Chapter 525

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Xi Tan held court at the naval base, accompanied by a Gold Star General as guest, savoring Longjing Tea Tea tea and sampling Western pastries, with two field-grade officers attending on either side — the very picture of imposing momentum.

Since ancient times, the military has prioritized the Central over the border, and those permanently stationed lean toward outlying posts. Not to mention Xi Tan is one of the Navy's youngest Major Generals; as long as he has Headquarters backing, he qualifies to have out-of-province General Officers attend him as junior aides.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, on one side lay the azure sea under blue skies, on the other verdant distant mountains; the bright sunlight lifted the spirits.

Xi Tan praised, "Jiangning truly has beautiful mountains and beautiful waters."

In a flash, he added half-truthfully, "It's just the people who aren't good."

The Chief of Staff laughed uproariously, a laugh of utter bitterness.

"People aren't good" — that could only mean the Chen Family. But they, naval officers stationed in Jiangning, who dared speak ill of the Chen Family? Even in private, they had to constantly mind the influence.

Yet, precisely because of this, it only highlighted the Chen Family's arrogant flames. The Chief of Staff thought of Chen Yi's naked threat and felt his heart ache with a sickening lurch.

"Does the Chief of Staff find the mountains and waters beautiful? Or find the people bad?" Xi Tan was genuinely pleased, insisting on a clear answer.

Those words could not be spoken. The Gold Star-wearing Chief of Staff just "heh-heh-heh"ed and "mmm-mmm-mmm"ed in laughter, refusing to open his mouth.

Xi Tan snorted inwardly, thinking: The Jiangning Chen Family — have they broken the spines of you all?

Turning his head, he smiled at the other side: "Uncle He also has holdings in Jiangning; I wonder how you view this place?"

"The beauty of mountains and waters, a peerless wonder in the Southeast. Well said."

Seated there was none other than He Fuhan's brother, He Maoran. After the He Family left Jiangning's position of power and nobility, he fled overseas to avoid disaster, awaiting an opportunity to act. Only when the Xi Family extended an invitation did he return to Jiangning.

To speak of staunch anti-Chen factions — if the He Family claims second, no one dares claim first.

One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers. When the Chen Family laughed proudly over Jiangning was precisely when the He Family's gate was humble. From Xijing to Jiangning, unless they undertake another great migration, willing to abandon 20 years of hard-won accumulation, they must push the Chen Family off its pedestal.

The Xi Family needed local force support, so they sought out the He Family. Although He Fuhan was gone and He Maoran could help little, this at least avoided a collision between an overpassing dragon and a local snake — a local snake as colossal as the Chen Family was not something a little dragon like Xi Tan could stir. Only by sidestepping the Central-versus-local struggle did he gain room to maneuver.

Having received a satisfactory answer before everyone, Xi Tan smiled faintly, opened his lips: "Let's not speak of vexing matters. This trip is mainly official business, but not entirely for official business; I still need the Navy comrades' help."

"Look at what you're saying. Wherever we can exert effort, we definitely won't shrink back."

"Good." Xi Tan's slender fingers circled the teacup, tone warming: "Around 2 PM, two trucks will transfer planes at Shanzhou Airport; hope the Chief of Staff can help arrange it, take off as soon as possible."

"No problem."

"Also, I have a ship heading for the high seas; same thing — hope it can set sail as soon as possible."

"A trivial matter!"

"Good, good." Xi Tan laughed with abandon, revealing a touch of youthful arrogance.

The general officers accompanied him with uproarious laughter, as if they'd heard a classic joke!

Xi Tan picked up a thumbnail-sized small pastry in satisfaction, placed it in his mouth, chewed seriously.

Lunch featured mountain delicacies as sides; the main dish was a super lobster one meter long, weighing 25 pounds, enough to feed all 8 people at the table.

Naval officers accustomed to coastal life never considered seafood anything special; on occasional overseas visits, they had plenty of chances to taste lobsters over 7 pounds.

But 25 pounds!

Even Xi Tan found it surprising, a smile surfacing on his face.

"General Xi, please take the seat of honor."

"Chief of Staff, you take the upper seat, please." Xi Tan rarely yielded — perhaps for the sake of this lobster general.

Thirty years of struggle for a Gold Star, not worth a 30-year lobster — a helpless reality.

During the banquet, Xi Tan put away his "Navy's future star" expression, chatted and laughed telling jokes; aside from glancing at his mobile phone now and then, no strange behavior.

But that was the strangest part.

A dignified Major General, constantly checking his phone?

Everyone present was of what caliber; they associated the 2 o'clock plane and ship, silently noting it in their hearts. The Chief of Staff still laughed heartily urging drinks.

The meal lasted until 1 PM. Xi Tan covered his cup, stood to bid farewell: "I need to rest; you gentlemen feel free, don't mind me. Right, we'll continue drinking this afternoon."

"Good, General Xi, please suit yourself." The Chief of Staff understood tacitly and stepped aside, resolved not to get mixed in.

Once the man left, He Maoran smiled: "The host is gone; then let's disperse."

"Look at what you're saying — one more cup, then sleep." The Chief of Staff lifted his cup, taking advantage of the situation to end the banquet. He truly had no interest in serving He Maoran.

Amid the disordered cups and plates, several general officers walked toward the door chatting and laughing, when the double glass doors suddenly rattled *pa-la pa-la* in chaos.

He Maoran looked up — it was actually a squadron of whirring helicopters.

"Look above." Someone shouted.

"Headquarters'."

"Son of a bitch."

The few men held their poses for two seconds, then suddenly all moved at once.

