77: Chapter 77 Discussing emergency plans

"Xiao Lin, how is the construction of the power research module in the base coming along?" Oriental Chen asked.

"The power research module was completed three days ago. We are currently building the aircraft production module," Xiao Lin reported.

"Good."

The power research module can produce small batches of aviation engines.

The aircraft production module only needs to be completed around the same time as the Space Station's quantum communication module, because aircraft require the assistance of the quantum communication module to achieve ground cruising.

Once the aircraft are manufactured, the business of the Chamber of Commerce and the Mercenary Guild will no longer be limited by region, and can be developed in great strides.

Jingdu, Council Building.

January 15, 2055.

"Councilors, you have all reviewed the emergency plan draft. Please express your opinions on any areas that need to be supplemented or adjusted," the Speaker said.

"Your Excellency, Speaker, further decentralizing power to local areas is actually a disguised form of regional autonomy. While this method can enhance the mobility of each Settlement, it also carries the risk of situations where they do not comply with the Council's management. To put it bluntly, if a few individual bases declare independence and others follow suit, our Huaguo might end up fragmented," said Suo Tonghua, Commander of the Northeast Military Region.

"This problem will certainly arise. But conversely, what if we don't decentralize power? Everyone relies on the Council's aid. Can you provide enough aid? Do you have that capability?" said Zongzheng Yue, Commander of the Southeast Military Region.

"Zong Si Yan, what did you say?" Suo Tonghua asked angrily.

"Don't think I don't know your little schemes. You've had too much milk; you can't leave your mother!" Zongzheng Yue scoffed.

"Bullshit! When it comes to sucking milk, who can compare to you? In half a year, how many times did you retreat north? How much territory did you abandon? Can anyone be more cowardly than you?" Suo Tonghua retorted.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The Speaker struck the gavel.

"Alright, what's all the fuss about! We're discussing the emergency plan now, not your bickering time."

The two glared at each other and sat down.

"Councilor Suo's words are not without reason. If the Council loses control over local areas, the consequences would indeed be very serious," said He Jinghui of the Security Department.

"This issue is inherently dialectical. Trying to grasp everything at once will leave nothing. I believe that regional autonomy does more good than harm. People must first survive, and then they can seek development. If there's no one left in the local areas, who will we manage? In my opinion, the essence of managing local areas is managing the people in those areas. Protecting people is protecting the land. Let everyone survive, and then seek a unified method of management. You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time," said Wu Shengrong of the Land Administration Department.

The Councilors nodded one after another.

"Does anyone else have any other questions then?" The Speaker, seeing that everyone agreed, continued to ask.

"Councilor Yao, I would like to know, what is the feasibility of growing food in a completely artificial environment? Have any related experiments been conducted?" asked Lu Yuanhang of the Water Administration Department.

Councilor Yao, Yao Wenkang, is the Director of the Agriculture Department.

"Regarding crop cultivation technology in a completely artificial environment, our Agriculture Department has cooperated with the Aerospace Department on similar projects. Councilor Liu has the most say in this area," Yao Wenkang said.

"That's right. Over the past decade, the Aerospace Department has conducted 24 crop cultivation-related experiments in space, including various stages such as sowing, grafting, artificial pollination, and breeding. The experimental results have been quite successful. If cultivated in an underground base, the effect should be even better than in space. However, all of this is just speculation, as due to time constraints, no related experiments have been conducted in an underground environment," replied Liu Feiying of the Military Political Department.

"I believe that to be on the safe side, it is necessary for us to conduct thorough experiments on key systems that people rely on for survival, such as the air circulation system, microorganism detection system, agricultural system, and water circulation system, to ensure foolproof results," suggested Lu Yuanhang of the Water Administration Department.

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

The Councilors expressed their agreement one after another.

"Then this matter will be led by the Military Political Department, with multi-departmental power coordination, to initiate relevant tests as soon as possible," the Speaker said.

"Yes!" replied Liu Feiying, Director of the Military Political Department.

"Good, next agenda item."

"Regarding the power issue, I have some questions I'd like to ask Councilor He Jinghui," said Director Tian Huamao, Director of the Energy Department.

"Oh? Please speak," said He Jinghui, Director of the Security Department.

"What is the authenticity of this geothermal power plant construction plan sent back from abroad?" Director Tian Huamao asked.

The geothermal power plant construction plan they were referring to was actually the plan used when Xiao Lin originally commissioned the foreign joint construction team to build the Antarctic Supercomputing Center. After obtaining the relevant information, the Security Department's foreign intelligence personnel secretly sent it back to China. In reality, no country had imposed any related blockades against Huaguo, because they all believed that this technology had originated from Huaguo.

"According to relevant intelligence, in mid-last year, a joint expedition and construction team composed of multiple countries successfully built the world's first geothermal power station in Antarctica. The plan used is precisely the one we have in our hands," replied He Jinghui, Director of the Security Department.