Chapter 360 - 218: Successful Rendezvous, Endless Debates (Part 2)

Chapter 360: Chapter 218: Successful Rendezvous, Endless Debates (Part 2)

In the video, Long Zhan didn’t use any harsh interrogation tactics, yet the captives confessed everything down to the last detail.

Seeing the video, the peanut gallery immediately erupted in discussion.

"Holy crap, that was a fast turnaround!"

"Our Dragon Country believes in having a just cause! We don’t just attack other factions for no reason!"

"Are these captives from Xi’an Base that cowardly? They sold out their own base just like that?"

"Isn’t that normal? Sophisticated self-interest is ingrained in their very bones. National duty and integrity mean nothing compared to their own benefit."

Bao Mu immediately shot back, "That video is fake! Those people aren’t from our base at all!"

"Oh, we get it. Any news that’s bad for Xi’an Base is fake, right?"

"Actually, I’m more curious about why they tried to ambush the Aircraft Carrier Base’s vessel."

"Is that even a question? They were obviously after supplies and energy!"

"Come on, dude who posted above, use your brain. Xi’an Base ambushed one of the Aircraft Carrier Base’s speedboats. How many supplies can a speedboat even carry?"

"Yeah, what was Xi’an Base thinking? Trying to ambush a nimble speedboat is way too difficult."

Seeing this, Wang Jun spoke up again. "According to our interrogation, Xi’an Base was after our Chinese medicine!"

"What? Xi’an Base also believes Chinese medicine can cure the virus?"

"No way! They actually believe something so fantastical?"

"This is so weird. Many Dragon Country People don’t even believe in our own Chinese medicine, yet foreigners are trying everything they can to steal it from us. What is going on?"

"It’s simple. Western medicine is about economics—about making money. Chinese medicine is about compassion—about healing people!"

"There you go again, spouting that nonsense! It’s pure bullshit! Do you have any idea how many people Western medicine has cured?"

"And do you know how many people Chinese medicine has cured? I’m not denying Western medicine has cured many illnesses. But do you know how many side effects it leaves behind? And don’t get me started on the diseases that Western doctors say require lifelong medication. That’s just highway robbery!"

"Alright, what’s the point of arguing? Let people believe what they want to believe. Don’t try to change someone’s mind, because it’s a pointless effort!"

"Regardless, the fact that even Western factions are starting to fight over herbal medicine at least proves that Chinese medicine is effective!"

"What good is it if it’s effective? There’s water everywhere now. Where are you supposed to find Chinese medicine?"

"That’s why Xi’an Base attacked the Aircraft Carrier Base’s speedboat!"

"You mean the Aircraft Carrier Base is cultivating its own herbal medicine?"

"What else? Survivors from the Aircraft Carrier Base said before that their base is promoting treatment with herbal medicine, and apparently, the results are excellent!"

"Damn it, I’m too far from the Aircraft Carrier Base. Otherwise, I’d definitely go over and try that medicinal soup for myself!"

"No wonder the Aircraft Carrier Base said they didn’t have the fuel to pick up other survivors. They’re probably using it all to travel between the two bases!"

"Yeah, the two bases are so far apart. Every shipment of herbal medicine must use up a ton of fuel. At this rate, I feel like they’ll run out of fuel before long!"

"Well, there’s nothing to be done. Since the Aircraft Carrier Base took over Dawn Base, of course they’re not just going to ignore it!"

"That’s right. I saw twenty huge ships arrive this morning. They must have brought a lot of supplies!"

"Twenty ships? That many! The Aircraft Carrier Base didn’t move all its supplies to Dawn Base, did it?"

"Probably not all of it, but they definitely brought a lot over!"

These large ships were still some distance from the survivor settlement at Dawn Base. Although they could see the ships, they couldn’t clearly make out their draft depth, so they couldn’t tell that the vessels were actually empty.

All the survivors believed the Aircraft Carrier Base was shipping herbal medicine to support Dawn Base. Little did they know, the truth was the exact opposite.

Wang Jun and his people, naturally, wouldn’t clarify this fact. They let the misunderstanding continue, as it also served to indirectly protect Peach Blossom Base.

Soon, Long Zhan returned to Dawn Base with his team.

Seeing that half of the speedboats that went out were missing, Qin Haonan stood at the bow and called out loudly, "Captain Long, why have so many speedboats been lost?"

