Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 151 Exaggerated Fish Storage, Repairing the Hydropower Station! (with pictures)

Back on the ground, we got into the pickup truck.

Cheng Ye didn't rush to the riverbank immediately, but instead had Jiang Chuan walk around the town again.

From the direction of the muddy country roads to the cross-shaped layout of the entire town, and the usable building ruins, everything was like a 3D map, constructing a complete memory model in his mind.

The answers from the first round of exams also yielded more ideas after the model was finalized, making it easy to come up with the answers to the second round of exam questions without much thought.

Open the map and focus on the water system.

Why was Dabo Town chosen to build the port back then, instead of a tributary of the river next to the industrial zone?
The most crucial reason is that the Huangshui River and Baishui River, which branch off from the Linjiang River system, although winding and tortuous, will eventually flow into the main Linjiang River.

However, the tributary next to the industrial zone will flow into another major river, the Anjiang River.

The Anjiang River on the map meanders dramatically, passing through several sections of water with significant elevation differences, making it naturally unsuitable for shipping and cargo transport.

In contrast, Linjiang, with its route connecting four provinces and free of rapids and treacherous shoals, possesses extraordinary potential.

Using Dabo Town as a fulcrum, a water diversion port was set up on the Baishui River. Smaller vessels could dock and load in Dabo Town, while larger vessels could complete their operations on the Huangshui River.

In this way, Dabo Township has become a typical "terrain with economic potential on both sides of the strait".

The terrain along the left side of the Baishui River (the original site of Dabo Town) is relatively low and suitable for building residential areas.

The terrain along the right bank of the Yellow River is relatively high and flat, making it suitable for establishing an industrial zone.

With its location straddling two rivers, it would be hard for this kind of terrain not to prosper in modern times.

Unfortunately, in the wasteland, the waterways have long been abandoned, and the underwater world is fraught with danger, which is why Dabo Town has been abandoned to this day.

"Wenlu County is a vital transportation hub, while Dabo Town is a vital transportation hub."

Cheng Ye was making plans in his mind.

If we can ensure that the two rivers do not breach their banks, building residential areas in the buffer zone where the two rivers fork would be the perfect combination of favorable timing and location.

The natural river barrier not only protects against wild animals but also provides water and potential shipping value.

Unfortunately, after the flood, the buffer zone in the middle has been submerged at the edges, leaving only the higher-lying part in the middle.

Moreover, the bridge connecting Dabo Town to the buffer zone has long since collapsed. If this area is to be utilized in the future, a bridge must be built first, followed by a dam, in order to create an excellent terrain barrier for protection.

At the same time, it can also manage both sides of the riverbank, which is perfect.

"There's another prerequisite: we have to solve the underwater problems first."

Cheng Ye closed the map and turned his gaze to the misty river in the distance.

Next, a detailed investigation of the Baishui River was conducted.

The pickup truck was parked on a wasteland about 200 meters from the dock, and the rushing water could be clearly heard.

It was the flood season, and the river was at a confluence. Cheng Ye stood on the edge of the dock and looked around. The main stream of the Baishui River was flowing at an astonishing speed, with blue-yellow waves surging on the surface. Let alone casting a net to fish, even throwing a stone would probably be washed away and disappear in an instant.

"Let's go, keep going down. According to the water system's pattern, there must be another branch here."

The details that were never mentioned in these documents could only be found through on-site investigation, which was precisely the key to formulating the construction plan.

Seeing Cheng Ye deep in thought, Jiang Chuan wisely refrained from interrupting, firmly gripping the steering wheel and fulfilling his duties as driver.

The pickup truck drove down the embankment for about two kilometers before a clear fork in the road finally came into view.

This place is quite a distance from the center of Dabo Town, and it feels more like we've ventured into a rural area next to the town, where collapsed farmhouses and abandoned field ridges are beginning to appear along the roadside.

"This is troublesome." Cheng Ye frowned slightly as he looked at the diversion point.

This place is some distance from the town. If we decide to take Dabo Town as the center and also want to include the hydroelectric power station, the battle line will inevitably have to be stretched out.

But there's nothing we can do; after all, it's a modern hydroelectric power station, and it's impossible for it to be built in the town center.

