lcionline Chapter 1380 Pingxiang Forward Base!
Chapter 1380 Pingxiang Forward Base!
Meanwhile, Pingxiang gathering place, the south gate
buzzing-
With the roar of engines, a convoy of military armored vehicles, covered in thick composite armor, painted in gray-green jungle digital camouflage, and equipped with remote weapon stations and various antennas on their roofs, sped along the newly widened paved road from the direction of Pingxiang Railway Station, like a silent and majestic steel python.
The convoy was led by four Lynx all-terrain vehicles, followed by six armored command vehicles and troop carriers with bulletproof windows and a rugged design, and finally two Type 04A infantry fighting vehicles bringing up the rear. The deep, powerful roar of their engines was uniform, kicking up dry dust from the road.
The south gate of the gathering place is no longer the shabby place it was half a year ago, made up of abandoned cars and sandbags.
In its place stands a permanent defensive wall, eight meters high, constructed of reinforced concrete and covered with camouflage netting. The wall is topped with staggered firing positions, the muzzles of light and heavy machine guns protruding from firing ports, and on watchtowers, sentries clad in camouflage netting vigilantly survey the wilderness through high-powered binoculars.
The sentries had apparently been notified in advance as the convoy approached the gate.
hum-
The heavy electric gates slid open slowly to both sides, revealing a wider internal road and the gradually taking shape city skyline in the distance.
The soldiers of the garrison on duty on both sides of the gate, wearing the standard camouflage training uniforms issued by the railway troops and holding QBZ-191 assault rifles, immediately stood at attention with their rifles in a standard posture when they saw the convoy approaching, and saluted the convoy in unison, their eyes showing awe and curiosity.
Without pausing, the armored convoy, led by a Lynx, slowed down slightly. After confirming the passage was safe, it led the entire convoy straight in, entering this border city that had risen again from the ruins of the apocalypse.
As the convoy entered the settlement and drove along the main road, it immediately attracted the attention of the survivors and soldiers on both sides of the road.
The main road is wide and flat, clearly paved and hardened by the engineering corps. Some hardy trees have even been transplanted along the roadside. Although they are still young, they add a rare touch of vitality to this steel fortress.
The roadsides are no longer lined with low, dilapidated shacks, but with rows of neat, uniform prefabricated modular houses or reinforced and repaired existing buildings, dividing the area into residential, commercial, and workshop zones in an orderly manner.
Although most of the pedestrians on the road were dressed in old clothes, their faces were rosy and they walked with a clear purpose in their haste, a stark contrast to the numb and desperate scene of half a year ago.
Occasionally, military trucks loaded with supplies or people in different uniforms would ride by, creating a busy yet orderly scene.
As this heavily armed and imposing convoy passed by, pedestrians on the road stopped to stare and whisper among themselves.
"Look at that convoy! It's coming from the direction of the train station again!"
"It must be someone important! Maybe it's a high-ranking official from the night market!"
"Wow, this is impressive!!"
"I heard there's been some big activity up north recently. Could it be related to this?"
...
When the survivors discussed the origins of the convoy, there was no fear on their faces, only curiosity and a hint of anticipation.
In the past six months, the railway troops have brought not only safety and order, but also tangible improvements in living standards and hope for development.
This has led to an inherent logic in the subconscious of survivors: any new developments from "above" may mean more opportunities or better changes.
At this moment, in the center of the convoy, inside a Mengshi 3 armored command vehicle (improved version).
The interior of the carriage has been professionally modified, offering a spacious feel and effectively isolating noise and vibration. Soft LED lighting illuminates the electronic displays and communication panels on the cabin walls, while the air conditioning system maintains a comfortable temperature.
An elderly man sat in the spacious commander's seat in the back row.
He looked to be in his sixties, with very short hair that was almost entirely white, but each strand stood up, making him appear extremely energetic.
His face was thin and his skin was a bronze color from long-term fieldwork, covered with deep wrinkles, especially a deep vertical line between his eyebrows, as if left by years of deep thought.
He was dressed in a well-fitting dark green lieutenant general's uniform. The two stars on his shoulder insignia were not particularly noticeable in the dimly lit carriage, but as he sat there, he resembled a mountain that had weathered storms yet remained steadfast.
He wore a pair of old-fashioned round-framed glasses on his nose, and his eyes behind the lenses were slightly narrowed as he quietly observed the Pingxiang street scene rushing past through the dark bulletproof car window.
That gaze was calm and profound, seemingly able to penetrate the building's exterior; it was a scrutiny that transcended mere military observation, carrying the dual characteristics of a strategist and a builder.
He was Lieutenant General Liu Lue, the commander of the 7th Army Group, who had just arrived in Pingxiang.
Sitting upright next to this veteran general was Senior Colonel Hu Xiangqian, commander of the Pingxiang Forward Base and commander of the 1st Iron Middle Brigade.
This formidable general, known for his absolute authority, tough style, and decisive command in Pingxiang, had now tempered all his sharpness, sporting a tour guide-like smile, leaning slightly towards Liu Lue, and introducing the situation at a moderate pace:
"...Old leader, look at this road, we call it 'Fuxing Avenue', it was one of the first municipal projects to be completed. There are integrated pipeline trenches laid underneath, for electricity, communications and water supply, which will make future maintenance and expansion convenient."
"The area with white roofs on the left is a newly built light industrial zone, mainly for garment processing, small tool manufacturing, and recycling plants that utilize recycled plastics and rubber. It has created some jobs and produced some urgently needed daily necessities."
...
Hu Xiangqian's words carried an almost imperceptible sense of pride, as if he were showing off his achievements to his parents.
As he spoke, he carefully observed Liu Lue's expression.
Liu Lue merely nodded slightly, occasionally letting out a short "hmm" sound from his throat, his gaze still lingering on the window, making it impossible to tell whether he was satisfied or had other considerations.
This made Hu Xiangqian a little unsure, so he put even more effort into his presentation:
"In terms of population, the current registered permanent residents in the main settlement of Pingxiang are more than 417,000, which does not include the more than a dozen satellite warning villages and the floating population."
“Every day, survivors come from the surrounding mountainous areas and even further afield after hearing the news, so we have set up special reception and screening stations for them.”
"Militarily, after incorporating the Chongyou settlement six months ago, we integrated their 5th Border Defense Regiment, Internal Security Detachment, and some scattered armed forces. In addition, we recruited and selected personnel ourselves. After requesting approval from the war zone, we officially formed the 1st and 2nd Pingxiang Garrison Regiments directly under the Railway Command, each with 3500 personnel at full strength. They are mainly responsible for internal security, daily patrols on the perimeter, clearing out small groups of corpses and bandits, and guarding important facilities."
"As for the main field forces, in addition to my 1st Railway Engineering Brigade, the theater later dispatched a railway engineering regiment and a reinforced artillery battalion to be stationed there permanently, ensuring absolute control and rapid deployment capabilities within a 200-kilometer radius."