Chapter 388 - 330: The Aesthetics of Chu Bamboo’s Art-Like Command

The first thing to do was, naturally, have the Hive repair the drone carrier, and at the same time...

"Load all usable weapons and ammunition into the drone carrier," Chu Bamboo said, his voice calm. "Clear out all the inoperable drones to make enough space."

’This is most likely another trial-and-error run... so there’s no need to plan for the future! I’ll use every bit of strength I have... hold nothing back!’

"Understood!" the Hive replied grimly.

Next, Chu Bamboo proceeded with the plan: he directed the robotic dogs and drones to stage a prison break, rescue Private Hu Kaikang, and then use them to persuade Huo Qiming...

Time ticked by...

A notification appeared: ’Repairs complete!’ Chu Bamboo watched the drone carrier take off. After a moment of thought, he didn’t immediately order it to bomb the Third Corps. Instead, he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Li Xuan!"

"I’m here," Li Xuan replied, his voice filled with respect.

"On my authority, I declare the union is entering a state of emergency dictatorship!" Chu Bamboo’s tone was level. On the other end of the line, the man’s body went rigid.

The state of emergency dictatorship was a special protocol Chu Bamboo had established for the most dangerous of circumstances, granting him absolute authority that superseded everything else—

After all, only absolute control could see the union through a crisis. The biggest problem with such a model, generally, is that there is no guarantee the one wielding power will always be right. But this wasn’t an issue for Chu Bamboo, who possessed the Power of Reset and could therefore guarantee his own correctness. In fact, he had entered this mode before.

"...Yes, sir!" Li Xuan pressed his lips together, making sure he hadn’t misheard. Cold sweat dripped down his back as he spoke in a rush, "I’ll relay the order right now!"

"Next, activate the emergency conscription act," Chu Bamboo continued, his expression impassive. "Of course, you’re still being monitored by outsiders... so... hmm, you should all evacuate through the secret tunnels first."

Chu Bamboo estimated that the people monitoring the union were weak, even if they were Transcendents. At most, there were only one or two at the Second Realm.

He could have Captain Yang deal with them now, but he ultimately chose to avoid a direct confrontation. ’It’s better to keep them in the dark for now,’ he thought. After Huo Qiming defected and Jinghai City was completely under his control, these people might become a useful asset...

However, Li Xuan’s expression was now completely frozen. A thousand thoughts surged through his mind. He started to object several times but stopped himself, finally forcing out the words, "...Yes, sir!"

He desperately wanted to question the order, but under the emergency dictatorship protocol, he had a duty to obey, not a right to question. Of course, it wasn’t as if he had no other options. He could always rebel or defect.

After hanging up, Chu Bamboo fell into thought. ’With this, I have a foundation to build on, even if it’s a small one...’

But having something versus having nothing was a world of difference.

Emergency conscription meant he could recall everyone who had ever joined the Security Corps and received some form of training.

Admittedly, this training was a simple imitation of the military drills Chu Bamboo himself had once gone through. Most participants had only ever handled a rifle, and very few had practiced with live ammunition. Firearms were simply too precious in this era.

But even as basic-trained Security Corps soldiers, in Chu Bamboo’s eyes, they at least had the makings of a Modern Era army.

’The Security Corps has about eight hundred soldiers right now,’ Chu Bamboo calculated silently. ’Before, there were only about two hundred... but now that the redevelopment zone has expanded into the Third District, our numbers have ballooned.’

’If I include everyone who’s ever been part of the Security Corps, I should be able to scrape together two thousand people.’

Two thousand people was nothing in the face of a nationwide upheaval, especially since they weren’t elites... but they could handle a fight as long as the odds were in their favor.

As for weapons... A strange look crossed Chu Bamboo’s face as he glanced at the video feed of the three major corps.

’Aren’t they just lying around everywhere?’

"Hive... begin the attack!"

After the attack on the Third Corps, just as expected, Eunuch Huang led his men in a raid. They got in quite easily this time, as Chu Bamboo decided to spare the Nuwa Base’s door and didn’t issue an order to bar their entry.

Then, he repeated his previous moves: let them get the wrong idea about his identity as the founding Grand Ancestor, use a mix of intimidation and threats, and ultimately push Huo Qiming to switch sides.

"Nuwa No. 17, dispatch several drones to..." Chu Bamboo rattled off an address—one of the union’s assembly points. He made another call. "Li Xuan... put Security Corps Captain Zhao Xu on the line."

"Yes..." A few moments later, a solemn, slightly hoarse voice came through the phone. "Director-General!"

Chu Bamboo skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. "Xiaozhao, a drone will be arriving shortly to transport eight hundred men... No, on second thought, from the two hundred most elite who have handled rifles before, select one hundred. Have them head to the Donglin Military Camp."

Even though the emergency conscription order had been issued, mustering the troops would take time. Chu Bamboo estimated that even using Nuwa No. 17’s big data analytics combined with electric cars—even electric trucks—for transport...

...mobilizing everyone would take several hours at least!

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Don’t worry. Just follow the drone’s instructions for what comes next. And don’t worry about how you’ll get to the Donglin Military Camp. I’m obviously not making you walk. I can’t explain the details right now, just wait for my orders relayed through the drone!"

With a light swipe of his fingers, Chu Bamboo piloted the drone carrier toward their assembly point. He’d have them climb up a rope ladder and transport them directly inside the carrier...

"Put Li Xuan back on the phone... Li Xuan!"

Chu Bamboo organized his thoughts. "You will take the rest of the men... Hmm, excluding the Security Corps soldiers who need to accompany the union officials for the emergency conscription... take everyone else available... and follow another drone directly into the First District!"

"I’ve requisitioned some Ancient Relic electric cars for you... electric trucks! You won’t have to walk. I know most of you can’t drive! Don’t worry, they’re self-driving..."

"...Huh?" Li Xuan thought he had misheard. After a moment’s hesitation, he cautiously pushed back against the dictator’s command. "Are you certain you mean..."

"I know what you’re thinking. Just follow the order," Chu Bamboo’s tone left no room for argument.

Li Xuan: "...Yes, sir!"

Li Xuan was utterly bewildered. Didn’t the emergency evacuation just now mean they were at a disadvantage? He even recalled a story Chu Bamboo once told, about a group of rebels who carelessly laid down their arms and were subsequently purged by the ruling power.

’But now... why are we going back to the First District? Don’t tell me we’re going to attack it... Can we even win?’

After hanging up, Chu Bamboo pinched the bridge of his nose, his mind racing.

Hu Kaikang watched, dumbfounded. Seeing Chu Bamboo issue commands was like watching a master at work; his orders flowed with such effortless grace, it was like witnessing the creation of a piece of art.

Huo Qiming was even more shocked, because he had trained and organized men before. He, more than anyone, understood just how incredible it was to command so many people with such precision, coordinating them to complete such complex tasks...

’And his men... they were actually capable of following through. What kind of terrifying organizational power is this?’

Huo Qiming even wondered if the Imperial Capital’s Imperial Guard, supposedly the most elite troops in the land, could pull this off. He suspected not.

Chu Bamboo himself was completely unaware of this. He thought his Security Corps was merely noteworthy for its ability to obey orders, its strict discipline, and its care for the common people. But even if their military skills were still green, these qualities alone made them unparalleled in this feudal age—

After all, the model he was imitating... was that terrifying army that had transcended its own era.

After a long moment, Huo Qiming finally shook his head to clear the distracting thoughts. He stared blankly at the screen and heaved a sigh, his expression a complex mix of emotions...

His mind was in a whirl. ’How long has it even been?’ Before his very eyes, the entirety of Jinghai City was about to be conquered...