Moreover, the original design purpose of this micro-hydropower station was to meet the needs of the village level, and it is far from comparable to the large hydropower station in the industrial zone that can supply electricity to hundreds of thousands of people.

Looking left and right, the Baishui River, about ten meters wide, has its main channel, eight meters wide, still flowing downstream. Another two-meter-wide tributary is diverted inland, where the flow is slower and the surface is covered with fine foam.

Suddenly, Cheng Ye's eyes narrowed as he saw a dozen black fish calmly floating beneath the surface of the water at the diversion point.

Good guy.

Not one of them was a small fish; they were all large, robust fish. Look at their swaying tail fins; even the smallest one must weigh three or four pounds. Their dark backs drew smooth arcs in the bluish-yellow water.

"It's a specialty of the Baishui River, the black-striped fish."

Jiang Chuan walked over, followed his gaze, and explained with a smile, "In the first few years after Happiness City was established, these fish were almost extinct due to overfishing. I didn't expect that after so many years, they would become abundant again."

Cheng Ye didn't reply, but just stared quietly at the water's surface.

From time to time, frightened small fish and shrimp are swept into the diversion channels by the water rushing down from the main stream of the Baishui River.

At this moment, the group of blackfish will swarm forward as if receiving a command, wreaking havoc on these prey that have come to their doorstep, splashing water and then quickly calming down.

However, when schools of fish of similar or slightly smaller size pass by, they ignore them and guard the "throat" of the branching point, like a group of shrewd hunters.

Wow, does this mean it has some kind of intelligence?

Cheng Ye clicked his tongue in amazement.

He had never seen such intelligent fish in modern times, which knew how to ambush at the confluence of water currents.

In just a short while, with Jiang Chuan's introduction, he had recognized seven kinds of fish and two kinds of shrimp.

Besides the ferocious black-striped fish, there are also smaller, silvery-white white-striped fish, and ribbonfish that look like smooth wooden sticks. The longest of them can be as long as two meters. When they swim close to the riverbed, they can be mistaken for a piece of rotten wood if you don't look closely.

These three are all variants that do not exist in modern times.

Other familiar freshwater fish include the four major freshwater fish species: grass carp, silver carp, bighead carp, and common carp.

However, in terms of size, they were at least twice as large as modern ones, each one plump and strong, clearly having had plenty of food in these waters.

The shrimp included common swamp shrimp and a type of red shrimp unique to the wasteland, which was bright red all over and looked like moving rubies when it swam in the water, making it particularly eye-catching.

"Has no one ever fished for this?"

Cheng Ye stared at it for a long time, somewhat dazed.

He had never seen such an exaggerated amount of fish reserves. Under the water, it was almost a state of "fish crowding fish". Even the shallow water areas that branched off could form schools of fish. He couldn't imagine what the main Baishui River must look like.

Even the unluckiest angler will never come home empty-handed from this spot.

“When the new era first started, this place was a popular spot.” Jiang Chuan squatted down and used a twig to poke at the pebbles by the water. “Because it was impossible to farm in Shi Province, people would come here every day to fish. But as time went on, the yield naturally plummeted. Conflicts often broke out over a fishing spot, and it wasn’t uncommon for dozens of people to be killed at once.”

"Later, as our Happiness City developed and we conducted many large-scale fishing operations, our fish reserves plummeted even further and could no longer meet the needs of the surrounding settlements. Some people did not want to join Happiness City, so they migrated to provinces where they could farm. At the same time, our Happiness City also developed a stable food source and no longer relied on aquatic products to solve our food and clothing problems."

"After the scavengers who used to make a living from this river left, the fishery output has slowly recovered in recent years. Happiness City has not started large-scale fishing again. As for people from other places, now that so many super sheltered cities and large sheltered cities have been developed, who would still come to the area around our Happiness City to make a living from this little bit of aquatic products?"

"Furthermore, Happiness City doesn't accept fish submitted by individual players. Even if someone occasionally comes to catch a few, it's just a small treat, and they're risking their lives in the process."

Actually, Jiang Chuan only had a vague understanding of these things last night, far less clear than he does now.

But after following Ding Yishan's instructions and requesting access to the data from the Blood Dragon Legion, he finally managed to get a fairly good grasp of the aquatic resources of the Baishui River.

