Chapter 1 The Dragon City Wakes

It was a little after six in the morning, and the sky was already bright. The entire Dragon City had awakened, and people were starting to go out and get busy. Breakfast stalls were being set up along the streets.

In the military headquarters, Tan Hengqiang sat in his office, also eating breakfast. On the table was a bowl of very light millet porridge, paired with a salted duck egg, a small dish of pickled vegetables, and a serving of xiaolongbao (small steamed buns) – simple and refined.

Just as Tan Hengqiang was drinking his porridge, the office door was pushed open, and Zhang Xunchen strode in.

Tan Hengqiang immediately greeted him, "Come on, the buns are still hot. Sit down and have some with me."

Zhang Xunchen sat down in front of Tan Hengqiang, picked up a bun, and said, "There's something I need to tell you."

Tan Hengqiang took a sip of porridge. "Go ahead."

Zhang Xunchen lowered his voice. "The Southern Military Region of the First District has sent a special envoy. They've already entered the defense zone of the Third Regiment of our Second Army. They want to communicate with us."

Tan Hengqiang frowned and asked, "What ethnicity?"

"Chinese." Zhang Xunchen analyzed, "I reckon they're from the Chinese Army Corps headquarters."

Tan Hengqiang continued to drink his porridge without saying a word.

Zhang Xunchen became slightly restless and pressed, "Should we meet them?"

Tan Hengqiang put down his bowl and said calmly, "Just pulling strings. We should still meet."

The two chatted for a few more sentences, then continued eating breakfast.

…

Two hours later, two very low-profile Chinese men, dressed in plain clothes, were picked up by a military vehicle from the garrison and taken to the headquarters building.

Under the protection of the guards, they entered a very spacious reception room.

At the same time, Tan Hengqiang sat in the adjacent lounge, sipping tea and observing the situation in the reception room through a one-way mirror.

Tan Hengqiang did not personally appear for this meeting, but instead entrusted Zhang Xunchen to handle it.

In the reception room, the two Chinese special envoys were shaking hands with Zhang Xunchen. One of the men, who appeared to be the leader, said, "Hello, Chief of Staff Zhang."

"Hello, hello, please have a seat," Zhang Xunchen said with a smile. "I'm really sorry, our Commander-in-Chief is unwell and is currently recuperating at a sanatorium. You can discuss anything with me!"

Everyone sat down, and the leading man introduced himself, "Chief of Staff Zhang, hello, I am Jiang Hua, the special envoy for Southern Military Mediation, appointed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army Corps. This is my partner, Chen Xiao."

Zhang Xunchen nodded. "You've come a long way. Thank you for your hard work."

Jiang Hua, with his hands clasped, said very straightforwardly, "We're here to solve problems, so let's get straight to the point."

Zhang Xunchen said with a smile, "I hope so. I also have some official business to attend to."

Jiang Hua nodded and said directly, "Here's the thing, Chief of Staff Zhang. What's your view on the situation in Dragon City and Sri Lanka right now?"

Without even thinking, Zhang Xunchen immediately replied, "Sri Lanka and our Dragon City share the same origins. If the rebel army conducts cleansing-style military operations in Sri Lanka, then, with the permission of the Renmin Army (People’s Army), we do not rule out sending military units into Sri Lanka to help the Renmin Army resist external forces."

When answering this question, first, Zhang Xunchen did not mention the First District, only the rebel army. Second, he also changed his previous attitude, and his diplomatic rhetoric changed, repeatedly emphasizing that the garrison and the Renmin Army were brotherly troops with the same origins.

Through these words, he subtly conveyed a message that Dragon City was already a huge political entity, no longer the kind of administrative faction separated from the garrison.

Hearing Zhang Xunchen's answer, Jiang Hua's expression changed slightly, and he exchanged glances with his partner, Chen Xiao, exchanging information.

