The temperature was thirty-three degrees.
Ju Tianrui stood outside in the Second Outer City, extending his hand to feel the volcanic ash that had descended from the sky.
This volcanic ash had been swirling around for three days now, showing no signs of stopping.
"Director Li, how many people are there in total here?" Ju Tianrui flicked the volcanic ash off his hand, patted it, and turned to ask Dong Tai beside him.
Dong Tai looked around and said slowly, "I haven’t calculated it specifically.
The place you were just at, where Xiao Jun and his group are, is known as the First Outer City, inhabited by those who are permanently stationed at the Big Camphor Tree Base, probably amounting to over a hundred people.
We are now in the Second Outer City, comprised of those who cooperate with the Big Camphor Tree Base, or as they call it, Extra Staff. I’ve roughly estimated, and in total, there are at least thirteen hundred people.
I heard that there is an Inner City behind that wall up ahead, which I’ve never entered, so I don’t know its size or population.
But from what we’ve seen so far, altogether, there are at least sixteen hundred people – and that’s a conservative estimate."
Ju Tianrui nodded, his eyes filled with reflections.
Thinking of the mortar and heavy machine guns among other military weapons he had seen upon entering, Dong Tai decided it was still best to mention these details to Ju Tianrui.
Ju Tianrui listened quietly to Dong Tai’s account, his eyes showing a glint of appreciation.
"Good, very good. Strength is what grants the ability to protect oneself. This Big Camphor Tree Base is impressive. Although I haven’t interacted much in these two days, I can sense it from various small details.
This Big Camphor Tree Base is worlds apart from Gan Shang on Juzi Island."
Dong Tai agreed wholeheartedly with this and nodded vigorously, saying to Ju Tianrui, "I’ve noticed that many of the competent people here are ex-military or Armed Police, and Director Li’s Third Uncle is truly an extraordinary figure."
Hearing Dong Tai’s words, Ju Tianrui’s mind instantly conjured up the image of the unremarkable man who seemed just like an ordinary farmer.
Filled with a myriad of emotions, he took a long breath and said, "That man used to be my idol, and he still is now."
Dong Tai looked at Ju Tianrui with some surprise; he had never seen the Camp Commander hold someone in such high regard before.
With a calculated mind and a probing tone, he asked, "So, are we going to join them next?"
Ju Tianrui was noncommittal, gazing into the endless darkness, he sighed deeply, "If you were the one in charge of the Big Camphor Tree Base, would you rashly let a group of nearly a hundred people armed with weapons join?"
Upon hearing this, Dong Tai pondered silently.
Sometimes, having too many people could lead to wariness.
Especially in a post-apocalyptic world.
With furrowed brows, he couldn’t help but blurt out, "Then, where else could we go?"
Ju Tianrui thought for a moment, then spoke, "No rush. They have their concerns and will surely make their assessments. We must also do what we need to, and besides, we should further understand this Big Camphor Tree Base.
Yet at least for now, Xiao Jun and his group’s attitude has managed to prove some things.
Moreover, from your introduction, joining the system of the Big Camphor Tree Base is actually quite good in a post-apocalyptic world.
First, ensure the safety of the people within the city, and when capable, expand influence appropriately.
The most crucial point is that Director Li knows better than me how to lead people to survive in this post-apocalyptic world.
This is very important."
Dong Tai listened quietly beside him, gazing at the surrounding darkness, his heart unable to articulate the melancholy he felt.
In the darkness, where is home?
, from 10:30 to 11:00 PM.