blogombal Chapter 128
Chapter 128
Chapter 128
Back in Jiangcheng, looking at the streets gradually recovering and even becoming more prosperous with the prospect of a bountiful harvest, the gloom in Xu Mo's heart did not dissipate. He knew that beneath this surface calm lay a massive crisis concerning the lives and fortunes of millions, and even the very survival of Jiangcheng.
The fear hidden deep in the eyes of the old farmer by the wheat field was not unfounded.
How could the Jiangcheng leadership, with its vast command system, professional research institutions, and military power, be completely unaware of a disaster that an old man who had spent his entire life dealing with the land could foresee?
The question is, what kind of solution have they prepared? And how confident are they of success?
This is not merely a technical or military issue, but an incredibly weighty political and ethical choice.
Actively attacking the large flocks of birds that inhabit the Hongxing industrial area might anger them, triggering a more violent retaliation, and could even lead to premature attacks on the wheat fields. However, if we ignore the situation and wait until the harvest is plentiful, the overwhelming flocks of birds will come to feast on their own, and the consequences will be equally unimaginable.
It's like a time bomb in a dilemma: defusing it might cause it to detonate prematurely, while not defusing it might cause it to explode at the most critical moment.
All Xu Mo could do was observe and wait, while continuously improving himself to cope with any possible changes.
Days passed, and daily life in Jiangcheng seemed unaffected by the distant threat. The streets remained bustling, the markets operated as usual, and the radio broadcasts, in addition to good news of a bountiful harvest, also began to announce the successful testing of new medical devices and routine notices reminding residents to reinforce their doors and windows and stock up on necessary supplies.
The only noticeable change was perhaps the more frequent engine noise in the sky. Fighter jets, reconnaissance planes, and even larger bombers began to streak across the sky more regularly, heading towards the Red Star Industrial Zone and returning with different mission payloads. This indicated that Jiangcheng was not sitting idly by, but was continuously monitoring and assessing the movements of that black-crowned giant. This reassured Xu Mo somewhat; intelligence work was the foundation of any operation.
That noon, Xu Mo was training in his own courtyard, feeling the warmth and power brought by the flow of qi and blood in his Iron Bone Realm body.
From the radio perched under the eaves came a broadcaster's voice, louder than usual and with a distinctly official air: "Now broadcasting an important message: This morning, a delegation from our friendly sister organization, Panshi Shelter, arrived safely in Jiangcheng and held cordial and friendly talks with the main leaders of the Management Committee. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on issues of common concern, including the current post-apocalyptic survival environment, regional security cooperation, and the exchange of materials and technology. The Management Committee highly praised Panshi Shelter for its efforts in restoring production after being integrated into the Jiangcheng system."
Significant achievements have been made in maintaining order and exploring the surrounding area.
The broadcast was filled with diplomatic rhetoric and mutual affirmations. Xu Mo stopped what he was doing and listened intently. The people from Rock Shelter had arrived. He recalled the earlier broadcast announcement; it seemed the exchange was proceeding as scheduled. He wondered, however, if this exchange concealed any substantive content regarding how to deal with a common threat. Rock Shelter was located in a different region; perhaps they had different experiences and insights.
Shortly after the broadcast ended, Xu Mo keenly noticed that the sound of aircraft engines in the sky seemed to have become more frequent. He looked up and saw at least three different formations of aircraft flying towards the Red Star Industrial Zone in just one afternoon. Among them were fighter jets that he recognized, as well as larger and slower bombers, which seemed to be conducting some kind of tactical exercise or familiarizing themselves with the flight path.
"Their actions are becoming more and more obvious—" Xu Mo mused.
The arrival of the rock may be just a coincidence, or it may have catalyzed the process of a certain decision.
Two more peaceful days passed until dawn, when Xu Mo was awakened by an unusual, continuous roar of aircraft engines. The sound came from multiple directions, but ultimately converged towards the Red Star Industrial Zone.
Hearing the continuous roar, Xu Mo immediately realized that today was probably something unusual.
