Chapter 36: Establishing Trade Routes in the Wasteland

Conducting trade in the wasteland is an incredibly challenging endeavor.

From bandits as numerous as flies to unpredictable mutant creatures, countless dangers make it nearly impossible for survivor bases to engage in consistent trade. Typically, only bases situated relatively close to each other can sustain stable trade routes.

One well-known example is the trade route between Liuding Town and the Beer Bottle Company. Both parties have invested resources to establish fortified supply stations along the route, complete with armed outposts. These outposts are manned by moderately sized strike teams that provide security for caravans using the route.

Such trade routes have arisen due to the extreme disparity in production capabilities and technological levels between survivor bases.

Take Liuding Town, for example. Known for its unique origins, the so-called "town" is actually a massive aircraft carrier—the Bohai, to be exact. This carrier, crippled by nuclear blasts during wartime, was abandoned post-conflict and later repurposed by survivors after the cataclysm. Following extensive "illegal renovations," the vessel is no longer a ship but more of a floating platform. Its unparalleled security has turned it into a post-apocalyptic haven focused on entertainment industries and high-tech ventures.

However, Liuding Town's industrial capacity is virtually nonexistent. It can't even manufacture the ammunition for its deck-mounted gauss cannons, let alone anti-air missiles. Building factories on the carrier itself is out of the question, and the small workshops on the harbor's surface are incapable of handling heavy industrial production.

This is where the Beer Bottle Company steps in.

Despite its misleading name, the Beer Bottle Company isn't involved in brewing or bottling beer. Instead, it is a survivor base specializing in heavy industry, located near an industrial park in the outskirts of Wanghai City. It can produce 10kg-class projectiles for ship-mounted railguns and even high-tech guided missiles, albeit in limited quantities, as most raw materials are scavenged from scrap.

But that's enough background for now.

"To expand into the Wanghai City market, I'm planning to set up a supply station here. In fact, I've already started. However, we're severely lacking in manpower, equipment, and other resources," Jiang Chen explained, his voice steady and persuasive. "The company's directive is to make use of local resources. For the first year, all profits will go into building the base—labor, basic infrastructure, and weapons. We can negotiate all three. And just to be clear, I'm not interested in criminals who can't be trusted."

"A supply station? Why not establish it in Sixth District? We can guarantee the safety of your operations there," Zhao Chenwu asked, frowning slightly.

"Sixth District may have a good reputation in Wanghai City, but it's still unfamiliar territory for us," Jiang Chen replied smoothly, deflecting suspicion onto the directives of his fictional company. "I'm just following orders."

It was a convenient and convincing excuse, one that Zhao Chenwu found difficult to dispute.

After a moment of thought, Zhao Chenwu nodded. "Labor won't be an issue. The slums are overflowing with excess workforce. Although, in principle, we can't sell non-criminals..." He smirked knowingly. "If it's not too many, I can arrange for some... unfortunate incidents to 'qualify' them for trade."

Rules are made by people, and loopholes are bound to exist as long as one doesn't go too far.

Jiang Chen nodded. "I only need about 30 people. That should suffice."

Thirty individuals were a mere drop in the ocean compared to the thousands living in the slums. Zhao Chenwu readily agreed, confident no one would make a fuss over such a small number.

"As for basic equipment, I've outlined everything I need on this list." Jiang Chen produced a graphene-based data card and placed it lightly on the table.

These cards, capable of storing up to 12GB of holographic data, were solar-powered and quite practical. They were also inexpensive and readily available in Sixth District's markets.

Zhao Chenwu activated the card without hesitation, skimming through the projected list.

"...Anti-corrosion cement synthesis devices, carbon nanotube generators, graphene cutting machines... These aren't a problem. We have some stockpiled in Sixth District that I can acquire under Zhao Corporation's name. But the military equipment production line and the nanotech chip fabrication machines..." Zhao Chenwu hesitated, frowning. "Those are nearly impossible to procure. Military production lines are strictly prohibited for trade in any survivor base. And as for the nanotech chip machines, not only are they massive and difficult to transport, but without the necessary industrial infrastructure, they're essentially useless."

Zhao Chenwu wasn't exaggerating. Nanotech chips were versatile, essential for building holographic devices, and a critical component of Jiang Chen's plans to enter the holographic computer market. However, manufacturing them required an entire ecosystem of specialized equipment, including machines capable of cutting silicon wafers to nanometer precision.

Jiang Chen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Clearly, this was a long-term endeavor.

"Let's leave the military equipment and chip machines for now," Jiang Chen said, adjusting his approach. "But for the supply station's defense... I wonder if Mr. Zhao is interested in the arms trade?"

Interested? Of course, he was. Zhao Chenwu eagerly assured Jiang Chen that he could obtain any weaponry allowed for sale in Sixth District.

Jiang Chen expressed his gratitude with a smile.

With both parties reaching a consensus on the goods to be traded, the next step was to hammer out the details of their cooperation.

After thorough negotiations, the terms of the agreement were finalized. Su Lei, Zhao Chenwu's secretary, promptly drafted a digital contract and handed copies to Jiang Chen and her employer. After carefully reviewing the document to confirm its accuracy, Jiang Chen pressed his fingerprint to seal the deal. Zhao Chenwu, trusting his secretary's expertise, casually scanned the contract before doing the same.

The moment their genetic IDs appeared on the contract, the agreement officially came into effect. Of course, in the post-apocalypse, contracts were more symbolic than legally binding. Ultimately, mutual profit was the only guarantee of compliance.

