Chapter 88: Secret Plan_1

Jiang Yu was quite interested in another speculation by the researchers: could "Black Square" be a kind of special life form?

This speculation arose because many had noticed that seeing Black Square and being within a certain range around it gave a mysterious feeling, as if "Black Square" were a living entity.

However, researchers had used instruments to detect its surroundings and found no special bioelectric signals, leading most to believe it was an illusion created during the shock.

Yet a few people believed that "Black Square" might be a type of life form we currently don't understand, and we just haven't figured out a way to communicate with it.

Another speculative direction was that "Black Square" was a highly intelligent artificial product that had gone dormant for unknown reasons underneath the Gobi Desert.

In some ways, it should also be regarded as a life form.

This speculation seemed quite whimsical and too detached from reality, after all, how should humanity understand "Black Square" as a type of life form?

But Jiang Yu preferred this speculation and encouraged everyone to let their imaginations run wild since the clues were so sparse.

However, once new clues were found, they were to pull back and focus on the objective evidence.

After keeping Jiang Yu and Chang Weisi in the camp for several days, Chief Ji finally came to take them back.

On the helicopter ride back, the three discussed the issues surrounding "Black Square" again, as well as the increasingly intense escapist mentality.

During the conversation, they quickly returned to the military airport and transferred to a large airplane to head back to Beijing.

Once the military plane entered its designated route, Chief Ji suddenly became serious, "Bringing you to see 'Black Square' was not for entertainment; it was a test by the central authorities for you."

Jiang Yu was startled and did not immediately understand what this was all about.

However, Chang Weisi immediately sat up straight and became serious as well.

Chief Ji took out an elegantly crafted rectangular iron box from his briefcase, with a chic combination lock at the opening, revealing an industrial aesthetic.

He checked his watch and then entered a string of passwords.

Jiang Yu guessed that the password changed with time.

But whether Chief Ji remembered multiple passwords or had some other cue, that was unknown.

Inside the iron box were two documents which Chief Ji handed to Jiang Yu and Chang Weisi: "Your reactions after seeing 'Black Square' and your actions over the past few days prove that you are capable of carrying out the mission that will be assigned to you.

"The new mission is highly confidential. The document cannot be copied and there is only one original.

"Understand it thoroughly and return it to me immediately. Do not reveal or hint at its contents to anyone under any circumstances!"

Upon receiving the document, Jiang Yu was taken aback: "Is that really necessary?"

No matter the secret, if it was exposed under Sophon's surveillance, it was no longer a secret.

"Yes!" Chief Ji replied, "You might not know that along with the Wallfacer Project, the deception plan that started has already achieved certain results before the formal establishment of the plan group.

"Although it can't deceive the Trisolarans yet, it has found ways to avoid letting the Trisolarans use our own people to harm us.

"The method is actually quite simple: pose as ETO, spread some designed opinions, then expose these opinions, creating an image of ETO as the instigators and deceivers of the public.

"After a few times, the public will no longer believe the propaganda spread by ETO, and will have doubts about the information passed directly by the Trisolarans using Sophons."

Jiang Yu laughed, "What if ETO revealed the process of forming this strategy to everyone?"

He wasn't worried about the Trisolarans playing tricks; they have been exerting pressure on all of humanity through their strategy of not communicating with any humans.

"Since when did you have this illusion that ETO could already call the shots in the media?" Chief Ji said:

"PDC has specifically established a department to be ready for any propaganda attacks from ETO at all times.

"At the same time, we have also made full preparations for public relations. If ETO dares to disclose this scheme, they will step into a well-designed trap.

"When it comes to the war of public opinion, ETO is no match for the vigilant governments of the world!"

Chief Ji briefly described the specific operations to counter the ETO's rhetoric, such as using the same footage, but with completely different audio.

Then, they would "arrest" a few more ETO members and have them "confess" to the "fabrication" of the video as a criminal act.

Even if ETO exposed the footage of the PDC staff dubbing, there were further countermeasures in place.

There were many professionals (Jiang Yu later learned they were mostly reporters from gossip publications) eager and waiting to slam ETO, hoping ETO would make a move.

Chief Ji also explained that the government had made some preparations before digging into "Dark Forest."

It was quite extreme to expose a video of interrogating ETO members on legal news broadcasts.

According to what the ETO members "confessed," they planned to use the secluded environment of China's Western Region to fabricate a special effects short film and an incredible story that would plunge the world into chaos again.

Jiang Yu then remembered that he had glanced over this news on his phone before.

But at the time, he didn't take it to heart, thinking it was indeed the uncovering of an ETO conspiracy, as there were news reports catching ETO members almost daily during that period.

LIttle did he know it was actually the preliminary preparation for excavating "Dark Forest," and Jiang Yu then wondered if the recent flurry of news about ETO was all in preparation for some project or plan?

Of all the news he saw on a regular basis, how much of it was true?

In the face of this countermeasure against the deception scheme, ETO has not made any response so far.

After Chief Ji finished explaining this, Jiang Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief; at least humanity can keep secrets now.

Of course, there are still no secrets from the Trisolarans, but for the human world, there can now be secrets, which is a huge strategic breakthrough.

With this thought, Jiang Yu smiled knowingly and lowered his head to look at the documents.

The title of the document was: Star Warrior Project (Confidential Part, also referred to as Super Soldier Project).

Continuing to read, Jiang Yu became increasingly parched; the plan was to construct a secret base in the Great Northwest and use scientific means to cultivate "Super Soldiers."

The primary methods were Genetic Modification, acquired enhancement, and intelligence augmentation, among others, attempting to create super soldiers who could play a sufficient role in the final battle of the apocalypse, or fight the last battle with the Trisolarans on Earth!

To avoid social and ethical resistance, all test subjects would be clones created in labs.

This secret base would be a top-secret facility, with all documents permanently confidential and never to be disclosed to human society!

As he read on, Jiang Yu's excitement turned to heaviness, and his eyes moistened.

He felt as if he saw the warriors fighting bravely against the invaders on the land of Huaxia, outgunned but undeterred. Without cannons, the enemy could hide in a small bunker and have their way with them.

Even a 60mm cannon, no, a 50mm, even a 45mm cannon, would not be stymied by such crude concrete construction.

He felt as if he saw the warriors fighting against the enemy in the snow, braving the blizzards, chewing on frozen clumps of potatoes.

If only their equipment had been half as advanced as the enemy's then, there would be no South Korea in the world today.

What could be done? If your equipment is inferior, you have to pay with lives!

Jiang Yu wiped the corner of his eye, feeling the few pages in his hand were incredibly heavy.

This was humanity's resolve to fight to the death, an ethos to shatter rather than be whole in submission!