Chapter One, spanning five hundred years

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Xiao Ruxun's ability to become the leader of a base in the apocalypse is not due to anything else, but rather her profound understanding of historical texts and her deep knowledge of history and geography

In the year , a spacecraft from the United States returned from exploring an extraterrestrial system, bringing back an unidentified virus from that system. Due to mismanagement by researchers, the virus leaked on a large scale, resulting in widespread infection among the population. The initial characteristics of the virus were high transmissibility and high mortality rate, reminiscent of the Black Death that once ravaged the European continent. However, when humanity attempted to use medications developed to combat the Black Death against this virus, even more terrifying events unfolded. The initial characteristics of the virus were high transmissibility and high mortality rate, reminiscent of the Black Death that once ravaged the European continent. However, when humanity attempted to use medications developed to combat the Black Death against this virus, even more terrifying events unfolded

A soft call made Xiao Ruxun feel somewhat dazed

Therefore, Xiao Ruxun was very clear about what this letter represented

She remembered that she had perished alongside Ma Han in the mountains of the Qinling range, yet the fact that she had only a few minor wounds left Xiao Ruxun utterly perplexed. In such a tremendous explosion, even the strongest steel and iron would struggle to remain unscathed, let alone the human body

Xiao Ruxun forced herself to get out of bed despite her injuries. She stood up and looked around the entire room, an inexplicable feeling continuously growing in her heart. As her gaze shifted to the right, Xiao Ruxun saw an ancient-style bookshelf and a writing desk. She stepped forward to examine the bookshelf and was astonished to find that these books were mostly thread-bound volumes. Randomly taking out a few, she found titles such as "The Art of War by Sun Tzu," "The Art of War by Wuzi," and "Strategies of a Hundred Battles," all printed in traditional vertical characters from left to right. The printing was quite old-fashioned, certainly not modern typography. It felt just like the few ancient books she had discovered in the small room of the old librarian at the university library.

The virus exhibits severe drug resistance, even undergoing self-upgrading mutations, transforming the corpses of infected humans into ferocious, cannibalistic zombies. Within just three months, the United States collapsed, and the virus ravaged the continents of North and South America. Another three months later, the entire American continent fell apart, with the virus spreading globally through spacecraft, airplanes, and cruise ships. Despite the advance preparations made by various countries, they were still unable to prevent the large-scale outbreak and spread of the virus

At this moment, Xiao Ruxun suddenly recalled the once highly regarded theory of time travel. Although with the advent of the apocalypse, survival has become the mainstream concern, over the course of more than a decade, humanity has not completely forgotten these fundamental concepts. During conversations and heart-to-heart talks with fellow survivors, there are occasionally one or two individuals with less resolute minds who express a wish to travel back to earlier times.

The struggle between humans and zombies has, since a certain day, evolved into a large-scale conflict mode. The lone hero model has lost its appeal in a world three years after the apocalypse. By that time, both the surviving humans and the zombies have formed groups; the strength of one individual is insufficient to change the overall situation. Only by consolidating large-scale human and material resources can the tide be turned, whether it leads to a return to civilization or the destruction of humanity. By that time, both the surviving humans and the zombies have formed groups; the strength of one individual is insufficient to change the overall situation. Only by consolidating large-scale human and material resources can the tide be turned, whether it leads to a return to civilization or the destruction of humanity

That face, very familiar, is my own face, and the hair...

To speak candidly, Xiao Ruxun has naturally thought about this as well. Not having to endure torment, not having to face terrifying zombies every day, not having to worry about whether there will be food for the next meal after finishing the last one, returning to the originally stable and peaceful life—wouldn't that be good?

Xiao Ruxun walked step by step to the front of the bronze mirror, and saw a distinctly visible face appearing on the smoothly polished, slightly yellow surface of the mirror

Xiao Ruxun was born in the year 2057. In the year 2080, at the age of twenty-three, Xiao Ruxun graduated from the Department of History at university. Like countless recent graduates over the years, she found herself trapped in the predicament of job hunting

The emergence of bronze mirrors is inherently representative. In ancient China, at least by the early Qing Dynasty, bronze mirrors were still widely used in the vast interior regions rather than glass mirrors. Glass mirrors gradually became popular after the mid-Qing Dynasty. At this moment, if the previous correspondence is accurate, the appearance of bronze mirrors in Ningxia, a region on the northwestern frontier, can already signify the era of that time, not later than the Qing Dynasty. In modern society, bronze mirrors have become cultural relics.

