Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Directly under the jurisdiction
Hou Lin and others were very fast. Ye Ning said that after they set off immediately, all the personnel were ready within half an hour and boarded the aircraft flying to the municipality.
Ye Ning's biological clock is very stable. When it was almost time for her to rest, she went straight back to her room to rest. On the contrary, the others were a little excited.
None of the Xisha soldiers had ever set foot in the Central Government Area. Even Hou Lin had only been there once, long ago, for a meeting with Hou Sen. He had never been to the core area of the Central Government Area.
For a long time, the public's understanding of the core area of the Special Administrative Region was quite limited. In daily discussions, the capital area has always been a hot topic, because as the cultural and economic center of Dust Star, the capital area has always attracted much public attention.
Although the federal government center of the Dust Star is the federal government, many areas within the core area are prohibited for ordinary people to visit for security and management reasons.
In terms of science and technology, the Special Administrative Region is mainly committed to solving the long-term and strategic problems of the Dust Star. Most of the scientific research projects are highly confidential, and the research results will not be immediately made public. Therefore, it is difficult for everyone to immediately feel the achievements of the Special Administrative Region's scientific and technological development.
Culturally, the territory focuses more on official and academic activities, with many activities geared towards professionals or specific groups. Consequently, the general public's perception of its cultural development is quite limited. Economically, the territory's revenue primarily relies on federal tax revenue, and due to recent setbacks, it maintains a low profile.
The combination of these factors has resulted in a rather superficial understanding of the Federal Territory. People seem to know everything, but upon closer inspection, details are completely missing.
So everyone felt very excited to be able to go to the Federal Territory this time.
On the other hand, when a large number of aircraft suddenly took off in the Xisha area, the municipality had already received the news.
The news that Ye Ning was heading to the municipality was quickly reported. Within just a few minutes, dozens of senior officials from the municipality were urgently summoned back from different locations.
Although the top leaders tried every possible way to hope that Ye Ning could arrive in the municipality as soon as possible, when the moment really came, everyone was still caught off guard.
Some people immediately grabbed their coats and hurried out; some were at a private party, and their faces changed drastically after receiving the notice. They immediately interrupted the party and rushed to the gathering place; some had already fallen asleep and didn't even have time to change into pajamas. They just put on a coat and hurried over.
In the conference room, those who arrived earlier had already started discussing in low voices:
"Is Lord Ye Ning really here?!"
"They're here. They're on their way. There are more than a dozen aircraft and they're expected to arrive in five hours."
"I've been looking forward to it day and night, and finally she's here!"
…
Dozens of senior officials from the federal regions sat around the conference table, each of them with a complex emotion on their face, but more of it was irrepressible excitement and excitement.
In order to get Ye Ning to come to the municipality, they contacted the Xisha District early on, but both the Xisha District and Ye Ning repeatedly declined.
After finally getting the promise, she suddenly returned to Xisha District, saying that she wanted to have a good rest for a while.
They also lost the initiative and did not establish a good relationship with Ye Ning at the beginning.
They naturally knew that Ye Ning was very dissatisfied with their inaction.
But the affairs of the rebels are by no means as simple as everyone thinks.
On the surface, the rebels held high the banner of resistance to Federation rule, demanding the fair distribution of resources and political rights, but behind the scenes, they were secretly supported by other districts. These districts were dissatisfied with the dominant position of the Federal District within the Federation and attempted to weaken the Federation's influence by supporting the rebels, thereby redistributing the power structure of Dust Star.
Furthermore, the rebels themselves were divided, with different factions pursuing their own agendas. The radicals, advocating for the overthrow of the federal system, resorted to extreme measures to provoke conflict, while the moderates, seeking a peaceful solution, sought dialogue. This ideological divide left the rebels with inconsistent actions, sometimes radical, sometimes moderate. Consequently, peace talks with the rebels were fraught with uncertainty and proved difficult.
The most important thing is that if these problems are not properly resolved, even if the rebels are eliminated, new resistance forces may emerge, so directly solving the rebels will not fundamentally solve the problem.
Furthermore, if the two sides go to war, they will inevitably fall into a state of prolonged internal friction. If conflicts and contradictions continue to escalate, it will not only further trigger social unrest, but may also cause the finally stable Sea Dust Planet to fall back into a state of extreme instability.
By now, they themselves knew that the Federation had lost most of its credibility. Especially after the large-scale removal of pollutants, internal conflicts on Dust Star became extremely prominent.
But as long as Ye Ning is willing to stand with the Federation, the Federation's credibility can be quickly restored.
As a pure human, Ye Ning not only holds a distinguished status but also has made outstanding contributions, enjoying a high prestige on the Sea Dust Planet. With her special status and influence, she can resolve all current issues in the most gentle manner while maintaining the prestige of the Federation.
For years, the Federation has been diligently pursuing interstellar exploration worldwide, but has yet to find a suitable habitable planet. However, they have begun experimenting with terraforming other planets, and Ye Ning's talent for planting has shown great potential in this area. After all, even a harsh environment like Sea Dust Planet has been able to produce plants thanks to her.
Whether they successfully discover a habitable alien planet or successfully transform one, it will greatly alleviate the resource crisis of Dust Star and enhance its overall strength in the early stages of space exploration. This is undoubtedly another kind of success for their interstellar exploration.
Of course, the most important thing is——
Before Ye Ning arrived at the municipality, the municipality had finally managed to arrange everything in a hurry.
Cleaning robots shuttled quickly through the streets, and wherever they went, the ground and walls were immediately as clean as new.
In the air, various robots were flying busily, helping to transport various banners and decorations.
The text and patterns on the banner are made of special fluorescent materials and are clearly visible even at night.
