When the call connected, Huang Weiguo said into the phone, “Commander, it’s me, Huang Weiguo!”
A cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone: “How come someone as busy as you has time to call me?”
Normally, Huang Weiguo would at least exchange a few jokes with his superiors, but at this moment, he couldn’t laugh at all; he was a sinner!
He sighed and reported everything Qian Siming had done: “Sir, it was my dereliction of duty. I was wary of the new researchers, but I really had no wariness of Qian Siming at all.”
Qian Siming’s wife died young, and his son went abroad and died. Huang Weiguo believed that the base was Qian Siming’s spiritual sustenance.
Therefore, Qian Siming helped with the drawing and budgeting at the base without interfering; it was his carelessness!
Non-members are not allowed to inquire about what each group is doing.
But he simply let Qian Siming flit around like a butterfly.
There was no further conversation on the other end of the phone, only the sound of fingers tapping on the table, a habit the leader had when he was thinking.
After wiping his sweat twice, Huang Weiguo finally asked, “Is the translator Gu any good?”
“She’s doing well. Thanks to her and Gu Beichen, we were able to discover Qian Siming’s existence so quickly.”
There was another long silence on the other end: “Form a new team, with Gu Beichen and the translator Gu as the core members. Have the two of them work together to find the shepherd.”
Huang Weiguo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and spoke respectfully into the microphone: “Yes, sir, I understand. But… Regiment Commander Gu is from the military region.”
Comrade Gu Yun is also a mother of a young child. Her long-term secondment involves complicated procedures and coordination between the two sides…”
“I’ll handle the paperwork,” the voice on the other end of the phone said firmly. “What you need to do is provide all the necessary support to get this team up and running.”
The shepherd’s reach extends deeper than we imagine; Qian Siming is just the tip of the iceberg. We need a sufficiently sharp and strong needle to prick them out.
Gu Beichen is a graduate of a military academy and has a high level of cultural literacy, while the translator is a human-shaped computer. They have both brains and physical strength, so it would be best for them to work together to complete the mission.
“Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!” Huang Weiguo straightened his back, as if his superior was right in front of him.
“Remember, the existence of this group is highly confidential. I will be in charge of the initial contact. Give them my phone number and tell them to contact me if they need anything. The group’s code name… let’s call it ‘Qiming’.”
After hanging up the phone, Huang Weiguo stood there for a long time before slowly putting down the receiver, his back already soaked with cold sweat. The “Enlightenment” team—this burden was too heavy.
That same evening, in Gu Beichen’s temporary office.
Gu Beichen had just finished his report on the follow-up arrangements for the Qian Siming case when there was a knock on the door. Huang Weiguo arrived in person, his face more solemn than ever before.
“Beichen, sit down.” Huang Weiguo waved his hand, without exchanging pleasantries, and immediately conveyed the superior’s decision: “The superior has instructed that a special task force be established, codenamed ‘Qiming,’ with the core mission of uncovering the ‘Shepherd.'”
Gu Beichen’s eyes sharpened, and he subconsciously sat up higher. This was expected, but the fact that Huang Weiguo was personally involved in the talks made it a different matter.
“The team will be led by you and Comrade Lin Su—oh, I mean Comrade Gu Yun—as core members. You will be responsible for external security, intelligence analysis, and operations.”
She was responsible for technical support, deciphering all possible technical instructions and information transmission methods from the other party.
The two of them forming a group? Gu Beichen felt a sweet warmth in his heart; that way, they wouldn’t be separated for the time being.
However, his face remained expressionless; he silently nodded without revealing any personal emotion.
“I will obey the organization’s arrangements.” His answer was rigid and standard.
Looking at his calm face, Huang Weiguo found it hard to believe that he was truly as still as a calm pond.
However, since the other party was unwilling to reveal it, he could only feign a sigh: “Beichen, I know this may put you in a difficult position. But this is a mission, a necessity for the country.”
Gu Yun’s abilities are evident to both of us. Putting personal feelings aside… well, anyway, it’s for work purposes.
“I understand,” Gu Beichen’s voice remained calm. “I will ensure the mission is completed successfully.”
