Blue Army

"That was the most glorious era of our Human Civilization. Back then, Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology had been achieved, genetic editing had been mastered, and even a base on Mars had been built. Everyone believed that the best age in Human Civilization's history was about to arrive. But no one had expected it to be the beginning of all suffering."

In a cramped courtyard in the Vegetable Market District, beneath dim lights, Shen the Butcher, his face covered in flesh, spoke with a gloomy expression and a heavy tone.

Across from him, Han Yang was concentrating on the rich, fatty sliced pig head meat before him.

The braised pig head meat was fragrant and delicious. After being sliced and mixed with soy sauce and chili oil, it tasted indescribably good—especially to Han Yang, who had not eaten meat in half a month.

Shen the Butcher had brought the pig head meat. He had brought the liquor too. Yet Shen the Butcher seemed to have no appetite. He just kept talking, while Han Yang wolfed down the food and occasionally nodded and murmured agreement to show that he was listening and shared his opinion.

"Who could have imagined that practical Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology would be the standard for determining whether a civilization had entered the interstellar age? And once a civilization entered the interstellar age, it became qualified to join the Milky Way Intelligent Life Alliance."

A trace of sorrow appeared on Shen the Butcher's face. "Qualified. Only qualified. It looked like joining was entirely voluntary, right? But did they really give us a choice?"

Shen the Butcher picked up his chopsticks, intending to take a piece of meat. But seeing Han Yang devouring it, he set them down again and merely drank a cup of liquor.

"You were still young then, so you probably don't remember. Back then, the newly formed Human Space Force had four hundred warships wiped out by a single warship from the Ita Civilization. The Human Civilization United Government dissolved. The Ita Civilization intervened, claiming it would help us establish an interstellar government. And so, the Earth Government was founded..."

"Mm-hm."

Han Yang hurriedly swallowed the meat in his mouth and squeezed in a reply to show he was listening. "I only remember that there were celebrations all over the world back then, celebrating the founding of the Earth Government and Human Civilization joining the Milky Way Intelligent Civilization Family..."

Shen the Butcher's expression grew even sadder. "But did our lives really get better and better, as the Ita claimed they would?"

Bang! Crack!

Gunfire suddenly rang out beneath the silent night sky. Faint screams, furious shouts, and chaotic footsteps followed.

This was normal at night in the Vegetable Market District. Gang conflicts broke out almost every night. Han Yang and Shen the Butcher had long since stopped finding it strange.

"Before we joined the Silver Union, public safety here was much better. Where were all these gangs back then? Children could go to school, young people could find work, and the elderly were cared for. What did the Ita Civilization bring us? Scientific stagnation, plundered resources, and children who could not even afford school. Billions struggled in poverty, while only a small group of Ita lackeys grew fat."

"Mm-hm. I'm poor too."

Han Yang nodded repeatedly.

Shen the Butcher's tone suddenly became impassioned. "That's why we must resist! We must drive out the Ita and restore Human Civilization's independence and self-determination. Only then can our civilization rise again, and only then can everyone live a good life!"

"Right, right."

"So, Han Yang, join us!"

Shen the Butcher looked at Han Yang with burning eagerness.

Han Yang had just finished the last piece of pig head meat. He regretfully set down his chopsticks, then shook his head decisively. "No."

Shen the Butcher froze, utterly stunned. "You're not even going to ask who we are?"

"Aren't you the Blue Army? The television reports on you every day. A cruel terrorist organization, the source of all evil, guilty of every crime..."

"That's all slander!" Shen the Butcher was furious. "We have been fighting for Human Civilization's independence and self-determination! By the way, how did you know I was with the Blue Army?"

Han Yang snorted. "If you weren't with the Blue Army, would you keep bringing me liquor and meat, trying to get close to me, and talking all day about how terrible things are now and how glorious the past was?"

"Han Yang, I've observed you for a long time. You don't steal or rob, cheat or swindle, or join gangs. Every day, you honestly go to work and earn a living. Sometimes, you even help others. You have the potential to become a true warrior. That's why I told you my identity."

"Join the Blue Army. We can become comrades and fight together for the future of our civilization, so that our descendants will no longer suffer oppression from the Ita and their lackeys."

"No."

Han Yang's refusal was just as decisive.

A low rumble suddenly came from the sky. It approached from afar, rising higher and higher before abruptly dropping again at its peak.

Han Yang looked up and saw a flying car streak across the night sky outside, trailing a long plume of flame.

In recent years, the wealthy people of Da Jiang City—especially the idle children of the rich—had somehow started a trend of racing Flying Cars, particularly in crowded places after dark.