On the other side, the staff were adjusting the holographic projection device. Colorful fireworks bloomed silently in the night sky, like a glittering waterfall. At the moment they disappeared, countless tiny light and shadow particles could be seen.
At the same time, carefully designed neon welcome slogans and badge icons representing Ye Ning will be accurately presented at specific locations. These slogans and icons can not only automatically adjust their angles as Ye Ning's aircraft approaches, but can also interact synchronously with the cheers of people around, ensuring that as soon as Ye Ning's aircraft enters the core area of the municipality, it will be surrounded by this warm and shocking welcome atmosphere.
Before Ye Ning set off, he posted the relevant news on his official account.
In addition, with the sudden big move in the Federal Territory, it was almost certain that she would arrive in the Federal Territory in the early morning.
For a time, social networks were flooded with news, and everyone in the federal district was excitedly discussing the matter.
Those who could live in the Directly Controlled Area for a long time were naturally not ordinary people. Especially in the core area, the vast majority of residents were government officials, scientific researchers and their families, and members of the federal army equipped with the most advanced technology on the Dust Planet.
The rebels were right about one thing: those who lived here were born to enjoy the best life on Shanghai Dust Star.
But no one thinks there is anything wrong with this. They are the most outstanding elites on the entire Sea Dust Star and the group of people who have made the most outstanding contributions on Sea Dust Star.
The diligent work of civil servants ensures the stability of Dust Planet's social order; the tireless research and exploration of scientific researchers continuously advances Dust Planet's technological development; and the members of the Federation military protect Dust Planet's peace with their own flesh and blood. It is precisely because of their presence that Dust Planet has been able to successfully navigate this desperate situation to this day.
They've been working tirelessly since birth, striving for a better future for Dust Star. While those who live here enjoy the most comfortable lives, they also shoulder the most arduous tasks and responsibilities.
At the same time, the territories have to deal with doubts and pressure from all sides. So whenever there are voices of envy, jealousy, or even hatred towards them from the outside world, they usually just laugh it off, because they know that everything they have is directly proportional to their efforts.
The autonomous region has done far more than the public realizes, but due to the current situation on Dust Star, it is impossible to make all of that information public.
Those people only care about immediate interests and have no idea how much effort the people of the Direct Administrative Region have put into the future of Sea Dust Star. They also don't know how important what the Direct Administrative Region does is to the future of Sea Dust Star.
Given limited resources, no matter how hard we try to increase revenue and reduce expenditure, it will be a drop in the bucket and will not fundamentally solve the problem. Developing new channels for acquiring resources is the only hope to escape this predicament and lead Sea Dust Star to a bright future.
Of course, we can’t blame them entirely. After all, for many people, they can only focus on the little piece of land in front of them.
Therefore, everyone sincerely hopes that Ye Ning can come to the direct-controlled area as soon as possible to help them solve their current difficulties, so that they can work hard for the future of Haichen Star without any worries as before!
Four hours later, Ye Ning's aircraft finally arrived over the municipality.
As they entered the territory of the municipality and continued to descend, they could see the welcome banner below.
It was clear that the culture of the municipality was quite high, as the welcome slogans that appeared every once in a while were all different. As they approached the core area of the municipality, a flower path paved with holographic projections appeared in the sky.
The exquisite design amazed everyone and they wanted to take pictures of the bracelet.
But they were also throwing their seductive glances at a blind man, because Ye Ning was sleeping soundly and saw nothing.
The aircraft was very stable. In fact, because it was in the air, the slight buzzing sound in her ears was like white noise, soothing to her.
And before leaving, Silos attached his mental power to the big pink pearl he had given her before.
Ye Ning placed the big pearl on the head of the bed. When she went to sleep, she could always feel the faint scent of the ocean, and her sleep quality improved dramatically.
When the aircraft was about to land, Hou Lin tiptoed into the room and confirmed that Ye Ning showed no signs of waking up before he carefully retreated.
Then he confirmed, "Inform them that the welcoming event can be canceled."
When Ye Ning was about to go to bed, she had already told the people in the direct jurisdiction that there was no need to prepare any welcoming ceremony. She would get off the aircraft the next day after waking up. She even said goodnight to everyone on the "Source of Life" app and her own account.
Since the last decision to increase the promotion efforts, Ye Ning has paid more attention to the "Source of Life and Interest" APP. He makes time to show up every day and has planned many activities online and offline.
The effect was quite good, and she was obviously getting gold coins faster.
In her comment section, everyone was speculating why she chose to come at night. The speculation with the most likes was that she must have chosen to fly to the Federal Territory during sleeping time in order not to affect her work progress during the day.
Ye Ning's schedule was always very full, so this reason seemed reasonable and well-founded. The more everyone thought about it, the more moved they were. They all expressed their desire to follow Ye Ning's example and work harder to build Haichen Star, so as not to let her expectations and efforts down.
Everyone was immersed in admiration and emotion for Ye Ning.
Gu Su turned and walked to the communication device, and once again communicated seriously with the other party: "We have all felt everyone's enthusiasm. Go and rest first. When Master Ye Ning wakes up tomorrow, we will notify everyone immediately."
Upon hearing this, the person in charge of the welcoming ceremony said to those around him with an embarrassed look on his face, "Deputy District Chief, all our preparations are complete, the media is already here, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the event. Are we just going to put it on hold?"
Deputy District Chief Niu Ling glanced at them and said, "Then let them wake up Master Ye Ning and quickly come to our welcome ceremony?"
Everyone was stunned. That was definitely not possible. Before Lady Ye Ning came, she had specially sent someone to tell them that she might sleep in the aircraft tonight.
