Kong Zhendong gestured for his daughter to put down the gifts. "Qin Shilei, as the military needed to be reorganized, I've only just come to express my gratitude for saving my daughter and me. I hope you don't mind."
The gifts were one hundred doses of the latest version of zombie serum researched by the academy.
It was a rather nice present.
Qin Shilei accepted the gifts offered by the other party with composure. "Has the military been reorganized now?"
"It's a long story!" Kong Zhendong said with a wry smile. He then continued, "I heard you named this place 'City of Hope'?"
Qin Shilei smiled and replied, "Yes, with everyone's kind approval, I've shamelessly taken on the role of city lord."
He deliberately mentioned his position as city lord to gauge the other's reaction.
Indeed, upon hearing the word "city lord," Kong Zhendong's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.
After a pause, he composed himself, smiled, and said, "City of Hope, that's a good name. Do you happen to have any more tools for building city walls?"
"The only city wall monument I had has already been used," Qin Shilei shook his head.
Kong Zhendong showed a hint of disappointment. "What a pity."
He paused, then turned to ask, "What are your thoughts on whether our Great Xia Kingdom can overcome this apocalypse?"
Qin Shilei shook his head. "I'm just a small fry, only concerned with ensuring those around me live better. As for national affairs, I don't know much."
"However, judging from the information on the chat channels, the country is likely heading towards a state of fragmentation."
With transportation paralyzed, communication severed, and conventional weapons greatly weakened, the central government was unable to effectively control the regions below.
Although Qin Shilei's words were blunt, Kong Zhendong knew they were the truth.
He had never received any instructions from the central government. Instead, there were messages on the chat channels, supposedly from high-ranking central officials, demanding that certain military regions go to the capital for rescue.
Kong Zhendong looked at Qin Shilei and said sternly, "Do you also wish to carve out your own territory and achieve great things?"
Hearing the questioning tone, Qin Shilei suddenly felt a pang of annoyance and replied coldly, "What if I do, and what if I don't?"
Kong Zhendong spoke, "If you do, I can make you the true city lord of Nanzhuang City. And I can also make you the commander-in-chief of the military.
"The only condition is that you must acknowledge the central government's leadership and obey unconditionally when the country makes demands."
"Heh."
Qin Shilei scoffed. "You mean you want me to work for your military, don't you? A commander-in-chief, what a shrewd calculation."
"I have no intention of asking you to work for the military."
Kong Zhendong explained, "With my recommendation, you can legitimately become a powerful figure in the military. Once the land is recovered, you will be a great hero, a patriot praised by all. Why wouldn't you want that?"
Qin Shilei suddenly changed the subject. "I heard your military is already in pieces. Are you just tossing a mess for me to clean up!"
When Kong Qingshu had visited him yesterday, she had explained the military's situation in detail.
Although the elite forces of the rebel factions had been eliminated at the headquarters that day, the corps commanders of the various rebel forces had all emerged unharmed.
Currently, they were heavily defending their camps, not allowing anyone from the headquarters to enter.
Except for the Blazing Fire Legion, the other three legions were showing signs of relocating their entire forces.
Although Kong Zhendong had the support of the military's top official, Lu Tiangang, and the Blazing Fire Legion, he was unable to forcefully suppress the rebellious forces.
Although he was still the commander-in-chief in name, he could only command the Blazing Fire Legion.
Kong Zhendong said calmly, "With your powerful strength, if you suppress the leaders of those rebel armies, then with my title as commander-in-chief, I can easily subdue those legions."
"Why should I?" Qin Shilei said disdainfully. "I'll do all the hard work to clean up your mess, and then help you retake Nanzhuang City. In the end, with a single order from the central government, I'll obediently go and serve.
"Am I so cheap that I have to find a superior to boss me around?"
"Because you are a citizen of the Great Xia Kingdom!"
Kong Zhendong said righteously, "Born in the Great Xia Kingdom, raised and educated by the country, don't you have any patriotism?"
'I'm actually not a citizen of the Great Xia Kingdom,' Qin Shilei thought to himself.
Although the Great Xia Kingdom shared many similarities with his homeland, and he felt some recognition for it, he couldn't bring himself to shed blood and sweat for it.
Qin Shilei smiled and said, "Can't I become the ruler of the Great Xia Kingdom, or even its founding emperor?"
"Insolence!"
Kong Zhendong slammed the table fiercely and roared, "Such disloyalty will lead you to a bad end."
Qin Shilei sneered, "Are you here today to question me, the city lord of the City of Hope, about my title?"
Kong Qingshu quickly explained, "Commander, please don't misunderstand. We are truly here to thank you for saving our lives."
She then turned to her father and said, "Dad, the world is in such chaos now, and the central government is non-existent. Why must you cling to loyalty to them? If the land can be recovered and the Great Xia Kingdom's name is maintained, what's wrong with changing the ruler?"
Qin Shilei said mockingly, "You even remember that I just saved your father. Is this how your father treats his savior?"
"I never intended to become the ruler, but why should I take over your fractured military? Why should the territory I painstakingly build be handed over with a single order from the central government?"
Zhang Qiang, who was standing nearby, also chimed in, "Our Great Xia Kingdom has thousands of years of history, with many dynastic changes. Were all those founding monarchs executed?"
Kong Zhendong's expression shifted, and he suddenly said with a hint of dejection, "I overestimated my position as commander-in-chief. You truly don't care for this post."
Today, Qin Shilei had moved the city walls outward again, increasing the side length of the City of Hope to five kilometers.
It was precisely because Kong Zhendong saw that the City of Hope could expand that he had rushed to meet Qin Shilei.
In his estimation, if Qin Shilei's City of Hope could continue to expand, it could eventually enclose the entire Nanzhuang City.
At that point, the other party would truly become the city lord.
Just then, Kong Zhendong's bodyguard hurried in and reported, "Report, sir, the zombies in Nanzhuang City have suddenly rioted and formed a zombie tide, launching a frantic counterattack against our forces here. Due to limited ship capacity, the army is finding it difficult to retreat to Crane Mountain District. Commander Shi hopes to retreat into the City of Hope."
Before Kong Zhendong could reply, Zhang Cheng also ran in, "City Lord, many soldiers and civilian evolved humans have arrived outside our City of Hope, hoping to take refuge within."
Kong Zhendong's face turned awkward.
After just reprimanding the other party, he now had to ask for help to save lives again?
Qin Shilei stood up and said, "Let's go and see."