Should the Coastal Base Declare Independence?

As always, the phrase "baby fat" had a magic effect on Chenchen. Tan Jianting and Yun Che kept telling Chenchen that he was just baby fat, not overweight. Finally, the boy calmed down, and the old man dismissed his military officers. When Tan Weiye returned and heard about what had just happened, he couldn't help but shoot Chenchen a strange glance. These people just redefined another phrase, which they had done multiples times these days.

"Go and tell the canteen to cook some crabs and lobsters for lunch. We should have a good meal."

The old man's bedroom, which used to be an office, was spacious. He had a bed, a wardrobe, and a square table bigger than the bed in the room, yet there was still plenty of extra space left. The old man asked everyone to sit down before he instructed Tan Weiye to arrange for lunch. He planned to entertain his guests with seafood, which was the specialty of the coastal base.

"Thanks, grandpa, but in my Space, I have some food cooked by my sister. Why don't we eat that for lunch?" said Yun Che.

Having had so much seafood yesterday, Yun Che had no interest in eating any more seafood today. Though the ocean creatures produced in his Space were not as large as the mutant ones, they were not small. More importantly, they tasted way more delicious.

"Don't you want to try the food personally cooked by your granddaughter?" said Xing Feng.

Xing Feng didn't hate eating seafood, but he missed the food cooked by Yun Yao.

"Admiral Tan, Yun Yao is an amazing cooker. We're all addicted to the food she cooks. You should definitely try some."

Chu Haoling, who was always picky about food, echoed as well. Upon hearing that, the old man teased with a smile, "In that case, I'll try some. I can't miss the delicacy recommended by a picky foodie, can I?"

"Admiral Tan…"

"Haha…"

That sure was not a compliment, but Chu Haoling couldn't talk back to Admiral Tan, whom he respected very much. He pursed his lips bitterly. The others all burst into laughter, including Chechen, who was leaning against the old man. Everyone knew that Chu Haoling was a foodie, including the old man, who hadn't seen him for years.

"Xing Feng, Che, Cheng, you've saved the coastal base. I'd like to thank you all on behalf of the millions of survivors in the coastal base."

"Admiral Tan!"

"Grandpa!"

The old man suddenly stood up and saluted to these young adults. Startled, they all rose to their feet simultaneously. For a soldier, a salute was a gesture to show the highest respect, and they felt flattered.

"Grandpa, you're my grandpa, and it's my pleasure to help you solve the coastal base crisis. Don't flatter us like this. You're giving us lots of pressure."

Yun Che said as he went forward to pull the old man to sit down.

"Alright."

The old man touched Yun's forehead with affection before continuing with a grave face, "The earthquake and the tsunami broke out at the same time. Right after we forced the ocean beasts to retreat, the zombies started to attack the base. I've sent a dozen telegraphs a day to the capital, asking for their help. They promised to send backup, but not a single soldier showed up eventually. If it weren't for you, millions of people in the base probably would have died, including me…"

The old man's eyes turned bloodshot, and his voice choked. As a general who had been serving this nation for years, he felt terrible to find out that this nation had become so cold and indifferent. This was what hurting him the most.

Yun Che and Xing Feng didn't know how to comfort the old man. Anyone in his shoes would feel sad. The capital base had sent out some backup, but the troops retreated halfway because they were attacked by flying birds. If they really wanted to help, they could have taken the land route. They just didn't want to take any risk. As for other bases nearby, there was no point in mentioning them.

"Grandpa, more and more people are demanding us to declare independence these days. Why don't we just do it? The capital and the bases nearby didn't reach out when we needed them. Why do we still stay attached to them?"

Born in a military clan, Tan Weiye was an ambitious man. And now, he was too angry to hide his thoughts. If Yun Che and his friends hadn't got here in time, he might have lost his only family. This thing was bothering him like a thorn in the flesh.

"Don't be impulsive. If we declare independence, we'll be separated from the state. When the doomsday is over, what will happen to our people? Do you want a civil war?"

Tan Jianting was disappointed in the state and other bases as well, but as a seventy-year-old man, he had to look at the bigger picture. Once they declared independence, there would be countless problems waiting for them. Even if he didn't worry about themselves, he had to consider the consequences for the sake of future generations.

