radicalducati Chapter 133 New Mission
Chapter 133 New Mission
Chapter 133 New Mission
On the third day after the launch of the New Home Project, Xu Mo stood on a lookout tower, watching the bustling scene before him.
As far as the eye could see, the figures were like ants. Countless people gathered from the temporary sheds and from all corners of Jiangcheng, spreading out densely along the planned lines.
Simple measuring poles stood like a forest, and red and white warning tapes fluttered in the hot wind.
The first step was to clear away the debris, stubborn vegetation, and potential pits by bulldozing and filling them in. The deafening crashes, the roar of engines, the shouts, the whistles—a cacophony of sounds blended into a deep, powerful background rumble. Even from a distance, one could feel the overwhelming determination to transform the world.
The excavation of the foundation followed closely behind. Along the planned huge arc outline, a trench tens of meters deep and astonishingly wide was being "gnawed" out by countless shovels, picks, and a few excavators that were still operational.
The excavated soil was quickly transported to the rear, piled up into mountains, and awaited further processing or use for backfilling.
Xu Mo watched from the observation platform for a long time, noticing that the organization of the construction site far exceeded his expectations.
They divided the work into distinct sections and work processes. Some areas were being cleared, others were having foundations dug, and in areas further out, closer to the future edge of the "Second Ring Road," they had even begun using lime powder to demarcate building sites for future residential areas, workshops, and other structures.
The warehouse is ready.
A few days later, when Xu Mo climbed the observation platform again, the scene was different. The huge "scar" of the foundation ditch that encircled the city had basically taken shape, like the claw mark of a sleeping dragon, deeply imprinted on the earth.
What really caught Xu Mo's attention was the width of the foundation.
Even from a high vantage point on the city wall, the cross-section of the foundation was still astonishingly wide. Xu Mo subconsciously used the people and vehicles moving in the distance as reference points to quickly estimate its width in his mind.
"Eighty meters, and more than that." Xu Mo came up with a number that even surprised himself.
An 80-meter-wide foundation goes beyond the concept of a "wall".
The foundations of some large-scale water conservancy projects or special buildings in the Golden Age were probably no more than this, which means that what Jiangcheng was building was not simply a barrier to keep out the grieving families. They were building an unprecedented superstructure with multiple functions.
Xu Mo quickly visualized the scene: such a wide foundation meant that the walls themselves must be terrifyingly thick. The interior must be hollow or layered.
It is conceivable that the interior of the future "Second Ring City Wall" may integrate passageways, warehouses, barracks, command posts, and even small production workshops or vertical farms.
As for the width of the top of the city wall —
"A six-lane road in both directions?" Xu Mo squinted, imagining a flat top paved with cement or special alloys, where heavy vehicles and even light armored vehicles could move quickly. It was practically a mobile, never-collapsed "ring mountain".
This conjecture gave Xu Mo a more direct understanding of Jiang Cheng's ambition and strength. They were not only expanding their territory, but also building an unprecedented, integrated offensive and defensive fortress.
Satellites soaring into the sky, city walls expanding the land—this interplay of "looking up" and "looking down" paints a magnificent blueprint for survival and development in a post-apocalyptic world.
Since then, Xu Mo's daily routine has included a more ritualistic element: patrolling the besieged city.
This wasn't a mission; he just wanted to see it.
Xu Mo didn't venture deep into the bustling construction site, where management was strict and unauthorized personnel were not allowed to enter. However, Xu Mo would use his familiarity with the area to observe the growth of that "steel backbone" from a distance, choosing different routes.
Sometimes, Xu Mo would ride his secondhand bicycle, which he had acquired, along the outer city wall in the early morning, watching the sunrise gild the busy construction site; other times, he would climb an abandoned water tower or the ruins of a tall building at dusk, watching the long shadows cast by the winding foundations: the workers finishing their work would retreat to the temporary camp like a tide, and the lights would gradually come on, echoing the first stars in the sky.
Xu Mo witnessed massive precast concrete components being transported by heavy trucks, then precisely placed by large machinery, initially outlining the basic shape of the wall; he saw dense jungles of steel bars being welded together, awaiting the pouring of concrete. Every day, that outline was changing, growing towards the sky at a steadfast and steady pace.
Occasionally, Xu Mo would encounter other citizens at the observation point who had also come to "watch the excitement." Everyone pointed and whispered among themselves.
"Look over there, it seems they've started pouring the foundation concrete for the eastern section today!"
"Goodness gracious, how much cement will that take? Can our cement plant supply it?"
"I heard it was made from building materials from dismantled houses—"
"Living within the Second Ring Road will feel much more reassuring with this wall in the background!"
