Chapter 1277 The Destined Man

Not to mention the eight-lane highway that made all the roads in his village seem ridiculous combined, the towering and imposing parade ground that made all his "village buildings" look like children's building blocks, and the densely packed staff and troops moving with the efficiency of precision instruments...

Just take the two Type 99A main battle tanks standing like guardian deities at the entrance of the West checkpoint.

Chen Shitou knew a bit about military affairs and recognized tanks. He knew about their thick, despair-inducing armor, their long, thick cannons that seemed to pierce the sky, and the dark red grime on their tracks that looked like it came from the depths of hell…

He was just looking at it from afar through the car window when a primal fear and a sense of insignificance, stemming from his biological instincts, gripped him.

His greatest "weapon of strength" was nothing more than a few old-fashioned pistols salvaged from the remains of a police station, some homemade knives, spears, and bows and arrows, plus at most a few farm vehicles with welded steel plates.

He fantasized about fighting off small hordes of zombies, and even engaging in firefights with other survivor factions...

But in the face of that steel behemoth, all his hard work, fortifications, manpower, and self-righteous planning... probably couldn't compare to a single high-explosive shell from that 125mm smoothbore cannon, and might not even be able to make the tracks, weighing tens of tons, stop for a moment.

That behemoth didn't even need to fire a cannon; it could simply drive over slowly and crush everything he had painstakingly built up over the years, along with his ridiculous "ambition," into dust, leaving no trace, just like crushing a nest of ants.

This is a gap that cannot be bridged by individual bravery, grassroots wisdom, or a little post-apocalyptic knowledge.

This is a generational gap, a dimensional difference, like the stone spears of a primitive tribe facing the main cannons of an interstellar warship!

Sitting in the noisy yet orderly viewing area, Chen Shitou slowly and deeply took a breath, then slowly exhaled.

He took one last look at the cardboard ticket in his hand that read "Representative of Non-Directly Subordinate Gathering Areas," then carefully folded it and put it into his inner pocket.

The "wildfire" that once burned fiercely in my heart, which later turned into a ghostly flame, has finally been extinguished completely, leaving only a patch of cooled ashes, and beneath those ashes, an unprecedented and clear understanding.

He, Chen Shitou, the leader of Qingyan Village, once fantasized about becoming a "chosen one" and ruling the world in the apocalypse. In the end, he was just an ordinary person who was relatively lucky and had some ability in the torrent of this era.

But what truly enabled them to rebuild the country, restore order, hold such a grand celebration, and possess such steel behemoths in this hellish apocalypse was... the state apparatus, the collective will, and the Central Plains War Zone—the very entity he once resented but now felt awe and even a sense of belonging to.

His "career" should perhaps be redefined from today onward.

It's not about expansion and conquest, but about how to lead the remaining villagers to survive better under the wings of this behemoth, and perhaps... to become a small but at least strong and useful cog in this great cause.

In the distance, the military band's tuning had stopped, and a solemn silence began to spread across the square like ripples on water.

The celebration is about to begin.

Chen Shitou straightened his back, his gaze fixed on the tall reviewing stand, his expression complex but ultimately calm, even carrying a hint of anticipation.

'Since I cannot become one of the chosen ones, but to witness them firsthand, it seems my journey here has not been in vain.'

.....

Just as Chen Shitou's emotions had calmed down and he turned his attention back to the solemn square, a deep and rhythmic engine roar came from the internal passage behind the viewing platform, growing louder as it approached.

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a special kind of power, instantly attracting the attention of everyone nearby.

A column of specially modified, elongated Mengshi 3 armored assault vehicles, with longer and smoother body lines than the regular model, significantly thicker armor, and deeper windows, slowly drove in.

The convoy moved smoothly and orderly, like a black steel dragon.

As the convoy passed the fixed sentry posts along the way, the guardsmen, standing tall and straight like pine trees, gave a synchronized rifle salute.

The gun traced a perfect arc in his hand, and with a soft "whoosh," it was pressed against his chest. His gaze followed the convoy, filled with utmost respect and loyalty.

This solemn ceremony was passed around like a relay race along the route of the motorcade.

Finally, the convoy came to a smooth stop in the designated parking area behind the reviewing stand.

The car in the middle had a white license plate, 'YB-00001', which stood out prominently in the morning light.

As soon as the vehicle came to a stop, two guardsmen from the Imperial Guard Regiment, who had been standing at attention at the entrance to the reviewing stand stairs, immediately stepped forward with standard steps, one on each side, and respectfully and efficiently opened the heavy armored vehicle doors.

A tall, upright figure stepped out, bathed in the morning light.

The first thing that catches the eye is a neat, short, side-parted hairstyle with meticulously combed hair, the black hair gleaming with a healthy sheen in the sunlight.

Then came the perfectly tailored, impeccably ironed, and almost wrinkle-free dark green army general's dress uniform, the gold buttons and gold thread embroidery on the cuffs gleaming in the sunlight.

On his shoulders, three golden stars shone on his epaulets; on his chest, a golden sash hung diagonally from his right shoulder, and his nameplate with the three characters "Gu Chengyuan" and his rank and qualification badges were arranged neatly and solemnly.

The formal attire clung to his tall and slender figure, further accentuating his composed and dignified demeanor.

Sunlight fell on his angular face, young yet already possessing extraordinary dignity and composure. His deep eyes calmly swept across the front, as if they could contain the hustle and bustle and anticipation of the entire square.

The moment Gu Chengyuan stepped off the train and stood still, Lieutenant General Chen Haitao, the commander-in-chief of the parade and commander of the navy, who had been waiting on the side, immediately jogged forward, stood about 1.5 meters in front of Gu Chengyuan, straightened his chest and raised his head, and gave a clean and crisp salute!

"Hello, Chief!"

Chen Haitao's voice was loud and clear, with the distinctive strength of a soldier. His white naval uniform stood out against the dark green of the army uniform and the black combat uniform of the guards.

Gu Chengyuan's expression remained calm as he raised his hand to return a standard military salute.

After the ceremony, he lowered his arms, his gaze falling on Chen Haitao, and asked in a serious yet gentle tone:

"Comrade Haitao, how are the preparations for the military parade going?"

Chen Haitao remained standing at attention, his voice even more resolute:

"Reporting to the commander! Everything is ready! All officers and soldiers participating in the parade, equipment, on-site command, security, and logistical support have completed the final checks and deployments according to the highest standards, and are ready to be inspected by you at any time!"