Invasion of America

Chapter 110 The Pit of Fire
Zhou Qingfeng was slacking off, sitting lazily in the assistant minister's office, using a 10-gigabit fiber optic connection to browse various 'popular' websites with ministerial-level privileges.

All of them are high-definition, uncensored, and full of vivid and exciting content, making viewers eager to watch and unable to put them down.

The only drawback is that Europeans and Americans don't care about hygiene; they like to go through the front door and then the back door, and then put the food in their mouths—the person filming may not find it disgusting, but the person watching it is horribly disgusted.

I was slacking off and looking for fun when my phone rang.

It was the one custom-made by 'Grey Shark'. As soon as I connected, I heard an anxious voice, "Victor, how are you?"

"Me? I'm fine."

Zhou Qingfeng used US government funds to tip hundreds of Onlyfans accounts, casually spending thousands or tens of thousands of US dollars, contributing to reducing the gap between rich and poor worldwide.

This answer made 'Grey Shark' on the phone suspicious, prompting him to ask a verification question, "What's your favorite movie?"

"Back to the Future".

Who is my favorite female celebrity?

"Lily Collins".

"How long is your **?"

"Damn it, is there a problem?"

After verifying with a few questions, 'Grey Shark' breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "You haven't contacted me for forty-eight hours. I was worried something had happened to you."

"Oh, I've changed my identity and had to abandon the shortwave radio station. I've been quite busy these past few days, so I haven't been able to contact you."

Zhou Qingfeng was indeed quite busy the past two days, but he was too embarrassed to say that he was currently taking a break from his busy schedule.

"Change identity?" 'Grey Shark' was terrified by the recent global pandemic in an abandoned nuclear missile silo in Montana.

Healthcare was overwhelmed, the economy collapsed, and people were filled with anxiety. City dwellers began to flee to the suburbs, where people worried about shortages of supplies.

Everyone wants to find a safe haven.

'Grey Shark' stayed in a huge nuclear missile silo, surrounded by a huge amount of stockpiled living supplies, as well as dozens of people of different professions who were taken in, forming a small survival system.

But he knew all too well that if it weren't for Zhou Qingfeng's advance warning, he and his mother, one old and one disabled, would definitely not have lasted long before they died.

Zhou Qingfeng says Bitcoin is unreliable – with the internet shut down, no virtual currency is reliable.

Zhou Qingfeng said the US dollar would fall – natural disasters put enormous pressure on fiat currencies worldwide.

Zhou Qingfeng said he wanted to build shelters—dozens of shelters set up across the entire country at great expense became life-saving islands in the apocalypse, and being able to stay in a shelter was the happiest thing.

Everything Zhou Qingfeng said came true.

At this moment, not only 'Grey Shark', but even his mother, Mrs. Natasha, began to believe that her son had a friend from the future who had predicted the outbreak of this disaster.

Of course, 'Grey Shark' is very careful to keep this secret and will never let it slip out.

For this reason, 'Grey Shark' paid special attention to Zhou Qingfeng's whereabouts—after 48 hours of no contact, he took the initiative to call via satellite phone, risking revealing his location.

"Victor, satellite signals indicate you're still in Washington, D.C."

"Yes."

"You can't escape?"

"Actually, it would be easy to escape now. It's just that I don't really want to escape."

Zhou Qingfeng drinks "happy water," eats food specially supplied by the United States, and uses an information network managed by a "supercomputer," holding a high position and great power.

Compared to being cooped up in the shelter, he is currently living a very carefree life.

Although his secretary, Shani, wasn't very cooperative and didn't want to come to the 'sunset', he was still happy to 'entertain himself'.

'Grey Shark' knew the rules and didn't ask Zhou Qingfeng what he was doing. He just said with concern, "If you need anything, remember to contact me anytime. I'm online 24/7."

“Okay, okay,” Zhou Qingfeng readily agreed.
-
After the call ended, 'Grey Shark' inside the nuclear missile silo had a grim expression. His mother, Mrs. Natasha, asked worriedly, "Victor, how is he? Is he alright?"

"He's perfectly fine," 'Grey Shark' quipped. "It sounds like he's watching a movie. I can hear women yelling 'Oh my god,' 'Fuck me,' and 'Don't stop!'"

Grandma Natasha was both amused and exasperated, and teased, "It seems Victor can find fun wherever he goes, so we don't need to worry about him at all."
-
The office door opened silently, startling Zhou Qingfeng, who had been leisurely browsing. He frantically closed the content on his computer screen, his movements so fast he almost snapped the mouse cable.

He then quickly adjusted his posture, straightened his back, and tried to appear serious while working—but the 'uh-huh' sounds from the speaker didn't stop and kept coming in.