"Reliable? Are the contribution points enough to buy a house within the Second Ring Road? I doubt it —"
Hope, amazement, calculation, worry—these are just some of the emotions that ordinary people experience against this grand backdrop.
Xu Mo usually just listened quietly, rarely interrupting. He was more like a calm recorder, using his eyes and heart to record how this city wall, and the order and power it represented, took root, spread, and grew stronger inch by inch on this scorched earth of the apocalypse.
This wall will separate not only danger and safety, but perhaps also the old era and the new era, despair and hope, and countless drastically different futures for people.
In the morning, before the sun had fully released its light and heat, Xu Mo completed his routine "inspection," rode his well-maintained bicycle, and prepared to return to the inner city via a relatively quiet path near the East Gate.
Just then, a heavier and more intense vibration came from the end of the road. Unlike the scattered rumbles from the construction site in the distance, this sound was neat and powerful, with the metallic friction and the deep roar unique to diesel engines.
Soon, a convoy came into view and quickly approached.
Leading the way were rows of wheeled armored personnel carriers, their bodies covered in mottled but well-maintained camouflage paint. On the rooftops, remote-controlled weapon stations held 12.7mm heavy machine gun barrels that gleamed coldly in the morning light.
Following closely behind were several modified and reinforced military trucks, with boxes of supplies and soldiers sitting upright visible under the tarpaulins. The convoy was not large, with about twenty vehicles, but its imposing presence as it moved was completely different from the civilian convoys transporting building materials.
Xu Mo had seen many military convoys like this on missions, mostly clearing threats from specific areas, escorting important personnel or supplies, or conducting long-range reconnaissance. He didn't pay much attention, simply standing quietly in the shadows by the roadside as the convoy passed by.
However, as one of the armored vehicles approached, a figure in the passenger seat caught Xu Mo's attention. The man was leaning out, holding onto the roof railing to observe the road ahead. His profile was rugged; it was Zhao Ming, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. He was wearing standard combat uniform, but his demeanor was even more sharp and capable than when he was in the C-07 fortress, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's.
Seemingly sensing the gazes from the roadside, Zhao Ming turned his head, his gaze landing precisely on Xu Mo. He clearly recognized Xu Mo as well; a hint of surprise flashed across his serious face, followed by a sincere but brief smile, and he nodded slightly but clearly in Xu Mo's direction.
Xu Mo felt a warmth in his heart and nodded in response. There was no verbal exchange; they simply exchanged a tacit greeting between old acquaintances across the swirling dust and roaring engines.
The convoy did not stop, but roared past Xu Mo and sped towards the wider wilderness outside the East Gate, quickly disappearing into the dust raised at the bend in the road.
"Looks like they've taken on a more important mission," Xu Mo thought to himself as he watched the convoy disappear. Zhao Ming's team was well-equipped and highly skilled, clearly not on a routine patrol or cleanup mission. Considering the recent major moves in Jiangcheng, the convoy's destination was likely related to some more crucial, classified operation.
Withdrawing his gaze, Xu Mo mounted his bicycle, preparing to return to the city.
However, just as Xu Mo had ridden less than two kilometers and was about to turn onto the main road leading to the inner city, he heard the sound of a large convoy of vehicles behind him again. This time the sound was more mixed, with the roar of armored vehicles, the bumpy sounds of trucks, and even the clanging of tracked vehicles.
Xu Mo pulled over to the side and looked back.
A mixed force, far larger than Zhao Ming's convoy, emerged from a side road and sped off in the opposite direction from the main road Xu Mo was about to turn onto, heading towards another area outside the city. Leading the way were more than a dozen tanks of various models, their turrets manning the perimeter with vigilant observers. Behind them followed numerous armored personnel carriers, trucks loaded with soldiers and supplies, and even dozens of tractors towing field artillery and engineering repair vehicles. The convoy kicked up clouds of dust, its imposing presence awe-inspiring.
The supply vehicles of this team were particularly conspicuous, numerous in number, and clearly loaded with supplies to support a prolonged or large-scale operation. Their direction of travel was completely different from Zhao Ming's convoy, clearly pointing to another area.
"Two directions, two heavily armed teams deployed simultaneously—" Xu Mo frowned slightly, his mind racing. It was highly unusual for Jiangcheng to be simultaneously sending highly capable teams in two different directions while pushing forward the construction of its "new homeland."
Construction requires a stable rear and a large amount of resources, while simultaneously conducting major external military operations on multiple fronts, unless faced with a dual threat that must be dealt with immediately, or when actively planning something much larger.
