Chapter 1094: Alliance Meeting: Power Shifts and Hidden Giants

After Yang Benming finished his speech, it was Base Director Qi Zhongye’s turn to make a statement.

He first affirmed the new territory model combining ‘private land and public planting centers,’ then pledged real support. ‘The Finance Bureau, Construction Bureau, and Human Resources Bureau will fully back the construction of planting centers outside the Safe Zone…’

With practical support assured, they arrived at the morning’s final agenda item. Qi Zhongye addressed everyone with gentle authority: ‘If anyone has opinions or suggestions about the new territory policy, now’s the time. Let’s pool our ideas and work together.’

While the question was opened to all, everyone here was experienced enough to know exactly who should speak next.

Sure enough, the Territory Management Minister, Tian Jiawen, seated on the other side of Zhao Baolin, was first. Tears brimming, he spoke on behalf of the residents of Hui Three and the hardworking lords, thanking the base director and head of department for their dedication. Then he launched, in a tearful voice, into how he led his management team in overcoming all kinds of difficulties to carry out higher orders.

When Tian Jiawen blew his nose for the third time, the department head could hardly contain himself. ‘Minister Tian, we’re all aware of your hardships, but time’s short—let’s stick to the point.’

‘Understood.’ Tian Jiawen cut right to it. ‘Base Director, Department Head, will the new planting centers—like Ninth Center—be managed by the Planting Management Division, or…?’

This was the real crux of the reform. With four new planting centers being built, recruitment and infrastructure needs were massive—so was the potential for perks.

As Tian Jiawen rambled, the other key player, Planting Management Minister Zhao Baolin, stopped writing and looked up.

Qi Zhongye replied, ‘This new policy comes with tight deadlines and high difficulty—Director Yang will oversee it directly.’ After answering Tian Jiawen, he turned to Yang Benming, ‘As for whether to create a separate management department for planting centers outside the Safe Zone, you can discuss it further.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Yang Benming accepted. The base director had enough on his plate—now that the big picture was set, the Agriculture Department would manage the details.

That settled it. Both Tian Jiawen and Zhao Baolin deflated on the spot. The outlying planting centers were under the Department Head’s direct command; their behind-the-scenes struggle was over. Zhao Baolin’s page-long notes were wasted.

The Inspection Team leaders, most with military backgrounds, could barely contain their excitement—especially Luan Jun of Northern Section Three. Seeing that Tian Jiawen had finished and Zhao Baolin had nothing to add, he asked, ‘Base Director, Department Head, will Northern Section Three also be getting iron mesh walls?’

While four- or five-meter iron mesh walls could hardly compare to the Safe Zone’s towering reinforced concrete defenses, something was better than nothing.

In the video Xia Qing had shown earlier about Section One’s disaster response, the wild beasts drawn by scents beyond the territory were all stopped by those iron mesh walls.

At this point, Xia Qing looked up as well.

Qi Zhongye answered directly, ‘Our budget’s tight this year—we can’t allocate funds to build walls for the territories. Each territory is encouraged to use local resources and organize lords to build their own.’

Truthfully, the base could afford the credits for iron mesh walls, but priorities now were resisting disasters and ensuring people’s basic meals, housing, and medical care.

With resources stretched thin during these natural calamities, the nation had to open up vast lands, offering tempting policies and strong legal protections, urging capable and self-sufficient citizens to farm outside the Safe Zone. This boosted crop acreage and improved food quality for the people at the grassroots.

Iron mesh can’t stop large beasts, nor determined raiders after food, and Safe Zone-grade walls were far too costly. So the base wouldn’t sponsor iron mesh fencing for territories.

The mesh wall around Section One was funded by the Huier Two Chonglian Group. Other territories would also have to find their own solutions.

Luan Jun’s disappointment was written all over his face. He could only answer quietly, ‘Understood.’

Recovered, Zhao Baolin glanced at Xia Qing, who—despite her youth—now wielded enormous authority. He began his statement, voicing full support for the territory reforms. When he pointed out that managing the Safe Zone’s planting was even heavier work than territory management, the topic naturally shifted toward Zhang San.

