310 The northern land's Zong Consortium

The Zong Consortium was located at a corner in the north. The northern lands were barren, and plenty of natural disasters happened there. Therefore, the overall strength of the Zong Consortium had always been inferior to the Yang Consortium's and the Qing Consortium's, and they never dared to cause any significant troubles for the organizations to the south.

Although they did not make any big moves, they still resorted to many cheap tricks. For example, the Zong Consortium was the one who created the problem of the bandits.

Yang Yu'an's evaluation of the Zong Consortium was that they were ambitious but did not have the ability to support it. This was also the reason why the Zong Consortium kept getting ideas of infiltrating into Stronghold 178. If that damn group from Stronghold 178 were to attack south, the Yang Consortium and the Qing Consortium would surely get a headache.

The Zong Consortium had thought of taking advantage of the period when Zhang Jinglin was not around to complete their \"Peaceful Evolution\"[1] strategy on Stronghold 178. However, they underestimated the belief of that damn group of people from Stronghold 178.

After Zhang Jinglin returned to Stronghold 178, all of the plans the Zong Consortium made over a decade went up in smoke. At that moment, everyone realized Stronghold 178 had borne the name of Zhang all this while.

If Yang Yu'an were aware of the friendship between Ren Xiaosu and Zhang Jinglin, he would probably treat Ren Xiaosu as an honored guest immediately. That was the most terrifying power in the northwestern borders. They were all brave warriors shaped by the harsh environment who were not afraid of death.

But it wasn't only Yang Yu'an who was unaware of that. Even Ren Xiaosu did not know who exactly Zhang Jinglin was. But he had never thought of relying on him either, even handing the recommendation letter from him to Xu Xianchu.

At this moment, Yang Yu'an said, \"The young man from the Zong Consortium who will be coming is called Zong Cheng, and he's in charge of the Zong Consortium's defensive strategies. Although he's very young, he already commands an important position. We're getting old, and the world belongs to the younger generation now. I heard that a young officer named Xu Xianchu has also risen through the ranks at Stronghold 178 recently, and he's highly regarded by Zhang Jinglin. I find the name quite familiar. Isn't he that Xu Xianchu you've crossed paths with before? Do you know him well?\"

Yang Xiaojin was stunned. She was not on familiar terms with Xu Xianchu. Instead, it was Ren Xiaosu who had a great relationship with Xu Xianchu.

All of a sudden, Yang Xiaojin found it a little funny. How did the currently famous figures at Stronghold 178, people like Zhang Jinglin and Xu Xianchu, have such a close friendship with Ren Xiaosu? Thinking of this, Yang Xiaojin felt that Stronghold 178 also seemed to have become a little bit closer to her for some reason.

Yang Xiaojin said, \"I don't know him well. We've traveled together before, but I'm not really friends with him.\"

Yang Yu'an said, \"Hm, you should still be friends. From now on, you can work on forming a relationship with Stronghold 178. If we can get their support, even Qing Zhen will have to back off.\"

Yang Xiaojin did not say anything. Stronghold 178 would never be willing to deal with the interior organizations. The people from Stronghold 178 were bloodthirsty, so if the Yang Consortium really wanted to get close with Stronghold 178, she would probably need Ren Xiaosu to show up in order to deal with them.

Then Yang Yu'an continued, \"That Zong Cheng is about the same age as you, and I heard he's also a supernatural being. This will be a great opportunity.\"

It was evident what he meant. Yang Xiaojin frowned. When her third aunt, Meng Rong, noticed, she said, \"Don't you try to snipe him on the road. The last time, you…\"

Yang Xiaojin's fine eyebrows hidden under the shadow of her cap raised slightly. \"Alright, I understand.\"

…

It was the next morning when Yang Xiaojin came to Ren Xiaosu and his group's residence again. When Yan Liuyuan heard the sound of knocking on the door, he knew it had to be Xiaojin. As it turned out, it was her.

