Chapter 1 A Weekend Evening

On a weekend, around 7:30 PM, in the Fukuoka District of The Dragon City, a villa in a compound for military cadre family members, an off-road vehicle came to a halt. Wen Xiaorou, a woman of about 1.7 meters tall, got out with a briefcase and walked into the house.

Wen Xiaorou's father, Wen Zhanbo, was the Brigade Commander of the 13th Brigade of the First Army of the Dragon City Garrison. His brigade was primarily responsible for the military defense of the Kasaro region, wielding significant power.

According to the military structure of a major district, many military units at the brigade level had long been abolished. However, many units belonging to the Huaren (Chinese) Army Corps' combat sequence still retained this level of division. Perhaps because there were too few army-level units and too many meritorious veterans, this level was created to facilitate the distribution of power.

After Wen Xiaorou entered the house and took off her shoes, she looked up and saw her father sitting on the sofa, with many extra tea sets placed on the coffee table. "Dad, are we having guests?"

"Yes, Yu Mingyuan and his people are here." Wen Zhanbo took off his reading glasses and asked with a smile, "How was it? Were you tired from the field training these past few days?"

"Not tired, haha!" Wen Xiaorou walked over and sat next to her father, asking softly, "Yu Mingyuan's visit is related to the Number One Order, right?"

Wen Zhanbo nodded slowly, "Yes, the navy wants to do some business and came to him to network and build connections."

"Doing business in the south?"

"Correct."

"Did you agree?" Wen Xiaorou picked up an apple from the table and took a bite, asking seemingly casually.

"Not yet."

"You think it's not safe, right?" Wen Xiaorou continued along the topic, "Indeed, the higher-ups are really getting impatient this time, and the orders are very serious."

"It's not entirely for this reason." Wen Zhanbo said softly, "Since ancient times, there have always been countermeasures to policies from above. Sanctioning Mo Fei is a matter of face, but this one-size-fits-all approach will affect the interests of many people. The officers below are used to being greedy. If you suddenly make them eat plain food, what are they going to do?"

"So, what do you mean…?"

"Many people are now pulling strings, preparing to do business under the table after the storm passes, and we have people doing that here too," Wen Zhanbo communicated very directly with his daughter.

"Then why didn't you agree to Mingyuan?"

"I just think he's too young and not steady enough." Wen Zhanbo sighed and said, "Old Yu is gone. His aunt persuaded him to return to the First District, but he refused, wanting to stay in Dragon City and make something of himself. But such a big deal, can an outsider like him put together a good plan?"

Wen Xiaorou licked her lips, glanced at her father, and said, "Actually, I think you're overthinking it. Whether this can be done depends mainly on whether the navy is reliable. It's not really Mingyuan who's running the show; he can't make any decisions. To be honest with you, Mingyuan contacted me before. He's connecting this matter because the navy promised him that if it succeeds, they will support Wei Xiangzuo to take over the Zhanan port... This is very important to Mingyuan."

Wen Zhanbo smiled at his daughter without replying.

"I think, our family and the Yu family, and the An family, can be considered family friends. Uncle Yu is gone, and it's not easy for him to do something himself. If you can lend him a hand, then help him," Wen Xiaorou advised moderately, "Anyway, talk to the navy first, it doesn't hurt, and we'll decide whether to do it ourselves in the end. What do you say?"

Wen Zhanbo crossed his hands and said with a smile, "You like Yu Mingyuan."

"Oh, what are you talking about…!"

"If he were my son-in-law, I would help him." Wen Zhanbo teased, "Do you think it's okay if I talk to him like this?"

"Please don't. Let's not talk about whether I like him or not, but when it comes to feelings, it's best not to involve business or politics," Wen Xiaorou frowned and replied, "That would make me seem very cheap, Dad."

"Haha, you're right." Wen Zhanbo nodded, reached for his personal phone on the table, and dialed a number, "Hello, tomorrow you give Yu Mingyuan a call and have him set up a meeting with the navy to talk, and see what's going on. Yes, that's it."

After hanging up, Wen Xiaorou said with a smile, "Dad, you're so decisive!"

"Let's talk first." Wen Zhanbo got up and replied.

…

A day later, in the evening.

Inside the Su family compound in Zhanan, Second Uncle Su Zhengcai was feeding the new wolf pups he had brought back to the front yard after drinking.

