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Clearly, Wei Yang had already laid bare everything he had seen and heard in the factory area to the team members, so the next focus of the Survivors’ discussion was whether the team should stay or leave.

The Survivors were divided into two factions on this issue, one suggesting they continue living in the factory area, while the other demanded the team leave immediately to find new accommodations.

Everyone voiced their own opinions, and for a moment, debates continued unceasingly, plunging the scene into a state of deadlock.

However, during this time, there was only one person who remained silent without explicitly stating his stance.

And who was this person? That’s right, it was Tang Xiaoquan, who was just recently elated over Wei Yang’s narrow escape from disaster.

Tang Xiaoquan just sat there quietly, but being quiet didn’t mean he wasn’t thinking. On the contrary, he was considering much more and in far more detail than any other team member on the scene.

The reason he hadn’t spoken for such a long time was that he intended to “gather the strengths of others.”

What does this mean? There’s an old saying, “Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang,” which essentially suggests that in reality, many issues, especially significant matters like the survival of the entire team, benefit from the diverse opinions and unceasing debates among the team members to comprehensively analyze the matters at hand.

Of course, everything has two sides. While debates facilitate the full and clear analysis of a problem, it’s undeniable that they can also lead to a situation where neither side accepts the other’s arguments.

At least, that’s the awkward situation the Survivor Team is currently facing, as most of their members are male, and people like Dazhuang and Wang Qiang, who are straightforward and passionate in nature, are unlikely to easily accept the opposing viewpoint.

So, it’s perfectly understandable for the situation of mutual disagreement to arise.

At times like this, someone who can compile all viewpoints and summarize them into a relatively balanced point of view, which both sides can accept, is needed.

But this kind of task is easier said than done, and at this moment, the silent Tang Xiaoquan was laboring over this difficult and headache-inducing task.

The debate continued, yet no new arguments were being raised; the Survivors were merely repeating previously mentioned points without meaning, which is a method commonly used by untrained debaters.

Seeing the voices on the scene grow increasingly louder, Tang Xiaoquan realized it was time to speak up and summarize. Otherwise, if it continued, Wang Qiang and Dazhuang would likely start a fight on the spot.

“Ahem ahem!” He pretended to cough twice, as if his throat itched, but Tang Xiaoquan had clearly overestimated the impact of his coughs.

Because the anticipated silence didn’t come; instead it only fueled more “arrogance” on the “battle” between the two sides.

At this point, it seemed evident that trying to “stop” the debate with a gentle approach was not going to work. In desperation, Tang Xiaoquan had no choice but to take a deep breath and loudly shout with a nearly roaring tone, “Everyone, please be quiet for a moment!! I have a few things to say!!”

Say what you will, Tang Xiaoquan’s somewhat “rude” roar actually did get everyone to quiet down.

Perhaps everyone was baffled by his sudden change, or maybe they genuinely wanted to hear his perspective.

In any case, the previously noisy and unceasingly quarreling main workshop went silent, as if the mute button had been pressed.

Old Lin looked at the young man beside him. To be honest, moments ago, he was also exhausted mentally over the increasingly uncontrollable scene.

Now seeing the young man take action, the suspended heart he had been holding finally eased, as he awaited the young man’s next words with a slight sense of hope.

Tang Xiaoquan didn’t keep everyone waiting too long. After a brief moment of organization, he calmly spoke, “Just now, everyone’s points were very clear. I’ve summarized them, and I feel that given the current situation, leaving is still more appropriate.”

As soon as he said this, the factory, which had just quieted down, immediately started buzzing again.

Those who received Tang Xiaoquan’s supporting summary were cocky, while the losing side was naturally quite disgruntled.

Seeing the situation about to go out of control again, Tang Xiaoquan hurriedly signaled everyone to be quiet while continuing to explain, “Everyone, don’t rush. Allow me to explain my reasons.”

“My reasons are also very simple and can be summarized in three points.”

“Firstly, the damage to the current gate is insufficient to bear the heavy responsibility of protecting the entire factory area. Despite our attempts to reinforce it with cardboard boxes, machine platforms, and other things, honestly, that’s merely a fleeting attempt to mend a fold in the barn. I believe you all have witnessed the brute strength of the zombies, so I ask, can such a shoddy project withstand a collective assault from a horde of zombies?”

A deadly silence prevailed; no one spoke up because, as Tang Xiaoquan rightly pointed out, if a horde of zombies attacked, the current gate wouldn’t be able to hold them off at all.

“Secondly, according to what Little Wei just said, Lu Rui and his gang are estimated to be at least 9 people, which is more than double compared to when we encountered their ambush in the city. So, I assume they are likely operating in two groups along the road. And as everyone knows, Lu Rui’s side alone has two guns, which means if the other group also has guns, the quantity adds up to…”

He didn’t finish the sentence because Tang Xiaoquan thought such a simple arithmetic didn’t require further elaboration, so… “Given the disparity in force between us and them, there’s simply no capability to counter them. Although they’ve just raided the place, and might not return, this is still the apocalypse, and our plans must be made considering the worst-case scenario. Thus, I still have to ask everyone if Lu Rui’s group retaliates, do you think we have a chance at victory?”

Again, it was a pin-drop silence. If there was anyone previously unconvinced, after hearing Tang Xiaoquan’s reasoning, their subconscious had already come to agree with his perspective.

“Apart from this, there’s an even more crucial point, resources!! Lu Rui’s group not only took all the women but also took away all the rice we rely on for survival. Plus, the water tank in the storeroom has been damaged. Though it sounds harsh, folks, the factory is nothing but a shell now.”

After reaching this point, Tang Xiaoquan sighed instinctively, then earnestly concluded, “This is the situation: we lack defenses, we lack equal strength for confrontation, and even basic sustenance like eating and drinking is now a problem. That’s why I suggest we leave because this factory truly has no value for sustained habitation. If we stubbornly stay here, death might be our only outcome!!” (My novel “Rotting Land: Survive” will have more fresh content on the official WeChat platform, along with a 100% prize draw giveaway! Open WeChat now, click the “+” on the top right, “add friends,” search the “qdread” public account, and follow it, quickly join in!)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep