novelTele Chapter 92 Jiangcheng
Chapter 92 Jiangcheng
Chapter 92 Jiangcheng
Leaving Forward Base No. 6, the off-road vehicle drove on the road leading to the core area of Jiangcheng. The road surface was an old-fashioned highway that had undergone simple repairs. Although cracks and traces of repairs were still visible, it was much smoother than the bumpy trails in the wilderness.
As the vehicle ventured deeper into the road, the scenery on both sides began to change, giving Xu Mo an extremely strange, almost dazed feeling.
What lay before them were no longer ruins, overgrown weeds, and perilous unknowns, but instead vast expanses of newly cultivated farmland. The rows of fields were neat and orderly, crisscrossed by paths, and tender green seedlings had already sprouted in some plots, swaying gently in the breeze like tiny green curtains.
In the fields, Xu Mo saw many figures busy at work. Some were swinging hoes, others were bending over tending to the crops. Occasionally, a few tractors or small farm machines, belching black smoke and making sputtering noises, could be seen diligently turning over the soil. The sunlight shone on this vibrant land, reflecting on the workers' bronze skin and sweat, creating a long-awaited, hopeful scene.
This scene was too "normal" and too "peaceful," creating an extremely strong contrast with the ruins, killings, mutants, and eternal floods that Xu Mo had experienced since his transmigration.
For a fleeting moment, Xu Mo almost thought he had stepped on the gas and traveled back to that orderly, smoke-filled old era. Everything before him made Xu Mo's hands on the steering wheel unconsciously relax a little, and he felt that his tense nerves seemed to find some relief in this pastoral scenery.
However, the sound coming from the car radio ruthlessly shattered Xu Mo's illusion.
"This is Jiangcheng Radio Station. The following is the latest announcement: According to data from the meteorological department and frontline observation stations, the water level in the river has been fluctuating recently, and an increase in the concentration of unknown active bacteria in the water has been detected. We remind all units and individuals working near water areas to be vigilant, strictly abide by the 'Regulations for Safe Operations in Water Areas,' and wear appropriate protective equipment. If you discover abnormal water discoloration, foam, or encounter highly aggressive or unusually shaped aquatic organisms, evacuate immediately and report to the nearest patrol team as soon as possible —"
"The third district will officially open for school next Monday. We are now recruiting teachers with basic education knowledge from across the city. Competitive compensation and benefits are offered. For details, please visit the Education Department of the Inner City Government Office."
"The Hunter Guild has issued an orange alert: The 'Black Gathering' team, which was exploring the abandoned Research Facility No. 7, has been confirmed to be out of contact for over 48 hours. The area has been temporarily designated as a high-risk zone, and any civilian teams are advised against venturing there. The guild has requested Jiangcheng's assistance in the investigation."
The broadcast contained a mix of post-apocalyptic warnings, efforts to rebuild civilization, and a touch of nostalgia for the past.
This series of information was like a needle, piercing Xu Mo's idyllic illusion and reminding him that this was still the apocalypse, only a relatively safe zone that humanity had built with blood and fire on this wasteland.
The peace we enjoy now is not something that came out of thin air. It is built on the foundation of Jiangcheng’s powerful military and tight organization, and on the sacrifices of countless people who fought bloody battles in the outer forward bases and dangerous areas.
With these complex and indescribable feelings, Xu Mo drove his SUV, continuing along with the sparse traffic. The road became wider and smoother, and the farmland along the roadside became more orderly. He could even see seedling bases and large greenhouses surrounded by barbed wire fences and guarded by soldiers.
In the afternoon, when the off-road vehicle climbed a gentle slope again and the view suddenly opened up, even with Xu Mo's current composure, he couldn't help but gasp and subconsciously stepped on the brakes.
In the distance, at the edge of the horizon, a colossal creature lies prostrate.
It could no longer be called a "city wall"; it was more like a continuous mountain range of metal and concrete that stretched to the sky and the earth!
