The large multi-functional autonomous robot designed by Weir, although derived from Perfikot’s large engineering autonomous robot, if the two were placed together, one could immediately notice the difference.
To draw an analogy, one looks like a pragmatic craftsman with many tools, while the other resembles a shrewd and capable courier.
Although named multifunctional, the essence of the autonomous robot designed by Weir is to transport goods.
The reason it is called a multifunctional autonomous robot is mainly because it can autonomously clear, maintain, and repair roads and railways, while also possessing certain combat functions, able to be linked or fitted with specialized containers, etc...
Though most functions are transportation-oriented, that does not prevent it from being dubbed as multifunctional.
After these robots were made by Weir, they quickly began transporting supplies to settlements around Chernobyl, centered on Chernobyl itself, following pre-programmed maps.
Meanwhile, Perfikot started producing her own designed track vehicles in the industrial hub Pripyat, and began constructing a transportation logistics network in the Northern Territory centered around multifunctional robots and track vehicles.
However, Perfikot’s main focus was on the mass production of multifunctional robots and track vehicles, as well as the promotion of standard shipping containers.
Within this, what Perfikot cares most about is the promotion of standard shipping containers.
It sounds strange, why doesn’t Perfikot focus on the mass production of robots and track vehicles but pays more attention to a container?
This is understandable because it means standardization.
Promoting standard-sized shipping containers means unifying the size of all transport vehicles and cargo containers, thus gaining crucial bargaining power over ports and terminals.
As with the smuggling issues previously investigated by Perfikot, although she has the deciding power over life and death in the Northern Territory, this does not mean there are no people opposing her in private or completely obeying her orders.
But once the standard shipping containers are introduced, those forces, if they wish to continue using the logistics system of the Northern Territory, must upgrade their containers and vehicles, otherwise, Perfikot could easily shut them down with a single sentence: not meeting the standard size, unable to load and transport.
You can continue using your own standard, but that also means you cannot connect to the entire Northern Territory’s freight logistics and market.
This is akin to countries in the original world that control the authority of setting standards in international trade, often using "your products do not meet XX standard" as an excuse to sanction and suppress those countries without such influence.
Mastering the voice in setting standards also means forcing others to abide by your rules, enhancing one’s credibility.
It’s like a person whose words are always heeded by others; over time, everyone naturally develops the habit of listening to him, even if initially he used various means to make them follow his words.
Perfikot does not need to employ various means, as she is the Lord of the North, and her words in the Northern Territory are law, which everyone must obey.
However, even with laws, many people are unwilling to comply, so Perfikot needs to establish sufficient authority to instill the rules and laws of the Northern Territory deeper into people’s hearts.
She does not want anyone with ulterior motives at this critical juncture when the Empire is essentially ready to announce the news of the apocalyptic winter.
While she can continue to suppress everything with an iron fist, she must also consider the psychological pressure a bloody massacre would bring on the populace.
In the apocalypse, people’s psyche is already fragile, and constant high-pressure rule would push them to the brink of collapse.
Heavy punishment is right in times of chaos, but it doesn’t mean you should see everything as a nail just because you have a hammer, hammering it down.
Perfikot can eliminate all those who oppose her, but she can also win over those who are neutral or undecided through various means, rather than simply killing them.
Though it might seem satisfying to deal with it that way, it would push some who might have supported her to the opposite side.
Therefore, this time Perfikot uncharacteristically adopts relatively softer measures to address these issues.
Of course, if anyone truly doesn’t get it, she won’t tolerate these individuals, as the sword of the Northern Territory is always sharp.
Moreover, the promotion of standard containers has the added benefit of greatly improving freight efficiency and saving costs, which is of significant practical importance in future apocalyptic winter projects and various aspects.
In this era, the concept of freight logistics is virtually nonexistent, and material transport apart from trains and ships is done using the most primitive horse carriages.
As for the Flying Airship and steam cars invented by Perfikot, these have not yet been widely promoted in the Empire; while there is a certain market scale for airship transportation, it is not mainstream.
Moreover, the cost of airship transportation is too high for the current Empire.
Typically, airships are used only for transporting urgently needed or highly valuable goods, rather than being used purely as transport vehicles.
This is somewhat similar to airplanes in the old world; air transportation is indeed swift, but costly, while rail and sea transport are much cheaper by comparison.
And road transport, which is ubiquitous in the old world, is not prevalent here as automobiles have not yet been widely promoted.
What Perfikot is doing now is precisely promoting and popularizing road transportation, a more convenient and suitable method for small-scale logistics, while also advancing the rules of standard containers, thereby firmly holding the upper hand.
She does not wish to see these vital economic lifelines controlled by certain capitalist forces, as that would have countless disadvantages and no benefits for the future of the Northern Territory. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽
Despite being the Lord of the Northern Territory, with the power over the military and the law, easily manipulating those capitalist forces, she cannot possibly kill everyone, can she?
Things always require people to do them, and once the apocalyptic winter sets in, getting people to work won’t be like it is now.
Under the apocalyptic winter, human resources will become relatively scarce, and capable people are always in short supply, whenever it may be; Perfikot does not wish to conduct a major purge in this kind of time.
In summary, the large multifunctional autonomous robots and steam track vehicles, together with standard shipping containers, form the last new policy rolled out by the Northern Territory before winter arrives.