Some buttoning buttons, some running, some frantically searching for clothes — exactly like red-light district men during a surprise inspection.

He Maoran cried inwardly "bad," and also rushed out the door to ask: "Which Headquarters?"

"Jiangning Military Region Headquarters." The Deputy Commander had a violent temper, didn't like speaking at the wine table; now his eyes were bloodshot as if drunk.

The Jiangning Military Region is the naval base's nominal superior; the latter's Commander holds a Deputy Commander title in the Jiangning Military Region but basically acts independently. Especially when Army treatment wasn't great, the two sides were even more estranged.

Now, Army Aviation helicopters had arrived over the naval base — whether trouble ensued or not, it wouldn't make anyone happy.

He Maoran extended his left hand to check his watch: 1:45 PM, indeed approaching 2 o'clock.

Only, the plane coming from the Jiangning Military Region at the other end would take about 10 minutes to fly; adding takeoff preparation time, the scent of conspiracy was instantly palpable.

"What's going on?" This was the question the general officers asked most!

14:47.

Xi Tan, sitting in the jeep, also heard the annoying noise of the helicopter's rotor.

His head was a bit slow, and he didn't think much of it, laughing: "Are the paparazzi going to train now? Drive faster."

Even with the accelerator floored, the jeep couldn't outrun the helicopter; the driver soon gave up and followed behind.

"Are they going to the airport?"

"Seems like it."

"Is that guy parking with the fighter jets?" Xi Tan used a mocking tone; two seconds later, he suddenly realized and slapped the front seat: "Drive fast, faster."

The jeep surged forward with all its might, but ultimately couldn't catch up to the plane.

14:55.

The military police of the Jiangning Military Region rappelled onto the airfield.

The transport plane that had just landed hadn't adjusted its posture yet when it was rushed from the runway. Xi Tan happened to see the rough scene of the pilot being dragged out, his nose twitched twice, and he took out his mobile phone: "Go to the port."

There was no information on the mobile phone.

A few minutes later, Port 7 Wharf had already been sealed off.

Xi Tan got out of the car without hesitation, looked deeply ahead, wiped his mobile phone clean, and threw it into the Hua Yuan fountain.

"Go back."

"To the naval base?"

"Mm... no, go to the airport, the civil aviation airport."

At the same time, sirens blared throughout Jiangning City Center.

Thousands of prepared police surrounded the Jiangning Bank Headquarters so tightly that not even water could leak through.

Yan Hang brought his capable subordinates, standing fearlessly on the front line, holding a walkie-talkie, issuing orders nonstop.

"Even with wings they can't get out." Chen Yi saw the panicked scene inside through the closed-circuit television, patted his knees and stood up, laughing: "The incident happened right at our doorstep; let's go out and watch the excitement."

"Sure." Zheng Pu answered first.

"Director Cai, please." Chen Yi made a standard Noble gesture, from the inheritance of the Divine Art Knight.

"Please." The Xijing official had no temper, and his expression was even more disrespectful.

At the entrance of Tong Da Zheng Quan, the security guards covered in full Armour retreated, replaced by Armed Police in Green Army Uniforms.

"What's the situation?" Zheng Pu poked the Armed Police with his hand.

The latter had raised his gun butt, and only after seeing a group of middle-aged men in suits behind him did he glare at him and say: "Bank robbery, go back, all of you go back."

"Who is your superior? Let him come over and say a few words."

"What for?" The soldier was at most eighteen or nineteen years old, and was stunned by Zheng Pu's intimidation.

Chen Yi coughed once and said: "The current Bureau Chief is Yan Hang, he's very busy, just wait a moment."

Not long after, Kong Qian, adorned with four-cornered star flowers, indeed came to pick them up.

"How is the situation?"

"Person and goods both captured, blocked in the Parking Lot. There's also one resisting to the death."

"Good." Chen Yi nodded solemnly and said: "This is Director of the Second Supervision Room of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, who happens to be responsible for supervising banks and other financial institutions, so I won't go."

Kong Qian's tongue curled in his mouth. The Discipline Inspection Commission was like a zookeeper; he couldn't do anything to the tourists, but he could definitely bully jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards into being as pitiful as monkeys and chickens; any animal that eats from the big pot has no one not afraid.

Director Cai had a wooden expression; he had seen many officials like Kong Qian, raised his nose, and left first himself.

Kong Qian hurriedly caught up, walking cautiously and pointing out the direction.

After the people walked far away, Zheng Pu's father Zheng Cao chuckled "heh" and said: "The Discipline Inspection Commission is indeed powerful."

"You're not afraid, but others are." Xu Guangwen was purely a bystander. Those studying Golden Silkworm research while watching the West Continent in a state of hundred wastes awaiting revival couldn't be considered normal people.

"Just don't scare them out of their wits." Zheng Cao hummed twice.

Zheng Pu stood behind, seeing Chen Yi's solemn expression, couldn't help but ask his father in a low voice: "What's going on?"

"Watch the show."

Zheng Cao still wouldn't say.

Not long after, two "bang bang" gunshots came from the front of the Jiangning Head Office, followed by the soldiers' shouts of "Doctor".

Chen Yi tore open a Listening Scroll, knowing no one had died, and immediately felt relieved.

After a while, the Military Region again sent news that the helicopter formation was successful.

Zheng Cao laughed more nervously than Chen Yi: "Now, only one item remains."

"Mm." Chen Yi looked toward the direction of Jiangning Bank.

Fu Polin happened to walk out of the bank with a deathly pale face.

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to come to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)