The Three-Body Problem

In 1967 China, during the height of the Cultural Revolution, a group of Red Guards known as the Red Union besieges the headquarters of the April Twenty-eighth Brigade. Tensions escalate when a young female Red Guard waves a flag atop the building and is shot dead; her body is then used for target practice by the victorious Red Union, setting the tone for the pervasive madness and violence of the era.

At Tsinghua University, a mass 'struggle session' is underway. Intellectuals and academics, labeled as 'reactionary bourgeois academic authorities,' are publicly humiliated and physically abused. Among the victims is Ye Zhetai, a physics professor who refuses to renounce his beliefs despite intense pressure. His wife, Shao Lin, participates in the session, denouncing her husband and accusing him of promoting reactionary theories such as relativity and the big bang theory. Ye's steadfast refusal to capitulate leads to a violent confrontation, resulting in his death.

Ye Wenjie, Ye Zhetai's daughter, witnesses her father's murder while restrained by two janitors, unable to prevent the tragedy. After the crowd disperses, she visits the home of Professor Ruan Wen, a close family friend, only to find her dead from an overdose of sleeping pills. Wenjie, now emotionally numb, leaves the scene, symbolizing the profound impact of the Cultural Revolution on personal and familial bonds.

Still reeling from the trauma of the Cultural Revolution, Ye Wenjie finds herself in the Greater Khingan Mountains, working as part of the Inner Mongolia Production and Construction Corps. The corps is engaged in massive deforestation, a task that deeply troubles Ye, who sees the destruction of the forest as a grim echo of the violence she witnessed. One day, she meets Bai Mulin, a reporter for the corps’ newspaper, who shares her concerns about the environmental destruction. Bai gives her a copy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, a book that profoundly influences Ye’s worldview, making her question the morality of human actions and the possibility of a moral awakening requiring an external force.

Inspired by Silent Spring, Bai decides to write a critical letter to the central leadership in Beijing, condemning the corps’ deforestation practices. Ye helps him copy the letter, but when the letter is discovered, Bai betrays her to save himself. Accused of writing the letter and possessing the banned book, Ye is summoned to the company headquarters and sent to division headquarters for further investigation. The betrayal and accusations plunge Ye into a precarious and dangerous position.

While in detention, Ye is visited by Cheng Lihua, a military representative from the Intermediate People’s Court. Cheng offers Ye a deal, asking her to sign a document implicating her father in conversations related to a sensitive national defense project. Ye refuses to sign, knowing the potential harm it could cause. Cheng, initially kind, turns cruel and pours water on Ye, leaving her to suffer in the freezing cell. This experience solidifies Ye’s disillusionment with humanity and her belief that moral change requires an external force.

Suffering from a high fever, Ye Wenjie wakes up in a helicopter, surrounded by military personnel. Political Commissar Lei Zhicheng and Chief Engineer Yang Weining question her about a scientific paper she wrote. Yang, a former student of Ye's father, explains the nature of the Red Coast Base, a highly classified defense research facility. Despite the risks and the possibility of never leaving, Ye decides to join the project, driven by a desire for security and a sense of purpose.

Upon landing at Radar Peak, Ye is formally offered a chance to redeem herself through hard work at the Red Coast Base. She accepts, understanding the gravity of her decision. Yang takes her to the Transmission Main Control Room, where she witnesses a complex and secretive transmission process. The transmission involves powerful energy units and causes physical effects, including the death of birds flying near the antenna. This event underscores the immense power and potential danger of the project.

Ye reflects on the eerie and ethereal strength of the antenna, which points towards the sky, and contemplates the stars of a cold night in 1969. Her decision to join the Red Coast Base marks a significant turning point in her life, setting the stage for her involvement in a project that could have far-reaching consequences.

Forty years have passed since the Cultural Revolution, and Wang Miao, a renowned nanotechnologist, finds himself confronted by a group of officials, including two police officers and two army officers. The older police officer, Captain Shi Qiang, is particularly rude, which irritates Wang. In contrast, the army officers are more respectful and reveal that Wang is invited to a crucial meeting at a military compound due to his expertise and recent contacts with the Frontiers of Science, an influential academic group. During this encounter, Wang learns about the mysterious suicides of elite physicists, including Yang Dong, a former acquaintance.

Wang Miao visits Ding Yi, a theoretical physicist, at his newly purchased apartment. Ding, visibly intoxicated and melancholic, speaks nostalgically about his relationship with Yang Dong, describing her as distant and cold. He expresses his frustration with the military and police, who he believes are misguided in their investigation into the deaths of elite physicists, including Yang Dong, whom he confirms had no direct ties to the Frontiers of Science.

Ding then engages Wang in a peculiar game of pool, moving the table to different locations in the apartment while repeatedly setting up the same shot. Each time, Wang successfully pockets the black ball, leading Ding to draw a parallel between the consistency of the pool shots and the invariance of physical laws across space and time. Ding uses this analogy to introduce a disturbing revelation: recent high-energy particle collision experiments have produced inconsistent and unpredictable results, suggesting that the laws of physics may not be constant.

Ding elaborates on the implications of these findings, explaining that they challenge the fundamental principles of physics and imply that the universe operates under varying rules at different times and places. This revelation has profound philosophical and scientific consequences, leading Ding to conclude that physics as a discipline may no longer have a stable foundation. He shares Yang Dong’s final note, indicating her despair over these discoveries and her decision to end her life. Ding urges Wang to consider the broader implications and suggests visiting Yang Dong’s mother for further insight.

Still reeling from Ding Yi's unsettling revelations, Wang Miao notices a strange countdown appearing on his photographs, counting down from 1,200 hours. The numbers adapt to the background, becoming visible regardless of the image. Wang tries to understand the source of the countdown, testing different cameras and even allowing his wife and son to take photos, but the countdown only appears in his own pictures. This eerie phenomenon drives Wang to seek help from Shen Yufei, a prominent member of the Frontiers of Science.