To the northeast, Xu Mo recalled the rudimentary regional map he had seen earlier. That direction seemed to point to a more distant hilly area, and the ruins of several rumored early-fallen small and medium-sized towns. Could there be a major threat there requiring tanks and artillery to resolve? Or was Jiangcheng proactively clearing out a certain area to pave the way for future expansion?
Various possibilities collided in Xu Mo's mind, but he had no clue what to do.
Xu Mo did not linger and quickly rode his bike into the flow of people and vehicles returning to the city.
Back in his courtyard in the inner city, Xu Mo closed the gate, slightly isolating himself from the city's hustle and bustle. Standing in the courtyard, he looked up at the distant sky. Jiangcheng-1 satellite should be quietly orbiting somewhere, connecting the distant horizon and perhaps also observing the secrets of the nearby world.
"Thump, thump, thump."
Just as Xu Mo was lost in thought, he heard a knock on the door, which surprised him. He had been living alone here for some time, and apart from occasionally going to the market to trade or to the Hunter's Guild to hand in quests, he rarely interacted with his neighbors. Who would be knocking on his door?
Xu Mo walked to the door but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he peeked out through the crack. Standing outside wasn't the uniformed staff member he expected, but a middle-aged woman in her forties, wearing a faded blue overalls, her hair neatly tied in a bun at the back of her head, holding a folder and a tablet computer in her hand. Her face wore a common expression that mixed fatigue with professional friendliness.
Xu Mo hesitated for a moment, then opened the courtyard gate.
"Hello, are you Mr. Xu Mo?" The middle-aged woman immediately put on a smile when she saw Xu Mo.
After receiving confirmation from Xu Mo, the middle-aged woman spoke quickly but clearly: "I am the liaison for this area. My surname is Liu, you can call me Sister Liu."
"Hello, Sister Liu." Xu Mo nodded and stepped aside to make room, but did not immediately invite her in. He calmly looked at her and the tablet computer in her hand, which was considered a "luxury item" in the post-apocalyptic world.
Sister Liu didn't seem surprised by Xu Mo's wariness and continued warmly, "Did I disturb your rest, Mr. Xu? Well, Jiangcheng is currently pushing forward with the 'New Home' expansion plan, you've seen it yourself, the commotion outside is huge! It's a great thing, but also a massive project that requires the concerted efforts and contributions of everyone in Jiangcheng."
She paused briefly, observing Xu Mo's expression, before continuing, "The management committee has issued a mobilization order, encouraging all residents with the ability to work but without a fixed job or task to actively participate in the construction. Whether it's working directly on the construction site or participating in logistical support, material transportation, or regional defense, there are contribution points to be earned, with excellent benefits and basic meals provided. I see that you, Mr. Xu, are in good health; I wonder if you'd be interested in contributing to our new home in Jiangcheng recently?"
Xu Mo understood immediately that it was a community mobilization. Jiang Cheng clearly knew the staggering manpower requirements of such a large-scale project and had to mobilize civilian resources to the maximum extent possible. This method of mobilization, going deep into the community and door-to-door, might not be the most efficient, but it had the widest coverage and could also identify potential human resources that were not included in the fixed management system.
"Thank you, Sister Liu," Xu Mo replied calmly. "However, I just finished a field mission recently, which took a toll on me. I'm planning to rest and recuperate for a while and don't intend to work on the construction site long-term." He was being half-true and half-false. He really wanted to rest, but more importantly, he didn't want to be stuck in that kind of high-intensity, low-autonomy group labor, which would seriously affect his plans for cultivation, exploration, and resource acquisition.
"Oh? Just finished a field mission?" Sister Liu's eyes lit up slightly as she caught the key words. She leaned forward slightly, her tone more concerned, "Mr. Xu is a registered survivor?"
Xu Mo nodded slightly: "I'm registered with the Hunter's Guild and I take on some missions from time to time."
"Just as I expected!" Sister Liu's smile deepened, carrying a "I knew I hadn't chosen the wrong person" tone. "Anyone who can carry out missions outside is commendable! So, what is Mr. Xu's current rating?"
"Rank D." Xu Mo didn't hide it; this information could be found in the guild system and wasn't exactly a secret.
"Level D! That's great!" Hearing Xu Mo's words, Sister Liu's voice unconsciously rose a little. She quickly tucked the folder under her arm, picked up the black tablet computer with both hands, and swiped her fingers across the screen to light it up. "Mr. Xu, you see, besides going to the construction site, we also have a great need for personnel with some combat or reconnaissance experience, especially for perimeter patrols."
As she spoke, she turned the screen towards Xu Mo. "The 'New Homeland' project is expanding outwards, greatly increasing our actual controlled area and operational range. However, this also means a significantly longer defensive perimeter requiring vigilance and patrols."
