The old Duke looked like he was in his seventies or eighties.
His hair is gray, and the wrinkles on his face look like they have been run over by wheels. His withered skin is reminiscent of the cracked loess soil in winter. His skinny fingers are more like dead branches, stiffly grasping the cracked crutch in his hand.
Only those pair of cloudy eyes still have some energy.
Lu Wen even wondered whether this old man would lie down and blackmail someone in less than two steps.
Fortunately, the elderly in this world are pretty decent.
Old Russell just had a stiff face and didn't ask for help. He walked up to Lu Wen, straightened his skinny chest, but was still half a head shorter, and asked in his unique rough and hoarse voice: "I won't say any more polite words. I This kind of old man doesn’t have much time and doesn’t like to waste it. How about you just take me to see the city?”
A very special way of pronunciation.
Although dry and mute, it has a bit of aristocratic elegance.
Just by listening to the voice, you can picture a grumpy old gentleman in your mind.
"No problem at all."
The man who sent the money finally came, and Lu Wen naturally smiled and agreed.
The city is noisy in late August.
Unlike the low pressure and gloomy weather in Mowu City all day long, the sun can be seen more days in this uninhabited area.
Smoke and dust filled the air.
All kinds of heavy machinery started running at the same time, galloping on the roads and construction sites.
You can see androids everywhere, as well as human workers wearing masks.
Old construction debris was transported out of the city by truckloads, breaking into foundations for future urban road expansion. New building materials were flown in from Mowu City day and night.
In this protracted war, the biggest source of economic growth in Mowu City is the city under construction in front of it.
"The currently built places in the four major regions can accommodate a population of five million to seven million, and living supplies are sufficient. If there are more refugees, they can live in tents outside the city."
Lu Wen walked on the outside of the street and carefully introduced the projects that had been started to the old duke who was wearing a mask beside him.
The two were followed by many leaders of the android organizations, as well as Russell's bodyguards.
If everything goes well.
This will be a pretty great endeavor.
The old Duke cared little for his posthumous reputation.
Regardless of whether it is good reputation or notoriety, he will not live for a few years anyway.
The crowd walked through the city square, through the gardens, visited residential areas, and strolled by the freshwater lake.
Russell has been very calm, using a cane, able to keep up with Lu Wen's deliberately slow pace, and not saying much.
On the contrary, many of the guards behind him were amazed and kept discussing with the leader of the androids walking beside him.
I only heard a guard ask: "How did you get so much fresh water? If there are natural fresh water resources here, and it is so close to Mowu City, it should have been targeted by the merchants of Mowu City, right?"
One leader replied: "Arrived by air."
"Hiss... Is it such a luxury?" The guard took a breath of haze. This was the first time in his life that he heard about air transportation of fresh water resources.
"In order to reduce time, as long as you have money."
Typical: Money can buy time.
People visiting from the West learned that this miraculous city in front of them was built by spending money at all costs.
Another guard pointed to a magnificent building and asked, "What is that for?"
"That's the library, which contains many books and classics transported from Mowu City."
"The facilities are too complete and it doesn't look like a place where refugees should live."
"This is not for refugees." Fang Zhou said with a smile: "At the beginning of the design, we planned to imitate Eden, with both bionic people living there and many human children adopted."
This city wants more than just staying alive.
But a high quality of life.
After adopting some human children, even if Mowu City wants to take action against this city, it must take into account the influence of public opinion.
This is also the greatest confidence of Northern Eden.
"There is actually a church."
The guards looked at a small church not far away and were filled with admiration.
This city can accommodate many different cultures.
They can worship on Sunday, just like living in the West.
"I sincerely hope that our Lord can see the world..."
The guards may have thought of the misery of their own city, so they all thought of the almighty Heavenly Father.
Jehovah in the Old Testament, God in the New Testament.
Old Russell held his cane stiffly and listened to the discussions of the guards behind him. There was no expression on his face. He said lightly: "God? If he could really see the human world, he should have sent a few divisions here long ago."
