Ocean shipping in the twelve coastal provinces was suspended indefinitely.
The Flight Ban Order was issued. Any civilian aircraft taking off within five kilometers of the coastline would be shot down immediately.
In just three days, undercurrents surged across the domestic internet. The top ten trending topics on every major social platform were dominated by the unusual policies.
"What the hell is going on? The imported car I bought has been stuck at sea for half a month. They're saying all the shipping routes are closed?"
"My uncle serves in the East China Sea Fleet. When we spoke on the phone the day before yesterday, he told me to stay away from the coast. Said there were nasty things in the water."
"Haven't you noticed? Even the civilian drones that used to be everywhere lose their connections as soon as they approach the coast. And I heard America has it even worse. All the ports on the West Coast are closed."
Panic spread among the public.
The government neither denied the rumors nor offered an explanation. It simply sent column after column of armored vehicles toward the coastal defenses in silence.
The pavilion in the back courtyard of the Song-Style Courtyard House.
Ye Wenjun sat on a stone stool, his eyes sunken and his chin covered in dark stubble. A cup of Spirit Spring Tea sat before him, already stone cold.
Chen Lin reclined in a lounge chair, toying with the dark gold Imperial Seal of China in his right hand.
"Advisor Chen, logistics have ground to a halt." Ye Wenjun's voice was hoarse with deep exhaustion. "We can still move domestic supplies by road and rail. But the batch of critical equipment handed over by America and Gaul is all stuck overseas."
Ye Wenjun rubbed his brow and