"Therefore, the tasks of daily patrols, guarding against zombies and sporadic mutated creatures, and reporting abnormal situations in some of the relatively stable but large newly added outer areas have been entrusted to the Hunter Guild and the community joint defense system."
Xu Mo's gaze fell on the tablet. The screen was very bright, clearly visible even in sunlight. It displayed a somewhat rough-designed but functionally clear application interface, with the words "Jiangcheng Regional Security Task Collaboration Platform" at the top. Sister Liu opened a list, which contained various tasks, with labels indicating the level, location, requirements, reward, and remaining slots.
Xu Mo was indeed somewhat surprised. Although he knew that Jiangcheng was gradually restoring order and technology, this "information-based" way of issuing tasks, which went directly to the community level, was still beyond his expectations.
Sister Liu's finger hovered over a task entry, and she clicked on it to show it in detail: "Look, like this, an E-level patrol mission." After saying that, she handed the tablet to Xu Mo so that he could take a look.
Xu Mo took the tablet and checked the details.
The mission is simple: two people per team, conducting daily patrols along designated routes for six-hour shifts. The main tasks include observing for approaching groups of zombies, suspicious biological activity, and any unusual environmental changes, and reporting regularly to command via provided short-range walkie-talkies. If encountering small groups of zombies, you can handle them or avoid them as needed; if you are unable to handle the situation, immediately raise the alarm and evacuate. A standard meal is provided during the mission, and the basic reward is 2 contribution points per hour. This is much easier than carrying bricks on a construction site and is more suitable for experienced survivors like you.
Xu Mo quickly scanned the mission details. An E-rank mission was indeed of a low level, with relatively manageable danger. Although the patrol area was within the newly expanded zone, it wasn't in the front lines of conflict. The mission requirements were simple, the timing flexible, and the reward was comparable to a D-rank mission.
For a level 1 hunter, it's not high, even very low, but it's stable and almost cost-free.
Seeing Xu Mo watching intently, Sister Liu pressed on, saying, "Mr. Xu, don't underestimate this low-level mission; it's of great significance. Our new city wall can't be built in a day. Before that, the security of these buffer zones is the first line of defense."
With you all watching over the outside, we workers on the construction site feel much more at ease. You're building the first line of defense for our shared new home, which is a significant contribution.
Sister Liu's words were full of the mobilization skills unique to community workers, closely linking personal tasks with collective honor and the safety of the community.
Xu Mo pondered for a moment. He didn't have any plans to begin with, and this patrol mission was rather leisurely.
Moreover, the task is flexible in timing and not too demanding, making it a good opportunity to serve as a transition and observation window for a period of time. Furthermore, accepting such a grassroots task in Jiangcheng can, to some extent, further "integrate" into Jiangcheng's system.
"Sounds good." Xu Mo finally nodded, taking out his identity card from his pocket. "I can accept this mission. How exactly does it work?"
"Great!" Sister Liu beamed with joy and quickly took Xu Mo's access card. "Use this. Just link it on the platform and accept the task. I'll help you with the setup. You can also use the public terminal or your personal device to view and accept similar tasks whenever you have time. I'll register you for now, and someone will contact you tomorrow morning to inform you of the specific meeting point, partner information, and equipment collection details."
She skillfully placed Xu Mo's access card near a sensor area on the side of the tablet. With a soft "beep," Xu Mo's brief information popped up on the screen. She quickly clicked to confirm, binding the E-level patrol mission to Xu Mo's ID, and then handed the card back to him. "Alright, Mr. Xu, successful access. Thank you for your support of Jiangcheng's development!"
The matter was handled efficiently and decisively. Xu Mo took back the card and thanked him.
Sister Liu turned off the tablet screen, picked up the folder again, and her smile remained warm: "Well, Mr. Xu, you're busy, so I won't bother you any longer. I still need to go see the next house. There are quite a few capable people living in this area, so we need to mobilize them all." She waved to Xu Mo, turned and walked towards the courtyard next door, and knocked on the door of another house.
"Thump, thump, thump."
The same rhythm, the same hopeful knocking, echoed one after another in the quiet alleyway in the afternoon.
Xu Mo closed the door, leaned against the somewhat mottled wooden door panel, and listened to the faint sounds of Sister Liu talking to another family outside the door. His gaze fell back on the access card in his hand.
"Level E patrol, buffer zone—" Xu Mo muttered to himself. Jiangcheng's meticulous and in-depth approach to the exploration and utilization of human resources once again exceeded his expectations.
They need not only builders who toil tirelessly, but also sharp-eyed vigilant observers. This rapidly growing city, like a ravenous beast, is devouring all available human, material, and attention resources at an unimaginable speed and efficiency, transforming them into tangible living space and defensive capabilities.
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