Shen Feng, after hearing the other party's angry words this time, did not drive him away as he had with Yue Hengyi. Instead, he began to listen to the other party's plan with great interest, because this plan spoke to his heart. What he lacked most now was manpower. If the other party could help him establish a large number of food production bases, wouldn't that mean he could produce enough food in the future?
"Are you really so short of grain? I remember when you controlled Southeast Asia, you had already produced a large amount of grain. It's unlikely you have no stock at all. You're looking for me so urgently, did something happen to your subordinates as well?" Shen Feng was still a little uneasy.
"I did have some grain saved before, because I knew how important grain was, so I saved a year's worth. But I stored all this grain in Southeast Asia. As a result, when the volcano erupted, countless volcanoes buried my granaries. I haven't found them yet!" Wang Ao Ye said helplessly.
Wang Ao Ye was originally a figure of authority. He controlled many bases in Southeast Asia, so he had great influence in these places. Therefore, grain production and energy transactions were under his control, and he made a fortune. Unfortunately, things are unpredictable. One volcanic eruption destroyed the business he had worked hard for for 10 years.
At the moment of the eruption of the Tambora volcano in Southeast Asia, almost half the earth heard the roar of the eruption. Many nearby islands were buried by lava, and countless volcanic ash fell on cities, burying them. It was almost impossible to find these granaries hidden in the cities.
Shen Feng thought for a moment and said, "I think the negotiation you mentioned can proceed, but I have a few conditions that you must agree to! If you don't agree to this, none of the things you've said can go on. Whether you call me a hypocrite or a scoundrel, I will not agree to your plan!"
"What conditions do you have? Just say them. I can act as the representative for the people of the seven southeastern provinces. You just need to speak with confidence." Wang Ao Ye said quickly. Currently, the major cities in their hands were basically out of food. If they did not receive additional food supplies, they would really be finished. Therefore, after much thought, they could only cooperate with Shen Feng, so no matter what conditions Shen Feng proposed, they would not refuse.
"I want to be the leader of the South! This is the first condition. As long as this condition is met, all subsequent negotiations will be easy." Shen Feng said with a smile.
"Leader? You actually have such ambitions. It seems I really misjudged you. I thought you were a person without great ambition, but now it seems your ambition is not small at all!" Wang Ao Ye said this after hearing Shen Feng's condition.
Shen Feng, however, said, "Since you need me to provide grain, you should also show some sincerity. The current leader is just a title. If you are not willing to give up even this title, it means your so-called plan is deceiving me!"
"No problem, I agree to this. From now on, you are the leader of the South. I dare not speak for other places, but south of the Yangtze River, you are the absolute leader!" Wang Ao Ye agreed immediately.
Now, Shen Feng saw a turning point in the situation, so he could not let go of this opportunity to demand benefits. If he could mobilize the resources of the seven southeastern provinces to build his food production base, it would be a very good choice.
As for the status of leader, although Shen Feng had set his sights on it, in the end, it was just a matter of a title. Reputation was always an external thing. In life, one should focus on immediate interests.
Wang Ao Ye added, "If you are not at ease, you can send people to take over our territory in the South at any time. We guarantee that there will be no complaints."
Upon hearing this suggestion, Shen Feng said, "No need. Even if I send people to manage, it will probably be useless. As the saying goes, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Now, I am not a strong dragon, and your people in each province are the local snakes. To have so much territory belong to me by appointing officials is basically a dream!"
Shen Feng knew very well that it was not easy to gain territory. Unless one had strong power, even if one gained some territory without corresponding strength, that territory would not ultimately belong to oneself.
He understood this principle because many officials who had gone to Dian Province before had been bribed.
When Dian Province was facing a crisis of extinction, it had already expressed its submission to Shen Feng, and Shen Feng had sent people to manage it. However, he later discovered that he had been deceived, because the people he sent had eventually been won over by the local snakes.
Everyone has their own selfish desires, and everyone considers themselves first. After consideration, these people discovered what they needed, which was money, power, and reputation.
Although Dian Province was now nominally Shen Feng's territory, effective management was not easy.
This was because the people of Dian Province corrupted the officials sent by Shen Feng. These people had been in Yuzhou before. Due to the strict management of Shen Feng and Chang Jianyi, these people had no opportunity for enjoyment.
But later, after Shen Feng took away a large number of administrative personnel due to the solidification of power in Yuzhou, the opportunity for these people to enjoy themselves arrived.
