In the spacious minister's office on the top floor of the Ministry of National Defense building, the spring scenery in the distant alleys struggled to pass through the distance and projected a pitiful amount of light onto the glass. Minister Zou calmly put down his teacup and rubbed his nose that had a red mark because of the glasses. He smiled and said:
"You must know that some people in the government are questioning why Shi Qinghai happened to hold Yuzi hostage after killing so many people in Parliament Hill … I even heard that some people have started to ask lip-reading experts to analyze what Yuzi said to your friend."
Xu Le's straight black eyebrows couldn't help but furrow like a twisted blade. He stared at the tea in front of him, which was still as tall as before, and subconsciously shook his head.
After a moment, he asked in a deep voice: "Madam … what do you mean now? I have already told her everything I know. After knowing the truth of the Ancient Bell explosion, what is she and the other families going to do?"
For many years, Minister Zou Yingxing had a distinct Tai family background. After Mr. Pabre became the president, as part of the political agreement, he directly became the Federation's Minister of National Defense. At that time, he could even be seen as a strong spokesperson for the government and the military. However, as he gradually showed his courage and ability in the position of Minister of National Defense, he received recognition and praise from the president and many other officers of the Federation. His factionalism had faded a lot.
"Madam and the others will probably choose to continue watching. After all, the general's reputation has always been excellent, and the damage now hasn't affected the families themselves. As a millennial family that has secretly influenced and even controlled the Federation for countless years, the crazy ideas of the past few years are probably just some kind of repetitive game in their eyes. However, they don't understand that once the armed army starts to rush forward, it will be a dangerous situation that has never been seen before in history. "
"Do you still remember what I said in the past?" Minister Zou mocked with a faint smile. The army is not allowed to have independent thoughts. Once this happens, it will become very scary. "
"The old man said something similar. As a soldier of the Federation, I have always remembered it." Xu Le replied.
"I'm glad that you remember. I'm disappointed that more soldiers have forgotten." Minister Zou slightly frowned. He looked out of the window again and said indifferently, "There's something you may not know yet. Half an hour ago, Commander Yu Chenghai was transferred from the Army general hospital to the exclusive hospital of the First Military Region. His resignation letter and medical diagnosis were divided into two and placed on the table of General Lee Jae-do and I."
As a senior vice division level officer of the new 17th Division, or to be more precise, as the future division commander of the new 17th Division that the Federal military had carefully nurtured, Xu Le could no longer maintain his calm when he suddenly heard this news. He stood up abruptly, his lips trembling slightly. He wanted to ask something, but in the end, he didn't ask.
Commander Yu Chenghai, who was born a chef, looked like a harmless old man, but in reality, he was the last representative of the entire generation of outstanding soldiers under War God Li Pifu. In the war against the Empire, he led the new 17th Division to silently obtain victory after victory, restoring the unparalleled glory of the undefeated division of the past. But now … for some unknown reason, he was forced to leave his combat post!
"A few days ago, General Lee Jae-do made a special trip to the headquarters of the new 17th Division to meet with Commander Yu. As for what they talked about, no one knows." Minister Zou reminded.
Xu Le slowly lowered his head, a bitter and self-deprecating smile on his face.
As the only son of War God Li Pifu, senior military figures like General Miers and Commander Yu Chenghai of the previous generation, even if they didn't agree with Lee Jae-do's way of thinking, when faced with intense conflict, they would always remember whose descendant he was. Then, making the choice to remain silent and give in would not be surprising or shocking.
At this moment, Xu Le very naturally thought of the time he spent in the hot springs with the old man in Philadelphia, thought of the flashing lights in front of the manor, and even thought of Lee Jae-do's gentle smile at the time. The successor of the War God? At the time, the entire Federation seemed to think that he was the chosen successor of the War God, but if Lee Jae-do stood out, who would still think so?
This was a very ironic and sad truth. Even if it was the Federation's War God Li Pifu, once he left this world, there was no way for him to decide who his successor would be.
Minister Zou looked at him and continued, "Commander Yu resigned, you were hunted down, it seems that in order to control the troops, some people have lost their rationality and become incomparably crazy."
Xu Le raised his head and suddenly asked seriously, "Have you ever imagined that General Lee Jae-do … could be the leader of the radical faction?"
"No." Minister Zou was silent for a moment before replying, "I always thought that he was a gentle and respectable military theorist. It was very difficult for me to associate those conspiracies and murders with him."
"I also never thought of this possibility … but I didn't expect that the most impossible thing would become true," Xu Le replied in a low voice.
"Do you want to meet with Lee Jae-do?" Minister Zou asked with his brows slightly furrowed.
"No. There is no meaning in meeting now. "
Xu Le shook his head and continued, "As you said just now, he and those people have already lost their rationality and have fallen into some kind of hysterical madness … In my opinion, this kind of madness means that they have already begun to be afraid and have begun to panic."
After a moment of consideration, he continued, "I plan to hold a press conference. The time was originally set for tomorrow, but I want to bring it forward to today."
"Go, be careful."
"Please be sure to be careful of your own safety."
"Killing you is because you have the ability to threaten their safety," Minister Zou replied with a smile, "I don't seem to have this ability, so I am safer than you."
