Chapter 133 - 102: Fortress Plan

Chapter 133: Chapter 102: Fortress Plan

That evening, when Xu Mo ended his day’s rest and sat up from his cot, he immediately noticed the temporary base’s atmosphere was different. Besides the familiar scent of gunpowder and dampness, the air was thick with the smell of cement dust and fresh building materials. He stepped out of the rest area to find a bustling construction site.

The open ground, once just a staging and rest area, was now piled high with sand, gravel, precast concrete components, rebar, and all sorts of construction tools. Numerous construction workers in coveralls and hard hats were hard at work. Their main task was to pour dark, circular foundations, each about six meters in diameter, within designated zones. Each foundation appeared to cover over thirty square meters. Deep pits had already been dug next to them, and workers were operating small mixers, pouring in concrete.

A few off-duty survivors had gathered around the perimeter of the construction zone, pointing and muttering amongst themselves.

Xu Mo moved closer and overheard an honest-looking fellow beside him, cradling a rifle, say to his companion, "They’re building fortresses! See that? Look how solid those foundations are. Looks like they’re planning to dig in for good."

’Fortresses?’ Xu Mo’s interest was piqued. His gaze swept over the foundations taking shape before shifting toward the distant, flickering firelight of the front lines. The officials’ intentions for building permanent or semi-permanent fortifications in a forward area like this were intriguing.

Still puzzled, Xu Mo and Feng Dayong arrived at Post C-07 on schedule. Sure enough, construction workers were present there as well. They were taking advantage of lulls in the fighting to build similar circular foundations in a relatively safe spot behind the main line. The fighters stood guard nearby, ensuring the workers’ safety.

Captain Zhao, a familiar face, saw Xu Mo approaching. He beckoned him over to the cover, then lowered his voice, his expression a mix of mystery and gravity. "Xu Mo, you saw it, right? The higher-ups are making a move."

Xu Mo nodded, waiting for him to continue.

Zhao Ming glanced around and lowered his voice even further. "We’ve received new orders. We’re no longer holding the line indefinitely. Our mission is to hold out until these forward fortresses are built and reinforced. After that, the main force will gradually withdraw to Jiang City and use these fortresses to establish a new, more flexible defensive and observational network."

A flicker of understanding crossed Xu Mo’s eyes. This aligned with his own assessment of the current situation. Simply throwing lives and ammunition into these bizarre ruins wasn’t a sustainable strategy.

"And then?" he asked, sensing Captain Zhao was leaving something unsaid.

Zhao Ming licked his chapped lips, his gaze intense. "So, there’s a special mission, and I’m wondering if you’ve got the guts to take it."

"A special mission?" Xu Mo raised an eyebrow, his expression questioning.

"That’s right." Zhao Ming nodded. "The way these zombies are showing up is just too damn weird, like they’re appearing out of thin air. At this rate, no matter how deep our reserves are, we won’t be able to hold out. So, command decided to change strategies. For one, they’re organizing teams to quickly salvage any valuable, usable industrial equipment from the Red Star Industrial Zone and haul it back to Jiang City. For another, they’re building these forward fortresses to serve as observation posts and firebases, to monitor these ruins long-term and figure out where the hell these things are coming from and if there’s a pattern to their attacks."

He paused, then continued, "The plan is to garrison each fortress with a one- or two-person team. They’ll be equipped with ample weapons and ammunition, at least two months of basic supplies, an independent power generator, and a radio. The initial tour of duty is set for two months, with opportunities for resupply and rotation."

Xu Mo listened quietly, his gaze returning to the sturdy foundation being poured nearby, which already looked to be nearly two meters deep. A turtle-shell of a bunker like that, stocked with ample supplies... even though it was deep in hostile territory, it would be far safer than passively defending an open position. And most importantly, it would be isolated and quiet.

Zhao Ming keenly caught the fleeting spark of interest in Xu Mo’s eyes and immediately struck while the iron was hot. "Wang Nade and I have both reported your combat prowess to our superiors—especially your sharpshooting skills and your composure under pressure. They’re very impressed. If you agree, I can recommend you directly. The mission offers a huge amount of Contribution Points, more than five times that of a normal clearing mission. Plus, upon completion, there are bonus Merit Points and material rewards. So? Give it some thought."

Xu Mo didn’t answer immediately. He quickly weighed the pros and cons. The risks were obvious: a long-term deployment on the absolute front line, directly facing the unknowns of the ruins. But the rewards were equally alluring: a huge payout, an independent space, an undisturbed environment... ’This is the perfect place for me to train.’

’An opportunity like this is rare,’ Xu Mo thought. The brass had clearly been backed into a corner by the mysterious source of the zombies, forcing them to adopt a long-term surveillance strategy. And as it happened, he needed just such an opportunity.

"I’m definitely interested," Xu Mo finally said, raising a practical concern. "But, Captain Zhao, I just rented a house with a yard in Jiang City’s Inner City. I have to pay rent on it every month with Contribution Points. If I take this mission, what happens to the house...?"

"Hah, I thought it was something serious!" Zhao Ming immediately puffed out his chest, giving his assurance. "Don’t you worry about that. As long as your application is approved and you’re officially part of this fortress garrison plan, Jiang City will handle your housing situation directly. During the mission, your house will be temporarily sealed, so you won’t have to worry about any deductions. Once the mission is over, it’s up to you whether you want to keep it or let it go. Personnel on long-term, high-risk missions like this get a few privileges."