Chapter 122: Cangzhou Survivor Zone (3) Reflections

"Don't even think about reaping the rewards of our hard work!" Director Cai declared bluntly.

He slammed his hand onto the table. Being a martial artist himself, and with his strength significantly increased since the apocalypse, the force of his strike sent dust billowing out from the seams of the table—a piece of furniture polished so well it could have served as a mirror.

The other directors nodded in succession, clamoring over one another: "Damn it, when we were fighting those walking corpses, all you lot could say was 'hold on, hold on.' You talk big, but you've never done a lick of real work!"

The two sides remained at an impasse; the entire morning passed without any progress.

At noon, Ma Xiaoshuai and Ye Liusun held a video conference with the Special Committee from the armored train. In their room, a laptop sat on the table. Li Fengyi, Division Commander Liu, and several members of the General Staff were present. Li Qiang, who had led his team north to the Northeast, also joined the remote meeting from his own command post.

Everyone felt that this region was densely populated, but the gang dynamics were far too complex. Resorting to force was clearly out of the question; if they failed to provide timely relief, and then descended into infighting, they would lose the support of the people entirely.

Li Fengyi, still carrying the psychological scars of the past, was especially adamant in his opposition to using force. He feared being purged by the state's orthodox leadership one day and dared not open that door.

"I’ll say this first: the blood of the Chinese people must not be shed by the hands of other Chinese," he insisted. "Strictly speaking, these people fall into the category of national heroes; they have saved many lives... Once we start a fight, none of us can bear the responsibility."

"I will stay here. Send me a platoon of soldiers," Ye Liusun said, refusing to be discouraged. He felt this situation was a classic case for a united front strategy. "You all continue to search to the south."

Li Fengyi appreciated Ye Liusun’s proactive attitude but remained concerned for his safety. "A platoon is too few, isn't it? Stay with more to ensure your safety."

"Chairman Li," Ye Liusun said with the detachment of one who has seen it all, "they are all martial artists. How many men would I need to guarantee safety? It is better to keep only a platoon to show that we have nothing to hide. We can also leave a small number of staff from the relevant functional departments."

Ma Xiaoshuai led his team further south. The Special Committee hoped he could travel along the Beijing-Shanghai line toward Yanzhou and Zoucheng, as everyone knew that was Li Fengyi's hometown.

After meeting with Director-General Cai, Ye Liusun mentioned his hope to set up an office at this vital hub of the Beijing-Shanghai Railway to receive refugees. He declared that the Special Committee was willing to pay rent.

Director-General Cai readily agreed, thumping his chest. "Those who practice martial arts must have martial virtue. We should help one another. We’ll give you a building to use for free."

He handed over the Huiyuan Hotel, where the two sides had met, to the Special Committee. He then brought up the various difficulties the people of Cangzhou were facing.

Ye Liusun responded gracefully, stating that the Special Committee was willing to offer its full support, as every Chinese person was someone the Committee aimed to help. Furthermore, the Committee’s various departments—Party, government, labor unions, and women’s associations—needed to provide targeted relief to the ordinary civilian members of the community.

This request sparked a heated debate within the Martial Arts Association's board. Most felt this was an attempt to infiltrate their ranks and gain a foothold, which was unacceptable. However, they were also reluctant to refuse, as the supplies provided by the Special Committee were of excellent quality.

At the invitation of Director-General Cai, Ye Liusun had the opportunity to attend the board discussion.

Inside the Cangzhou Martial Arts Hall, rows of tables were packed tightly together. Ye Liusun found the scene strangely familiar. After a moment of reflection, he realized it looked just like the "Hall of Loyalty and Righteousness" from the television adaptations of *Water Margin*—though he had no idea how these "heroes" of the board decided their seating order.

Ye Liusun didn't know how to address them. Calling them "brothers" felt too intimate and might undermine his image; calling them "comrades"—well, let's just avoid that word for now; calling them "gentlemen" didn't fit the martial artists rolling up their sleeves; and calling them "fellow villagers" sounded like the arrival of an occupying army.

He simply nodded to everyone and began to lay out his ideas.

"We cannot agree!" a short, stocky man roared. His hands were covered in thick calluses, a testament to his martial prowess. In his excitement, he slammed his palm down, prompting someone nearby to quickly use a grappling technique to intercept him, pleading, "Brother, brother, you’ve already smashed three tables!"

The public outcry was so intense that Ye Liusun dared not push the matter; he was worried that a single security platoon wouldn't be enough to serve as a snack for any one of the directors.

Although the proposal for departmental cooperation was rejected, the Special Committee did not stop its relief efforts. Their goal was not to win an argument, but to help the people.

Their movements in Cangzhou were not restricted. Members of the Special Committee, dressed in plate armor, wandered around the city in small groups.

On September 16, 2015, Ye Liusun walked the streets with two security guards. Given the concerns everyone had about safety, Ye Liusun asked, "In this place, how many people would it take to actually ensure safety?"

Everyone remained silent. It didn't matter how many people they brought; in a world of martial arts, it wouldn't be enough to make a difference. It was better to be generous and maintain appearances.

They walked south along Railway West Street and then turned west onto Jiefang East Road. Along the way, they saw the people of post-apocalyptic Cangzhou practicing their martial arts in open spaces, with cheers erupting periodically from the crowds.

He watched the people happily strolling through the streets and parks, seeing groups of agile individuals practicing their arts. Their faces were full of confidence; they might not have been glowing with health, but at the very least, they were well-fed and clothed.

Ye Liusun, a United Front Minister with a background in public relations, turned the characteristics of the Special Committee and the Cangzhou Martial Arts Association over in his mind, looking for common ground. If he could find an entry point, the work would become much easier.

He began to wonder what essential supplies they might need—that would be their pressure point.

"Food? Before the apocalypse, they used preservatives so effectively that things would last a year or two. Clothing? They have enough. Safety? They're probably more worried about zombies, and with nearly a million blades at their disposal..."

"They aren't lacking any necessities. They mainly need things that are fragile and have a short shelf life: sanitary pads, vegetables, medicine, and the like. They have grain reserves, and for meat, they rely mostly on fresh game from hunting... Alright, what is it that we are lacking?" Ye Liusun paced the street with his hands behind his back, looking like a veteran official of the eighteenth rank.

"Oil? Commander-in-Chief Li has taken the main force to the Northeast. The Jidong Oilfield and others there have abundant reserves, and there's a survivor base there too. They aren't lacking... Grain? Beijing has always been a key focus for state reserves, and the autumn plowing has already begun. They aren't lacking..."

"How can there be a self-sufficient economic circle? If it were just small-scale farming, I’d understand, but they are clearly enjoying the remnants of modern material conditions... Sigh, too many people died in the apocalypse. When the resources intended for the majority are enjoyed by a minority, absolute material surplus is inevitable."