Chapter 9 The Fortress is Completed
August 15th, 5:00 AM.
The last group of workers installing solar panels evacuated Cuiping Mountain under the cover of night. The hum of the engines gradually faded away along the mountain road and was eventually swallowed up by the forest.
Wen Yu stood on the newly poured cement floor in the courtyard, holding a cup of black coffee that had long since gone cold, watching the eastern horizon change from pitch black to pale white, and then tinged with a faint orange-red.
The mountain breeze was exceptionally crisp, sweeping away the last trace of summer heat. The villa behind him—no, it could no longer be called a villa—was more like a silent, gray rock formation, with sharp lines, dark bulletproof windows covered with electrically retractable alloy armor plates, gleaming coldly in the morning light.
The rooftops and south-facing hillsides are covered with deep blue photovoltaic panels, resembling a neat sheet of scales. Behind them, on the mountaintop, two low-noise wind turbines stand silently, their blades turning slowly.
There was no celebration, no sentimentality. Wen Yu poured the coffee grounds into a small, specially reserved flowerbed, turned around, and pushed open the heavy, armored composite door that required some effort to pull open.
With a soft click, the door closed tightly behind me, instantly shutting out the sounds of the outside world, like the wind and birdsong. The motion-sensor light in the entryway automatically turned on, casting a soft white glow.
The air was dry and clean, with a slightly cool freshness from the fresh air system, and the temperature remained constant at twenty-two degrees Celsius. The only sound was a barely audible low-frequency hum, the sound of the underground water source heat pump and air circulation system at work.
He walked down the corridor, his feet on the wear-resistant and non-slip composite material flooring. To his left was what was originally the living room, now transformed into a multi-purpose hall that served as a command center, entertainment area, and some storage space.
An entire wall has been transformed into a giant screen wall, now divided into dozens of images displaying various angles of the fortress's perimeter, the status of the wall's sensors, energy system data, and indoor environmental parameters.
Opposite the screen was an L-shaped workbench, furnished with multiple computers, communication devices, and complex control panels. In the center of the room were several ergonomic chairs and a sturdy large table, with even a small pool table in the corner.
To the right is the dining room and open kitchen.
The kitchen is fully equipped with a built-in large-capacity refrigerator and freezer, an induction cooker, a gas stove (connected to LPG tanks and biogas systems), a microwave oven, an oven, and even a small dishwasher. All cabinets are fitted with dampers and latches to prevent items from slipping during violent shaking.
The restaurant's windows were sealed off and replaced with high-definition displays that blended seamlessly into the walls, currently simulating a dynamic scene of a forest at dawn, almost indistinguishable from reality.
He went down to the basement.
The biggest changes are here. The original wine cellar and hidden space have been opened up and combined with some expansion to form a giant storage area with an area of over 300 square meters and a ceiling height of four meters.
The temperature is kept constant at 12 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is strictly controlled. Rows of heavy-duty steel shelves are neatly arranged, almost reaching the ceiling, and tens of thousands of boxes, barrels, and bags are stacked on them in a categorized manner.
Against the wall is a special storage area: a row of high-powered commercial freezers and refrigerators containing frozen meat, frozen food, and medicines and seeds that require low-temperature preservation; several temperature- and humidity-controlled sealed cabinets containing precision instruments, spare electronic equipment, and weapons; and a separate isolation area labeled "hazardous chemicals" containing fuel, batteries, and some chemicals.
Each row of shelves has clear area markings and numbers. Wen Yu casually opened a tablet computer next to him and brought up the materials management system.
Enter "luncheon meat cans" and the screen immediately displays: Storage area A-03-2 row-7, current quantity: 1872 cans, production batch: July 2035, shelf life until June 2038.
The accompanying information includes the location of other canned goods from the same batch, suggestions for rotating their usage order, and even links to simple recipe suggestions.
He walked to the deepest part, to the heavy, round explosion-proof door. After four verifications—password, magnetic card, fingerprint, and iris scan—the hydraulic system emitted a low, smooth "hiss," and the 30-centimeter-thick alloy door slid open to the side.
