Chapter 2, A Father's Love is Like a Mountain

Everyone has weaknesses, and you and I are no exceptions

I know that you despise the military and even more so the military intelligence agency, but you love this world and hope to raise the orphans of your comrades to adulthood

When 2014X1 approaches Earth, these nuclear warheads are the primary weapons for humanity to resist the invasion of extraterrestrial civilizations

"You have taken the wrong path; if you wish to descend the mountain, you can only return the way you came." Chu Tianjiang stopped ten meters away from Zhang Xiaogang, holding his double-barreled shotgun level.

What about the future of Wu Guoxiong

I have already left the military; let the great task of saving humanity be left to others

"You all step aside," Zhang Xiaogang extended his hands, signaling all agents to retreat while indicating to Chu Tianjiang that he meant no harm. "Major, we are here to find you."

"The biggest regret of my life is believing someone like you." Chu Tianjiang waved his double-barreled shotgun, urging Zhang Xiaogang and Luo Jin to go out bravely

Zhang Xiaogang's statement hit the nail on the head, and Chutianjiang did not refute it

Hijacking incident?" Luo Jinyong furrowed his brow

Is that so? Zhang Xiaogang lit a cigarette and said, "You have strong skills and will definitely be able to take care of yourself, relying on hunting and other means to survive. Wu Guoxiong is just a child; he will grow up. Perhaps for him, living away from the city is not a bad thing, but sooner or later, he will become a man like you. Do you think you have the right to deprive him of the opportunity for education, to make friends, and to start a family?"

If the world were to end in three months, and your decision could change the fate of everyone, including allowing Wu Guoxiong to grow up, what would you do

The conclusion is singular: 2014X1 is an asteroid controlled by extraterrestrial intelligent life, and it may even be a spacecraft of extraterrestrial intelligent beings

Closing the personal file marked with the words "Top Secret," Luo Jinyong exhaled and said, "Do you really think this guy is the best candidate"

Zhang Xiaogang gritted his teeth and walked towards the door.

"Five minutes are up, please return." Chu Tianjiang stood up, aiming the double-barreled shotgun at Zhang Xiaogang, showing no sign of lowering his guard.

This is a highly encrypted website, and the homepage interface is very simple, featuring only a user login window. The content can only be viewed after logging in

"The matter of Somalia? It is not mentioned here." Luo Jinyong threw the file to Zhang Xiaogang

I know you, and I can delay you for at most five minutes. Can we go inside to talk

You had better not do anything foolish. Chutianjiang's finger pressed against the trigger

Chutianjiang immediately thought that this was precisely the reason why Zhang Xiaogang and Luo Jinyong came to find him

Approximately two and a half years ago, from late February to early March 2014, observatories in China, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Canada, and Australia almost simultaneously discovered an asteroid with a diameter of about 10 kilometers, designated as 2014X1

Why

Initially, we all believed he was dead. This is understandable, as the CIA was the mastermind behind the hijacking incident, and there were thousands of pirates nearby. Even the most elite special forces might not be able to escape, making the hope of returning to the homeland even more remote. Half a month later, intelligence officials were continuously murdered. Even if he were still alive, no one would believe he could return to the homeland within half a month to plan and execute a revenge operation

"Next time, remember to bring more people along." Chu Tianjiang sat down, still holding the double-barreled shotgun. "If you have enough courage, you can give it a try and see if you can take me back. But it's best not to do that; if you want to capture me, you should at least bring a platoon of soldiers with you"

This is my business card, which contains a website. The login account and password are on the back. Luo Jinyong handed a business card to Chu Tianjiang. You do not need to make a decision immediately, but I hope you will make the right choice after careful consideration and then contact us

The primary responsibility of the Planetary Defense Council is to formulate and implement various actions to safeguard the Earth

Chutian Jiang let out a sigh and said, "Because I do not know you, I do not believe what you say"

When we were still halfway up the mountain, you discovered us and then hid Wu Guoxiong, certainly concealing him somewhere nearby

Upon hearing Wu Guoxiong's words, Chu Tianjiang realized that the sky had already brightened.

