When a region's resources are insufficient to sustain its animal population, the animals' first choice is migration, and this applies to humans as well as mutated beasts.
Human migration is far more evident. Over millions of years, humans migrated from the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, spreading across Eurasia, crossing the Bering Strait into the Americas. Even isolated Australia had populations of wild humans. Human migration is like a magnificent epic.
However, animal migration is seen as a disaster by humans, especially in the apocalypse.
After half a day of fighting, Yuzhou dealt a severe blow to the mutated beasts that descended from the mountains, causing them to scatter and flee. However, while the mutated beasts could not enter the city, they could devour the crops outside. Yuzhou had been cultivating land for several months, and the results were significant. Plains areas had been reclaimed and turned into fertile fields, lush and green as summer arrived.
Wild boars began to root in the fields, digging up small potatoes that had not yet grown. But the boars didn't care; they ate whatever they could. Corn had not even begun to pollinate, but mutated rats directly gnawed at the roots, knocking down the cornstalks and continuing to eat them. The cornstalks were also edible.
Other mutated animals, such as cattle, sheep, and rabbits, were all in the fields, devouring the crops. They even dug up and ate grass roots. In just one day, thousands of acres of farmland were ravaged by mutated beasts.
In Yuzhou's conference room, the issue of the numerous mutated beasts was being fiercely debated. Tu Xuhuai's stance was simple: kill them all. Even if weapons were distributed to the populace, all mutated beasts must be eliminated. Only by eradicating all of them would the beasts stop ravaging the farmland.
However, Zhou Xiaoxiao believed that killing mutated beasts was futile. Mutated beasts would continuously emerge from the southern mountains. Killing one batch would only lead to another. Blindly killing mutated beasts would not bring back food. The most important thing was to build walls, deploy sufficient soldiers to protect the western planting areas, and simply repel the mutated beasts.
"If we compromise just because mutated beasts will keep appearing, won't we be perpetually defending farmland? Soldiers are not trained to guard farmland forever; they are meant to take the initiative. Let's spend a few years eradicating all the mutated beasts in the southern mountains, preferably to extinction! I refuse to believe that the problem cannot be solved. As for these years, we'll just have to tighten our belts," Tu Xuhuai said sternly.
As soon as he spoke, whispers filled the conference room, as his idea was too extreme, almost inhumane.
Someone directly questioned Tu Xuhuai, "You want to exterminate all the animals in the mountains. Don't you think that's cruel?"
Tu Xuhuai retorted coldly, "The mutated beasts want to exterminate humanity. Do you think they are kind?"
Although Tu Xuhuai's strategy was crude, many supported it. Yuzhou had finally begun cultivating land, only to have beasts come and snatch the fruits of their labor. This was unbearable. The unripened crops had already been targeted by the mutated beasts. If all of them were eaten, what would people eat?
"The most important thing now is to defend the farmland in the plains until the harvest. Do you think these mutated beasts are enough to feed millions for a year? And you talk about people starving and fighting mutated beasts? You're putting the cart before the horse. We must first protect the farmland, and then we can counterattack," Zhou Xiaoxiao said indignantly, standing up to accuse Tu Xuhuai.
Many in the conference room supported Zhou Xiaoxiao's viewpoint. The simplest reason was that without enough food, nothing could be accomplished. It was clearly too late to hunt down mutated beasts now. The only thing that could be done was to protect the remaining unravaged farmland. If the farmland in the western region was protected, the food problem for the year would be solved!
Coincidentally, Yang Chang, Guo Pinming, and Lu Xian returned to Yuzhou with their soldiers, resolving the troop shortage.
Zhou Xiaoxiao immediately looked at the three and asked directly, "You three are the main commanders. Tell me now, whose suggestion do you support?"
Lu Xian smiled and said, "I support yours. Don't worry too much; let's surround the farmland first."
Guo Pinming replied directly, "I support Mr. Tu's plan. In my opinion, no matter how many mutated beasts there are, as long as they pose a threat to people's health, they must be eradicated. Whether or not a species becomes extinct is not something I care about. Animals harmful to humans serve no purpose!"
