Chapter 70: Internal Strife and the Search for a Solution

Han Zhongguo was reluctant to engage in any further discussion with Ge Zhongping, but the lives of thousands at the base compelled him to speak out. He could not ignore the fact that so many lives were at risk, and this was not in line with his own principles.

"Gentlemen, I believe everyone is aware of the severity of the situation. We have reached a point of life or death. So, what should we do?" Han Zhongguo stood up, his gaze sharp as it swept across the room. His voice was steady and forceful, reverberating through the room, pulling everyone's attention toward him. He then slammed his fist onto the table and continued in a deep voice, "Our food supply is insufficient to sustain us, and the military cannot offer any assistance. We must find a way to save ourselves."

"Does Deputy Mayor Han have a good solution?" Ge Zhongping, displeased with Han Zhongguo immediately capturing everyone's attention, interrupted. He had no intention of letting Han take the spotlight.

"I don't know if it's a good solution, but I know one thing: if we don't act, we'll all die!" Han Zhongguo replied, his gaze not even flicking toward Ge Zhongping, speaking coldly.

Ge Zhongping's anger flared at Han Zhongguo's disregard, but being a man of deep strategy, he suppressed his rage. His cigarette trembled in his hand as he tried to maintain composure, sitting back down and silently smoking.

"Deputy Mayor Han, please share your thoughts. Waiting around like this is certainly not an option! Don't you all agree?" At this moment, Lu Guoliang, the secretary of the city party committee, finally spoke, and his tone made it clear that he was supporting Han Zhongguo.

Ge Zhongping's heart sank. He knew that although Lu Guoliang was usually neutral, people who remained neutral often followed his lead, and in this group, Lu was the central figure. Ge Zhongping was puzzled as to why this usually silent, neutral figure was suddenly taking such a clear stand today.

"Yes, if we keep waiting, we'll be waiting for death!" an official muttered, drawing on his cigarette.

"Exactly! We have no food or water. We don't need mutated dogs to attack us; we'll starve to death on our own!" another said, extinguishing his cigarette with a worried expression.

"We need to change things, look at what kind of life we're living!" another added, his frustration evident.

As soon as Lu Guoliang spoke, those who typically maintained neutrality began to murmur in agreement, and the room erupted in chaotic chatter. Ge Zhongping, now visibly irate at the rising commotion, gripped his cigarette tightly, his hand shaking, and his eyes twitching uncontrollably.

"Bang!" Ge Zhongping slammed his fist onto the table, his voice laced with anger as he scolded the group, "What are you all acting like? Is this how national officials behave?"

The room fell silent immediately. Ge Zhongping's domineering presence was well-known in the city, and his control over the base during the apocalypse gave him unmatched authority. No one dared to openly challenge him, and the room quieted down.

"Now, Deputy Mayor Han, please share your insights!" Ge Zhongping, seeing that everyone had turned their attention back to him, finally looked at Han Zhongguo with a glint of satisfaction in his eyes, though it was fleeting.

"Alright, let me speak," Han Zhongguo seemed unaffected by Ge Zhongping's expression. He slammed his teacup onto the table, his voice becoming more somber as he spoke.

"Now, the mutated dogs have surrounded the base, and there's no outside help. We must save ourselves. Waiting any longer will lead to our deaths. I believe everyone here agrees with that, right?" Han Zhongguo's eyes scanned the room, and seeing that everyone nodded, including Ge Zhongping, he continued, "The base has a population of over a thousand. Even if we try to run, it's impossible. If we attempt to break through with so many people, our forces will be overwhelmed. On wide streets, we will be no match for the mutated dogs. We will be picked off one by one!"

His words echoed in the room, and everyone's gaze wavered. They all knew that Han Zhongguo spoke the truth, but they were trapped with no other options, forced to hide and wait. Yet now, with no food left, waiting meant starvation. So, as they listened to Han Zhongguo speak with clarity and certainty, they began to focus their hopes on him.

"So, we must eliminate these mutated dogs!" Han Zhongguo suddenly raised his fist, his voice changing as he threw out a bombshell idea. The room erupted into chaos, as if the fuse to a powder keg had been lit.

"Are you serious? Kill mutated dogs? Who's going to do that? This is a joke!" one of Ge Zhongping's supporters scoffed.

"Yes, Deputy Mayor Han, what are you talking about? If we could kill them, why would we be stuck hiding like rats underground?" another added, mocking him.

"What kind of ridiculous idea is this?" someone else jeered.

The people who sided with Ge Zhongping immediately laughed and mocked Han Zhongguo's proposal.

Ge Zhongping remained silent, watching the chaos unfold, but his mind was far from calm. He began to sense that things were slipping out of his control. Why was it that only his supporters were causing an uproar? Leading the charge was Lu Hai, while Han Zhongguo's faction, including Lu Guoliang and the neutral group, sat in silence, observing quietly.

Had they formed an alliance without him knowing?

The thought struck Ge Zhongping suddenly, sending a chill down his spine. How had this alliance formed so quietly, without any obvious signs? If they were indeed united, the situation was far worse than he had imagined. Sweat broke out on his back as he tried to calm himself. If this was truly the case, the consequences would be dire.