Chutian Jiang glanced at the others and then nodded

What is the basis for the speculation

Before the operation concluded, communication was disrupted. The intelligence officer in charge of frontline command ordered an emergency evacuation, leaving two snipers on the battlefield

If I am not certain, I will not waste my time on this damned mountain road

Zhang Xiaogang smiled; Chu Tianjiang's weakness is Wu Haiyuan's son. For the sake of Wu Guoxiong, he would do anything, even at the cost of his own life

It is related to a person

Zhang Xiaogang smiled and shook his head, saying: "I am here to invite you to join our organization"

Could it be someone else? For example, pirates

Professor, it is not apparent that you are still a master negotiator

This ... ...

However, this is simply too hard to believe

Outside, the sun is setting in the west, and night is about to fall

So, are you here to arrest me

Thank you for your kindness, but I will not agree

How is that possible! ? '' Luo Jinyong appeared even more surprised

That is a covert operation, and it is related to us

Is that person coming to seek refuge with me

I will teach him to read and write, and I will also teach him essential survival skills. When he grows up, I will allow him to make his own choices

Luo Jinyong was the first to propose that preparations should be made for ground warfare, utilizing the most advanced technology available to humanity to create a military force capable of countering an invasion by extraterrestrial civilizations

Join us, and I will give you a new identity, as well as properly settle Wu Guoxiong. If you are willing, I can also assist you with the adoption procedures

Wu Guoxiong is his only concern

Embracing Wu Guoxiong, Chu Tianjiang made a decision. He believed that Wu Haiyuan would do the same, for a father would protect his son at all costs

Luo Jinyong is the chief representative of China on the Scientific Advisory Committee, while Zhang Xiaogang serves as the commissioner of the Office of Security Affairs. The President of China, Li Xingbang, and the Chief of General Staff, Yang Fanglie, represent two other institutions. There are fewer than ten official informants and participants from China in total

Who

It is indeed the best choice. Zhang Xiaogang glanced at Luo Jinyong and said, "Professor, the doomsday unit is about to be established, and we need to send someone over within a week. He is the best sniper in the Tiger Brigade. Do you think we can train a sniper like him in a week? Even if we could, apart from Liu Zhanbo, who has served for more than ten years as a special forces soldier, no other special forces soldier has his level of rich combat experience. As for Liu Zhanbo and others, you are well aware that age is not only a woman's enemy but also the enemy of special forces soldiers."

Luo Jinyong sighed; he was indeed very clear about this matter

Soon, astronomers from several other countries confirmed this discovery

The convoy began to slow down, and the wooden structure at the end of the mountain road was already visible. After the convoy came to a stop, several accompanying agents were the first to disembark.

If all goes as expected, 2014 X1 will collide with Earth in two years and three months, specifically at the end of October 2016

"I advise you not to act recklessly; there is nothing here that you seek." Chu Tianjiang remained quite calm, as if the situation were under his control. "If you wish to purchase mountain goods, come back in a few days. It is getting dark; if you do not hurry down the mountain, you will be trapped up here when the fog rolls in."

Although he had grown a beard, Luo Jinyong recognized him at a glance; he was indeed the person they were looking for on this trip, Major Chu Tianjiang of the Tiger Brigade

With a benefactor by my side, anywhere is fine, I just want to go home

"Professor, you must trust my judgment." Zhang Xiaogang took out a cigarette and offered one to Luo Jinyong. "Two years ago, after you initiated the 'Doomsday Troops' project, I began to pay attention to suitable candidates, and he was among the top ten at that time. Last month, the events in Somalia proved that I did not misjudge him"

Do not forget, he is the most outstanding sniper of the Tiger Brigade and has long collaborated with the Military Intelligence Bureau. Zhang Xiaogang opened the personal file. Over the past nine years, the training expenses incurred for him have reached tens of millions, surpassing the cost of training an Olympic champion. This guy is nothing but a combat machine. All the skills he possesses are aimed at killing efficiently and avoiding being killed by others

You have only five minutes

Major, you will regret it

What you are currently doing is fundamentally incapable of allowing Wu Guoxiong to grow up healthily; at least mentally, he will become increasingly reclusive

"What?" Luo Jinyong was quite surprised, "Why do this?"