Sure enough, during the morning's routine broadcast, the announcer's tone became more serious and urgent than ever before, repeatedly broadcasting an important announcement: "Attention all residents of Jiangcheng! Attention all residents of Jiangcheng! Important action notice is hereby issued: In order to eliminate potential threats and ensure the food security of our shelters and the safety of people's lives and property, the Jiangcheng defense forces will conduct a limited-area cleanup and crackdown operation today on the mutated bird nests entrenched in the Hongxing Industrial Zone!"
"This is repeated; a cleanup operation will be carried out on the Bird's Nest area in the Hongxing Industrial Zone!"
"This action may trigger a stress response in the bird population, and the possibility that some individuals or small flocks may flee towards Jiangcheng or retaliate cannot be ruled out. Therefore, from the date of this announcement, the entire city is placed on temporary alert!"
"All residents are required to: 1. Avoid going out unless absolutely necessary! 2. Keep doors and windows closed, especially for residents of high-rise buildings, and check that safety nets are secure! 3. Stay away from windows, balconies, and other open areas! 4. Follow the instructions of security personnel and patrol soldiers in your assigned areas! 5. Keep your radio or designated channel switched on to receive further instructions promptly!"
"During and for some time after the operation, there may be explosions, tremors, and unusual aerial phenomena. Please do not panic, remain calm, and trust in our defense capabilities! I repeat—"
The announcement played on a loop, each word clear and resonating in the hearts of every resident of Jiangcheng.
Xu Mo walked into the courtyard and looked up at the sky. The roar grew more intense, and he could see squadrons of fighter jets, under the cover of higher escort aircraft, flying resolutely towards the Red Star Industrial Zone like arrows released from a bow. Some of the massive bombers seemed to be carrying unknown gifts under their fuselages.
A small commotion broke out on the street. Many people, like Xu Mo, came out of their homes, looked up, and had a complex expression on their faces, including astonishment, worry, curiosity, and a hint of anticipation that things were finally about to get serious.
A buzz of discussion arose.
"Are they really going to fight?"
"Can we win? There are so many birds!"
"They should have done it a long time ago! Otherwise, what would happen to the wheat?"
"Won't it attract birds? The announcement said it's possible—"
"What are you afraid of? We have plenty of anti-aircraft firepower!"
Xu Mo didn't join the discussion. He calmly observed the situation on the street and saw that the security team's vehicles had begun patrolling, urging people to go home through loudspeakers. He turned around, went home, and climbed onto his own roof. From there, the view was relatively open, allowing him to observe the sky and also see part of the street scene.
Xu Mo lay on the roof, silently counting the batches and general types of aircraft that flew by. This was not only out of curiosity, but also a direct assessment of the extent of Jiangcheng's air power deployment.
The roar of fighter jets and the heavy rumble of bombers intertwined, gradually receding into the distance and finally disappearing into the distant horizon.
Time ticked by, the rooftops scorching under the sun, and a sense of unease hung in the air, like the calm before a major battle.
There were hardly any pedestrians on the streets, and shops were all closed. The whole city seemed to have been put on silent, with only the radio tirelessly repeating the alert notices.
Nearly two hours passed.
First, from the far horizon, a muffled, continuous rumble could be faintly heard, like distant summer thunder, but more regular and powerful. Immediately afterward, Xu Mo felt an extremely slight, almost imperceptible tremor coming from the roof beneath his feet. Then, the tremor became slightly more noticeable, like a sigh coming from the depths of the earth.
The strike has begun!
Xu Mo held his breath, straining to see into the distance. Although he couldn't see the specific scene, he could imagine it in his mind: tons of precision-guided bombs or cluster munitions, like the scythe of death, falling on those menacing bird nests built high on the ruins; flames and smoke soaring into the sky, shattered feathers, bones, and building debris being thrown into the air; panicked flocks of birds emitting deafening screams, exploding like a punctured hornet's nest—
Not long after, the silhouettes of returning aircraft began to appear on the horizon. They no longer maintained a tight formation, appearing somewhat scattered, and some aircraft even showed signs of gunpowder residue. Were there fewer of them than on the way there? Xu Mo couldn't be sure; the distance was too great.