Xia Ni shuffled into the office in her high heels. She had originally come to deliver documents, but the noise from the speaker infuriated her.

"You brat, people outside are scrambling to deal with this damn pandemic. And you, you're here watching porn?"

Upon recognizing Xia Ni, Zhou Qingfeng's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. He shrugged and said lazily:

"I've done what I was supposed to do, but I couldn't change the situation anyway. I'm going to be laid off soon anyway. Once the official transfer order comes through, I can comfortably find a quiet job."

“Victor, you can’t leave!” Shani stared at him sternly. “There are millions of people waiting for you to save them! How can you give up so easily? You must fight to the end!”

"What a joke, I didn't intend to save anyone," Zhou Qingfeng laughed self-deprecatingly. He shrugged, "Besides, what can I do right now?"

Xia Ni was just an ordinary nurse at the hospital before, with relatively limited vision and experience, and she was used to passively accepting orders and carrying out tasks.

She truly lacked understanding of the real power and operating methods of those in positions of authority.

Professor Hart arranged for Shani to come over largely because he hoped someone could keep an eye on this 'Sir Harden' whose mind was wandering.

However, given Xia Ni's abilities, if Zhou Qingfeng is determined to leave, she has no way to stop him.

The two were speechless for a moment.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the office door.

Ms. Deborah, who had been entrusted with an important task by Zhou Qingfeng yesterday, stood outside the door with a slightly uneasy expression and asked cautiously, "Mr. Harden, may I have a few minutes of your precious time?"

“Of course. No matter how busy I am, Ms. Deborah, you can come into my office anytime.”

Upon recognizing Deborah, Zhou Qingfeng immediately adjusted his demeanor, revealing a gentle yet authoritative smile, and his tone became calm and commanding.

Xia Ni couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, inwardly cursing, "What are you busy with! If I hadn't come in early, you would have already taken your pants off."

Ms. Deborah clutched a folder tightly in her hand, took a few steps closer, took several deep breaths, and then mustered up the courage to speak:
"Mr. Harden, you gave me tremendous encouragement and inspiration yesterday. In response to the serious predicament currently facing the 'Ministry of Health,' I worked overnight to prepare an incentive plan. Would you like to take a look?"

This was probably the first time in Ms. Deborah's more than ten-year career that she had so deliberately flattered a superior.

Her tone was stiff and slightly affected, like an inexperienced actor reciting lines.

Although she has been authorized to serve as the assistant minister, and theoretically has a certain degree of decision-making power, she does not necessarily need to consult Zhou Qingfeng on everything.

However, she lacked sufficient confidence in the face of this newly appointed boss and desperately hoped that her ideas would be recognized by him, which would make her feel at ease.
-
Ms. Deborah carefully placed the folder on the table, aligning the edges of the file with the corners of the table, arranging it neatly.

Zhou Qingfeng casually picked up the folder and glanced at its contents.

The core message of this document is a plan aimed at providing special allowances for healthcare workers who remained at their posts during the pandemic.
The plan clearly states: $300 per person per day – parentheses, if it could be increased to $500 per person per day, the incentive effect would definitely be better!

Deborah wrote a long list of reasons in her proposal, from boosting morale to recalling departing staff and attracting medical resources from other regions.

But in summary, it all boils down to one core idea—give money! A generous reward will surely attract brave men; use real money to solve the problem.

After reviewing the proposal, Zhou Qingfeng frowned slightly and asked doubtfully, "This proposal... is it something I can approve?"

Deborah had rehearsed the plan countless times in her mind, preparing to explain its necessity and feasibility with detailed data and earnest words, but Zhou Qingfeng's rhetorical question disrupted her train of thought.

She paused for a moment, then quickly adjusted her tone, “Yes, Mr. Harden. You are now the vice chairman of the ‘Medical Efficiency Committee’ and the acting chairman.”

Minister Robert has unfortunately been hospitalized due to illness and is temporarily unable to attend to his duties. He has signed an authorization document entrusting you with the management of all affairs of the Ministry of Health.

I know that there will certainly be some controversies and potential risks in the implementation of this plan, but in theory, you have every right to approve this decision.

"It just requires taking on some responsibility."

So what if I'm just taking the blame? It's no big deal.

Zhou Qingfeng pressed further: "If I approve this allowance, does the Ministry of Health currently have enough funds to pay all the medical staff on duty during the epidemic?"
What I mean is, first of all, does the 'Ministry of Health' have such a large amount of funds in its bank accounts?
Secondly, are we able to accurately compile a list and count of the medical staff who are still working?
Secondly, do the department's finance personnel have sufficient ability and efficiency to accurately disburse these funds within a short period of time?