Lu Xian's viewpoint was more conservative, while Guo Pinming was more radical. This was also related to their experiences. Lu Xian had hidden in the deep mountains early on, avoiding the most severe period of the zombie outbreak. Conversely, Guo Pinming's entire family had died at the hands of zombies, which had changed his mindset. As long as there were evildoers, they must be eliminated. If zombies were killed, then mutated beasts would be killed!
At this moment, Lu Xian and Guo Pinming looked at Yang Chang and asked, "Whose opinion do you support?"
Yang Chang pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Chang Jianyi, who was seated steadily above the conference room. He smiled and said, "I'll listen to the Deputy City Lord! Whatever the Deputy City Lord decides, I will do!"
After Yang Chang said this, everyone in the conference room immediately realized that despite the heated discussion, the final decision would be made by Chang Jianyi!
Yang Chang had clearly learned to be smart, never expressing his opinion easily. He always acted according to his superior's instructions, which was why Shen Feng felt at ease letting him lead so many soldiers.
Instantly, all eyes turned to Chang Jianyi, and Chu Chaoyan was also noticed. With Shen Feng not in Yuzhou, Chang Jianyi was the one who held authority. Especially since Chang Jianyi had long been guarding Yuzhou, and important personnel were all promoted by Chang Jianyi. Now, Chang Jianyi's decision was the final plan.
Chu Chaoyan whispered to Chang Jianyi, "Later, I'll suggest taking people out to kill mutated beasts. You just stay in the city. As for these two plans, I think both are good. You can choose either one!"
Hearing Chu Chaoyan say this, Chang Jianyi couldn't help but shake her head slightly and patted her shoulder, saying, "You don't need to worry about this. I've already discussed this with Professor Chu and consulted Professor Niu."
Then, Chang Jianyi stood up and said loudly to everyone in the conference room, "Regarding mutated beasts, our most important task now is to eliminate them, but we must also ensure food security. Otherwise, if famine arrives, no one will have a good life."
At this point, Chang Jianyi's intention was very clear: both Tu Xuhuai's and Zhou Xiaoxiao's plans would be adopted!
Chang Jianyi looked at everyone in the conference room and slowly said, "Whether it's simply eliminating mutated beasts or purely defending farmland, both are one-sided. I've decided to lead the soldiers to harvest the crops first. The most important thing now is to fill the granaries. As for killing mutated beasts, that can be done later! There are still six months left, which should be enough time to kill mutated beasts!"
Everyone present was stunned. They wondered if the Deputy City Lord had lost her mind. The crops hadn't even grown tall yet, so how could they be harvested? People say that pregnancy makes one foolish for three years, but before even giving birth, the Deputy City Lord had already become foolish.
Yuzhou had hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom had entered the city after its recapture. Therefore, many people did not know what Chang Jianyi's ability was.
Now, those who knew remembered that Chang Jianyi's ability was to accelerate plant growth. Both trees and crops could be ripened.
Chang Jianyi made her decision and then issued instructions: "Immediately mobilize the people who are cultivating the land to come with me to harvest the crops. Yang Chang and Guo Pinming, take the soldiers to protect our harvest. Lu Xian, take the soldiers to monitor the movements of the mutated beasts. That's it. There's no time to delay; let's act immediately!"
The meeting concluded, and the City Lord's Mansion immediately became busy.
Chu Chaoyan quickly found Chang Jianyi and asked privately, "Aren't you courting death now? You're three months pregnant. Going out to participate in a harvest at this time, if there's even a slight accident, won't you lose the child? How will I face Shen Feng then? You should just stay in the city!"
Chang Jianyi sighed helplessly, took Chu Chaoyan's hand, and said, "It's not that I want to leave the city, but I have to. After all the effort of planting, if we can't harvest the grain, we'll starve for a year, and then Yuzhou will be in chaos! After I leave Yuzhou, you stay in the city and don't go anywhere!"
"What? How can I stay in the city? I need to protect you at all times. Shen Feng told me before he left to make sure to protect you and the child. If you're leaving the city now, I won't stop you, but if I don't follow you, who knows what might happen?" Chu Chaoyan immediately became anxious.
