A river runs through the center of the college. Lin strolled along the Linyin Road by the river to the edge of the bridge and saw the figure leaning against the wooden railing of the bridge, gazing out. Behind him was a small table and two chairs, with a large salad and a bottle of Bordeaux red wine served in a glass basin.
Hi Hi, very punctual, "the doctor turned around with a smile on his face.
In the distance behind him is a clock tower that pierces into the sky, and the light of Lin XX's road lamp shines on the river, shimmering and scattering.
Why did you remember to meet at this place? "Lin walked up to him.
Every morning, evening, and late at night, I feel that L.M.A.'s campus is particularly beautiful. I will also feel proud of it, this is my lifelong effort. But for us, meeting in such a beautiful place is really like going on a date. "The doctor smiled and said, "Let me tell you a joke
Okay
When I was at West Point, the school had a rule that smoking was not allowed inside buildings or within 75 feet of any building. Many of our instructors were smokers at that time, and they found that no matter where they stood, as long as they lit a cigarette, there would be an instrument reaction, followed by a high fine. They tried to defend themselves, but each time the instrument clearly showed that they were no more than 75 feet away from a certain building, whether it was a library, sculpture, or sports center. They couldn't bear it anymore and borrowed a campus map. They used the level of detail in making military maps to turn it into a 3D model and then calculated it. The final result is that there is only one area of 0 in the teaching and accommodation areas of the entire West Point? A space of 6 square meters meets that regulation. "
Lin smiled and asked, "Was the person who made this rule intentional
How could that be? It's just that the members of the school committee patted their heads and said it's 75 feet, that's why there was that school rule, "the doctor laughed." Later, the instructors would go there together to smoke during break time, and a small space became the most valuable resource on campus. Sometimes you have to spend $1 to stand there for 10 minutes. During break time, it's a very special scenery, and the instructors sit in a circle chatting. There are four or five people in the middle of the circle smoking heavily. After one person finishes smoking, the other person will immediately make up for it
Do you know why I'm saying this? "The doctor's smile disappeared, and he suddenly became serious.
Lin shook his head.
If you actually measure, you will find that in this campus, only this point where we are now is more than 75 feet away from all buildings, which is also a small secret left behind during the initial design
Are you saying it's outside the scope of Runas' surveillance
Yes, there is still one point in L.M.A. that Runas cannot monitor. We are free to speak here, and I assure you that only the two of us will know. "The doctor looked into his eyes.
Why is it so secret? What happened? "Lin met his gaze without avoiding it.
The Supreme Council has expressed concern about your status. They value you, but they are also concerned that giving you too much freedom could become a hidden danger for the college
Hidden danger? "Lin was somewhat surprised.
Because you never communicate with others, even though you perform tasks perfectly. But a lone fox is far more worrying than a pack of wolves because it has no way of guessing, "the doctor smiled." Although I think I can understand you, the committee doesn't believe it
I don't know how to explain, "Lin said.
The doctor patted his shoulder and said, "Don't worry too much. The committee's concern for you is also their trust in you. Because you are carrying out the highest level tasks of the academy, such as this one regarding Caucasus and Balji, as well as the testimony about Alibaba Night, which are secrets that other agents cannot access
I'd rather not have contact
I'm the same, "the doctor fell silent for a moment." Have some salad with Japanese bluefin tuna, it's really delicious
The doctor was pulling the salad on the plate, obviously losing his appetite. After a moment of silence, he turned to Lin and asked, 'Is the pastor okay?'
Not bad, but I don't know if I can survive this winter, "Lin nodded
I didn't expect Peng Baoji to be a pastor before we set off, did I
I didn't expect that he had been dead for many years
How did you recognize him
His voice, "Lin said," has changed a lot, but it's still the same. When I heard him speak, I suddenly remembered those stormy nights when he was holding the Bible and reading it one by one in front of our bed. If someone couldn't sleep, he would tell some stories from the Bible and press our foreheads to make us feel at ease
The doctor nodded and said, "He sees you as children, he is my hero
Hero
Yeah. His unwillingness to provide a testimony was something I had anticipated, and although it would be useful to me, I wouldn't blame Balji for it
That testimony... very crucial? "Lin hesitated and asked.
Very crucial. It concerns both his guilt and punishment. He chose to exile himself, while I chose to stay. After so many years, I still have to face the past for this testimony, "the doctor's voice was low.