Xu Le hesitated for a moment and asked, "They forced you to resign, how are you going to deal with it? Do you want to discuss it with Lady Tai? "
"The Lady and those families can deeply influence the political structure of the Federation, but their influence on the military is extremely limited. After all, the military's true strength is a matter of the constitution, and it is basically under the guidance of the War God."
Minister Zou said with emotion, "So only the Lees of Philadelphia can influence the military. Of course, the Zhong family of the West Woods should also have this ability, but unfortunately, those families didn't stop or even tacitly allowed that tragedy to unfold. "
"But I won't resign."
Minister Zou said calmly, "While some people are busy fighting for or consolidating their power to realize their ambitions or ideals, someone has to remember that on the frontlines, in the distant Empire Star Region, there are hundreds of thousands of Federation soldiers fighting a bloody battle."
"They need supplies, ammo, and mechas. They don't care who wins in the capital ring's vanity contest, and this is my responsibility as the Minister of Defense."
He looked at the young Federation officer and said with a smile, "So I won't resign. I will be like a young man who has fallen in love for the first time, shamelessly cling to the position of Minister of Defense and strive to do something for the frontlines."
Xu Le saluted the only Federal military general who truly had the demeanor of a scholar behind the table.
…
…
"Colonel Xu Le."
"Colonel Xu Le!"
Under the vigilant protection of the members of Iron Division, Xu Le walked out of the elevator and prepared to pass through the spacious hall on the first floor of the Department of Defense. The officers he met on the way looked at him in surprise and saluted and greeted him with joy or nervousness. They didn't know why he suddenly appeared in the capital special district when he was supposed to be carrying out a mission in the West Woods.
Almost at the same time, there was a burst of dense and excited salutes and footsteps from the gorgeous revolving door of the Department of Defense building.
"Commander Shaoqing!"
"Commander Shaoqing, hello!"
Surrounded by the officers of the Iron Seventh Division, Du Shaoqing, wearing a straight lieutenant general's uniform, walked in through the door. The officers of the Department of Defense who were busy carrying documents hurriedly stood at attention and saluted in surprise.
They didn't know what Du Shaoqing and the officers of the Iron Seventh Division were carrying out, or were they having a meeting. But in short, just as Xu Le was about to leave, he appeared in the Department of Defense building.
When he saw Xu Le, Xu Le also noticed his appearance. A faint light seemed to flash in their eyes, but neither of them took the initiative to stop. On the contrary, their footsteps were exceptionally firm and steady, without a trace of slowing down.
They didn't stop, and the officers beside them naturally wouldn't stop either. Both of them had a cold and cool demeanor, looking straight ahead, facing each other, but not in each other's eyes.
Seeing this sudden scene, thinking of the many rumors in the Federal forces over the years, thinking of Du Shaoqing and Xu Le's various military exercises from their graduation day until recently, the originally noisy Department of Defense building suddenly quieted down, and the empty hall seemed even more spacious. Only the crisp sound of military boots on both sides could be heard, getting closer and closer.
Right in the center of the Department of Defense building was a huge military emblem of the Federation. It was made of heavy carbon alloy bullet shells laid into the hard ground, and under the light, it shone with a cold light like a sword. When Xu Le and Du Shaoqing walked past the military emblem of the Federation, they stopped at almost the same time.
"Commander Shaoqing."
"Colonel Xu Le."
Xu Le saluted, and Du Shaoqing returned the salute. There was a moment of silence.
Xu Le stared at the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose and said, "I just heard a sentence, and I want to pass it on to you: The army shouldn't have its own thoughts, because it's too dangerous."
Du Shaoqing's expression was cold, and his hands were behind his back. He stood straight like the last surviving winter pine in the glacier.
He slowly took off his sunglasses, looked at Xu Le expressionlessly, and replied, "Do you think I need you to tell me the concept proposed in Schiller's political drama?"
Xu Le looked at his eyes and his hair that was obviously whiter than it was a few months ago, and said, "History will remember many things. I just want to remind you that no matter when, you and your troops must at least remember one thing. The duty of a soldier is to obey orders … According to the charter, they must completely obey the orders of the elected government of the Federation."
Hearing this, Du Shaoqing's cold expression suddenly had a strange change. The corners of his lips curled up, as if he wanted to smile, but in the end, it only turned into a trace of coldness. "Colonel Xu Le, you know your position. I don't need you to nag like a woman. I also know what the duty of a soldier is."
In the building of the Ministry of National Defense, two groups of officers stood behind the two of them, facing each other. Although it was impossible for them to point their guns at each other, they could clearly feel that the air was filled with the smell of stone after a high-speed collision, as if the stone could be crushed into powder at any time.
The current situation was gradually becoming clear. Du Shaoqing and his Iron Seventh Division were one of the strongest supporters of the radical faction in the military. Xu Le hoped that he could use words to make the enemy surrender, but at this moment, he really had a lot to say to Du Shaoqing.
"I heard that Ximen Jin died?" He looked at Du Shaoqing and the officers of the Iron Seventh Division with a serious expression.
Then he slowly narrowed his eyes and smiled. "It's good that he died."
…
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