After passing through the first intersection, the convoy officially entered Heding Road.
The road was deathly silent on both sides. Shattered glass from several storefronts lay scattered across the ground, and blood spatter stained the walls.
The scattered zombies wandering about roared and gave chase upon seeing the convoy, only to realize they could not possibly catch it. They could only stop by the roadside and let out furious howls.
Inside Vehicle One, Nathan Cole looked at Martin Hale, who was shifting restlessly beside him, and said with a smile, "Director Hale, we’ve worked together for several years now. How did I never realize you had a hobby of wearing women’s clothes?"
At Nathan’s teasing, Martin’s old face instantly flushed crimson. He waved his hands in flustered panic and stammered, apparently trying desperately to explain himself. "Minister... no, Commander, I..."
The words circled at the tip of his tongue, but he simply could not explain them clearly.
Seeing how helpless he looked, Nathan waved a hand and said cheerfully, "We’re old acquaintances, so don’t call me Commander. You’re used to calling me Minister, so just keep calling me that."
But upon hearing this, Martin shook his head like a frightened rabbit, as though it were a rattle drum. "No, no. Everyone calls you Commander. How could I be an exception?"
Seeing how insistent he was, Nathan smiled helplessly and shook his head, no longer pressing the matter.
Martin had started out as a village party secretary. He had happened to catch the wave of the times and taken the civil-service examination for township positions open to outstanding village and community party secretaries. Drawing on years of accumulated experience and solid knowledge, he had successfully passed it.
After spending two years working his way up in the township, his excellent performance and dependable character earned him a recommendation to become director of the judicial office.
In 2014, when the judicial office staffing structure was reassigned upward, he became a member of the county Justice Bureau. Not only did he obtain a centrally funded public-security and judicial-service post, but he was also promoted to a deputy section-level cadre.
Then, in 2017, to implement the nationwide standardization initiative for judicial offices, Gansu Province elevated many municipal and county judicial offices to full section-level establishments.
Before the viral outbreak, Gansu Province had a total of 1,386 judicial offices, including 786 full section-level offices and 558 deputy section-level offices. Offices at section level or above accounted for as much as 97 percent of the total, ranking first in the country.
Comrade Hale had once again luckily caught this express train of development, transforming into a full section-level cadre.
Although he did not join the township leadership, he was still a man of standing in town. Other than the party secretary and town mayor, ordinary deputy officials could not easily order him around.
Having risen step by step from an ordinary farmer into a state cadre, he was filled with gratitude and contentment. He had thought that if he just worked steadily until retirement, his life would be complete.
Those carefree days lasted until 2024, when, during a new round of institutional reforms, the day-to-day management authority over dispatched offices such as judicial offices, natural-resources offices, and market-regulation offices was transferred to the townships.
But that did not really affect Martin.
He was a local cadre who had lived and worked here for decades. Whoever managed him was still just someone managing him.
From the village to the township, then into the judicial administration system, Comrade Hale’s position might not have been particularly high, but his many years of grassroots experience had given him profound worldly knowledge.
Before the apocalypse, when dealing with those deputy officials in town, he was always outwardly respectful and impeccable in receiving and seeing them off, but inwardly, he did not think much of them.
Townships were permanent; leaders came and went. After all these years of storms and hardships, what had he not seen? He had long since seen through the ways of officialdom.
But now, the world had been turned upside down. Order had collapsed, and everything familiar had vanished.
The enormous upheaval had left even this seasoned old cadre somewhat at a loss, unable even to distinguish truth from illusion.
After being rescued this time, he had figured out one thing: no matter what happened from now on, holding tight to Minister Nathan’s coattails was the right move.
He did not care how Nathan had become a military commander. He knew only that as long as he followed Nathan, he had a chance of surviving.
If Nathan told him to go east, he would never go west.
If Nathan told him to chase a dog, he would never chase a chicken.
His guiding principles were political awareness, discipline, honesty, loyalty, and responsibility.
Martin steadied himself, then said, "Commander, you don’t know this. That day, I went to visit an elderly woman living alone. The moment I stepped through the door, that old lady, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly turned into a grotesque monster. It scared me so badly that I turned and ran.