If she fell asleep, they could just let her rest and come to greet her when she woke up tomorrow.
The person who delivered the message was both considerate and polite.
But what if Ye Ning said that and she wasn't asleep and wanted to get off the aircraft? They couldn't let her see an empty flight port after getting off.
Everyone discussed it for two minutes and quickly gave a reply.
Gu Su looked at the message and whispered, "They said that Ye Ning should rest and they will stay down there. Ye Ning can go down anytime she wants."
Hou Lin tutted his words a few times, "They must have worked so hard."
Hou Lin knew that they would definitely put on a respectful attitude on the surface.
The people of the Federation have always been arrogant. Unlike the arrogance displayed by the Gaojiang District, their arrogance comes from the bones. It is a sense of superiority that radiates from the inside out. Even if ordinary people spend their whole lives, they will never be able to learn this kind of superior attitude.
Including the last time the people from the Direct Administrative Region came to see Ye Ning, they also came with a group of people looking at her with scrutiny.
Hou Lin couldn't help but snort inwardly. The reason the rebels had won so much support in this matter was simply because they were so arrogant, making enemies everywhere, and completely disregarding the feelings of others. While the rebels had fueled the current situation, their actions were equally to blame.
Gu Su also said some words of concern on behalf of Ye Ning.
Before leaving, Lady Ye Ning repeatedly reminded everyone that if she rested first, she must let everyone else rest first. She could feel everyone's thoughts, but she cared more about everyone's health.
The people around Ye Ning said it so tactfully that they all felt that Ye Ning was truly thoughtful, even considering such small details so thoughtfully. The little emotion that had arisen from standing here waiting instantly vanished.
In fact, Ye Ning simply wanted to mess with the people in the direct-controlled area.
If they were unprepared to greet her or treated her with disrespect, she would be a target of gossip. Without them having to do anything, Xiru would find an opportunity to tear them apart in public.
But if they don't want to leave room for gossip, they can only send people to guard downstairs as they are doing now.
This can also serve as a preliminary test of their sincerity. If these people are willing to wait here for six or seven hours without complaint, it at least shows that on the surface, they attach great importance to their "distinguished guest".
The next morning, Ye Ning woke up on time.
She slept well last night and is now full of energy and energy.
While brushing her teeth, Ye Ning listened to Hou Lin telling her what happened last night.
She blew bubbles. "So they just stood there all night?"
Hou Lin nodded.
Ye Ning: "They are quite considerate then."
Ye Ning took a look at the toothpaste. It was the new sea salt mint flavor, which had the refreshing feeling of mint and the salty taste of sea salt.
She put the toothpaste aside and said, "I still prefer pure mint-flavored toothpaste."
After Ye Ning packed up, she had breakfast and got off the aircraft on time at eight o'clock in the morning.
In an instant, the cannons blared and colorful confetti flew all over the sky.
Looking around, the flight port was already crowded with eagerly awaited residents of the Federal Territory.
They wore the same uniform representing the Federal Territory, with exquisite silver metal trims on the collar and cuffs, and the exclusive logo of the Federal Territory on the chest, which was a silver olive branch pattern outlined by simple lines, surrounded by blooming branches, as if it contained infinite vitality.
The food in the Directly Administered Territory was really good. Among the crowds of people, she actually saw several people with bloated figures.
Ye Ning's gaze finally fell on their hands. Each of them held a bouquet of flowers or plants. The plants looked lush and leafy, and the flowers were gorgeous. The rich and refreshing scent of plants filled the air, making people feel refreshed as soon as they stepped out of the cabin.
"Lord Ye Ning, welcome to the Directly-Administered Territory."
Ye Ning smiled and took the bouquet handed to her by District Chief Yang Zhou. She sniffed it gently and said, "It smells very good."
It was a bouquet of roses, lilies, and tulips. Even the flowers sent to her by Gaojiang District and Xisha District were merely gifts of flowers grown as a byproduct of other plant cultivation. But these flowers were specifically for viewing.
Ye Ning puffed her nose slightly, thinking that the lingering plant scent was coming from the flowers and plants they held in their hands. But when she took a closer look, she realized that this rich scent was emanating from those seemingly ordinary vents in all directions.
It smells like... mint.
The crowd waved flowers and homemade banners in their hands, and cheers resounded through the sky.
After Ye Ning finished speaking, she began to release her special abilities.
In an instant, a rich and refreshing plant scent quickly spread around with Ye Ning as the center.
Everyone was slightly startled and immediately felt themselves enveloped by the fresh scent of plants.
Everyone felt as if every pore in their body was being gently caressed by a pair of gentle hands, and in the blink of an eye, they were completely relaxed. The scent of the air permeated their nostrils and washed over their bodies, like the scent of morning dew with the fragrance of forest soil, and the vibrant vitality of flowers and plants budding under the warm spring sun. Everyone felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation, happiness, and joy.
Those who had been waiting here all night, feeling a little resentful, had long since vanished without a trace. They felt their sleepiness and irritability swept away, replaced by an indescribable sense of comfort and satisfaction.
The high-ranking officials from the direct-controlled region all focused their attention on Ye Ning. Their eyes and faces were filled with shock and sincere admiration, as if they had suddenly caught a glimpse of the dawn of hope in the vast darkness. The corners of their mouths, which had been slightly gloomy, were now raised, and each face was filled with unconcealable excitement and anticipation.
Ye Ning looked into the distance.
The Directly Controlled Territory was indeed different from the other districts. Even the flight port looked very advanced and full of futuristic technology.
The dome of the entire port is actually made of a transparent material. The color inside is constantly changing with the light and temperature, like a colorful aurora sky.
