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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 231: The Future and...
The cold sea breeze dispersed the thick fog, as two ships, one large and one small, anchored far off the coast. The waves crashed violently, and the wind howled.
The personnel transfer was in full swing. The New Pu Ocean, a Super Tanker, had already set sail with the first batch of Survivors towards the distant Peach Blossom Island, accompanied by two massive warships. The majority of the officers and soldiers, along with members of the Establishment's Decision-Making Body, were aboard these vessels. They formed the first wave to land on the island, and their role in ensuring the subsequent resettlement operations went smoothly was undeniably crucial.
Only the New Xia Yang remained at sea. This ship had run out of fuel and could no longer brave the waves. Its final mission was to stay here, waiting for the New Pu Ocean to return for a second trip and for the team heading to Beijing to come back safely. On the other side of the Super Tanker was a small yacht, its sleek lines and exquisite decorations revealing its previous identity. Soon, it would serve as the transport for those returning to the island. The red flag at the bow fluttered in the wind; those aboard were anxious and unable to sleep.
Approximately seven hundred people remained on the New Xia Yang. The New Pu Ocean and warships could not take everyone; transferring in batches was the only option. Previously, a spokesperson from the Establishment had already stated that due to fuel shortages, it would be difficult for the ship to set sail again after reaching the island. The remaining fuel on the warships could support a journey to a nearby Free Trade Port located between two countries, equipped with a medium-sized offshore gas station and several oil tankers. Because of its distance from land, it might have a lower chance of being infected by viruses. More importantly, there were not many ships venturing out after the Cataclysm; if they wanted to get moving again, the Free Trade Port was undoubtedly their only hope.
The Establishment's transfer plan was thus: first maximize the number of people transferred, then send warships to replenish fuel at the Free Trade Port before returning to pick up those remaining on the New Xia Yang.
This plan undoubtedly seemed somewhat risky; after all, what conditions awaited them at the Free Trade Port were unknown. If there was no fuel available there, not only would those on New Xia Yang be unable to reach safety, but that warship might also end up becoming a Ghost Ship. Thus arose a dilemma: aside from those determined to return to land, everyone else wanted to be among the first batch to land on the island. No one was willing to relinquish their chance and wait like lost souls at sea for an uncertain hope.
However, capacity constraints meant that they simply could not take more people; despite their frustrations, the Survivors dared not express their anger too vehemently. After all, in today's Establishment, power spoke through force—if pushed too far, they could just be thrown into the sea without recourse. Ultimately, one could not outmuscle authority; if they sought protection while wanting everything to go smoothly, such privileges had not existed before the Cataclysm.
Fortunately, the Establishment remained relatively gentle in its approach. They acknowledged everyone's expressed concerns while also offering deep apologies. To reassure those who had to wait behind, they announced that sufficient fresh water and food would be left on board for half a month. Additionally, some officers would remain behind to ensure the safety of those left as Survivors. Zeng Yadong and others understood well that these so-called security personnel were actually part of Jiang He's second wave; while some stayed behind for security purposes, others had to be ready for potential suppression of any unrest—who knew how long those Survivors might wait before losing patience and acting irrationally?
To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, before setting sail, the Establishment had also brought back a small yacht from port. This yacht consumed fuel sparingly; with all ships sharing some burden, it could at least ensure that they reached within range of the island. At that point, whether by gunfire or rowing boats, they could manage to land somehow. This was an alternative plan for Shaoshan; he had to represent the Establishment while stationed on New Xia Yang—not only stabilizing public sentiment but also reassuring military morale.
Zeng Yadong and Wheat departed with the first group of personnel; Jin Bo did not leave but stayed aboard with Shaoshan.
Shaoshan originally intended for them all to leave together; given the current uncertainty, it was still best to prioritize "friendly forces" when possible. Even if Jiang He hadn't given prior instructions before leaving, Shaoshan wouldn’t let these young companions who had traveled far suffer any losses. Zeng Yadong initially wanted to stay as well but felt uneasy about Wheat going alone onto the island; having each other provided some mutual support. Jin Bo made it clear that his presence on the island held little significance; initial resettlement would involve many trivial matters he wasn't suited for handling. After discussion, they decided it best for both girls to go ahead first—at least they could secure resources so that when they returned later, they wouldn’t have to camp out in tents.
