17: Base Project

First floor lobby of the Government Building

Jiang Xin was speaking quietly to Zhang Long, giving instructions. Hearing footsteps, he looked up. As his gaze landed on the approaching Zhang Lei, he keenly sensed a slight difference. The Zhang Lei before him walked with a steadier and more powerful stride, his eyes were deeper and brighter, and his whole body seemed surrounded by an indescribable aura.

"Brother Lei," Jiang Xin stepped forward to meet him, sizing him up with a tone of certainty and a hint of surprise. "You... feel different. You've gotten stronger? And not just by a little bit."

Zhang Lei nodded, a steady smile appearing on his face. He didn't explain the details of his cultivation too much. "Yeah, I've had some new insights and a deeper understanding of power." His voice also seemed thicker and more powerful.

A flash of relief and reassurance passed through Jiang Xin's eyes, and then he turned serious. "That's good. Brother Lei, I've thought it over. The Lujiang City Economic Development Zone Industrial Park is only a little over a hundred kilometers from our Yongjiang County seat. At the hind's maximum speed, it can make a round trip in an hour." He paused, looking into Zhang Lei's eyes, his tone sincere and firm. "What I mean is, I'll arrange for those two three-star hinds to take our most elite group of soldiers and set out now to accompany you to the Lujiang Urban Area to pick up your parents. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Zhang Lei felt a sudden surge of warmth in his heart. Looking at Jiang Xin's young but already resolute face, he knew this decision meant deploying precious air power and core combat strength, taking no small risk. This friendship was more precious than gold in the apocalypse. His throat moved slightly, and he slapped Jiang Xin heavily on the shoulder, his voice carrying uncontrollable emotion: "Thanks, Brother Jiang! I'll remember this favor!"

Jiang Xin also slapped Zhang Lei's arm hard in return, grinning with the sincerity of a youth. "We're brothers who grew up together; saying that is too formal! Your parents are also elders who watched me grow up. It's only right!"

Currently, there were no soldiers in the team who had been promoted to two-star, but the first group of Red Alert elites who had followed Jiang Xin (including Chen Hao, Li Ang, and Li Wei, who had been promoted to second lieutenant) had the most outstanding strength and the richest combat experience. Jiang Xin quickly called out the names: "Chen Hao, Li Ang, Li Wei, Yang Wen, Lin Yufei, Lieutenant Colonel, Green Giant ability, Wood Element Ability, Shen Nan, Flame Fist, Water Summoner! And you eight!" He again pointed to eight Conscripts whose ranks showed one-star. "Step forward!! Your mission is to accompany Officer Zhang Lei on a helicopter to the Lujiang City Economic Development Zone Industrial Park to carry out a rescue mission! All actions will follow Officer Zhang Lei's command! Understood?"

"Understood! Commander!" The eighteen soldiers called out answered in unison, their voices resonant and powerful, their eyes flashing with the sharpness of elites. They quickly checked their equipment.

Zhang Long, as the highest-ranking officer on the surface (Captain) and the actual core of command (Chief of Staff), needed to stay in County to command the subsequent cleanup and rescue operations, so he was not scheduled to go along.

Jiang Xin personally saw Zhang Lei's group off at the rooftop landing pad. Two three-star reinforced hind attack helicopters sat there quietly like two resting steel beasts. Their streamlined fuselages reflected the morning light, while their heavy armor and menacing weapon racks silently spoke of their immense destructive power. The soldiers boarded quickly.

Jiang Xin watched Zhang Lei board one of the helicopters, feeling inevitably worried. After all, it was the edge of the Lujiang Urban Area with a population of six million; no one knew what dangers were hidden there. But seeing Zhang Lei's steady and confident gaze, seeing those two murderous three-star hinds, and seeing those battle-hardened, sharp-eyed one-star elite soldiers in the cabin, his worry lessened quite a bit. Moreover, Zhang Lei himself was already a powerful First-Tier Evolver, and his Power over Water and Fire was not to be underestimated. (Here, it is confirmed that Lujiang Urban Area has a population of six million.)