The city was packed with towering buildings and flying cars, making it unsuitable for racing. But the outskirts, slums like the Vegetable Market District and Bridge Hole District, were densely populated, had fewer flying cars, and lacked tall buildings. They had become holy grounds for flying car racing.

When racing, the rich also liked to deliberately fly low and use the noise to torment the poor.

At first, people awakened from their sleep would curse at the sky. But after realizing it had no effect, they simply resigned themselves to it.

"Those little bastards." Shen the Butcher cursed toward the window, then looked back at Han Yang. "Why?"

Han Yang only shook his head without speaking.

Shen the Butcher looked at Han Yang as though he hated to see him squander his potential. After a moment of silence, he took a book from his clothes and handed it over. "Read it when you have time."

Han Yang glanced at it and saw the words "Human History" on the cover. He did not dare look at the rest. As if it had burned his hand, he hurriedly pushed it back. "That's a banned book. I wouldn't dare keep it. Brother Shen, take it back."

Seeing Han Yang's firm attitude, Shen the Butcher had no choice but to put the book away. Before leaving, he gave Han Yang another look. "I'll come again."

Han Yang perked up. "Be careful on the way. Things haven't been peaceful lately."

Shen the Butcher sneered and patted the butcher's knife at his waist. "When have things ever been peaceful? I'm leaving."

Shen the Butcher left. Han Yang carefully locked the door, returned to the room, turned off the light, and stared blankly out the window.

In the distant city, the neon lights of towering buildings still glittered. At the city center, the Space Elevator built by the Ita stood like a colossal pillar holding up the heavens. Flying Cars passed through the sky from time to time, flying so low that Han Yang could almost hear the arrogant laughter of the rich inside.

"This damned world."

Han Yang muttered.

He knew Shen the Butcher had spoken the truth. The root cause of Human Civilization's suffering truly was the Ita Civilization. Only by driving out the Ita Civilization could Human Civilization truly stand tall again.

But...

The Blue Army's path would not work. Han Yang greatly admired the Blue Army's fighters, but he would never join them himself.

He intended to take another path.

For the past two years, Han Yang had kept a secret he did not dare tell anyone.

There was an abacus inside his head, the kind ancient people used for accounting.

His consciousness, his senses, could clearly feel the existence of that abacus.

Two years ago, Han Yang had bought a batch of small toys to sell from a street stall and earn enough to support himself. After assembling one toy abacus, it had suddenly vanished and entered his mind.

Over the past two years, Han Yang had experimented repeatedly and finally figured out the abacus's purpose, as well as its potential.

Any computational device he made with his own hands would enter his mind and provide him with computing power equivalent to its performance.

Just like this abacus, which had greatly enhanced his mathematical ability. Problems that ordinary people would need half a day to calculate could be solved by Han Yang in an instant.

An abacus was only the most primitive type of computational aid. In the modern world, humanity had more advanced tools for calculation: computer chips.

For the past two years, Han Yang had been teaching himself mathematics, physics, mechanical processing, circuitry, and computer science. He had also been saving money, preparing to build a CPU with his own hands.

As long as one understood the principles behind some early computer chips, it was not actually difficult to make them by hand using the simple tools available in the modern world.

There were even videos online of people making computer chips by hand. Of course, there was no need to mention the performance of those handmade chips. If one could run Snake on one, that was already incredible.

But... no matter how poor its performance was, processing tens of thousands of calculations per second should be easy, right? At the very least, it would be far more powerful than an abacus.

As long as Han Yang built a computing chip with his own hands, he would gain computing power equivalent to that chip's, achieving a certain fusion of human brain and computer. He would possess both the abilities of the human brain and those of a computer.

If I could possess the computing power of a supercomputer while retaining the judgment, decisiveness, imagination, and creativity of a human brain, wouldn't I be able to operate an enormous factory by myself?

No, not just that. Maybe I could control an entire industrial system by myself. Maybe I could even advance science alone, build advanced interstellar warships alone, and even command an enormous Interstellar Fleet...

If that were the case... wouldn't I have the power to fight the Ita Civilization and liberate all humanity?

Han Yang had now finished teaching himself all the prerequisite knowledge needed to make computer chips by hand. His next step was to purchase the necessary materials and truly begin making one.

But...

Han Yang looked at the rundown brick-and-tile house he lived in, the dim light bulb, the creaking wooden bed, and the few pieces of worn-out furniture. He sighed. "No money. I can't afford the materials..."

If you don't believe a person can build a CPU by hand, search Bilibili for the video "Purely Handmade CPU." The creator manually made a CPU using circuit boards, capacitors, resistors, cables, and other materials...

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