Why bring Wu Guoxiong along

"Luo Jinyong, a professor at Tsinghua University, my partner." Zhang Xiaogang chuckled and said, "Major, you are not afraid of a teacher, are you?"

Although it is now August, the daytime temperature on Kanas Mountain at an altitude of 3,000 meters is only a few degrees Celsius, and at night it can drop below zero degrees Celsius

However, more than half of the scientific advisors, including Luo Jinyong, hold no hope for nuclear weapons. Extraterrestrial civilizations capable of interstellar space travel must have mastered energy sources far more advanced than nuclear energy; therefore, the threat posed by nuclear weapons to extraterrestrial civilizations is negligible

As Zhang Xiaogang and Luo Jin Yong got out of the car, a middle-aged man with a full beard, holding a double-barreled shotgun, walked out of the house

Chutian Jiang carefully scrutinized Luo Jinyong, seemingly concluding that Luo Jinyong posed no threat, which is why he agreed to let him enter the house

He escaped back

Should we bury our heads like ostriches and get through the last three months, or should we rise up and resist

The council consists of ten members, namely the ten countries that discovered 2014X1. The council has four functional bodies: the "Summit of Heads of State", the "Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting", the "Scientific Advisory Committee", and the "Security Affairs Liaison Office", which are respectively responsible for political, military, scientific, and security confidentiality matters

As it was about to leave the asteroid belt, 2014X1 collided with a much smaller asteroid, resulting in a change in its orbit. After careful calculations, astronomers discovered that the post-collision orbit of 2014X1 violated the fundamental laws of celestial mechanics, and this orbit was directed precisely towards Earth

Over the past two years, within the framework of the Planetary Defense Council, ten member countries have signed dozens of memoranda of understanding. For reasons of security and confidentiality, while maintaining a basic relationship on the surface, five nuclear powers have utilized existing nuclear weapons to manufacture one thousand super nuclear warheads with a yield of up to two hundred million tons, and are also developing warheads with a yield of two billion tons. The other five countries have contributed all high-concentration nuclear materials

Wait, who is he

Wu Guoxiong is very understanding, not at all like a six-year-old child. After having dinner, he went to bed by himself, watched television for a while, and then fell asleep

Zhang Xiaogang nodded and said, "After Wu Haiyuan was killed in action, he single-handedly took down dozens of pirates and shot down an armed helicopter. Due to a malfunction of the military intelligence agency's unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, no one knew he was still alive at that time. Several days later, a special forces unit found the wreckage of the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, confirming that it had been shot down, and that it was hit by a round from a large-caliber sniper rifle."

What basis do you have for believing that it was him who did it

Here, he is equally carefree

Due to the limitations imposed by technological ceilings, scientists have focused their efforts on individual combat systems

Come on, Wu Guoxiong is the son of Wu Haiyuan. Do you think Wu Haiyuan would be willing to see his only son living a secluded life in the deep mountains and forests

What are you laughing at

Zhang Xiaogang smiled but did not speak

Northern Xinjiang, Altai Mountains, Kanas National Nature Reserve

This is not your concern, I know how to be a good father

I am not here to capture you, and I am no longer working for the Military Intelligence Bureau

The interference came from the air, and intelligence officials believed that the secret operation had been compromised. Concerned about attracting greater trouble, they issued an emergency evacuation order

Do you think he will contact us? The events that began made Zhang Xiaogang regard Luo Jinyong with newfound respect

Major, do you consider yourself a god, able to arbitrarily dominate and control others

A bonfire is burning in the fireplace, and the room is very warm

"Major, do not be nervous, we mean no harm." Luo Jinyong felt a bit flustered. Chu Tianjiang was a sharpshooter; with just two shots from a shotgun, he could take out both him and Zhang Xiaogang.

"You can find me here, and since you know who I am, you should be aware of my past." Chu Tianjiang pointed to the door and said, "I have no interest in your invitation."

