198: Wartime Management

Along the way, they passed through a vast open area where all the Train cars were completely connected horizontally.

The open area was nearly a hundred meters wide, several hundred meters long, and a full 8 meters high, roughly formed by the fusion of over a hundred Train cars.

At this moment, countless people were moving about inside; some were drinking tea, some were strolling, and others were watering flowers and plants, all looking leisurely.

If not for the windows at the end, which still offered a view of space, and the ceiling entirely covered in daylight lamps, Hou Jun and the other man would have thought they were back on Blue Star.

"Captain Hou, what do you think of our place here?" Li Feng, the soldier leading the way, asked with a hint of pride, observing their surprised expressions.

"Good! Very good! It somewhat exceeded my expectations! If not for space all around, I would have thought I was back on Blue Star," Hou Jun said, retracting his gaze and nodding in amazement.

"All of this is thanks to the great leadership of Chief Xia Liang. Under Chief Xia's correct guidance, I can say that the living conditions on our Train are absolutely the best among all Trains on Blue Star!" Li Feng's eyes were filled with admiration.

Hou Jun was noncommittal about his claim of "the best." Although he had only caught a quick glimpse at Luo Chen's place last time, the women around Luo Chen were all glowing with health, indicating much better living conditions than here.

While these people appeared leisurely, they were all sallow and emaciated, likely in a state where they weren't starving but also not fully fed.

However, it was quite remarkable to be able to feed so many people. Luo Chen's approach was small and refined; it might not necessarily work in a situation involving tens of thousands of people.

He genuinely admired Xia Liang's management; he admitted he couldn't manage tens of thousands of people as well as him.

Hou Jun was curious about the management model and wanted to learn from it, to see if he could apply it to his own Train.

He asked, "They just wander around like this; don't they have to do anything? If they eat and drink for free, can your food supply last?"

Li Feng shook his head and explained, "Our Train implements a unified work-hour system. Everyone works eight hours a day, and once their work hours are met, they can rest. These work hours are deeply tied to food and living supplies during normal times, and they have completed their required hours."

Hou Jun's eyes lit up. This method could indeed motivate work enthusiasm while also being compulsory.

"Aren't you afraid of corruption or slacking off?"

"Of course there is. Look over there," Li Feng said, pointing to a spot in the distance surrounded by a crowd of people.

Hou Jun curiously looked over, and through gaps in the crowd, he saw a naked middle-aged man standing in a cage in the center of the crowd.

The crowd outside was constantly poking his body with BBQ skewers, and the man's body was covered in blood, occasionally letting out painful wails.

Some even used the skewers to poke certain private parts, a sight too gruesome to behold.

"What's he doing?" Hou Jun shivered, feeling a phantom pain.

Li Feng snorted coldly, saying disdainfully, "Hmph! He still wanted to play the same old tricks from Blue Star, using his power to give special treatment to his mistress. But he seems to have misjudged the current situation; it's a wartime state now, and everything is for the collective good.

After he was reported, the enforcement department immediately opened an investigation, and once the investigation proved true, they arrested him.

Now he is receiving punishment from the collective. When we reach the next stop, if he's still alive, Chief Xia will expel him from the Train."

Hou Jun pursed his lips upon hearing this. Xia Liang's methods were even tougher than his father's.

Arriving at the entrance of the conference room, he had witnessed quite a bit more. Hou Jun couldn't help but marvel that Xia Liang was much stronger than his father.

Knock knock knock!

Li Feng stopped at the door and knocked hard on it.

"Come in!"

A muffled voice immediately came from inside.

"Captain Hou, please!" Li Feng gestured for Hou Jun to enter, while he remained standing at the door, showing no intention of going in.

"Everyone, let's stop here for now. The matter of hydroponic cultivation must be resolved as soon as possible; the food problem for tens of thousands of people cannot be ignored.

During this period, if anyone shows signs of dereliction of duty, they will be directly detained and dealt with. This is not like Blue Star, where some minor issues could be tolerated. Now it's a matter of life and death, and no one can relax."

Xia Liang finished speaking coldly, then looked at Hou Jun and immediately smiled, calling out, "Hey, Hou Jun is here, quick, sit, sit, sit."

"Chief!" Hou Jun glanced at the people seated in chairs and slowly walked forward.

"Remember, all policies I've mentioned must be strictly enforced, otherwise you'll end up being eliminated like other Trains! Alright! You can all leave now!" Xia Liang waved his hand, then slowly sat down.

After everyone had left, Xia Liang pointed to the chair next to him and said again, "Sit down, don't be shy."

Hou Jun nodded and sat down.