"Hello, excuse me, is this the Su Zhengcai residence?" A man walked in from the door, carrying gifts in both hands.

Holding the dirty dog food bowl, Second Uncle turned his head to look at the man at the door, "I am Su Zhengcai, who are you?"

"Oh, you are Su Zhengcai!" The man immediately walked over, smiling and saying, "Uncle, you don't recognize me?"

Second Uncle looked at him, finding him somewhat familiar, but he really couldn't remember who he was.

"I am Xiao Yucheng, the nephew of Xiao Gang from the Northeast Army. I met you in Dragon City before, when your family didn't live in this courtyard." Xiao Yucheng introduced himself with a smile.

Second Uncle recalled for a moment, then immediately nodded with a smile, "Ah, I remember now, yes, yes, it seems like you had just arrived in Dragon City to seek refuge with Gangzi at that time."

"Yes, yes!"

"Ah, where have you been all these years?"

"I was previously sent to Sinaloa as a laborer." Xiao Yucheng took out a cigarette case and immediately lit one for Second Uncle, "Didn't a document get issued recently? We were all recalled, and I just got home."

"Oh!" Second Uncle took a puff of his cigarette, "Your uncle Gangzi is gone too, right?"

"Yes, he died of lung cancer a few years ago," Xiao Yucheng nodded.

"How did you find my house? Haha." Second Uncle asked curiously.

"I inquired a bit. Some of my uncle's former comrades-in-arms told me."

"Ah!" Second Uncle nodded, immediately greeting him warmly, "Come on, let's go inside!"

Half an hour later, in the Su family living room, after Second Uncle and Xiao Yucheng had caught up, he immediately asked, "You're here for something, right?"

"Yes, Uncle Su, I really have something I need to ask about," Xiao Yucheng paused for a moment and said, "I heard after returning that it's difficult to process the household registration for us laborers. I asked around outside, and it would cost thirty to forty thousand yuan to get it done through connections. Although I have saved some money over the years, my son is not in good health, and I also have a disability, so I will inevitably have to do some small business to make a living in the future. So I was thinking, since you have many connections here and many old comrades-in-arms, could you possibly help me make a connection, so we can spend less money, haha…!"

"You want to get this done cheaper?" Su Zhengcai asked with a smile.

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Yucheng nodded very frankly.

There are many hometown associations in Dragon City, because it is not easy to be away from home, many regional groups will help each other, introduce each other to jobs, etc., so Su Zhengcai did not feel very surprised by his visit. Moreover, his relationship with the other party's uncle was not that distant, they had been brothers in the same company.

"Alright, I'll ask around for you. My son and the others are working on an association, so they might have some connections," Su Zhengcai replied, turning his head and shouting, "Tiannan, come here!"

Su Tiannan, who had just returned home, walked over after hearing the call, "What's wrong, Dad?"

"Let me introduce you. This is your Uncle Gangzi's nephew. He just returned from Sinaloa and wants to take care of his household registration. You look for some connections and ask Liu Zi, see if you can arrange something," Su Zhengcai said righteously, "They are all old乡 (xiang) from the Northeast, it's not easy for them, help if you can." (乡 (xiang) refers to people from the same hometown)

"You are a laborer?" Su Tiannan took out a cigarette case, talking face-to-face with Xiao Yucheng for the first time.

…

At the time when Xiao Yucheng was visiting the Su family, Gou (Dog) Liu Zi and Yu Mingyuan were drinking with You Yifan and Wen Zhantao's people in a high-end restaurant in the Longkou District. The first conversation between the two parties went very smoothly, and they privately scoffed at the government order, cursing and grumbling.

Halfway through the banquet, an officer under Wen Zhantao took advantage of the opportunity to go to the bathroom to say to Yu Mingyuan and Su Tianyu, "You Yifan gets the goods, we deliver them, that's no problem, but if you want to do business, you must have stable sales channels. I feel like today's talk went well, so how about this, tomorrow you and my people go to Sinaloa to get in touch with Zhao Weihu first... He's frantically taking in goods right now."

Su Tianyu was quite happy to hear this. To be honest, after the last district foreign affairs meeting, he was full of curiosity about the Chichi Army.

Thus, a new round of power struggles influenced by the policy quietly began.