Rotting Land: Survive

"Last, my third proposal, is to dig a deep trench around the completed wall."

"Wow, Xiaoquan, are you planning to create a moat!" Wen Quanxin half-jokingly asked.

Unexpectedly, Tang Xiaoquan replied earnestly, "That’s right, I mean to create an artificial moat."

The proposal was shocking, and Tang Xiaoquan’s suggestion evidently took everyone by surprise.

People had seen moats before, but only in movies and TV shows. Who in modern civilization would go out of their way to build a moat?

However, Tang Xiaoquan was very serious about it. Indeed, the idea originated from films, but not everything in movies is entirely fictional.

At least in Tang Xiaoquan’s view, the zombies resemble ancient military threats; they have no planes or cannons, no guns or ammunition; all they have is their transformed bodies.

So why not draw from history and dig a moat to ward off the hordes of zombies?

"Wow, Xiao Tang, that’s quite a hefty project!" Wang Zhongyu scratched his head, looking at their small group, feeling a bit unsure.

"Yes, it is quite an undertaking. But what we have in abundance now is time. If it takes one day, fine, if two, then so be it. If two days aren’t enough, then a year. As long as we keep working, we’ll eventually succeed. Besides, this is a one-time effort. If done right, it could significantly enhance our security."

Old Lin, who had been silent until now, nodded subconsciously. "I think Xiao Tang’s proposal is feasible, but we should broaden our view. A moat doesn’t have to be just for defense. It can also serve as a rainwater collection area, and with proper planning, we can even use it for irrigation."

"Hmm," Tang Xiaoquan clearly hadn’t thought that far, but he readily agreed with Old Lin’s additions.

"Alright! Anything else?" Old Xu had a basic understanding of the younger people’s ideas, and he had to admit that some of their thoughts, though whimsical, had given him quite a bit to think about.

Tang Xiaoquan shook his head. After all, the major aspects like communication, security, and electricity already had leads, and minor details could be resolved later.

"No, that’s it." Tang Xiaoquan replied straightforwardly.

"Anyone else with any good suggestions?"

"I do," Hu Xiaodong straightened up. "Everyone just discussed a lot about base construction. While focusing on building is important, we shouldn’t neglect necessary entertainment activities. If the opportunity arises, we could set up a basketball court or a table tennis room in our village. Once the power supply is sufficient, we could even have a small theater."

Hu Xiaodong’s suggestion immediately livened up the somewhat dull discussion, especially among young people like Wen Quanxin and Wu Chao.

Although playing cards, Mahjong, and PS games could kill time, repetition would eventually lead to boredom.

On the other hand, sports like basketball and football were different. They are favorites among men; not only could they break the monotony, but they could also strengthen team friendships, improve teamwork, and provide physical exercise.

Old Zhao was the first to support the idea heartily.

Seeing Old Zhao raise his hand, Hu Xiaodong further suggested, "Old Xu, in addition to entertainment activities, you should let the soldiers give some military skills courses to everyone, like combat training, weapon assembly, and application."

There’s no man uninterested in weapons. Upon hearing about learning combat skills and firearms, Wen Quanxin was immediately intrigued and eagerly called out, "Brother Hu, this is a good suggestion. Hey, Old Xu, you have to make it happen. Once we know how to use guns, the next time we encounter scum like Dai Sha and Spring Xiu, I’ll shoot them a hole."

While speaking, Wen Quanxin mimed a gun shooting gesture with a serious expression.

Seeing this, Hu Xiaodong humorously teased, "Hey, hey, Wen, hold on with the gun stuff and first practice your archery for me! Don’t bite off more than you can chew!"

Wen Quanxin was speechless and sat down awkwardly.

Hu Xiaodong’s proposal left Lin Junfu in thought, which didn’t escape Xu Renjie’s keen eyes.

"Old Lin, what are you thinking? Do you have new ideas?"

"Hmm?" Lin Junfu hummed absentmindedly. When he realized Old Xu was asking him a question, he gave a somewhat apologetic smile and said, "Oh, no, umm... Just now, Little Hu suggested you teach how to use weapons. It got me thinking, since we have now settled our base, shouldn’t we consider specifically collecting some weapons? In the past period, whether it was dealing with Dai Sha, or now with Spring Xiu and He Lei, they all had weapons. Although we have a few ourselves, to defend this base, we’d need more heft."

Tang Xiaoquan nodded. He had always felt that firearms weren’t very significant in the apocalypse, especially for their small team.

First, in Huaxia Country, it’s not easy to get weapons. Even if we got them, ammo supply would be an issue since reserves are in military bases, and the apocalypse doesn’t care about your status, so those supply depots are likely overrun.

Moreover, based on observations from the past six months, there’s a direct relationship between zombie evolution and the host’s physical fitness.

Therefore, the combat capabilities of military-infected zombies should be quite formidable.

Secondly, though guns have good destructive power, their use inevitably makes noise.

This is a deadly issue in a zombie-infested apocalypse.

That’s why Tang Xiaoquan never mentioned acquiring weapons.

However, Old Lin’s words sparked a change in Tang Xiaoquan’s mindset from his original standpoint.

Moreover, from past experiences, weapons had silently become an issue their team had to face.

You might not want to use guns out of fear they’ll attract zombies, but others, especially bandits, don’t care.

Their activities are about looting, and they don’t worry about the consequences of using weapons.

The destruction of your home means nothing to them.

Even so, true to Old Lin’s concern, if there was a heavily armed gang looking to raid the base, what would we do?

Do we rely on a few bows and a cleaver to fend them off?

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaoquan immediately spoke in agreement, "Old Xu, I think Old Lin’s concern is quite valid. Since we’ve decided to stay here long-term, we must guard against external forces, so the issue of weapons needs addressing. Being prepared provides confidence, and if a fight breaks out, it won’t be so one-sided." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to vote for recommendations or monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)