Some people wanted money, so the people of Dian Province gave them gold and jewelry. If they wanted beautiful women, there were plenty of women who would come to them. Some people wanted to experience power, so when they went out, there were always people fawning over them, and applause everywhere they went.
At this point, Shen Feng could almost no longer command these people who had been sent out, so he understood one thing: it was basically impossible to expect the people sent out to remain true to their original intentions.
Therefore, after understanding this, Shen Feng no longer wanted to agree to Wang Ao Ye's conditions.
"Then what is your second condition? You might as well tell me now!" Wang Ao Ye was also asking Shen Feng about his other conditions.
"My second condition is not too difficult. At least all of you can achieve it!" Shen Feng said, "This condition is that you need to provide a large amount of rare metals, and I will provide grain to you. You go and take down Jiuquan and repair it."
"What do you want Jiuquan for? It used to be the center for launching rockets. It's probably been abandoned by now. Even if you get it, it's useless. Are you really not going to tell us your true purpose?" Wang Ao Ye did not understand when he heard Shen Feng's condition.
Currently, the northern regions were basically devastated, and the winters were particularly long. The south had three to four months of thawing time, during which they could barely grow crops like beans. However, in the north, it was almost impossible to grow beans.
So Wang Ao Ye was very confused, not understanding what Shen Feng wanted Jiuquan for, as there were not many industries there.
Shen Feng said, "I often communicate with many scientists, and they have told me one thing: to completely solve the crisis of the apocalypse, it is necessary to throw the meteorites into space. And I plan to accomplish this great task, for which I need a space launch base. The closest space launch base to me is Jiuquan. I don't plan to make a big fuss about it now, so this matter will be handed over to you!"
"Meaning you plan to launch rockets? The world has not launched rockets for more than ten years. What if you fail at this time?" Wang Ao Ye asked.
Shen Feng said indifferently, "If we fail, we will try again. In any case, people should not continue to experience this kind of life. It is now the Great Ice Age, and there are basically no mutated plants or animals. Taking advantage of this time to salvage the meteorites and launch them into space is the only way to end the apocalypse for humanity."
"I see. Shen Feng, I admit that my vision was narrow. I didn't expect you to have such a great plan. I will definitely support this plan of yours. By then, we will have completed this great plan together, and we will share some credit!" Wang Ao Ye said quickly.
When Wang Ao Ye came to Yuzhou, he saw many refugees blocked at various traffic intersections. The situation of these refugees was truly tragic. Because there was no food, they could only eat the dead. Their clothes were ragged, and they couldn't even keep warm. Therefore, they could only wait for death to come.
So when Wang Ao Ye saw this scene, he instinctively thought that Shen Feng was abandoning people to die. Otherwise, for so many people, if he had given them some food, they wouldn't have ended up like this.
Therefore, after seeing this scene, Wang Ao Ye naturally thought that Shen Feng was a person who sought fame and reputation. In the past, he always used small favors to win people's hearts, but now, at a critical moment, he chose to turn a blind eye. If this was not hypocrisy, what was it?
But now, after hearing Shen Feng's plan, Wang Ao Ye understood that Shen Feng was not a false person. He had a grander plan, but he had never told others about it, which was why people had a wrong perception of Shen Feng.
Shen Feng said helplessly, "Actually, I also want to save people, but my strength is too weak. Also, I am worried that if I accept refugees this time, more people will come to me, so I can only block them. And I don't want to dirty my hands, so I let my subordinates do the dirty work!"
Shen Feng was also speaking his true feelings now. He was not a heartless person, and he could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others. However, he truly lacked the ability to help others at the moment. So he played the role of a turtle hiding in its shell, pretending not to know anything and hiding here, thinking that this matter would pass. He did not expect that the situation would become more and more difficult.
Now, Wang Ao Ye said to Shen Feng, "You have many ideas, but you are accustomed to remaining silent, so others do not know what you are thinking. For example, this time, as long as everyone cooperates sincerely, it will be very simple to solve this problem, and everyone will support you!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Feng gradually understood the thoughts of these people. If it were in the past, although everyone faced great crises, these crises were not fatal. Therefore, people were fighting for themselves and did not want to see others do well. There was a saying that perfectly described this situation: "Afraid that brothers live poorly, but afraid that brothers drive a luxury car."
But now, when everyone faced a fatal threat, they naturally huddled together for warmth. So at this time, it was said that Shen Feng did not trust others. In fact, humans would not stop internal strife until they reached a true dead end.
Therefore, Shen Feng now understood that the other party chose to cooperate only because the situation had changed. If the environment were the same as before, these people would inevitably continue to compete and would not choose to cooperate at this time.