The ballistic examination report confirms that the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by a round fired from an M200 sniper rifle, which they were carrying at the time.

Why does he want to hide

After dispelling his doubts, Chu Tianjiang had no choice but to believe that Zhang Xiaogang and Luo Jinyong had quite an impressive background

Such a large asteroid had never been discovered before, which raises many questions in itself

This is the "Doomsday Troops" project

This suggests that he is very cautious in his work

Zhang Xiaogang was also a bit anxious, as Chu Tianjiang was indeed very stubborn

"Guo Xiong, isn't it good here?" Chu Tianjiang pulled Wu Guoxiong over and embraced him.

"Godfather, when are we going home"

The convoy traveled faster on the way down the mountain

Zhang Xiaogang chuckled.

Is there still a need to say it?" Zhang Xiaogang glanced at Luo Jinyong. "So many intelligence officers have been killed; even if we cannot prove that he did it, they will eventually think of him. Before this matter is forgotten, the military intelligence agency will definitely spare no effort to hunt him down, or even assassinate him.

Wu Haiyuan's greatest wish is for his son to grow up healthy

Can you persuade him

Subsequently, American astronomers discovered that during a collision with another asteroid, 2014 X1 captured a portion of the other body's mass and ejected some of its own mass in a specific direction, thereby entering a trajectory that would lead to an impact with Earth. All of these phenomena contravene the fundamental laws of celestial mechanics

This is merely a conjecture, with no evidence to prove that he did it

Doesn't he worry about his parents? Luo Jinyong recalled that his personal file mentioned that he is not married and does not have a long-term girlfriend

After the convoy had moved far away, Chu Tianjiang returned to the cabin and called out Wu Guoxiong, who was hidden in the cellar.

Zhang Xiaogang sighed and said, "Wu Haiyuan's son, Wu Guoxiong"

After reading the introduction on the first page, Chu Tianjiang was very shocked and immediately checked the website's IP address

Chutianjiang did not sleep, and through the satellite network, he accessed the website that Luo Jinyong had given him

The server is located in the data center of the Military Intelligence Bureau and has received authorization from the General Staff Headquarters, belonging to the highest level of confidentiality in military intelligence networks

Chutian Jiang remained silent; he had promised Wu Haiyuan that no matter how many difficulties he encountered, he would take good care of Wu Guoxiong

Over the past few decades, astronomers have been searching for asteroids in the asteroid belt and have discovered millions of asteroids with diameters exceeding ten meters

Chutian Jiang hesitated for a moment before accepting Luo Jinyong's business card

"It won't take five minutes." Zhang Xiaogang took off his coat and tossed it onto the chair by the door, saying, "I am Zhang Xiaogang, an agent of the Military Intelligence Bureau, specifically here to find you."

Chutianjiang's brows twitched a few times; this was the first noticeable emotional fluctuation he exhibited after meeting Zhang Xiaogang and others

If it were Wu Haiyuan, what would he do

Chutian Jiang let out a long sigh, declaring that the world would end in three months. Wu Guoxiong was only six years old; his life had just begun. Would it really come to an end like this

"No one is allowed to enter without my orders." After giving instructions to six agents, Zhang Xiaogang then called Luo Jinyong and entered the small wooden house

Chutian Jiang lowered the muzzle of his gun, giving Luo Jin Yong the opportunity to say his final words

Three months later, another astonishing discovery changed astronomers' perception of this asteroid and presented an unprecedented threat to human civilization

He is Wu Guoxiong's godfather. Before Wu Haiyuan was killed in action, he surely entrusted him to take good care of Wu Guoxiong. Because Wu Haiyuan was involved in a secret operation, Old Yuan sent people to secretly monitor and protect Wu Guoxiong. Five days ago, after the intelligence officer in charge of the Somalia operation was murdered, Wu Guoxiong disappeared right under the eyes of the surveillance personnel. The person who took Wu Guoxiong managed to evade all surveillance cameras, and Liu Zhanbo, the commander of the Tiger Brigade, has kept silent about this matter. From this, we deduce that he is still alive and has long since returned to the country, having taken Wu Guoxiong after avenging Wu Haiyuan.

