After a long day's journey, Li Yu's team finally caught a glimpse of the city's outline through the misty rain.
Looking at it from afar, Li Yu immediately felt a sense of novelty.
In the distance, the rooftops of the houses looked sharp, like towering Western swords, seemingly trying to pierce the dark clouds.
These buildings look completely different from those in Qingcheng.
Ma Yuanbai, who was in the group, immediately recognized that the architectural style was European Gothic, which he had only seen in books.
Looking at the outline of Wucheng from afar, the sharp buildings stretch out in a continuous line.
Even Ma Yuanbai found it hard to believe that such a massive Gothic architectural complex could be preserved intact in the world; it was simply unbelievable!
Could it be that all of these were rebuilt later?
As the main force drew closer, Li Yu noticed rows of shipping containers appearing around them.
These shipping containers are neatly arranged on these open spaces outside the city, and many people live in these containers.
When they saw an unfamiliar group passing by, everyone inside the container curiously came out to look at them.
Although there are shipping containers available for them to live in, from the outside, the residents inside these containers are no different from the refugees outside the defense line.
A question arose in Li Yu's mind: if refugees are not allowed to enter the city, isn't that the same as a refuge? Are all the cities in Zhongzhou so hostile to outsiders?
The city of Wucheng became increasingly clear in the rain.
When Li Yu led the refugees to the city gate, the soldiers guarding the gate of Wucheng looked down on the group of refugees dressed in camouflage.
A refugee's status will not change just because they put on nice clothes.
"Halt!"
The soldier slowly stepped forward and raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
This is Wucheng, one of the twelve cities of Zhongzhou, not a place where these refugees can come and go as they please.
As one of the twelve most powerful and economically prosperous cities in the Central Plains region, and also located at the very center of the second line of defense, the importance of Wucheng is self-evident.
This city not only boasts sturdy and towering city walls and a robust defense system, but also attracts countless talents and wealth.
Therefore, for these refugees from outside the Central Plains defense line, it was simply a pipe dream to easily enter Wucheng.
Despite the soldiers' obstruction, Li Yu remained unusually calm.
Without saying a word, and without even dismounting, he steadily rode Little Black to the front of the group, took out his ID card, and casually handed it to a soldier.
Seeing Li Yu's arrogant attitude, the soldier couldn't help but feel a surge of dissatisfaction, thinking to himself:
'How can a leader of just a group of refugees act so arrogantly? Does he really think he's a local tyrant?'
Out of caution, the soldier swiped Li Yu's ID card through the device in his hand.
"Beep—" A mechanical sound rang out.
"Identity verification complete." The fully armed soldier sneered, "A bunch of vagrants trying to impersonate..."
The soldier's voice stopped abruptly, his gaze fixed on the identity information that popped up on the device.
That's right, he couldn't possibly be wrong!
Above it was the special flag of the Central Plains Military Headquarters, and below the flag was displayed—Li Yu, Commander of the New Seventh Regiment of the Central Plains Defense Line.
Commander!?
The soldiers, who had been arrogant, became disillusioned after seeing Li Yu's identity information.
His attitude made a complete 180-degree turn; he quickly raised his hand in a perfect salute and shouted:
"The second-line defense zone, Wucheng, is open to you, Commander Li Yu!"
The soldier's voice was tense as he hurriedly asked in a respectful tone, "Would you like me to arrange a purification bath for you?"
"Settle my team first," Li Yu said, pointing to the people behind him.
The soldier hesitated for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing beneath his helmet, and said with a hint of apology:
"I'm very sorry, Commander Li Yu."
"According to Wucheng's regulations, unless wartime begins, non-Wucheng citizens can only live in the transition zone, and your troops can only be temporarily stationed within the zone."
After saying that, the soldier immediately took out a map of Wucheng and pointed to a red area on it to explain.
"This is the transition zone, where all basic living needs can be guaranteed."
"Can we arrange for you to go there now?"
Seeing that Li Yu nodded in agreement, the soldier put away the map and prepared to let them pass.
Just then, the soldier seemed to suddenly remember something, and quickly lowered his voice to whisper in Li Yu's ear:
"Of course, you are an exception and can move freely within Wucheng without restrictions."
Although Li Yu was only the regimental commander, and the team behind him did not seem to have any strong combat power, and even looked more like a group of refugees, the soldiers still dared not show any disrespect.
After all, he was a member of the Central State Military Command, and no city in the Central State would easily provoke him, let alone a mere soldier.
The soldier decisively waved his arm at the crowd behind him and shouted the order:
"Open the city gates!"
Just then, a voice suddenly rang out:
"Wait a minute!"
The captain of the guards at the city gate suddenly stepped out from the sentry post beneath the gate and asked the soldiers:
"Who are these people? Why were they let through so quickly?"
The soldier quickly stepped forward with the identification device in his hand and reported the identity of Regiment Commander Li Yu to the guard captain.
After hearing this, the guard captain immediately and without hesitation continued to issue orders:
"Open the city gates immediately!"
Immediately afterwards, the guard captain rushed towards Li Yu like a gust of wind.
When he got close, he was all smiles and very enthusiastic, and even took the initiative to lead the way for Li Yu.
As the guard captain, although he had some power at the city gate of Wucheng, he was far inferior to the regimental commander of the Central Plains Army. He was simply a nobody compared to the big boss.
As the hydraulic system of the city gate roared, Li Yu smelled a fragrance.
Suddenly, Ma Yuanbai, standing to the side, blurted out in shock, "Jasmine scent."
"Flower?" Upon hearing this word, Li Yu was taken aback.
He then immediately sniffed again, memorizing the smell.
This was the first time he had ever smelled flowers; so this was what flowers smelled like.
Fu Xiyao and Li Linglong were also attracted by the fragrance of the flowers, and kept sniffing the aroma with delight.
The people from the Seventh Regiment behind them heard the scent of flowers and kept sniffing the strange smell in the air, clearly they had never smelled flowers before.
The guard captain, standing in front, saw this scene and, though surprised, dared not show the slightest hint of mockery on his face.
However, their air purification system in Wucheng is indeed the most luxurious among the twelve cities of Zhongzhou. It even adds oxygen and fragrance, and it is no exaggeration to say that it makes people feel refreshed and relaxed.
As the city gates opened, Li Yu led his team slowly into Wucheng.
As soon as Li Yu entered the city, the sight before her eyes made her eyes widen in astonishment.
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