The helicopter formation crossed mountains and forests, and after about two hours, they arrived at a midway supply station located around Feng City.
This supply station was about the size of an ordinary primary school, with only three three-story buildings. There was a large open space, marked with lime for helicopter landing points, and army training grounds, all clearly demarcated and not interfering with each other.
Before the helicopters even landed, a large group of fully armed soldiers had already gathered around the area.
Lin Yuan observed carefully. The one leading them was a man with slightly graying hair, probably in his fifties or sixties, dressed in a smart Zhongshan suit. His demeanor was like a sleeping tiger – calm yet formidable.
At this moment, the small broadcast inside the cabin sounded.
"Attention comrades, we will be refueling and conducting mechanical checks at the Feng City supply station. The duration will be approximately 20 minutes. During this time, you may rest or engage in other activities under the escort of the stationed officers and soldiers.
You will be notified when it is time to board and take off."
After the broadcast ended, the helicopter landed steadily in its designated spot.
"Comrades, disembark!", Lin Yuan was the first to jump off the helicopter, catching the children with both hands and helping them down one by one.
The officers and soldiers at the supply station also came to help the team members disembark.
"Comrade Lin Yuan." Ying Tianlong recognized that the first person to disembark was Lin Yuan and had also learned who each of the 56 people were from Liu Tianyun.
Hearing someone call his name, Lin Yuan handed over the task of receiving the children to Wu Tian. As he turned around, he saw the fifty to sixty-year-old man he had spotted on the helicopter, extending his right hand towards him.
Exchanging a polite handshake, Lin Yuan asked, "I am. May I ask who you are?"
"I am Ying Tianlong, Minister of the Intelligence Department of the Tianfu Security Zone, Shuzhou. A pleasure to meet you."
"It's my honor."
After a few pleasantries, Ying Tianlong shook hands with Jiang Ziqi and Wu Tian, lamenting, "I am truly sorry, Comrade Lin Yuan. During the encirclement by the ten thousand zombies before, the assistance we could provide was limited. Fortunately, you managed to hold on. Otherwise, with my old bones, I would have no face to see my ancestors even in death."
Lin Yuan knew that Ying Tianlong's words were largely for Jiang Ziqi, but he was still quite touched. After all, the country was genuinely trying to help them.
They couldn't just abandon the tens of thousands of compatriots in the security zone, could they?
"It's alright, Minister Ying. We understand. We are already immensely grateful that you rescued us beforehand. If we were to express dissatisfaction, what about the other compatriots still struggling in the infected zones? Are they not to live?"
"It's best that you think that way. After refueling and completing the inspections, I will return to the security zone with you, and then I will send Comrade Jiang Ziqi to the 003 aircraft carrier. You guys..."
"Minister Ying, how will I get to the aircraft carrier? Can I stay in the security zone for a few more days? I want to spend time with Brother Lin Yuan and the others." Jiang Ziqi suddenly said.
His interruption didn't anger Ying Tianlong at all. Instead, he smiled and said, "Little Comrade Jiang, our security zone will arrange a transport plane to send you to the Liaozhou Peninsula Military Security Zone. The Leader will meet you first, and then you will be escorted by carrier-based helicopters to the aircraft carrier to cooperate with researchers.
The research content is top secret, so I cannot disclose it. However, rest assured, you will not be mistreated in any way, and your room on the aircraft carrier has already been prepared. You can inform the staff of any needs you have. You can also contact your teammates through our encrypted channel once a week, as long as you don't discuss classified information. Just chat about everyday life.
You can also go to the deck every day to dance or fish. Military observation satellites and three carrier strike groups will provide you with constant escort.
As for the duration of your stay in the security zone, I cannot confirm. If the weather is good, you will go directly to the Liaozhou Military Security Zone today. If the weather is bad, it is possible you will stay in the security zone for two or three days. I cannot make this decision, so please understand."
Hearing Ying Tianlong say so much, almost all of it considering his own well-being, Jiang Ziqi didn't say anything more, just responded with an "Oh."
He then hid behind Lin Yuan and whispered to Wu Tian.
However, regarding what Ying Tianlong said, Lin Yuan had a question: "Minister Ying, you said Ziqi can contact us weekly. Aren't you afraid of revealing her location?"
Revealing her location?
That was impossible. The country's latest research communication system was astonishingly secure. How to put it? This technology was such that even if the authorities posted it online, it would only be this sentence:
"A certain laboratory has been inaugurated in Beijing for experimental research."
Or even simpler:
"Too advanced to display."
He thought this in his mind but didn't explain it clearly, merely saying, "Rest assured, there is a specialized department of the state responsible for maintenance and security. That's the level of advancement."
Lin Yuan understood instantly from his thumbs-up and stopped asking further questions.
"If all three carrier battle groups are deployed, what about the remaining sea areas?"
This time, Ying Tianlong laughed even louder, patting Lin Yuan on the shoulder, "Comrade Lin Yuan, you are still young. You understand sharing everything. Our country is certainly different. Our trump cards are still well-preserved in a top-secret port."
"Hiss~" Lin Yuan gasped, and cautiously asked, "Apples or strawberries?"
Ying Tianlong first looked left and right, confirming that no one was paying attention, and whispered, "Apples and strawberries, two bags. They were picked and stored recently, guaranteed to be sweet!"
Lin Yuan was speechless and could only raise his thumbs, thinking to himself:
"Impressive, truly impressive."
Now Lin Yuan was completely at ease and chatted more with Ying Tianlong, about everything under the sun, past and present.
Ying Tianlong also revealed his childlike demeanor at this moment, laughing heartily. He also told Lin Yuan about the dangers and excitement of his younger days when he was clearing ice and fighting evil. Later, when he joined China's intelligence department, he was a frontline operative, living on thin ice every day.
"...Little Comrade Yuan, you have no idea how nervous I was back then. I thought, if I die, I die. It would be a quick end. But that dagger grazed my heart directly, and it wasn't even poisoned!
And the corpse of the foreign spy was lying next to me, its bloody head with eyes staring straight at me, no different from the demons in their hell. It was disgusting.
If I wasn't dead, I definitely wanted to live. My back and hands were covered in stab wounds. I lay on the ground, not daring to breathe, my back wounds stuck together with blood, and I didn't dare to move, fearing that any touch would cost me the life I had barely salvaged. The doctors and nurses who came to rescue me also dared not act.
Fortunately, a big shot from the military hospital came later. His hands, wow, were hundreds of times steadier than any machine. He performed surgery on me on the spot, removed the dagger, and stitched it up perfectly, leaving no after-effects.
It's a pity that the old gentleman passed away the year before last, and I never visited him even a few times. Ah."
Speaking of his last battle before retiring to the second line, Ying Tianlong's aura shifted, as if the sleeping tiger had opened its eyes. Lin Yuan, just hearing these fragments, could imagine how fierce the combat must have been.