137. The Supply Exchange Plan!

“A common man is innocent, yet possessing a treasure brings him trouble. This crystal core we have is useless to us; what good is it to keep it? Can it be mightier than the gun in our hands?” The fishmonger shook his head.

Hearing this, the group felt a pang of regret but all agreed with the fishmonger’s words.

In the apocalypse, a gun is worth more than anything.

“All right, we’re going to start clearing out the zombies and scavenging supplies to survive. This large area here is the territory assigned to us. We must clear all the zombies within it in a few months!” The fishmonger held a map in his hands.

The map outlined the area drawn by Xue Feng.

Xue Feng’s demand was simple: clear the area within three months.

If there were zombies they couldn’t handle, they could fire a signal flare.

When bullets ran out, the crystal cores could be brought back to Xue Feng’s base in exchange for more.

Next, Xue Feng and his team located three other factions.

Two of them were relatively stable groups who agreed to the Homeland Plan.

They agreed to join forces in clearing the zombies.

Their own supplies were running low, and the zombies were growing stronger day by day.

If they didn’t act quickly, going outside might become impossible.

Moreover, Xue Feng set terms: one hundred crystal cores for one rifle and one hundred bullets.

Through this barter system, Xue Feng managed to gather seven or eight hundred crystal cores, which was an unexpected boon.

At the same time, Xue Feng exchanged intelligence with these groups.

Both survivor factions had a few gifted individuals who had helped them persist thus far.

However, their bases were small and conservative, rarely venturing out to scavenge, so their knowledge was limited.

The third faction was a band of violent thugs.

When Xue Feng’s group passed through their territory, these thugs launched a direct attack, attempting to seize Xue Feng’s armored vehicle.

For such reckless fools, Xue Feng decisively wiped them out.

After two more days of effort, Xue Feng had identified all the factions large and small within Jiang City.

There were more survivors clustered in the eastern part of the city, with seven factions.

The south and north had fewer groups—only two each.

This was partly due to zombie outbreaks and the northern hospital luring many survivors away.

As for the west, it was Xue Feng’s own territory.

Previously, neighboring factions either joined him or were eliminated.

In total, there were only six or seven hundred survivors in Jiang City.

Among them, just over forty were gifted individuals.

This was once a city of hundreds of thousands!

Of course, there might still be scattered survivors in unknown locations.

Perhaps many who lived had fled to the outskirts.

Xue Feng was not surprised by this outcome.

Months had passed since the apocalypse began.

Anyone still alive was already fortunate.

“Now that we’ve contacted all the survivors in Jiang City, the Homeland Plan should be feasible. But who truly wants to eradicate the zombies, and who is merely compromising? That remains uncertain.”

At night, Shen Ruyan analyzed the situation in Xue Feng’s office.

Xue Feng drove the apocalypse war vehicle, each member clad in bulletproof vests and armed with rifles.

Their mere presence struck fear into other survivors, who dared not confront Xue Feng head-on—except for the foolish.

“That’s the concern. If anyone tries to cheat or shirk responsibility, the Homeland Plan will be delayed, jeopardizing next year’s crops, and possibly leading to failure,” Xue Feng nodded.

The Homeland Plan was initially a noble design.

But it required everyone’s sincere commitment to eradicate the zombies.

Who would willingly risk their lives for such a cause?

“Sir, do you know about the Native Americans?” Shen Ruyan suddenly brightened, as if struck by an idea.

“Of course, the indigenous peoples of the Americas,” Xue Feng replied.

Though now the Americas were dominated by whites and blacks, two centuries ago, they were all Native Americans.

Millions were slaughtered, leaving only a small fraction alive.

Even now, they remained strictly controlled.

They were confined to barren lands under the pretense of protecting their traditions.

In reality, it was to keep them living primitively, barred from modernization.

“Back then, the whites used many means to eliminate the Native Americans, deliberately spreading smallpox and other diseases. But the true cause of the mass killings was the bounty!” Shen Ruyan spoke with anger for the Native Americans’ plight.

“I understand. You want them to hunt zombies in exchange for supplies!” Xue Feng nodded, instantly grasping the plan.

The whites once paid bounties for each Native American scalp.

“Exactly. The crystal cores are useful to us too. Now we can let survivors exchange crystal cores for supplies,” Shen Ruyan proposed.

Trading crystal cores for supplies!

Xue Feng frowned thoughtfully.

The importance of crystal cores was undeniable.

Yet supplies were equally vital—these were lifesaving in the apocalypse.

“We have some surplus supplies. I heard the potato crops are doing well; we can expand potato cultivation and have them trade potatoes for crystal cores,” Shen Ruyan, having done thorough research, suggested.

Besides potatoes, they could inventory their stock.

Identify items they didn’t need but were vital to other survivors.

“Right. And solar panels—many here are obsolete and unused, so we can trade those as well,” Xue Feng smiled.

The base’s energy system had fully transitioned to crystal core power.

After being modified by Nie Xiaoyu, the crystal core generator was more efficient, powering the entire base.

No longer reliant on solar panels or diesel generators.

Though obsolete to Xue Feng’s base, these were luxury items to other survivors.

Everyone was modern; who wouldn’t want electricity?

“You’re brilliant, sir! I never thought of that,” Shen Ruyan sincerely praised.

“Ha, did you really not think of it, or were you just guiding me to say it?” Xue Feng teased.

A good subordinate always flatters.

“I truly didn’t think of it—I’m too dumb!” Shen Ruyan did not lie.

She had forgotten the solar panels.

Her mind first went to food and medicine, overlooking items that were equally important to others.

“Fools must be punished. How should I punish you?” Xue Feng grinned mischievously.