Chapter 1 The Dragon City, Tongji Association Headquarters, Conference Room

After busying himself for another three or four days, Su Tianyu reorganized the work at hand, aligned resources from all sides, and brought Lao Wu and Wu Taiyong to Dragon City. He set aside a day for everyone to gather in the conference room for a simple preliminary meeting.

Besides Su Tianyu and the two Wus, An Qiqi, Zhou Tonghui, Lu Feng, Su Tiannan, Su Tianbei, and other senior figures were also present.

During this meeting, Su Tianyu introduced some important senior leaders to Lao Wu.

"Chairman Wu, this is the latest proposal I drafted." After the introductions, Su Tianyu handed Lao Wu a detailed proposal: "It has some revisions from the last version I gave you, which I've marked with red lines. Please take a look."

"Mm..." Wu Boxin took the proposal and carefully flipped through it.

After a while, having read the additions and revisions, Wu Boxin put down the proposal and said, "It's very good, but before the association gets going, I'd like to bring up something first."

Su Tianyu gestured for him to speak: "Please do."

Wu Boxin held up his thumb and forefinger, making a pinching motion: "I hope that we take things slowly, don't move too fast. I'm a straightforward person, and I think you guys always move too fast, stretching things a bit too far. It always feels like we're on the verge of death, and my heart can't take it."

As he spoke, Wu Boxin patted his chest: "I'm not as young as you guys. Our core mission is to fight for the interests of overseas Chinese, and the rest... we can talk about later. Let's not think so far ahead, and just move forward steadily!"

Su Tianyu smiled and nodded: "Alright, I'll walk with my legs clamped from now on, and try not to worry Chairman Wu."

"You can't just say it!" Wu Boxin grinned as well.

Everyone laughed along, and the atmosphere in the meeting room became much more lively.

In fact, everyone knew in their hearts that Lao Wu and Lao Li's teams had somewhat different political philosophies, but Lao Wu was now in a situation where Lao Pu was facing a crackdown, leaving him with basically no room to choose.

But it was also clear that Lao Wu had come to Su Tianyu's side wanting to do some practical things, and also to influence the volatile Lao Li team.

Just as everyone was in the middle of their meeting, a black sedan stopped in the courtyard of the Tongji Association.

The car door opened, and Li Yuan, in a suit, got out and hurried into the building.

Li Yuan grabbed a staff member and asked urgently, "Where's Chairman Su?"

"In the conference room on the fourth floor, in a meeting," the staff member, who recognized Li Yuan, replied immediately.

Without another word, Li Yuan headed straight for the conference room on the fourth floor, knocking on the door.

"Come in!" Su Tianyu's voice came from inside.

Li Yuan gently pushed open the door, saw that it was full of people, and smiled at everyone: "Sorry to interrupt."

Then, Li Yuan turned to look at Su Tianyu and said, "Xiao Yu, come out for a moment."

"Please excuse me for a moment." Su Tianyu, seeing the travel-worn Li Yuan, was also a bit surprised, and quickly got up and followed him out.

After closing the door, Su Tianyu asked, "Brother Li, what brings you here?"

"There's something the leader needs," Li Yuan said quickly. "I called you several times, but you didn't answer, so I had to come find you."

"Sorry, I was in a meeting and my phone was on silent." Su Tianyu took out his phone and looked at it, saying, "The meeting's almost over here anyway. I'll say goodbye to everyone, and you can wait for me in the car downstairs."

"Alright, hurry up." Li Yuan rushed back downstairs.

Su Tianyu went back and explained the situation to Lao Wu and the others, then asked An Qiqi to take over the meeting in his place. Only then did he go downstairs, get into Li Yuan's car, and head towards the Municipal Hall.

Ten minutes later, the two arrived at the Municipal Hall. As they walked to the mayor's office, they heard Lao Li inside, raging, "This is a damn threat! It's aimed at me, they want to get me!"

The cursing echoed clearly throughout the corridor, and Li Yuan gave Su Tianyu a look, telling him to be careful.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Su Tianyu knocked on the door and walked in. In the office, Lao Li sat at his desk, smoking with a gloomy expression, while Secretary-General Wang and a large group of municipal officials stood around, waiting for the leader's instructions.

After Su Tianyu entered, he quietly winked at Secretary-General Wang and the others. Understanding his meaning, the group left the office.

Su Tianyu's importance in Lao Li's team was growing, and some of the former leaders also attached great importance to his status, vaguely becoming the number two figure in the team.

After everyone left, Su Tianyu sat down at the desk, poured a cup of tea, gently pushed it in front of Li Mingsheng, and asked, "Leader, what's the situation? Why are you suddenly so angry?"

Li Mingsheng put down his cigarette, sighed, picked up a document on the table, and handed it to Su Tianyu: "Take a look."

Su Tianyu picked up the document and carefully flipped through it. The document was a non-public order issued by the Second Coalition faction in District One, roughly stating that the Second Coalition faction was preparing to garrison troops in Dragon City.

The reason was absurd, claiming that it was to prevent large-scale military friction on the border with Old Mexico, so they had decided to station a division of troops in Dragon City. They also demanded that the municipal authorities allocate a large office site next to the administrative city center.

Su Tianyu read the document expressionlessly and commented softly, "They're moving pretty fast."

Li Mingsheng stubbed out his cigarette: "Fast indeed. Before we could even hold a meeting, they couldn't wait to make their move."

Su Tianyu thought for a moment and said, "They're just testing our attitude. If we disagree, then the Second Coalition faction will definitely think that our wings have hardened, that we're not taking orders, and that we're going to confront the higher-ups. But what if we agree? Then it's like slow slicing, they send a division today, two regiments tomorrow, and then an army the day after. Tell me, do you agree or not? Slowly, they'll take away all the military and political power."

Lao Li frowned and asked Su Tianyu, "What's your opinion?"

Su Tianyu was silent for a long time, then looked up and said, "I think, how about this..."

"Ring, ring, ring!"

A burst of urgent ringing interrupted the two men's conversation. Lao Li glanced at the caller ID, which was Ouyang Zhen's number, and answered the phone, his words laced with sarcasm: "You've finally appeared. I thought I'd have to stand on the moon to get through to you."

Ouyang Zhen said seriously, "I tried... but you guys made too much of a splash, and I don't know how to explain it to the higher-ups. And the higher-ups won't listen to my explanation now. So, this situation is unavoidable... and I warned you about it."

Lao Li's face darkened again: "So you're saying they definitely want to send troops?"

Ouyang Zhen nodded: "Yes, and it's a probing deployment. They'll continue to increase troops later."

Li Mingsheng replied very decisively, "Alright, then you should really turn off your phone now. From now on, go into hibernation. You don't need to worry about Dragon City anymore!"