The wall, a cold, dark gray, was estimated to be over forty meters high, as if it had sliced the sky in two. Its sloping angle conveyed a strong sense of military defense, and its surface was covered with firing ports, observation windows, and protruding weapon platforms of various sizes. The wall's length was even more astonishing; even with Xu Mo's keen eyesight, he couldn't see its end in either direction. It was as if this colossal wall had embraced the entire core area of Old Jiang City, giving one a suffocating sense of insurmountable difficulty.
This is only the main city wall.
Beyond the city walls, extending for several kilometers, lay layers upon layers of terrifying defensive fortifications:
The densely packed pillboxes and bunkers, like mushrooms after a rain, were scattered across the landscape, connected by a network of trenches, forming a crossfire network. Thick cannon barrels protruded from the permanent fortifications, menacingly pointing into the distance.
Main battle tanks, self-propelled artillery, and multiple rocket launcher vehicles painted in camouflage, like steel behemoths, were quietly parked in their designated positions, ready to be deployed into battle at any time.
What alarmed Xu Mo even more was the dense anti-aircraft firepower. Anti-aircraft machine gun positions, twin-mounted anti-aircraft guns pointing straight at the sky like sharp swords, and short-range anti-aircraft missile launchers formed a three-dimensional air defense network from low to high altitudes. Such air defense firepower was enough to tear apart any mutated flying objects or hostile aircraft that dared to approach.
At the top of the city wall, an even larger outline could be vaguely seen—likely the launching device for long-range heavy artillery. The entire Jiangcheng Shelter was like a super fortress, armed to the teeth and ready to face an apocalyptic war at any moment!
"Is this Jiangcheng?" Xu Mo murmured to himself, overwhelmed with shock.
The firepower configuration of Forward Base No. 6 already made Xu Mo realize the insignificance of individual combat power, but compared with the real war behemoth in front of him, the forward base was simply like a toy outpost.
For the first time, Xu Mo directly experienced the terrifying power that human civilization could unleash when facing an existential crisis—the power to transform the world and forge an iron wall. Individual bravery truly seemed insignificant before this crystallization of collective wisdom and the pinnacle of industrial power.
Just as Xu Mo was filled with excitement, a deep and powerful roar came from the sky. He looked up and saw two sleek fighter jets painted with the Jiangcheng military insignia flying over the city at high speed, leaving faint contrails in the air.
They appeared to be on a routine patrol, or perhaps just returning from a reconnaissance or surveillance mission in a certain direction. This further confirmed that the Jiangcheng shelter possessed a systematic and modern military force far exceeding their expectations.
Composing himself, Xu Mo restarted the vehicle and drove towards the massive city gate below the city wall, which resembled a tunnel entrance.
A long line of cars stretched towards the city, but everything was orderly. All vehicles and pedestrians waited silently; no one made a fuss or tried to cut in line. The atmosphere was solemn and subdued.
When it was Xu Mo's turn, he found that the entry check wasn't particularly complicated, but it was very rigorous. He showed his identification card [Jiangcheng:]
[802561] The city guard inserted his card into a reader, and his basic information and photo immediately appeared on the screen. The soldier carefully compared the photo with the real person, glanced at his obviously modified SUV with a brand-new windshield, and waved his hand: "Okay, go in, abide by the inner city regulations." He did not ask for any payment.
After driving through the nearly 100-meter-long, brightly lit, and suffocatingly thick city gate tunnel, Xu Mo officially entered the interior of the Jiangcheng Shelter.
However, the scene that came into view made him pause slightly again.
Unlike the towering skyscrapers and orderly "future city" he had imagined, the area behind the city gate looked more like a huge, crowded, but exceptionally clean and vibrant shantytown.
As far as the eye can see, there are mostly low-rise houses. Some are built with bricks, stones, and wooden planks, while many more are made from various discarded materials such as sheet metal, plastic sheets, old shipping containers, and even the shells of scrapped cars.
These buildings are densely packed together, forming a complex network of alleyways. However, interspersed among these low-rise buildings are some clearly newly built, well-organized brick and tile houses, which, although not tall, appear sturdy and durable.
Unlike the tense and predatory atmosphere of Forward Base 6, where everyone was armed and the air was thick with guns, this place had a very lively atmosphere. Shops lined both sides of the street, selling all sorts of things: food stalls steaming, tailor shops displaying ready-made clothes, general stores selling all kinds of daily necessities, and even a few children chasing and playing in an open space not far away.
