บท 139: Chapter 139: The Food Problem and Returning to Jin City
As the senior commander mentioned, the simultaneous withdrawal of 15,000 troops posed not only the risk of being surrounded by insects but also the significant cost of maintaining such an organization.
In times of peace or war, these issues might not have been significant.
However, with the alien invasion marking humanity's apocalypse, survivors worldwide were struggling to fend for themselves.
Maintaining logistical support for frontline operations depended on the Federation's once-robust transportation network. Now, with the frontlines retracting, the expanded Thirteenth Division faced a bleak future of depleted resources.
Abandoning or disbanding these soldiers would severely impact the stability of the rear and the Federation's future resistance.
The senior commander didn't want to waste these valuable soldiers.
Even if they had only been enlisted for two weeks and seen little battle, they were more combat-ready than fleeing civilians.
Internally, a structured command system existed, ensuring soldiers followed and executed orders.
They wouldn't dissolve into a rabble or chaotic mob like gangs or bandits.
With the Thirteenth Division's leaders and awakeners withdrawing, the remaining enhanced humans and early-stage awakeners needed strong leadership.
Someone to guide their growth and make them a bulwark against the insect invasion.
The young man before them could shield them from danger and provide weapons; only resolving the food issue would allow him to assume command.
Lin Feng understood this.
He admired the old man's foresight.
Initially, he thought the visit was to recruit him or trade benefits for tasks.
Perhaps capturing live Tier 2 insects, trading Tier 2 eggs so the Thirteenth Division's leaders could advance, or hiring him to defend critical cities against queens...
But the request was simply for him to take over the Thirteenth Division, preserving the unit and ensuring these soldiers weren't left homeless, wasting precious manpower against the insect invasion.
Lin Feng agreed.
The food supply issue remained challenging.
With Hu Fei and Han Yuxin's help, he could feed hundreds, nearly a thousand, but 15,000 soldiers meant 15,000 mouths, consuming 1.5 tons of food daily just to survive.
Deploying them in battle would increase consumption!
Rice alone provided little strength; fatty and protein-rich meat was urgent.
Maintaining a 15,000-strong infantry division was harder than feeding 15,000 survivors.
The latter only needed sustenance; the former needed combat capability.
The garrison soldiers had all fought insect swarms; combat capability wasn't the issue, but logistics were.
Weaponry could be managed with replicas, but food couldn't be replicated.
Until a solution was found, Lin Feng couldn't rashly agree.
Faced with 15,000 hungry mouths, chaos and twisted humanity...
Would be scarier than defeat!
The senior commander offered his major general rank, two silver stars symbolizing supreme power in the apocalypse, but also immense responsibility.
Usually, a commander held a colonel rank, at most a one-star brigadier, but the senior commander's distinguished service raised him to a two-star major general.
Lin Feng wasn't concerned with rank.
With individual abilities rising, without matching power levels, even a presidential chair would become a puppet for powerful awakeners.
Without resolving the food supply, Lin Feng wouldn't consider such formalities.
He took out his phone, seeing finally three signal bars.
The afternoon's counterattack pushed insects beyond the first line, with many new Tier 2 insects, especially Pulse Scorpions, dead. The Haicheng queen likely retreated.
Electromagnetic interference from the queen's nest weakened with her withdrawal.
Lin Feng picked up his phone, saying:
"I need to make a call..."
The senior commander nodded, appreciating Lin Feng's cautious approach.
Thorough consideration before action was a necessary leadership trait.
If Lin Feng, like other young upstarts, coveted the power and status of commanding 15,000 soldiers and agreed without thought, the senior commander would have reevaluated his suitability, setting contingency plans.
Lin Feng called Hu Fei.
After half a minute, the call connected.
Hu Fei was back in the rear safety zone, in Tiger Pass, having contacted Federation leaders, establishing an upper-level network.
Through conversation, Lin Feng learned he could exchange live insects for substantial food...
Especially the scarce Tier 2 insects.
To maintain status and power, the elite were willing to trade tons of grain, even meat, for Tier 2 awakening opportunities.