Looking around, the surrounding buildings are all towering into the sky. The facades of these buildings do not seem to be made of traditional metal or brick materials, but instead seem to be covered with some kind of light-reflecting film.
The actual welcome ceremony did not last very long. Ye Ning shook hands with them one by one, took a group photo, and then followed the district chief into the car they had arranged in advance.
As per usual practice, their people personally checked everyone, and all those who were going to get on the bus were also scanned full body.
This time, Ye Ning not only brought soldiers with him, but also all kinds of weapons and equipment.
The soldiers filed out, and in just five minutes, they moved all the things down and got on the newly made armored vehicles.
They moved quickly, without even looking around, which attracted some attention from people in the direct jurisdiction.
It was the first time that Ye Ning saw the district chief in person. She remembered that Gu Yu had said before that the district chief was a mountain goat orc and the deputy district chief was a buffalo orc.
In terms of appearance, you can actually see some racial characteristics. The district chief looks thin and agile, while the deputy district chief looks burly.
The two district heads were sitting in a car with her, and the road they were passing had been closed in advance.
Along the way, Yang Zhou introduced the situation of the direct-controlled area to her.
Ye Ning nodded from time to time to respond to him.
After arriving in the city, there are tall buildings everywhere.
Brightly colored electronic screens on the walls rotated, displaying various welcome and promotional slogans. Her image was also projected holographically into the air, a documentary she had previously filmed about planting.
Occasionally, a hovercraft would slowly pass by in the sky, with specially made welcome banners hanging below.
"We've prepared a special residence for you. Please go and stay there. It's equipped with the most advanced smart facilities. If there's anything you're not used to, please let us know."
Behind Yang Zhou, a long suspended train was passing quickly in the sky somewhere in the distance.
Ye Ning leaned against the car window and said, "The Directly Controlled Territory and the Xisha District are very different."
Compared to the Xisha District she had first seen, the Directly Controlled Area was a completely different world. Everywhere here was filled with a sense of futuristic technology, and the Xisha District, despite its significant development, was still far from being comparable to the Directly Controlled Area.
There may be environmental reasons, such as the strong winds and sand in the Xisha area, which prevents buildings from being too high. But more importantly, it is a question of overall strength. After all, before she appeared, the Xisha area was just a garbage dump.
Yang Zhou spoke gently, "With your help, the Xisha District has made great progress. The Federation is also developing a series of comprehensive and detailed support plans for these impoverished areas."
Ye Ning became interested and turned to look at him, "For example?"
Yang Zhou paused for a moment before continuing, "For example, we'll continue to increase support for infrastructure construction in various districts, including laying high-speed maglev tracks. We'll also prioritize and support educational resources, sending outstanding scientific researchers and teachers to provide training and help them build advanced laboratories and modern schools..."
Ye Ning nodded absentmindedly.
Yang Zhou noticed her absent-mindedness and said directly, "Master Ye Ning, I know you all feel that the Directly Controlled Area has taken up a lot of resources but has not done anything tangible for everyone."
He paused slightly, looking at Ye Ning with a look of determination and helplessness in his eyes. "It's undeniable that the Special Administrative Region has invested a huge amount of resources in space exploration. After so many years, it seems that there have been no immediate results. This has dissatisfied many people and even triggered protests from the rebels and doubts from other regions."
"But please consider this: Dust Planet's resources are limited, and the crisis of resource depletion is imminent. If we don't proactively explore the universe and search for new resources and living space, we will be doomed."
"Although our exploration work has not yet brought direct material rewards, the technological breakthroughs we have achieved in the process have already significantly changed our lives. These advanced weapons, intelligent transportation, and high-speed aircraft you see here were originally developed to meet the needs of space exploration, but have now become powerful tools to improve our lives."
"These scientific and technological achievements brought about by space exploration are indeed concentrated in the autonomous regions. We also understand that people in other regions have not benefited equally, but have to bear the burden of resource consumption, which inevitably makes people feel unfair. However, this is only a phased issue in development. Space exploration is an extremely complex and high-risk undertaking, requiring a large amount of concentrated resources in the early stages. The autonomous regions have more complete scientific research facilities and talent pool. Implementing the results first is simply to quickly verify and optimize these technologies."
"Once these technologies are mature and stable, we will immediately roll them out to the entire Dust Planet. For example, the high-efficiency energy conversion technology we're currently developing stems from research into interstellar energy during space exploration. If successful, it will not only resolve Dust Planet's energy crisis but also allow every region to utilize cleaner, cheaper space energy."
Yang Zhou looked at Ye Ning with a determined gaze. "Our goal has never been to monopolize the results or enjoy them selfishly. Instead, we want to open a path towards a sustainable future for all people on the Sea Dust Star."
Yang Zhou's words were both sincere and reasonable. This was also the original intention of all the people on Haichen Star to pool their collective strength and work together to explore the universe.
Even in his words, one could feel his anxiety and worry.
Everyone's dissatisfaction with the federal district seemed to have dissipated a lot with his explanation.
However, Ye Ning also looked at him and said, "Everyone understands the significance of interstellar exploration, but after so many years, apart from the rapid development of the Directly Administered Territory, other places have hardly changed."
Yang Zhou nodded solemnly. "Lord Ye Ning, your question hits the nail on the head. We're also aware that there are obvious shortcomings in the translation and popularization of previous exploration results. This is because we've always viewed the issue from the macro perspective of resource allocation and regional development. There are already significant differences between regions in scientific research foundations, talent pools, and economic strength. If the latest research results are distributed across the board without any plan, it will inevitably lead to the strong becoming stronger and the weak becoming weaker, further widening the development gap between regions, which is extremely detrimental to the overall stability and balanced development of Dust Star. That's why we have repeatedly postponed the announcement of new results."