"In addition, there are deeper considerations behind Xingfu City's decision not to actively organize fishing."

Jiang Chuan's tone deepened, becoming more serious. "The food supply in the sheltered city is already stable. Even if these fish are caught, they will only add some variety to the residents' tables and will not shake the existing supply system. In that case, there is really no need to go down the old path for the sake of this little bit of appetite."

"In case of unforeseen circumstances, such as the current situation where Prosecutor Cheng wants to build Dabo Town, these readily available aquatic products can help us get through the most critical initial stage."

It must be said that the senior management of Happiness City has great foresight.

After Jiang Chuan's explanation, Cheng Ye immediately realized that these fish products were indeed reserve resources for Happiness City.

During times of peace, fish products are stored as "reserve grain" and not used lightly, so that they can be a life-saving backup plan in times of crisis.

Moreover, fishing carries considerable risks. Some infectious agents can attach to fish or lurk underwater, and one can easily become infected if one is not careful.

Careful verification is necessary to ensure safety.

"Let's go check out the hydroelectric power station!"

Cheng Ye originally wanted to catch a couple of fish to check their quality, but after glancing at the gloomy sky, he decided to prioritize his business.

After getting on the bus, we continued walking down the river. Along the way, we could see signs of human intervention. Happiness City must have taken measures to address these key areas, such as regularly applying herbicides.

Although the aquatic plants on both sides of the river are lush, a dirt road is always left for passage. It is inevitably muddy, but because it is rarely visited, it has not turned into a muddy mess that makes it hard to walk.

As the car ventured deeper into the river, the riverbank gradually widened, from the initial two meters to three meters, and then to four meters. The water flow slowed down, and the ripples on the surface became gentler.

Finally, the abandoned small hydroelectric power station came into view at the edge of the horizon.

It is indeed a typical dam-type hydroelectric power station.

A low dam is built on the river to create a small reservoir and raise the water level. A water turbine is installed directly behind the dam to generate electricity by using the difference in elevation between the dam and the downstream area. The structure is simple yet practical.

Jiang Chuan parked the car near the edge of the hydropower station, and the two did not get out of the car immediately.

He honked the horn, the sharp sound echoing through the empty valley before being swallowed back by the mist.

After a few minutes, when there was no sound of running water around, he opened the car door.

The houses above the dam are crooked and have a sense of age, but the overall structure is still relatively intact. Compared to the buildings in Dabo Town that have collapsed into ruins, they are much better.

“Happy City will provide basic maintenance for these facilities, and scavengers will not damage these places.”

"After all, everyone knows that you never know when you might need it."

Jiang Chuan opened his mouth and continued his introduction.

However, that's true.

As soon as Cheng Ye stepped out of the car, his gaze was immediately drawn to the bright crack on the dam.

The crack extends diagonally upwards from the middle of the dam, and at its widest point, two fingers can be inserted. The concrete at the edge is covered with a dark brown powder, and it crumbles off with the slightest touch.

Looking down along the cracks, you can see that the surface of the dam is pitted and uneven, and in some places the cement layer has peeled off, exposing the rusted and blackened steel bars inside, which look like withered bones sticking out.

"The carbonization and corrosion are too severe."

Cheng Ye was taken aback. The professional knowledge he had learned from books was now being presented to him in such a concrete way.

In modern times, such facilities would most likely be classified as dangerous buildings and demolished and rebuilt before they even reach that level of carbonization.

He reached out and touched the surface of the dam. The area his fingertips touched was cold and rough. He could clearly feel that the concrete surface had long lost its original hardness, and a light scratch would leave a shallow mark.

Turning our gaze towards the spillway, the outer casing of the hoist had rusted to a reddish-brown color, its surface pitted and uneven, as if it had been gnawed by countless insects.

The entrance to the water conveyance tunnel is hidden in the shadows on the side of the dam. Although the cracks inside are not visible, there are obvious signs of water seepage in the concrete around the entrance, forming dark watermarks.

"This repair?"

Looking at the scene before him, Cheng Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

But when they went around to the back side of the dam, they found that the situation there was much better.

It seems that as long as those gaps are sealed, some surface reinforcement is done, the opening and closing gears are repaired, and the turbine generator set is reconnected, power supply should be restored.

