Chapter 1216: Rush-Harvesting the Autumn Grain

"Xia Qing."

As the flames in the high-risk zone of Mountain Fifty gradually died down, leaving only scattered sparks, Xia Qing's phone carried a voice from her idol as heavenly as celestial music.

"The agent for killing anaerobic soil bacteria has been successfully formulated and is now being distributed, but the total quantity is limited, so it can only be prioritized for the potato fields and the high-risk zone of Mountain Fifty. Zheng Chen is carrying the agent over there right now. What's the situation at Mountain Fifty?"

Awesome—as expected of an idol standing at the top of the pyramid, formulating the agent in just over an hour and already distributing it!

Xia Qing suppressed her surging admiration and reported the current situation at Mountain Fifty. "After the super Salmonella in the soil of the red qi-grass area devoured and evolved the anaerobic bacteria, it developed drug resistance, so the sterilizing agent's killing effect isn't ideal. That's why I poured oil over the red qi-grass area and burned it. Right now, the microbes in the 0–5 cm topsoil have been killed, but the microbes in the deeper soil are still alive. The specific species, density, and activity level are currently being tested."

Based on previous detection data, the root depth of red qi-grass lies between 2–15 cm in the soil layer, and 3–7 cm is the active zone of super Salmonella. Burning the surface microbes can't eliminate the danger, but it can effectively curb the rapid spread of surface microbes. Xia Qing's decision was correct.

"Good." Zhang San acknowledged, then gave the order: "Dilute with water according to the instructions, spray the agent once, then immediately cover with rainproof cloth. All super-bacteria spread zones must be tightly covered."

Salmonella is a facultative anaerobe, so covering with rainproof cloth won't have any obvious killing effect. Xia Qing's heartstrings instantly pulled taut. "Third Brother, is the weather about to change?"

Zhang San acknowledged. "If the atmospheric qi-element content triggered by the anaerobic bacteria rises above 19‰, there's a 55% probability of extreme natural disasters like gales, hail, and torrential rain. It's not just our base—more than half the bases in Hui City and Hongcheng have seen sudden evolution of soil anaerobic bacteria. Based on the current rate, the near-surface atmospheric qi-element content will rise to 19‰ within two hours."

I… it…!

Xia Qing calmed herself and asked, "Third Brother, may I release this information?"

Zhang San reminded her, "This is only a prediction made by a researcher in my territory, based on historical data and the current cloud-layer changes."

This was also why Zhang San chose to call Xia Qing rather than announce it directly over the lord walkie-talkie. Because releasing this prediction would definitely trigger panic among the lords and start a rush to harvest crops.

If no natural disaster occurs, they can just uncover the rainproof cloth on Mountain Fifty—no loss at all. But the loss caused by lords rushing to harvest crops is irreparable.

"Third Brother, a 55% probability is already very high. I'll only release the information, not give any advice. Let the lords make their own choices." After hanging up, Xia Qing looked at Yang Jin.

Before she could open her mouth, Yang Jin spoke first. "Leave this place to me. Go back to your territory and harvest the grain."

Yang Jin and Xia Qing shared the same view: compared to the grain lost to an extreme natural disaster, the reduced yield from a rushed harvest was simply negligible.

Xia Qing was not only a lord but also the person in charge of hundreds of acres of farmland at the Ninth Planting Center, so she had to hurry back.

"Thanks, Brother Jin. The rainproof cloth is in Xiong Dong—there's plenty. Contact me directly if any problem comes up." After giving these instructions, Xia Qing handed over disaster-control command at Mountain Fifty to Yang Jin, went to find Zhao Ze and Watching Huo Zhun, then stepped onto her single-soldier flyer and flew straight back to the Ninth Center. After landing, Xia Qing immediately ordered the Ninth Center's managers to assemble, then pressed the walkie-talkie to contact Tan Junjie. "Captain Tan, are you there?"

Tan Junjie, who was leading people to distribute the latest agent at Territory Seven, immediately pressed the button. "Here."

"Help me connect to the loudspeakers in the northern district-one territories. I have an announcement to broadcast."