The pastor is... self exiled
I don't know if it's appropriate to say that, but after Alibaba Night, he was full of doubts about L.M.A. and our initial goals, so he left the academy. Actually, I wanted to tell you before you went to the Caucasus, but this is a sensitive topic in the academy. "The doctor leaned against the railing of the bridge and stretched his body. "Lin, you may be familiar with him, but you don't really know the real Peng Baoji," he said
Probably because we are all children in his eyes, he doesn't want to say too much
No, it's not for you, it's for everyone. Balji is like this. He has a strong sense of heroism, believes in his ability to endure great hardships, and perseveres to accomplish something. He doesn't want to emphasize his pain to those around him because he thinks he can endure it. He loves many people, but in his heart, he elevates himself to a father like role. "The doctor chuckled softly," I'm afraid Balji sees me the same way
Well, after all these years, I'm sure his achievements in the Caucasus were not easy, right
Of course not easy, he was alone when he went to the Caucasus. As an instructor who left L.M.A., the academy avoided mentioning this person. He didn't even have a family. His father died in the Caucasian Revolutionary War, his mother and wife died in a massacre style bombing, and his biological son, in order to protect him, pounced on him at a rally, blocking the poisoned dagger stabbed at him. The assassin was originally hidden in the crowd shaking hands with him, so he was immediately torn apart by angry supporters. But what's the use of that? My son has been lost forever, and I can't even seek revenge with my own hands... "The doctor took a deep breath and exhaled with all his might
So that's it, "Lin whispered.
The imprint of the Caucasus country on him is too deep. War, constant war, repelling the enemy outside the country, and then civil war. After the civil war, the minority split. He was too sad and loved too many people, so he wanted to end the war all his life, but he seemed too confident in his own abilities. "The doctor chuckled a few times," But he is braver than me
Lin stroked the wooden railing on the bridge and asked, 'Can you talk about the pastor?'
Okay. Many years from now, someone will write a biography for him, but unfortunately I may not be able to live until then. However, I have confidence, "the doctor raised his eyebrows with a hint of self satisfaction." No one knows Peng Baoji better than me
When I met him, he was only 18 years old... "the doctor said softly.
That year, I was an exchange student at the University of Cambridge, and he rose to prominence at the Eurasian Studies Forum in Cambridge, known for his passion and eloquence. The first time I saw him, he was holding a Bible and roaring at everyone in a public debate, saying: This is an era where no one believes in God anymore. Those who put their hands on the black box may have the cross of Jesus Christ hanging on their chests. They devoutly pray in church every Sunday to find peace in their hearts, but these hearts appeased by doctrine can make tough war decisions. God has become a puppet on a wooden frame! "The doctor said with a low smile, At that time, I felt like my heart was about to burst out. What kind of person was this? A poor young man from a war-torn country who received funding from the British government, but he was like a divine son destined to become the king of the world. He burned himself with his flames, warming those around him. After that, I became friends with him
But I soon realized that I underestimated this guy. He was not just someone waving his arms on the forum, but a true pragmatist. People from the British Intelligence Service came to Cambridge to invite him for coffee, and I later found out that it was because Balji had launched a large-scale plan. He tried to use all possible channels to persuade Caucasian experts working in the UK to return to their homeland. Many of these experts had left the Caucasus to avoid civil war, and Balji, with a persistence that I still cannot understand, persuaded the head of the Caucasus Academy of Sciences at that time to promise to arm and protect every returning expert. Balji came to persuade those experts one by one with such an official letter, among which... Some people really responded to him, while others betrayed him
But Intelligence Division Five had no choice. Balji didn't do anything illegal. So they hoped he would voluntarily withdraw and cancel his academic subsidies. But Balji was not someone who easily agreed to withdraw. He served dishes and cleaned the restaurant, and also stayed overnight to guard the school library. He didn't have money to rent a house, so he lived in my living room. He collected printed paper from the library, turned it into letters on the back, and sent them to more Caucasian experts
So you've known each other for so many years, "Lin said.
For many years, yes, many years... "the doctor said softly." At that time, Intelligence Division Five also came to treat me to coffee and asked me why a West Point exchange student wanted to hang out with such a fanatical patriot. But can I not hang out with such a person
The doctor looked at the night sky and said, "He is the Son of God in my eyes
But we didn't expect the reversal to come so quickly. The third full-scale war broke out, and the Caucasus once again became a battlefield. The political situation changed again and again. One night, Balji rushed back in heavy rain, his face full of rain or tears. He roared at me and said they killed them! They killed them! I don't know what happened, so I immediately opened CNN's website. I saw that news, and I still remember the feeling at that moment, but I can't describe it. According to the news, the newly elected ruling party in the Caucasus executed a total of 27 returning experts on charges of treason. "
Are they all people persuaded by the pastor? "Lin asked.