It's hard to say exactly how long it will last, but it should last for several years without any problems.

"Let's go and take a look inside."

Cheng Ye composed himself and took the first step.

As you approach the moss-covered path on the dam, the bricks and stones under your feet are slippery and difficult to walk on; you have to be careful with every step before you dare to move.

Just as Jiang Chuan said, the maintenance of Happiness City was not just talk; the doors and windows of the main rooms were still in good condition.

As I pushed open the door and stepped inside, a damp, musty smell hit me.

A transparent desiccant box hangs prominently on the wall, containing neatly stacked documents.

The original location where the water turbine was installed is now empty, with only a dark gap remaining, clearly indicating that it has been removed.

Looking down through the gap, the reservoir's gate hoist was indeed completely damaged, the entire structure was open, and it had completely lost its water storage capacity.

However, it is precisely because of this that the dam has been able to survive each flood season to this day.

If it still had water storage capabilities, it would probably have been washed away by the surging river long ago. "I brought the keys!"

Jiang Chuan took out his key from his pocket, walked to the desiccant box, unlocked it, and took out the documents inside.

The page was covered with dense data, which he couldn't quite understand, so he handed it directly to Cheng Ye.

Cheng Ye took the documents and flipped through them. There were many technical terms on them, especially the detailed parameters of the hydropower station turbine units, which he couldn't quite understand for a while, but he could still understand the basic data.

Data shows that the installed capacity of Baishuiba is around 300kw.

Based on this data, we can deduce that the river's flow rate that year should have been around 12 cubic meters.

In other words, a river channel that is 4 meters wide and 4 meters deep, with a drop of about 5 meters and a flow velocity of about 0.5 meters per second, is considered a very gentle river.

However, times have changed, and the river's current flow rate is now clearly over 1 meter. Based on this calculation, the generator set's power can be increased to at least 500 kW.

This is already a very impressive figure. With the help of energy storage facilities, this hydropower station can provide more than 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, which can fully meet the needs of Dabo Town and even transmit electricity to the surrounding areas, such as Wenlu County and nearby Changshui Town and Yunshui Town.

"Even after it's repaired and the infrastructure for Happiness City is taken over, this hydroelectric power station can be used entirely by me."

Cheng Ye couldn't help but be moved.

If he could own his own hydroelectric power station, he would never have to worry about charging his pendant again.

When the time comes, how much electricity is used and where it goes will be up to him.

Of course, there are also practical problems at hand: the funds for repairing the hydroelectric power station and the cost of purchasing turbine units are not small amounts.

The head of the Baishui Dam is only 5 meters high, which can only be used with axial flow turbine units. We'll have to see if there are any in stock in Xingfu City's warehouse.

Turning to the back of the document reveals various data collected during the census over the years:

Starting in 2006, the initial census was conducted every two years, lasting for eight rounds.

In 21 AD, the cycle was changed to three years, and the latest record is the 12th cycle in 33 AD.

Based on the latest data, Cheng Ye went out of the machine room again and conducted a more detailed assessment of the dam as a whole.

The level of professionalism throughout the process left Jiang Chuan speechless with amazement.

He really couldn't understand how Cheng Ye could have never left Happiness City in his entire life, yet immediately take charge of investigating the infrastructure outside.

The more data Cheng Ye had, the better he understood why the facility had been abandoned.

Resource input and output are completely disproportionate!
Instead of wasting energy repairing these scattered micro-hydropower stations, it would be better to concentrate efforts on maintaining the large hydropower stations in the industrial area.

In the early stages of building Happiness City, it is natural to concentrate resources and exert efforts in a concentrated manner.

During the Great Expansion period, they focused on plundering resources from other countries and had no time to care about their surrounding areas.

Only today, with a large influx of people influenced by the travelers, have we had the leisure to pay attention to our surroundings.

Otherwise, this white dam would probably remain dormant until one day it is completely swallowed up by the floodwaters of the Linjiang River and disappears into the long river of history.

"Jiang Chuan, get me some paper and pen, and drive the car closer."

"okay."

After Jiang Chuan brought the things, Cheng Ye sat in the back of the pickup truck, using his knees as a table, and began to draw.

