Chapter 1192 Goryeo's "Sejong's Safety Zone"

The headquarters of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea – “Sejong Security Zone”

When the apocalypse arrived, Seoul, a megacity that once had a population of over 40 million, unsurprisingly became a haven for mutants and hordes of zombies, making it unsuitable as a location for a large-scale gathering of survivors.

After suffering heavy losses and chaos in the early stages, the remaining official forces of Goryeo finally chose to move the capital.

Their destination was not the coast or a completely remote mountainous area, but the Sejong Special Autonomous City, which was partially operational before the end of the world and located in a relatively central position in Chungcheongnam-do.

The "Sejong Safety Zone" is not a single fortress, but a ring-shaped defense system radiating outwards from the former Sejong City Hall complex and its surrounding core area, which serves as the administrative and defensive core.

Core area: It was transformed from the original government office buildings (such as the Sejong Hall) and its underground solid facilities (archives, data center, parking lot).

This is home to the National Emergency Response Committee, the military command center, and key scientific research and medical facilities.

The defenses were extremely tight, with concrete walls, watchtowers, and heavy firing positions built around it.

Inner Ring Residential Area: Outside the core area, some newly built high-rise apartment buildings and commercial facilities have been cleared and reinforced to provide housing for military personnel, technical personnel, government employees and their families.

This area is subject to a strict rationing system and militarized management. Buildings are connected by reinforced sky bridges or underground passages, forming a network.

Outer Ring Production/Defense Zone: The outermost area, consisting of cleared land, parks, and low-rise buildings, used for hydroponic farms, simple workshops, supply warehouses, and for stationing rotating troops.

Protected by a series of mutually supporting defensive positions, trenches, and obstacles, this area forms the first line of defense against external threats.

Underground network: Make full use of some of the existing subway stations and tunnels in Sejong City, transform them into transportation lines, secondary residential areas, shelters and material storage spaces, and connect them with above-ground facilities to form a three-dimensional defense.

In terms of power structure, the Provisional Government of Goryeo maintained the general framework before the apocalypse, but it became more centralized and militarized.

The National Emergency Response Committee, composed of former high-ranking government officials, military generals, and representatives of large conglomerates that control key technologies and resources, is the highest authority.

The military (“National Defense Command”) has absolute authority in maintaining order and eliminating mutants, and its influence permeates all aspects of the settlement.

......

At this moment, the atmosphere was heavy in the reinforced command center located deep underground in the former Sejong Hall.

The style here is more "modern" than Yokota Base, but it also bears the marks of post-apocalyptic resource scarcity, with some non-critical equipment clearly lacking maintenance.

An elderly man in a crisp military uniform, bearing the rank of general, is Marshal Choi Byung-heon, the commander of the National Army's defense forces, listening to a routine report, mainly dry data on the movement of the surrounding zombie horde and agricultural output.

Suddenly, a communications officer strode over, holding a newly deciphered telegram, his face unusually serious:

"Commander! Urgent communication! Our 52nd Independent Observation Post in the Pohang direction has relayed a broadcast message received via a surviving submarine cable relay station from the US military base in Yokota, Fusang!"

Choi Byung-hun's gaze sharpened: "??!" (The content!)

The communications officer took a deep breath and read the telegram aloud:

[Information Source: Yokota Base (Intermittent signal, characteristic match)]

[Priority: Highest]

[Content: Approximately one hour ago (estimated time), a massive nuclear explosion was detected in the Kanto region of Japan (Tokyo Bay). Preliminary assessment indicates it was a megaton-class (Mt) strategic weapon. The nature of the explosion and its radiation characteristics have been confirmed. The radioactive cloud is spreading eastward. The attacker's identity is unknown. All surviving factions in the surrounding area are hereby notified to be on alert.]

The message was short, but every word struck the heart of everyone present like a heavy hammer.

As soon as he finished speaking, the command center fell silent.

"????... ????... " (Million-ton-class... strategic weapon...) A civil servant wearing gold-rimmed glasses repeated unconsciously, his voice hoarse.

Choi Byung-hun turned abruptly and quickly issued a series of orders, his tone carrying the urgency characteristic of Goryeo soldiers:

“Immediately activate the highest national alert level! All air defense units enter combat readiness! Radiation monitoring network operates at full power!”

"Notify all outer outposts and survivor bases to closely monitor any unusual movements from the East China Sea! No area should be overlooked, whether in the air or at sea!"

“Activate emergency broadcasts to the entire nation… no, wait a minute!” He changed his mind before he could finish, clearly weighing the potential panic that announcing the news might cause.

He strode to the huge electronic map and pointed heavily at the location of the Fusang Islands, especially the Kanto region.

“Tokyo Bay…Kyoto gathering place…” he murmured to himself, a complex light flickering in his eyes.

Goryeo and Fusang are separated only by a narrow strip of water, and their historical grievances have been intertwined for hundreds of years.

Before the apocalypse, the two sides were important economic partners, but also had profound contradictions on historical issues and geopolitics.

As the apocalypse arrived and the old order collapsed, this complex emotion did not dissipate.

At this moment, upon hearing that the core gathering place of their arch-enemy had been allegedly destroyed by a strategic nuclear bomb, an indescribable emotion, a mixture of shock, vigilance, and even a hint of secret pleasure, arose in the hearts of many attendees.

"Who could have done it?" a security chief asked the crucial question.

"Having the ability and the motivation...at this point in time..."

Almost everyone instantly pictured Zhou Bang, the massive neighboring country with the deepest historical blood debt to Japan and which had just demonstrated astonishing strength (if Yokota's US intelligence was correct).

“???....” (Zhou Bang...) Marshal Choi Byung-hun slowly uttered these two words, his expression becoming even more solemn.

If it really is Zhou Bang, what does that mean?

This means that Zhou Bang not only did not collapse in the end times, but also recovered and may even have strengthened its strategic strike capabilities!

This means that the hatred of the old era is being settled in the most extreme way in the end times!

This also means that Zhou Bang's power and will have been able to cross the ocean and directly determine the life and death of neighboring countries!

Is this a blessing or a curse for Goryeo, which is so close to us?

"Who...who will be their next target?" someone whispered, sending chills down everyone's spines.

Goryeo was also repeatedly invaded by Fusang in history, and its relationship with Zhou Bang was even more complicated and subtle.

Was Zhou Bang's move simply revenge against Japan, or did it signal a clarion call for the restoration of order in East Asia?

"Summon all committee members immediately!" Choi Byung-hun made a decisive decision.

"We need to assess all possibilities! At the same time, we need to try every possible channel to see if we can make contact with Zhou Bang's side! Even if it's just to confirm their intentions!"

He paused, then added, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of relief and realistic consideration:

"Furthermore, we must strengthen surveillance of those 'pro-North remnants' and potential 'pro-Zhou forces' within our borders. At this critical juncture, we must not allow any internal turmoil!"

The Sejong Safety Zone quickly mobilized and entered a state of maximum combat readiness.

A tense atmosphere permeated the air, suggesting a formidable enemy was at hand and the future was uncertain.

The aftershocks of the nuclear explosion had not yet reached Korea, but the political and strategic impact it brought had already stirred up huge and unfathomable ripples on this long-suffering land.

The decision-makers in Goryeo had to find a dangerous path to survival for this surviving nation amidst this sudden and dramatic change.

P.S.: That's all for the drafts. I'll start updating again when I get home tomorrow.