Outside the VIP room, two formally dressed guards stood upright and opened the door for Lu Ziqing as he approached.
The spacious VIP room had curtains drawn and the overhead lights on, brightly lit yet uncomfortably so.
The air conditioning was on, keeping the room at a pleasant temperature.
Wen Nian, dressed in a black suit that was crisp from collar to hem without a single wrinkle, wore a shirt under his blazer that wasn’t as stiff as one might imagine; no tie, with the top button undone.
"Xilin Military Region, Captain Lu Ziqing."
Lu Ziqing walked up to Wen Nian and stood straight, saluting.
Wen Nian slightly nodded, "Commander Lu, you contributed to the operation to capture the criminal Duan Shen."
Lu Ziqing asked, puzzled.
Shen Xinhui beside him paused for a moment.
Wen Nian leaned back into the sofa, his hands crossed, looking relaxed as he gazed at Lu Ziqing,
"Successfully rescuing the hostages, arresting Duan Shen, capturing nearly a hundred criminals, and killing over sixty fugitives on the spot, isn’t that a contribution?"
Lu Ziqing heard this and smiled faintly,
"Mr. President is mistaken."
Shen Xinhui’s brows furrowed tightly, unsure of what Lu Ziqing was planning.
"The orders were issued by Great General Long Hongzhuo, monitored by Commander Shen Xinhui, and the overall command of the operation was led by my subordinate, Lieutenant Qi Yong."
"And what about you?"
"Isn’t that a contribution too?"
"I didn’t kill a single enemy, and even got shot. If Mr. President thinks that’s a contribution, then so be it."
Lu Ziqing spoke indifferently.
Shen Xinhui quickly spoke up,
"Lu Ziqing, what kind of attitude is this in front of His Excellency?"
Wen Nian called out to him, and Shen Xinhui hurriedly stopped talking.
"Commander Lu, it seems you have many grievances against me, or is that just my imagination?"
Shen Xinhui glared fiercely at him, but Lu Ziqing ignored him.
Wen Nian’s voice was gentle, "Commander Shen, please step outside."
Wen Nian looked up, "Yes?"
"Nothing, nothing..."
Shen Xinhui left the room begrudgingly.
Now only Wen Nian and Lu Ziqing were left in the room. Wen Nian extended his hand, "Please, take a seat."
Lu Ziqing did not bother with formalities.
The two remarkable men of similar age sat face to face, their gazes naturally sparking friction in the air.
"Let’s hear it, what are your grievances against me?"
Wen Nian picked up the tea in front of him and took a sip.
"The general is abroad, and military orders are not to be obeyed; you, being far in Anlin, still insist on issuing orders to influence Xilin Military’s actions. As the commander of Xilin Military Region, it’s normal to have some complaints, isn’t it?"
"What orders did I issue..."
Wen Nian looked at him.
"To prioritize the capture of the criminal over the hostages’ lives."
Lu Ziqing looked directly at Wen Nian, who chuckled lightly upon hearing this, "It seems your complaint is not about me interfering with your command, but about the order I issued."
"To question your orders, Lu Ziqing doesn’t have the audacity yet."
"Commander Lu is young and talented, standing out among many generals in the military. Just by what you’ve just said, you already are quite bold."
"Then... do you think the order you issued... deserves complaint?"
Wen Nian agreed straightforwardly,
"However, ’the general is abroad and the military orders are not to be obeyed’ was from a time when communication and transportation were undeveloped. You, being just a Captain, refuse to obey military orders and act on your own. If in the future you become a commander or a general... Oh no, with this attitude, Commander Lu will never become a commander or a general."
Lu Ziqing’s frame stiffened slightly.
Wen Nian set down his teacup, his gaze slowly lifting to meet Lu Ziqing’s,
"And moreover, the person who should complain about me isn’t Commander Lu, but those innocent hostages."
Lu Ziqing pursed his lips.
"The rescued hostages are in the hospital, right? Take me to visit them."