Nanjing is an ancient city that has both benefited and suffered from its unique geographical location and magnificent feng shui, experiencing numerous devastating wars but always rising from the ashes to restore its prosperity.
This includes the world-shattering massacre of the last century!
Because of all this, Nanjing is regarded as a land of revival, a heroic city, holding a special status and value in the history of the Dragon Country.
Due to Nanjing's special geographical and historical position, it is one of the important cities in the Longjiang Delta and also the stationed location of the Military Department's Eastern Theater Command.
Before the global flourishing of martial arts, the Military Department was the main fighting force of countries, wielding immense power.
Now, the Martial Department has replaced the Military Department, becoming the most influential department in all countries, not by replacing the Military Department's functions, but by having distinct divisions of labor.
Of course, both have overlapping responsibilities – protecting the home and defending the nation!
The Martial Department is responsible for managing martial artists within the Dragon Country, preventing foreign martial artists from causing harm within the Dragon Country, and simultaneously preparing for the upcoming war that concerns all of humanity.
The Military Department primarily prevents foreign non-martial organizations and individuals from causing harm within the Dragon Country, while also guarding against and responding to wars between nations.
However, because of the extremely high individual combat capabilities of Martial Department members, when encountering relatively dangerous criminals, the Martial Department directly dispatches personnel to handle them.
This was also the reason for the disbandment of the War Dragon Special Forces back then.
After the War Dragon Forces were disbanded, elites like Jiang Zhan were recruited by the Martial Department, while some, including Su Shirong, retired.
Like the Martial Department, the Military Department is also divided into five regional commands: East, South, West, North, and Central.
To be precise, the legion structure of the Martial Department was modeled after the theater command structure of the Military Department.
The afternoon after Qin Xiaozhi informed Jiang Wuming of the decisions regarding Yuan Zeping and Yuan Hao and his son within the police department, Jiang Wuming arrived at the Eastern Theater Command compound to find his maternal granduncle – Ye Wentao!
Ye Wentao is the second eldest in the Ye family. He is currently the third most powerful figure in the Eastern Theater Command, bearing two stars on his shoulders. He is the youngest two-star general in the Military Department and a strong contender for the future succession of the Ye family!
The current helmsman of the Ye family, Ye Zheng, is Ye Wentao's father, the leader of the Military Department, and one of the Grand Elders of the Dragon Country!
After Jiang Wuming got out of his car at the entrance of the Eastern Theater Command compound, he handed his letter of introduction from the Eastern Theater Legion of the Martial Department to the soldier on guard. After reporting to his superiors, the soldier granted Jiang Wuming passage.
Without the letter of introduction, Jiang Wuming wouldn't even be able to enter the compound, let alone meet Ye Wentao.
The Eastern Theater Command compound is divided into an office area and a residential area. The residential area consists of apartment buildings and several small, matchbox-like houses.
These small houses are the residences of several top figures in the Eastern Theater Command.
Ye Wentao's residence is Building 3, corresponding to his status and ranking within the Eastern Theater Command.
Jiang Wuming arrived at Building 3. Through his spiritual perception, he sensed one person inside but wasn't sure if it was Ye Wentao. After a moment's thought, he walked forward and rang the doorbell.
In the two-story house, a young man was sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone. Upon hearing the doorbell, he got up somewhat confused, walked to the door, and looked at the intercom display. He saw an unfamiliar face.
"Who are you looking for?"
The young man was puzzled. The security at the theater command compound was extremely strict, and it was very difficult for non-residents or family members to reach the inner residential area. Yet, Jiang Wuming had arrived here!
"Hello, I'm looking for General Ye Wentao," Jiang Wuming replied.
"Who are you?"
The young man's confusion deepened. Given his father's position and his standing in the Ye family, there were few people in the entire Dragon Country qualified to meet him. Yet, Jiang Wuming, so young, had arrived here, asking for his father by name!
"I'm his relative."
Jiang Wuming did not immediately reveal his identity.
"Relative? I've never seen you before?"
The young man's confusion turned into vigilance. He was confident that he had no recollection of Jiang Wuming and suspected Jiang Wuming was impersonating someone.
"Who are you?" Jiang Wuming asked in return.
"I'm Ye Rui, Ye Wentao is my father," Ye Rui stated his identity.
"Hello, Brother Ye Rui, I am the son of Ye Jinmei."
After hearing Ye Rui's words, Jiang Wuming pondered for a moment before finally revealing his identity.
"Wh-what?"
Inside the two-story house, Ye Rui was stunned for several seconds after hearing Jiang Wuming's identity. He only recovered his senses and then opened the door.
"You... you are really my little aunt's son?"
With the door open, Ye Rui did not let Jiang Wuming in directly. Instead, he scrutinized Jiang Wuming from head to toe, his face still etched with shock.
As a member of the Ye family, he naturally knew about the affair between Jiang Zhan and Ye Jinmei back then, and he also knew that they had a child. But, like all the scions of the Dragon Country's elite, he had heard that the son of Jiang Zhan and Ye Jinmei had died long ago!
Under such circumstances, Jiang Wuming's sudden appearance could only shock him!
"Mm."
Jiang Wuming nodded.
"How can you prove your identity?"
Ye Rui still did not let Jiang Wuming in, appearing not to believe Jiang Wuming's identity.
"Brother Ye Rui, do you think anyone in this world would dare to impersonate this identity and come to find my second uncle?"
Jiang Wuming did not answer the question directly. With the influence of Ye Wentao and the Ye family, confirming Jiang Wuming's identity would be as easy as flipping a hand.
"That's true. Come in."
Hearing this, Ye Rui felt that Jiang Wuming had a point and thus invited him in.
Jiang Wuming entered the small house and noticed that the interior decoration was simple. There were few furnishings and appliances, and they were all common brands, lacking any trace of luxury.
"By the way, what's your name?"
Ye Rui sat in the living room and only then remembered that he didn't know Jiang Wuming's name, so he asked.
"Wuming."
"Jiang Wuming."
Ye Rui uttered the name and then asked, "Where have you been these past few years? How come I've never heard any news about you?"
"I was sent to live with other people shortly after I was born," Jiang Wuming replied vaguely.
"I see. No wonder I've never met you or heard any news about you."
Ye Rui crossed his legs and asked again, "However, after twenty years of your absence, why have you suddenly come to find my father today?"
"I have something to discuss with my second uncle," Jiang Wuming replied.
"You're looking for my dad for help, right?"
Ye Rui glanced at Jiang Wuming with an "I understand" expression and then looked up, saying casually, "Many people have come to my father for favors in recent years, but my father has a special position and is principled, so he has refused almost all of them."
Jiang Wuming remained silent.
"Tell me, what is it you need done? If it's something minor like finding a job, I can help you."
Seeing Jiang Wuming's silence, Ye Rui said with evident pride.
He had achieved considerable success through the Ye family's influence and his own efforts. He currently worked in the Eastern Theater Command's headquarters, held a respectable position, and was about to marry a girl from the Gu family in Yanjing. His status among the younger generation of the Ye family was second only to the eldest young master, Ye Fei!
"Brother Ye Rui, the matter I need to discuss with my second uncle is rather complicated. It would be best to wait until he returns and tell him in person."
Jiang Wuming could sense Ye Rui's arrogance and understand the implicit refusal in his words, but he still wished to meet Ye Wentao.
In his opinion, Ye Rui was still young, and telling him would be meaningless. However, Ye Wentao held a prominent position in the Ye family, and his words carried significant influence within the family, representing the Ye family's stance!