Hearing Xia Qing's words, the lords who had just been overjoyed because the big shot had developed a sterilizing agent tensed up again.

"Connected." Half a minute later, Tan Junjie's solemn voice came through the loudspeakers mounted on signal base-station towers throughout northern district one.

"Received." Xia Qing replied.

Hearing Xia Qing's voice from the loudspeakers, the lords of northern district one all held their breath and listened, while the animals in Territory Three looked up, searching for their companions.

"Lords of northern district one, I am Xia Qing, lord of Territory Three. The following is information I have just obtained: the area affected by the rise in atmospheric qi-element content triggered by this soil anaerobic bacteria covers more than half the bases in Hui City and Hongcheng. If the atmospheric qi-element content reaches 19‰ or above, within two hours there will be a 55% probability of extreme natural disasters such as gales, hail, and torrential rain. Duration is uncertain."

What?!!!

Everyone who heard the broadcast was stunned.

Xia Qing paused for three seconds, then continued, "That is all the information I have received. Please make your own choices based on your own circumstances and take responsibility for the consequences of your actions. Captain Tan."

"Received." Tan Junjie's voice was as solemn as ever. "Lords, the inspection team is contacting higher authorities. If there is an official bulletin, it will be broadcast immediately. Another notice: lords who have planted potatoes, please contact the inspection team immediately to collect the sterilizing agent…"

The news released by Xia Qing directly blew up the twenty-six territories of northern district one. Everyone fell into panic.

Qi Fu asked over the 1–10 lord channel, "Xia Qing, what are you planning to do? Rush-harvest the rice?"

The allies in the territory alliance all held their breath, listening.

Xia Qing pressed the walkie-talkie button. "Territory Three and the Ninth Center have already started rushing to harvest the rice. The breeding-rice sheds won't be harvested—double-layer rainproof cloth will be added for protection."

The Xia Bo rice has already entered maturity, but in most fields the grains have only just begun to harden, and the yellowing of the grains hasn't passed halfway. So the golden period for harvesting rice is still five or six days away.

But who can guarantee that torrential rain, gales, or hail won't tear down the sheds and flatten all the rice onto the ground?

Shi Zhong asked, "Brother Qi, what are you planning to do?"

Territory Five had the richest farming experience and the highest grain yield in the territory alliance. When it came to farming problems, everyone consulted them.

Qi Fu was very decisive. "The two sheds here that have already been switched to hardness-evolved bamboo poles won't be harvested yet—double-layer rainproof cloth will be added to protect them. All other sheds will be harvested immediately."

Wen Nengjie immediately asked, "Brother Qi, do you have any spare rainproof cloth?"

Qi Fu was already shouting into the loudspeaker, calling the hired workers in his territory to rush-harvest the grain. Yuan Yan, who was tearing down rainproof cloth, pressed the walkie-talkie button. "We don't have any new ones. We're tearing down the rainproof cloth from the corn sheds that have already been harvested. Everyone, don't forget the vegetables in the fields."

"Right, the vegetables too!" Kuang Qingwei grabbed the loudspeaker. "Quick, second team, move the iron racks from warehouse one into the vegetable sheds right now. Cover all the cabbage and spinach…"

Zhao Mother of Territory Four spoke up. "We're harvesting too. Xia Qing, Zhao Ze has already contacted me. I have enough hands here—no need to send anyone to help."

Zhao Ze was participating in disaster relief, and his pay would be calculated at the rate of a high-level Evolver, plus he'd receive the corresponding grade of base contribution points. So his disaster relief at Mountain Fifty was more worthwhile than him returning to the territory to rush-harvest grain.

Lord Huo Lei followed up. "Territory Eleven doesn't need anyone sent to help either."

"Received." Xia Qing responded.

Tang Huai came online. "Territories Two and Twelve have already started rushing to harvest."

Yin Jie, the agent for Territory One, also came online. "Territory One is rushing to harvest. Meteorological observation shows the cirrus layer over our territory is thickening. Everyone speed up."

Wen Nengjie also made his decision. "Harvest! Damn it—if there's no disaster, we just lose a few jin of grain. If we don't harvest now and a disaster hits, there won't even be anywhere to cry!"