Chapter 189 - Maglev Vacuum Pipeline Construction
Chapter 189: Maglev Vacuum Pipeline Construction
Chapter 189 – Maglev Vacuum Pipeline Construction
Beijing, Yiping Road:
A migrant worker carrying his luggage walked along the sidewalk while observing his surroundings.
After arriving before a launderette, the migrant stopped and looked at the old man eating noodles by the entrance. He then asked, “Is this Yiping Road?”
“What road?” The old man looked up and squinted.
“Yiping Road?”
“What did you say?”
“Yiping Road!” the migrant shouted.
“Oh, this is Yiping Road,” the old man answered in a blur. After swallowing the noodles in his mouth, he asked, “What are you shouting for?”
“Thank you, old man,” the migrant said, massaging his throat. Just as he was about to continue walking, he suddenly thought of something. Turning around, he asked, “Old man, why aren’t there any cars on this road?”
“What?”
“I asked! Why are there no cars on this road!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Standing up, the old man pointed at the road beyond the barricaded sidewalk and said, “Aren’t those all…huh? Where are the cars?”
“That’s right.” Shrugging, the migrant said, “Where are the cars? I came from Erping Road, yet aside from the cars parked on the roadsides, I didn’t see any other cars.”
“Impossible!” The old man set down his bowl of noodles and put on his coat. He then walked up to the roadside and looked around, saying, “The traffic here is normally horrendous here. Why isn’t there a single car here today?”
Boom… Boom… Boom…
At this time, a faint roar came from the end of the road.
The two men immediately looked toward the source, and what entered their eyes was a vague shadow “slowly” approaching their direction.
“What’s that?” the migrant asked in shock.
“Oh.” In contrast, the old man waved his hand indifferently and sat back on his seat. Picking up his bowl of noodles, he revealed, “It’s a cargo truck.”
“A cargo truck?”
“Mhm. Otherwise, why would they seal the road?”
As the engine roar grew increasingly louder, more and more pedestrians and shopkeepers gathered by the roadside to spectate the commotion.
The migrant man’s eyesight was excellent. As the shadow gradually grew in size, he felt that something was amiss. “O-Old man, are the cargo trucks here shaped like a road roller?”
“Road roller?”
“C-Come take a look…”
The old man set down his bowl once more and skeptically walked onto the sidewalk. As soon as he turned to look at the supposed cargo truck, however, he immediately gaped in shock.
Currently, five police cars and several dozen motorcycles were sounding their sirens as they drove the surrounding onlookers away from the road. Meanwhile, behind these numerous vehicles was a 10-meter-tall and 30-meter-wide “train.” The train was wider than even the road it moved on, so as it moved through the street, it also crushed the flower beds, street lights, advertisement signs, and trees found on the sidewalks…
“As expected of the capital!” the migrant exclaimed. “Even the trains here can move on roads!”
As for the old man, his eyes were close to falling out of their sockets at this point.
“Move away! Everyone move away! Keep your distance!” The police officers riding on the motorcycles shouted at the bewildered onlookers with loudspeakers. “Everyone step back! Keep your distance!”
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Move away!”
Boom… Boom… Boom…
The earth shook.
The windows of the roadside buildings trembled.
The police officers also chased the old man and the migrant worker off the sidewalk. After retreating into the laundrette, the two stared at the towering “train” as it drove past the shop.
Boom… Boom…
A minute later, the “train” finally moved past the shop, allowing sunlight to return to the building.
Now, though, only crushed asphalt and bricks remained of the sidewalk…
…
Inside the maglev train, Chen Yu sat on the conductor’s seat as he looked down at the dozens of “ants” moving in front of the train. Turning to the camera, he explained, “Viewers, please don’t misunderstand. I didn’t choose this narrow road because I wanted to. Instead, I had no choice but to choose this road. With its 300-meter length, the train can only afford to move in a straight line. If I force it to make a turn, it will definitely crush the corner buildings.”
As soon as Chen Yu said so, the train smashed through a flyover, turning into ruins.