The threat is increasingly imminent, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have decided to establish a Doomsday Force next week, with a total of 10 positions, one for each member country

He is merely a member of the Tiger Brigade, not the only option

"Major, may I say a word, just one word?" Luo Jinyong expressed a hint of reluctance

In the field of astronomy, this discovery is already quite astonishing

"Is it all his doing?" Luo Jinyong widened his eyes. "Old Yuan" refers to Yuan Dezhi, the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau

Wu Guoxiong is not your son, and even if he were, you have no right to do this. Indeed, you will give him the opportunity to choose, but what kind of choice will he make after more than ten years?" Zhang Xiaogang paused slightly and continued, "You have served in the Tiger Brigade for nine years, and you are willing to do anything for Wu Haiyuan. What kind of person will a six-year-old child become when he grows up after experiencing such things?"

"These are nothing; the most astonishing events are yet to come." Zhang Xiaogang lit a cigarette. "More than ten days later, an intelligence officer died at home due to a gas explosion. In the following week, several other intelligence officers also died in accidents. Initially, Old Yuan suspected it was a retaliatory action by enemy intelligence agencies and launched a comprehensive manhunt, but no clues were found. It was only five days ago that we clarified that all these intelligence officers who died in accidents had participated in operations in Somalia, and their deaths were unrelated to enemy intelligence agencies."

At the end of July 2014, the "Planetary Defense Council" was officially established

I do not know you, nor am I a major.

Upon receiving the business card, he had already made a decision. Luo Jinyong smiled and said, "Rest assured, he will soon take the initiative to contact us"

You ... ...

Zhang Xiaogang nodded and said, "The key to the hijacking incident is not the hostages, but the cargo on the ship. You are well aware of this matter; because we took precautions, the Americans did not gain any advantage. During the operation to rescue the hostages, he and his partner Wu Haiyuan were responsible for providing support and cover"

It is undeniable that the intelligence officers of the Military Intelligence Bureau must bear responsibility for Wu Haiyuan's death, and they have already paid the price for their negligence. Zhang Xiaogang picked up a cigarette from the table. "For Wu Haiyuan, you can do anything, even sacrifice your own future. The problem is, Wu Guoxiong is innocent; he is only six years old, while other children at this age are living carefree lives."

These scientific advisors all believe that humanity cannot prevent extraterrestrial civilizations from landing on Earth

Several agents stood ready, as someone had already reached into their bosom to draw a gun

A convoy consisting of three off-road vehicles was speeding along a narrow mountain road. In the second vehicle, in addition to the two plainclothes agents in the front row, there were two passengers in the back row. On the left was Luo Jinyong, a professor from Tsinghua University who was not yet thirty years old, and on the right was Zhang Xiaogang, a senior agent who was two years his senior. The differences between the two were striking; beneath Luo Jinyong's resolute exterior lay the delicate demeanor typical of a scholar, while Zhang Xiaogang was a robust man with a cold expression.

Before the first intelligence officer was murdered, his parents left Beijing. The intelligence agency only traced the matter to Chongqing, after which they lost all leads. Zhang Xiaogang extinguished his cigarette and said, "If I were him, I would definitely first ensure the safety of my immediate family before seeking revenge for my comrades"

"There is no such possibility," Zhang Xiaogang shook his head and said, "The global stock of this type of special lightweight high-precision sniper rifle is less than 1,000 units. The CIA has expended considerable effort and still could not obtain one. Our military has only one, which he seized from a Navy SEAL sniper during a mission in Afghanistan last year. According to the regulations of the Tiger Brigade, this rifle is kept and used by him."

The wooden house is not large, only about 10 square meters, divided into a living room and a bedroom by a curtain.

It is indeed no small feat for him to shoot down a reconnaissance drone with a sniper rifle. Luo Jinyong began to believe in Zhang Xiaogang's judgment

You all stay outside, Professor, you come with me

It seems that these two individuals do not appear to be on the same path and should not be sitting in the same vehicle