Invasion of the United States

That scene still makes Fauci feel a shiver of fear when he thinks about it.

This is also why 'Harden' is still the 'Vice Chairman'—there are many who oppose him, but equally, there are many who support him.

What if money were given to all medical staff in the entire United States? Of course, the medical staff would all be happy, but the United States Ministry of Finance would not be pleased.

'Harden' is proposing a rate of one thousand US Dollars per person per day, multiplied by the 'millions' of people involved, which is not a small number.

Besides the troublesome issue of disbursement, there's also the equally challenging issue of 'recruitment.'

Currently, the order in Washington D.C. is maintained by the National Guard from Maryland and Virginia, but both states are also experiencing outbreaks and have long wanted to withdraw their personnel.

'Harden' suggested creating a team of medical volunteers to fill the gaps left by the insufficient military and police personnel and maintain the current order in the 'District,' which the two states would definitely agree to, but the 'White House' would likely not agree.

Alas... Fauci let out a long sigh.

As an old bureaucrat, he glanced at 'Harden' beside him, lowered himself almost grovelingly, as if the previous conflict hadn't happened, and whispered, "Harden, I need to talk to you in private."

-----------------

In the ministerial conference room, everyone present, without needing too many instructions, tacitly stood up and quietly left the conference room like a receding tide.

Once the heavy doors of the conference room slowly closed, Fauci slightly bowed his head and said in a compromising tone, "Harden, I need to apologize to you. My attitude towards you before... might not have been very good."

Might not?!

Zhou Qingfeng laughed lazily twice, leaned back into the large leather chair, propped his legs up on the edge of the shiny conference table, and casually but challengingly retorted, "What do you want?"

Fauci struggled to suppress the anger rising in his heart and said calmly, "The healthcare allowance proposals you've signed simply cannot be passed under the existing framework."

"Then just let them not pass," Zhou Qingfeng waved his hand dismissively and chuckled cynically, "The world is just a huge makeshift troupe anyway.

Our president talks nonsense on social media every day, and we bureaucrats occasionally come up with some ridiculous, immature proposals. Isn't that a very normal thing?"

Fauci's expression became serious, "But your proposals have already stirred up quite a social reaction; the medical staff's expectations are high, and it's not feasible to do nothing."

Behind 'Harden' is already a strong public sentiment, and if handled improperly, it could further exacerbate social unrest.

Zhou Qingfeng broke into hearty laughter, looking with interest at the old bureaucrat opposite him, "Mr. Chairman, I don't believe you wouldn't have a way to handle this situation."

He paused and teased, "It's merely about 'making do' for now, symbolically 'amending' it a bit, then casually 'making a mess' of it, to get through the current difficulty first."

He extended a finger, gesturing a few strokes in the air, "Providing special allowances to all on-duty medical staff across the United States is a must, but it could be limited to the period of the pandemic.

Then, find a way to quickly announce the end of the pandemic or at least announce that it is under effective control. This way, the expenditure needed wouldn't be as massive as imagined."

Then, Zhou Qingfeng turned his gaze toward the window, "As for the lockdown of Washington D.C., it's long been a formality. Instead of maintaining a meaningless form, it's better to lift it.

The voices of opposition shouldn't be too loud.

Allow those who have already developed antibodies to move freely in the city, while suggesting that the weak and sick continue to stay home and rest."

"As for whether the residents of the 'District' would feel panic because of this, or immediately flee the city in search of what they consider a safer refuge, that's beyond our control."

Finally, he threw out the 'perfect' reason for lifting the lockdown, "'Herd immunity' has basically been achieved; there's no need to maintain strict lockdown measures anymore."

After listening to Zhou Qingfeng's seemingly absurd yet politically calculated words, Fauci's expression grew heavier. He shook his head worriedly:

"I'm an infectious disease expert, and this 'X' virus is unlike any before. The pandemic won't end so easily, and relaxing vigilance now will have unimaginable consequences."

Zhou Qingfeng also shook his head casually, his tone light and indifferent, "That's a matter for the future, what does it have to do with you or me in the future?"

Fauci stared at Zhou Qingfeng's face, thinking, "This guy is a natural bureaucrat, full of calculations everywhere. But for now, there's only the option to solve the problem using his method.

As for the future... this guy acts without scruples, it's still best to get him out of the 'Ministry of Health' as soon as possible, otherwise, it will cause bigger problems."

-----------------

At this moment, far across the ocean at 'Dongda,' Kelly stood on the top floor of the 'Electric Flight' headquarters in 'Shanghai,' looking out through the giant floor-to-ceiling windows at the orderly cityscape below.

In stark contrast to the calm outside the window, her heart was like turbulent waves, worried over the increasingly out-of-control pandemic situation in the United States.

Although 'Dongda' has implemented strict lockdown measures, the streets are not desolate; instead, they present a peculiar busy scene. F&i&rs.t pu%b*lish.ed@ on M|V#|@L!EMPYR*.*

Automated delivery vehicles shuttle tirelessly between the deserted streets, accurately delivering life supplies to various closed-managed communities.

Drones flit like swarms of bees between buildings, delivering personal needs to customers one by one.

Kelly can still easily order takeout, simply by using her phone, and a drone will buzz and deliver the food to the rooftop platform of the headquarters building, where staff will retrieve it.

The entire process is efficient and contactless, minimizing the chance of infection.

As for patients, there are already mature and rigorous handling processes in place, simply separating mild and severe cases strictly and taking all necessary measures to cut the viral transmission chain.

No matter how strong the virus is, it still has to adhere to scientific rules.

As for the 'Electric Flight' production line, not only has it not been interrupted by the pandemic, but it is also facing a flood of orders.

The 'low-altitude' logistics demand within the city has exploded during the pandemic period.

The government is seeking safer and more efficient transport methods, and 'Electric Flight' has to implement plans to expand capacity ahead of schedule.

At the outset of the pandemic, Kelly's father, Jeff Connally, went to 'Dongda' by any means possible.

Unlike Kelly's worries, this old father had no concerns, but instead, issued a soul-searching query as he faced the computer screen awash with a stream of new orders:

"Where on earth is Victor getting so many new orders for medical supplies? These purchases costing hundreds of millions of dollars don't seem like the needs of an individual or a small institution!

Kelly, what is that brat up to?

Can I continue to increase my investment in the 'Holy Light' Group?

The amount of hedge funds flowing out of Wall Street is just too much. Should your 'Electric Flight' issue another batch of corporate bonds?

Interest rates at banks in the United States are unbelievably low now; hot money is like picking it up for free. How about issuing another hundred billion-dollar debt?

One hundred billion, just one hundred billion!"