The road back was smooth, without encountering any obstacles. They also set up many booby traps along the way.
As soon as anyone walked this path, an explosion would occur.
Of course, Lin Yuan did not want to harm innocent people and also erected a warning sign not far away.
"Danger zone ahead, passage prohibited."
Upon reaching Zeng Yilong's encampment, Lin Yuan did not enter. They parted ways at the impressive spot carved into the riverbank.
"Brother Zeng, keep in touch after you return. Call us if anything comes up."
"Understood. If anything happens to you, be sure to call us, and we'll come as fast as we can."
"Alright, we're leaving. You be careful and stay vigilant."
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!"
After bidding farewell to each other, Lin Yuan took Wu Tian and Jiang Ziqi home. Hurrying as much as possible, they managed to get back before sunset.
The team members who stayed behind were not idle. They had already moved most of the river sand and cement that afternoon. The rebar was long and heavy, so they decided to deal with it tomorrow.
Lin Yuan's first action upon returning home was to request a call to Tianfu Safety Zone via the radio.
After a dozen seconds, a response was received.
"This is Shuzhou Tianfu Safety Zone, Comrade Lin Yuan, please speak."
"Operator, I'd like to inquire about someone."
"Please proceed."
"Tang..."
"Understood, I'll help you check."
Two minutes later, the operator's clear and pleasant voice sounded in Lin Yuan's earphone again: "Comrade Lin Yuan, we have found him. After being rescued by Tianfu Safety Zone, he was appointed as the Logistics Supervisor. Two weeks ago, he was reported for various issues. Upon investigation, the evidence was conclusive, and the report was accurate. He has now been apprehended by the Tianfu Safety Zone Security Forces.
He has been sentenced to death by the Procuratorate, and the execution date has been set for September 1st."
"Understood."
"May I ask what your relationship with him is?" the operator asked with some curiosity, as this was also for the record.
The procedural flow still had to be followed; you always needed to provide a reason for inquiring about someone.
"Sworn enemy."
"It is Tianfu Safety Zone's inherent duty to uphold justice for the people. Please rest assured, justice will prevail!" Hearing that it was a sworn enemy, the operator breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried Lin Yuan might say something like he wanted to save him.
Given the importance of Lin Yuan's team now, the higher-ups might consider it. Releasing him was naturally impossible, but they might make him work from dawn till dusk for the rest of his life as a form of atonement.
"Understood! Then I won't bother you further. Everything is normal within the team, no need to worry."
"Received. By the way, Comrade Lin Yuan, there has been severe thunderstorm weather near Lin Yuan Tianfu recently. Special airdrops will be delivered tomorrow or the day after. Please wait patiently."
Lin Yuan had no objections to this news, only stating sincerely, "That's fine, please ensure the safety of the pilots."
"That is natural. In that case, this call is concluded."
"This call is concluded."
Taking off the headset, Lin Yuan smiled.
Those who deserved to die would die.
He walked out of the radio room and stretched.
Time to sleep!
They had to transport supplies tomorrow.
The Earth continued to turn, and the sun rose as usual the next day. Today, they had to transport rebar and gravel to the abandoned stronghold. As usual, everyone except those on guard duty had to participate.
From morning till night, all the rebar was moved. There was still a bit of gravel left, which would have to be moved tomorrow.
However, the repair work on the stronghold's wall was proceeding in an orderly fashion. The existing materials were sufficient to repair the wall.
Actually, not much repair was needed. The wall already had a foundation; they only needed to fill in the gaps and mend the damaged parts.
Cement was not a panacea, and rebuilding was too troublesome. Lin Yuan directly decided to build a new wall behind the old one, using rebar and concrete as materials, without a single brick. It would be narrower at the top and wider at the bottom, 20cm wide at the top and 48cm wide at the bottom.
Such a wall was more than sufficient.
In the morning of the second day, Lin Yuan and his team members carried the gravel up, basket by basket.
In a little over two days, all the materials were transported. As for the lumber, they sourced it locally; there was no shortage of wood in these mountains.
The rooms in the stronghold, after days of pest control and repairs, had been restored to a habitable state. The kitchen had been moved.
Lin Yuan and his team were currently eating.
The stove here was larger, allowing them to cook more at once. Although the meat supplies in the team were running low, and this was their last meal of canned meat, they still had many chickens, ducks, and geese at home. Coupled with daily hunting, there were countless animals in the rolling Fengming Mountain, ensuring a supply of meat and eggs.
The only difficulty was collecting milk; they would have to get some when they went searching for supplies in town later.
Chinese people must have meat, eggs, and milk!
"Lin Yuan, what are we doing this afternoon? The walls and houses have already been repaired," Wu Tian said, her words slightly slurred as she slurped her egg custard.
However, Lin Yuan's tacit understanding with her was already at its peak, so he naturally understood. He didn't rush to answer. With delicious food in front of them, it was important not to miss out. Only after scooping the last grain of rice into his mouth did Lin Yuan heave a sigh of relief.
"I'm full!" Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, he answered Wu Tian's question: "This afternoon, the new home will be left to my dad and Brother Wang. You and I will go out to find a backup camp to store supplies, and also to cut some trees to build wooden houses."
The weather was good today, and the airdrop was being transported, expected to arrive this afternoon. Lin Yuan and the others didn't know how many supplies there would be, so it was better to find a backup location to serve as a second camp sooner rather than later.
"Okay, let's head out now. The airdrop should arrive around two or three in the afternoon."
"Yes, let's go now." Lin Yuan wiped his mouth with a napkin and, along with Wu Tian, changed into their gear and set off.
This time, finding a second suitable camp, other than the caves in Longqi Mountain, had no specific destination, it was akin to patrolling the mountains. Therefore, Lin Yuan and Wu Tian were fully armed, carrying sufficient amounts of realgar powder and hand grenades.
Both the first and second camps were their future safe houses, and they had to be taken seriously.
The jungle has always been a forbidden zone for humans, and the power of nature is demonstrated in its insignificant aspects.
"Lin Yuan, how do we determine and build a safe house?" Wu Tian suddenly became curious while walking, wondering what kind of settlement could be called a safe house.
Hearing this topic, Lin Yuan also became interested and answered without much thought: "First, a safe house must possess the following conditions: First, of course, is the safety of the people within. Second, there must be sufficient reserves of supplies to sustain survival or a location capable of producing supplies. Third, there must be an emergency escape route. Fourth, there must be an early warning system. Fifth, the ability to collect or observe external information.
Therefore, the steps for building a safe house are as follows:
..."