Chang Jianyi tightly grasped Chu Chaoyan's palm and said earnestly, "This matter can only be entrusted to you. I wouldn't mind entrusting it to others, but I know your relationship with Shen Feng. Originally, I wanted to drive you away, but now, I can only acknowledge your status. Shen Feng is out there working hard, I have to go out to accelerate the crops, and my younger brother is still young. Now, the affairs of Yuzhou can only be handed over to you!"
Chu Chaoyan was very conflicted. She only wanted to protect Chang Jianyi's safety, but now she was entrusted with an important task by Chang Jianyi, making her feel like she was being forced into a position.
Chang Jianyi said earnestly to Chu Chaoyan, "Since I consider you family, you must step up at critical moments. Only you can hold down Yuzhou now!"
Chu Chaoyan nodded helplessly and said, "Okay, I understand. Thank you for valuing me, sister."
Upon hearing the address, Chang Jianyi immediately smiled. She was actually only a year older than Shen Feng and a year younger than Chu Chaoyan. Yet, Chu Chaoyan now called her sister, which clearly indicated that she intended to acknowledge her as the legitimate one.
Chang Jianyi left the city with a hundred personal guards, while Yang Chang and Guo Pinming led four thousand men to clear the way. If they encountered mutated beasts, they would deal with them on the spot.
During the siege, the mutated beasts had gathered to attack. However, when it came to ravaging the crops, the numerous mutated beasts dispersed. If they gathered together, many animals would not be able to get enough to eat. Thus, the three hundred thousand mutated beasts spread out across Yuzhou, devouring crops everywhere.
Yang Chang didn't have time to rest. He only briefly met with his two wives at home and left the city without even having time for intimacy.
On the road, Yang Chang often saw fields by the roadside ravaged beyond recognition by mutated beasts, and he couldn't help but sigh.
"It's only the second year of the apocalypse, why are things getting worse? First, floods, and now mutated beasts eating our food. If this continues, when will it end!" Yang Chang complained to Guo Pinming.
Guo Pinming had also been paying attention to the global situation. At this time, he could only shake his head helplessly and explain, "Didn't Yan Jing say that the global mutation was caused by a meteorite impact? Only by retrieving the meteorite can we hope to solve the mutation problem."
Yang Chang shook his head and said helplessly, "It's impossible. There's a magnetic field around the meteorite, and no one can approach it. How can it be salvaged? I think it will just be the apocalypse from now on, and the most important thing is for everyone to save themselves."
Half a day later, Chang Jianyi arrived in the western plains with many cultivating people. This area had not yet been ravaged by mutated beasts, and corn and rice were planted in the fields.
Chang Jianyi silently used her ability. Instantly, the plants within several square kilometers began to grow wildly. Rice began to ear, and corn began to pollinate. In just a few minutes, the crops in the fields were ready for harvest.
However, this ability also had its drawbacks. Not only did the crops grow wildly under the accelerated growth, but weeds and shrubs also grew along with them. These would compete for nutrients in the soil.
"Begin harvesting. Take all the harvested seeds back to Yuzhou to dry, and after accurate statistics, store them!" Luo Qing commanded beside Chang Jianyi. Luo Qing now stayed by Chang Jianyi's side, and no matter what danger there was, Luo Qing would rush forward to block it.
The soldiers were fine; many had seen Chang Jianyi use her ability, and some had heard of it even if they hadn't seen it. Now, witnessing plants grow before their eyes, they couldn't help but marvel.
As for the farmers, seeing the crops in the fields grow so rapidly, they were stunned. When they learned that Chang Jianyi's ability caused this, they treated Chang Jianyi as a deity.
"Deputy City Lord, you are Shen Nong reborn! With you in Yuzhou, we will never go hungry!" some ignorant farmers began to kowtow to Chang Jianyi.
Chang Jianyi quickly hid in the car. She stroked her slightly bulging belly and murmured to herself, "Child, you must become strong in the future. If you can kill all the mutated beasts when you grow up, that would be the true solution to the crisis."