It sounds easy, but it takes time and procedures to implement. In other words, even if it's wasteland in the suburbs, no one can just start rummaging through it for no reason. There's no need to give others a handle to use against you over such a small detail when the outcome is uncertain.

The next day, the paperwork was completed, the people arrived, and a group of people fenced off the land and began construction.

Fortunately, this place is far from residential areas; otherwise, such a large-scale martial law would definitely have caused quite a stir.

Cheng Chao didn't explain the specific reasons, but the principle of obeying orders was ingrained in their bones, and no one raised any objections. Everyone followed his instructions carefully.

Cheng Chao, Qin Qinghuai, and Lin Zhengde, who came with others, were all very nervous.

Especially Lin Zhengde, who had been rubbing his hands and pacing around the area ever since he arrived, looking restless. Cheng Chao had known him for years, and this was the first time he'd ever seen Lin Zhengde so unsettled. Qin Qinghuai had glanced at him several times; they were all joining the soldiers in the attack, while he just stood by watching. This wasn't like him at all. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer…

"Uncle Lin, why don't you come down and dig a couple of shovelfuls too?"

Lin Zhengde, a regimental commander, immediately began waving his hands in a panic.

"No, no, no, no, I won't. I'm afraid I won't be able to stop it and it will break again."

Qin Qinghuai was filled with questions, feeling that he seemed a little too cautious, while Cheng Chao had a flash of inspiration.

"Commander, could this be the one you've been thinking about all these years?"

Cheng Chao had been with Cheng Jin here since he was a teenager, so he knew quite a lot. When he first arrived, especially during holidays, he would often hear Lin Zhengde talking to Cheng Jin about it. Later, Cheng Chao learned that their garrison had cavalry in the early years, which was personally trained by Lin Zhengde. In an accident, they wiped out the enemy, but not only were they all wiped out, they didn't even leave a trace.

Because of this, not only was there no hope for promotion, but Lin Zhengde didn't really care. However, he used the excuse that Lin Zhengde's military management ability was poor to suppress the establishment of the troops in this area and prevent them from being promoted according to the new military system reform. At that time, he was just a regimental commander, almost the youngest regimental commander in the entire army. Although he was not demoted, it caused the establishment of the troops stationed in the entire Northeast region to not be promoted for many years. After all these years, the highest level is still the regimental level.

Although both are military units stationed in the Northwest Military Region, Cheng Zhuo is not the highest-ranking leader, and his rank is more than just that of a regiment commander.

In fact, Lin Zhengde didn't care about this rank. After all, the Lin family had a lot of wealth and didn't rely on this allowance to make a living. However, since their leaders couldn't get promoted, the treatment of their subordinates could only remain the same. They paid with their blood and even their lives, but they didn't get the same treatment. This led to the rift and differences between the Northeast Garrison and the Beijing Military Region growing bigger and bigger, to the point that they were just one step away from tearing off their masks.

If it weren't for the autonomy clause, these tens of thousands of brothers stationed in Northeast China would have been driven to the brink of despair more than once.

Lin Zhengde's clenched fists were still trembling slightly, and his voice was filled with excitement and nervousness.

"I'm not sure either. From your description, I think it's not impossible. If it really is them, I..."

Lin Zhengde hadn't expected such a good thing to happen, but thinking about the time when the incident occurred and comparing it with what Cheng Chao said in the county annals, he felt that it was more than just a simple coincidence, and that he had inexplicably followed along.

As a result, the closer he got to him, the more uncertain he felt, and the more excited he became, as if something was about to jump out. Now, let alone holding a shovel, he was even a little unsteady just looking at it.

"You guys, you continue, I'll just watch."

Cheng Chao shook his head, stopping Qin Qinghuai from asking further questions, and whispered the situation to him.

"Let him see. This has been a worry for him for many years. He's almost obsessed with it. He won't feel at ease until he sees it for himself."

When Cheng Chao read the county annals at the time, he hadn't connected the events described by Lin Zhengde with anything else. Now that he knew this might be a hero from his own unit, his excitement and urgency increased considerably.

"Brothers, be careful not to break the things underneath."

As they dug deeper, the temperature changed noticeably. Many people initially rolled up their sleeves, as the weather should have been drier and hotter. However, the deeper they went, the cooler it became for many, and some even started shivering.

They dug deeper and deeper, more than a person's depth, but found nothing. Many people didn't say anything, but they all started to have doubts.

However, it is undeniable that the temperature drops as you go down, and anyone with a brain would realize that something is wrong, so they become more careful, afraid of accidentally touching something.

A muffled clang rang out, particularly noticeable in the quiet, semi-enclosed space, immediately drawing everyone's attention. The soldier holding the shovel was stunned, too afraid to move.

Then, a section of bone standing upright in the dirt was lifted up.

"Company Commander Cheng, yes, it's human bones."

Throughout the year, the professional and cultural education for the soldiers never stopped, and sure enough, they put what they learned to use immediately.

"Yes, the thigh bone!"

With this beginning, discoveries were soon made in various places.

"I have one too!"

"Me too!"

"This, Company Commander Cheng, this is a skull!"

The scene was quiet for a while, and then, without Cheng Chao and Qin Qinghuai saying anything more, everyone consciously started digging. At this point, any tool would be an insult to people.

As more and more skeletons were brought up, Lin Zhengde exuded an indescribable sense of helplessness.

He was conflicted. He hoped to find them as soon as possible to clear his mind, but he also wanted to vindicate them. They were not deserters, but heroes, worthy of the respect of future generations.

But the despair in his heart was mixed with resentment. If this was really what he hoped for, then it meant that those people truly had no hope of survival, and even the slightest bit of luck would be shattered.

Cheng Chao mobilized two large camps. Apart from those who took turns maintaining the site, the others started digging from morning until nightfall, when all the skeletons below were finally collected intact.

Based on the degree of decomposition after 20 years in the ground, the well-preserved skeleton could be pieced together to form 353 complete skeletons. This conclusion was reached after careful study by the military doctors who were urgently summoned.

"353 people, their remains intact. The next step is to identify the deceased through genetic and blood type testing of the skeletons, however,"

The military doctor paused, his tone filled with helplessness.

"Based on the time of burial, it is roughly estimated to be about twenty years. However, according to that timeframe, it would have been impossible to test and register the soldiers' blood types back then, so,"

Therefore, trying to identify the deceased through this method is not feasible.

However, the definite number 353 had almost driven Lin Zhengde out of control.