Рай — это берег праха смертных

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A narrow crevice runs through the middle of a huge, steep rock on the mountainside, just wide enough for a person to squeeze through sideways, winding for several hundred meters. After passing through this narrow crevice, the view suddenly opens up, revealing a flat plain in the valley. For miles around, poppies bloom all over the mountains, in red, blue-purple, and white, creating a dreamlike and mysterious scene under the cool moonlight.

The poppy, also known as the "hero flower," originated in Asia Minor. In the mid-to-late 19th century, British and French colonists introduced it to the Burmese Plateau, which has unique climatic conditions. This was like opening Pandora's box, and the Golden Triangle has never been peaceful since.

In the center of the dam, there is a bark wooden house, sitting alone among blooming poppies. A few dim oil lamps shine through the windows, making it seem exceptionally tranquil.

"Grandma Mi Nang, Elder Ao has a favor to ask." Elder Ao stood about ten meters in front of the wooden house and said respectfully in a loud voice.

After a long while, an old woman's voice came from inside the house: "What is it?"

Old Man Ao quickly replied, "I have captured a strange man, and I cannot figure him out. I came here at dawn to ask you, old lady, to enlighten me."

"What's strange about it?" the old woman asked.

"This person has an old face but a young body, with sclera in his eyes and unclear mind. He seems to be in the intermediate state between death and rebirth, but he is not a corpse. The old yin energy in his body is rising and constricting his neck, unable to circulate. I have never encountered such a strange thing before," Elder Ao explained.

"Oh..." There was a moment of silence in the room, then the question was asked, "Is there anything unusual about the neck?"

“A ring of gnarled, purplish-red fleshy lumps,” Old Man Ao replied.

“The Lock of Pure Yang…” came a murmur from inside the room.

"The Pure Yang Lock? What is that? Could you explain it to me, Granny?" Elder Ao asked in confusion.

"This is not the way of the Central Plains, but the supreme magic of Tantric Buddhism. It uses pure Yang essence to lock the left, middle and right meridians, and to prevent the old Yin Qi from circulating through the Xuan Tian acupoints. However..." The old woman's tone seemed hesitant.

"But what?" Elder Ao quickly pressed for an answer.

"It is said that this kind of mantra lock of the Karma Kagyu school of Tantric Buddhism has been lost for a long time, how could it be..." The room fell silent again.

“Grandma, I suspect this strange person possesses some kind of special ability. He was once placed under a restriction by someone, which caused him to go mad and go blind…” Old Ao expressed his opinion.

"Where is this strange person?" someone asked from inside the house.

“It’s in my home,” Elder Ao replied.

“Bring him to the old woman,” the old woman said.

"Grandma Minang, please find a way to lift the restrictions on him. I want him to devote himself to the revolution and join the liberation cause of the Burmese people," said the old man with great enthusiasm.

"Give it a try, old woman." After saying this, the person inside extinguished the oil lamp and there was no more sound.

Old Master Ao respectfully stepped back a few paces, then turned and went down the mountain back to the old street.

Chapter 37, Part 2

At dawn, as the east began to lighten, Old Man Ao, leaning on his cane, limped up to the bamboo house.

Inside the house, two guards lay unconscious on the ground, while the large parrot Dudu was nowhere to be seen. The strange old beggar was still tied to the pillar, his head drooping, snoring loudly.

"Nai Suo! Nai Suo..." Old Ao called out loudly to the orderly.

No one responded, and Ao Lao sensed that something was wrong. He quickly squatted down and placed his palm on the Baihui acupoint on the top of one of the soldiers' heads, slowly channeling some true energy into him.

Baihui acupoint, also known as "Tianman", is the meeting point of all meridians. It is the primary acupoint for calming the mind, waking up the brain, and opening the orifices. It can help awaken brain cells in a coma as quickly as possible.

"Old Man Ao..." The soldier slowly opened his eyes and said weakly, "Yes, it was Naisuo who colluded with that big parrot, injured us, and escaped."

"Nai Suo?" Elder Ao was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "Why?"

The soldier said haltingly, "Nai So said that the big parrot was his savior."

"My savior..." Old Ao was even more puzzled. He then asked the soldier, "Where did they escape to?"

The soldier shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

Nai Soe came from Mae Salong on the Thai side of the Golden Triangle, which was the territory of the former 93rd Division of the National Revolutionary Army. The child was still young, only fourteen or fifteen years old. How could he have anything to do with the parrot? Perhaps he suddenly became childlike and found the talking parrot amusing, and was deceived by Dudu's sweet words, so he helped it escape. That's what Ao Lao thought.

He revived another soldier, asked him about his condition, and then sent them both back to rest. By this time, it was already dawn, and the faint sound of People's Army soldiers running and training could be heard on the road outside.

Old Master Ao decided that tonight, he would send the old beggar to Granny Mi Nang in the Western Hills, for she was probably the only one in the world who could break the strange man's seal.