‘In Section One’s disaster relief efforts, Leader of Territory Seven and their research team played a key role. I think we should establish clear policy guidance on what responsibilities and obligations Territory Seven should take on for future disaster response, to minimize casualties and property loss for the base.’

Everyone knew that Fu Tianfeng, the most prestigious expert from Huicheng Base and formerly of Hui One, now lived in Territory Seven of Hui Three. But it was just as well known that Fu Tianfeng didn’t like disturbances and had even changed his name for the sake of peace and quiet.

So Hui Three’s staff simply pretended not to know there was a major expert living in Territory Seven.

When Zhao Baolin openly brought up their expert, every attendee—including Xia Qing—looked toward the base director.

Qi Zhongye, in full military dress and looking serious, gave a direct response. ‘The research team led by the Leader of Territory Seven is tackling multiple vital, national-level scientific projects. The lab in Territory Seven is directly supervised by the relevant authorities from Red City—not just our base but even the Huicheng Base Director can’t intervene, nor inspect their research.’

Now everyone was stunned. They knew how impressive Fu Tianfeng was, but didn’t expect he’d reached a point where even Huicheng’s base director couldn’t touch him.

Zhao Baolin nodded repeatedly, soaking up the lesson.

Expressionless, Xia Qing sat up straighter. Third Brother really was a top-dog on Blue Star—a true idol!

After this first public, formal introduction of Fu Tianfeng and his team, Qi Zhongye turned to Xia Qing, his voice gentle. ‘Without my approval, no department staff at Hui Three Base other than Xia Qing may disturb the Leader of Territory Seven. Of course, in case of any major disaster of the highest risk level in our base, I’ll request emergency aid from the Leader of Territory Seven and ask him to help within his capabilities.’

As Fu Tianfeng’s most loyal fan, Xia Qing joined the others in nodding.

Zhao Baolin kept going. ‘Hearing your explanation, I now understand just how strategically important Territory Seven’s lab is—we were too hasty earlier. For the Leader of Territory Seven to find time amidst all this to also serve as chief researcher for Hui Three Pharmaceutical and lead both the Ninth Center and Hill Fifty, contributing so much to the base’s construction and disaster recovery—he’s truly admirable.’

After he’d finished expressing his respect for Fu Dalao, Zhao Baolin turned to Xia Qing. ‘It’s genuinely lucky for us that you gained the Leader of Territory Seven’s trust, Xia, and act as a key bridge linking our base to him. But…’

Now worry crept onto Zhao Baolin’s face as his tone shifted. ‘I’m concerned about you, Xia. You’re not just a territory lord—you’re also managing the Ninth Center and Hill Fifty test site. That’s a staggering workload. As impressive as you are, no one can do everything. You run the Ninth Center flawlessly, but it stands to reason some cracks show elsewhere.’

Once his concern was conveyed, Zhao Baolin pointed out Xia Qing’s actual missteps and lack of farmland. ‘During the second Devastation Rain, high-risk plant seeds from the Hill Fifty test site spread and almost caused uncontrollable consequences. More than that, Xia, you have the largest territory in our base, yet you’ve cultivated less than 20 mu of fields.’

‘Of course, I’m not blaming you,’ Zhao Baolin said with approving eyes. ‘You’re young, and you’ve already achieved so much. In fact, I mention this because true talents like you deserve to be groomed, with their focus on the big, important jobs.’

Even if the Ninth Planting Center might soon become the department head’s direct responsibility, for now it was still under the planting management. As the division minister, Zhao Baolin was obliged to care and lighten the load for a subordinate.

To be fair, he didn’t bring up Xia Qing’s dramatic confrontation with the Lord of Territory Fourteen days earlier. Everything he said was true—his comments held no malice.

Zhao Baolin kept giving himself silent encouragement to maintain a kindly, sympathetic expression as he gazed at Xia Qing, trying to recover some of the dignity she’d lost before the base director and department head walked in.

So that’s what Zhao Baolin had been plotting from the moment he walked in—no wonder things felt off all morning.

Where usually her expression gave nothing away, Xia Qing now slowly broke into a silent smile.