Shen advises Wang to halt his research on the nanomaterial project, but Wang remains skeptical and refuses. At the Nanotechnology Research Center, Wang orders the shutdown of the main reaction chamber for maintenance, and the countdown in his vision stops. However, Shen warns that the countdown will resume if Wang restarts the project. Determined to confront the mysterious force, Wang accepts Shen's challenge to observe the cosmic microwave background on a specified night.

Wang's encounter with the countdown and his interaction with Shen deepen his suspicion about the Frontiers of Science. He realizes that the organization's influence extends beyond mere theoretical discussions and may involve manipulating the fundamental laws of the universe. The chapter ends with Wang preparing to witness a cosmic event that could either validate or debunk the mysterious countdown.

Still reeling from the mysterious countdown and the advice from Ding Yi, Wang Miao decides to delve into the enigmatic 'Three-Body' game. He logs in using a V-suit at his workplace and finds himself transported to a desolate, chaotic world where the sun's behavior is unpredictable. In this world, he meets King Wen of Zhou and his loyal follower, who are on a perilous journey to Zhao Ge, a city where they hope to predict the sun's movements and bring stability to their civilization.

As they travel, Wang learns about the harsh realities of living in a Chaotic Era, where the sun's erratic behavior forces people to dehydrate and rehydrate to survive extreme temperatures. The journey is marked by periods of intense cold and heat, and Wang witnesses the dehydrated bodies of those who have not survived. King Wen, a wise and determined figure, explains the cyclical nature of Stable and Chaotic Eras and the critical importance of predicting the sun's patterns to ensure the survival of civilization.

Upon reaching Zhao Ge, Wang and King Wen enter the palace of King Zhou, where they encounter Fu Xi, a mystic who believes the sun is a temperamental god. King Wen presents his theories on yin and yang and predicts a long Stable Era. His predictions prove accurate, and the dehydrated population is rehydrated, bringing life back to the world. However, the celebration is short-lived as the sun fails to rise, and three flying stars appear, signaling an impending long, extreme cold. King Wen, unable to prevent the disaster, chooses to sacrifice himself, and the game ends with the destruction of civilization.

The chapter concludes with a message inviting players to log on again in the future, hinting at the cyclical nature of the Three-Body world and the persistent human drive to understand and survive it.

Still reeling from his surreal experience in the 'Three-Body' game, Wang Miao drives to visit Yang Dong’s mother, Ye Wenjie. As he navigates the roads, his mind is preoccupied with the game’s chaotic elements, particularly the unpredictable sun and the mysterious flying stars, which seem to defy the laws of physics. Despite his efforts to dismiss these thoughts, he remains captivated by the game’s deeper meaning and the anomalies it presents.

Upon arriving, Wang finds Ye Wenjie, a gentle and caring woman, tending to the children of her neighbors. She invites him into Yang Dong’s room, a space filled with rustic, natural elements that reflect Yang Dong’s unique personality. Wang examines the room, noting a black-and-white photograph of Ye and a young Yang Dong, as well as a birch-bark notebook containing the child’s early drawings. These drawings, filled with chaotic lines, suggest a deep emotional turmoil even at a young age.

Ye shares her reflections on raising Yang Dong, acknowledging her mistakes in exposing her daughter to complex, abstract concepts too early. She describes Yang Dong’s unique way of perceiving beauty in mathematics and music, traits that set her apart from other children. Despite her brilliance, Ye believes that Yang Dong’s world was too fragile, lacking the resilience needed to withstand the collapse of her scientific beliefs. Wang, moved by Ye’s words, offers a different perspective, suggesting that the challenges they face are unprecedented and affecting many scientists.

Before leaving, Wang mentions his interest in observing the cosmic microwave background, and Ye helps him arrange a visit to a nearby radio astronomy observatory. She also shows concern for Wang’s health, offering him a box of ginseng to support his well-being. Wang accepts the gift, feeling a sense of warmth and gratitude, and promises to visit Ye again.

Wang Miao arrives at the radio astronomy observatory in Miyun County, guided by a cryptic request from Shen Yufei. Dr. Sha Ruishan, the observatory manager, is initially skeptical of Wang's request to observe a five percent fluctuation in the cosmic microwave background, a phenomenon akin to the universe flickering like a failing fluorescent tube. Despite his doubts, Sha sets up the observation, and as the night progresses, the expected flat green line on the terminal begins to fluctuate wildly, turning red and forming waveforms that are confirmed by multiple satellites and a ground-based observatory in Ürümqi.

Wang and Sha are both stunned by the inexplicable phenomenon, which seems to confirm the countdown Wang has been experiencing. Wang deciphers the waveform as a Morse code message, revealing a countdown with only 1,108 hours remaining. Sha, overwhelmed by the implications, advises Wang to stop pursuing the mystery after the flickering ceases at 5 AM. Undeterred, Wang obtains a pair of 3K glasses from the Capital Planetarium, which allows him to see the cosmic microwave background with his own eyes. Wearing the glasses, Wang observes the entire sky flickering irregularly, a sight that deeply unsettles him and reinforces his belief in the countdown's significance.

Tormented by the countdown and its unknown consequences, Wang wanders aimlessly through the city, eventually finding himself in front of St. Joseph’s Church at Wangfujing. The solemn music of a choir rehearsal resonates with his inner turmoil, and he breaks down, crying. His emotional state is interrupted by Captain Shi Qiang, who mockingly comments on Wang's distress, hinting at a deeper involvement in the unfolding mystery.