This suited Lin Feng.
Catching live Tier 2 insects was dozens of times harder than Black Spinal Bugs.
Transporting them safely over a thousand kilometers was a greater challenge.
Their massive bodies were harder to hide.
However, while live insects were hard to transport, Lin Feng's safe Tier 2 eggs could easily reach the rear.
Tier 2 eggs' organic nutrient fluid, enhancing physical attributes, was highly valuable.
Lin Feng was set, but Hu Fei faced a problem.
Transporting tons of food back to the front line was a major challenge.
Food costs largely came from transportation.
Bulky, lightweight, and uncompressible, food was a typical bulk commodity.
Previously, strong transport capabilities allowed low-cost long-distance transport, like rail or shipping.
But now, it was the apocalypse.
With the capital defense battle imminent and heavy industry restarting, the already scarce oil and fuel became even rarer, more precious than food.
The fuel and escort cost of transporting hundreds of tons of food exceeded that of evacuating the soldiers.
Water routes consumed less fuel but were slow; with port setups, it took five to six days. The Thirteenth Division's remaining food only lasted until tomorrow.
The high command and 10,000 awakeners' withdrawal would take most of the food, leaving heavy equipment for the second line's defenders.
Without stable food supply, even awakeners couldn't last long hungry, using more energy when active.
Disintegrating escapes were inevitable.
Even with Lin Feng's gun at their backs, starvation-induced collapse couldn't be stopped.
Hu Fei couldn't deliver food timely but offered an alternative:
"I have contacts with the Food Security Bureau, traded a few Black Spinal Bugs for secret national reserve granary maps."
"There are several in Jin City; I'll send you the area map and coordinates."
Lin Feng nodded, knowing high-level connections paid off, at least for emergencies.
Ending the call and receiving messages, the senior commander across from him added:
"These are Cold War-era facilities, besides reserve granaries, there are secret weapon stockpiles for emergencies."
"Reserve granaries hold little, mostly in mountain ranges. Jiangnan State is flat, only Jin City's western Old Mountain range..."
"If there are reserve granaries, they'd be there..."
Lin Feng's eyes lit up. Despite signal issues, after half a minute, Hu Fei's area map and coordinates appeared, showing three reserve granaries in Old Mountain Park, as the senior commander said!
Just two or three kilometers from Ding Chenghai's institute.
Each stored 50 tons, mainly canned and compressed food, few perishables due to spoilage risk.
Other specifics required on-site inspection.
A total of 150 tons, enough for 15,000 soldiers temporarily, if transported back.
Seeing Lin Feng's expression change, the senior commander smiled:
"The large transport ship will dock at Jin City Port tomorrow morning, finally stopping at Wu City."
"Leaving now, you'll make it in time."
Lin Feng nodded, unworried about transport; Jin City was only 100 kilometers from Wu City, with no obstacles en route.
Fuel wasn't an issue.
Plus, Han Yuxin's local help was available.
By the day after tomorrow, transporting food from reserve granaries to the front was feasible.
Viewing the map, Lin Feng had other ideas to verify.
After minutes of thought, he smiled.
Lin Feng rose, extending his hand to the senior commander:
"I will take over the Thirteenth Division's remnants."
The senior commander shook hands, reminding:
"Sure you don't need the transport ship's help?"
Lin Feng shook his head:
"I have forces in Jin City who can access Old Mountain for food, and my fleet can reach Jin City anytime."
"No need to wait until tomorrow."
Satisfied, the senior commander nodded, handing the two-star insignia to the young man:
"I'll leave some core members in the second line's defense. They'll help organize and manage the recruits..."
"Of course, if unsatisfactory, you can replace them with Li Ran and others, though execution and response may decline."
With his wishes fulfilled, the senior commander patted Lin Feng's shoulder, joking:
"Trust me, managing 15,000 is tougher than fighting insects!"
They shared a smile.
Lin Feng received the insignia but returned it, saying:
"I'm not qualified to command so many yet. A colonel rank is fine, higher than Qin Hu."
