Chapter 1229 - 1228: Public Debate
A group of engineers working overtime at a certain research institute are rushing the design plans while comforting themselves.
"Though there’s a silver lining to this. We won’t have to deal with bumps anymore; with water transport all the way, we can have multiple nodes developed simultaneously, speeding up the construction vastly."
"At least it’s better than building bridges and setting up signal towers in the southern mountains."
One engineer commented as he modified the plans, "I heard from my colleagues down south that Zhejiang Province has already placed numerous orders for river passenger and cargo ships. Soon, we can go by water directly from the Yangtze River to the western edge of Jiang Province — so convenient."
"Man, sailing by boat all the way from Zhejiang Province to the far west of Jiang Province sounds almost unreal."
"Even more unreal is that the shipping route will open in less than half a month."
Another engineer, about to take a paid bathroom break, leaves his seat, and pulls out his phone while walking, "The trending searches are all about the Red Chess River project. Various canal-side influencers and content creators have flocked there; all videos taken nearby are gaining high popularity."
An engineer just out from the restroom chimes in, "The hottest topic is the livestream where someone chased the canal in an off-road vehicle; its popularity has skyrocketed."
He’s talking about an outdoor driving streamer who was driving in Gansu Province, coincidentally encountering the Red Chess River’s opening. Finding himself not far from the canal, he started livestreaming, chasing the river’s flow while driving, occasionally releasing drones.
The impact was explosive!
All the netizens who weren’t satisfied with the official livestream rushed in, spontaneously making him an internet celebrity.
Then, he was coaxed to stop and return by the canal’s patrol officers because ahead was all wilderness and uninhabited areas. Proceeding further would risk getting lost or trapped once fuel and supplies ran out.
Following this, the mountain villagers from Shu Province, hermits from Qinling, and those close to the river’s path in county towns and villages all started livestreams and filmed various short videos.
Soon after, various self-media followed suit, producing countless educational videos and analytical articles from history to economics, politics to livelihoods, analyzed in great detail; the interest just took off.
Of course, not all voices are without skepticism.
Some, for example, criticize it as wasting resources, questioning the necessity of spending a huge government budget, using taxpayers’ money for a project that’s unnecessary in the short term. The total cost has remained secret, the construction units remain concealed, none of the content has been disclosed, arousing suspicions of major interest transfers involved.
Others mention environmental destruction, asserting that the canal will cause irreversible damage to the ecosystems along its banks, with adverse effects manifesting gradually over several decades, condemning the Hua Country people for recklessly altering the planet, sure to cause longstanding harm.
International relations are another topic of concern, claiming it takes away water resources from Southeast Asian and South Asian countries, potentially leading to neighborly disputes, putting us under unfavorable scrutiny in international relations — not the conduct of a great nation.
However, except within certain groups where these voices enjoy a fixed fanbase, receiving applause and welcome, garnering rational, objective, and in-depth praise, once outside these circles, they get severely criticized.
...
The Red Chess Grand Canal project has reached astronomical popularity at home. Can you imagine the situation abroad?
"Baka! Impossible!"
"Aish! Impossible!"
"Oh My God, it’s impossible!"
Numerous canal-opening videos are circulating on foreign video platforms, though restricted in reach, they haven’t been account-banned, so many curious foreigners see them, whether kindly or maliciously.
"How could Hua Country silently construct such a Grand Canal?"
"This is fake news, absolutely impossible, defying natural laws, concocted by a dictatorship to fool the world, like some conspiracy theories claiming Jews rule Lighthouse Country."
"Fantastic, only Hua Country could build such a century-spanning project. I’d love to experience it firsthand; I’m definitely visiting Hua Country tomorrow to see this Grand Canal."
"We must protest at the United Nations! Protest that Hua Country has stolen our water sources. This is theft, this is robbery, this is a crime! If Hua Country doesn’t close that tributary, I suggest we declare war, let them once again taste the defeat from sixty-two years ago!"
"What they are doing is irreparably damaging the environment, destroying biodiversity. How many flora and fauna have died because of this Grand Canal’s opening? This is worse than forced labor!"
"I suggest the world learn from Hua Country about their capability in afforestation and large-scale infrastructure. This has significantly improved their people’s quality of life."
"I don’t believe unless I see it with my own eyes; I’m not buying the project’s authenticity, but I won’t go to Hua Country unless they improve their human rights issues."
"It’s just digging a canal, what’s there to boast about? We built the Erie Canal two hundred years ago. The world-famous canals include the Suez Canal and Panama Canal. With the populous Hua Country, digging a river channel isn’t something extraordinary."
...
In contrast to netizens missing the point, focusing on all sorts of tangents, the leaders and intelligence agencies of various countries are shocked beyond belief, jaws nearly dropping.
"How is this possible?"
"The intelligence agency hasn’t found any evidence from start to finish."
"Satellite shows that two months ago, some military units appeared near where the canal approaches cities, imposing restrictions, bringing in work machinery."
"Two months ago?"
"Yes, over two months ago, given the current situation, it’s guessed they were working at a crucial spot, so conspicuous they undertook disguise efforts."
"Do you believe it?"
"..."
"Not to mention what could be done in over two months, just say the three years Hua Country reports, do you believe that?"
"..."
"They surely hid something!"
"Is it newly developed specialized engineering machinery? Otherwise, they couldn’t have operated this fast."
"Very likely, plus complex geological issues, how did they solve them? The geological challenges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Hengduan Mountain Range have always been world-class hurdles."
"Perhaps... it’s the road-building technology they accumulated on the plateau?"
"But it’s too fast!"
"Furthermore, the expenses — such a project couldn’t possibly be cheap, yet I haven’t seen any sign of Hua Country being affected in other areas, which is impossible."
"Not to mention the workforce, construction materials, machinery, the issues within are too many..."
"Yes, surely there’s something there, some secret not suitable for public display; otherwise, they wouldn’t have kept it under wraps until the canal’s opening day — it’s not scientific!"
"Anyway, thoroughly investigate the situation of the Red Flag River; I want to know all details from research to project establishment, initiation to completion!"
"Yes!"