The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

Holding Tian Tian in his arms, Liang Zhe could feel his daughter's body trembling slightly with fear. Looking at the approaching sandstorm, he made up his mind. He handed Tian Tian to the guard beside him: "Take Tian Tian back to the camp and entrust her to Comrade Li Guihua's care. Make sure she is safe."

"Daddy!" Sweetie struggled to reach out her little hand, trying to grab him.

"Listen to me!" Liang Zhe's voice was firm and unwavering, yet tender. "Dad will definitely come back safely." He then turned to the crowd and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, install sand and dust barriers on the vehicles. Soldiers, put on your protective gear. We'll split into two teams—one team will come with me to rescue the comrades stuck in the vehicle, and the second team will stay on the perimeter to build temporary shelters and be ready to provide support at any time!"

The order was given, and the soldiers immediately sprang into action. Moments later, three trucks, with only basic protection, drove out of the base gate again, heading towards the center of the sandstorm.

Less than a kilometer into the journey, a sandstorm swept in. The howling wind resembled the roar of a wild beast, and the vast expanse of yellow sand blotted out the sun, reducing visibility to less than a meter in an instant. The truck's windshield was pelted by the sand and gravel, and the vehicle shook violently in the gale, as if it might be overturned at any moment.

"Commander, the wind is too strong, the car is completely unstable!" The driver gripped the steering wheel tightly, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his voice hoarse from the effort.

"Slow down, follow the tire tracks!" Liang Zhe shouted, gripping the side of the carriage to steady himself. "Everyone, hold on to something stable and be careful!"

Inside the wagon, the soldiers clung tightly to each other's arms, forming a human wall to withstand the fierce wind. Yellow sand seeped in through the gaps in the wagon, stinging their faces, and their mouths and noses were filled with the rough feel of sand and gravel, making even breathing difficult.

After being tossed about in the sandstorm for an unknown amount of time, faint shouts finally came from ahead. Liang Zhe immediately signaled the driver to stop, opened the door, and jumped out. A sudden gust of wind enveloped him, nearly knocking him to the ground. He steadied himself against the truck, squinting to make out his surroundings, and finally saw in a sand pit not far away that the truck, half-buried in yellow sand, had its cargo bed filled with soldiers huddled together at the bottom of the truck bed, protecting themselves from the sandstorm.

"We're here!" Liang Zhe shouted, running towards the truck against the strong wind. The soldiers behind him also jumped off the truck and followed.

"Commander Liang!" The soldiers trapped in the vehicle saw the rescue team and their eyes lit up with hope. They struggled to stand up, but the strong wind pushed them back to their original positions.

"Don't move!" Liang Zhe climbed to the side of the truck and shouted orders, "Everyone move to sheltered place first! Song Dazhuang, you take a few people and build a temporary shelter with planks and canvas; the rest of you come with me, use ropes to secure the truck and try to pull it out!"

However, the power of the gale far exceeded expectations. The newly erected canvas was instantly torn apart by the wind, and the ropes were blown into a tangled mess. Several soldiers tried to push the truck together, but it was like ants trying to shake a tree. Not only did they fail to move the truck, but they also got sand and dust in their eyes and almost fell over.

"No, this can't go on!" Liang Zhe wiped the yellow sand from his face, his heart filled with anxiety. He looked up at the horizon; the sandstorm showed no signs of abating. If this stalemate continued, everyone would be in danger.

Just then, a soldier suddenly shouted, "Commander, the tires! The tires are going to burst!"

Liang Zhe looked down and saw that the left front wheel, stuck in the sand pit, had its tire sidewall slightly bulged due to prolonged stress and friction from the sand and wind, and was at risk of bursting at any moment. If the tire burst, the truck would be completely stuck there, with no chance of getting out.

"Abandon the tow truck!" Liang Zhe made a decisive decision. "Everyone evacuate immediately, take the essential supplies, and come with me back to the temporary shelter!"

The soldiers didn't dare delay and immediately sprang into action, quickly transferring the important equipment and supplies from the truck. Just as the last soldier was leaving the truck, a loud "bang" rang out, the left front tire completely burst, and the truck sank even further, soon being mostly buried by the yellow sand.

Supporting each other, the group struggled to move towards the makeshift shelter in the howling wind. Liang Zhe brought up the rear, constantly counting heads to make sure no one was left behind. The sand and dust blinded him, and he could only move forward by feel. His military uniform was already soaked through with yellow sand, feeling as heavy as lead.

Finally, they arrived at the makeshift shelter. Although rudimentary, it at least provided some protection from the sandstorm. The soldiers collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, their faces and bodies covered in yellow sand, looking exactly like "earth people."

Liang Zhe leaned against the shed wall, took out his water bottle, and took a sip, which slightly relieved the dryness in his throat. He looked at the sandstorm still raging outside, his brow furrowed. This rescue operation had not only failed to bring back the stuck vehicle and supplies, but had also put everyone in danger. More importantly, it made him realize even more deeply that without a decent road, any action in this desert was utterly impossible.

"Commander, look!" a soldier suddenly pointed outside the shed.

Liang Zhe looked in the direction he pointed and saw several car lights flickering faintly in the sandstorm in the distance, slowly approaching them.

"The comrades from the second team have come to meet us!" Song Dazhuang shouted excitedly.

Just as Liang Zhe's mind settled, his brows involuntarily furrowed. He had a premonition that the convoy contained not only rescue workers, but also someone he was even more concerned about.

Sure enough, as soon as the car came to a stop, a small figure pushed open the driver's side door and jumped out impatiently.

Fortunately, a soldier nearby scooped him up with a wave of his hand.

But then the voice rang out clearly, "Dad!"

Sweetie followed along as expected.

Just then, an even more violent sandstorm swept in, instantly turning the world into a dark yellow, obscuring the view of anyone just a few steps away. The wind howled like ghosts, stinging the face.

"Don't come any closer!" Liang Zhe roared at the direction of the vehicle, but his voice was quickly carried away by the strong wind and could not be heard at all.

"Daddy!" Sweetie was frantically moving around in the driver's seat. She could tell that the wind shelter was no match for the strong winds. If her fathers were still trapped here, they would be in danger!

"Sweetie, don't move!" The soldier in the driver's cab saw that the little girl was about to cry, and the soldiers guarding outside were also in a precarious situation. If they didn't come up with a solution soon, the consequences would be unimaginable.

He steeled himself, grabbed his coat and tied it around Tian Tian's head, then hugged the child tightly, gritted his teeth, and pushed open the car door.

A sudden gust of violent wind swept over them, nearly blowing them off.

"Hold on tight to your uncle!" the soldier shouted, then jumped off the vehicle. The sand and wind instantly swallowed up the two figures.