Some are, some are not. But that feeling... that feeling is that all your efforts have been pushed down by someone with one hand, someone has trampled on your love, ideals, and dignity. "The doctor clenched his fists, his face curved and sharp." That day, I showed Balji the outline of the Runas Plan
When did Runas' research begin? "Lin asked, feeling that he was approaching a groundbreaking beginning.
Yes! At that time, I was so naive. The so-called Luna project was just a research project of my supervisor, and I was just one of the members. The goal was to use a giant machine we hoped to name 'Luna's Eye' to study mathematics, ultimately analyze the most dangerous hidden dangers in the current environment, and eliminate them in advance. As Irina said in class, these were a group of crazy young people inspired by the butterfly effect. We hoped to observe the world from a god's height, and the giant machine based on 'chaos' was our weapon. However, the US military was not interested in this insane concept. They mocked it as a group of scholars' god making movement, and we did not receive much funding, only one. The small family foundation is willing to inject funds into us
And I told Balji that a hero can only be invincible if he holds a weapon. And Runas... "The doctor smiled," At that time, it was still the imagined super giant machine Runas, which was our weapon
Three months later, Balgi joined our team. We called ourselves L.M.A., but not the Lorenz Military Academy, but the Lorenz Men's Association. Five years and nine months later, the 'Chaos Model' was completed. Seven years and eleven months later, the prototype of Runas was put into operation. Nine years and three months later, Runas entered the global network. On the same day, we had L.M.A., our dream military academy. At that time, it was in Fernandes, where a group of no longer young men were throwing their military hats into the sky in the rain, shouting with all their might while stepping on the muddy water of the construction site. Balji and I immediately devoted ourselves to training the first batch of agents. I am a strict person, and you respect me, so you call me an instructor, while he is a devout and gentle person. You call him a father and give him the nickname 'pastor'. "
But the pastor left five years later? "Lin said.
The doctor lowered his head and said, 'Yes, every beginning has an end. Balgee chose to leave L.M.A. not just because of the' Ali Baba Night 'incident. I cannot tell you too much, but I can only say that Balgee is a hero who always stands in the position of a rebel. When L.M.A. grows strong and becomes the ruler in turn, Balgee is destined not to be able to coexist with it.'. He chose to return to the Caucasus, and I know he has wanted to go back for a long time. At that time, the resistance towards the Western camp began to become an undercurrent in the Caucasus Parliament. When Balji returned silently, he was just a lonely person with no friends, let alone supporters. But the Independent Free Alliance sees him as a symbol, a young man who has been steadfastly standing on a nationalist stance since his youth and has driven a wave of experts returning home in the UK. The Independent Free Alliance believes they can use Balgi's resume to make an impact. So they recruited him and offered him the position of chairman of the Youth Committee, hoping that he would advocate for them. "
Advocating for canvassing? "Lin asked.
Yeah, anyone who understands Peng Baoji would question him like this, "the doctor laughed." How could he be a card in someone else's hand or a little puppet waving his arm? But there is such a group of fools in the world who are clearly a pack of jackals and dogs, but want to play with lions in their hands. In just three years, Baoji has shown his unique skills, and after L.M.A., he is no longer the angry young man from Cambridge. He proved with his strength that he is not an empty idol. The Youth Committee has become the largest group in the Independent Free Alliance. Foreign media began to pay attention to him, stating that he 'will become the ruler of the Caucasus regime with an unstoppable posture'. "
So he became the leader of the military government? "Lin asked.
It's not that simple, my student. You completely failed in conspiracy theory, "the doctor waved his hand
The elections in the Caucasus are about choosing a political party, between the Independent Free Alliance and the Democratic Peace Alliance, just like the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the United States competing against each other. The elected party's chairman automatically becomes the president, and the president authorizes the prime minister to form a government. In people's eyes, Peng Baoji is undoubtedly the next chairman of the Independent Free Alliance, so they all voted for the Independent Free Alliance. However, the Independent Free Alliance decided to do everything within itself to prevent Baoji from becoming the chairman of that term. Sure enough, Baoji was not elected
These are things I cannot understand, "Lin said.
But the story is not over, it's hard to imagine what happened that night, "the doctor waved his fist vigorously and smiled." Just as the Independent Free Alliance announced the new chairman, the entire Caucasus came to a standstill
Riot? "Lin asked.
It's a riot, not just civilians. As more and more people gathered in front of the Capitol to demonstrate, the military quietly took action. In fact, two days before the announcement of the presidential candidate, the military received the news. The hawkish young generals were extremely angry, so about 7000 national defense soldiers began to enter the capital under various names
It's a mutiny! "Lin said.
