Chapter 25: Mobilization, RV Alliance
Shao Jingchuan, the general manager of the Qingye Collection base, stood on the rooftop of the clubhouse, nodding frequently as he listened to Feng Zhiyuan’s suggestions.
He took the advice, deciding to build a line of defensive fortifications along the river on the base’s perimeter.
"It’s best to use fuel trucks. We have to make sure to empty their tanks beforehand and collect the gasoline properly," Shao Jingchuan added, providing more detail. The energy issue needed to be addressed early on.
The number of generators at the campsite was quite substantial.
There were plenty of both diesel and gasoline generators.
Generally, corporate buildings and food stalls used diesel generators, while outdoor campsites required quieter, lighter, and more portable gasoline generators.
Some campers didn’t have EVs with external power output capabilities, so the campsite also offered gasoline generator rentals.
"We’ll need to turn on some lights after nightfall."
Feng Zhiyuan then offered another idea, his expression calm. "We can’t be left at a disadvantage in the dark. Phototaxis is more of an insect trait; strong lights can actually repel some animals."
Shao Jingchuan agreed at once. He was inclined to trust the old hunter.
It wasn’t a matter of character.
Past experience had taught him that professionals should handle professional matters. Amateurs getting involved would only lead to disaster.
As for the night lights, there was nothing to worry about. Not only did they have landscape lighting for the paths, but the base could also deploy high-mast lamps on the spot at any time.
To keep sightlines clear during the day for tourists to check in on social media and take photos, the campsite lawns weren’t set up with high-mast lamps. They were only positioned at night based on foot traffic.
Once the relevant details were settled, Feng Zhiyuan immediately arranged for people to set up the vehicle barricade.
After having the head of security assist him, Shao Jingchuan himself immediately went to the broadcasting room.
BZZZT!!
After a harsh, piercing buzz, the base’s broadcast system crackled to life once more.
"To all stranded tourists and staff members, hello..."
Shao Jingchuan’s voice, deep and steady, spread throughout the camp via the loudspeakers, carrying an unquestionable sense of security:
"This is Shao Jingchuan, the general manager of the Qingye Collection campsite.
We are currently facing an unprecedented ecological disaster. It’s highly likely that we, along with the rest of Dongfu City, have been transported to a fantasy world. The environment outside is extremely dangerous, but please believe that we have the ability and the determination to protect the safety of this camp.
To strengthen our defenses, we are constructing a defensive line on the base’s perimeter. We urgently need people to help move supplies and reinforce the barriers.
I solemnly promise that everyone stranded here will be guaranteed stable lodging, food, and medical care.
There is no need to fight over resources; the base has more than enough food and drink. I implore all of you to fight for our survival and help us build the outer defensive fortifications."
This declaration served as a formal call to action for everyone at the base.
In truth, chaos had already broken out inside the base.
The campfire grocery store had fallen victim. An SUV owner hooked a tow cable to the lock, stomped on the gas, and violently ripped away not just the lock, but the entire metal security gate.
Once the door was breached, the goods inside were quickly looted. The portly owner, who had been hiding inside, was tackled and pinned to the ground by a mob the moment he tried to grab a weapon.
Aside from this little incident, work had already begun at the campsite before nightfall.
...
After learning about the base’s call to action, Su Chen also joined the work effort.
When it came to wilderness exploration and combat, he naturally preferred to work as a lone wolf.
Call it the confidence of the highly skilled, or blame it on the thick walls between people’s hearts—whatever the reason, at this stage, he wouldn’t trust any stranger with his back.
But when it came to building defensive fortifications together, Su Chen was willing to cooperate. As someone who would benefit, he couldn’t just stand by and reap the rewards of the group’s labor with a clear conscience.
After parking Unit 13 in its designated spot, he noticed that many of the nearby vehicles were RVs.
Obviously, these RVs were all equipped with solar panels. Few owners were willing to abandon their fully-powered mobile homes in these apocalyptic times.
Among them, a Mercedes-Benz 8x8 Armadillo T-Model off-road RV caught Su Chen’s eye. It was in the same weight class as a mainstream heavy-duty truck and looked more like a mobile base than a vehicle.
The vehicle’s base price was in the tens of millions, and the import taxes were no small sum either.
"That’s the lead vehicle of the ’Crossline’ RV alliance," one of the owners commented as he stopped to look, revealing its origin.
"No wonder I saw a whole string of RVs drive into the campsite today. The convoy was at least thirty vehicles strong. They were probably here for a club rally," a middle-aged man said, looking around. He spotted a number of RVs on the lawn to the right, all covered in ’Crossline’ decals.
Su Chen had heard a little about the ’Crossline’ club.
The RV community was actually quite small. He had run into them several times in the past at tourist spots or RV service centers.
To outsiders, the Crossline club had an even bigger online presence.
That’s because the convoy included several RV travel bloggers, one of whom had tens of millions of followers across all platforms. The group even ran a self-media incubator, with bloggers under their umbrella covering topics like wilderness survival and apocalyptic RVs.
Their most popular series was ’Building a Multi-Million Apocalypse RV from Scratch’.
The series followed a ’build-along’ format, taking viewers step-by-step from ordering the RV, to modifying and upgrading it, purchasing survival supplies, and finally setting off on the road. They were also famous for taking audience suggestions, creating an immersive experience of building a dream, apocalypse-grade mobile fortress.
Now, it seemed, fantasy had become reality.
No matter how you looked at it, the Crossline club, with its massive stockpile of apocalyptic resources, wasn’t about to abandon their vehicles and flee.
In terms of organization, they were not to be underestimated—a major power within the campsite.
But in terms of raw combat strength, they were currently no match for the hundred-plus archery tournament contestants.
However, this group of archers wasn’t a cohesive, centrally controlled unit. They didn’t know each other well. From what Su Chen had observed, many of them had formed small cliques based on their home universities—the college logos on their quivers were the best proof of that.
If the seeds of chaos continued to sprout and the situation deteriorated completely, this ’Crossline’ RV alliance could very well become the most coveted prize for everyone.
Fortunately, the base’s general manager had curbed the downward spiral and begun to unite the remaining personnel to resist the otherworldly beasts.
On the street, a security guard drove a golf cart loaded with over a dozen boxes of empty liquor bottles and more than ten bags of starch, heading toward the frontline parking lot.
It looked like they were for making makeshift Molotov cocktails.
Soon, the staff from the campsite’s engineering department brought some good news. They arrived in a small truck carrying a pile of various ornate, wrought-iron railings.
They were all solid cast iron, so their strength was guaranteed.
"This is extra steel we bought when building the courtyard villas. It’ll be perfect for putting up a wall."
Another small truck following close behind carried a batch of galvanized steel pipes. They were of a moderate length, relatively thin, and once cut down, could definitely serve as makeshift weapons for people.