Siheyuan (traditional courtyard house): Starting with the Korean War, returning home to take charge

The task force's office was increasingly resembling a warehouse. Lists were pinned to the walls, one after another, stretching from the doorway to the window; some names were circled in red, others marked with a black cross. Li Jianguo was hunched over a large map, a red pen in his hand, drawing from Beijing to Shanghai, from Shanghai to Guangzhou, and then from Guangzhou to the Northeast. When He Yuzhu pushed open the door, Li Jianguo was staring intently at a newly drawn red circle on the map.

"Old Li, I have something to tell you."

Li Jianguo didn't look up; he simply tapped the red circle with the tip of his pen. "Speak."

He Yuzhu pulled the list from his pocket and placed it on the table. The edges of the pages were frayed from his handling, and the creases were almost worn through. "Things haven't been peaceful at the research institute lately. Posters and bricks have arrived. I'm afraid they'll target people next."

Li Jianguo then put down his pen and picked up the list, flipping through it slowly. He paused after each page, his thumb tracing the names. "What do you want to do?"

"Rename the special operations team to the Science and Technology Protection Team. Keep it secret and protect key research institutions and personnel."

Li Jianguo put down the list, stood up, and walked to the window. The sky outside was hazy and gray. On the rooftop across the street, someone was collecting blankets, patting them a few times, and dust swirled in the light. He stood there for a moment, then turned around. "I'll talk to the higher-ups. This needs approval; we can't do it ourselves."

He picked up the phone, his finger hesitated on the dial pad before dialing again. He Yuzhu heard a muffled voice coming from the receiver; he couldn't make out the content, but he could sense the other person's hesitation. Li Jianguo held the receiver and said a few words, "Yes," "That's right," "He suggested it," his voice very low. After hanging up, he didn't turn around immediately, but stood with his back to He Yuzhu for a while.

"There are concerns from above." He turned around, his expression unreadable. "They're afraid that making too much noise will cause trouble."

He Yuzhu didn't reply. He stared at the lists on the wall, each name followed by its work unit and position, densely packed like ants crawling on paper. Some of these people had already been arrested, while others were still outside. Pu Zheng was in Hong Kong, holding a final list of 1,200 people. Those people were still waiting, waiting for the signal for a "counter-offensive." Those outside shouting slogans, those posting big-character posters, didn't know that behind their shouts, there was an even larger net waiting to be drawn in.

"I told them, those people can't wait." Li Jianguo sat down in his chair and pushed the list forward. "If anything happens to the people on the list, who will be responsible?" He paused. "They agreed later. The special forces team will be under your command, not disclosed to the public, and will operate covertly."

He Yuzhu put the list away and tucked it into his pocket. "Thank you, Lao Li."

Li Jianguo waved his hand, then leaned back onto the map and retraced the circle in red. "Don't thank me. Keeping an eye on those people is more important than anything else."

He Yuzhu walked out of the task force office, stood at the door, and looked at the gray sky. The wind blew in from the alley entrance, carrying a dusty smell, and made a few rotten leaves at the base of the wall swirl around. He put his hands in his pockets, the keys inside digging into his palms, feeling heavy.

Yang Xiaobing was waiting in the car, the window rolled down halfway, and cigarette ash was flicked outside the door, piling up in a small heap. When he saw He Yuzhu come out, he put out his cigarette and looked at him in the rearview mirror.

"Commander, how is it?"

He Yuzhu opened the car door and got in. "Approved. The special forces team will be renamed the Technology Protection Team. You'll lead the team and be responsible for protecting the people on the list."

Yang Xiaobing started the car, but didn't leave immediately. He took out the list from his pocket and glanced at it. Qian Lao, Yuan Lao, Lin Jianguo, Ma Yuejin… He folded the list, stuffed it into his inner pocket, and patted it. "Quite a few people. I'll go back and make a schedule."

The car turned out of the alley and headed towards the research institute. He Yuzhu leaned back in his seat, looking out the window. The streets were getting busier, bicycles jingled, and breakfast stalls steamed. Some people stood under utility poles reading big-character posters, carrying schoolbags, as if rushing to work. He glanced at them and then looked away. His keys were digging into his pocket, so he shifted his position.

Yang Xiaobing's shifts were scheduled quickly. That very evening, he and his men staked out the entrance of the research institute. Four men, dressed in plainclothes, huddled against the wall, one of them holding a cigarette, unlit. He Yuzhu could see their shadows from his office window, blending into the darkness against the wall, barely noticeable unless one looked closely.

The next morning, several people arrived. He Yuzhu heard the noise outside his office, went to the window, and pulled the curtains open a crack. Three men and one woman, dressed in work clothes with red armbands on their arms, entered. The leader was a fat man with a flushed face and a loud voice that could be heard halfway down the street.

"You capitalist roaders in power! You tech-savvy capitalist roaders! Hand over the stolen goods in the archives!"

The people behind them joined in the shouting, each one louder than the last, but it quickly became chaotic, with some shouting this and others shouting that. A crowd gathered at the entrance of the research institute; some watched the spectacle, some walked away with their heads down, and some stood at a distance pointing and whispering.

The fat man walked to the front gate and reached out to push the iron gate. Yang Xiaobing stood up from the wall and blocked the doorway.

The fat man stopped and looked him up and down. "Who are you? Which unit are you from?"

Yang Xiaobing didn't say anything, he just looked at him.

The fat man raised his voice again. "Get out of the way! We're here on a mission!"

Yang Xiaobing remained silent, then pulled the dagger from his waist. He didn't draw it, but held it in his hand, scabbard and all, slowly twirling it in his palm. The scabbard gleamed, flashing briefly in the sunlight.

The fat man's voice caught in his throat. He took half a step back, his eyes fixed on the dagger.

"What...what do you want to do?"

Yang Xiaobing tucked the dagger back into his waistband and stepped aside. Not to make way, but to clear the space in front of the doorway where the person was still blocking the way.

"This is a key national research institution; unauthorized personnel are not permitted entry."

The fat man swallowed hard and glanced back. The men behind him had long since stopped shouting and were huddled in the back; two of them had turned away, pretending to look elsewhere. The fat man's face flushed even redder. He opened his mouth to say something, but no word came out.

"Go!" He tossed his hand, turned, and walked away. After a few steps, he stopped, turned back, and pointed at Yang Xiaobing. "You wait!"