Shaoshan did not voice his opinion on this matter; he had already offered all possible shortcuts—the specific choices were ultimately up to them since they were all adults; there was no need for coercion or pressure.
About an hour after Jiang He and Song Yao left, several large ships sounded their horns, cutting through the blue sea and sailing into the hazy mist. For the rest of the morning, Jin Bo temporarily took on the role of a personal bodyguard, busying himself on the deck with Shaoshan. They counted food supplies one moment and tallied the number of people the next, while also reallocating personnel to guard the yacht. By the time they were nearly finished, the sun had risen high overhead, the sea mist had cleared, and bright sunlight poured onto the deck, filling the air with a refreshing warmth.
On either side of the ship's railing stood remnants of troops, many basking in the sun on the deck. The overall atmosphere was quite pleasant. With the situation largely settled, they had no other option but to wait; rather than seeking discomfort for themselves, it was better to cast aside their worries and enjoy this rare moment of sea breeze and warm sunshine.
Shaoshan and Jin Bo leaned against a piece of equipment, smoking and chatting. Despite their ten-year age difference, they found common ground. Jin Bo thought this somewhat roguish soldier was quite interesting, while Shaoshan was intrigued by this lean young man with exceptional skills. The two sat by the ship's railing, gazing at the sky and idly chatting until a pile of cigarette butts accumulated at their feet.
"So, does that mean you and Jiang He are friends now?" Shaoshan flicked his cigarette butt away, pouted his lips to blow out a series of smoke rings, and laughed. "You’re not following him because you have a crush on his girlfriend, are you?"
"Get lost! Do you think I'm that kind of person?" Jin Bo rolled his eyes dramatically and sighed. "That guy Jiang He seems all carefree and silly, but he's actually pretty sharp. Damn it, when I first met him, he totally fooled me—I was spinning in circles!"
"You're good at martial arts but not so bright; it's a wonder he managed to trick you," Shaoshan chuckled. "But sometimes Jiang He can be quite cunning; at least he has good luck. When I led my team into Shanxi and ran into him on the highway at midnight, he was barely hanging on to life. If I hadn't stepped in to help him out of kindness, he would have been dead."
"Good luck is a blessing! Back then we all thought he was dead; who would have guessed he made it to the Gobi Desert?" As they reminisced about past events, both young and old had endless stories to share. After a moment, Jin Bo paused and turned to ask, "Brother Shao, what happened over in the Gobi Desert? Did you all just hit the road after negotiations?"
"Yeah, what else could we do?" Shaoshan replied curtly, clearly still dissatisfied with how things had unfolded back then. He muttered, "I was on the periphery while Old Wang was executing an infiltration mission. The situation must have been pretty complicated; nobody expected An Zheng to be there, let alone that they had such drugs."
"Well, no matter what happened, at least things are finally settling down," Jin Bo said with a hint of rare melancholy in his eyes as he quietly asked, "Brother Shao, have you ever been to the island? What's it like there?"
"Nope. I've been running around too much to check it out," Shaoshan said as he ran his fingers through his hair and clicked his tongue. "It should be fine; moving towards open sea isn't something that can just be decided on a whim. Preparations were made beforehand; it just wasn't stated outright."
"Oh?"
"Exactly. It’s already been in progress; those above aren’t foolish enough to wait until land is completely lost before seeking an escape route. But many things can't be laid out in plain sight." Shaoshan pointed at the people moving around on deck and lowered his voice. "Don’t be fooled by how honest they seem right now; once they set foot on safe ground, they'll revert back to their true selves. Nearly three thousand people—more than armed personnel—if something goes wrong... well, who knows what could happen."
Jin Bo understood the meaning behind his words. Not to mention the thousand or so people from the Establishment, even back then, Daliu...
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