square meters were occupied by peanuts, soybeans, rapeseed, sunflowers, sorghum, cotton, and various other vegetables.
Li Qingsong used the final remaining 2,000 square meters not for crops, but for raising livestock and poultry.
For poultry, Li Qingsong chose chickens.
’These birds lay eggs and provide meat, they’re easy to raise, and they don’t take up much space. It would be a crime not to raise them.’
Then there were pigs, cattle, and sheep.
These livestock not only provided meat, but their hides, bones, and other parts also had many industrial uses. Although he had no use for them at the current stage, Li Qingsong had to start stockpiling them in advance.
For example, animal fat could be used as lubricant, and hides could serve as insulation material.
All told, if Base No. 2 were to operate at full capacity, it could support at least 400 people.
And this wasn’t just bare survival, like before when they only ate sweet potatoes. This meant supporting them with a balanced, comprehensive diet of carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, and vitamins—one that even took taste into account.
Some of the current Clones had eaten so many sweet potatoes that, even without consciousness, they were beginning to gag instinctively.
For the sake of long-term sustainability, Li Qingsong had to take these factors into account.
And even without any automation—not that Li Qingsong had the technology for it anyway—getting Base No. 2 to full operational capacity would only require about 80 people.
In other words, with an investment of 80 people, Base No. 2 could support 400 people—an input-to-output ratio of five to one!
This way, Li Qingsong would have more manpower to devote to developing industry and advancing science and technology.
But...
Unfortunately, at this stage, Base No. 2 was still a long way from operating at full capacity.
’It still comes down to population. The population is just too small. Even counting the new batch of Clones currently being cultivated, I only have 37 "people" in total. But at least for a good long while, I won’t have to worry about food. I can just focus on increasing the population.’
With a sigh, Li Qingsong directed the Clones to begin assembling the planting racks.
Eventually, all the racks were assembled, but only a small portion was put into use.
’There was no helping it. I just don’t have enough manpower.’
Base No. 1 was no longer used for cultivation. All the plastic sheeting had been recovered, and all the Clones had been moved over to Base No. 2.
Of his 32 active Clones, only seven were assigned to farming and animal husbandry.
Accounting for the two stationed on the Deep Space Spaceship, the two in the mining team, and the three Stokers, there were 18 Clones remaining.
Li Qingsong threw all 18 of these Clones into another grand project, one that filled him with excitement.
Just as he had with the standardized cultivation area, Li Qingsong planned to use a systematic construction method to build an entire industrial zone!
Of course, this was not a project that could be completed in a short time, nor could it be accomplished with his current, limited manpower.
The timeline Li Qingsong set for this project was ten years!
Over ten years, he would work on it bit by bit, gradually increasing the population, to build a comprehensive industrial zone!
Li Qingsong did not plan to build this industrial zone inside another cave.
A cave was, after all, too restrictive; there wasn’t enough room to operate freely.
He planned to build this industrial zone directly within the canyon.
’Operations that don’t have atmospheric pressure requirements can be left open to the air. For those that do, I’ll just enclose them with steel plates. After all, I now have the ability to smelt and process metal.’
Within this industrial zone, Li Qingsong would centrally plan and manage all future industries, such as energy, metallurgy, metalworking, machinery, and chemical production.
Among these, Li Qingsong placed the most importance on the chemical industry.
The reason was simple: the cultivation pods for the Clones were easy to manufacture, and the initial cell processing and gene editing could be done using the equipment aboard the Deep Space Spaceship.
The only obstacle to rapidly expanding the population was the production of the nutrient solution.
And that, in turn, required the chemical industry to reach a certain stage of development.
’Once I have some chemical production capabilities, I can create the nutrient solution myself and cultivate Clones on a massive scale.’
’At that point, I won’t have to painstakingly wait half a year just to get five new Clones.’
’That’s only because I haven’t run into any accidents or lost any Clones. If my luck were any worse, with such a low reinforcement rate, I might be losing them faster than I can create them.’
Planning such a comprehensive and massive industrial zone was exceptionally difficult—not a task one person could accomplish alone.
’You’d work yourself to death and still not finish.’
But it didn’t matter. Right now, Li Qingsong had a full 32 brains at his disposal.
Moreover, these were 32 brains that could communicate flawlessly, with zero cost, no chance of misunderstanding, and no internal friction.