The dissolved gold solution and urine looked similar, but the absence of the ammoniacal odor led to its discovery by patrol officers. According to the foreman's confession, they had stolen 8 kilograms of gold using this method in the first month alone. The workers, however, claimed to have taken at least 15 kilograms. A detailed investigation is ongoing.
In a gang fight case in Bai'e City, the battle erupted from the third floor of a nightclub and raged all the way to the main entrance. Over sixty people were involved, wielding weapons such as clubs and machetes. Eight people were killed on the spot, and some had their eyeballs gouged out.
These were the major cases.
After reading, Jiang Ye suddenly thought of something and called Tang Hanliu.
"Commander!" Tang Hanliu greeted crisply when the call connected.
"How much do you know about the major cases in various cities last month? How many have been reported?" Jiang Ye asked.
"We know of four cases, and four have been reported. The murder case in Binhai City, the drug manufacturing case in Lantian City, the brawl case in Bai'e City, and the aqua regia gold mine case," Tang Hanliu replied.
"Alright, that's all," Jiang Ye said, preparing to hang up.
"Wait, Commander, don't hang up yet!" Tang Hanliu quickly interjected.
"Hmm?"
"I have something I've been wanting to discuss with you recently. Tang Hanliu said, "I want to launch a new program to report on the development of Birong Star. Jiang Ye Star previously did a program about its expansion, right? The viewership was very high, it received rave reviews, and earned a lot of advertising revenue. Now that Jiang Ye Star's territory expansion is complete, that program has concluded. I want to do a second season, with Birong Star as the background."
Jiang Ye scratched his head.
It sounded like a good thing.
Firstly, it would enrich the television programming of Jiang Ye Star, and secondly, it would promote Birong Star, perhaps attracting people willing to visit Birong Star.
"It can be done, and it should be done well," Jiang Ye agreed. "Send me the detailed plan, and I'll allocate funds for it."
"No need for funds. The television station has a significant surplus in its accounts, so we are well-funded," Tang Hanliu said. "I'll send you the plan later. If you find it acceptable after reviewing it, you can grant us some authorization."
"Okay."
The call ended.
Jiang Ye opened the file sent by Che Zhen, titled [File · For Commander's Review].
Two entirely unknown hostile forces had appeared.
The Junze Star faction, with unknown development level, had established a large farm on the periphery of the Jiang Ye Star territory.
The file also contained photographs of the farm.
The scale was considerable, with endless rows of corn trees, each adorned with nutrient solution drip bags swaying in the wind.
Yes, corn trees. Three-meter-tall trees with clusters of pale green corn hanging from their canopies. On the ground, many ripe corn had fallen, their husks splayed open like the carcasses of giant locusts. The entire farm gave an impression of being both lush and eerily desolate.
Below the photos was an assessment by a随军 biologist:
[Based on photographic observation, the crops cultivated on this farm should be Gourd Corn Trees, a hybrid of an alien tree and genetically modified corn. They continuously produce large, fast-growing corn. On average, each tree can yield 10 ears of corn per day. However, the corn has a rough texture, and eating the kernels is akin to eating gourd rind. It is rarely consumed by humans, being primarily used for industrial extraction and livestock feed.]
Industrial extraction? Livestock feed?
Was Junze Star developing industry and animal husbandry? Or had they already begun?
The opponent's strength could not be underestimated.
The second hostile force was Qianlong Star.
The name sounded like a sect from an Eastern fantasy novel.
This Qianlong Star was quite audacious, having encroached upon a thousand square kilometers of territory on the edge of Jiang Ye Star's land.
They had erected a three-meter-high plastic wall and installed numerous surveillance cameras on it.
Extensive construction was underway within the walls, with various construction machinery coming and going.
Jiang Ye's temper flared immediately.
They occupied his territory and built walls?
Not only built walls, but also installed surveillance?
[Your unit is to organize a ten-thousand-strong corps as soon as possible to assault the territory occupied by Qianlong Star, burn all walls, and seize construction machinery.]
[In case of conflict, do not use lethal weapons. Capture enemies as prisoners, or disperse them with agents such as tear gas.]
[If the Qianlong Star faction wishes to negotiate, first drive them out of our territory, then consider negotiation. You may also prepare two to three reserve corps of ten thousand soldiers each. If negotiations fail, swiftly occupy Qianlong Star's territory and expel them from the Birong Star competition.]
[Once operations commence, report the situation to me in real-time via text message.]
[Jiang Ye]
The command was edited and sent to Birong Star.
Jiang Ye could deal with other factions stealthily occupying land at a slower pace.
But Qianlong Star's blatant arrogance necessitated military action!
Five minutes later, the first message from Birong Star arrived.
[Notification has been sent to assemble troops. A main assault corps composed of 3,000 human soldiers and 7,000 mechanical soldiers is being prepared. Additionally, two reserve corps of ten thousand soldiers each are being prepared, each consisting of 2,000 human soldiers and 8,000 mechanical soldiers.]
Jiang Ye brewed a pot of ginseng tea and sat at his desk, waiting.
[Troops have assembled and are being equipped and boarded.]
[The main assault force is en route to the Qianlong Star wall.]
The journey was likely long, as it took a full half-hour for the next message to appear.
[The wall's cameras are hailing our troops, urging us to maintain peace and reason.]
[Our army has begun burning the plastic wall using flamethrowers and Molotov cocktails. The wall material is not fire-resistant, and the flames are soaring.]
[Fire truck teams have appeared within the wall, spraying water to extinguish the fire and directing high-pressure water jets at our soldiers.]
[Our troops are organizing a rapid assault, breaching the wall, and surrounding the fire trucks. A small number of soldiers have been injured and have been carried off the battlefield for treatment.]
[Approximately 20 fire trucks have been smashed, and 100 enemy personnel captured.]
[The scope of the operation has expanded to 50 fire trucks, and 250 enemy personnel captured.]
[The ten-thousand-strong corps has completely crossed the wall. There are 23 lightly injured soldiers, with 15 having returned to the battlefield after treatment.]
Jiang Ye smiled.
There were minor skirmishes, but overall, the operation was proceeding relatively smoothly.
At this pace, the battle should be resolved soon.
The office door suddenly opened a crack.
Half of a beautiful woman's face, with alluring eyes, appeared.
Cen Yemeng was peeking furtively from outside the door.
Jiang Ye's gaze met hers through the gap in the door.
"What is it?" Jiang Ye asked.
Cen Yemeng smiled, beckoned with her finger, made a gesture to come out, and then closed the door.
Jiang Ye looked at the unfinished ginseng tea on his desk and drank it down in one gulp.
He stepped out, and the corridor was empty.
Jiang Ye walked forward suspiciously and saw the bedroom door ajar.
Peeking through the gap, Jiang Ye's expression froze, feeling a surge of blood.
"In broad daylight..." Jiang Ye blushed, hesitant to enter.
"Stop the nonsense, come quickly," Cen Yemeng's voice came from the bedroom.
Jiang Ye gritted his teeth, pushed the door open, and closed it heavily.
...
An hour later.
Jiang Ye returned to his study, clad in a bathrobe.
He felt a pang of guilt. While his troops were still fighting on Birong Star, he had taken a detour, feeling like a decadent ruler.
Jiang Ye recalled a line from his middle school textbooks: "Soldiers half-dead on the battlefield, yet singers and dancers still entertain in the ladies' tents."
Guilt!
Self-reproach!
He vowed never to do this again!
Jiang Ye looked at the screen. Fortunately, the messages received during the past hour were all good news.