"Future operations need less than a thousand; the rest will handle logistics. A colonel rank suffices."
The senior commander nodded, aligning with Qin Hu's war views:
"Good, then tomorrow afternoon, I hope Colonel Lin leads your invincible fleet to the second line for Thirteenth Division command handover!"
Lin Feng inhaled deeply, nodding agreement.
The senior commander saluted and departed.
Watching the Thirteenth Division's leaders leave, Li Ran and others approached, curious about the discussion.
The senior commander's departure seemed much lighter, perhaps due to promises made by the sergeant.
Lin Feng, not withholding, since he'd take charge tomorrow, directly informed Li Ran, gathering all to announce the senior commander's delegation.
Their reactions mirrored Lin Feng's initial surprise.
Silence filled the room until Lin Feng waved, dismissing them, sparking cheers.
The sergeant's rise meant their status would rise too.
Following such a powerful awakener promised vast growth potential.
...
Returning to the battleship cockpit, Chen Yanyan, awake and dressed, awaited her man.
She seemed to anticipate it.
Smiling knowingly, she asked:
"Going somewhere?"
Lin Feng shrugged, smiling back:
"Yes, taking over the Thirteenth Division means we're officially entering the human-insect war stage. Becoming a force vying for final victory."
"Besides soldiers' needs, more important matters require preparation."
Chen Yanyan approached, leaning into Lin Feng:
"Going to Jin City to see Professor Ding?"
Lin Feng nodded, kissing her:
"Not just that, we need to occupy Jin City as our temporary base."
"For now, securing food for 15,000 tomorrow is priority!"
"Gather captains and drivers for planning."
Chen Yanyan acknowledged, using the battleship's intercom to summon leaders.
This Jin City trip required all eight vehicles; without the Land Cruiser Battleship, their attributes faded.
Transporting food needed all eight; though lacking storage space, they had 20 cubic meters each for cargo, aiding transport.
The Haicheng queen was repelled; the remote service area was safe.
Lin Feng ordered vehicle drivers to follow; captains remained to calm soldiers.
Shen Jie stayed to watch Zhang Liying in Tier 2 awakening.
His strength sufficed for any Tier 2 insect attack.
Before leaving, Lin Feng told Shen Jie to drink Tier 2 egg's nutrient fluid, enhancing physique, aiding recovery.
Shen Jie nodded, 100 kg of nutrient fluid sufficed for him and Zhang Liying.
Instructing caution, Lin Feng waved and boarded the battleship.
Chen Yanyan piloted the battleship from the service area.
Initially planning the highway route past Lake Tai north, Lin Feng spoke into the intercom:
"Follow the Land Cruiser Battleship off the highway."
"We're taking the water route!"
"Note any fishing-related items, boats or nets, and mark them for retrieval."
Initially puzzled, Chen Yanyan understood after his explanation:
"You want the 15,000 Thirteenth Division to fish?!"
Lin Feng nodded.
As the Land Cruiser Battleship turned, breaking the barrier into Lake Tai, waves splashed the prow, drowning their talk.
Lin Feng watched the fleet carve through waves, powered on the lake, reaching over 100 knots, about 120 km/h, matching land speeds.
Unlike navy ships, limited by propulsion efficiency and armor, maintaining 30 knots on average.
Even carriers only reached 35 knots.
Small torpedoes broke 100 knots; latest supercavitating torpedoes reached 200 or 300 knots.
If insect underwater units struck at such speeds, no wonder proud navies vanished in a day, capsized...
As the battleship upgraded, growing larger, water speeds might slow.
More replicas were needed as escorts.
As Lin Feng thought, loudly replying:
"Yes, reserve granaries lack meat, just enough to fill bellies, so they must fish."
"And it will weaken the insects."
Half an hour later, the fleet entered a river, seeing many fisheries.
Lin Feng ordered landing.
He called Han Yuxin:
"Find locals familiar with Old Mountain Park."
"And I no longer need the State Guard's rank; I'm the Thirteenth Division's commander now!"
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