Inside lies the core of the final fortress—the safe house. It's only twelve square meters in size, but its functionality is extremely compressed.
One wall features built-in cabinets storing the most critical survival supplies (high-energy food, water purification tablets, first-aid kits, weapons and ammunition, and backup communication equipment); the other wall contains a simple bed and folding tables and chairs; there is an independent air circulation and filtration system interface overhead; a manual water pump interface on the ground connects directly to an underground water storage tank; and large-capacity lithium iron phosphate batteries are embedded in the walls, sufficient to support basic lighting and communication for more than 72 hours.
There are no windows here, only solidity and an absolute sense of control.
Wen Yu exited the safe house, and the door closed automatically. He went up through another passage and arrived at the newly added "ecological zone" at the rear of the building.
This is a sunroom, about fifty square meters in size, built with high-strength glass and steel structure. Inside, hydroponic racks are arranged in layers, and tender green lettuce and spinach seedlings stretch their leaves under the illumination of LED plant lights.
On several multi-tiered shelves, tomatoes, peppers, and small strawberries grown in nutrient-rich soil have already blossomed.
In the corner, there are also two compost bins and a small earthworm breeding box to process kitchen waste and provide fertilizer for planting.
The air was filled with the faint scent of earth and plants, which felt especially precious in this enclosed, man-made environment.
Wen Yu didn't go to the bedrooms, study, gym, or the well-insulated recreation room on the second and third floors (which was filled with hard drives, books, and musical instruments). Those were details of life; what he needed to focus on now was the fortress's "vital signs."
He returned to the command center on the first floor and sat down at the main control console. Dozens of data streams were constantly moving across the screen.
Energy status:
Photovoltaic array: Current irradiance 85,000 Lux, instantaneous power generation 142.3 KW, battery pack charging.
Wind power generation: wind speed 4.2 m/s, instantaneous power generation 8.7 KW.
AC power input: Normal (as backup and battery maintenance power).
Diesel generator: Standby mode.
Total energy storage: 98.7% (1012 kWh/1024 kWh).
Load: The current indoor basic load (lighting, ventilation, circulation, monitoring) is approximately 5.2 KW.
Water source status:
Deep well water: water level is stable, pump pressure is normal.
Main water storage tank (underground): liquid level 96%, disinfected.
Rainwater collection tank: Level 32% (recent low rainfall).
Water purification system: Primary sedimentation tank is normal, secondary filtration is normal, tertiary reverse osmosis membrane pressure difference is normal, and quaternary ultraviolet disinfection lamp is normal.
Greywater recycling system: Standby.
Security Status:
Perimeter sensors: All online, no abnormal triggers.
Surveillance cameras: 187 locations, all online, with clear images.
Drone hangar: 5 drones on standby, batteries fully charged, self-test complete.
Access control system: All external doors/windows/passageways are locked and functioning normally.
Internal sensors: All online.
Environmental conditions:
Indoor temperature: 22.3°C (set to 22°C).
Indoor humidity: 45% (set to 40-50%).
CO2 concentration: 412 ppm (excellent).
Hazardous gases/particulate matter monitoring: Not detected.
Wen Yu checked each item one by one, his fingers rapidly typing on the keyboard, bringing up lower-level logs and diagnostic reports. He designed a simple automated test script, which he then began running.
Test Sequence 1: Energy Switching Stress Test.
He first disconnected the AC power input. The AC power status on the screen immediately turned red, and the alarm light flashed briefly, but the indoor lights and the screen remained completely still. The system seamlessly switched the load to the battery pack within milliseconds. The battery discharge curve remained stable.
One minute later, he remotely started a diesel generator. The monitoring screen switched to the underground equipment room, where the diesel engine started smoothly, quickly reached its rated speed, and began supplying power to the grid while simultaneously charging the battery pack.
He ran it in this state for ten minutes, monitoring all parameters (voltage frequency stability, noise and vibration, exhaust temperature, fuel consumption rate), and found them all to be within normal ranges. Then, he shut down the diesel generator, the system smoothly switched back to battery power, and finally reconnected to mains power. Throughout the entire process, the fortress did not experience even a momentary power outage or voltage fluctuation.