The pedestrians here mostly walk leisurely. Although they are simply dressed and their faces are weathered, their eyes lack the wild, wary vigilance and ferocity often seen in the outer bases, and instead show more of the peace of daily life.
There were also people carrying weapons, but the proportion was far lower than at the forward base. Moreover, most of these people only carried machetes or pistols. People like Xu Mo, who were fully armed and carrying long guns at the forward base, stood out conspicuously.
"Is this Jiangcheng?" Xu Mo asked, somewhat puzzled. This was quite different from the core area he had imagined.
But upon further reflection, Xu Mo could roughly understand. The Jiangcheng Shelter had a population of over 800,000, and it was impossible for everyone to be crammed into the original core city. This was most likely the later-expanded outer area, the so-called "outer city."
The survivors recruited from various regions, as well as those engaged in basic agriculture, handicrafts, and services, likely reside primarily here. High-risk missions such as combat and exploration are estimated to have been largely relocated to the twelve forward bases, like Base Six.
The forward base is a shield and a sword, while this place is a relatively safe rear and home.
Sure enough, after Xu Mo drove along the main road for about two or three kilometers, another city wall suddenly appeared in front of him.
Although this city wall is not as imposing as the outermost main city wall, standing at approximately thirty meters high, its sturdiness and defensive configuration are equally formidable. There are patrolling soldiers on the wall, and checkpoints at its base.
Xu Mo realized that this was probably the "inner city." Jiangcheng Shelter must have undergone expansion, extending from the original core area outwards to the vast outer city area it now is.
Driving to the checkpoint at the inner city entrance, Xu Mo noticed that the checks were significantly stricter. After the soldier checked his ID again, he shook his head: "I'm sorry, sir, your residency is in the outer city. Non-resident vehicles are not allowed to enter the inner city unless they have a special pass."
Xu Mo expressed his understanding of this. As the core area, the inner city inevitably involves more important institutions and potentially sensitive facilities, so restricting vehicle access is a necessary security measure.
"Can I go in?" Xu Mo asked.
"Yes, you can enter on foot with your ID card. There is public transportation in the inner city," the soldier replied.
Xu Mo nodded and didn't press the matter.
Following the instructions, Xu Mo found a larger and more strictly managed "official vehicle rest area" near the inner city gate, paid five contribution points, and properly stored his off-road vehicle. Then, Xu Mo organized his equipment. He disassembled the AWM sniper rifle and placed it in the vehicle compartment, and did not carry the AK47, only keeping his pistol and machete at his waist.
After doing all this, Xu Mo shouldered the necessary luggage and walked towards the inner city entrance.
After undergoing another check, Xu Mo, walking on foot, finally stepped into the inner city, the true core of the Jiangcheng Shelter.
As Xu Mo stepped inside, he felt as if he had crossed another invisible boundary.
The scene before me was completely different from the chaotic yet vibrant "shantytown" style of the outer city. The streets were wide and clean, with sturdy buildings, mostly five to ten stories high, on both sides. Although the architectural styles varied and were clearly renovated and utilized from old buildings, the overall planning was orderly.
The roads in the inner city are relatively wide, and there is no litter piled up on the streets. Although the pedestrians are not dressed smartly, they are generally neater and more presentable, and their expressions show more composure and an inexplicable sense of superiority that belongs to "city dwellers"?
The atmosphere of battle has faded further, but the solemnity and sense of order have greatly increased. Occasionally, patrol teams in uniform can be seen walking by. The shops on both sides of the street have also become more "high-end," with specialized weapon shops, medicine shops, and even shops with signs for "ancient book recycling" and "technical restoration."
The air was filled with an atmosphere completely different from that of the outer city.
Xu Mo stood on the bustling streets of the inner city, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar cityscape before him, and was momentarily stunned.
These scenes, so ordinary before his transmigration, filled Xu Mo with nostalgia, reminding him of the terminology he overheard people using to refer to the pre-apocalyptic era while driving—the Golden Age.
That's right, compared to the apocalypse, it was indeed a golden age!
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