Five years later, under the continuous counterattacks of human survivors, the once-lost lands are gradually being reclaimed. The connections between major survivor bases, previously severed by zombies, are being restored. This not only brings immense hope but also significant crises. In a state of anarchy, the maintenance of humanity has lost the constraints of law and the most basic guarantees. Among the leaders of the survivors, there are those like Xiao Ruxun who uphold the rule of law to maintain civilization and humanity, as well as those who are brutal and bloodthirsty, finding pleasure in the annexation of others. This not only brings immense hope but also significant crises. In a state of anarchy, the maintenance of humanity has lost the constraints of law and the most basic guarantees. Among the leaders of the survivors, there are those like Xiao Ruxun who uphold the rule of law to maintain civilization and humanity, as well as those who are brutal and bloodthirsty, finding pleasure in the annexation of others.

Those few books are unique editions left over from the Qing Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. They are precious rare editions passed down from the old administrator's ancestors and are almost identical in style to the books in this cabinet

After a period of survival, Xiao Ruxun began to regard zombies as enemy troops and her own forces as guerrillas. She was well aware of how guerrillas could combat large-scale enemy forces, and there are numerous historical examples of how to annihilate a significant enemy force despite being at a disadvantage. By leveraging her knowledge of historical military cases, Xiao Ruxun surprisingly evolved from a mere dog-headed strategist into the leader of a base

This is a letter, written with a brush, in the regular script style, formatted from top to bottom and from right to left. Next to the letter, there is an envelope, which is addressed to the esteemed Wei Gong of the Executive Yuan. It appears that the letter has been completed but has not yet been placed in the envelope for delivery.

The hand holding the letter began to tremble uncontrollably, and Xiao Ruxun's breathing suddenly quickened. He scanned the surroundings and finally spotted a bronze mirror. In a state of intense shock, he propped himself up and slowly moved towards the mirror.

If I remember correctly, this is a typical hairstyle and attire of men from the Ming Dynasty

Xiao Ruxun's heart was shaken violently, and she grasped the table for support, trembling as she sat down in the chair. Holding the letter, she fixed her gaze on the signature of this letter—March 3, 20th year of the Wanli era, Ningxia's Deputy General, Pinglu City Guard ...? ... Xiao Ruxun? Me?

To the esteemed Governor: The rebellious traitor, who has betrayed the imperial grace, has appointed the rebel Liu Dongyang as the commander and has declared himself the mastermind. He has already captured forty-seven forts in Hexi, and his forces are growing in strength. The local commanders have abandoned their loyalty to the emperor, surrendering at the slightest hint of his approach, which has only emboldened the rebels and intensified their audacity. Hexi is in grave danger. Currently, the rebel army, led by the false left deputy general Tu Wenxiu, is attacking Pinglu City. I, a humble officer whose family has long been favored by the emperor, have been honored with the position of deputy general in Ningxia and tasked with the defense of Pinglu City. I cannot betray the heavenly grace and bow to the rebels. I am determined to defend Pinglu City to the death, fighting until the last soldier, and I will never surrender. However, my forces are few, with only three thousand troops under my command. Although we have ample supplies, our numbers are limited. If the rebel army increases its forces to attack, I fear we will not be able to withstand a prolonged battle. For the sake of the nation, I urgently implore the Governor to send reinforcements to assist us. I bow down in tears! On the third day of the third month in the twentieth year of Wanli, Xiao Ruxun, Deputy General of Ningxia and defender of Pinglu City.

You all ... ...

Relying on the mountainous and rugged terrain of the West, Xiao Ruxun repeatedly exploited the mindless and bloodthirsty characteristics of zombies to lure groups of them to the edge of cliffs, preemptively linking ropes to the opposite mountain peak, enticing large numbers of zombies to fall to their deaths. Alternatively, she would use fresh livestock to lure zombies into the valley, blocking their escape routes, and then set them on fire, or use asphalt to immobilize large groups of zombies before igniting them. She even led a highly capable hunting team with strong combat and survival abilities, instilling fear in the survivor groups of the West.

However, this is ultimately just a wish; he never expected that such a day would truly come. Therefore, he would rather believe that everything he sees before him is a dream, an illusion, than to accept that it is real

As she slightly opened her eyes, she saw two indistinct black shadows in front of her. It was not until her eyes adjusted to the sunlight that Xiao Ruxun could clearly see that two young men stood before her, both wearing wide-brimmed leather hats, dressed in identical deep red cotton coats and trousers, with dark brown leather armor on their chests and waist knives at their sides.

But what if this is true

Baibai, Ningxia, Pinglu City, in the 20th year of the Wanli era—when gathered together, they represent one of the three famous campaigns of the Ming Dynasty during the Wanli period, the Ningxia Campaign, in the year 1592, which is exactly five hundred years prior to the era in which he existed. Remarkably, in the Ming Dynasty five hundred years ago, there was a person with the same name and surname as himself.

As a graduate of the History Department, Xiao Ruxun, if not particularly fond of history, would not have chosen such a field of study, which is increasingly undervalued in modern times, against her family's wishes, leading her to face difficulties in job hunting. However, in the apocalypse, Xiao Ruxun, with her background in history, seems to have gained an extraordinary advantage in survival.

