coobybook Chapter 1057 Those who are devoted to their country only need to fight bravely, but those who cause
Chapter 1057 Those who are devoted to their country only need to fight bravely, but those who cause
The setting sun finally withdrew its last rays and sank into the distant mountains.
On the dark blue sky, sparse stars gradually lit up, and a clear waning moon silently climbed above the Darian base, gently sprinkling its watery moonlight on the roof and mottled walls of the little red building.
The old trees in front of the building trembled slightly in the evening breeze, casting sparse and tranquil shadows under the moonlight. The faint sound of distant waves further accentuated the peaceful and gentle night scene in this corner of the sea.
However, the gentle moonlight could not soothe the emotions of the person inside the armored vehicle parked in the shadow of a tree in the distance.
Inside the car, the "big shot" who came from Beijing and was in charge of logistics had long since abandoned the calm and composed demeanor he had shown earlier, as if he had everything under control.
He leaned back in the spacious back seat, his body slightly tilted towards the window, adopting a focused and observant posture that he hadn't changed for a long time.
Only occasionally would his right index finger, which rested on his knee, lift up very slightly before restraining itself and falling back to its original position, as if silently measuring the passage of time or suppressing some growing impatience.
Too much time has passed.
He clearly remembered that about two hours earlier, Deputy Political Commissar Chang, carrying a pile of gifts that were enough to show “organizational care” without being too conspicuous, walked towards the Little Red Building with his tacit approval and even a slightly encouraging nod.
At the time, he felt that although Chang's abilities were mediocre, his attitude of "being willing to take on responsibilities" and "actively taking the lead" was acceptable, and he also appreciated his cleverness.
He even remembered casually saying to his secretary at the time, "Deputy Political Commissar Chang is a very thoughtful person. Bringing a little something will ease the tension and make things easier to talk to."
But now, after Deputy Political Commissar Chang went in, he disappeared without a trace, as if he had vanished into thin air.
The main gate of the Little Red Building remained tightly closed, with only the light shining through the windows indicating that the people inside were not resting, but rather even busier.
There was no expected argument, no people coming or going, not even the usual commissar Chang coming out to report after completing his mission... neither relief nor dejection.
Even the bloodshed he was hoping for was out of the question.
This is not normal.
This "big shot" has been navigating the political landscape for decades, rising step by step from a complex logistics system to this position. His sense for certain "abnormalities" has long been ingrained in his bones.
Deputy Political Commissar Chang may not be the most politically astute, but he is by no means a fool who is unaware of the importance of things or doesn't know how to report.
The only explanation for his prolonged absence is that he is unable to leave, or that he is "tied up" by some force, and that the force "tied up" him is so strong that he doesn't even have a chance to send a message.
Is it that hothead Wang Kui? Or that mysterious Director Zheng? Or... that supposedly sickly engineer Jiang who can command the entire base's attention?
Whoever it was, it meant that his initial judgment may have been seriously flawed.
This little red building is far more than a simple "technical research site" or "an arrogant expert's stronghold." It is more like a bottomless vortex with its own unique rules and strong exclusivity.
Deputy Political Commissar Chang went in with the mission of "consoling" and "communicating," but now it seems he has been walking into the lion's den, with little chance of survival.
"Boss..." Old Qin, sitting in the front row, also noticed the unusual timing. He cautiously turned around and whispered for instructions, "Should I... go check it out? Or, use the backup..."
"No need."
Vice Minister Qiu shifted slightly, leaning back into the shadows of his seat, and gently pinched the space between his eyebrows.
After a long while, he took off his gold-rimmed glasses and looked out the window again.
The seemingly ordinary shadows around the little red building, the still silhouettes in the night...
At this moment, however, a silent warning seemed to lurk in his eyes.
He recalled seeing reflections in more than one place inside the building earlier. Were those the reflections of a telescope under the light?
The surrounding environment was so quiet that even the usual nighttime patrols at the base seemed to deliberately avoid the area.
A mixture of unease and anger began to grow in his heart.
What troubled him was that the waters inside the Little Red Mansion were probably deeper and more murky than he had imagined.
Deputy Political Commissar Chang's trip not only failed to uncover any useful information, but may have also gotten him into trouble, and even... aroused the vigilance and resentment of those inside.
What's infuriating is that Lao Chang still lacked the necessary finesse in handling things, or rather, those people inside were so forceful in their actions that they didn't even give face to the people he sent, or rather, they simply didn't take Qiu, or even the "concern" that Qiu might represent, seriously.
A barely perceptible surge of anger quietly swept through Minister Qiu's heart.
He originally thought that his personal presence had already put enough pressure on them and implied his importance. The lady's instructions were vague, only mentioning that "there are some situations that need attention" and "a key technical staff member is not very obedient" on Dalian's side. He didn't take it too seriously at the time, thinking it was just some subordinates being temperamental, or that some arrogant expert needed to be reprimanded.
His presence on the front lines, given his status, already demonstrates an extraordinary level of "attention." One would expect that, in any case, the other party would at least give him face and allow for some room for communication.
Unexpectedly, reality slapped him hard in the face. Face? It seemed the other party had no intention of giving him anything in return.
Minister Qiu gently tapped the back of the driver's seat.
The driver, who had been sitting as still as a statue, turned his head slightly.
"Let's go."
"Minister, Deputy Political Commissar Chang and the others..." the driver asked in a low voice.
"I'm not waiting anymore."
The armored vehicle slowly drove away from the shade of the trees and merged into the sparse traffic on the base's roads.
Minister Qiu slowly opened his eyes. The car was dark, with only the occasional streetlights outside casting fast-moving stripes of light and shadow on his face.
The shrewd and calculating man finally calmed down and realized the crux of the problem—he had only listened to his wife's words and didn't even know the details of the core personnel in the Little Red Mansion, which was why he was in such a passive position and had suffered this unseen setback.
We must investigate!
Investigate immediately!
“Old Qin…” Vice Minister Qiu suddenly spoke up.
"Minister!" Old Qin immediately turned slightly and responded respectfully.
“Go check the files,” Minister Qiu said, his gaze still fixed on the darkness flowing outside the window.
"Yes. Focus the investigation on Director Zheng's resume and connections?"
"Do not."
Minister Qiu slowly shook his head. His face was completely hidden in the shadows of the carriage, with only occasional passing light briefly outlining the hard lines of his jaw and a deep reflection behind his glasses.
He was trapped in the darkness, as if he had become one with the tranquil and flowing night.
"It's that Engineer Jiang. Find out for me exactly where this Jiang Xia comes from...
Old Qin was slightly taken aback, then immediately replied, "Understood!"
……
Night fell.
The sky suddenly donned a heavy indigo robe, and a narrow, sharp waning moon, as if carved into the night with a cold blade, gleamed with a clear, pale light.
The moonlight no longer drapes the buildings on the ground in a dreamy veil, but instead outlines them with sharp angles. Some parts are immersed in the cold, clear light, while others are dragged into deep and twisted shadows, crawling in corners and under windows, like lurking beasts.
The night wind suddenly picked up, carrying a chill unique to Beijing, swirling up dust and fallen leaves with a rustling sound that seemed to urge them on, instantly dispelling the original fresh air.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, then stirred by the sudden gust of wind and began to feel uneasy.
Echoing this somber night scene is an unnamed building in Beijing, where the atmosphere is a hundred times more somber than that of the Little Red Building at the Darian Naval Training Base.
"How audacious!"