This is not an ordinary floor plan, but an engineering drawing deconstructed from his mind.

The original engineering drawings for this white dam were likely lost long ago. This hand-drawn drawing can serve as a reference for subsequent construction, avoiding rework and wasting time.

From the repair plan for the cracks in the dam body and the marking of the replacement parts for the gate hoist, to the positioning of the turbine installation location, several engineering points that needed to be started immediately were clearly marked on the drawings.

As for the planning of power transmission lines, Cheng Ye did not intend to do it personally.

It's more appropriate to delegate this kind of task to subordinate engineers, as they are certainly more familiar with material costs and wiring layouts.

After doing all this, the sky outside the window grew increasingly dark, and the light drizzle gradually turned into a moderate rain.

In this secluded hydroelectric power station, Cheng Ye momentarily forgot about time, completely immersed in conceiving a restoration plan.

When they came to their senses, they realized that the surroundings were truly eerie and terrifying after they had gone completely dark.

The swaying grass and trees twisted in the wind and rain, like ghosts and monsters lurking in the shadows, sending chills down one's spine.

Moreover, intermittent rain and mist shrouded the surroundings, making even the road we came from at noon unclear.

In this wasteland, there are indeed very few hours each day when one can move around in peace; only a few hours between dawn and dusk.

"what time is it?"

"It's already 5:30 in the afternoon." Jiang Chuan said calmly, without urging anyone.

He brought a tent because he was worried that he probably wouldn't be able to get back tonight and would have to camp in the wild.

As for the rule of returning to hand in the exam before 10 o'clock, it is naturally impossible to strictly adhere to it in the event of such an unexpected situation.

Finding the right balance is one of his responsibilities as a "supervisor".

"Let's go back and catch some fish."

Cheng Ye carefully folded the blueprints and put them into his backpack. He started the car again, and the hydroelectric power station gradually disappeared from sight.

The solitary dam stands tall in the rain and mist, like a steadfast guard.

For a moment, it dispelled the slight fear that had been lingering in my heart.

Returning to the previous diversion point, perhaps due to the increased rainfall, there were far fewer fish in the water than at noon.

By this time, Cheng Ye had lost all interest in leisurely fishing. He untied the bag containing the blood and flesh of the malaria mosquitoes and decisively scattered it into the river.

Like sharks that have smelled blood, the black-striped fish lurking in the water immediately rushed up like madmen, fighting for the flesh and blood.

Jiang Chuan seized the opportunity to cast his hand net and pulled it up sharply. Five blackfish thrashed wildly in the net but were caught without any resistance.

Only when Cheng Ye got closer did he realize that the creature's teeth were as sharp as a piranha's, gleaming with a chilling light.

There are four more.

After the two of them worked on the riverbank for a while, using up the blood and flesh of malaria mosquitoes to create a nest, they used ordinary artificial bait.

As the net was cast repeatedly, whitebait, grass carp, silver carp, and bighead carp were all caught. In addition, some brightly colored red shrimp were also caught, jumping around in the bucket and shimmering with red light.

I glanced at the time; it was already 7 p.m.

The rain intensified, thunder rumbled in the sky, and streaks of lightning ripped through the night, illuminating the wilderness as if it were daytime, only to plunge it back into deeper darkness in an instant.

The two dared not delay and hurriedly drove back. They only breathed a sigh of relief when they returned to the area of ​​Dabo Town.

"So, are we just going to make do here tonight, or are we going back tonight?"

The wipers kept sweeping, but the torrential rain made it impossible to see the dirt road ahead; all that could be seen were two streaks of water cleaved by the headlights.

Jiang Chuan had no choice but to roll down the car window and glance at the outside. The cold rain immediately poured in, and he couldn't see very far with the naked eye.

In his experience, driving back or even walking back in this weather would be no problem, but Cheng Ye was leaving the city for the first time, so he had to be considerate of his feelings.

If you rush on your journey and encounter an accident, you may leave a significant psychological scar on the wilderness.

Staying in Dabo Town might not be a good idea either, as spending the night in the wilderness on the first trip out of town could exacerbate one's fear of the wild.

"Um"

Cheng Ye looked out the window, his brows furrowed slightly.

For some reason, every time lightning flashed, he felt as if a pair of eyes were secretly watching him from the dark wilderness.

