At the end of September, the East 824 District was still hot and humid. The continuous rainfall in the previous two days greatly increased the humidity in the air, but it was helpless against the inherent high temperature.
When Tao Ju came to the northern mountainous area, it was the time when the temperature was the highest of the day, and there were no roads going up the mountain. To be precise, the only normally maintained roads eventually led to the mountains.
Mobile Defense Force Barracks.
Therefore, Tao Ju abandoned his car early and started hiking up the mountain, walking aimlessly in the hot and humid air.
This went on for two or three hours, until he was sweating profusely, his clothes were soaked through, and the wounds on his body became burning and painful, and blood started to ooze out again. Only then did he gasp for breath and stand blankly in the lush mountains, and again
Beaten one’s own heart:
What on earth did I do here?
Because of the saying "Sincerity leads to spiritual success", I stayed here for three hours?
At first it seemed that he wanted to choose a decent-looking "spiritual tree", but later on, he didn't know what to do. Perhaps he felt that such a desolate mountain wilderness was more in line with his current chaotic thoughts, so he became
Instead of simply wandering, I even became addicted to it and didn't want to return to the city at the foot of the mountain.
Perhaps his final retreat is to throw himself into the vast wilderness that no one has explored and become a savage and a wanderer.
Tao Ju inevitably thought this way, but soon, even in the theoretically autumn weather, the mosquitoes, snakes, and ants were still vigorous and energetic, which made him give up this idea: hell, "sincerity leads to spiritual success", he
He must be crazy. Even if Tang Li had left, he could have passed on the madness.
Theoretically, the man should still be waiting at the airport dozens of kilometers away. A wild thought suddenly occurred in Tao Ju's mind: If he immediately turned around and drove back, chased him to the airport, knelt at the feet of the man, and asked for help, what would
Does it count as "Sincerity leads to spirituality"?
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Tao Ju gave himself a slap in the face.
It's so stupid. This idea is so stupid, just as stupid as his current behavior!
He waved away the mosquitoes buzzing around him and looked around among the lush vegetation. He subconsciously wanted to find a better goal that could stabilize his mind and rest on the past. But his heart kept beating wildly.
A shuddering feeling like facing an abyss, unable to reach the sky or the earth.
How can we be stable and put our trust in the past?
So, I must be crazy!
Tao Ju let out a long sigh, and at this moment, the phone rang. He raised his wrist and looked at it, frowning slightly, hesitating for two seconds, and finally answered:
"Captain Zou."
The "Team Zou" he refers to is his immediate superior, Zou Fang, who is now the colonel commander of the East 824th District garrison. The position Tao Ju refers to is inherited from the garrison unit they worked with a long time ago.
.
Therefore, the two people have a certain friendship. Over the years, Tao Ju, a "remnant of the former dynasty," has been able to work steadily in the army and reach the position of major battalion commander, which is inseparable from Zoufang's help.
However, in this extremely complicated and chaotic time, even if it was a call from his old superior, Tao Ju would be frightened when he received it.
Zou Fang's voice sounded normal: "You're not in the camp?"
"Well, something happened."
"There's something going on here, so I want you to go back to camp."
The word "give" is very subtle.
Tao Ju subconsciously trembled, and the last bit of luck was gone, and he refused directly: "Captain Zou, something happened at my house last night..."
He originally wanted to use the fact that his mother's home in the "Orange Palace" was blown up as an excuse, but after thinking about it, he felt it was meaningless, so he changed it to a sigh halfway, with a little ridiculous smile:
"It's been really bad lately, so I decided to invite a god to come back and take care of the house. It's going through a lot of trouble right now."
"Did you drink too much at noon?"
"Maybe."
Tao Ju felt like he was talking drunkenly.
Zou Fang's tone became stern: "I didn't bargain with you. There is something going on in the camp now. If I ask you to come back, you can come back, otherwise you will bear the consequences!"
This was the rhythm of hanging up the phone. However, there seemed to be a little noise over there. After half a second, Zou Fang answered stiffly:
"Where are you now?"
Tao Ju took a shallow breath, looked around, and laughed dumbly: "I don't know where I am."
"I heard there's a lot of noise over there, on the mountain?"
"...Sort of."
As soon as he finished speaking, the person on the other end hung up the phone.
Tao Ju grinned and shook his head. Zou Fang's reasoning was very far-fetched. How could he say that he was on the mountain just because of the "strong wind"? Obviously, Zou Fang was most likely reminding him that he had been located, at least by
Positioned within a certain area.
The little "noise" in the phone call also proved that someone was watching Zou Fang.
Tao Ju was not surprised at all by this point, which was in line with his expectations.
……nonsense.
In fact, Tao Ju was very panicked. His heart was beating in his chest, and he almost lifted off the soaked and slumped military uniform.
Perhaps until now, Wu Sigong has not really spoken, but there must have been all-out efforts to arrest him, confirm his charges, and avenge Wu Sigong, who is most likely still lying in the hospital struggling for his life.
.