Xiao Ruxun still found it hard to believe. Her gaze swept over to a door. She walked over and pushed the door outward, but it wouldn't budge. Pulling it inward, a beam of sunlight shone directly at her, so bright that Xiao Ruxun could not open her eyes and had to shield them with her hand

The survivor base is beginning to face threats not only from zombies but also from humans. Compared to mindless zombies, intelligent humans are far more terrifying

A topknot is tied at the crown of the head, with a circle of dark red fabric wrapped around the forehead and secured at the back, enclosing the hair.

Thus, even in the apocalyptic era, Xiao Ruxun remained committed to reading, particularly historical texts. Especially when dealing with numerous survivor groups, she devoted herself to studying literature, understanding human nature, and delving into the intricacies of schemes and conspiracies, in order to avoid falling into traps. Time and again, she relied on this knowledge to avert disaster and safeguard the security of the entire base

... ...

Not to mention the apocalypse, in modern society, where are there still people who specifically read such books? Moreover, such books could be considered cultural relics in modern times, right? In the apocalypse, they are even regarded as remnants of civilization; who would still be willing to read them? They have all been hidden away as family heirlooms

Xiao Ruxun is the leader of one of the survivor bases. After enduring two years of a hellish existence, she has honed her exceptional skills and steadfast will. She has established a survivor base in a region of Sichuan, accepting over 80,000 survivors. She defends against zombies from the outside while managing the livelihoods of the people within. Gradually, she has revived the lost civilization from the primitive agricultural era, gathering a large number of former experts and professionals to redevelop civilization in this land, even establishing schools.

In the lost world of civilization, where has Xiao Ruxun ever seen such ancient and charming traditional housing? Modern civilization has rapidly declined, and once humanity, reliant on modern civilization, loses it, the speed of regression becomes even more astonishing. It is almost necessary to slowly start from the era of slash-and-burn agriculture, fighting off zombies while simultaneously restoring civilization. After more than a decade of effort, Xiao Ruxun has finally managed to establish a framework of civilization in the base, and the exquisite classical house before her is something she could only see in books during her leisure time.

"General? Are you awake?"

Xiao Ruxun believed that she was undoubtedly doomed to die, yet the consciousness that should have been lost revived once more. Upon opening her eyes, she unexpectedly beheld the light again

Sitting on the bed, feeling the genuine pain and sensation, Xiao Ruxun wore a bewildered expression

However, every book is like this, along with poetry collections and some Confucian classics, yet there is no trace of modern books. Xiao Ruxun's suspicion grew increasingly uncertain, his heart raced more violently, and the ominous premonition became more apparent, until he saw a piece of paper placed on the desk, which had some writing on it. He hurried over to pick up the paper and began to read.

Xiao Ruxun, filled with uncertainty, was just about to inquire who they were when two men immediately knelt on one knee and shouted in unison: "General, you are mighty!"

Three years later, apart from a few countries and regions that utilize their advantageous terrain to isolate themselves from the rampant zombies and maintain a governmental status, over 80% of the world has fallen. Nearly 5 billion people have become flesh-eating zombies, turning the beautiful world into a hellish nightmare, with bloodshed and slaughter visible everywhere. Human civilization has collapsed overnight, and aside from a few areas that still uphold civilization, survivors who could not receive government aid after the retreat of the government gradually catch their breath and establish one survivor base after another in the zombie-occupied zones, relying on the ancient method of communal farming as their core foundation, struggling to survive. The beautiful world has turned into a hell, with bloodshed and slaughter visible everywhere, and human civilization has collapsed overnight. Aside from a few areas that still uphold civilization, survivors who could not receive government aid after the retreat of the government gradually catch their breath and establish one survivor base after another in the zombie-occupied zones, relying on the ancient method of communal farming as their core foundation, struggling to survive.

Looking at everything unfamiliar before her—the brocade couch, the cotton quilt, the intricately carved wooden bed, the antique furniture, and the entire room steeped in an ancient charm—she lowered her head and saw that her upper body was bare, with bandages wrapped around her chest. There was a bloodstain seeping from the left side of her chest, while the rest of her body was intact. Her hands, feet, and legs were all unharmed, which left Xiao Ruxun in a state of utter bewilderment.

Xiao Ruxun's greatest enemy is Ma Han, a survivor leader who occupies the original Hanzhong area. Ma Han covets the wealth of the survivor base in Shu, which is held by Xiao Ruxun, and is determined to seize it. He not only leads attacks but also does not hesitate to attract zombie hordes to assault Xiao Ruxun. Although he has been thwarted multiple times, in the final battle, Ma Han becomes so deranged that he seeks to perish alongside Xiao Ruxun, both meeting their end surrounded by thousands of zombies. In desperation, Xiao Ruxun orders the detonation of explosives, burying herself, Ma Han, and thousands of zombies in flames.