As soon as these words came out, the group of guards behind him were a little embarrassed.
The related voices suddenly became quieter.
This old Duke, who is nearly eighty years old, is an atheist. He has no so-called faith. He has always believed that man can conquer nature. He will not place his hope on those illusory things, so he drags his old body and suppresses the voices of opposition. Came here from the West against all odds.
Perhaps the visit was almost over, so old Russell stopped his slow pace, stretched out his cane and knocked on the bench by the lake twice.
Lu Wen understood and sat down with him.
Willow branches dance lightly by the lake.
The clear lake water is rippling in front of you, and fish are jumping from time to time.
"No. 9, tell me your conditions."
Russell took the water glass handed by the guard, moistened his weathered throat, and then handed the water glass back with his dry hands.
"Currently it's just a question of funding." Lu Wen replied with a smile.
"The way you smile makes people feel very treacherous." Old Russell said bluntly.
“…”
In fact, there is no need to say more.
Letting humans settle in this city is already the best condition.
Even if the war ends and the two western cities are rebuilt, many people will still choose to stay here.
This city will become the first city in history that is truly dominated by androids and supplemented by humans.
Have a complete social system.
Industry, agriculture, service industry, medical security, pension security, etc...
It is different from the other nine human-dominated ground cities.
Eden had never reached this level before.
Eden only adopted many human children, but most of these children were scattered to nine cities on the ground after they became adults, and did not stay in Eden.
After all, life underground is indeed not suitable for flesh and blood creatures, even with an artificial sun.
Russell said: "Since you don't have many conditions for the time being, let me tell you my conditions."
Lu Wen nodded: "No problem."
"I only have one condition." Russell's voice was still rough and hoarse. "Currently, there are a group of people in the West who do not agree to move the people here. I think you can also guess that there are conflicts between the royal family and this government. Differences, there are many die-hards who are unwilling to compromise with the androids... "
The old Duke paused.
He twisted his withered neck and looked at Lu Wen, fully demonstrating the attitude a grumpy old man should have.
"Go and beat them into submission."
This is to allow androids to completely take over the affairs of the West.
This is quite a risky step.
This group of people, represented by Old Russell, are quite courageous and are willing to completely believe in androids at this turbulent moment.
…
The west side of the continent.
West City.
Sunset, dusk.
Amidst the intensive gunfire, many high-level city officials who opposed the androids gathered together to discuss a way out for the city.
From time to time, shells fell on the streets around the parliament building, the ground shook, and dust fell.
If they can't think of a better way, they will live in these turbulent days until the war is over.
"This morning, that old guy Russell went to see the Queen, and convinced a group of old nobles, and then flew to the Second Bionic City on a royal plane..."
After hearing this news, everyone looked unhappy.
It's an inexplicable shame to turn to androids for help.
"Don't those old nobles take honor very seriously? Why did they agree to this?"
"Those old guys have long since failed to keep up with the times. They are old and decadent. I thought this was hundreds of years ago. Now they are just like the royal family, a mascot."
"Ahem..."
There were aristocratic sons and daughters present who were in politics and coughed twice.
Although the royal family does not participate in politics, many members have withdrawn from royal duties and chosen to pursue the path of politics.
The same is true for the children of noble lords.
Therefore, we cannot simply divide Western forces into two factions.
"Don't worry, that old guy Russell won't cause any big trouble. Most of the power in West City is in our hands now."
"Let's discuss a way out first," someone said.
But some people are worried.
"What if that old guy convinces the group of androids from the south to come over and take over power?"
"Do those androids dare?"
"Don't worry. In the past few decades, apart from the last riot, when did the androids dare to take the initiative to attack human cities?"
Attacking a human city is tantamount to declaring war on the entire human group.
After hearing this, many people present temporarily suppressed their worries.
As the man said, there is indeed no precedent for androids attacking human cities.
Those machines don't dare to...
