Chapter 201 - 139: Food Problem, Return to State Capital Jin City
Chapter 201: Chapter 139: Food Problem, Return to State Capital Jin City
Especially the Tier Two Zerg Race, which were in extremely high demand.
Those rich and powerful figures, in order to maintain their status and authority, were willing to trade tens of thousands of tons of grain—or even meat—with the Zerg Hunters on the front lines for a chance at a Tier Two Awakening.
And this played right into Lin Feng’s hands.
After all, the difficulty of capturing a live Tier Two Zerg was dozens of times greater than that of a Black Spine Zerg.
Furthermore, figuring out how to transport them safely back to the rear safe zones, a trek of over a thousand kilometers, would be an even greater challenge.
Their massive bodies, over ten meters long, were even harder to conceal.
However, while live Zergs were difficult to transport, the completely harmless Tier Two Zerg Eggs in Lin Feng’s hands could be easily shipped to the rear.
Moreover, the Physical Enhancement effect from the Organic Nutrient Liquid within the Tier Two Zerg Eggs could also be traded for substantial benefits.
There was no issue on Lin Feng’s end, but the crucial problem now lay with Hu Fei.
How to transport tons of grain to the front lines had become the primary challenge.
The real cost of grain was in the transportation.
It was bulky and couldn’t be compressed.
This made grain a prime example of a bulk commodity.
In the past, powerful transportation networks like railways and shipping allowed for low-cost, long-distance delivery.
But this was the apocalypse.
With the Battle for the Capital imminent and the rear focused on rebuilding its heavy industry, fuel like petroleum, which the Federation already lacked, had become even more scarce. It was now even more precious than grain.
The fuel consumption and escort costs for transporting thousands of tons of grain would be even higher than the cost of evacuating these soldiers.
Going by waterway would consume less fuel, but it was far too slow. Including the time for loading at the docks, the whole process would take five or six days. As it stood, the Thirteenth Division’s remaining rations would only last until tomorrow.
The evacuation of the high command and ten thousand Awakeners would take most of the remaining food. The heavy weaponry and equipment, however, would be left behind for the defenders of the second line.
Once they lost their stable food supply, even Awakeners wouldn’t be able to hold out for long on an empty stomach. Any exertion would only make them burn through their energy reserves faster.
At that point, a disorganized rout would be inevitable.
Even if Lin Feng held them at gunpoint, he wouldn’t be able to stop the front line from collapsing under the torment of starvation.
Although Hu Fei couldn’t deliver food in time, he did offer another solution:
"I have a contact who’s a director at the Food Security Bureau. I once traded him a few Black Spine Zergs for a schematic of the nation’s secret strategic food caches."
"There are several in Jin City. I’m sending you the regional map and their coordinates now."
Lin Feng nodded. ’So having high-level connections is useful after all,’ he thought. ’At least this provides an emergency solution.’
As he hung up and the message came through, the old division commander sitting across from him added,
"Those are actually defensive installations from the last century, built under the threat of nuclear war. Besides the strategic food caches, there are also many secret armories where old weapons are sealed away, just in case of an emergency."
"The reserves in those caches are small, and they’re mostly hidden away in rugged mountains. The eastern part of Jiangnan Province is all plains. Only the westernmost State Capital, Jin City, has the Old Mountain range, which stretches for more than twenty kilometers..."
"If there are any strategic food caches around here, they’re probably located there..."
Lin Feng’s eyes lit up. The signal was a little spotty, but after about thirty seconds of loading, the regional map and coordinates from Hu Fei finally appeared. They showed three strategic food caches, located exactly where the old commander had said: west of Jin City, in Old Mountain Park!
The location was only two or three kilometers away from Ding Chenghai’s Research Institute.
Each cache was specified to hold fifty tons. The reserves consisted mainly of Cans and compressed rations, with little meat, as it spoiled too easily.
He wouldn’t know the exact details until he got there and opened them.
A hundred and fifty tons in total. That would be enough to temporarily sustain fifteen thousand soldiers, provided he could transport it all back.
Seeing the change in Lin Feng’s expression, the old division commander offered a rare smile.
"The large transport ship coming to pick us up will dock at Jin City Port tomorrow morning, with its final stop at Wu City Pier."
"If you leave now, you’ll have enough time."
Lin Feng nodded. He wasn’t worried about the transport. Jin City was only about a hundred kilometers from Wu City, and he didn’t expect to face any obstacles on the road.
Besides, he had enough fuel for the journey.
What’s more, he had the help of Han Yuxin, who was a local.
Getting the food out of the caches and transporting it to the front lines before the day after tomorrow would be no problem at all.
After seeing the map, however, another idea began to form in Lin Feng’s mind, and he needed to confirm if it was feasible.
After thinking for several minutes, he finally smiled.
Lin Feng slowly stood up, walked over to the division commander, and extended his right hand.
"I agree to take command of the remnants of the Thirteenth Division."
The old division commander reached out, and the two men shook hands to seal the deal. Then, he added a word of caution:
"Are you sure you don’t need the transport ship’s help?"
Lin Feng shook his head.
"I have my own forces deployed in Jin City. One phone call is all it takes for them to enter Old Mountain and start moving the grain. Plus, my fleet can reach Jin City at any time."
"There’s no need to wait until tomorrow."
Hearing Lin Feng’s explanation, the old division commander nodded in satisfaction. He then picked up a two-star rank insignia from the table and handed it to the young man.
"I’ll leave behind some of my core non-commissioned officers to join the defenders on the second line. They’ll help you organize the troops and manage those greenhorns..."
"Of course, if you’re not satisfied, you can always replace them with Li Ran and his people. Just know that their execution and reaction speed will likely be a step down."
As he spoke, the old division commander, his wish finally fulfilled, patted Lin Feng on the shoulder. His tone was slightly teasing as he said,
"Believe me, managing these fifteen thousand people is a lot harder than fighting the Zerg Race!"