Ren Xiaosu was squatting on the ground and brushing his teeth. He spat out a mouthful of toothpaste and said with a smile, \"You're here this early?\"

Yang Xiaojin got straight to the point. \"I'm afraid that Wang Yuchi and the others won't be able to sit for the entrance exams.\"

Yesterday afternoon, she contacted the relevant departments about this matter. But when her third uncle heard about it, he immediately stopped her.

Ren Xiaosu asked, \"Was there a problem?\"

\"It's because you guys aren't residents of the stronghold.\" Yang Xiaojin said in a low voice, \"Furthermore, the university is conducting some confidential research. So you aren't allowed to get involved.\"

To put it simply, they were not from the Yang Consortium and neither did the Yang Consortium have any intention of letting them become one of their own. That was because Yang Yu'an did not like refugees and did not think they could be useful.

However, Ren Xiaosu did not dwell on this matter. He asked again, \"What about Liuyuan and Dalong? They'll only be attending junior high.\"

Yan Liuyuan stepped forward. \"But I'm not a stronghold resident either!\"

Yang Xiaojin smiled and said, \"Both of them can attend school, and enrollment has already been handled as well.\"

Yan Liuyuan and Wang Dalong nearly cried upon hearing that. \"We really aren't residents of the stronghold. We're just refugees! Refugees do not deserve to attend school!\"

\"Alright, that's enough, you two.\" Ren Xiaosu looked at them in amusement. \"You're just going there to gain knowledge and learn how to solve problems. You're making it sound like you're going to jail. Stop crying about it already.\"

\"But even though Wang Yuchi and the others aren't allowed to sit for the entrance exams, I still made library cards for you all. There's a library at the center of the stronghold where you can borrow books,\" Yang Xiaojin said.

Wang Yuchi was stunned. \"We can do that?\"

\"Yes, you can,\" Yang Xiaojin said with a nod.

As civilization progressed, a lot of people abandoned the pursuit of knowledge. However, some people were still determined to fill in the missing gaps.

Human technology had never been completely lost, but that only referred to the overall state of technology. A portion of it had still been lost with time. As such, the current developmental direction of technology varied greatly from the times before The Cataclysm.

This was not determined by what humans needed but on what kind of technology was left behind and what resources were suitable for development.

Someone once found a research laboratory of a civilization from before The Cataclysm, and the information found there had been auctioned at a certain stronghold in the Central Plains. The price it was sold at was unbelievably astronomical.

And how did civilization pass on its legacies? It depended on words and symbols passed down in writing.

Although the various organizations also had their own libraries, one had to be of a certain status to use them. When Wang Yuchi and the other students attended school in the stronghold, they were not allowed to enter the library because they were not qualified.

Thinking about it, Yang Xiaojin must have spent quite a bit of effort to help them apply for the library cards.

Ren Xiaosu was very happy. \"OK, it's not a bad idea to go to the library to study by yourself. Thanks a bunch.\"

Yang Xiaojin looked at Ren Xiaosu. \"Is there anything else you need?\"

\"Uh…\" Ren Xiaosu thought carefully and said, \"Are there any teachers in this stronghold who teach hand-to-hand combat? I would like to learn it systematically.\"

In the past, Ren Xiaosu had always fought ruthlessly in the wilderness by relying on his instincts he had achieved after long periods of training. Whether it was power generation or hitting weak spots, all of that was slowly accumulated through experience. So his martial skill had always remained at the intermediate level as he only relied on his ferocity.

Yang Xiaojin thought for a moment. \"I'll think of something!\"

Next to them, Yan Liuyuan suddenly realized that as long as it was Ren Xiaosu's request, Yang Xiaojin would not reject it. He knew Ren Xiaosu had saved Yang Xiaojin's life before, so it seemed to make sense to think that way.

Suddenly, Yang Xiaojin said, \"There's something…\"

\"What is it?\" Ren Xiaosu asked.

\"People from the Zong Consortium in the north might be coming to Stronghold 88 soon. Can you come with me to welcome them when they get here?\" Yang Xiaojin asked.

\"OK.\"

[1] The \"Peaceful Evolution\" theory in international political thought refers to the alleged attempt to effect a political transformation of the Chinese socialist system by peaceful means, primarily by the United States. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaceful_Evolution_theory