Still reeling from the inexplicable cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the countdown, Wang Miao turns to Captain Shi Qiang, known to him as Da Shi, for guidance. Da Shi, who has been keeping an eye on Wang, helps him avoid a parking fine and takes him to a small restaurant. Over drinks and food, Wang recounts the bizarre events of the past few days, including the universe 'winking' at him and the countdown. Da Shi listens intently but remains skeptical, attributing Wang’s experiences to stress and overwork. However, he shares his own observations of a pattern of coordinated attacks against scientific research and institutions, including the destruction of facilities, murders of scientists, and the rise of anti-science movements and cults. Da Shi believes these events are part of a larger, orchestrated plan to undermine scientific progress and credibility. He also mentions the military's involvement in a high-stakes operation, with Battle Command Centers established globally, though the details remain shrouded in secrecy. Wang is intrigued but also concerned about the implications of Da Shi’s revelations. Da Shi advises Wang to continue his research and maintain his mental clarity, suggesting that playing the game 'Three-Body' might help him understand the situation better. Da Shi emphasizes that the enemy is particularly afraid of fundamental science and the potential threats posed by advanced research. Before leaving, Da Shi reminds Wang to stay vigilant and to remember his 'ultimate rule': anything sufficiently weird must be fishy.

Still troubled by the mysterious countdown and the flickering universe, Wang Miao returns home and buys a new V-suit. Despite his wife's concern, he logs into the game 'Three-Body' and finds himself in a desolate, eroded pyramid. The pyramid now resembles an Aztec structure, with a staircase leading to a flattened platform at the top, equipped with various astronomical instruments. Mozi, a tall and slender man dressed in a flowing black robe, greets Wang and reveals that civilization has been reborn four times since Wang's last visit, with the latest civilization reaching the Steam Age.

Mozi leads Wang to an observatory platform and explains his theory that the universe is a machine, consisting of two nested spheres with tiny holes representing stars and a large hole for the sun. Mozi has built a complex mechanical model to simulate the universe's movements, powered by slaves pushing a horizontal wheel. Despite Mozi's confidence, Wang remains skeptical and uses the telescope to observe the sun, noticing its unusual structure with a small, dense core and translucent outer layers. Wang spends several in-game days observing the sun and flying stars, discovering that the sun's behavior is more complex than Mozi's model suggests.

On the seventeenth day of the predicted Stable Era, the sun fails to rise on schedule, causing panic among the dehydrated population. Mozi, however, remains confident in his predictions. When the sun finally rises, it appears as an enormous, blazing disk that engulfs the sky, incinerating everything in its path. Mozi, engulfed in flames, continues to proclaim his faith in the universe's mechanical nature until his death. The civilization is destroyed, and the game ends with a message inviting players to log on again in the future. Wang, deeply shaken, reflects on the game's hidden depths and the possibility that it contains some deeper reality.

The next day, Wang returns to the Nanotechnology Research Center to distract himself from his worries. After work, he visits Ye Wenjie, who is reading at home. Ye, noticing Wang's improved appearance, attributes it to the ginseng she gave him. Wang thanks her, and Ye shares her thoughts on the transience of life and the insignificance of past traumas. Wang, seeking to understand more about the Red Coast Base, asks Ye to share her experiences there. Ye agrees, noting that the base's history is now widely known, albeit inaccurately, and she wants to correct the record.

Following the confrontation with the cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the mysterious countdown, Ye Wenjie reflects on her early days at the Red Coast Base. Initially restricted to minor technical tasks under surveillance, her expertise in radio astronomy and self-taught skills in electrical engineering and computer science made her indispensable in the Transmission Department. Despite her lack of formal training, she quickly surpassed the other technicians, who deliberately hid their competence to avoid becoming indispensable in the highly classified project.

Ye's role expanded, and she was eventually transferred to the Monitoring Department, which was more technologically advanced. Here, she encountered sophisticated radio receivers and a more complex computer system, which allowed her to intercept and analyze enemy communications. However, her work was heavily monitored by Chief Engineer Yang Weining, who became increasingly hostile towards her. Ye began to suspect that the Red Coast Project was more complex than she had initially thought, especially after discovering that the project involved intercepting and decrypting American reconnaissance satellite images.

One day, Ye was summoned to a meeting with senior officers and two unknown officers from higher up. Commissar Lei Zhicheng, who had previously shown trust in her, clarified that the decision to reveal the true nature of the Red Coast Project to Ye was made by Yang Weining and approved by their superiors. Despite the risk, Ye agreed to learn the truth, understanding that this decision would bind her to the base indefinitely. Yang Weining then revealed the true purpose of Red Coast: it was a powerful radio transmitter designed to disrupt and potentially destroy enemy satellites and space stations.

Declassified documents from the Red Coast Project reveal the strategic and technological ambitions behind the initiative. The documents emphasize the critical importance of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) and the potential for groundbreaking advancements in this field. The Central Leadership recognized the danger of superpowers monopolizing contact with extraterrestrial intelligence and stressed the necessity for China to play an active role in SETI to ensure a balanced representation of human society.

The chapter details the Red Coast Project's initial phase, including its sophisticated monitoring and transmission systems, the development of a self-interpreting code, and the meticulous selection of transmission targets. The project aimed to search for and communicate with extraterrestrial intelligence while carefully considering the content of the transmitted messages to avoid exposing Earth's precise location. Various drafts of the message are presented, reflecting the evolving political and ideological landscape of the time.

The final section of the chapter includes directives from the Central Leadership, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to SETI. The leaders advocate for a neutral perspective on human history and the potential benefits of collaborating with other intelligent beings in the universe.

