Chapter 176: Lin An's File

Capital War Zone Hall.

General Nie Ping let out a light sigh, his gaze complex as he looked at the Awakened One speaking in his place.

He is different from Lin Zhan; he is merely an ordinary person.

Therefore, after the Apocalypse broke out, although his qualifications and prestige were far greater than Lin Zhan's, he nevertheless lost his right to speak.

Being able to shout at Lin Zhan twice, to have the right to speak, relies entirely on the prestige built up over many years.

In the Apocalypse, strength is everything.

If not for his years of commanding troops under him, and many units in the External War Zone belonging to his direct lineage...

Given his current strength, he would likely have long been sidelined and sent to the Rear to 'retire'.

Lin Zhan, Lihao, Long Zhen, Zhang Haiping.

These four are the strongest Awakened Ones in the Capital War Zone, each guarding one front line.

In their eyes, Nie Ping is probably like Lian Po, a stubborn old man.

6000 Awakened Ones repeatedly sent the message:

"Capital War Zone-Huang Zhang First Rank: To all Huaxia Survivors."

"This is the Capital War Zone, the Capital Military Region Command Center and Garrison Command."

"Hereby, we announce to all Survivors the relevant orders concerning Long'an Base."

"We hereby order: all members of Long'an Base and its Base Leader, Lin An."

"You must, within 15 days, merge with the nearest Military Region and actively contact the Capital Military Region."

"If your unit is active or non-active Military Region forces, you must report all Safe Zone information within 48 hours."

"If your unit is a private armed force, you must immediately cease all actions, surrender the Safe Zone Token within 48 hours, and proactively report your location."

"After merging or nearby reorganizing the Safe Zone."

"You must immediately launch rescue missions and announce the locations of newly built Safe Zones!"

"You must not, in any way or for any excuse, refuse to accept Survivors and rescue missions!"

"This order is a mandatory order; please be sure to enforce it strictly!"

The announcement was icy, leaving almost no room for leniency.

Nie Ping had no authority to interfere with the information.

But in his heart, he always felt this would make people feel cold-hearted.

If Lin An were an active military personnel, it would still be fine.

Military orders are as immovable as a mountain; he relied on the army's power to establish the Safe Zone, and now he naturally must accept the order unconditionally.

For soldiers, obeying orders is their heavenly duty.

Even if you let Lin An now bring people to the capital, you must grit your teeth and charge in.

But he worries, what if Lin An is not an active military personnel?

Even more exaggeratedly, Lin An's Safe Zone was built solely by himself leading people, without using any military power—what then?

Others painstakingly built their Safe Zones, yet a single sentence demands they relinquish power, with such harsh conditions.

Who could endure this?

Limited time, limited deadline, unconditional cooperation, hand over the token.

It is obvious that this is to force Long'an Base to state its position, while also testing whether this Lin An is indeed that Lin An.

Although Nie Ping also knows the superiors' thoughts.

The Capital rushes to build Safe Zones solely to stabilize people's hearts.

Before the global announcement was made, no one knew such a thing as a Safe Zone existed, so naturally they paid no attention.

But once there is one, everyone will want one.

If the Capital Military Region still had the strength to control the overall situation, why couldn't it even complete a Safe Zone mission?

Therefore, the upper level's plan is divided into two steps.

First step: immediately establish the Safe Zone and implement the Long'an Project.

Second step: forcibly levy the Safe Zone Token, so that if the mission is not completed, the first Safe Zone remains under the official name.

This is of great importance; the authorities will absolutely not allow anyone or any faction at this stage to exploit the situation and shake their prestige.

Even if it is merely a potential possibility, they will certainly not allow it.

The innocent commoner bears no guilt, but he who hides a jade incurs guilt!

If Lin An obeys the order, then everything can be discussed.

After handing over the token, replace the Base Leader.

Lin An, whatever you want, I will give it; even if you seek a minor official post, it's no problem—worst case, you'll be sent to the Rear to retire.