"The situation in Versailles is better than ours, but it won't last long. Sooner or later it will become like ours. We can contact them more."
"The no-man's land outside the two cities in the north is not a desert, but a large grassland. It is a plain terrain with sufficient fresh water resources. It is the end of August, which is when the climate is at its best. We must focus on over there… "
"The enemies of Kerry City appear in the plains on the southern outskirts of that city. We need to win over the plains to the north of them..."
Everyone temporarily put their way out to the north.
The fighting capacity in the north is strong, and the current situation is similar to that in Mowu City, with very few casualties among soldiers.
Most of the real dead were civilians.
This is the biggest problem with street fighting.
But fortunately, the civilians in the north are relatively tough. Many people took a few sips of wine and took their own big hamsters out to actively defend the city, killing and wounding more enemies.
The discussion process did not last long.
When it was almost over, some people still couldn't help but ask: "What if those androids really come over?"
"Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Many people present were very confident.
The war in the city outside is still ongoing. Most of the city has fallen into the hands of the dwarves. The fighting is very stalemate. A large number of civilians are hiding in invisible ruins and underground, and some have fled to the no-man's land at the other end with fresh water and food.
Every street and every building is a place of war.
Bullets were flying in the streets.
If you pick up a handful of construction debris at random, you can find many fragments of metal bullet casings.
"Join forces with Versailles as soon as possible, and then ask the north about its attitude."
"Don't worry too much about those androids, they'll be fine."
The words just fell.
The entire city suddenly rang with piercing sirens.
It's an air raid siren.
The sudden sound made everyone stunned.
Based on the experience and intelligence of the past two weeks, the dwarfs on the opposite side do not have any air troops.
The phone at the scene rang, it was the call from the headquarters.
"Air strike!"
"It's an android!"
Everyone was confused.
Are the androids joining the war
The three-party dispute... This made the already complicated battlefield situation even more confusing.
The current problem is…
West City's air defense system has long been gone.
Can you just sit and be beaten
"How could an android be so bold? Could it be a mistake?"
"It's unmistakable. The air formation opposite is the same group that fought against Mowu City last time. It's those bionic people from the south."
Now everyone was even more confused.
They still hold on to the illusion that they are bionic people in the no-man's land in the west.
The bionic people here are not too strong. Even if they really want to join West's battlefield, they will only make the current chaotic situation more chaotic and will not play a decisive role.
"Did that old guy succeed?"
The figure of old Duke Russell appeared in the minds of everyone present.
Will the royal family and nobles stand up again and regain their power with the help of androids
Reality does not allow them to think too much.
In this bloody dusk.
The setting sun hanging in the sky slowly faded away.
Under the crimson sunshine, thousands of androids descended from the sky and directly controlled various gateways and political institutions in the city.
Countless white parachutes, illuminated by the setting sun, look like white dandelions floating in the wind.
Both warring parties stopped moving.
Neither West City nor the dwarves can stop these divine soldiers.
In a city as big as Nuovo, one cannot even find an anti-aircraft anti-aircraft gun used decades ago.
Various modern weapons were airdropped along with the fully armed android soldiers.
In less than half an hour, the entire West City airport was under control.
7 p.m.
More heavy weapons were flown in.
Tanks and armored vehicles continued to roll out of the airport and built defense lines in various places on the streets.
Seeing this situation, all the dwarves had no choice but to hide in the dark and did not dare to take action rashly.
Time passed little by little.
until ten o'clock in the evening.
During this period, airdrops and transportation were not interrupted.
At this time, the entire city has been completely controlled, and defense lines have been built on almost all major urban streets.
Lu Wen and old Russell came to this city.
The royal guard waiting here early reported: "The current mayor of West City and some government personnel announced their surrender to us."
But the grumpy old Duke just waved his hand and said in a rough and cold voice: "Surrender will not be accepted."
Maybe he really thinks so.
Maybe he was just showing off to Lu Wen.
After all, those who surrendered were more or less opposed to the androids.
(End of chapter)