Wang Miao and Ye Wenjie delve deeper into the Red Coast Project, discussing its high security rating and the theoretical implications of contacting extraterrestrial intelligence. Ye explains that the project's stringent security measures were implemented due to the foresight of top decision-makers, who recognized the potential dangers and complexities of such contact. She introduces the concept of 'contact as symbol,' proposed by sociologist Bill Mathers, which posits that any interaction with extraterrestrial intelligence would profoundly and potentially disastrously impact human society, regardless of the nature of the contact.

Ye then provides a detailed account of the Red Coast Project's technical and operational aspects, highlighting its gradual decline and eventual decommissioning. She notes that the project's capabilities were significantly reduced over the years, and its focus shifted from SETI to other scientific research areas. Despite these changes, the Red Coast Base made significant contributions to the study of solar electromagnetic activity, thanks to the efforts of Commissar Lei Zhicheng.

Reflecting on her personal life, Ye mentions her marriage and the birth of her daughter, Yang Dong, after the passing of her husband. She shares the profound sense of isolation and existential weight she felt during her work at the Red Coast Base, describing herself as a solitary observer in a vast, indifferent universe. Wang, deeply moved by her words, offers to visit the ruins of the Red Coast Base with her, but Ye declines, citing her age and declining health. The conversation leaves Wang with a deep appreciation of the bittersweet legacy of the Red Coast Project and the profound impact it had on Ye Wenjie's life.

Still troubled by the cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the mysterious countdown, Wang Miao logs into the game 'Three-Body' for the third time. This time, he creates a new ID, Copernicus, and enters a world resembling the European High Middle Ages. The grand Gothic-style pyramid and buildings with tall, sharp steeples create an ominous atmosphere. Wang enters the Great Hall, where he meets a group of scholars, including Pope Gregory, Aristotle, Galileo, and Leonardo da Vinci, who are discussing the chaotic nature of their world’s sun.

Wang presents his theory that their world has three suns, explaining that the unpredictable gravitational interactions between them cause the alternating Stable and Chaotic Eras. He argues that when the other two suns are far away, they appear as flying stars, and their presence heralds long periods of extreme cold. The scholars, particularly Galileo, dismiss Wang’s theory as unscientific and heretical. Despite the initial hostility, Wang’s explanation gains some traction when Leonardo da Vinci mentions historical records of two suns causing catastrophic heat. However, the scholars remain unconvinced, and the pope orders Wang to be burned at the stake.

Just as Wang is about to be executed, a knight on a flaming horse bursts into the Great Hall, shouting that a Tri-solar day is imminent. The knight and the horse burn fiercely, and the scholars flee to the entrance tunnel. Wang frees himself and escapes the pyramid, only to emerge into a hellish landscape where the ground glows red and lava flows. Three gigantic suns dominate the sky, causing the world to become a smelting furnace. The chapter ends with a message announcing the destruction of Civilization Number 183 and the game’s progression to the second level.

Still reeling from the mysterious countdown and the cosmic microwave background fluctuations, Wang Miao is urgently summoned to Captain Shi Qiang's office at three in the morning. Alongside him are Xu Bingbing, a computer specialist, and Wei Cheng, the reclusive husband of Shen Yufei from the Frontiers of Science. Wei Cheng reveals that his life is in danger and recounts his unique mathematical abilities and his journey from a lackadaisical youth to becoming a mathematician. He explains his fascination with the three-body problem and his development of an evolutionary algorithm to solve it, which he pursued with Shen Yufei's support.

Wei Cheng's peaceful life was disrupted when he received a threatening call and an encounter with Shen Yufei, who held a gun to his face and insisted he continue his research. Shen's words hinted at a larger, mysterious purpose behind his work. The team, including Wang, Wei, Da Shi, and Xu, rush to Wei's home, only to find Shen Yufei dead from gunshot wounds. The killer, likely a man who escaped through an open window, is pursued but gets away. Da Shi suspects illegal possession of firearms and deeper involvement in the case.

Wei Cheng reveals a heated argument he overheard between Shen and Pan Han, a famous environmentalist, suggesting a conflict within the Frontiers of Science. Pan accused Shen of working against their Lord's coming, while Shen defended her stance. Wei provides Wang with a CD containing his three-body evolutionary algorithm, urging him to publish it under his own name. Wei's demeanor suggests a deeper knowledge of the impending changes and a sense of fatalism about the future.

Still reeling from the mysterious countdown and the confrontation with the cosmic microwave background fluctuations, Wang Miao logs into the second level of the game 'Three-Body.' The game begins much like the first level, with the colossal pyramid and the cold dawn, but this time the pyramid is in the Egyptian style. Wang hears the sound of a swordfight and discovers Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz dueling over the invention of calculus. Von Neumann, who had tried to stop the fight, introduces himself and explains the need for a vast computational effort to predict the movements of the three suns. Newton and Von Neumann have come to the East to recruit Qin Shi Huang's vast army of thirty million soldiers to form a human-computer. Qin Shi Huang agrees, and the human-computer, named Qin I, is assembled and begins its calculations. However, the human-computer fails due to a malfunction, and Qin Shi Huang orders the beheading of the faulty components.

Wang Miao arrives at a quiet coffee shop for a meet-up of 'Three-Body' players. Inside, he finds only six others, including a famous philosopher, a renowned avant-garde writer, a software company vice president, a power company executive, a young reporter, and a doctoral student. The atmosphere is subdued, with the players hesitant to discuss the game openly due to its profound and unsettling content. The old philosopher and the avant-garde writer share their personal connections to the game, emphasizing its complexity and beauty.

The meet-up organizer, Pan Han, arrives and addresses the players, confirming that the world of Trisolaris depicted in the game truly exists. He explains that the Trisolarans have the ability to dehydrate themselves to survive extreme conditions and that the human-computer formation in the game is based on real Trisolaran technology. Pan emphasizes that the game's goal is to gather individuals with common ideals, hinting at the arrival of Trisolaran civilization as a positive force for a morally corrupt human society.