Just like those imperial relatives and nobles.

Many high-level officials actually consider this a favor.

If Lin An were simply an active military personnel of some Military Region, it would be even easier.

As a soldier, obeying orders is his heavenly duty, and defending the nation.

Handing over the token to the Capital and reporting all related information is your duty!

But.

Nie Ping sighed.

What if Lin An is merely a powerful Awakened One?

Such an approach is overly chilling.

If it inadvertently causes Lin An to develop a rebellious mindset, he would simply jump out and announce defiance, extensively recruiting manpower.

Even the situation is a bit worse.

The capital has long failed to establish a Safe Zone, and the name of Long'an Base has simply been hanging there alone.

People's hearts are in utter chaos; who would still believe the capital has the strength to control the overall situation, even to rebuild order?

By then, all kinds of demons and monsters will jump out, openly defying orders.

Moreover, there are already contradictions within the capital's war zone itself.

Factions fight each other, the military and local officials disagree, and even much public opinion still holds the idea of abandoning the city and heading north...

Under internal and external troubles...

The building will topple.

Although he also read the report about Lin An, it indeed warrants vigilance against him.

After all.

He was also extremely shocked after reading it for the first time.

But after carefully reviewing all of Lin An's files, he discovered there was another hidden matter...

It is not merely as stated in the report.

The guard beside Nie Ping saw the chief continually furrowing his brows, and couldn't help but move behind him and whisper:

"General Nie, are you still worrying about the Long'an Base matter?"

As a guard who has followed the chief for many years, although he holds little military rank, he knows more information than many.

He can be considered half of Nie Ping's confidant.

Nie Ping slowly nodded, hands behind his back, remaining silent.

"You shouldn't worry too much. I just can't figure out why the superiors insist that Lin An hand over the token."

"Wouldn't it be better to take it slow? There's no need to press so hard."

"A few words of praise, letting our people approach him proactively—even if he refuses to hand over the token, it wouldn't reject the capital's nominal meaning, right?"

"Wouldn't that be much better than the current situation?"

Nie Ping shook his head, merely handing the report in his hand to the guard to hold:

"Just let our own people look at it; you shouldn't discuss the superiors."

"I can say, let off some steam; the superiors won't do anything to me."

Zhang Yong took the report from the old chief's hand and hurriedly followed behind him.

He curiously flipped open a page.

"The person in charge of Long'an Base, Lin An, male, 24 years old. Suspected to be a retired soldier of the Special Operations Unit 【Long An Seven Team】 of the Wangjiang Military Region."

"The suspected reasons are as follows:"

"Nationwide, same name Lin An: 4171 people."

"Aged 18-49: 1671."

"No disability history, no major illness history: 651 people."

"Number who have served or are currently serving: 16 people."

"After screening, remaining number: 9 people."

"Among personal information, those related to Long An: 1 person."

"Therefore, our department believes this person matches the retired soldier Lin An of Unit Seven with up to 97% similarity!"

"Note: This identification is based on the name of the base he established."

"Based on the above information, our department will make his service record public to everyone."

"Wangjiang Military Region, Seventh Action Team, ID 99067: Lin An."

"He once participated in the 【**】 plan, openly violating military orders in the virtual test!"

"In the subsequent 【**】 test, he showed traits of extreme cold-bloodedness, disregard for life, selfishness, brutality, lack of collective sense, etc."

"In the virtual battlefield, he used heavy weapons to massacre civilians on a large scale."

"In the simulated confrontation, he threatened and coerced other testers to act as bait."

"In the major disaster simulation test, he defied rescue missions and abandoned the protection targets required by the mission."

"In the loyalty test, he intended to kill his superiors and tried to incite other testers to collectively rebel!"

"In the final battle..."

"After defying military orders and killing comrade superiors, he intended to carry out..."

"The city-slaughter plan!"