Unexpectedly, when Ms. Deborah heard these three questions, she not only showed no nervousness, but instead revealed an excited expression.

"Mr. Harden, your question is incredibly professional! You truly are an elite from the IRS, considering every detail so thoroughly! I'll now give you a detailed explanation and report..." "No, I don't need a detailed explanation." Zhou Qingfeng quickly waved his hand; he had no interest in those lengthy reports and data analyses.
"I just need a simple answer—'Yes' or 'No'?"

Ms. Deborah nodded emphatically and said with certainty, "Absolutely, Mr. Harden!"

The Ministry of Health has plenty of funds in its accounts, and there is a large surplus in this year's budget.

Especially in the early stages of the pandemic, Congress approved a special grant of up to $1.5 billion to address the emergency.

Due to various reasons, this fund was never actually used on a large scale.

Secondly, our ministry's finance personnel have always been on duty, and we have a well-established attendance tracking system that is always in operation, which can record employee attendance in real time.

It is not difficult to compile a list and number of medical staff currently on duty; at least we can quickly produce such data.

Finally, we must offer a reward…

"'Attitude'?" Zhou Qingfeng was very sensitive to this word. "Approved! I'll approve this plan immediately! This allowance must be disbursed as soon as possible!"

He thought to himself, since he could be fired at any time anyway, it would be foolish not to approve something that could please the lower-level staff.

Whether the money can actually reach everyone in the end is not his concern, but he must make sure that the "gesture" is fully displayed.

“Three hundred dollars per person per day?” Zhou Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “That’s too little. Even five hundred dollars wouldn’t be enough!”

Medical workers like Shani, who risked their lives and worked continuously for over a week to save countless lives, are truly admirable and deserve substantial financial rewards!

Zhou Qingfeng's tone became enthusiastic and impassioned, as if he were the one generously donating the money.

"Before I took office, it was the most dangerous period of the pandemic, and those medical staff who stayed at their posts should have received a stipend of two thousand US dollars per person per day!"

After I take office, any healthcare worker currently on duty or returning to their post will receive a stipend of one thousand US dollars per day!

When Shani heard the number, she was stunned.

She quickly and roughly calculated in her mind the length of time she had worked overtime continuously during this period. According to this standard, she could actually receive a stipend of twenty to thirty thousand US dollars!

A surge of immense satisfaction and relief welled up inside her, and she couldn't help but think to herself, "If I can really get this money, all the hard work and effort I've put in before will seem to have been worth it."

Deborah was also quickly calculating this huge expense in her mind, and a clear look of difficulty appeared on her face.
"Mr. Harden, your increase in the allowance by several times is of course great news for grassroots medical staff."

However, the financial pressure will also be enormous, and you will likely face considerable criticism and questioning as a result.

Zhou Qingfeng laughed and waved his hand dismissively, "Deborah, tell me where I need to sign? I'll approve the plan right now!"
However, this draft is not perfect and lacks specific implementation details. You are now an assistant minister and cannot do everything yourself.

You need to mobilize your team and get them to turn this draft into a concrete, actionable plan.

Remember, you and your colleagues are also heroes who stayed at their posts during the pandemic, and all heroes should receive the rewards they deserve!

In just a few words, Ms. Deborah's face lit up with excitement again, as if she had been given a shot of adrenaline.

As she nodded in agreement, a troubled look appeared on her face. "Mr. Harden, I have another problem."

In the past, my position was too low. Now that I have been suddenly promoted, many people may not be convinced and may not follow my orders.

Furthermore, I'm used to working overtime late into the night on specific tasks, and I genuinely lack sufficient authority and connections in management and coordination, so I'm afraid it would be difficult to effectively motivate my subordinates.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting aggressively, "Let's go! I'll go with you right now and see who dares to disobey you!"
"You're someone I promoted. If you don't respect me, you're disrespecting me. I'll tell him to pack his bags and get out of here right now!"

Deborah quickly waved her hand and said with even more difficulty, "No, no, no, Mr. Harden, there is absolutely no need for you to come forward personally. That would only make everyone feel awkward."

"Just let Miss Shani come with me. With her there, it'll definitely be alright." She then looked at Shani pleadingly.

Zhou Qingfeng thought for a moment, then slowly sat down again.

If he has to personally handle such a small matter, it certainly shows that Deborah still has obvious shortcomings in management ability and prestige, making it difficult for her to truly win people's hearts.

Shani understood immediately and nodded, indicating that she was willing to accompany Ms. Deborah to see what was wrong with her men.
-
After the two women left, Zhou Qingfeng crossed his legs again and continued his 'entertainment' that had been interrupted.