The players, except for the software company vice president and the power company executive, express varying degrees of enthusiasm for the Trisolarans' arrival, with the young reporter and the philosopher being particularly supportive. Pan dismisses the software company vice president and the power company executive, deeming them unfit for the meet-up and deleting their game IDs. He then shakes hands with the remaining five players, declaring them comrades. Wang, aligning himself with the reporter and the philosopher, commits to the group's ideals, though he remains cautious and guarded in his response.

Wang Miao logs into the game 'Three-Body' for the fifth time, finding himself in a transformed world where the great pyramid has been replaced by the United Nations Headquarters. The surrounding buildings, known as dehydratories, reflect the dawn light like giant crystal plants. In the midst of this surreal landscape, Wang encounters Einstein, a homeless old man playing a violin. Einstein explains that the giant moon in the sky is a cooled celestial body, a result of the 'great rip,' a catastrophic event that destroyed the previous civilization. Disillusioned and abandoned, Einstein discusses the impossibility of solving the three-body problem and the futility of his past scientific endeavors.

The UN Secretary-General welcomes Wang and explains that the giant pendulum is a monument and tombstone for the failed efforts to solve the three-body problem. Despite presenting Wei Cheng’s three-body mathematical model, Wang’s ideas are dismissed as outdated compared to more advanced models that have already proven the problem unsolvable. The Secretary-General reveals that the last civilization, Civilization 191, faced a disaster when three flying stars froze and collided with the planet, tearing it apart and creating a companion moon. This event, known as the great rip, has left Trisolaris in a dire state, with the remaining planet facing further destruction from the expanding gaseous layers of the three suns.

The Secretary-General and Einstein discuss the grim future of Trisolaris, concluding that the only hope for survival is to leave the stellar system and find a new home. The giant pendulum is started, symbolizing the civilization’s indomitable spirit and determination to overcome chaos. As Wang logs out, he receives a message that the 'Three-Body' servers are about to be shut down, and the game will now go directly to the final scene.

Wang Miao logs into the game 'Three-Body' and finds himself transported to a desolate, dark desert, devoid of any familiar landmarks. Instead, he discovers a vast crowd of Trisolarans, their heads densely packed across the ground, all gazing upward in silence. The sky above is dominated by a square formation of stars, which are actually spaceships in synchronous orbit, moving together against the backdrop of the Milky Way. Wang counts over a thousand stars, with the brightest ones casting shadows on the ground.

A Trisolaran next to Wang explains that the formation is the Trisolaran Interstellar Fleet, about to embark on an expedition to a star system four light-years away, the closest star to Trisolaris. Wang is surprised to learn that this star is also the closest to Earth. The Trisolaran explains that the distance between stars in the Milky Way is fairly consistent, ranging from three to six light-years. As the fleet begins to accelerate, the stars in the formation grow brighter, casting a daylight-like glow over Trisolaris. The crowd erupts in joy, raising their arms in a collective gesture of hope and support.

The fleet glides across the sky, passing the giant moon and casting a dim blue glow. The crowd's jubilation fades as they watch the fleet shrink into the distance, a symbol of their hope for a new beginning. Wang stands with the Trisolarans, silently watching until the fleet disappears into the night sky. A message then appears, announcing the beginning of the Trisolaran Expedition and inviting players to attend a meet-up of the Earth-Trisolaris Organization.

Wang Miao attends a larger meet-up of the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO) at a chemical plant's cafeteria. The gathering includes many influential figures from various fields, and a strange device simulating the three-body problem is displayed at the center. The meeting quickly turns tense as Pan Han admits to murdering Shen Yufei, claiming it was necessary to protect the ETO from internal threats.

The debate intensifies as members question Pan Han's motives and leadership. A renowned physicist suggests starting a global rebellion, but the idea is met with mixed reactions. The tension reaches a peak when Ye Wenjie, the commander of the ETO, arrives. She addresses the crowd with a stern yet gentle demeanor, reaffirming the ETO's ultimate goal of eliminating human tyranny and welcoming Trisolaris.

Ye Wenjie then confronts Pan Han, accusing him of violating the ETO's rules and betraying the organization by intercepting and distorting messages from Trisolaris. Despite Pan's defenses, Ye reveals his true motives and the Adventists' secret agenda to punish humanity. A young female bodyguard swiftly executes Pan, and Ye explains that this was necessary to protect the ETO's ideals. Ye then introduces Wang Miao to the crowd, revealing his role in researching nanomaterials, a technology Trisolaris aims to eliminate from Earth.

Deeply embedded in the technical core of the Red Coast Base, Ye Wenjie continues her research on eliminating solar interference. Despite the challenges, she makes a groundbreaking discovery: the sun acts as a powerful amplifier for radio waves, capable of magnifying signals by a factor of a hundred million. This realization opens up the possibility of using the sun as a superantenna to broadcast radio waves to the universe, effectively giving Earth the transmission capabilities of a Kardashev Type II civilization.

To test her theory, Ye convinces the base leadership to conduct a high-power transmission experiment, though she faces resistance from Commissar Lei due to political concerns. Undeterred, Ye uses a test transmission as an opportunity to aim the Red Coast transmitter at the sun, exceeding the threshold value for amplification. The transmission is completed without immediate detection, and Ye rushes to monitor the 12,000 MHz channel for the expected amplified echo.

However, the conventional radio used for monitoring fails to detect any signal, leading to a moment of disappointment and reflection for Ye. Despite the setback, her actions inadvertently result in the first radio signal from Earth being broadcast into space, amplified by the sun. Unaware of this monumental achievement, Ye returns to her mundane routine, contemplating the futility of her dreams and the grayness of her life.

