Chapter 1040: Repairing an airport?

The deployment of ground network troops was like throwing a huge rock into the stagnant water of Gucheng Lake gathering place, and the waves it stirred up took a long time to subside.

The sci-fi troops with a starry sky finally chose to station in the central square of the gathering place, using armored vehicles as a defense array and setting up a simple but heavily guarded cordon.

The cold muzzles of guns and cannons silently drove away all the curious and fearful onlookers. Only the soldiers of the original garrison regiment were allowed to help maintain order from a distance. They looked at the advanced equipment with fiery eyes and their hearts full of hope.

After initially settling the ground network troops, Du Yuming convened a general meeting of Gucheng Lake high-level officials at the largest command center in Gucheng Lake.

It is called a 'command center', but it is actually just a three-story former town office building. Now that it has become Du Yuming's temporary meeting place, the security of the entire building has been taken over by the ground network troops.

A Type 11 wheeled assault gun drove in front of the small building, and about a squad of elite ground network troops wearing exoskeletons were patrolling in front of and inside the building.

In the conference room, as people gradually arrived, the atmosphere began to become solemn and depressing.

Around a rough wooden table sat the core management of the Gucheng Lake gathering place:

Military director Zhao Tielin, civil affairs director Hu Renfu, logistics manager Chen Yudong, a doctor representing medical care, and two other elders who appear to be in charge of civilian affairs.

At this moment they seemed a little uneasy, their fingers subconsciously rubbing the worn table top or the corners of their clothes, their eyes occasionally glancing towards the door, or stealing glances at the person sitting opposite them.

Du Yuming was sitting in the main seat. He had taken off his helmet and placed it beside him, revealing his angular face without any unnecessary expression.

The shoulder armor and chest armor of the "Dragon Spine" exoskeleton make him look more burly than he actually is, giving him a very oppressive feeling.

He didn't deliberately exude an aura, but the calm demeanor of someone who had been through countless battles and wielded great power naturally made him the absolute center of the room.

Not to mention that he also has an aura of status that represents the authority of the war zone, or even the country...

Although these high-ranking officials in the Gucheng Lake gathering place usually acted superior in the gathering place, when they faced Du Yuming, it was like the local tycoons in the village meeting the central heavenly official, who brought heavenly soldiers with him. Being able to sit there without shaking already showed excellent psychological quality!

What made them even more nervous and trembling was that there was a "mecha" like an iron tower standing behind Du Yuming!

Du Wu's burly body was wrapped in a thick improved version of the "Dragon Spine-I" armor. He was nearly 2 meters tall, like a silent metal giant. He stood against the wall behind Du Yuming with his arms folded. The low hum of the crystal energy cabin was the only background sound in the room.

He lifted his mask, and his eyes, sharp as a knife, kept scanning like a cold radar, scrutinizing them with the scrutiny of a ferocious beast, causing Director Hu and others to feel tremendous psychological pressure!

I was afraid that if I disagreed with him, he would pull out the child-sized sword from his back and chop me down...

Du Yuming didn't exchange pleasantries and went straight to the point. His voice was steady but unmistakable:

"This is an urgent situation, so I won't bother with polite words. I'm Du Yuming, commander of the Spark Commando Team in the Zhongzhou Theater. My unit has been ordered to march east, and our primary mission is to search the Eastern Theater and establish contact!"

After the brief introduction, Du Yuming didn't wait for the reaction of the crowd and directly cast his gaze on Major Zhao Tielin beside him:

"Major Zhao, you go first. How many combatants are still at the Gucheng Lake gathering point? What are their equipment, ammunition, and supplies like? And what is the biggest threat the gathering point currently faces?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Tielin stood up suddenly, like a new soldier undergoing inspection:

"Reporting to the commander! There are currently 189 officers and soldiers remaining from the original 37th Regiment! The remaining 438 are militia garrisons recruited after the gathering place was established."

"Equipment...mostly old Type 82 assault rifles, a few light machine guns, and only one Type 67 general-purpose machine gun and two Type 40mm rifles. We only have three rockets left! Ammunition is extremely scarce, with less than rounds per person on average! Food...at the minimum ration, it won't last us more than two weeks. Medicine, especially antibiotics, is almost exhausted!"

He paused, his tone heavy. "The biggest threats are, first, the zombie hordes from downtown Jinling. They're massive, and occasionally wander to the edge of the lake. Second, there are several looting groups in the surrounding area. Some have nearly a hundred men and are armed. They frequently harass our search team for supplies. They're very cunning and rarely engage us head-on. Instead, they ambush or launch surprise attacks. They're impossible to defend against!"

"Third, there are mutated monsters living nearby. Their range of activity seems to be expanding."

Du Yuming listened expressionlessly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. He then turned to Director Hu Renfu, "What is the current population of the settlement? What is its organizational structure? What is the health status of the civilians? What is its main food source?"

Director Hu was startled when his name was called. He quickly stood up and stammered, "Report... Report to the commander... The gathering place, including those in the shantytown outside, is about... about 14,300 people... The main management is just a few of us, plus some team leaders... We mainly rely on stored food, fishing and digging wild vegetables by the lake, and occasionally organize teams to search far away... But what we can find is getting less and less... Many people are malnourished and injured..."

After listening to this, Du Yuming was silent for a moment.

The situation was worse than expected: a nearly wiped-out remnant army, a group of civilians struggling on the brink of death, depleted resources, and powerful enemies all around.

Compared to the gathering places below their own war zone, the Gucheng Lake gathering place can be said to have no management for the survivors below. Apart from maintaining order, it provides almost no help...

It seems that it is no longer possible to pin our hopes on the ethereal 'Underground Great Wall'. We must report this situation to the war zone and request support from them as soon as possible!

With the resumption of production, what the Zhongzhou war zone lacks the least now is supplies. Especially compared with the strategic fulcrum of Jinling, paying some supplies is not worth mentioning!

So after a moment, Du Yuming, having made up his mind, spoke again. Although his tone was still calm, it carried a decisive force:

"I understand the situation. From now on, our unit will take over the defense command of the Gucheng Lake settlement. All former military personnel will be reorganized and evaluated and incorporated into the temporary defense system."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tielin immediately shouted, "Yes! Commander! All members of the 189th Regiment will obey your orders!" He did not hesitate at all, but instead seemed to have unloaded a huge burden.

Du Yuming nodded slightly, expressing his approval of Zhao Tielin's statement, and then turned his gaze to the civil affairs management personnel headed by Director Hu.

His tone left no room for negotiation, as if he was issuing a combat order:

"Civil Affairs, immediately halt all ongoing production and construction activities. Remember, I mean everything!"

As soon as the words fell, Director Hu and the others turned pale...

"Didn't I report it clearly just now? The settlement only has enough food to last for two weeks. If we stop production in this situation, what will the 4-plus people in the settlement eat in two weeks?"

However, Du Yuming's next words were still firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation:

"I have only one primary task for you—"

He paused deliberately, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone, ensuring that every word sank into the deepest recesses of their consciousness:

"——Repair the airport!!"

"What?!" Director Hu seemed to be hit by an invisible hammer. His eyes suddenly widened and his mouth opened unconsciously.