Almost simultaneously with the first returning aircraft coming into view, the city's public address system suddenly became shrill and urgent, no longer a repetitive announcement, but a highest-level emergency broadcast: "Warning! Warning! A large flock of mutated birds has been detected moving towards Jiangcheng. All personnel must immediately move indoors! I repeat, immediately move indoors! The air defense system is about to be activated! This is not a drill! Immediately move indoors!"
The piercing alarm sounded in every corner of the city.
Xu Mo saw the last few people peering out from the street corner below turn deathly pale and scramble back to the nearest building. The patrolling soldiers and security personnel also quickly ran towards their designated bunkers or air defense positions.
The streets were completely empty.
The city seemed to have transformed into a massive steel jungle, trembling slightly as the approaching sounds of flapping wings and sharp bird cries grew clearer, like a surging tide.
Back indoors, the piercing air raid sirens outside the window continued to wail.
Xu Mo did not choose to hide in the nearby basement or reinforced bunker. He stood in the center of the living room, his internal energy circulating smoothly and powerfully. His gaze fell on the radio in the corner that was still working. At this moment, the broadcast channel had become a battle report and emergency guidance channel.
A male voice, more composed and even technically sophisticated than usual, was broadcasting, speaking quickly but clearly, clearly that of a professionally trained individual: "All residents, please remain calm, find the nearest sturdy cover, and stay away from windows. Again, this is not a drill. The following is an initial report on the 'Ruins Burning' operation and an explanation of its principles, to help everyone understand the current situation."
"This morning, our Jiangcheng air strike force successfully carried out a precision strike codenamed 'Ruins Burning Nest' against the nest of a massive flock of mutated birds entrenched in the core area of the Hongxing Industrial Zone."
"This operation employed a simplified, operational version of a special fuel-air explosive. Its basic principle consists of two phases: First, bombers drop a large amount of specially treated volatile, high-energy fuel mixture at a predetermined altitude over the target. This mixture mainly consists of aluminum-magnesium thermoelectric powder and highly atomized gasoline. These substances rapidly diffuse and suspend in the air, mixing thoroughly with oxygen to form a vast, highly combustible aerosol fuel cloud over the target area and inside the nest structure."
"Immediately following, a delayed-action fuse triggers the second stage of the fuel cloud explosion." Multiple small detonators detonate at the center or key locations of the fuel cloud. This explosion does not directly destroy the fuel cloud, but rather acts as an ignition source, instantly igniting the entire cloud.
The broadcast paused, as if allowing the listeners to process the horrifying tactical description, before continuing, its tone even carrying a hint of cold precision: "The effect of a cloud burst is devastating—a terrifying fireball exceeding 2,500 degrees Celsius, exploding instantaneously and lasting for several seconds. It not only directly carbonizes all organic matter within its range, but its thermal radiation can also cause severe burns to organisms at greater distances. For birds with feathers and flesh, this is the most direct form of incineration."
"This kind of damage spreads rapidly and has tremendous power. The overpressure shock wave generated by the cloud burst is more persistent and has a wider range than ordinary explosives of the same yield. It can easily shatter the strong bones and internal organs of large birds and tear apart dense flocks of birds in the air like autumn leaves being swept away by the wind."
"Moreover, the explosion consumes a huge amount of oxygen in a very short time, creating a brief vacuum of oxygen around the core blast point. Even if some birds are lucky enough to survive the burn or shock, they will suffocate within seconds."
A brief description, seemingly from a field communicator, came over the loudspeaker and was relayed by the announcer, whose tone was filled with shock: "The observation unit reports that at the moment of the attack, several enormous, blindingly bright orange-red fireballs rose into the sky above the Red Star Industrial Zone, appearing as small suns, estimated to be over a hundred meters in diameter and continuing to expand, and then—"
Xu Mo conjured up the image in his mind: a dense, dark bird's nest that blotted out the sky was swallowed up and burned by a sudden, even more intense and violent "artificial sun"—an absolutely terrifying scene from an apocalyptic world that would send shivers down one's spine.