Despite the successful transmission experiment, the next eight years at the Red Coast Base were the most peaceful of Ye Wenjie’s life, as the Red Coast Project settled into routine operation. However, the peace allowed suppressed memories of the Cultural Revolution to resurface, causing her deep emotional pain. Ye’s rational mind, influenced by her readings of foreign philosophy and history, led her to contemplate the darker aspects of human nature, further deepening her spiritual crisis.

Four years after joining the base, Ye married Yang Weining, who genuinely loved her and gave up his career for her. Despite her gratitude, Ye felt increasingly alienated from the world. One night, while working a shift, Ye detected a highly recognizable radio signal that had been modulated by intelligence. The message was a stark warning from a pacifist in an alien civilization: 'Do not answer! Do not answer!! Do not answer!!!' The message revealed that the source was from Alpha Centauri, only four light-years away.

Over the next four hours, Ye learned about the existence of Trisolaris, a civilization planning to migrate to the stars. Shocked and conflicted, Ye decided to respond, sending a message to the sun: 'Come here! I will help you conquer this world. Our civilization is no longer capable of solving its own problems. We need your force to intervene.' After transmitting, Ye collapsed on the lawn and was taken to the base clinic, where she learned she was pregnant.

Following the confrontation with the cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the mysterious countdown, Wang Miao and Ye Wenjie discuss the expansion and current state of the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO). Ye explains that the key to stopping Wang's nanomaterial research lies in preventing humans from building a space elevator, which would allow them to escape Earth's gravity and construct large-scale defensive structures in space. Wang questions the significance of the countdown, but Ye admits she does not know, emphasizing that the ETO's efforts to stop him are largely futile.

Suddenly, the cafeteria doors burst open, and a team of soldiers led by Captain Shi Qiang storms in. The soldiers quickly surround the ETO members, and Da Shi threatens to shoot anyone who tries to resist. The ETO members, including Ye, remain calm, and three of them, including the young woman who had killed Pan Han, grab what they claim are nuclear bombs. The young woman demands that Ye be released, but Ye refuses to leave her comrades. The situation becomes tense as the explosives expert confirms that at least one of the spheres contains fissile material.

Captain Shi Qiang, displaying a mix of cunning and bravery, approaches the young woman and distracts her with the false claim that he has information about her mother. As the woman is distracted, another ETO member tries to take the envelope from Da Shi, drawing his gun in the process. The young woman, seeing the movement, detonates the bomb in her hands. The explosion kills her and severely injures the ETO member who tried to take the envelope, but Da Shi is shielded and only suffers from radiation contamination.

The aftermath of the explosion is chaotic, with over a dozen ETO fighters killed in the ensuing gunfight and the rest, including Ye Wenjie, arrested. Wang, who had been dragged to safety, watches as Da Shi is taken away in an ambulance, suffering from severe radiation exposure. Despite his injuries, Da Shi remains resilient, acknowledging the unexpected involvement of actual aliens in the ETO's activities, leaving Wang with a mix of relief and unease.

Ye Wenjie stands before her interrogators, recounting the fateful night of October 21, 1979, when she murdered Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining. After receiving the extraterrestrial message and replying to it, Lei discovered her actions through a hidden program he had running on the main computer. Confronting her, he realized she had already replied but did not know the content of her message. He offered to cover up her actions in exchange for her cooperation and the opportunity to claim the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence for himself.

However, Ye had already decided to eliminate Lei and Yang to protect her secret and her unborn child. She sabotaged the ground wire of the receiver, causing the technician to call for repairs. Lei, being a dedicated political cadre, volunteered to fix the wire himself. Ye waited at the top of the cliff and, when Lei and Yang Weining were rappelling down to inspect the ground terminal, she cut the rope with a hacksaw. Both men fell to their deaths, and the stream at the bottom of the cliff turned red with their blood. Ye remained calm throughout the incident, driven by her newfound goal and the willingness to pay any price, including the lives of others, to achieve it.

The interrogator asks Ye how she felt at the time, and she responds that she was calm and focused on her goal, aware that the entire human race would pay a price for her actions. The chapter ends with the interrogator asking Ye to review and sign the record of her confession.

Following the confrontation with the cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the mysterious countdown, Ye Wenjie's life at the Red Coast Base continues peacefully, though she is haunted by her past actions. One day, three children from the village of Qijiatun arrive at the base, seeking help with their physics studies. Ye, moved by their determination, begins tutoring them regularly, and soon, more children and even a teacher from a nearby village come to her for help. This period of teaching brings a sense of purpose and warmth back into Ye's life, contrasting sharply with the isolation and despair she has felt since her betrayal of humanity.

Eight months after sending her signal to the sun, Ye goes into labor. Complications arise, and she is rushed to a nearby town hospital, where she nearly dies from blood loss. The villagers of Qijiatun, including many who had no direct connection to her, come forward to donate blood, saving her life. After giving birth, Ye and her newborn daughter, Yang Dong, are taken in by an old couple in Qijiatun, where Ye finds a temporary refuge and a community that cares for her. She forms a bond with the villagers, especially the women, and experiences a rare sense of belonging and tranquility.

Ye eventually returns to the Red Coast Base with Yang Dong, but after two more years, she receives news of her and her father's political rehabilitation. Invited to return to Tsinghua University to teach, Ye decides to leave the base, considering what is best for Yang Dong. Despite the renewed enthusiasm for science, Ye remains emotionally detached, questioning the depth of the societal change. She never receives any further communication from Trisolaris and tries to suppress her memories of the past, focusing on her work and her daughter.

Ye visits her mother, who has risen to a prominent position in academia. The visit is tense, and her mother’s husband warns her not to seek retribution for her father's death. Feeling the distance between them, Ye leaves and never returns. Later, she contacts three of the four Red Guards who killed her father, inviting them to the exercise grounds where her father died. The Red Guards, now middle-aged and struggling, refuse to repent, instead recounting their own hardships and the loss of their ideals. Their lack of remorse solidifies Ye's resolve to bring a superior civilization to Earth, believing it to be the only way to cleanse humanity's sins.