Some works from the 1970s and 80s, although the picture quality is not great, have very good storylines and a unique flavor.

Especially after being re-enhanced by AI, it can even uncover unique historical imprints and artistic value, making it worthy of careful appreciation.

Before he could bring up the page he hadn't finished reading, there was another slow knocking on the office door.

Ernst, the head of security at the gate, stood outside the door, bowing nervously, and said in a low voice, "Excuse me, Mr. Harden, is it convenient to bother you for a few minutes?"

I have a dream… no, no, I have a plan. It's about mobilizing 'medical volunteers' in the city.

Zhou Qingfeng had no choice but to sit up straight again, quickly switching to an expression of attentive listening, and waved enthusiastically.
"Come in, Ernst. Speak your mind, I'm listening. I'm happy to approve any proposal that helps end this pandemic as quickly as possible."

Ernst arrived empty-handed, without any written documentation.

This guy does have an idea, but it's still just a thought in his head, in the initial 'flash of inspiration' stage.

"Your Excellency, the city is in terrible order right now. There is a shortage of manpower everywhere, and many key positions are not functioning properly."

However, in reality, a large amount of human resources in the city have not been effectively mobilized.

If we could invest some funds and give these volunteers some autonomy…

As Ernst spoke, he carefully observed Zhou Qingfeng's reaction, afraid that his ideas were too far-fetched.

But before he could finish speaking, Zhou Qingfeng suddenly slammed his hand on the table, interrupting him. "Excellent! This idea is superb! I approve your proposal!"

However, your plan is currently too rough and lacks specific details and operational procedures.

This requires the assistance of some clerical staff to refine the details, as well as the support of the finance department to secure funding.

Upon hearing that "Harden" had approved his "plan" so quickly, Ernst was not pleased at all. Instead, he said with confusion, "Sir, I haven't finished explaining my thoughts yet."

Zhou Qingfeng chuckled inwardly: "Although I, as the vice chairman of the 'Ministry of Health,' am a half-baked expert who knows nothing about management, you, Ernst, are truly worthy of being a 'gatekeeper.'"

They have ideas but no decent written plan, yet they dare to come to me to report—what kind of report is this?!

However, lack of ability is not a big deal; loyalty is the most important thing in crucial moments.

Zhou Qingfeng stood up, walked up to Ernst, and patted him on the shoulder affectionately. "Ernst, I completely understand your thoughts."

You simply feel that the lockdown measures implemented by the National Guard are unprofessional and inefficient.

Aside from causing significant disruption to the lives of locked-down residents, it has had almost no positive effect.

So, you think it would be better if our 'Ministry of Health' took the lead in organizing the residents in the community and getting them involved in the epidemic prevention and control work, right?

"Yes, yes, yes!" Ernst nodded excitedly, as if he had found a kindred spirit, and his voice rose several decibels.

"Mr. Harden, you understand me so well! I...that's exactly what I meant! You have an uncanny ability to read minds!"

Zhou Qingfeng led Ernst out of the office and found the "Ministry of Health" director he had temporarily appointed.

Then he gathered seven or eight seemingly capable clerical staff members to discuss Ernst's 'idea'.

Half an hour later, the Chief of Staff began contacting the White House to discuss how to improve the current lockdown measures on Washington, D.C.

Their goal is to change the lockdown model, which is entirely led by the National Guard, into a joint management model led by the Department of Health, or at least one in which the Department of Health can be deeply involved.

As for the specific manpower issue, it will be solved by recruiting "medical volunteers".

Zhou Qingfeng planned to entrust the specific implementation details and execution work to Ernst, the security chief who "had ideas but lacked methods".

"Mr. Harden, do those medical volunteers need to be armed?" Ernst suddenly thought of a very important question and blurted it out.

Zhou Qingfeng was stunned and asked in return, "Bring guns? Is it necessary to bring guns? Do the volunteers recruited by our 'Ministry of Health' need to have armed forces?"

Ernst retorted, "Don't we need that?!"
-
By the time Dr. Fauci, the chief medical advisor at the White House, arrived at the Ministry of Health, Zhou Qingfeng had already approved more than a dozen emergency plans in just a few hours.

These solutions all boil down to two things—spending money and hiring people!

Fauci chose to move into the office of the Deputy Secretary and spent several hours arranging for his confidants to understand the current situation of the 'Ministry of Health', intending to teach Zhou Qingfeng a lesson.

Then he saw the details of the 'plans' submitted by various departments. Just looking at the figures for the requested funds made his fingers tremble and the world spin.

"Oliver Harden, you bastard, are you trying to push me into a fire pit?!"

(End of this chapter)