170: Chapter 170 The Commoners' District

"Good morning, Colonel."

"Lafayette, how does it feel to be awake again?" Colonel Pierre asked, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"You know, my memory data was recorded just before I died in battle, so..." The officer named Lafayette spread his hands. "I don't remember a thing."

"That's true." Colonel Pierre was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "But perhaps it's for the best. We lost many brothers in that battle, but... here, they are still with us."

"That's not bad. It's just... I wonder how my mother is doing..."

"I believe the country will take good care of her..."

"Do you believe that yourself, Colonel?"

Pierre gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "Let's go take a look at our equipment. Though they're old-timers to us, it's... better than nothing."

The two walked forward together, passing the training grounds and arriving at the vehicle warehouse.

The vehicle warehouse had an underground passage leading directly to the industrial equipment of Plata Port. Currently, the Plata Port Industrial Zone had completely transitioned to focus on military and naval industries.

Consequently, when the two arrived at the warehouse, they saw a garage packed to the brim with vehicles.

"Is this... a Sherman?"

Looking at these tank-like contraptions that the peculiar Yellow Chickens were tinkering with, the youthful-looking Lafayette fell into deep thought.

"Yes. To be precise, its designation is the M4A4E13. We've given it the nickname 'Vipère'."

It must be said that this modification truly lived up to the name: based on the Skink self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, it featured eight M20 75mm recoilless rifles mounted externally on the turret, driven by electric motors.

The front of the hull had been reinforced to M4A3E8 standards, and slat armor had been added all around the vehicle.

"Looks good, but does this mean my main job will be urban warfare?"

"Yes. And complex terrain operations, of course. If possible, we'll eventually switch to M40 Recoilless Rifles, or perhaps just repurpose old stock with anti-tank missiles?" Pierre replied. "Look over there."

"Is that... an M8 Greyhound? And a German 8-wheeled armored car from World War II?"

"Yes. Considering our combat environment and current technical limitations, our equipment is restricted to the World War II era. But the good news is that the requirements set by our technicians were solved one by one by the designers here."

"We've completed the family designs for the Greyhound and the Sd.Kfz. 234. While our troop deployment isn't fully in place yet, the equipment has been deployed ahead of us."

"Besides the basic scout car, the Greyhound has thickened all-around armor. The 37mm anti-tank gun was removed to install a 20mm Oerlikon for patrol and mobile anti-aircraft duties. We've also added external personnel seats to assist in rapid troop movement."

"...Colonel, I have to say that 'meat-shield' external armor has been banned."

"Haha, certainly." Pierre laughed. "As for the Sd.Kfz. 234, it now covers roles as a self-propelled anti-tank gun, scout car, troop carrier, self-propelled mortar, supply transport, and medical transport. And, of course, a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun with an Oerlikon."

"So, most of our men will have to act as light cavalry?" Lafayette asked, looking at the wheeled equipment.

"Yes. We don't have an armored unit configuration yet, but later, we'll be equipped with two tank battalions and a light tank reconnaissance company." Pierre looked at the Yellow Chickens nearby carrying weapon crates filled with neat rows of PPSh-41s and M1 Garands. "How about it? Want to go see the first batch of civilians in our jurisdiction?"

"I'm interested," Lafayette agreed.

The two boarded a small American jeep. Pierre sat in the passenger seat. "You drive."

Lafayette tested the engine, familiarized himself with the vehicle, and then set off.

The road outside the airbase turned into a dirt track after passing the main port area, making for a slightly bumpy ride.

But undoubtedly, having a road at all was good. Passing through the inner and outer ports and driving by the Ship Girl Bureau, Lafayette's gaze was drawn to several Ship Girls passing by. He was a young man, after all; he couldn't look away from pretty girls.

"How about it? After you retire, would you consider trying to woo a Ship Girl?" Pierre teased.

"So those are Ship Girls... They're beautiful..." Lafayette marveled. "They look like angels."

"Just don't touch the ones belonging to our top boss," Pierre warned.

"I don't even know them. Besides, do you think I'm the type who forgets everything the moment he sees a pretty girl?"

"I think you are."

The car made a sharp right turn, heading straight toward the sea.

"Stop, stop, stop! You aren't, you aren't!" Pierre was nearly scared to death by the young man under his command.

"Tsk, and I thought you were tougher than that." Lafayette laughed. It had to be said that compared to before, the young Colonel Pierre was much more humorous.

The car then returned to the dirt road and drove quickly into the residential area still under construction.

"A few people over here! Help tamp down the foundation!"

"Hua Yun, take some people to cut more wood immediately!"

"Need a few people to transport cement! First come, first served! Anyone who helps gets extra meat tonight!"

Engineers and temporary Military Police were doing their best to organize these people they weren't familiar with. On a truck in the corner, French soldiers and xia people were unloading building materials.

A patrol-type M8 was towing a trailer of stone bricks, while several xia people were spreading lime on the road surface that had been flattened by a steamroller.

In the distance, a utility pole had just been erected. Electricity pulled all the way from the power station would provide lighting for this area.

On both sides of the road were identical building foundations. The only difference was the degree of completion of these houses, though that percentage wasn't high to begin with.

Lafayette watched all this with great interest.

"Compared to destruction, a civilization needs to learn construction more." Pierre opened the car door. "A Huaxia friend told me that, and now I think he was right."

"I remember Huaxia people hold grudges. Are you sure they won't be hostile toward us?"

"Perhaps that's the magnanimity of an ancient civilization." Pierre smiled, looking at the busy construction site and the Ship Girls running around to help maintain order. "Of course, I'm more inclined to believe our Huaxia superior won't be hostile toward us either."

"You have a point." Lafayette spread his hands, got out of the car, and followed him into the heart of the construction site.

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