Mysterious Signal 050

  When Luo Yi and others returned to Pukou, the owner of the small firewheel had already completed the loading and unloading of goods and was waiting for their return. However, since Luo Yi and others paid enough shipping costs, the owner did not complain about their delay and set sail as soon as they returned.

  He Jichun had returned long ago, and he didn't mention a word about his trip to Nanjing. Luo Yi also didn't ask much. Everyone has their own secrets, after all. It's not convenient to pry into others' business when you've just met. He Jichun took an interest in Zhou Xiying, whom Luo Yi had brought back with him. After listening to Luo Yi's introduction, he gave Zhou a few math problems to test her. He found that although she hadn't learned much math, her logical thinking ability was very strong. With just a little guidance, she could use the knowledge she already possessed to solve relatively complex problems.

  "This kid is a math prodigy, Old Brother Luo, you've brought him out and done a good deed indeed." He Jichun said with emotion. The small paddle steamer was currently sailing on the Yangtze River, he and Luo Yi stood at the side of the boat chatting.

  Luo Yi said: "I'm afraid that after bringing him back to Jiangxi, there won't be a good teacher to teach him, and the material will go to waste."

  He Jichun thought for a moment and said, "I have a lot of official business to attend to every day. Otherwise, I would put him by my side and let him receive some education in Shanghai, which might be better for him. How about this? You leave me an address, I have several good math textbooks here, I'll think of a way to send them to you later."

  Luo Yi asked with interest: "Brother He, are you also interested in mathematics usually? Nowadays, there are really few people who study mathematics."

  He Jichun said: "It's just a hobby. Mathematics is a kind of brain exercise, and for those who are interested, its appeal is no less than listening to opera. When I was young, I had the guidance of a famous teacher for a period of time, and I had some preference for mathematics. However, now that I'm busy making a living every day, I don't have time to look at it again."

  "Alas, when will the country be able to settle down and establish an academy of sciences, treating those interested in mathematics as national treasures? Perhaps then the Chinese people can solve the Goldbach conjecture."

  He Jichun exclaimed in surprise: "Lao Di actually knows about Goldbach's conjecture? This is a very esoteric thing."

  Luo Yi awkwardly chuckled, actually Chinese people know about the Goldbach conjecture mostly because of Chen Jingrun, but this reason probably can't be explained to He Jichun, because at that time, Chen Jingrun had just been born.

  He Jichun didn't mean to ask further, but followed Luo Yi's words and said: "Yes, when can the country finally stabilize? Today's China is plagued by internal worries and external troubles, with deep-seated disasters."

  "Does He Ge have some understanding of the Japanese people's movements since he works in a government department?"

  He Jichun hesitated for a moment and asked in return: "How did Luo's younger brother think of asking this question?"

  "I heard the boss's wife say that Zhou Xi's parents were killed by Japanese bombs during the January 28 Incident. Although the January 28 Incident has ended with the mediation of the great powers, Japan's ambition to destroy China is still not dead. Between China and Japan, there will inevitably be a battle sooner or later. Brother He works in the government, doesn't the government have any preparations for this?"

  He Ji-chun said: "As far as I know, the chairman has never forgotten the threat from Japan for a moment. It's just that our national strength is too weak and China does not have the power to engage in an all-out war with Japan at present. The chairman's strategy is to seek stability first, accumulate strength, and await the final decisive battle. Now I'm afraid time is running out, the Japanese have been active in North China for the past two years, becoming more and more reckless. Who knows when the war will come to China?"

  Luo Yi heard He Jichun's words and gazed out at the vast river, suddenly feeling a surge of emotions, and couldn't help but burst into song:

  "Wolf smoke rises, looking north at the rivers and mountains"

  The dragon rises and rolls up, the horse neighs loudly, the sword energy is like frost.

  My heart is like the boundless waters of the Yellow River

  Twenty years, in the midst of turmoil, who can resist?

  Fierce desire goes mad, wherever the long sword points

  How many loyal souls and bones were buried in foreign lands?

  Die a hundred times for the sake of one's country

  Sighing in regret, speechless, with tears of blood filling my eyes

  A horse's hoof prints lead south, while people gaze northward.

  A man stands northward, grass is green and yellow, dust flies high

  I am willing to defend our territory and reclaim our lost lands

  China should let all directions be majestic

  Come to congratulate...

  A song "Jing Zhong Bao Guo" was sung with great strength and vigor, Zeng Shan and Yuan Jing rushed out of the cabin and stood behind Luo Yi to listen. After Luo Yi finished singing, Zeng Shan applauded first, while Yuan Jing stood still, savoring the meaning of the lyrics. He Ji Chun also clapped twice and asked:

  "Old Luo, I've never heard this song before, it sounds really great, what's the name of it?"

  Luo Yi said: "This song is called 'Faithful Loyalty to the Country', just now He brother mentioned the country's internal and external troubles, I couldn't help but think of Yue Fei's heroic deeds against the Jin. We men, born in times of national crisis, should be like our predecessors, willing to die for the country without regret, and be faithful to the nation."