Test Sequence 2: Water Source and Purification Limit Test.
He shut off the deep well pump, simulating a water shortage. The system automatically switched to supply water from the main storage tank. He simultaneously activated all water usage points: kitchen faucets, bathroom showers and toilets, and the ecological irrigation system, creating a sudden surge in demand.
The water pressure gauge needle dipped slightly, but quickly stabilized thanks to the booster pump. He checked the outlets at each stage of the water purification system, took samples, and tested them with a portable testing pen. All indicators, including turbidity, TDS (total dissolved solids), residual chlorine, and E. coli, met the standards.
He then simulated a water purification system malfunction, switching to manual water purification and backup water source (sealed bottled water and rainwater purification channel) processes to confirm that all valves, pipelines, and backup equipment could operate normally.
Test Sequence 3: Security System Intrusion Simulation.
This was his primary concern. He simulated various intrusion scenarios using the central control computer:
The external vibration sensor is triggered. The corresponding area on the screen immediately flashes brightly, the main view automatically switches to the view from multiple cameras in that area, and a level one audible and visual alarm sounds (a low, continuous beeping sound accompanied by a flashing red light). The drone hangar receives the command, and the pre-set drone #1 automatically takes off to conduct a low-altitude patrol of the area, transmitting footage back in real time.
The infrared beams on the fence were blocked. This triggered a level two alarm (a higher frequency beep), and simultaneously, the concealed high-intensity glare lights on that section of the fence automatically turned on, accompanied by a high-decibel warning sound: "You have trespassed on private property. Please leave immediately! You have trespassed on private property. Please leave immediately!"
Door and window reed sensors are damaged (simulating forced entry). This triggers the highest level alarm (a sharp, rapid, continuous siren, all emergency lights illuminate), and all security doors leading to internal areas (including the safe room) automatically lock.
The control panel displayed defensive options: release non-lethal tear gas (specific channel), activate high-voltage electric shock trap (last resort, manual confirmation required), etc. Wen Yu did not activate any offensive options; he only tested the response process and the reliability of the locking mechanism.
He also tested the communication system: whether the high-power radio could scan public frequency bands and several pre-stored emergency frequencies; whether the satellite phone (which he obtained through special channels and registered under an overseas company) could successfully connect and make calls; and whether the internal wired and wireless intercoms were clear.
They even tested the simple backup radio based on old-fashioned transistors to ensure that basic short-range communication could still be maintained after all modern electronic equipment failed.
Test Sequence 4: Environmental Tolerance Simulation.
He adjusted the temperature control system, ordering it to gradually raise the simulated indoor temperature from minus fifty degrees Celsius (extreme cold) to plus fifty degrees Celsius (extreme heat) and then lower it back over the next twenty-four hours, maintaining each temperature range for two hours, to test the extreme adjustment capability and energy consumption of the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system.
Simultaneously monitor changes in temperature stress in the building structure (using pre-embedded sensors).
The results showed that although the system consumed energy at extreme high and low temperatures (mainly relying on ground source heat pumps and powerful air conditioners), it was always able to maintain the indoor temperature within plus or minus three degrees of the set value, and no abnormal deformation of the walls was observed.
He also simulated continuous heavy rain and flooding to test the drainage system's maximum flow rate and the building's airtightness, especially the waterproof gates at the basement entrance and ventilation openings, to ensure that everything was foolproof.
Test Sequence 5: Survival Simulation – Silent Run.
Finally, and most importantly, he cut off all external energy inputs (mains power, simulated solar and wind power failures), shut down the diesel generator, and relied solely on battery packs and a portion of pre-stored chemical energy (a small combined heat and power unit driven by a propane tank) to maintain a minimal level of operation: only power was supplied to the safe house, core monitoring, necessary sensors, and minimal lighting; water supply relied solely on the main water tank and manual purification; all non-essential ventilation was stopped, with only the safe house's independent air circulation maintained. He wanted to test how long the fortress could hold out under the most extreme conditions, without any active energy acquisition capabilities.