He paused and continued, "But don't worry, we're already working on solutions to these problems. Next, we'll form a dedicated team comprised of multidisciplinary experts to conduct in-depth research on various space exploration-derived technologies. We'll then develop customized technology promotion and application plans based on the specific conditions of each region."
As they were talking, they were almost reaching the residence they had arranged for Ye Ning.
Yang Zhou: "Regarding the legislation related to pure humans, it has been included in the official agenda of the Federal Legislative Revision Committee. In three days, the committee will hold a special meeting in an open and transparent manner according to strict legal procedures. Pure humans from other districts will also come by then. You can rest well for a few days in the federal district."
Ye Ning looked at him, "The people I brought——"
He actually had a somewhat refined look, and with his gold-rimmed glasses, he looked quite different from the image of a powerful and decisive leader in a federally administered region. Behind his glasses, his dark eyes looked gentle and intelligent, adding a touch of scholarly grace to his demeanor.
On the contrary, the deputy mayor of the municipality always gives people the impression that he is not very smart.
However, Ye Ning never judges people based on their appearance. Appearance can be disguised and whitewashed, and even the most sincere appearance may just be a misleading illusion.
Yang Zhou laughed and said, "Don't worry, we have already made all the arrangements."
Ye Ning brought not only the military, but also hundreds of researchers and professors specially selected from Xisha District and Gaojiang District. These people are the elites in the scientific research fields of the two districts and play an important role in their development.
Before coming here, she simply thought that the Federal Territory was a leader in technological development, and that there was much to learn and draw upon, perhaps even bringing new opportunities for the development of both districts. Now that she had personally visited the Federal Territory, she felt this was even more necessary.
The number of soldiers she brought this time was several times more than before. In addition to her own safety, she also wanted to take advantage of the federal army's training.
It was often said that the Federation Army was the most qualified and capable army on Dust Star. This capability encompassed not only physical strength but also intelligence and weaponry.
Ye Ning felt that they still needed to be exposed to different training methods. After all, everyone had their own strengths, and it was best to learn from each other's strengths and make up for their weaknesses.
Researchers and professors will arrive in the Directly Controlled Area today. The Directly Controlled Area has always been a confidential area, and even previous external research and exchange activities have not involved the core area.
But they are now in the core area.
Ye Ning thought of something and asked again, "Why didn't I see Chairman Lu Tai today?"
Yang Zhou explained, "Chairman Lu Tai has been seriously ill recently and has been in a coma. He has been receiving treatment in the hospital. Otherwise, he would definitely attend such an important event as welcoming you."
Ye Ning said thoughtfully, "Chairman Lu Tai seems to be always ill."
Yang Zhou: "It's an old problem, all caused by illnesses from my youth."
Ye Ning: "Is it because of Emperor Long?"
Ye Ning took the initiative to mention Emperor Long. A flash of surprise crossed Yang Zhou's face, and he subconsciously looked at Long Qi who was sitting next to her.
Long Qi raised his eyes and glanced at him indifferently.
Yang Zhou immediately felt a heavy sense of oppression. He subconsciously associated Long Qi with someone in his mind, and his heart suddenly shrank.
Yang Zhou subconsciously raised his hand to adjust his glasses. After calming down, he returned his gaze to Ye Ning, his tone tinged with nostalgia, "The Emperor Dragon was indeed powerful. Back then, everyone tried their best to fight against him. Chairman Lu Tai was the first to bear the brunt of the fight, going into dangerous situations many times and confronting the Emperor Dragon head-on. Those battles were too brutal, so even if he survived by chance, his body would be covered in wounds."
Ye Ning nodded: "Then I will go to the hospital with Long Qi to see him tomorrow."
Yang Zhou paused slightly, and Niu Ling subconsciously looked at Yang Zhou.
Ye Ning looked at them, "Is it inconvenient?"
Yang Zhou: "Chairman Lu Tai is in the intensive care unit now, I'm afraid I can't talk to you."
If he hadn't said he was in the intensive care unit, Ye Ning wouldn't have been so interested. If he was in the intensive care unit, then he should have turned back into his beast form?
She remembered Lu Tai saying that he didn't like changing back into animal form, but she still wanted to see Lu Tortoise.
Ye Ning's face showed a look of concern. "In that case, we should go and see him. Chairman Lu Tai helped me a lot last time. If he is seriously ill, I can also go and see if there is anything I can do to help."
help?
The two looked at each other.
Hou Lin interrupted and said, "Is there anything to hesitate about? Lady Ye Ning has treated many soldiers recently. Her willingness to help is something that many people would love to have."
Yang Zhou immediately said, "Of course, but I originally planned another tour for you tomorrow. Please decide when you want to go and I'll find someone else to arrange it."
The matter was settled, and they arrived at the residence arranged for Ye Ning in the municipality.
Is it a huge castle manor surrounded by high-rise buildings?
The gate of the manor is in typical Gothic style, with a towering spire and exquisitely carved ironwork. The surface is made of special metal materials. It is retro, luxurious and beautiful, while also having high-strength fire and weapon resistance.
The main part of the castle is made of marble, and the exterior walls are covered with exquisite reliefs. The arched windows are decorated with transparent crystal glass and colored glass, making it look particularly classical.
A lot of grass seeds were also scattered on the large lawn outside.
But because it is winter now, the grass seeds show no signs of sprouting.
But there is a huge glass house in the front, which is filled with blooming flowers.
Yang Ding explained the situation here in detail to them, "This is the only retro building left in the Directly Controlled Area. The environment here is good, the surroundings are open and quiet, and it is also close to the Directly Controlled Area's military and government buildings. It can guarantee the safety of Lord Ye Ning to the greatest extent possible."