"Be careful all the way! Keep communication open! Return as soon as you get them!" Jiang Xin shouted at the closing cabin door.

"Don't worry!" Zhang Lei's voice came through the rising roar of the rotors, and he waved his hand vigorously.

The massive rotors began to accelerate, whipping up a strong airflow that made Jiang Xin's clothes flutter loudly. The two hinds slowly rose into the air, adjusted their direction, and sped off toward the northeast in the direction of the Lujiang Urban Area like arrows released from a bow, soon turning into two small black dots and disappearing on the horizon.

Jiang Xin watched them disappear, took a deep breath, and turned to order Zhang Long behind him: "Zhang Long, command the troops to act according to plan! Thoroughly clear the zombies in the Administrative Office Cluster Area, collect all valuable items and gold and silver! At the same time, go all out to search for and rescue survivors!"

"Yes! Commander!" Zhang Long stood at attention and saluted, his gaze resolute.

After arranging these matters, Jiang Xin returned to a relatively quiet office. He needed to make more detailed plans for the next step. The speed of zombie evolution had sounded an alarm for him (the Licker from last night was proof); he had to establish a stable base as soon as possible to give full play to the real advantages of the red alert system—mass-producing troops and climbing the tech tree!

He spread out a slightly rough map of Yongjiang County and its surroundings, picked up a pencil, drew heavy circles around three key locations, and wrote down the names next to them:

1. Lujiang City Economic Development Zone Industrial Park: (The pencil tapped this spot repeatedly) Only 10 kilometers from the center of Lujiang City! If a base is built here, it can strike directly into the heart of the city! The city is full of jewelry stores and numerous banks; if we can take it, our funds will surely grow exponentially! But... (Jiang Xin's brow furrowed deeply) A vast ocean of six million zombies! The evolved zombies hidden among them, and even the possible existence of other human forces, are all huge variables and risks. It's like a lethal poison wrapped in honey—alluring but extremely dangerous.

2. Tengqiao Town Silver Mine: (The pencil drew a solid circle here) A silver mine in a township under Yongjiang County. This is a foundation for steady growth! Although it doesn't bring in money as fast as jewelry stores, it wins on stability and sustainability. Occupying it means having a continuous "blood-making" capability without always having to risk lives to scavenge. But the disadvantages are also obvious: the location is relatively remote. Although the initial defensive pressure is small, the development speed will be limited, and it's far from densely populated areas, making it inconvenient to rescue survivors and collect urban resources.

3. Yongjiang County Ancient City Scenic Area: (The pencil drew a square here, representing the city walls) It covers an area of 400,000 square meters! The biggest advantage: existing city walls and a large number of ancient buildings! (Jiang Xin's finger tapped hard on the outline of the ancient city on the map) This could save a massive amount of funds for building walls! The tall city walls themselves are an insurmountable barrier, and the streets and courtyards inside can be converted into ready-made barracks, warehouses, and even small factories with a little modification. Relying on the ancient city for defense, one can attack or retreat; it's an excellent foothold. Moreover, it's located within Yongjiang County. After clearing the administrative office cluster, we can gradually digest the resources of the entire County seat.

Jiang Xin leaned back in his chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table, his gaze shifting repeatedly between the three locations. The temptation of the industrial park was huge, but the risk was high enough to make his heart skip a beat; the silver mine was stable but seemed too conservative, potentially missing the golden time for early development; the ancient city scenic area... He focused his gaze on that square again.

"Eat one bite at a time..." Jiang Xin whispered to himself, his gaze gradually becoming firm. "Plunging directly into the Lujiang Urban Area is too risky. The troops on hand are still too few. I need at least two to three thousand elite troops, equipped with enough heavy equipment and air power, to be qualified to touch that sea of six million corpses."

He picked up the pencil and drew a large, firm checkmark over "Yongjiang County Ancient City Scenic Area."

"I'll use this place as a springboard first!" Jiang Xin stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction of the ancient city, the fire of ambition burning in his eyes. "Integrate the resources of County, mass-produce troops! Climb the tech tree! Once my wings are full, I'll plot for that big piece of fat meat that is the Lujiang Urban Area!"