Chapter 103 The Wine Party

Late at night, around ten o'clock, Xiang Jingyang returned to the foreign affairs guesthouse in Hanoi and entered the heavily guarded villa.

The First Army of the Southwest Theater had already moved into the Hanoi area, preparing for joint military exercises with the local forces. This kind of activity was more significant diplomatically than practically. Pu Xingbang's initiative to invite them was also a declaration to the outside world: although the Old Triangle had changed personnel, it still maintained a strong alliance with the Hua District.

To this end, Pu Xingbang had even proposed that Xiang Jingyang set up his headquarters directly in the Hanoi city area, and even allowed his security forces to be transferred in. However, this proposal was politely rejected by the young Xiang Jingyang. Although he had achieved fame at a young age and held a high position, he was not an unthinking brute.

Hanoi was under military control. No matter how high-ranking the official from the Hua District was, he was still a guest. It was impossible to take the host's politeness as an excuse to become the tail that wags the dog.

...

Inside the villa, Xiang Jingyang had just entered and was about to take a shower when he saw Jiang Zhou sitting on the sofa, looking at him with a smile.

"!" Xiang Jingyang's head buzzed when he saw this person.

"Reporting to Commander Xiang, Jiang Zhou, major and foreign affairs liaison officer of the Southwest Theater Command, reports to you!" Jiang Zhou stood up and saluted, his attitude humble.

"Sigh!"

Xiang Jingyang sighed helplessly, put his hands on his hips, and asked, "What are you up to now?"

"Hehe!" Jiang Zhou leaned closer: "Brother Yang, can you spare some time tomorrow evening to attend a wine party? It doesn't have to be long, just show your face."

Xiang Jingyang frowned: "It's a state funeral, brother! What wine party are you asking me to attend?!"

"Gui Mengjun is having a hard time right now. My suggestion is to support him and confirm his absolute core status in the arms business. By the way, it’s also to cheer up his people." Jiang Zhou said in a low voice with clear logic: "He was arrested, and we didn't intervene; his relatives were targeted, and we didn't explicitly support him... After all, he's been running errands for us. Now that this matter is over, shouldn’t we give him a boost?"

Xiang Jingyang sat on the sofa, picked up a water glass and asked, "Who in the Old Triangle doesn't know that Gui Mengjun is my man? He was still taken down. What does that say?"

"I know, isn't it just that the higher-ups think he's too close to us, a bit too biased? So they want to get rid of him and replace him with someone else." Jiang Zhou replied pointedly, "But precisely because of this, we should support him even more. It's a matter of attitude, a matter of priorities."

Xiang Jingyang pondered for a long time: "I'm still not suitable to show my face, especially during the funeral. Let Uncle Long go; he can represent me completely."

"...It has to be you; others don't have enough weight." Jiang Zhou said with a pleading look: "Good commander, only if you are willing to stand behind Gui Mengjun will he have weight in the Old Triangle, and there is also the possibility of forming a marriage alliance with the Su family."

"Wait, are you, a mere major, ordering me now?"

"Look at what you're saying, how could I order you?" Jiang Zhou grinned and replied, "Isn't this just a suggestion? If you don't think it's feasible, I'll call my uncle and have him talk to you."

"Can you please stop mentioning your uncle?!" Xiang Jingyang was speechless: "You change your surname three times in a row; I don't even know which one you are!"

"Go on, just show your face, and I'll take care of the rest." Jiang Zhou pleaded: "Otherwise, I really don't know how to proceed."

Xiang Jingyang deliberated for a long time: "Alright, Gui Mengjun has been really wronged lately."

"He almost lost his life; how could he not feel wronged." Jiang Zhou also spoke up for him: "You didn't see him today when he showed up. I thought Amumu had arrived. Good heavens, he was covered in bandages, looking miserable."

"Okay, that's settled. You can discuss the specific itinerary with the head of the guard regiment." Xiang Jingyang stood up: "I'm going to take a shower."

"Brother, does anyone else know I'm here?"

"I don't even know; who would know?!" Xiang Jingyang replied unhappily and walked upstairs.

"Brother, what's Governor Pu's attitude toward those bastards who escaped?" Jiang Zhou asked curiously.

"Those people left with things; what do you think his attitude would be?" Xiang Jingyang replied as he reached the second floor.

...

In the hospital, Su Tianyu glanced at his second uncle's face. Seeing that he was in a good mood, he immediately said, "Uncle, we might have to attend a wine party tomorrow."

"Attend what wine party?" Second Uncle turned his head and asked, "Is it another stunt by Gui Mengjun? I already said, I'm going home as soon as I get discharged!"

Su Tianyu immediately replied when he heard this, "It's not Gui Mengjun's doing. It's a wine party organized by the Southwest Command. The higher-ups want to meet the people specifically responsible for the arms business. Something just happened, so it's also a way to boost everyone's morale."

"Need to boost morale? I'm already pissed off to death!" Second Uncle immediately refused: "I'm not going!"

Su Tianyu scratched his head and whispered in his ear, "Commander Xiang will also be there and has specifically invited us. What do you say we do?"

Su Second Uncle was speechless.

"Forget it, let's ignore them. What's so great about a commander?" Su Tianyu immediately replied: "We won't give him face today!"

Su Second Uncle gritted his teeth and pointed at Su Tianyu, scolding, "You son of a bitch, you're trying to manipulate me, aren't you?"

"Then tell me, what do you want me to do? I'm asking you, who saved our lives? Who supplies the goods that earn so much money every year in the arms business?" Su Tianyu spread his hands and replied: "They said they wanted to host, what can I say? Can I tell them to get lost because my second uncle hurt his leg and can't eat shit?!"

"Go, I'll go in a wheelchair. Get me an electric one!" When it came to family business and courtesy, Su Second Uncle could only compromise. He couldn't really act tough and put on airs.

Dog Sixzi, after a war of words with Second Uncle, returned to Big Bear's ward to sleep, exhausted.

...

The next morning.

Fan Mingming sat at home with a haggard face and asked her older brother and sister-in-law, "We received an invitation. Should we go?"

"Wouldn't it look even more guilty if we didn't go?" The older brother sighed and turned to look at his wife: "You should come with me too."

The sister-in-law was a member of the Pu lineage. Her family's power had not been greatly affected by this upheaval. This was due to her grandfather, Pu Ming, who had fought alongside Pu Xingbang in the past and had fought side by side with him many times. Therefore, her lineage was still relatively stable.

It would be a long journey for Pu Xingbang to pursue family-based rule. It was impossible to carry out large-scale layoffs and purges because doing so would result in a situation where no one was available. After all, the Pu family was almost entirely involved in politics. After decades of development, its power was too mixed and too numerous.

Pull in a batch, hit a batch, first secure the power, then slowly find a way out for the hometown.

The sister-in-law pondered for a moment: "Okay, I'll go with you. Gui Mengjun should give me face."

"Big brother is right; we are also directly involved in the arms business," Fan Mingming slowly stood up: "Not going is equivalent to admitting guilt."