This feeling wasn't unfounded; it came from the flames.

The little guy was repeatedly transmitting complex emotions through the mental link, unable to distinguish whether it was fear of the rain curtain itself, or the people, mutated creatures, or infected beings inside the rain curtain.

The little guy is not worth mentioning in terms of combat power, but Cheng Ye dares not ignore these senses.

"Oh right, what about the proctor?" Cheng Ye suddenly remembered that there was such a person.

"he?"

Jiang Chuan glanced around and said nonchalantly, "He may have already gone back, or he may have set up camp nearby. His mission is to confirm that we have arrived in Dabo Town. We can't control where he goes."

"Oh, then let's make do for one night!" Cheng Ye decided.

In the future, when going out on fieldwork, it will be common to be exposed to the elements and sleep outdoors. Getting used to it in advance is not a bad thing.

But he could never continue traveling in this weather. Not only would his visibility be obstructed, but rainy nights are also the time when infected creatures and mutated beasts are most active. Taking this risk would be asking for trouble.

Jiang Chuan nodded and turned the car into the relatively intact office building in the town center.

I inspected this place this afternoon, and the roof of one of the rooms on the second floor is quite solid, enough to keep out the rain.

As for the pickup truck, it drove onto a higher platform, and the two men took out a tent and camping equipment from the back, as well as two buckets filled with fish and shrimp.

As for other miscellaneous items, no one will steal them if you leave them in the car.

As for sleeping in the car, no one has mentioned it.

In the wilderness, a closed carriage may seem safe, but if danger strikes, there may not even be time to open the door and escape.

Upon reaching the second floor, Jiang Chuan quickly checked the surroundings and, after confirming there were no lurking threats, turned around and said, "I'll go get the portable gas stove and a small pot. We can have a nice meal tonight."

The blackfish in the bucket were still thrashing about. Cheng Ye nodded, not mentioning that he had dozens of packets of nutrient solution in his backpack.

After Jiang Chuan left, he stood up and stood sideways at the window, looking out at the dark, rainy night.

The flames also jumped out of sight and perched on my shoulder.

Sure enough, after choosing not to return to the city in the rain, the feeling of being spied on completely disappeared, and the being in the darkness seemed to have given up on the idea.

"Ding Yishan probably sent Jiang Chuan to follow me because he knows how much trouble I'm in."

In the room, which resembled ruins, Cheng Ye sat on the floor, his back against the cold wall.

The chill of the bricks seeped through his raincoat, making his mind even clearer.

Safe buffers are ultimately temporary.

After being contracted out, this perilous wilderness will be the norm he will face in the future.

But he was not afraid of the troubles left behind by Cheng Long, and even hoped that the other party could come more decisively.

Unfortunately, their opponents weren't that stupid.

When he left the city for the first time, Jiang Chuan accompanied him, and there were also hidden "proctors" in the shadows.

Those troublemakers will not act rashly at this time; perhaps they are waiting for a better opportunity, or perhaps they believe that even if they are allowed to develop for a while, they will not be able to cause any major upheaval.

Of course, the most likely possibility is still one thing.

When you're confident you can crush him within the rules, no one will recklessly break them.

In other words, the harm caused by breaking the rules far outweighs the benefits of killing him now.

"If you're not in a hurry, neither am I."

"Once the hydroelectric power station is repaired, it won't be as easy for them to control me as it is today."

Unfolding the tent, Cheng Ye sat on the edge and let out a long sigh.

Looking at the rain outside the window, my mood was completely different from when I set off in the morning.

Before coming to Dabo Town, he only regarded it as part of completing the contract test, and he was not even completely sure that he would make it the construction site of the satellite city.

But the survey that day made him make up his mind completely.

The terrifying fish reserves, the potential for repairing a 500kW hydropower station, and the strategic location at the choke point of the waterway.

These three factors alone constitute an exaggerated geographical advantage.

As for the potential troubles, that depends on the budget he can secure and the recruitment situation.

　P.S.: 7k views delivered. My energy levels really drop towards the end of the month when I get busy. A reader suggested adding images, so I tried it today. I'm not very satisfied with these two AI images, but I haven't figured out how to fine-tune them yet. I'll look into it some more.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)