Hearing this, Long Zhan froze for a moment before quickly walking out and replying with a smile, "Those speedboats are in the back, hauling our spoils of war. We just came back ahead of them!"

The speedboats towing the loot were naturally slower.

It dawned on Qin Haonan. "I see! I was wondering, did you bring the Wine Bamboo?"

"Of course!" Long Zhan signaled for one of the speedboats to pull up alongside Qin Haonan’s, then took out the seeds.

"Why are there so many kinds of seeds? They all look different. Are there different types of Wine Bamboo?" Qin Haonan asked, frowning slightly as he looked at the seeds.

"Not exactly. The River Bird Fleet threw in some other seeds as a show of good faith," Long Zhan explained.

Qin Haonan nodded. "I understand. In that case, we’ll take our leave."

"It’s lunchtime. Why don’t you stay and eat before you go?" Long Zhan urged.

Qin Haonan shook his head. "We’d better not. I’m in a hurry to get back and report on my mission."

"If that’s the case, I won’t keep you," Long Zhan replied with a smile. "Our base’s food can’t compare to yours anyway."

Qin Haonan waved his hand and led his fleet toward Peach Blossom Base.

At that moment, the adjutant beside Long Zhan reminded him, "Captain, this is the perfect opportunity to follow them!"

Their ships were moving slowly. If we want to tail them, we just need to send a few speedboats to hang back and follow!

Long Zhan shook his head decisively. "No need. Even if we found Peach Blossom Base, are you confident we could conquer it?"

The adjutant froze, then finally shook his head.

"And even if we could conquer it, there’s no guarantee we’d get our hands on their technology for rapid plant and animal growth," Long Zhan continued. "So attacking Peach Blossom Base isn’t worth the risk. The losses would outweigh the gains."

"I understand, sir!" the adjutant responded, saying no more.

Meanwhile, Qin Haonan had Jianghu and the others keep a close watch on what was behind them.

"Dawn Base didn’t send a team to follow us, did they?"

Jianghu shook his head. "Nothing spotted so far!"

"It seems Dawn Base is playing fair. We should be able to do business with them for a long time," Qin Haonan commented, then gave an order. "Have everyone eat in shifts."

"Right away!" Jianghu acknowledged and turned to make the arrangements.

The massive ships were moving very slowly. At their current speed, they probably wouldn’t reach Peach Blossom Base until after 6 p.m.

Qin Haonan gave a brief report to Ren Yuanyang.

Ren Yuanyang instructed, "Alright, I understand. Be safe on the way back."

"Don’t worry, Chief. We’ll be careful. But Xi’an Base was just beaten back, so they probably won’t return so soon," Qin Haonan replied.

Ren Yuanyang nodded slightly.

Just then, discussion flared up again on the regional channel.

"Those giant ships that arrived at Dawn Base this morning are leaving now!"

"They must have finished unloading their cargo and are heading back."

"That’s probably it, but they unloaded way too fast! They finished in just one morning?"

"Does this indirectly prove that the Aircraft Carrier Base didn’t actually bring that many supplies?"

"If they didn’t have many supplies, why send so many large ships? Does the Aircraft Carrier Base have too much fuel to burn?"

"Yeah, something feels off."

"You guys really have nothing better to do than worry about things that don’t concern you. What do the actions of the higher-ups have to do with you? Have you cured your own sicknesses yet?"

"You can’t say that. We call this ’keeping up with the leadership’!"

"If they needed you to ’keep up,’ they’d issue a notice! Don’t just follow blindly!"

"Exactly. You’re so concerned with the leadership’s movements, you sound like a spy. Are you planning to leak this information to Xi’an Base?"

"Stop slinging mud, okay? I’m a proud citizen of the Dragon Country. I was just curious, that’s all!"

"It’s best if you aren’t. Otherwise, you’ll be nailed to the pillar of shame in history, just like Qin Hui!"

Seeing the discussion on the regional channel, Bao Mu’s brow furrowed. After a moment of thought, he gave an order. "Immediately dispatch a team. Three battleships and five destroyers. Set up an ambush on the route between Dawn Base and the Aircraft Carrier Base!"

An aide at his side frowned. "If we dispatch that many warships, our fuel reserves will be almost empty!"

"Even if we burn through all our fuel, I’m going to take a piece out of the Aircraft Carrier Base!" Bao Mu replied hatefully.