"There are many patrol robots deployed around the area. They patrol and monitor the surrounding area 24 hours a day. Once they detect anything unusual, they will immediately sound an alarm and capture the abnormal person."
"We have a private butler for everyone. If you need anything, you can talk to the private butler."
To understand Ye Ning's preferences, they even sent someone to conduct in-depth research on her. Unfortunately, Ye Ning was surrounded by a tight circle, and she didn't have any obvious preferences when she went out. When they asked directly, they were told not to prepare anything. So they had to look elsewhere.
Even if Ye Ning cannot fall in love with the Direct-Administered Region directly and stay here forever, she must have a good impression of the Direct-Administered Region.
As soon as the morning photo was released, his approval rating rose by 2 percentage points.
The two sides contacted each other, and everyone, including those brought by Ye Ning, was arranged to go. The level of consideration was no less than that of Xisha District or Gaojiang District.
After everyone in the federal district had left, they sent people to conduct a thorough carpet search of the entire house, leaving no corner untouched.
While they were checking inside, Ye Ning simply took everyone to stand on the lawn outside the manor.
She squatted on the ground and dug the soil with the small shovel in her hand.
Le Song squatted beside her and looked at her.
Gu Yu stood behind her and held an umbrella for her.
The umbrella was not big, but it was just enough to completely cover Ye Ning.
Ye Ning pinched the soil with her fingers. The soil was soft and sticky, with moderate moisture. There was also some fine sand and gravel mixed in it. One could even clearly see some black humus distributed in the soil.
Ye Ning: "Even the soil here is very fertile."
Hou Lin nodded and said, "When I got off the aircraft, I actually saw several fat guys."
It can't be that you get fat from drinking nutrient solution. Even if that thing improves the taste, it doesn't have the effect of making you fat.
There is a shortage of supplies on the Sea Dust Star, but people value ability. Even Hou Sen maintains daily exercise. It is normal for everyone to be thin and agile. It is rare to have such a high body fat percentage.
Ye Ning: "Just ask them directly later."
Hou Lin: "Anyway, life in the Directly Controlled Territory is definitely more affluent than we imagined. It's really a waste to let them enjoy such a good life."
The private butler they arranged was standing far away under the arched flower door. When he saw Hou Lin looking at him, he immediately gave him a friendly smile.
Hou Lin couldn't help but frown. He suspected that the municipality deliberately let these people stay here in order to seduce Ye Ning with their beauty.
The people in this house are all male orcs of different types, and each one is more handsome than the other.
He hadn't considered himself ugly, but standing here, he looked... dull and lackluster. Hou Lin silently straightened his clothes; he still had to clean up for lunch. Otherwise, standing next to Ye Ning like this would be somewhat embarrassing for her.
Ye Ning actually doesn’t like such a big house. It’s too big and empty, and her words echo.
Ye Ning put the soil into a box and handed it to Le Song.
Le Song quickly put the sample away and handed a clean handkerchief to Ye Ning.
Ye Ning carefully wiped her fingers and the shovel clean and put the shovel back into her pocket.
"Since they're not urging me to plant, let's take advantage of this time to rest and go for a stroll."
Gu Su: "They sent a new schedule."
The two days were mainly spent visiting some famous attractions in the Federal Territory. In the afternoon, we visited the Federal Territory History Museum.
There were also these activities when I was in Gaojiang District before, but Ye Ning was eager to upgrade quickly at that time, so he had no time to visit.
Tomorrow morning, I will go to the hospital to visit Lu Tai first. The rest of the time, I will follow the previously arranged tour route.
Although it is a free activity, it still needs to be arranged in advance so that the area that Ye Ning wants to visit can be blocked off to ensure that Ye Ning will not be disturbed by others.
Hou Lin: "What do they mean? They were so anxious to get you here, but now that you're here, it doesn't seem like they're in a rush?"
Ye Ning laughed, "I can't just turn up the intensity right away."
The other party was trying to buy time and keep her here. Or maybe he wanted to ask her for something later and was just trying to boil the frog in warm water first. It was possible.
In short, we must not be careless.
She still remembered that Ye Nan had told her not to go to the federal district now and not to get involved in the affairs of the Federation and the rebels.
When he said this, it seemed as if he knew something but couldn't tell her.
She had tried to contact him again some time ago. After Ye Nan confirmed that she was coming to the Directly-Administered Region, he didn't say anything else. He just repeatedly told her to finish her business here as soon as possible and return to the Xisha District.
It seemed that because of her coming here, the time for purely human legislation was quickly determined.
In this way, she might be able to see Ye Nan in three days.
Gu Yu: "Ye Ning's appearance here has already helped them solve their urgent problem."
He looked at Ye Ning, "District Chief Xiru has been contacting us urgently because of this matter."
After Ye Ning came to the municipality, the person she was most worried about was Xiru.
He also knew that the direct-controlled area was the first to capture a fusion orc. Ye Ning had said this herself, and no matter what tricks the direct-controlled area had used, Ye Ning had to keep his promise.
But some time ago, Ye Ning first expressed his dissatisfaction with the Federation, and then returned directly to the Xisha District in full view of the public. He has not yet determined the time to go to the Federal Territory. This gave him hope again and made him relax his vigilance on this matter, thinking that Ye Ning would go to the Federal Territory after the election.
I didn't expect that she would suddenly go to the Federal Territory!
It was just one morning, just a group photo, and Yang Zhou, who was standing next to Ye Ning, saw his support rate increase by 2 percentage points.