His reaction reassured Huang Weiguo somewhat, but also left him with a bitter taste.
This overly calm obedience masks a deep chasm etched by the passage of time.
After Huang Weiguo left Gu Beichen’s temporary office, he went to the core office to find Lin Su.
Unlike Gu Beichen, Lin Su turned green when she heard that she would be forming a team with Gu Beichen and continuing to work here.
“Leader Huang, I am mainly responsible for technical translation, and intelligence warfare is not my specialty.” She tried to politely decline, as a long-term, high-intensity collaboration with Gu Beichen was the situation she most wanted to avoid at the moment.
And her baby hasn’t seen her for so long, of course he’ll cry!
“Comrade Gu Yun,” Huang Weiguo said earnestly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation, “’The Shepherd’s’ goal is clearly aimed at your and your mother’s research.”
Even if you leave here, do you think you can live a peaceful life?!
This question left Lin Su speechless. The near-death experience at the airport was still vivid in her mind, and she was so glad that she hadn’t brought her baby with her at the time.
Seeing Lin Su remain silent, Huang Weiguo pressed on: “No one understands the key to this better than you. This is not a request, it is an order. The country needs you to play a greater role.”
The phrase “the country needs” weighed heavily on Lin Su’s mind, pressing down on all her personal hesitation.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with a clear and firm determination.
“I’ll follow the arrangements, but what about my baby?!”
Huang Weiguo simply nodded: “The higher-ups will take care of everything, don’t worry!”
Since the leader has already said that, Lin Su only hopes that her baby won’t miss her too much.
The following morning, the first informal meeting of the “Enlightenment” group was held in a small, absolutely confidential conference room that had just been cleared out at the base.
Gu Beichen arrived first. He stood by the window, looking at the soldiers doing morning exercises on the parade ground outside. His back was straight and lonely.
Lin Su pushed open the door right on time, carrying a thick folder and a new notebook.
“Commander Gu.” She nodded slightly as a greeting, her tone as distant as if she were speaking to any colleague she was meeting for the first time.
“Comrade Gu Yun.” Gu Beichen turned around, his expression equally businesslike. “Please sit down.”
But his hands under the table were clenched tightly; he wasn’t as calm as he appeared.
The two sat down across the conference table, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
“This is my preliminary analysis of the ‘shepherd’s’ known behavior patterns, technological preferences, and possible clues in Qian Siming’s confession.”
Lin Su pushed the folder to the center of the table and handed it to Gu Beichen without first taking it, saying, “The technical parts are marked in red.”
Gu Beichen reached out and took it, quickly flipping through it. It was well-organized and highlighted the key points, just like her usual style.
“Very good. This is my preliminary security upgrade plan and information exchange mechanism. Please take a look. It mainly concerns the regulations regarding your going out, contact with people, and data transmission.”
He pushed another document across the table.
Lin Su took the document, examined it carefully, her brows furrowing slightly occasionally, but ultimately she did not raise any objections. “Okay. But I need to ensure that my research time is not disturbed unnecessarily.”
Please give at least two hours’ notice before all meetings and intelligence exchanges.
“Sure.” Gu Beichen nodded. “For routine communication, we can use encrypted emails or have Platoon Leader Zhan relay them.”
“agree.”
The conversation was efficient and detached, with not a single superfluous word. They quickly finalized the basic principles of cooperation, the division of responsibilities, and the communication process, as if they were completing a rigorous business contract.
When the meeting ended, the two stood up at the same time.
“It’s a pleasure to work with you, Comrade Gu Yun.” Gu Beichen extended his hand.
Lin Su looked at his hand, hesitated for half a second, and then reached out to gently grasp it before letting go.
“It’s a pleasure working with you, Commander Gu.”
The warmth of the palm vanished in an instant, leaving only the faint scent of ink from printed documents in the air.
Gu Beichen watched her departing figure without a trace of lingering affection, silently withdrew his hand, put it in his pocket, and clenched it tightly.
Gu Beichen walked to the window and watched Lin Su leave, his eyes burning with an intense heat that almost burst forth!