After the confrontation with the cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the mysterious countdown, Ye Wenjie is tasked with designing a large radio astronomy observatory. She and her team travel to various locations in China, searching for the best site. They finally settle on a remote, hilly area in the Northwest, known for its clean electromagnetic environment. During a brief rest in a nearby village, they meet a foreigner named Mike Evans, who has been planting trees for three years to create a habitat for an endangered species of swallow.

Evans shares his story, revealing that he is the son of a billionaire oil company president. A childhood trauma involving a massive oil spill that killed countless seabirds led him to abandon his privileged life and dedicate himself to environmental conservation. He introduces the concept of Pan-Species Communism, an ideology advocating that all species on Earth are equal. Despite his wealth and resources, Evans feels powerless to stop the destruction of the environment and the extinction of species.

Three years later, Ye receives a postcard from Evans, inviting her to visit. Upon arriving, she discovers that the forest he planted is being cut down by local villagers due to a lack of legal protection. Ye confronts Evans, who reveals that he has inherited his father's fortune but sees no point in using it to save the forest. He believes that as long as human civilization continues to develop, the environment will inevitably be destroyed. Ye then tells Evans about the Red Coast Project and her communication with Trisolaris, suggesting that an external force might be the only hope for saving the planet.

Initially skeptical, Evans agrees to verify Ye's claims. If they prove true, he pledges to join the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO) and work towards a new future.

Three years after her encounter with Mike Evans, Ye Wenjie receives an invitation to be a visiting scholar at a university in Western Europe. Upon arriving at Heathrow, she is greeted by a young man who escorts her to a helicopter. The helicopter flies her to a ship in the Atlantic Ocean, the Judgment Day, a modified sixty-thousand-ton oil tanker that now serves as the Second Red Coast Base. The resemblance to the original Red Coast Base, with its giant parabolic antenna, evokes a sense of déjà vu for Ye.

Evans greets her and informs her that they have received a message from Trisolaris, confirming her earlier communication. He reveals that the Trisolaran Fleet has already set sail for the solar system and will arrive in four hundred and fifty years. Evans introduces her to the first members of the Earth-Trisolaris Organization (ETO), whose goal is to invite Trisolaran civilization to transform human society and address its inherent flaws. Ye is asked to become the commander-in-chief of the ETO, and after a moment of contemplation, she agrees. The chapter concludes with the ETO fighters chanting their slogan, marking the formal beginning of the Earth-Trisolaris Movement.

Following her arrival at the Second Red Coast Base, Ye Wenjie learns more about the Earth-Trisolaris Movement (ETO). The ETO is characterized by its members' deep-seated disillusionment with human civilization and their willingness to betray their own species. Composed primarily of highly educated elites, the ETO has grown rapidly, leveraging the members' social status and influence to gain power. Unlike the common people, who lack the deep understanding and alienation of the educated class, the ETO members have developed a strong force of alienation from human civilization.

The ETO is divided into two main factions: the Adventists and the Redemptionists. The Adventists, followers of Mike Evans's Pan-Species Communism, have completely lost hope in humanity, basing their betrayal on despair and hatred. The Redemptionists, on the other hand, are believers in the Trisolaran faith, viewing Trisolaris as a savior. They aim to solve the three-body problem to save both Trisolaris and Earth, though their efforts have not yielded significant results. The two factions are often in conflict, with the Adventists seeing the Redemptionists as a threat to the ETO's goals.

As the ETO movement grows, a third faction, the Survivors, emerges. These individuals, mostly from lower social classes and predominantly from China, hope to ensure the survival of their descendants in the face of the Trisolaran invasion. Despite the long timeline of 450 years, the Survivors' numbers are increasing rapidly, and they are expected to become a significant force in the future. The ETO's rapid development is fueled by the members' alienation from human civilization, their admiration for a more advanced civilization, and their desire for their descendants' survival.

Under intense questioning, Ye Wenjie remains tight-lipped about the contents of the intercepted messages and the Adventists' activities. She confirms that the Adventists have withheld some messages but refuses to divulge their contents. Ye also reveals her plans to build a third Red Coast Base, which were abandoned due to the cessation of messages from Alpha Centauri. The interrogator notes that Trisolaris terminated communications with Earth four years ago, making the intercepted messages even more valuable.

Ye elaborates on the internal conflicts within the ETO, particularly the differing goals of the Adventists and Redemptionists. She explains her decision to avoid attacking Judgment Day, the core base of the Adventists, to preserve the crucial messages stored on the ship. When questioned about Trisolaris's technological capabilities, Ye discloses that Trisolaris sent two protons to Earth two years ago. These protons act as a lock to prevent human scientific progress until the Trisolaran Fleet arrives in four and a half centuries.

After the interrogation, Wang Miao and Ding Yi reflect on the implications of Ye's revelations. Ding Yi marvels at the precision required to send the protons from four light-years away, emphasizing the advanced technology of the Trisolarans. He delves into the concept of higher dimensions and the limitations of human technology, suggesting that the Trisolarans' ability to manipulate micro dimensions is far beyond human comprehension. Despite the fantastical nature of the information, Ding Yi and Wang Miao agree to focus on their responsibilities and maintain a philosophical outlook.