Soon, Jiang Hua's expression became very serious, and he looked at Zhang Xunchen and asked, "Chief of Staff Zhang, have you considered the consequences if the garrison supports Sri Lanka?"

Zhang Xunchen looked directly at the other party's eyes and said very frankly, "I only know that my brotherly troops are currently in a difficult situation, and our Chinese living area is about to be threatened by foreign war."

Jiang Hua's face was stern, and he proactively reminded, "I hope you can think clearly. If the Dragon City garrison privately sends troops to support Sri Lanka without receiving an order from the First District, that is an outright military mutiny! This behavior will definitely trigger a war."

Zhang Xunchen sat up straight, stared at Jiang Hua, and said, "We don't start wars, but if we really have to fight, then there's no other way. Seventy to eighty thousand Renmin Army soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Chinese people live in the Sri Lanka area. If the rebel army's war spreads there, and we, as a Chinese troop so close by, do nothing... I'm afraid our ancestors will be dug up from their graves in the future!"

Jiang Hua frowned and, after thinking for a long time, simply laid his cards on the table: "Chief of Staff Zhang, I hope you can convey this to Commander Tan. We are here on behalf of the First District government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army Corps to convey two suggestions to your department. First, if Dragon City reaches a military consensus with the Sri Lanka Renmin Army and jointly participates in combat, then I can responsibly tell you that war will inevitably break out in Dragon City, and it will be soon! This is irreversible! Second, if Dragon City can be restrained enough, then this matter can still be turned around."

Zhang Xunchen immediately asked, "How restrained?"

Jiang Hua waved his hand and said, "Order the Renmin Army to retreat three hundred kilometers, abandon the key areas of Sri Lanka, and return them to Bahia Giorgio's military government. At the same time, the Renmin Army is only allowed to be stationed in Chinatown. Perhaps this war can be avoided."

Zhang Xunchen smiled and said, "This is military oppression. Fire a shot and take a piece of land."

The other party did not say a word.

Zhang Xunchen stood up and said, "Okay, I understand. I will convey your suggestions to the Commander-in-Chief."

The two opposite him also stood up, and Jiang Hua said, "We may have to meet frequently in the next few days."

Then, the special envoy's tone suddenly softened a lot: "In addition, the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army Corps asked me to bring a message to Commander Tan."

Zhang Xunchen stopped. "Go ahead."

Jiang Hua said earnestly, "The Commander-in-Chief said that he is old and will naturally relinquish his position after his term is over. Although Commander Tan is still a deputy, in a few years, the entire Chinese Army Corps may be flying the Tan banner. At that time, he will be second only to one person and above ten thousand. Why bother taking such a slim chance with a bunch of reactionaries?"

Zhang Xunchen nodded. "Okay, I understand. I will convey it. Please go back, both of you."

The two sides said goodbye, Jiang Hua and his partner were taken to their resting place, and Zhang Xunchen walked into the lounge next door.

As soon as he entered, he saw Tan Hengqiang sitting inside drinking tea, his eyes calm.

Zhang Xunchen walked over, picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, and cleared his throat. "I feel that the First District's attitude towards launching a war this time is still very firm. We only have two choices in front of us now..."

Tan Hengqiang squinted his eyes, did not express his position, but said softly, "Don't leak the news of their arrival."

Zhang Xunchen nodded.

…

In a dark and damp room, He Yan received a phone call.

In the receiver, a man said in a deep voice, "Prepare for the final mission."

He Yan was silent for a long time, then nodded. "Understood."

After hanging up the phone, He Yan sat unhappily on the cold bed, a trace of irritability in his eyes.

They said it was the last time last time, and now it's the last time again... When will this ever end?

After a while, footsteps came from outside. Then, a man's loud voice rang out: "Time to eat!"

"Clang!"

A plate of fairly exquisite food was pushed in through the small window at the bottom of the iron door. He Yan shook his head, bent down, picked up the plate, and ate in silence.