"Ring ring..." The telephone rang on the wall, and Old Ao walked over and picked up the receiver.

"Is it Ao Laoyao?" the other party asked.

"I am Elder Ao, Vice Chairman of Deqin," Elder Ao replied humbly.

"We'll have a meeting at the ministry after breakfast," Vice Chairman Deqin said.

"Yes, I understand." Old Ao hung up the phone.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Burma's 8.19 Office is located in a large teak forest behind the old town. The courtyard is very large and has a row of warehouses with iron gates, which are filled with packages of opium, arsenic and refined heroin. Security is extremely tight.

The small meeting room was already filled with middle-level and above cadres, almost all of whom were relatives of central leaders, and the air was thick with smoke.

"A bunch of good-for-nothings..." Old Ao cursed inwardly, but still wore a faint smile on his face, nodding to each of them.

The meeting was chaired by the heads of the 8.19 departments and Vice Chairman Tekhin Pedin of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

"Comrades, since its founding in 1939, the Communist Party of Burma has weathered 43 years of trials and tribulations to grow to its current state. However, since the passing of Premier Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao Zedong, China unilaterally withdrew its 'Advisory Group' and ceased military and economic aid, causing our Party to encounter unprecedented difficulties. Since the establishment of the 8.19 Office by the Central Committee two years ago, our poppy cultivation area has gradually expanded to 130,000 square kilometers, with nearly 1,000 tons of opium extracted and processed annually, and more than 70 tons of refined heroin produced. We have forged a path of independence and self-reliance, and now we have completely broken free from dependence on China..." Thakin Pe Tin delivered a passionate speech.

Chapter 37, Part 3

Vice Chairman Dechin Pedin continued, “The Central Committee has decided that all matters involving opium cultivation, acquisition, production, refining, and trafficking must be subject to ‘five unifications,’ namely, unified fundraising, unified pricing for acquisition, unified centralized storage, unified factory construction for processing, and unified organization of trafficking.” Currently, we only have one transportation route through Thailand, which is far from sufficient. We must broaden our thinking and develop comprehensive trafficking routes. To the south, we can enter Thailand via the Myanmar-Thailand border or transport heroin through Yangon, Myanmar, to Malaysia and Singapore, and then distribute it worldwide. To the southeast, we can transit through Laos to Vietnam and Cambodia, and then distribute it to Europe and America. To the north, we can enter mainland China via the China-Myanmar, China-Laos, and China-Vietnam borders or transit through Hong Kong and Macau. To the northwest, it can flow to India and Bangladesh. Among these, the prospect of developing the mainland market through Yunnan Province in China is very broad. Although there are no official statistics, the number of drug users in China alone is estimated to be no less than 500,000 to 600,000. Based on the conventional daily consumption of one small packet (0.3 grams) of heroin per person, this would require approximately 80 tons of heroin per year. Comrades, what a huge market this is…”

Exclamations of amazement filled the conference room; everyone was incredibly excited and eager to try.

"Comrades, the Chinese government and the Burmese government are working together to block and attack our transportation routes. Recently, some more comrades have sacrificed their lives. The Central Committee suspects that there are spies within our ranks..." Deqin said with deep sorrow.

"A spy? Who is it?" The crowd began to whisper among themselves.

Deqin's stern gaze swept across everyone's faces as he slowly said, "As for who it is, we are still investigating. If they have any self-awareness, they should immediately surrender to the Central Committee. Our Party's consistent policy is 'leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist, rewards for meritorious service, and great rewards for great meritorious service.' If they remain obstinate, I, on behalf of the Politburo, will execute them."

The meeting room was completely silent; it was as if you could hear each other's heartbeats.

After the meeting, Vice Chairman Dechin Pedin kept Mr. Ao behind for a private talk.

"I've caught a strange man," Elder Ao said mysteriously.

"A strange person? What kind of strange person is he?" Deqin asked with great interest.

So, Ao Lao began to recount the story of Yang Kunming arresting a group of monks, including an old beggar, but he made no mention of the talking blue-and-white macaw. He knew that when reporting to superiors, it was wisest to only mention successful examples and achievements.

"This person could become our party's most formidable secret assassin, perfect for dealing with the Burmese military government or certain important figures in China," Elder Ao said confidently.

Vice Chairman Dechin nodded repeatedly and said, "Good. This matter must be carried out in private and in secret. You and I should know, but we must not let the slightest word slip out, not even to the members of the Politburo."

“I understand,” Elder Ao replied.

"Can that woman from Xishan called 'Grandma Rice Noodles' remove the restrictions on this strange person?" Deqin asked worriedly.

“If she can’t solve this problem in the world today, then there probably won’t be anyone else who can,” Elder Ao replied with considerable certainty.

"Elder Ao, report to me immediately if there is any progress," Deqin instructed.

