Thanks to everyone who passed along the correct access code for opening Dr. Tsi Chou’s file in the comments on the last post: that didn’t take long at all, and now we have more information on Dr. Tsi Chou. Even better, this time it’s all in English.
See for yourself; go to the Wildfire site and use access code:
HI SCOUT
It looks like our government knew exactly why Dr. Chou defected from his work with the Chinese military, and were able to use that information to convince him to lend his services. It makes me wonder, though: Stone knew Noyce, and Noyce knew Barton, which explains why Stone suggested both of them for inclusion on the Wildfire team. But what connection, if any, did Stone have to Chou?
Not sure what else we should be looking for, but I still feel certain there’s something else Wheezer intended for me to find on the Wildfire intranet. I’m thinking there might be more files related to Major William Keene… anyone got suggestions for that access code?
Several of you sent in similar translations of the Chinese article from the Wildfire Intranet, and I’m grateful for the help. For anyone who didn’t see it yet, this was the original article:
The most detailed translation I’ve received is this one, from “Dawn P”:
FAMOUS MICROBIOLOGIST FROM CHINA ESCAPES TO AMERICA
An anonymous official in mainland China revealed that there had been a heated discussion amongst the Chinese government lately regarding the betrayal of a brilliant scientist and his escape to America. Doctor Chou Si has resigned his position as the leading engineer of People’s Republic of China’s microbiology committee. Chou Si graduated from Beijing University in 1988, before entering Oxford University and graduating with a Doctorate in 1993. His responsibilities and duties as part of the committee remains unknown to anyone outside, but there has been rumors that his field of research has a large importance on the engineering of biological warfare and defense. Before entering the service of the government, Chou Si has contributed to the nation by making large progresses in the research of prevention of infectious diseases.
According to a high-ranking source in the government, Chou Si’s escape to America is likely to have connections with the case of an outbreak of smallpox in the region around Shanghai that occurred a few years ago. The outbreak claimed the lives of over a hundred people before the government could implement prevention measures and eradicate the disease.
So Chou was doing classified work with the Chinese military on biological weapons, biodefense, or both, until he defected. Not certain how old this article is, but I’m guessing it can’t be older than 1994, if Chou didn’t graduate from Oxford until 2003. And given his credentials, he must have been pretty appealing for inclusion on the Wildfire team.
It seems like every hour that passes brings more questions than answers. Another reader, identifying herself as Isadora, sent me another access code for the Wildfire intranet:
4 8 15 16 23 42
But even though this one unlocks a file, I’m still at a loss… The unlocked document is listed as “WFSD: NEWSFILE TC-4815162342″, but it’s in a foreign language that I can’t read.
I’m guessing TC stands for Tsi Chou, the remaining scientist on the Wildfire team?
I’m assuming that this is Chinese. If necessary, someone in the Foreign Languages department might be willing to help me translate it, but I realized that one of you might know how to read Chinese, or know someone else who does.
This article could be useful, or it could turn out to be nothing… but with this much at stake, it’s important to follow every possible clue, wherever it might lead.
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