"I had barely run outside when the door across from hers opened. A little girl came screaming out, with an equally horrifying monster chasing after her.
"I panicked. I had no choice. I saw that the door to the apartment opposite was open, so I hid inside."
As he spoke, terror once again appeared on Martin’s face. That experience had truly frightened him badly.
"After that, I stayed hidden there until I managed to contact you.
"After the troops arrived today, I saw everyone else pressed against the windows, shouting and screaming. I was anxious, thinking I had to find some way to get your attention. In my panic, I spotted a floral dress in the room. I didn’t have time to worry about anything else, so I grabbed it and started waving it around. I thought the bright colors would make it easier for you to spot me!"
Nathan listened attentively, then smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "In the end, Director Hale, it was your courage and carefulness that let you hold on until rescue arrived."
Then Nathan’s expression turned solemn. "Here’s the situation, Director Hale. Our mission this trip is to retake the power plant in Jinya Town, then head over to Nanpowan Village near the county seat and seize the water plant in one stroke.
"Once we return from completing the mission, I’ll begin retaking the residential compounds and schools in town. We’ll certainly need to take in survivors afterward, and I want you to take the lead in managing them at first.
"And when there are more people, there’s more nonsense to deal with. You’re an expert at resolving disputes, so I’ll have to rely on you heavily when the time comes."
Nathan’s calculations were meticulous. Martin had begun as a village party secretary, was familiar with grassroots conditions, and knew how to deal with ordinary people with ease. Later, he had become a state cadre and accumulated extensive management experience. Managing a small settlement would be second nature to him—there was no question about it.
Moreover, Nathan knew him well and could trust him. There was no better candidate.
As for the survivors, Nathan had already given the matter considerable thought. When the time came, he would establish detailed rules of conduct. As for anyone who openly violated them, there was no need to say more. Harsh times called for harsh measures; they could simply be dragged out and shot.
But if someone did not violate the rules, he could not exactly give them a physical send-off to the afterlife over trivial daily disputes.
What was most important in an apocalypse? Human resources, of course.
One of a judicial office’s responsibilities was guiding and participating in public mediation. Martin was highly capable when it came to resolving conflicts among the people and calming hearts. With him around, they could avoid many internal conflicts, which would help maintain order in the settlement.
When Martin heard this, his eyes immediately lit up. Asking him to fight zombies was indeed beyond his old arms and legs, but managing a few people and handling disputes? That was exactly what he was good at.
Before the apocalypse, everything had to follow laws, regulations, and procedure. The processes were cumbersome, and restrictions abounded.
But now, circumstances were exceptional. Stability and survival were the foremost goals. Whether managing people or resolving disputes, as long as he did not violate the fundamental principles, he had many more methods at his disposal.
At that thought, he suddenly straightened his back, thumped his chest, and declared with absolute conviction, "Please rest assured, Commander. I, Martin Hale, am a brick under your command—move me wherever I’m needed!"
Nathan was very satisfied with Martin’s attitude. Going out of his way to rescue him had not been in vain.
After the two casually chatted for a while longer, Nathan leaned back against his seat. He appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but was actually checking the System interface.
Only he could see the System interface, so he did not have to worry about anyone discovering it.
According to the System, the recent battle had earned him 1,228 reinforcement points. Added to what remained from before, he now had a total of 2,562 points.
Looking over the units available for deployment, Nathan silently began calculating.
He planned to deploy a six-man infantry squad first, paired with a BTR-82A Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle, forming an armored infantry squad.
With that eight-wheeled vehicle and its roof-mounted 30mm autocannon, it would be enough to deal with any situation they currently faced.
In addition, he planned to deploy another nine-man infantry squad and a Tigr-M armored vehicle.
This squad would primarily guard the power plant. The power plant was the highest priority and could not be allowed to fall.
If there were no surviving workers, they would also have to bear the responsibility of keeping the power plant running and ensuring a continuous supply of electricity.
As for personnel to guard the water plant, they could only take things one step at a time. Once he earned more reinforcement points through later battles, he would make further arrangements.
This time, Nathan planned to deploy the troops by airdrop, which would save a great many reinforcement points.
He was quite eager to see it himself, curious what kind of scene the System’s airdrop would create.
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