Maybe Wu Sigong himself, plus his mother, may not have the strength to cover the whole city, but at this stage, there should be many people who will come forward to help: solving a "remnant of the previous dynasty" is nothing, maybe it can be done
How about helping Wu to govern smoothly?
Especially when Mrs. Zuo has not expressed her attitude yet.
The news that he rested at Mrs. Zuo's place yesterday... well, this morning may not be spread.
Thinking of this, Tao Ju wanted to slap himself again. Why did he forget to take the initiative to release this news?
The conversation I just had with Zou Fang was originally the best opportunity to speak out in a logical manner and make many people wary.
But what was he thinking?
With such a card as Mrs. Zuo, he actually held it in his hand and did not play it out!
Tao Ju clenched his fist and hammered his eyebrows. He was thinking: Although he was worried about Mrs. Zuo's attitude that was not completely clear yet, in essence, he probably paid too much attention to Tang Li and was full of "risk hedging" and "sincerity leads to success".
Ridiculous idea, but in the end, he suppressed the real big cards in his hand. The card path was blocked and he could not play out...
Why have I gone crazy, what kind of evil have I possessed?
If he hadn't been possessed by evil spirits, he wouldn't have come to the mountains and made himself so miserable.
Tao Ju plucked at his soaked hair, almost water dripping from his hands.
He looked at his address book again, thinking about whether to remedy the situation, and quickly made a few phone calls to brag about the situation after leaving Mrs. Zuo this morning. But negative and pessimistic thoughts soon took over:
It's useless, his network of connections is simply not enough to get the news out in time.
Moreover, if Zuo Taizhen wanted to protect him at all costs, he would not let others pass the pressure to Zou Fang.
Well, whether he can go in and out of Mrs. Zuo's residence normally, visit his mother, and maintain family harmony is also a test for Mrs. Zuo.
Not to mention, Wu Sigong has now used technical means to search for his location and knows that he is in the mountainous area, and there is a mobile defense force that they can mobilize. At this time, he makes a few more calls and basically
It's like surrendering and getting the goods delivered to your door.
So damn...
Tao Ju was cursing and was about to turn off his phone first.
But at this time, he noticed the strange number that had called this morning, and he hesitated in his heart: What if Pava called at this time? The "little devil" is by his side, which is unpredictable, but he is not here all the time.
Around me, the consequences are really terrible.
Tao Ju has never missed Pava as much as he does now.
In the end, Tao Ju still didn't turn off his phone.
He just gritted his teeth for no apparent reason, forced himself to forget about the phone call, and continued to walk arduously in the mountain forest covered with mosquitoes and spider webs.
After all, it is in the mountains. As Zou Fang heard just now, the mountain winds are gusting, and occasionally they can wash away the heat around them, bringing with them the sound of branches and leaves that sound like the sound of nature, and occasionally there is a little tinny sound of bells...
Ringtone?
Tao Ju was stunned for a moment, then frowned and closed his eyes, trying hard to pursue this possible guidance from somewhere and identify the origin of the tinny ringing sound. Then, he went against the wind and headed in the direction he had barely confirmed.
After struggling for about twenty minutes, my feet seemed to be walking better.
Tao Ju basically confirmed that he probably bypassed the highway and came to a mountain road where some faint human traces could be seen. Following the path, after walking for a while, he came to some ruined wall.
This place should be an ancient Taoist and Buddhist temple. After the baptism of war and decades of vicissitudes of time, it has long been transformed into a dehumanized place. Only the bricks and stones occasionally stepped on by the feet can still see some traces of human beings.
As for the tinny ringing sound that attracted him, Tao Ju quickly discovered the source.
This is an old tree that has been around for some time. It is a large-leaved banyan tree that is common in the East 824 District. Its dense aerial roots hang down into the ground. Although it cannot reach the level of "a single tree forming a forest", it still covers the main trunk and is thick.
The side branches stretch out in all directions, forming a gorgeous canopy that blocks the sun and provides shade.
And in the lower layer of the tree canopy, at a height that is almost out of reach, there are a few variegated spots that are neither branches nor leaves. If you look closely, they should be strips of cloth. About a few decades ago, when this was still a scenic spot, some
Devoted men and women, or simply tourists, tie red cloth strips here to pray for official luck, wealth, or love to be stronger than gold.
Nowadays, the color of these cloth strips has long been washed away, and more may have been scattered into the wilderness along with the fallen branches. Only this bit remains. And under the branches and leaves of these cloth strips, within reach,
Tao Ju actually saw a bunch of metal bells.
Perhaps it was not too long since it was tied up, and it was still ringing after being corroded by wind and rain, which finally attracted Tao Ju, an infected half-mad man.
Perhaps, this can be considered fate.
Tao Ju walked around under the tree and found that the cloth strips hung on the tree were not only those whose color had been corroded by time, but also a few that were obviously newly tied in the past few years.
Obviously, in a world that has been completely dominated by the cold omnipotence of the "Reclamation Corps", there are still a very small number of people who, with a little hope or extravagant hope, place their happiness on the gods or other things.