The agreed prices were straightforward: canned fruit was set at 30 Acrystals, canned meats ranged from 10 to 20 Acrystals, and compressed biscuits were priced at 1 Acrystal each. Jiang Chen kept the prices reasonable to encourage bulk sales. Though a single can of fruit could fetch 50 Acrystals in scarcity, consistent trade meant a steady supply, making such high prices unsustainable.

Even so, the pricing remained lucrative—five times the cost of mutant beef cans. And Jiang Chen planned to increase the retail price slightly, ensuring healthy profits without alienating wealthy customers.

On the other hand, the production equipment Jiang Chen needed varied in cost. For instance, an anti-corrosion cement synthesis device was priced at 300 Acrystals, while a graphene cutting machine came in at a staggering 11,000 Acrystals, even with discounts factored in.

The path to building a trade empire was beginning to take shape, step by step.

The mass-produced Ripper rifles of the Sixth District were priced at 20 A-Crystals each. These well-designed assault rifles, NATO standard weapons, used the same 7.62mm ammunition as Jiang Chen's PK2000. While slightly weaker in firepower, they excelled in stability, making them ideal for anti-personnel operations. Jiang Chen purchased 40 of them in one go, along with several thermal grenades, EMP grenades, and other tactical tools. Zhao Chenwu offered a deal at 90% of the market price, which Jiang Chen found satisfactory. This discount was Zhao's way of compensating for Jiang Chen's earlier concessions on the canned goods pricing.

However, Zhao likely had no idea that Jiang Chen's cost for those goods was less than a single A-Crystal.

The transaction was completed at a warehouse Jiang Chen had rented in advance. Zhao Chenwu was quietly astonished at how Jiang Chen managed to bring in such a large shipment of canned goods unnoticed. None of Zhao's men had reported any significant activity, nor had there been any record of a large batch of similar canned goods entering the base. While goods entering the Sixth District before a transaction were tax-exempt, basic registration was still required.

Zhao Chenwu grew wary of Jiang Chen's capabilities but kept his thoughts to himself. After all, their interests didn't conflict, and having a powerful ally was advantageous for Zhao. Transporting supplies through the mutant-infested wasteland required specialized methods, and Zhao assumed Jiang Chen had access to some advanced transportation technology.

What Zhao couldn't imagine, even in his wildest dreams, was that these goods came from a parallel world.

Although this transaction occurred in the Sixth District, Jiang Chen wasn't interested in making frequent trips there. To streamline future operations, he marked a route on his holographic map—a safe passage he had explored through the city's vast underground sewer system.

Yes, Jiang Chen planned to use the sewers as a trade route. In the post-apocalyptic world, this wasn't an unusual tactic. Wanghaishi City's drainage system was expansive, with platforms on both sides of the canals wide enough for small vehicles. By modifying the sewer entrances and sealing off hazardous side passages, Jiang Chen turned the sewers into a veritable "golden trade route." However, due to the incomplete connections between different sewer networks, not all survivor bases could utilize this route.

When Zhao Chenwu learned of the direct sewer route connecting Jiang Chen's base to the Sixth District, he was overjoyed. He enthusiastically agreed to take charge of modifying the sewer infrastructure. Jiang Chen, wanting to maintain a balanced partnership, contributed 1,000 A-Crystals to support the project.

The modifications weren't particularly complicated. Using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and aluminum composite panels, they sealed off dangerous side passages. These materials were not only lightweight but also incredibly durable, capable of withstanding attacks from even the most ferocious mutants like Deathclaws.

Each end of the sewer route would be controlled by one party. Zhao Chenwu stationed his private armed forces at the Sixth District's sewer exit, while Jiang Chen set up a checkpoint near his own base. This ensured the route's security and exclusivity. Intermediate exits were completely sealed to prevent bandits from sneaking in and causing trouble.

Future transactions would take place near Jiang Chen's base at the sewer's exit. They agreed on a monthly schedule: at the beginning of each month, Jiang Chen would provide 1,000 canned meat rations, 10,000 compressed biscuits, and a custom order. In return, Zhao Chenwu would supply Jiang Chen with weapons and other materials at a 10% discount and promised exclusive collaboration on food trade in the Sixth District.

Since Zhao Chenwu's team had vehicles capable of navigating the sewers and a strong escort force, they would handle the transportation.

As for concerns about Zhao Chenwu betraying him with his armed forces?

Jiang Chen wasn't worried. A man of Zhao's stature wouldn't make reckless decisions like killing the golden goose. Besides, Jiang Chen's base was merely a supply hub. The actual production site was in an unknown location, possibly even outside the province. Sending troops into the wilderness to chase an uncertain lead would be suicidal. The closer to the city center, the deadlier the zombies; further out, the wasteland was the domain of feral mutants.

Risking expulsion from the Sixth District to gamble on an uncertain outcome wasn't a move Zhao would make.

Zhao even suggested selling Jiang Chen a defense contract to guard his base, but Jiang Chen politely declined. Having outsiders constantly monitoring his base would interfere with his "resupply" operations. Mysteriously producing large quantities of goods would undoubtedly raise suspicions.

After completing the transaction, Jiang Chen not only acquired the materials he needed but also had 210 A-Crystals left over. Zhao Chenwu generously offered to deliver the goods directly to Jiang Chen's base, which Jiang Chen gladly accepted.

Given the limited storage space, bulky items like production equipment were safer and more convenient to transport in one trip rather than multiple journeys.

With the trade agreement finalized, Zhao Chenwu was in high spirits. He invited Jiang Chen to visit the Sixth District's industrial zone and tour his assets there. Intrigued by the opportunity to see the strength of a man who controlled a tenth of the Sixth District, Jiang Chen accepted the invitation and boarded Zhao's private car.

If Zhao Chenwu was eager to showcase his power, Jiang Chen saw no reason to refuse.