Fortunately, the government’s engineering teams had long since set up partitions on both sides of the street, preventing any of the debris from damaging the nearby buildings.
As for the various vehicles parked on the roadside, the ones that could be towed away had long since been moved. As for the ones that couldn’t be hauled away, the engineering teams could only record these vehicles and make compensations afterward.
After all, compared to the value of a vacuum maglev train, these minor economic losses were insignificant…
[The power of the future really is frightening.]
[Scary.]
[Scary. +1]
[Is there anyone here present on the scene?]
[The area’s been put on lockdown. I can’t enter.]
[I’m at the scene. I just got run over by the tracks. It felt quite good. For now, though, I’m going into hiding.]
[I’m here as well! It’s very shocking! The only thing I don’t like is the loud noise it makes.]
“My King, why don’t you drive it manually?” Little Peach hesitantly asked.
“…Well, the smart driving mode gives off a more technological feeling. Don’t forget that our main goal is to evaluate products. We’re not here to show off our skills,” Chen Yu explained with an earnest look on his face.
“Oh.” Little Peach nodded in realization.
“We’re less than 10 kilometers away from the destination now.” Picking up the drawing before him, Chen Yu switched topics and said, “We’ll arrive in another six or seven minutes. Friends before the screen, you can perk up your spirits now.”
Standing up, Chen Yu leaned against the windshield and looked up at the several helicopters hovering above the train. After doing some mental calculations, he suddenly said, “As today’s product is somewhat special, I am prepared to split the reviewing process into two segments.
“The first segment will be a review on the maglev train’s construction capabilities, including the excavation process and construction of the vacuum pipeline. According to the AI’s introduction, with the Level 3 Engineering Vehicle’s work efficiency, we should be able to conclude this process within half a day.
“For the second segment, after the pipeline’s construction is completed, I’ll select some viewers from the livestream to experience the train’s interior. I’ll first transport you from Shanghai to Beijing, and then return from Beijing to Shanghai thirty minutes later.”
After saying so, Chen Yu raised his hand and showed off the road map to the camera. “For those who are interested and have the courage, you can line up at this point ahead of time. I will only accept the first thousand participants. Government officials watching the stream, I will leave the planning of this activity to you. You can regard this as an opening ceremony for the maglev train.”
Just by opening his mouth a few times, Chen Yu had created a complicated and heavy task. He had even casually shrugged all responsibilities to the government…
Boom… Boom… Boom…
Amidst the ear-splitting roar, the General Construction Engineering Vehicle finally arrived at its destination.
The location chosen as the vacuum pipeline’s starting point was a spacious construction site found in Changping District. According to the “Green the Capital” plan, a large park was supposed to be constructed here. After today, however, this place would become the first vacuum maglev train station in human history.
Activating the train’s loudspeaker function, Chen Yu shouted at the workers and vehicles outside the train, “I’m going to start digging now! Everyone step away! The further, the better!”
Immediately, the police officers and vehicles hurriedly distanced themselves from the train. They have had enough of the noise produced by the train.
“Dimwit, start the excavation mode.”
“Yes, Chief Conductor. Excavation mode has been activated…”
Boom!
The entire train suddenly shook, and waves of heat started radiating from the vehicle. Like the rising air in summer, the surrounding space distorted.
Immediately afterward, the smooth front of the train folded apart, revealing a gigantic drill bit inside.
Once the conical drill bit was fully exposed, it started unfolding and continuously expanded in size. Eventually, the drill bit became so large that it blocked off the entire windshield.
Swish— Swish, swish, swish…
In the next moment, the drill bit started rotating, its speed growing increasingly faster. At some point, even the sound of air being torn could be heard.
“Do you wish to proceed with the planned route?”
As the electronically synthesized voice played out, a virtual projection displaying two options appeared before Chen Yu.
Yes/No.
“Well, then. Friends, the construction of the maglev train’s vacuum pipeline…”
Pausing momentarily, Chen Yu raised a finger before the camera before quickly pressing down on the “Yes” option.
“Will now begin!”