Chapter 40: Special Branch (Request Follow-Up!)

Under the current circumstances, coming to Xiangjiang is a dangerous undertaking.

One could say that every event that happens here will, as he rises through the ranks of the American space system, be dug up and scrutinized under a microscope.

Lin Ran also did not believe that protection from the Jewish bloc would guarantee safety, nor did he think that, within NASA, relying on the Jewish bloc’s aid to oppose German Germanic scientists would make them surrender.

The “door” is a last resort, never to be used unless absolutely necessary.

If possible, Lin Ran hoped he would never need to use this ability.

Even if, after NASA’s tender approval by year’s end, he were merely a consultant for General Aerospace, he doubted he would ever be allowed to return to Xiangjiang.

At such great risk, this single opportunity to come to Xiangjiang was not merely for helping China solve a few mathematical problems.

Even if these mathematical problems were crucial to China’s current situation, even if the mathematical methods behind them could be applied to the future design of China’s intercontinental missiles, turning the DF-1 from an experimental prototype into a practical weapon.

If that were all, it would not justify the immense risk Lin Ran was taking.

What Lin Ran truly intended, hidden beneath layers of mathematical problems, was to preserve the seeds of China’s scientific research and establish a channel for China to communicate with foreign institutions.

You yourselves can do it too—this was the message Lin Ran truly wished to convey across the distance to Qian Lao, hoping he would make use of it.

And Qian Lao, having received professional academic training in America and once serving as director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, surely understood this.

But only with external assistance might his viewpoint find application.

Of course, Lin Ran did not know whether it would work—he hoped it would.

Yet Lin Ran would not place all his hopes on Qian Lao’s personal efforts; he had prepared his ultimate weapon, to be used before leaving Xiangjiang.

“56-6-12, 58-10-3, 59-1-3”

“56-6-12, 58-10-3, 59-1-3”

“56-6-12, 58-10-3, 59-1-3”

Chen Jingrun did not leave immediately; he sat in place, mentally repeating the numbers over and over, afraid he might forget them.

He also wondered: after last time, when Professor Lin spoke with him alone, he returned to find a father had appeared out of nowhere—would this time, after speaking with Professor Lin, he return to find a mother had appeared?

People of this era were still simple; even after so many events, Chen Jingrun never entertained thoughts of misfortune or regret for coming.

When he finally memorized them, before he could reach the lecture hall’s exit, two men in civilian clothes blocked his path—one Chinese, one white.

The young Chinese man spoke with an air of finality:

“Mr. Chen, hello. We are officers from Xiangjiang Police, specifically Special Branch. Here are our credentials. We request to inspect the materials Professor Lin gave you, to ensure they contain no sensitive content.”

Lin Ran ran over from the lecture hall stage, climbing the stairs to their side: “Gentlemen.”

This time it was the white man who spoke. The stout, pale man, utterly unlike someone suited for such work, said in fluent Chinese:

“Professor Lin, hello. I am Thomas of Special Branch. Under Section 27 of Xiangjiang’s Ordinance, we have the authority to arrest individuals suspected of endangering Xiangjiang’s security without judicial warrant.

We do not intend to take Mr. Chen away—only to inspect the materials you gave him for any concealed sensitive technical data.

This is not a lack of trust in you; consider it routine procedure. We ask your understanding.”

At this time, Special Branch held extensive authority in Xiangjiang, specializing in covert operations under direct guidance from the agency depicted in the James Bond films, including technical support and intelligence sharing.

Lin Ran stared directly at them, lips pressed tight, while flipping through the credentials they handed him. After a moment, he said: “I gave him only academic journals.”

The fat white man clasped his hands together: “Professor Lin, forgive us, but don’t make this difficult for us. You are well known in England—Her Majesty will grant you a knighthood, and the Governor will announce it at the banquet he is hosting for you. The British Empire holds you in high esteem. This is truly just routine inspection.”

Lin Ran noticed Chen Jingrun staring at him, drenched in sweat—he feared the materials contained sensitive content, and they would all be ruined.

Even through his clothes, Lin Ran could see the man’s legs tensed, ready to bolt at any moment.

Lin Ran sighed inwardly: Where could you possibly run? “Fine. This is the last time.”

The fat white man said: “Professor Lin, after this inspection, if you never give Mr. Chen any technical materials again, we will never bother him again—I give you my word!”

Lin Ran said: “Alright, Dehui, give them the materials.”

Chen Jingrun relaxed slightly, his hands trembling as he handed over the thick stack of papers.

The Chinese officer carefully examined them, while the fat white man, Thomas, pulled a handwritten tablet from his waist pouch and wrote notes while supervising.

After about twenty minutes, the Chinese officer walked over to Thomas, spoke briefly, and Thomas wrote a few more lines before turning to Lin Ran:

“Professor Lin, my colleague has reviewed the materials you gave Mr. Chen. They are all from the American Mathematical Society’s journal ‘Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics,’ containing no sensitive content.

This is my report on the sensitive material inspection. Please confirm.”

Thomas handed the report to Lin Ran, who squinted at it:

“Non-Suspect Materials Report”

No suspicious items detected.

The code on the side read: “SB/CC-Form6”

SB stood for Special Branch; CC stood for Chief Inspector. This report could only be signed by officers of Senior Inspector rank or higher.

(Note: The SB/CC-Form6 coding system was first implemented in 1963. As no earlier version exists, we use the 1963 version here—apologies for the anachronism.)

“SB/CC/1960/0715-04”

It clearly stated the subject of review, the legal basis, the inspection process, and the conclusion: “Confirmed: materials consist solely of academic journals, with no hidden codes, secret layers, or other sensitive content.”

Lin Ran finished reading and returned the report. Thomas signed it at the bottom and said: “Professor Lin, rest assured, the reason no one has disturbed you since your arrival in Xiangjiang is because we’ve kept unnecessary interference away.

I have no desire to offend you—if I did, the MPs in London would never let me live it down.

This was truly routine inspection. We ask your understanding.

Even if the materials you gave him contained sensitive content, I would only advise you to destroy them—I would never record it in this report.

Thank you for your cooperation.”

Lin Ran’s expression softened slightly. He took Thomas’s outstretched hand and gave it a perfunctory shake.

“Dehui, take them back. Remember what I told you—these materials will help your mathematical studies.”