Chapter 71: A Strategy to Trap the Mutated Dogs

Ge Zhongping exhaled a long puff of smoke, allowing it to obscure his face as he squinted and quickly scanned the room. He observed the subtle shifts in the expressions of those present. This was his preferred method of assessing situations; whenever there was a major decision to be made in the standing committee meetings, he liked to hide in the smoke and discreetly observe everyone's reactions. It was a habit he had developed over time.

As his eyes swept the room, he realized with a sense of certainty that his suspicions were nearly correct—Han Zhongguo and Lu Guoliang had already formed an alliance, and yet he had been unaware of it until now.

His gaze then shifted to Lu Hai, and a wave of anger surged within him. This man was only good for chasing women, and yet he hadn't even managed to pick up on the subtle developments in such an important matter. Ge Zhongping also felt a pang of regret, realizing he had become careless lately, distracted by his indulgences and forgetting to keep an eye on his rivals.

With a deep breath, Ge Zhongping suppressed the murderous intent that flickered in his eyes, understanding that now was not the time to fall out with Han Zhongguo. At this stage, unity was essential in order to navigate the crisis. As long as he held power, these people would not be able to make waves.

"Alright, enough noise. Let's hear Han Zhongguo out!" Ge Zhongping coldly glanced at Han Zhongguo and then forcefully extinguished his cigarette. He gave a stern order to stop the disruptive chatter from Lu Hai and others, before his expression softened into a faint smile as he turned to Han Zhongguo. "Deputy Mayor Han, please tell us how you plan to kill the mutated dogs."

Lu Hai, clearly confused by Ge Zhongping's sudden command to stop him, was used to being dominated by Ge and quickly took his seat. Seeing their leader comply, the others reluctantly followed suit, though their eyes remained filled with confusion.

Han Zhongguo, a practical man who disliked unnecessary talk, did not linger on the interruption. He was quick to refocus the discussion. "Our weapons are limited, and our ammunition is scarce. We cannot afford to fight the mutated dogs head-on. So, we must rely on strategy."

After saying this, Han Zhongguo glanced around the room, noticing that everyone had fallen silent. He continued, "We can create a narrow passageway through the mall entrance, restricting it to allow only one mutated dog to pass at a time. We can then set up an ambush along the passage, taking down the mutated dogs one by one."

He made a sweeping gesture with his arm, confidence gleaming in his eyes. However, to his surprise, the room remained eerily quiet. No one responded, and everyone simply stared at him, seemingly stunned into silence by his words.

"Have you considered the strength of the mutated dogs?" Ge Zhongping's voice finally broke the silence. "You've seen their power firsthand. How can you ensure the passage will trap them? What if something goes wrong?"

Ge Zhongping's concern was not unfounded. Having witnessed the terrifying strength of the mutated dogs, his questions were logical. The other attendees, most of whom shared his doubts, nodded in agreement.

Though everyone knew the situation was dire, they still feared the mutated dogs. These creatures had shown themselves capable of tearing through metal with ease and decapitating a person with a single bite.

What kind of structure could trap a creature of that power? In the pre-apocalyptic world, they might have used steel and concrete, but those materials were no longer available.

"You needn't worry," Han Zhongguo reassured the group, sensing the doubt in their eyes. "We have two experts in building structures who have thoroughly evaluated the situation. They've determined that using supermarket shelves and a screw structure can withstand the mutated dogs' attacks. Moreover, we can attack the dogs through the gaps."

Han Zhongguo could see that everyone was looking to him for answers, so he explained the origins of the plan.

In fact, Han Zhongguo had been working diligently over the past few days. A practical man, he had been brainstorming solutions after the mutated dogs had trapped them underground. During one of his patrols, he had encountered two structural experts. After speaking with them, he learned that they had a method for killing the mutated dogs, which made him excited. He immediately brought them under his wing and developed this plan.

At the same time, he also approached Lu Guoliang, sharing his dissatisfaction with Ge Zhongping and outlining his vision for the future of the base. Lu Guoliang, already growing increasingly disillusioned with Ge Zhongping's leadership, saw Han Zhongguo's plan as viable. The two of them formed an alliance, intending to leverage the plan to undermine Ge Zhongping's position.

Ge Zhongping, who had been listening attentively, reached for another cigarette, preparing to light it. However, after several failed attempts with the lighter, his frustration reached its peak, and he crumpled the cigarette and threw it to the floor.

He was clearly irritated. Ge Zhongping had originally planned to organize the evacuation of the base's inhabitants, using their numbers to hold off the mutated dogs while ensuring his own safety under the protection of the police. However, before he could even present this plan, Han Zhongguo had already squashed it. Now, with only five people supporting him, and Han Zhongguo's group—along with Lu Guoliang's—totaling eight, Ge Zhongping's options were limited. If he spoke up now, he risked losing even more support.

The room was filled with murmurs about Han Zhongguo's plan. The soft voices created a sense of unease in Ge Zhongping, who observed that most people seemed to be focused on Han Zhongguo, appearing to accept his strategy.

A sense of dread settled over him. He realized that within the management team, he had lost his influence. Han Zhongguo had taken the lead, and now, his only remaining support was the handful of loyal followers he still had under his command.