Chapter 21: A Mad Proposal!

"My plan consists of three main stages," He Xingzhou stated.

"I believe the insectoid genetic database we currently possess is merely a drop in the ocean. The insectoids are a collective term for various extraterrestrial organisms, each with specialized roles and capabilities. Until we understand them thoroughly, conventional weapons—whether biological, cold, or thermal—will have limited effectiveness. Furthermore, given that the insectoids occupy the entire ocean, suppressing them is an impossibility."

"The occupation of the oceans by the insectoids is an inevitable outcome. To protect our nation and our people, the first step we must take is to construct a Great Wall of Steel along China's 18,000-kilometer coastline."

"This Great Wall of Steel will stand nearly a hundred meters high, housing high-speed rail transport lines within, and military fortresses at regular intervals. It must be equipped with missile launchers, artillery, laser weaponry, and ideally, mechanized legions and other high-tech defensive measures. Only then can we hold the insectoids at bay beyond our shores."

"Furthermore, we must build a super military fortress within China—a base capable of sustaining hundreds of millions of people. It will be powered by nuclear fusion and feature an AI-driven urban management system, automated ecological farms, robotic factories, armories, barracks, schools, residential sectors, and commercial zones."

"I believe terrestrial creatures are also at risk of mutating into insectoids. With this super military fortress, we can secure our rear and defend against terrestrial insectoid incursions. I call this the 'Planetary Bastion'."

As He Xingzhou concluded his first stage, the gathered experts and academicians wore expressions of utter disbelief, as if listening to a fairy tale.

"An 18,000-kilometer wall of steel encircling the entire national coastline?" one expert challenged. "Do you have any idea how much that would cost, or how many people it would require?"

"Incalculable," He Xingzhou replied. "That is why I say it can only be achieved through the collective strength of the entire nation. It must be done regardless of cost or sacrifice. To mitigate expenses, the interior can be cast from high-strength concrete, but the exterior must be armored in steel; the destructive power of the insectoids will exceed your wildest imagination."

"This is insane; it's impossible!" another expert exclaimed. "Not to mention the feasibility of enclosing the entire national coastline, such a project would disrupt the nation's economy, ecology, and countless other factors!"

He Xingzhou countered, "Once the insectoid catastrophe arrives, there will be no economy or ecology left to speak of! Survival is our primary objective."

"This plan is pure fantasy!" a military scientist stood up and declared. "Student He Xingzhou, while your ambition is commendable, the fundamental problem is that we currently lack the technology to implement it."

"Setting aside the manpower, capital, and material resources required to build the Steel Wall, the Planetary Bastion alone—powered by nuclear fusion and equipped with mechs and automated factories—relies on technologies that do not yet exist."

"No one can guarantee that our technology will advance to that level within a few decades."

"Indeed. The sheer scale of the Steel Wall project is unprecedented, and the technical difficulties involved are equivalent to fighting a world war," commented military scientist He Hongwei. "However, I do support your idea of building a Planetary Bastion. We certainly need a contingency plan."

"This plan would consume almost all the nation's strategic reserves," added sociologist Lü Mei. "I find it too extreme."

It was not just them; Kong Qing, Cui Weimin, Qin Peng, and the others all felt He Xingzhou’s plan was far too difficult to execute. A Great Wall of Steel spanning 18,000 kilometers? Could humanity truly achieve such a monumental feat?

Even so, Kong Qing said, "Let us remain quiet for a moment. Let He Xingzhou finish explaining his plan, and then we will discuss it."

The room fell silent, and He Xingzhou continued: "If the first stage is realized, we will have bought ourselves several years to hold our continental territory."

"During this time, we will continue to research and manufacture weapons specifically targeting the insectoids. Then, we begin the second stage: a counter-offensive against the insectoids, advancing into the oceans."

"In the second stage, we must possess at least a thousand nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of various warships and submarines to launch our counter-attack."

"Given that humans are not as agile as the insectoids in the water, we can construct floating maritime fortresses—think of them as super-carriers, mobile maritime military bases."

"Simultaneously, we must build underwater cities on the ocean floor to coordinate strikes and suppress the marine insectoids. By leveraging the oceans, we can reach other continents and either completely eradicate or neutralize the insectoid threat on Earth."

As He Xingzhou described this, the only thought in everyone's mind was: *impossible*.

This sounded like science fiction. Even without considering China, not even the United States, with its current military supremacy, could possibly achieve this.

"The third stage: stepping into space!" He Xingzhou stated. "If the insectoids are extraterrestrial, they likely exist on other planets in our solar system or possess their own bases in space."

"We must launch rockets, build sixth-generation space stations, spaceports, land on the Moon and Mars, establish extraterrestrial bases, and extend our exploration and sphere of influence to neighboring planets to ensure the safety of the Blue Planet."

"This is my three-stage plan. It involves countless projects and tasks, especially in technological research. I believe it can only be completed by mobilizing the entire nation. That concludes my statement."

When He Xingzhou finished, the room remained dead silent. The experts had only one thought: *a madman*.

Anyone capable of devising such a plan was either a genius or a lunatic.

Could it be done by mobilizing the entire nation? Whether it could even be done by mobilizing all of humanity was a massive unknown.

And to finish it all within a few decades? Is that even possible?

*It cannot be done.* That was the universal consensus.

Seeing their expressions, He Xingzhou knew they would struggle to accept his plan. He had been prepared for this, and he did not blame them.

Although they were top experts in their respective fields in China, they were, ultimately, beings of a 0.7-level civilization, incapable of grasping the technology and power of a higher civilization.

He Xingzhou had not even mentioned his Dyson Sphere project. If he had, someone would surely have dismissed him as delusional on the spot.

A full minute of silence passed in the conference room. No one spoke, because there was nothing to say. Except for He Xingzhou himself, not a single person believed his plan could be successfully implemented.

He Xingzhou broke the silence himself: "If you grant me the resources, I can prove that this plan is viable! For example, if I am given the chance to oversee the construction of a small section of the Steel Wall or lead a portion of the technological research, you will see the feasibility of my plan for yourselves."