  He Ji-chun praised: "Lao Di, it's rare for you to have such ambition. If the Chinese nation has tens of millions of hot-blooded men like you, what can a small Japan do to me?"

  Luo Yi took the opportunity to ask: "He brother, I'd like to consult with you on something. If a full-scale war really breaks out between China and Japan, I plan to organize my fellow villagers to form a militia to participate in the resistance. What do you think the government's attitude will be?"

  He Jichun was taken aback again and said, "Lao Di, I'm guessing you've already formed your own team, right? Your several followers seem to be quite skilled in martial arts, and their movements look like they've received regular military training, not like ordinary village guards."

  Luo Yi burst out laughing and said, "Brother He indeed has a good eye for things. These brothers of mine have indeed received formal military training. However, currently we are only protecting our homeland, to put it bluntly, just defending our home and garden. In the future if the country is in trouble, I think we will be responsible as ordinary citizens, but I don't know if the government will accept us."

  He Jichun said: "I think the government should not oppose such things. Luo, since you have this heart, I can help you pay attention to it. I also have some friends in the military, maybe next time we can contact them and see which troops to join."

  Luo Yi actually just wanted to understand the government's attitude towards private armed forces from He Jichun's mouth. After crossing over, he had only dealt with Tang Yuanpu and didn't know any other government officials. He Jichun was a capable and experienced person, probably an important figure in a key government department, so Luo Yi also intentionally wanted to hear his views.

  The two of them chatted again, and the sky gradually darkened. The small steamer slowly left the main channel and docked near the shore. In this era, there were no navigation lights on the Yangtze River, and sailing at night was very unsafe. The place where the small steamer was moored had already anchored several ships. Everyone's boats were not far apart, with the intention of being able to respond to each other at night.

  Laijialin has already shouted for everyone to eat, and Luo Yi and He Jichun turned around and walked towards the cabin. Just as they took a step out, He Jichun suddenly stopped and listened with his ear tilted, asking Luo Yi: "Luo brother, did you hear any sound?"

  Lu Yi also listened carefully, the main engine of the small steamer had stopped, and the surroundings were very quiet. Lu Yi faintly heard a faint sound coming from not far away: Tick-tock tick-tock... The place where the sound was coming from was a motor sailboat not far from the small steamer.

  "Is that... the sound of a telegram?" Luo Yi said. Of course, this was a sound Luo Yi had never heard in real life, but he had heard it countless times in movies - it was indeed the sound of sending a telegram. But on this river surface, who would be sending a telegram?

  He Jichun was also asking this question, in that era, the telegraph machine was a rare thing, how could there be a telegraph machine on an ordinary sailing ship?

  "You said, could it be that there are military personnel over there?" Luo Wei muttered to himself, in his heart thinking more about the melodramatic plot of a movie. If a telegram sound appeared in such a remote place, nine out of ten times it would be spies sending a message. Only now, with the Nationalist government in power, spies meant they should be Red Army intelligence personnel.

  He Jichun waved his hand, signaling Luo Yi to be quiet. He took two more steps in the direction of the telegram sound, tilted his head and listened carefully, muttering softly to himself.

  "Brother Luo, the telegram was sent by a gangster." He Jichun whispered to Luo Yi after the telegraph stopped.

  "How did you know?"

  "They were sending an open telegram, I didn't hear it clearly, but it seemed like they were demanding a ransom. From what I heard, it seemed like they had kidnapped the family member of some big shot and were using the telegram to contact this big shot, asking them to send 10 million yuan to redeem the person."

  Luo Yi's eyes widened like light bulbs: "He brother, you're too amazing, can translate the telegram just by listening to the sound? What do you do for a living?"

  He Jichun humbly said, "Nothing much, my work just happens to have something to do with the telegram business. They're sending in plain code, so I can make out a rough idea of it. If it were coded, I wouldn't be able to."

  Luo Yi didn't bother to ask any more questions, of course, he understood that if He Jichun was unwilling to talk, asking again would be futile. He said: "Brother He, what do you think should be done about this matter?"

  He Jichun said: "I think we can't just stand by and watch. Kidnapping for ransom is a serious crime, one word and it's 1 million yuan in ransom, looks like the person being held is not someone to be trifled with. We think we should immediately contact the police station and let them send police over to rescue the person?"

  Luo Yi looked at the dark riverbank under the night sky and shook his head, saying: "This is a dark and lawless place, where can we find police to go? Besides, by the time the police arrive, they might have already escaped."

  "What does Luo Lao Di mean?"

  "Let's take action and rescue them first, then we'll see. Brother He, can you estimate how many people the enemy has?"

  "Who will you go save?"

  "That's right." Luo Yi said with a smile, "Didn't Brother He say that my brother's training is solid? Let's take this opportunity to test it out."