455: The Sixth is back

Hey! Alright, alright! You pick a state.

Pan Han's face was instantly covered in several lipstick marks, and even some saliva, so he quickly pushed Asiba away.

Ellie giggled on the side; she loved Sister Asiba so much.

Bold in love and hate, full of vitality! She was truly a unique flower in this apocalypse!

I've already chosen. I want to go to Neidameng State, to your north!

That place is sparsely populated, and it has strong winds twice a year, each lasting half a year. What's good about going there?

Pan Han thought she would choose Henei Central, as the climate was slightly better there and the population was much larger.

I want to be above you!

Hmph, Neidameng State, 'the emperor is far away'—you're likely planning to restore the Daughter Country.

Not so. If everything is under your leadership, there is actually no need for the Daughter Country.

Good, granted! When will you take office?

Pan Han felt flattered and asked happily.

Leaving tomorrow.

Asiba didn't hesitate; she could finally rule a territory again.

How many people will you take? How many supplies?

A thousand people is enough. As for supplies, we'll talk about that later. The population there isn't large.

No problem at all.

The two of them then finalized some details, while Ellie listened with great interest on the side.

Soon it was noon, and Old Six returned.

Cheng Xiao called Pan Han, Asiba, and Ellie to the dining room, and also brought in Old Five, Second Sister, Old Wu, and the others.

A large table was completely filled with people.

Everyone hadn't seen Old Six for a long time and missed him dearly, so they all stepped forward to greet him.

Xiao Jiu was still a bit nervous seeing so many important figures and hid behind Old Six, watching everyone.

Seeing this, Cheng Xiao pulled Xiao Jiu to sit beside her, then arranged for Second Sister, Asiba, and Ellie to sit over as well.

The table naturally split into two groups, men in one pile, women in another.

This made Xiao Jiu feel much more relaxed.

Cheng Xiao took out a large box decorated with red packaging, looking very festive.

Sister-in-law, this is a gift from our Commander for you. We left in a hurry last time and didn't have time to give it to you, so here it is now.

Ah! This is so embarrassing...

Xiao Jiu flushed bright red and didn't dare to take it.

It was Old Six who took the lead in standing up and bowing deeply to Pan Han in thanks; Xiao Jiu followed suit, and only then did she accept it.

Pan Han said: "Xiao Jiu, we're all family from now on, no need to be so reserved. Learn from your husband; his shamelessness is quite good."

After he finished, everyone laughed heartily, and the atmosphere became much more harmonious.

Second Sister, Ellie, since Old Six is back today, I must have a few drinks and smoke a few cigarettes.

Pan Han took the opportunity to ask for permission from the two supervisors.

Second Sister smiled and touched Ellie's belly, neither refusing nor agreeing, leaving it entirely up to Ellie.

Do whatever. Anyway, if you don't smoke, others will, it's all secondhand smoke.

Damn! I forgot about you. Then no one is allowed to smoke today; your Commander's wife is pregnant.

Pan Han licked his lips and forcefully suppressed the nicotine craving that had just risen.

Ah???

Hearing the word "pregnant," Old Six and Xiao Jiu were stunned, their minds going blank.

Old Wu, who was next to them, was also dumbfounded; Second Sister had never told him, as the confidentiality order was clearly arranged.

Pregnancy was a huge deal; hearing about it again in the apocalypse, how could they not be excited!

Com... Commander! Is this true?

Old Six asked, stammering.

Commander? Such a big thing, why are you only saying it now?

Old Wu looked at Second Sister and said meaningfully.

Lady Ellie, congratulations!

Xiao Jiu held Ellie's hand, her eyes actually becoming a bit moist.

Actually, it's not set in stone yet. Wait a few days for the check-up to confirm it. But you all need to keep your mouths shut. We'll announce it to everyone after the child is born.

Pan Han tapped the table.

Yes, Commander!

Everyone stood up, chests puffed out, and replied.

Alright, alright, no need to be so formal. Today is Old Six's show. I'll leave it to him now.

Pan Han waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down quickly.

Hey! Commander, this puts me in such an awkward spot. Old Six here has never made a report before.

Just tell us what the situation in Shanlan State is like now.

How should I put it? It's incredibly good.

Oh? How good is it?

Hearing this, Pan Han became interested.

Heh, the remaining people have all submitted! They swear to be loyal to our Dawn Base to the death.

When Old Six reached the exciting part, he took the initiative to pick up a bottle of beer, drank half of it, and continued.

Later, after our base's reinforcements arrived, we first launched a suppression campaign. Anyone who didn't submit was arrested and executed by firing squad.

We did it in three waves, killing seven or eight thousand people, and then no one dared to resist anymore.

In between, we opened the granaries to distribute food; anyone willing to accept Dawn Base's rule received a share per head.

Did we suffer any losses?

Pan Han heard there were three waves of the suppression campaign and worried about too many casualties on their side.

It was alright, less than two hundred casualties. Heh, after those few city lords died, the rest were just ragtag soldiers, completely insignificant. Wherever our army went, it was like a hot knife through butter; it was a total sweep.

After finishing, Old Six drank the remaining half of the bottle.

Listening to Old Six's report, Cheng Xiao felt quite satisfied. She hadn't caught the later part of the suppression and had rushed back to the base.

She didn't expect that in such a short time, thousands of rebels would be killed; it showed that Old Six had some methods.

Xiao Jiu looked at her man with adoration; this bearded guy was shining right now.

Old Six, how much food did you distribute for me?

After the stick, it was time to hear about the carrot. This stuff was all cost, and Pan Han couldn't help but care.

Plus, with the recent Knight Order rebellion, when he went back, if he wanted to get more food, he would only be able to go to the Chief.

Reporting to the Commander. There are 700,000 people left there, and we distributed 10 kilograms of food to each person first, about 7,000 tons.

Old Six answered immediately, and Cheng Xiao nodded; she knew about this.

Dawn Base still had this amount of food.

Is ten kilograms enough?

Pan Han calculated; this amount would be gone in less than a month.

Commander, it's not about being enough or not. They were eating cockroach biscuits before. Any food is good. Besides, if they don't agree, they can get out of Shanlan State and survive on their own; we won't force them to stay.

Also, we are preparing to arrange planting there. We might need the base to support us with some nutrient-rich soil. That way they can become self-sufficient as soon as possible.

Old Six's push-and-pull approach was actually quite decent, and Pan Han nodded in agreement.

This meant he would have to go back and get a large batch, but he didn't need to go through the Knight Order or the Chief for this; he could just go buy it directly.

Pan Han opened the wine and had everyone pour some, and the group drank a few rounds first.

Old Six and the others hadn't drunk for a long time either; after a few rounds, empty bottles were piled up in front of them.

Only then did Pan Han continue to ask: "Old Six, what are you planning to do next?"