"So, what do you say? We just suck it up?"

Tan Weiye didn't agree with the old man. Who knows whether the doomsday would end or not? All he knew was that they could have died if it weren't for Yun Che and his team. Living in such a turbulent era, why would they restrain themselves with so many concerns? Even if the doomsday ended and the capital base sent out troops to suppress them, he wouldn't be afraid. Every man in the coastal base would stand up to defend their hometown by the time.

While they were arguing, most members of Chaoyang and Peak Squad remained silent, as they knew this was an internal affair of the coastal base, and they were in no position to step in. Yun Che was the exception. With a chuckle, he cut in, "You don't have to officially disown the state, but you don't need to be so loyal, either. Superficially, everything is harmonious, but nobody can control what you're actually doing. As long as you don't rebel against the capital base, they can't do anything about you, at least not in the doomsday. Build up your strength in the doomsday. God knows who will be in charge when the doomsday is over?"

Each of the seven major bases was a force to be reckoned with. The capital base was in a leading position only because the capital had long been the political center since before the doomsday. When the doomsday was over, the leaders in other bases, who had been used to calling shots in their territories, wouldn't settle for subordinate positions. Hence, if the doomsday were to end someday, a civil war was inevitable.

"I just don't want to have anything to do with those people anymore," said Tan Weiye.

It sounded childish, but it was reasonable for Tan Weiye to say something like that. And most of the people present could relate to him. In their world, it was either right or wrong, and there was no room for grey area.

"What if I ask you to do me a favor?"

Yun Che said to Tan Weiye as he stopped the old man from scolding his grandson. Tan Weiye frowned involuntarily, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Zhou Zhijun from the capital. Have you heard of him?"

Tan Weiye frowned harder as he had no idea why Yun Che would bring this up. "Yes, I did. The upstart who rose suddenly to a high position in the doomsday. Though he's just a major general, he has substantial power in his hands. Rumor has it that the daughter of the head of the state wants to marry him, and some believe that he might be the next head of the state."

Zhou Zhijun was a legendary figure.

"He used to be my brother-in-law."

"What?"

All the people who didn't know this before were shocked. He was Yun Che's brother-in-law. In other words, he was Yun Yao's husband and Chenchen's father. He was a man in power, yet his wife and son had drifted to the southwest and was living under Yun Che's protection. Everyone knew what these facts had indicated, and they were outraged.

"Chenchen, would you like to go downstairs and have some fun?"

Having realized that the following conversation would be inappropriate for Chenchen to hear, Ye Xingchen stood up and suggested. As soon as he finished, Jiang Shang carried Chenchen in his arms. Chenchen didn't know anything, but he nodded submissively, "Okay. Mommy says I should never get in the way when uncle is working."

Everyone felt a slight twinge in the heart upon hearing that. What a good boy! How could Zhou Zhijun have abandoned them! That man should go to hell.

"Right. Let's leave them to work."

Ye Xingchen stroked his head with affection and nodded at Yun Che before he and Jiang Shang took the boy to leave.

"Damn! What's the story? If Zhou Zhijun is Yao's husband and Chenchen's father, why does he abandon them?"

As soon as they left, Zhou Zeyu broke the silence. He already had a theory in his mind, which was close to the truth.

"There isn't much a story to tell. My sister is an orphan, while the Zhous were a noble clan. They never like my sister or Chenchen. Zhou's mother even claimed that my sister had an affair and Chenchen was not Zhou's biological son. Do you remember that time when you met my sister and me? Her face was swollen, because she had been beaten by Zhou's mother."

Yun Che looked calm, but there was coldness in his eyes. Now, everyone knew that he held a grudge against the Zhou family for bullying his sister and nephew, but what they didn't know was that the Zhou family also had another unforgivable debt to pay.

"Damn it!"

Zhou Zeyu was outraged. Tan Jianting and Tan Weiye, who hadn't met Yun Yao in person also turned sullen. The entire room was filled with rage. If Zhou Zhijun were in the room right now, these people would have cut him into pieces.