Wang Miao and Captain Shi Qiang attend a high-level meeting to discuss the capture of the Trisolaran messages stored on the ship Judgment Day. General Chang emphasizes the urgency and difficulty of the mission, highlighting the need to disable all enemies on the ship within ten seconds to prevent the destruction of crucial data. The meeting explores various options, including ball lightning weapons, neutron bombs, and nerve gas, but none are deemed feasible due to the ship's size and the risk of damaging the data. Da Shi proposes a unique plan involving nanofilaments to slice the ship and its crew. The plan is accepted, and the operation is codenamed 'Guzheng'. Judgment Day is successfully sliced by the nanofilaments, and the ship is destroyed. The Trisolaran messages are recovered, and Evans is found dead.

Still reeling from the confrontation with the cosmic microwave background fluctuations and the mysterious countdown, the narrative shifts to Trisolaris, where a listener at Listening Post 1379 monitors the universe for signs of intelligent life. Despite the advanced technology, the listener's job is solitary and repetitive, and the Chaotic Era nights are particularly desolate. One night, the listener notices an unusual waveform on the display, indicating a modulated radio signal. The signal is rated Red 10, the highest recognizability rating, and the computer begins translating the message in real-time.

The message, originating from Earth, expresses a desire to establish contact and work together for a better future. The listener, thrilled and excited, reads about Earth's single sun and stable climate, imagining a world of blue oceans and green forests. However, the excitement is short-lived as the listener falls into a nightmare, dreaming of Earth being destroyed by an interstellar fleet. Upon waking, the listener reflects on the harsh realities of Trisolaris and the futility of his life. Determined to make a difference, he sends a warning message to Earth, urging them not to respond to Trisolaran communications.

The listener's actions are reported to the princeps, who is calm and unaffected by the news. The princeps questions the listener, who explains his motivations, citing the monotony and desiccation of Trisolaran life and his desire to save Earth. The princeps, recognizing the listener's crime, spares his life but ensures he will witness the destruction of Earth. The chapter concludes with the princeps ordering the execution of six thousand individuals responsible for the listener's access to the monitoring system and discussing the fleet's preparations to travel to Earth.

Eighty-five thousand Trisolaran hours after the fleet's launch, the princeps gathers all Trisolaran consuls beneath the Pendulum Monument. The meeting reveals that Earth, a mere forty thousand light-hours away, has responded to the warning from Post 1379. This proximity and Earth's advanced technology pose a significant threat, as it may surpass Trisolaran capabilities by the time the fleet arrives in four and a half centuries.

To counter this, the princeps introduces Project Sophon, a plan to unfold a proton into a two-dimensional plane and transform it into a superintelligent computer. Once shrunk to subatomic size, the sophons will infiltrate Earth's particle accelerators, manipulate experimental results, and halt human scientific progress. The princeps and consuls witness the successful unfolding of a proton, which is then wrapped around Trisolaris to create a massive mirror. This mirror demonstrates the sophons' ability to reflect and focus sunlight, causing catastrophic damage to the capital city.

The Trisolarans also plan to create 'miracles' on Earth to demoralize and confuse human scientists. These include manipulating cosmic radiation and creating visible patterns on film and retinas. Two sophons are dispatched to Earth, while the other two remain on Trisolaris to maintain quantum entanglement and enable real-time monitoring. The Trisolarans send a final, ominous message to the Battle Command Center: 'You’re bugs!' This marks the end of all communication between Trisolaris and the Adventists within the ETO.

Heavy-hearted and intoxicated, Wang Miao and Ding Yi discuss the futility of their scientific pursuits in light of the Trisolaran threat. Their despair deepens as they believe the sophons have rendered human scientific progress impossible, making the Trisolaran invasion in four hundred years seem inevitable. Observing their despondency, Captain Shi Qiang challenges their defeatist attitude, suggesting that despite the limitations imposed by the sophons, human technology can still advance, albeit in a limited capacity. However, Wang and Ding argue that without understanding the deep structure of matter, true scientific and technological breakthroughs are impossible. They toast to their perceived status as 'bugs' and the impending end of the world, reveling in their newfound nihilism.

Determined to lift their spirits, Da Shi drags the two scientists to his car and drives them to his hometown in Hebei Province. There, he takes them to a wheat field infested with locusts. Da Shi poses a question: is the technological gap between humans and Trisolarans greater than the gap between humans and locusts? This analogy jolts the scientists out of their stupor, making them realize that even in the face of overwhelming odds, humans have historically struggled to eradicate pests like locusts, which continue to thrive.

Inspired by the resilience of the locusts, Wang and Ding pour their remaining wine on the ground as a symbolic toast to the enduring nature of life. They thank Da Shi for his perspective, recognizing that there is still much to do and that they cannot give up. The chapter ends with the three men returning to the city, reinvigorated and ready to face the challenges ahead.

Ye Wenjie, determined to visit the ruins of Red Coast Base, climbs Radar Peak alone, refusing any assistance and resting only a few times. Her silence since learning the truth about Trisolaran civilization is palpable, and her sole request is to see the remnants of the base where her life changed irrevocably. Upon reaching the top of Radar Peak, the tip emerges from the cloud cover, revealing a bright sun and clear blue sky—a stark contrast to the foggy haze they had been walking through all day.

At the summit, the ruins of Red Coast Base are barely visible, with tall grass and buried foundations marking the site. Ye discovers a large metallic base covered in vines, identifying it as the support for the antenna that transmitted the first message from Earth to the sun, and ultimately to the universe. A small stone tablet, almost hidden in the grass, commemorates the site, seemingly more an attempt to forget than to remember.

Ye walks to the edge of the cliff, the place where she once ended the lives of Lei Zhicheng and Yang Weining. Instead of gazing over the sea of clouds, she focuses on the small village of Qijiatun below. Her heart strains with effort, and black fog appears before her eyes. Using the last of her strength, she remains upright, determined to witness the sunset at Red Coast Base one more time. The sun, melting into the sea of clouds, casts a magnificent, bloody red glow over the sky, and Ye whispers, 'My sunset. And sunset for humanity.'