The broadcast continued, shifting to a strategic assessment tone: "Jiangcheng adopted the 'ruins-burning' strategy, primarily based on the following considerations: First, the kill radius is extremely large, effectively covering the three-dimensional space where birds congregate and the complex nesting structures, achieving area-wide eradication. Second, the kill mode is complex, employing a triple attack of high temperature, shockwave, and suffocation, making it highly effective against organisms lacking heavy protection. Third, and importantly, collateral damage is relatively controllable. The target was chosen to be industrial ruins devoid of our personnel, overrun by zombies, and completely occupied by birds, avoiding harm to innocent civilians or important facilities."
"The fire triggered by the explosion will continue to burn, completely destroying the nest site and fundamentally eliminating the possibility of birds returning to rebuild in a short period of time. At the same time, the high temperature and shock wave will also cause significant damage to the remaining zombies in the ruins, which can be described as killing two birds with one stone."
Upon hearing this, Xu Mo nodded slightly.
Jiangcheng's plan was clearly well thought out, using the industrial ruins as an "operating table" to try to remove the malignant tumor of the bird flock in an extreme but relatively clean way.
This operation can demonstrate military strength, address the imminent food threat, clear away zombie remnants, and avoid dangerous air combat or low-altitude bombing over areas under our control or farmland.
"However," the voice on the broadcast became serious, "we must tell all residents the truth: the flock is extremely large and not completely concentrated. While this strike is expected to eliminate most of its population and core nests, a considerable number of birds will inevitably survive. These surviving birds, stimulated by the destruction of their nests and the large number of casualties among their kind, are very likely to go into a frenzy."
"This is why the air raid sirens are sounding now. We expect the first wave of impact to reach the outer air defense perimeter of Jiangcheng within the next 40 to 50 minutes. Please trust our air defense system, maintain order, and do not panic and go outside."
The broadcast began playing evasion tips and reassurance messages on a loop.
Xu Mo turned down the volume and walked to the window to look outside. The sky was shrouded in an unusual grayish-yellow hue, and the streets outside were deathly silent.
"Fuel-air explosives, thermobaric weapons—" Xu Mo repeated these words in a low voice. He had previously guessed that nuclear weapons might be necessary, but now it seemed he had underestimated humanity's creativity and ruthless efficiency in the field of conventional weapons. Nuclear pacification was probably the first thought of an ordinary person like him, not a professional.
And then, considering that the delegation from Rock Shelter happened to visit at this time—
A knowing glint flashed in Xu Mo's eyes.
"Showing off their strength?" Xu Mo was almost certain. In the apocalypse, strength was the hardest currency for forming alliances, negotiating, and even keeping subordinate branches loyal.
The choice to launch such a large-scale and impactful purge operation while the Pan Shi delegation was present carries political significance and a deterrent intent that is arguably no less significant than its military implications.
This is a clear and unmistakable demonstration to allies, potential enemies, and, most importantly, to its own millions of citizens: Jiangcheng possesses the resolve and capability to identify threats, formulate strategies, and utilize powerful force to eliminate them, even if the use of force necessitates immediate responses to any ensuing retaliation.
"Killing multiple birds with one stone—heh, literally." Xu Mo's lips curled into a smile. The power struggles and calculations at the highest levels are always reflected in these kinds of situations.
However, whether this "muscle-flexing" will be a success ultimately depends on whether Jiangcheng can withstand the onslaught of the ensuing Angry Birds. Whether those mutated birds that escaped the initial attack will pose an even more troublesome threat is being directly tested by the air raid sirens. Xu Mo stared at the sky outside the window, gradually being shrouded in bird shadows. He knew that this "show of strength" intended for the Rock delegation was now facing its most real stress test.
He cast his gaze toward the increasingly gloomy sky, as if it were the calm before a storm.
The first wave of surviving, crazed "Avengers" is about to arrive.
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