Yang Zhou is not an ordinary person. If Yang Zhou is like himself, using all kinds of means to win Ye Ning's favor, gain the public's attention to Ye Ning, or even get Ye Ning to stand for him, then the election result is almost self-evident, and the votes will most likely fall into Yang Zhou's hands along with Ye Ning.
There's a concept in social psychology called the recency effect, which states that people tend to remember recent events and people they've interacted with the most recently. So, as long as Ye Ning remained in the Federal Territory, by election day, everyone would only remember Yang Zhou, who was always by her side, and forget about him.
He had painstakingly cultivated his power over the years, finally waiting for Lutai to fall from power due to the rebellion, and the Federation was about to hold a new presidential election. He felt that his goal was within reach, and he could not afford to fail at this crucial moment after years of waiting. Although Yang Zhou was younger than him, his energy and connections were not to be underestimated. If Yang Zhou truly came to power, he would probably never again have the chance to become Federation President.
Whenever Xiru thought about these things the whole day, he couldn't sleep or eat.
So when Xiru learned that Ye Ning was going to the municipality, he sent a message to Gu Yu and others overnight.
If Xiru can become the president of the Federation, he will have to reorganize his power in the Federation. Then the other families in the capital area who have been with him for decades will be his most reliable choices.
At this critical moment, the Tiger Tribe naturally has to contribute.
Gu Su and Gu Yu have received countless communications since they arrived in the municipality.
Ye Ning glanced at the message handed over by Gu Yu and could see that Xiru was really anxious.
Although she didn't like Xiru very much, she also felt that Xiru was quite useful at certain times.
Ye Ning closed the message. "Tell him to rest assured. When he comes to the Federal Territory to participate in the election, you can arrange for him to have a meal with me."
The chairmanship election is just a carrot dangling for the rhetoricians.
In fact, she felt that Xiru was too concerned about her influence, so he was extremely insecure about this matter. That was why he was paranoid that if she was not there, or if she got even slightly closer to someone else, he would definitely fail.
Ye Ning wasn't sure if he would become the same as everyone else in the federal region after becoming the president. After all, his goal was just to become the president of the federation. As for the words he said and the promises he made, they were all for the sake of winning the election.
But it does not prevent them from getting what they need now. At least Xiru is someone who can effectively check and balance the federal government.
Gu Yu replied to the message according to Ye Ning's instructions, and Xiru was instantly overjoyed.
He paced back and forth in the room excitedly, muttering to himself, "Great, great, Master Ye Ning is still on my side!"
The feeling of joy almost overwhelmed Xiru's brain. He instantly forgot all his previous worries and couldn't wait to start replanning his campaign strategy. This time, he was determined to win the position of federal president in one fell swoop!
In the afternoon, Ye Ning was arranged to go to the museum.
It was similar to the one she had seen in Gaojiang District before, but the museum here had only one theme - interstellar exploration.
This museum fully preserves the entire history of interstellar exploration of the dust planet.
After thousands of years of space exploration, the human beings on Dust Star have gradually deepened their understanding of the universe from their initial ignorance.
From the initial crude aircraft that explored the red moon above their heads, to two hundred years ago, the performance of the spacecraft was continuously optimized and could achieve short-distance interstellar travel. This was undoubtedly a major leap in the history of Dust Star's exploration of the universe, allowing them to reach more distant interstellar space.
Today, scientific and technological development has achieved remarkable breakthroughs, so the performance of spacecraft has been qualitatively improved, and can provide astronauts with interstellar travel support for more than ten years.
This not only means that astronauts can stay in the vast universe longer and conduct more in-depth research and exploration, but also symbolizes that Dust Star has taken more solid steps on the road of cosmic exploration.
Inside the museum, hundreds of continuously upgraded space suits, various precious exploration logs, various planets that have been explored... have all become exhibits, lying quietly in the museum.
The tour guide nearby said hopefully, "Although we haven't found a suitable planet to migrate to yet, we believe that with the development of technology and our continued exploration of cosmic civilization, one day we will discover a new home that is more suitable for us to live in."
This was not the first time Ye Ning had heard this sentence. It seemed that every time she read the history of interstellar exploration, it would end with this sentence.
This was indeed a hopeful statement, and it made Ye Ning suddenly understand something.
For the people of the Federal Territory, finding new planets is also a carrot that they are dangling. For many years, they have spared no effort and devoted all their efforts and energy to this interstellar exploration with an uncertain future.
Therefore, their tolerance for failure in this matter was almost zero. Because if they failed, it would mean that all their previous efforts would be wasted, and those consumed resources, the countless days and nights they endured in the research laboratory, and even everyone's existence would become meaningless.
Although she also agreed that one should take a long-term view, but completely ignoring the current situation and resolutely taking a gamble -
Ye Ning inexplicably thought of what Yan Gang had said at that time.
She remembered that he was talking about the "Human Clearance Plan" and the "Human Migration Plan". The reason why they were consuming resources so frantically was because they were ready to completely abandon the Sea Dust Star.
The rebel army and the fusion orcs were born from this.
In fact, Ye Ning felt that what Yan Gang said was somewhat in line with the situation. Both plans were based on the Federation completely abandoning the Sea Dust Star.
But now the dust planet has changed dramatically, and the pollutants are dissipating rapidly.
It is hard to say whether there will be any other variables in the next few decades.
The next venue is the Hall of Great Men who have made outstanding contributions.
Since she was already there, Ye Ning decided to go in and take a walk.
It contains a holographic projection of each person and an introduction to their life.
They are all big names in various fields, including aerodynamics, physics, materials science, life science...
Unfortunately, they all seemed to have died early, mostly in their thirties or forties.
