Another day passed, and at 8 AM, Li Chengfu was already at the portal, directing operations.
When the portal first opened yesterday, it was capable of transmitting data. During that time, Chu Shi had sent over the plans for today.
The plan was to bring in a large number of personnel, primarily military. After all, Long Country would soon be at war with the evil dragons from the magical world.
By 11 AM, just like yesterday, the vehicles in front had formed a convoy. The first fifty vehicles were troop carriers, each packed with sixty soldiers. To accommodate them, they were standing inside the carriers. This kind of overloading would be illegal in the outside world.
Behind the fifty troop carriers were vehicles transporting supplies.
The convoy stretched for several kilometers.
There was a five-meter gap left at the very front of this convoy.
Li Chengfu, holding a loudspeaker, broadcast over the public channel, "Attention everyone. Once Deputy Minister Su Han returns from the portal, the convoy will depart immediately."
Time reached 12 PM. Su Han opened the portal again.
Under the tense gazes of everyone present, Su Han emerged from the portal with the Special Operations Team, a total of six people.
Stepping out, Su Han looked at the long convoy before him and was momentarily surprised. He then stepped aside, clearing the path.
"We're back. Let's start the cargo transport."
Li Chengfu nodded, took his satellite phone, and broadcast over the public channel, "Depart."
All the vehicles began to move.
Just like yesterday, the convoy's speed increased.
Su Han watched the vehicles depart together and commented, "These vehicles won't collide when they move together, will they?"
Chu Shi nodded and replied, "That's right. It's like roads without accidents. The issue is that it takes some time for each vehicle to start. If this wasted time accumulates, it leads to traffic jams. If all vehicles start simultaneously at a traffic light, there wouldn't be a jam."
Su Han and his six companions had taken over ten seconds to arrive. Now, with over nine minutes remaining, they could still transport many vehicles.
Su Han watched as, after the portal closed, several hundred more vehicles passed through. Eighty-five small trucks remained to come through.
Li Chengfu picked up his satellite phone and announced on the public channel, "The portal has closed. Organize the convoy and head back to rest."
Following this, the vehicles slowly moved to a point five meters away from the portal and lined up neatly, waiting patiently.
"Deputy Minister Su Han, let's go eat together," Minister Li Chengfu said.
Su Han had actually already eaten lunch in the magical world, but he still replied, "Then let's go have lunch together."
Li Chengfu then turned to Chu Shi and asked, "Colonel Chu, would you like to join?"
Chu Shi shook his head and said, "No, thank you. I've already eaten lunch in the magical world."
Li Chengfu did not press the issue when Chu Shi directly refused.
About ten minutes later, Chu Shi and Li Chengfu appeared in the mess hall.
They sat on opposite sides of a long table.
The other people nearby saw Chu Shi and Li Chengfu there and kept their distance.
Su Han only ordered a drink, while Li Chengfu actually got a plate of food.
Li Chengfu said, "Deputy Minister Su Han, first of all, congratulations on completing the first phase of the main quest in the magical world. This is a blessing for Long Country."
Su Han replied, "Minister Li, you're exaggerating a bit. I was able to complete it thanks to the strength of Long Country."
Li Chengfu then said, "Alright, let's cut to the chase. The dinosaur world is currently undergoing large-scale development. Deputy Minister Su Han, how much do you know about wilt disease?"
Su Han knew that Li Chengfu was about to get to the main point. Li Chengfu wouldn't have sought him out just for lunch; there must be something important to discuss.
Su Han said, "Wilt disease, it's a disease that causes plants to wither. Plants with high starch content are most susceptible. If those plants don't have starch, they won't be affected by wilt disease. Because of this, most fruits and vegetables with low starch content were unaffected. However, plants with high starch content were greatly impacted. All plants with high starch content withered due to wilt disease."
Li Chengfu nodded and continued, "That's correct. Wilt disease is indeed like that. But more importantly, this wilt disease has been incurable until now. After developing the dinosaur world, our Long Country's experts attempted to transport plants from the dinosaur world to Blue Star for cultivation and hybridization. Without exception, they all carried the wilt disease pathogen. This means plants from the dinosaur world are also affected by wilt disease. Furthermore, according to the experts' research, this wilt disease is constantly mutating. It has now mutated to the fifth generation. Some experts even predict that in three years, a wilt disease variant might appear that can infect plants without starch."
Su Han was shocked upon hearing this and exclaimed, "What? Then we won't even have fruits and vegetables to eat?"
Su Han's mind conjured an image of that future: the entire Blue Star covered in yellowed, withered plants. Humanity, without food, would first descend into world war, fighting over the last remaining provisions. After the world war, humans on Blue Star would truly enter an apocalypse.
Li Chengfu observed Su Han's expression and then said, "Deputy Minister Su Han, don't worry. The mutation of wilt disease to that extent is just a conjecture by scientists. There is currently no scientific research indicating it will reach that point. Even if it mutates to that extent, it won't happen in just three years. It might take decades to reach that point. We still have plenty of time to research wilt disease. The number of experts studying wilt disease across the entire Blue Star is increasing daily. It's possible that one day a genius scientist will find a cure. And who knows what might happen in decades."
Su Han replied, "Even so, it's still terrifying."
Li Chengfu nodded and said, "Indeed, it's still terrifying."
Su Han drank his beverage, contemplating Li Chengfu's words.
"I'm also full. I'll take my leave now."
Li Chengfu picked up his tray and left.
Su Han, left behind, looked around and said with a sigh, "What does Li Chengfu want by telling me all this?"
At this moment, Su Han began to doubt Li Chengfu's mention of decades. Could it really be decades? What if the truth was only three years?
"Never mind. I won't think about it. I should focus on what's in front of me now." Su Han picked up his drink and also left the mess hall.