It has indeed escalated into a mutiny. At that time, Balji was unaware of these things. He had mistakenly thought that he was only one step away from realizing his ambitions, but he was abandoned by the Independent League like a dog kicked away. The night of the mutiny was the representative conference of the Independent Free League, and Balji was shouting at the entire venue with unprecedented enthusiasm and anger, but the audience was not moved. Just as his speech reached its peak, four thousand armed soldiers lined up and entered the venue. The young generals vied for speeches, even to the point of competing for the microphone, with only two themes: one was that they wanted Peng Baoji to be elected; Another is to drive all Western powers out of the Caucasus. The next day, on the square in front of the Parliament Building, the Provisional Military Government was announced to be established, with Peng Baoji as their leader. "
I sent him a flower basket, but he didn't respond to me, "the doctor sipped his wine and shook his head slightly
But he doesn't seem happy, "Lin said.
I know he's not happy, "the doctor said." People like him have no connection to happiness for their entire lives
Would you like some more salad? "The doctor finished his drink and interrupted his narration.
No need, "Lin said," I'm done eating
The two of them stood in opposition and remained silent for a while.
Do you want to be a free wild horse? Like Balgi, "the doctor suddenly said.
Sometimes I envy his life when I see him always full of confidence, "Lin said.
Yes, I'm the same, "the doctor nodded." But being a free galloping horse is certainly everyone's ideal, but there must be a corresponding price to pay. You run freely on the field, but you never know when the shotgun bullet will pierce your heart. You will grow your mane flying and fall into a pool of blood, carrying your free heart. This is the concern of the Supreme Council
What
Balgi is one of the most talented founders of L.M.A., and he chose another path. L. M.A.'s dream is to establish rules and attempt to eliminate all unstable factors. However, Balji deviated from us and ultimately chose to return to the grassland to become his wild horse. What we need to do is not yet completed, but we have already lost many companions along the way: Juste and Heins, the people who died on the night of Alibaba, and Balji who left us. "The doctor's voice was low, "And Theo, you are already one of our few remaining elites. We hope you can stand firmly with us. The Supreme Council's concern for you is also their concern for you, and we don't want any reason to force you to leave the academy
Doctor, I have already made my choice, "Lin said.
Yes, you have already made a choice. This is the difference between you and Balji. You are a fox, a fox that must go back and hunt hunting hunting dogs. You will become familiar with your forest, grasp all changes in your heart, deduce the best combat strategy, and wait for those foolish hunting dogs to come over excitedly when they smell your scent, hoping to bite your throat and drink blood. Then you can flash out from a position they absolutely cannot imagine and nail your prepared poison blow arrow into their forehead. You are my best student, and you can never be defeated. "The doctor extended his hand," Be firm in your choice
Lin held his hand and said, 'Doctor, is there anything going to happen?'
I can't be sure, "the doctor turned around," but I can feel that the final battle is approaching. Our enemies have jumped out of the stage background uncontrollably, they killed Juste and Heins, and they can't tolerate our existence to be directly hostile to us. When they all reveal their identities, it will be the day of the final battle. For so many years, I have been looking forward to our Lorentz men helping to write the initial promise in a monument, and I feel that that moment is coming
Lin silently looked at the person, who was already close to the age of an old man, but suddenly emitted a scent that only young people would have. He was silent, but roaring like a lion, with a sharp edge piercing from under his military uniform. The wind blew on the river, blowing his gray hair. He furrowed his brow and straightened his waist.
Look at that clock tower, "he pointed to the distance.
The Doomsday Bell, the twilight of the gods, runs according to Runas' calculations. It is said that if it reaches its end, it will be the day when the proton balance is broken and the world is destroyed, "Lin said.
That's the sword of Damocles tied in a ponytail, hanging over everyone's heads. The clock can only be used to predict its fall, but what's the use of prophecy? If a sword falls from your head, you can still escape. On the day when thousands of proton annihilation bombs rise into the sky, where will we flee to? What we need to do is not to erect the bell tower, but ultimately destroy it! "The doctor's voice was like metal friction.
Waiting for your command at any time, Doctor, "Lin suddenly stood up straight and gave the military salute unique to L.M.A.
But Doctor, "he said again," can Runas' calculations really predict an accurate future? Have we exhausted all our efforts... and in the end, we can only watch thousands of proton annihilation bombs rise into the sky
I don't know, "the doctor said calmly," but I have no choice and I am not afraid. Since I took my seat today, I have been waiting for this moment to come at all times