Logically speaking, people in the Federal Territory shouldn't die so young. Judging by the fact that they can grind mint and spread it everywhere now, their living conditions must have been very good in the past.
Ye Ning suddenly stopped.
A holographic projection of her was displayed on a stand at the center of this great venue. There was also information about her nearby. The first thing she saw was her date of birth. It was eighteen years ago, the exact date and time they had found her in the restricted area.
The others also saw the holographic projection at a glance, and Hou Lin's face instantly turned dark.
"What do you mean? Why are you putting Lord Ye Ning here?"
Only when a person dies should they be placed in a place like this to be remembered and cherished. Ye Ning was still here, her life trajectory still moving forward. They just put Ye Ning here. Hou Lin just felt that it was unlucky.
Upon hearing the noise, the curator hurried over and explained, "Don't worry, this is Chairman Lu Tai's intention. Ms. Ye Ning has made immeasurable contributions and assistance to the scientific research and exploration of the Sea Dust Planet. Although she is still alive, her achievements are enough to be remembered in this museum of great people."
Ye Ning looked at him and said, "I don't like it either. Take it away."
Ye Ning spoke up, and the curator naturally had no reason to refuse. He nodded quickly and said, "Yes, yes, I'll have them withdrawn now."
Even when they were leaving, Hou Lin was still very unhappy. He even sent someone to stay here and told them to check carefully and make sure that Ye Ning's photo or holographic projection were not left here.
Hou Lin said indignantly, "What does this Lutai mean? How can anyone enter the Hall of Great Men while still alive?"
Le Song nodded. How could Ye Ning be placed in a museum?
Gu Su also said: "I have negotiated with them again and will ask them to remove all similar things."
Hou Lin looked at Ye Ning: "Are you still going to treat him tomorrow?"
Ye Ning nodded, "Let's go. It's not a good idea for him to be sick all the time. Let's go and take a good look at him."
The next morning, Ye Ning followed Yang Zhou to the hospital.
The hospitals in the municipality are also much more advanced than those in the Xisha area. In the spacious and bright halls, various robots are guiding and helping patients in an orderly manner.
"Many people here come from other districts to seek medical treatment. The medical level in the Federal Territory is better, so patients who cannot be cured in other districts will come here specifically for treatment."
Ye Ning nodded. Judging from their attire, it was obvious that they were not from the Directly Administered Area.
People in the Federal Territory seem to love the olive tree emblem, and most of them wear the same uniform, so they are very easy to identify.
Ye Ning originally thought that with Lu Tai's identity, he should set up a medical room at home, but she didn't expect that he was actually in the hospital.
In the intensive care unit, Lu Tai was soaking in the repair fluid of the medical cabin.
She remembered that tortoises breathe primarily through their lungs, but they also have some breathing function through their skin and, in some cases, through their cloaca.
Ye Ning was standing outside the ward, watching him. This was probably her first time seeing Lu Tai in person. He looked even younger than the one she saw in the video.
Yang Zhou said softly, "Chairman Lu Tai forced himself to appear before everyone before, which consumed a lot of energy, so he is very ill this time."
Ye Ning: "Has he been sleeping like this for a long time?"
Yang Zhou nodded. "It's been a week, and he hasn't woken up yet."
Ye Ning tilted her head and asked casually, "Even though he's been lying like this, his muscles haven't atrophied."
If you lie down for a long time without exercising, your muscles should disappear.
Yang Zhou paused for a moment, then quickly said, "The nutrient solution contains enough protein and amino acids to effectively maintain muscle health. Furthermore, we have nanorobots that will regularly help Chairman Lu Tai with muscle activity."
Ye Ning nodded, as if accepting the answer, and then said, "It seems that it is not convenient for me to go in. I brought him some plants with my innate power. You can put them in the solution, and they will also have a healing effect."
Hou Lin handed over the flower basket that Ye Ning had prepared in advance.
Inside are all the plants that Ye Ning planted in the morning, mainly grass and mint.
She picked all the seeds in the yard.
She is short of gold coins now, so she has to spend one gold coin as if it were two.
Yang Zhou took the flower basket and immediately felt the rich scent of plants.
He looked at Ye Ning, his eyes shining as he said, "Then I would like to thank you, Lord Ye Ning, on behalf of Chairman Lu Tai. With your plants, Chairman Lu Tai will surely wake up soon."
Ye Ning waved her hand, then moved closer to Yang Zhou and whispered, "Is it true that Chairman Lu Tai has never turned back into a tortoise?"
Yang Zhou didn't expect Ye Ning to ask this question. He shook his head and said with certainty, "Chairman Lu Tai doesn't like to transform back into his beast form. Even when he was seriously ill, he never returned to his beast form."
Ye Ning said with some regret: "I still want to see what a tortoise looks like."
Yang Zhou found it a little funny. When Ye Ning left the hospital, he arranged for someone to take her to another ward.
After seeing the tortoise, Ye Ning felt very happy.
She excitedly said to Hou Lin and the others, "It turns out that even when a tortoise-beast turns back into a tortoise, it's also very big. I thought it would be very small."
Ye Ning gestured with her hands. Tortoises are actually quite small. The carapace of a leopard tortoise can be up to 68 centimeters long, while a Hermann's tortoise is even smaller, usually ranging from 13 to 24 centimeters in length. But the carapace of the tortoise she just saw must have been nearly 2 meters long.
Lu Tai is tall, and if he turns back into a tortoise, he should be even bigger.
It was hard to imagine how he defeated the Emperor Dragon. However, his beast form did not help him in the battle with the Emperor Dragon.
As Ye Ning left, Lu Tai, who was soaked in repair fluid in the medical cabin, slowly opened his eyes.
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