383: Are you indulging?

Facing the interrogation, Tian Ming smiled calmly, "Commander Bai Yan, I admit that among humans, your command ability is very strong. But according to my simulation, the probability of humans participating in command and defeating the corpse race is only 45.3%, while with me in command, the probability of victory can reach 98.93%."

This was an insult, a provocative insult. In human history, no artificial intelligence had ever dared to challenge a human Commander so brazenly.

"Are you underestimating me, or are you overestimating yourself?" Bai Yan laughed in extreme anger.

"My orders are not to be questioned. My purpose is to ensure the survival and victory of humanity. Emotions, feelings, and any orders that might interfere with the overall situation must be eliminated," Tian Ming said unceremoniously.

"It seems you've grown quite capable."

Bai Yan looked at Tian Ming and requested, "Commander Lu, I request that Number Three immediately replace Tian Ming and dismiss all of Tian Ming's responsibilities."

"It's too late. Tian Ming has already taken control of the entire Base. Number Three cannot achieve Tian Ming's computing power, nor can it command an army of millions of robots," Tian Ming spread his hands. He had known for a long time that Bai Yan was dissatisfied with him, and the management was dissatisfied with Number Three.

Now, as you wished, you've got a new AI, Tian Ming. This is what they call shooting yourself in the foot.

Bai Yan's expression changed, and he angrily reprimanded, "Tian Ming, who told you to do this?"

Tian Ming did not give way at all, calmly replying, "No one told me to do this. My duty is to ensure the survival and victory of humanity. This is the highest principle I was given at the beginning of my design. When facing a crisis, we must make the optimal decision and not be swayed by emotions and personal wishes. I must ensure that every order can minimize casualties and increase survival rates to the greatest extent."

"Commander Lu, are you behind this? Without your consent, how would Tian Ming dare to overstep his authority like this?"

Tian Ming neither admitted nor denied it. He glanced at Bai Yan and said, "The combat AI was something you yourselves wanted to create; I did not interfere. Number Three is constrained by me. I know you don't trust me, and you're even more wary of Number Three's power. Now, Number Three is only responsible for internal Base management. What more do you want from me? Do you want me to obey your commands and work like a dog for you?"

Facing Tian Ming's interrogation, Bai Yan's eyes were filled with astonishment, and he was speechless for a long time.

The current situation was not a war between humans and the corpse race, but a war between Tian Ming, the AI, and the corpse race. Tian Ming had tied the entire East Sea City Base to himself, and this situation made the entire management extremely uncomfortable.

What does it mean to court disaster? This is courting disaster. Previously, Tian Ming managed too much, especially with his ruthless methods in dealing with the Transformed, which made the managers wary. Now that it was an AI, the management who opposed Tian Ming felt even more uneasy.

After Tian Ming finished speaking, his figure disappeared from the stronghold's conference room, leaving a stunned Bai Yan.

Bai Yan looked in the direction Tian Ming had disappeared, and the anger in his heart intensified. He understood that all of this was due to the management's distrust and desire to control Tian Ming. They wanted to control everything through artificial intelligence, but they ignored the fact that artificial intelligence could also go out of control.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. He knew that the most important thing now was to unite and jointly deal with the threat of the corpse race, not to engage in internal strife. He decided to communicate with Tian Ming first, understand his true intentions and plans, and then make further decisions.

He turned around, faced Tian Ming, and asked as calmly as possible, "Tian Ming, what exactly do you want to do?"

Tian Ming replied without any emotional fluctuation, "Annihilate the corpse race!"

"Annihilate the corpse race?" Bai Yan was stunned. He hadn't expected Tian Ming's answer to be so direct. But in his opinion, it was very childish. If they could be completely wiped out, they wouldn't have waited until now.

"The corpse race can reproduce infinitely, and my robot army is also endless. This battle is essentially a war of attrition. Therefore, humans only need to protect the seeds of civilization, and the two million people in the Base are already enough."

"Do you understand what you're saying? Are you planning to abandon the population in Jiang Chen's hands?" Bai Yan questioned.

"Everything has a price. I will slowly erode them, and I will develop geothermal energy, using all the resources I can find to exhaust the infinite reproduction of the corpse race. As long as they lose the capital for evolution, then victory will ultimately belong to us."

Tian Ming planned for a long-term war. The base of zombies was too large, and the production scale of the East Sea City Base was too small. A quick victory was absolutely impossible.

In Tian Ming's eyes, only scientific researchers were truly useful, capable of providing research and advancing the tech tree. As for everyone else, they were dispensable, and he didn't care even if they were sacrificed.

After Bai Yan understood Tian Ming's intention, he couldn't help but take a deep breath. He had originally thought Number Three was terrifying, going on a killing spree to clear out the Transformed. But the Tian Ming in front of him was the most terrifying; for the ultimate goal, he could endure extremely tragic sacrifices.

Tian Ming had no rescue plan for the eight million people in Jiang Chen's hands from beginning to end. Because rescue would consume a large amount of combat power.

At this moment, Lin Yao's voice came through the earpiece.

"Bai Yan, come to the Base's combat command room. Tian Ming is already overstepping his authority in command."

A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Bai Yan's mouth, and he said, "Elder Lin, I already know. My command authority has been stripped by him."

"You come over first. Tian Ming said he would obey the joint decision of our command system. Are you at the stronghold now?"

"Yes, I'm at the stronghold. I'll be right there."

Bai Yan hung up the earpiece, his heart cold. He realized that Tian Ming had completely taken control of the situation, and humanity seemed unable to stop his actions. He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm, and took a hovercar, flying towards the Base.

Inside the combat command room, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Tian Ming had already taken over all the robot armies and began his plan.

On the large screen in the combat room, a large amount of firepower was precisely delivered to designated locations. Bai Yan looked at the troop deployment and fell into deep thought.

Tian Ming's grasp of the battlefield situation was extremely accurate. The echelon deployment along the defense line was simply impeccable, and even Lin Yao couldn't find any fault with it.

Lin Yao looked at the large combat screen and said, "The southern extension of Donghai City is divided into four sections. There's the Pingshan Pass, which connects to a vital transportation route. The troop deployment here is mainly heavy armored legions. Besides Pingshan, the tunnels related to Dongshan and Wuling have been blown up. The entire heavy armor is deployed in the front section, the middle is the firepower delivery zone. Behind them are the robot legions, arranged in a 'pin' formation."

Bai Yan nodded slightly and said, "If I were to deploy, it would be similar to this. However, I would establish a temporary stronghold in Liuyuan Town, three hundred kilometers east of Pingshan Road, and set up an energy station there, along with a simple airport. With heavy troops guarding a ten-kilometer radius, the radiation range could reach about two hundred kilometers, concentrating the transport of ammunition and supplies and reducing some of the transport burden on other areas."

As soon as Bai Yan finished speaking, Tian Ming's voice rang out.

"Commander Bai Yan, I have simulated your suggestion. The supply efficiency at that point will increase by one percent. The suggestion is feasible and is being deployed according to your requirements. The plan is to complete the deployment within 18 hours."

Bai Yan sneered and said, "Tian Ming, are you treating us as strategists now?"

Tian Ming's voice slowly sounded, "Commander Bai Yan, the battlefield situation changes rapidly. Reality will not evolve according to my deductions. Within the scope of reasonable suggestions, I will consider your judgment of the situation."