"I understand," Elder Ao assured him.

On the way back, Elder Ao pondered deeply how he could control this strange man and make him work for him once the restrictions were lifted...

Right now, everything depends on "Grandma Rice Noodles".

Chapter 38, Part 1

As the thick morning fog gradually dissipated, Chen Caihua and Xizi climbed ashore from the river, where an endless primeval forest stretched out.

"Xizi, let's go," Chen Caihua called out. He remembered that this was the place where the bamboo raft was launched and where Dudu was captured.

The suction cup lay flat on the shore, its belly trembling as it expelled the water from its body. Then, its body rolled up into a suction cup about the size of an umbrella. If one did not pay attention, one would really think it was a novel green umbrella.

Shen Cai slung the suction tube over his shoulder and resolutely walked into the forest. After traveling through the forest for about two hours, he finally arrived at the gravel road where Commander Mangsa had ambushed them.

There were no cars or pedestrians on the road. Under the sunlight, only Xiao Caihua wandered alone along the roadside, heading north. When he got tired, he would sit on a rock by the roadside to rest for a while, drink some spring water, chat with his drinking tube for a bit, and then continue on his way. He had only one belief in his heart: to rescue Dudu.

As dusk fell, the exhausted Caihua finally returned to the old street of Kokang's capital. He plopped down in front of a small food shop run by Wa people, feeling both tired and hungry, his little tongue constantly licking his dry, cracked lips.

The kind-hearted Wa woman held up a large, rough porcelain bowl, filled it halfway with the famous Wa chicken porridge, and handed it to Shen Caihua, smiling slightly at him: "Eat up, child."

Shen Caihua glanced at her gratefully and began to wolf down his food.

"Child, where are your family?" the old woman asked kindly.

"They were captured by a white-haired old monster," Xiao Caihua replied while eating.

"The White-Haired Monster?" The old woman laughed.

"White hair, white eyebrows and a white beard, wearing a square hat on his head, holding a red cane in his hand, he was a cripple, walking with a limp..." Shen Caihua gestured as he spoke, not knowing how to describe Ao Lao's strange-looking Ming Dynasty scholar's robes.

"Oh, you mean Old Man Ao..." The old woman nodded. Most people on the streets of Kokang recognized Old Man Ao. His peculiar appearance and strange clothes made him unforgettable. But she also said with some concern, "Child, that white-haired monster is a big shot."

After finishing his meal, Chen Cai wiped his mouth with his sleeve and asked, "Grandma, do you know where that white-haired old monster lives?"

The old woman looked at the lonely and pitiful little boy and told him, "Go straight along this back street and you will see a mango grove with a bamboo house inside. That is his home, and there are soldiers guarding the door."

"Thank you, Grandma." Shen Caihua bid farewell to the Wa woman and followed her directions. By the time he arrived at the mango grove, it was already completely dark.

In front of the bamboo house, two soldiers leaned against a mango tree, smoking and chatting, the dark red cigarette butts flashing in the twilight.

Chen Caihua hid behind an old tree, peeking out to peek, wondering if Dudu had been locked upstairs by the White-Haired Monster...

Just then, the figure of the Hundred-Haired Old Monster appeared on the bamboo building, dragging the old beggar who was tied up with his hands and feet downstairs, but Dudu was nowhere to be seen.

Old Ao, leaning on his cane and holding the end of the rope in one hand, exchanged a few words with the two guards, then pulled the old beggar around the woods and headed towards the back of the mountain.

Could it be that Dudu is being held somewhere else...? Shen Cai thought to himself, and then quietly followed behind the white-haired old monster.

Chapter 38, Part 2

The moon rises over the eastern mountains, bringing a cool breeze to the forest. In the distance, the western mountains are shrouded in a light mist, from which the occasional "tap-tap" of a woodpecker pecking at a tree can be heard, mysterious and eerie.

Old Ao led the old beggar slowly along, while Chen Cai followed stealthily. He was becoming more and more convinced that the White-Haired Monster must have hidden Dudu somewhere in the mountains.

The hazy "narrow passage" of stone wall resembled the gaping mouth of a monster. Inside, it was pitch black, and the white-haired old monster and the old beggar had already slipped inside sideways. Chen Cai peeked inside, clutched the suction tube tightly to his chest, took a deep breath, and plunged in.

After groping around in the dark for a long time, I finally emerged from the crevice and found myself in a bright and open space filled with blooming poppies. In the hazy moonlight, the scene was mesmerizing.

Under the moonlight, a solitary wooden house stands in the middle of a sea of flowers, a faint fragrance wafting in the breeze. The white-haired old monster and the old beggar stand in front of the wooden house, the moonlight stretching their lonely shadows.

Inside the wooden cabin, the faint light of an oil lamp shone through the window lattice, and a mournful, desolate murmur drifted out: "Poppy..."

Who planted poppies by the roadside?