Time ticked by. The battery percentage on the screen slowly decreased. Wen Yu sat in the increasingly dim command center, with only a small desk lamp (low-power LED) in front of him lit.
He checked every item consumed and calculated the time. In the quiet environment, he could hear his own steady breathing, the faint sound of airflow after the ventilation system slowed down, and the distant, almost inaudible whistling of the mountain wind after being blocked by multiple layers of soundproofing.
Twenty hours later, the battery level dropped to the preset warning level of 30%. He activated the preset "deep power saving mode," further shutting down most of the monitoring probes and non-core sensors, leaving only the most critical ones on.
The safe house's independent systems remain intact.
Thirty hours later, the battery level was 15%. He manually switched to the propane thermoelectric device to briefly recharge the battery, while simultaneously boiling a kettle of water in the propane stove and making a bowl of instant noodles—the simulated "emergency rations."
The test ended after 48 hours. Wen Yu restarted all systems.
The fortress seemed to awaken from a deep sleep; the lights gradually came on, the screens flickered again, and the ventilation system increased its airflow, dispelling the dullness that had accumulated during the simulation.
He carefully checked the log. During the 48-hour extreme test, the indoor temperature rose to a high of 25 degrees Celsius and dropped to a low of 19 degrees Celsius (with the main air conditioning off and only the building insulation and a small-power heater on).
Humidity has increased somewhat, but has not exceeded 60%. Air quality indicators have decreased slightly after ventilation was reduced, but have not reached harmful levels. Most importantly, core energy and water reserves, calculated based on minimum consumption, are sufficient to last for more than two months.
If active energy harvesting (solar, wind, and rainwater collection) and stricter rationing are added, the time can be extended significantly.
Wen Yu leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Three consecutive days of intense testing had left him mentally exhausted, far more so than physically. But an unprecedented sense of peace settled heavily in his heart, like a solid foundation.
The fortress is complete.
It is not perfect, just as there is no perfect fortress in the world. But before the apocalypse, within the limits of what it could achieve, it was already a near-artistic masterpiece of survival. It was robust, self-sufficient, intelligent, and possessed sufficient redundancy and resilience to cope with the unknown.
He opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the time display in the corner of the screen: August 17, 2035, 11:47 PM.
There are less than 24 hours left until the point of the apocalypse that I remember.
He stood up and stretched his stiff neck and shoulders. He walked to the ecological area and, in the soft light of the LED lights, looked at the vibrant green seedlings. Then, he went up the stairs to the third floor and entered his bedroom.
The room was so simple it was almost empty: a sturdy bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. The windows were sealed off, replaced by an adjustable screen displaying the scenery—a deep, starry sky.
He didn't rest immediately. Instead, he opened his desk drawer and took out the notebook containing the revenge list. He turned to the last page; all six names were crossed out. He stared at it for a moment, then picked up a pen and wrote in the blank space:
[Phase 1: Preparation and liquidation, completed.]
[Fortress Status: Ready.]
[Supplies: Ready.]
[Personal Status: Ready.]
[Countdown: <24 hours.]
I closed the notebook and locked it in the drawer.
He walked to the wall and turned off the starry sky screen. The room fell into pure darkness and silence.
Wen Yu lay down on the bed and covered himself with a light blanket. His body was exhausted, but his mind was unusually clear. The coldness, despair, and betrayal of his last moments in his past life flashed through his mind like a silent film.
Then came the frantic preparations, construction, stockpiling, and scheming of the past month... The scenes intertwined, finally settling on the green status indicator lights showing the fortress's various systems running smoothly.
He took a deep, slow breath and then exhaled.
Everything that needed to be done has been done.
Now, all we need to do is wait.
We await the end of the old world and the beginning of a new era.
Inside this fortress he built himself, as solid as a mountain.
In the darkness, Wen Yu closed his eyes. His breathing gradually became steady and long.
The mountain wind howled past the fortress, and starlight shone through the high-strength glass dome (ecological zone) onto that small, tenacious patch of green.
All was silent, except for time, which silently moved toward that predetermined point.