Chapter 412: Staircase (3)

Chapter 412 -191: Staircase (3)

As for the inhibition of animal and plant growth, it was not as serious as one might imagine.

The protective canopy formed by the Immortal Soybeans’ leaves could shelter other plants, allowing them to grow underneath.

The transpiration effect in deserts was already very strong, so an increase wouldn’t add much more. After all, deserts didn’t have much surface water or vegetation from which moisture could be drawn out.

However, the last issue—the increased probability of fires—required the establishment of proper firebreaks.

This was especially true for mature soybeans awaiting harvest. The leaves would be withered and yellow, and combined with beans rich in vegetable oil, a fire would be absolutely uncontrollable once it started.

Jiang Miao explained the situation to Zhao Xueyong, Luo Yongqing, and the others. Upon hearing it, their brows furrowed in concern.

Zhao Xueyong mused for a moment. “Based on General Manager Jiang’s description, the Immortal Soybeans shouldn’t pose a major problem during their growth phase. The only period we need to focus on is after they mature, which will require intensive fire prevention efforts.”

“Correct.” Jiang Miao nodded slightly.

Suddenly, a glint appeared in the eyes of another researcher, Zhang Tonghui, as he proposed an idea. “General Manager Jiang, Director Zhao, theoretically, areas with lower air humidity will automatically draw moisture from surrounding areas with higher humidity.”

Jiang Miao was taken aback for a moment. He looked at Zhang Tonghui, inwardly exclaiming, ‘This guy really thinks outside the box.’

“A humidity gradient? That could indeed happen, but it would require extremely precise control…” Zhao Xueyong trailed off, suddenly stopping as he sank into deep thought.

Zhang Tonghui then asked, “General Manager Jiang, the Immortal Soybean leaves can absorb moisture. Can they maintain that absorptive property for a time after they wither?”

Jiang Miao already understood what he was getting at, though he had never considered it himself. “I haven’t performed any experiments on that. If you’re interested, you’re welcome to conduct the relevant research.”

After sorting through the myriad thoughts in his head, Zhao Xueyong shared his opinion. “This project has a certain value, for example, in long-distance water transport.”

Zhang Tonghui squatted down and used his finger to draw the outline of the West Liao River’s route in the sand. He finally pointed directly at the Liao River Estuary.

“We must plant vast quantities of Immortal Soybeans at the Liao River Estuary, then continue planting along both banks of the Liao River toward the source of the West Liao River. This would form a humidity gradient, allowing water vapor from the Bohai Sea to be continuously channeled to Zhelimu City and Red Mountain City. It could even continue west, passing through the Hunshandake Desert and then along the Northern Foot of the Yin Mountain, delivering moisture to arid Northwest regions like the Wulanbuhe Desert.”

The plan seemed fantastical.

But upon closer analysis and calculation, they found the plan to be highly feasible.

The reason was that a distinct, naturally decreasing humidity gradient already existed across the Liao River Estuary, the Liao River Plain, the Kerchin Desert, the Hunshandake Desert, the Northern Foot of the Yin Mountain, and the Wulanbuhe Desert.

With strategic planting of the Immortal Soybeans, a complete humidity gradient could be formed. This would be especially effective in the summer, when the prevailing southeast monsoon pushes warm, moist air from the Pacific Ocean from east to west and south to north.

The humidity gradient created by the Immortal Soybeans would be perfectly positioned to further guide this water vapor westward.

Zhao Xueyong cautioned, “This kind of arrangement could potentially disrupt the climate of all of Northeast Asia. We need to consider this very carefully.”

“It would indeed have unforeseeable consequences.” Jiang Miao nodded in agreement.

The group debated heatedly for over half an hour. While they agreed the plan could indeed bring much-needed moisture to the central and western regions, the inherent risk of abrupt climate change was too significant to ignore.

Therefore, they concluded they should first conduct theoretical research, then apply for supercomputer time to run simulations, and finally conduct small-scale experiments. That would be the most prudent course of action.

However, Jiang Miao was well aware that with the large-scale rollout of Immortal Soybeans, an invisible humidity gradient would form inadvertently.

When that happened, local microclimates would certainly change.

Whether this change was for better or for worse was still an unknown.

But the promotion of Immortal Soybeans was already an unstoppable force. As for what the future held, they could only react to problems as they arose and take things one step at a time.

Zhao Xueyong and the others from the Naiman County Desertification Research Station naturally didn’t dare to keep this accidental discovery to themselves. They quickly explained the situation to Jiang Miao and prepared to return and write a report, intending to alert their superiors to these potential effects.

Watching Zhao Xueyong and his team leave in a hurry, Jiang Miao didn’t object, but instead offered some suggestions.

Once only his own company’s people remained, Liu Zhiben asked worriedly, “Boss, if the Immortal Soybeans really will affect the climate, won’t that be detrimental to our future plans?”

The perfectly composed Jiang Miao shook his head. “The Immortal Soybeans are an arrow already nocked on the bow; it must be fired. Even if there are side effects, the government won’t abandon them.”

In truth, many things affect the climate.

For example, building a large reservoir will imperceptibly change a region’s microclimate.

This was also a major reason why many geologists wanted to name the Modern Era the “Anthropocene.” Human activities had profoundly affected Earth’s overall ecological environment, leaving behind geological markers in the strata that were distinctly human.

From the current perspective, Immortal Soybeans were crucial for national food security. As long as their climatic impact wasn’t significant or the negative effects were minor, no one could halt their nationwide rollout.

Jiang Miao wasn’t overly concerned about the matter.

After he inspected the Mulan Base, he returned to the Tamin Chagan Base to rest. Tomorrow he had to make a trip to the United Mining Company’s experimental project in the northern part of Zhelimu City.