Ten minutes later.
An Xiawen stood at the doorway, taking deep breaths and constantly making calls on his phone.
The door was continuously pushed open, and solemn military officers of Jiang Ye entered the room unhurriedly. There were male officers as stout as bears and female officers who were slender and tall, all with furrowed brows and angry expressions.
Soon, all of Jiang Ye's retinue had arrived and were gathered in the room.
Most of the attendants sat quietly, waiting, their postures exuding the air of the elite. A small number were constantly sending messages on their phones, their expressions very composed.
An Xiawen, while on the phone, suddenly realized the room was very quiet, with only her own voice speaking, so she quickly lowered her volume. She had been panicked, but seeing everyone else so calm, she felt a bit more at ease.
The curtains were drawn, but faint yellow lights still filtered in.
Armored vehicles from the Capital City Guard had already surrounded the Governor's Mansion. Those yellow lights were the headlights of the vehicles. If one were to pull back the curtains and look outside at this moment, they would see impenetrable armored vehicles, mounted machine guns, and a sea of police officers in bulletproof vests.
Jiang Ye sat on the bedside cabinet, sending a message on his phone, when he suddenly received a call.
"Hello? This is Jiang Ye," Jiang Ye said.
"Are all your people in your room?" Zhang Qiongshi's voice was anxious.
"Yes," Jiang Ye replied. "We hope to leave as soon as possible."
"You can't leave for now. The Capital City Guard officers are blocking the entrance and can storm in at any moment. They should be waiting for orders," Zhang Qiongshi said. "I've already dispatched mercenary groups to come and relieve the siege."
Jiang Ye wanted to curse, but he held back.
"I've already contacted the fleet I brought," Jiang Ye said. "If it comes down to it, my fleet will come to forcibly pick up my people, and they might open fire on the guards outside. I hope things don't reach that point."
"I'm preparing to negotiate with them," Zhang Qiongshi said. "You're not entirely safe in your room. Do you want to go to the underground nuclear shelter?"
"No. What good is a nuclear shelter?" Jiang Ye thought for a moment. "I'll take my people to the dining hall. Let your chef prepare some late-night snacks for us; we're hungry after waking up in the middle of the night."
"We're in the dining hall. Come over," Zhang Qiongshi said.
Jiang Ye hung up the phone and waved his hand, "Everyone to the dining hall."
Everyone in the room immediately stood up and filed out unhurriedly.
Defensive fortifications were already being set up in the corridor. Guards and clerks holding energy rifles were in a panic, and a suffocating atmosphere pervaded the air.
Jiang Ye sighed softly. Fu Qiuyan had experienced a similar mutiny back then, and the corridor had been the same. However, Fu Qiuyan had watched from home, while he himself was now trapped.
Guards stood at the entrance to the dining hall. Seeing that it was Jiang Ye's entourage, they quickly opened the door.
The dining hall was crowded with people. It seemed that more than half of the Governor's Mansion staff had arrived, and the atmosphere was like a funeral. There were muffled sobs from the corners, and many people were crying.
Zhang Qiongshi stood by a table, constantly on the phone with several officials, her face pale with anxiety.
Jiang Ye's expression was blank, and a surge of anger rose within him.
When Fu Qiuyan's mutiny occurred, everyone from top to bottom remained calm and did their jobs. Zhang Qiongshi's administration was truly incompetent, appearing utterly pathetic.
"How is it?" Jiang Ye asked, approaching.
"Purge the corrupt officials," Zhang Qiongshi said, her face ashen. "Gladstone, the captain of the Capital City Guard, has staged a coup, claiming I've been misled by treacherous officials and alien forces, and demanding that I make changes for the benefit of the Rongping Star populace."
"The Capital City Guard is a garrison force, right?" Jiang Ye frowned. "Does this person have that much audacity? Are the alien forces referring to me? Heaven knows, I'm so lovable."
"Probably not. He submitted a report before, requesting that I dismiss several alien mercenary groups," Zhang Qiongshi said.
"Aren't you being sidelined precisely because of those mercenary groups?" Jiang Ye asked. "Is Gladstone still a loyal official?"
Zhang Qiongshi blinked in surprise. "How do you know I'm being sidelined? This information isn't even in the top-secret documents..."
"I saw it on the news," Jiang Ye joked.
Several high-ranking officials from Rongping Star nearby stared at Jiang Ye, dumbfounded and incredulous.
"They've surrounded the Governor's Mansion, why aren't they coming in?" Jiang Ye asked.
"Gladstone said that according to the law, his troops cannot enter the Governor's Mansion without permission," Zhang Qiongshi said. "I don't know what he's thinking."
"A petition by force?" Jiang Ye said. "Have the negotiators arrived?"
"He demanded that I go out personally to talk with him," Zhang Qiongshi said, her face deathly pale.
"You definitely can't go out," Jiang Ye said. "Order him to come in and talk to you."
"How is that possible..." Zhang Qiongshi shook her head. "He..."
"Let me handle this. To put it bluntly, they've got guns pointed at your doorstep, and your subordinates are no better than useless. Do you expect useless people to quell the situation?" Jiang Ye said. "Gladstone is the head of the Capital City Guard. Who is his second-in-command?"
"Hodgson, the deputy captain."
"What's Hodgson's relationship with Gladstone? Who is more loyal to you between the two?" Jiang Ye asked.
"I don't know," Zhang Qiongshi stammered.
Jiang Ye was bewildered. He wasn't panicked by a mutiny, but Zhang Qiongshi's detachment made him a little anxious.
"First, order them to come in," Jiang Ye said forcefully. "Let the two of them come in to report to you, and they are not allowed to bring any escorts."
Zhang Qiongshi hesitated, feeling that Jiang Ye seemed very calm, with an indescribable aura, as if this outsider could solve the problem. So, Zhang Qiongshi gritted her teeth and picked up the phone to issue the order.
Jiang Ye turned around and waved to Che Zhen, "Call the warships from the star station."
Che Zhen immediately started making calls, his voice booming like thunder. "Zhu Xinghe! Your unit, come to me immediately and hover, awaiting further instructions from the commander! If any local military warns you, tell them you are a warship from Jiang Ye Star! If the local military dares to open fire, return fire immediately!"
Everyone in the room was stunned. Many people even stopped crying, staring blankly at Che Zhen.
Only Jiang Ye's retinue remained calm, sitting on the sofa and waiting quietly, their faces expressionless, gazing up at the crystal chandelier.
A moment later, Zhang Qiongshi's phone rang again.
She picked up the phone and frowned after listening for a few sentences. "Why do they insist that I go out?"
Jiang Ye impatiently extended his hand.
Zhang Qiongshi paused and handed the phone over.
Jiang Ye took the phone. "I am Jiang Ye, the Commander-in-Chief of Jiang Ye Star, and the Interstellar Peace Consul of the Galactic Empire. I repeat the order from your Governor, Zhang Qiongshi: Hodgson and Gladstone of the Capital City Guard are to come to the Governor's Mansion for a meeting immediately!"
"Consul Jiang, this is Gladstone. We sincerely apologize for offending your esteemed person. We can immediately clear a passage and escort your people to the star station," a deep voice came from the phone.