Tang Li's topic jumped around so much that no one knew how to respond.
You were the head of the Internal Affairs Bureau just over a month ago. You had been dealing with this stuff over and over every year, so there was no need to ask what you already knew, right?
In the end, Mei Zhu played the role of the Sea-Stabilizing Divine Needle. Treating Tang Li as if he were a complete novice, he said evenly, "It's basically like this at the end of every year. The city government's expenses, the donating companies, the foundations—they're all short on funds. And with the floods, it's inevitable that things will fail to function properly for a few days..."
He was only speaking in generalities, trying to ease things over. As he spoke, his gaze swept through the observation window over the Mud Pit of the West Suburbs, trying to see whether something specific had provoked Tang Li—and, in turn, provoked all of them.
In the end, he did not see any specific Stimulus Source. Instead, he saw four or five vehicles driving in a line down the filthy street, horns blaring.
Something stirred in his heart, and he smoothly continued, "But things should improve afterward. Given the current situation, even the Prisoners are being mobilized, and the standing army may not be enough. General Kang will most likely recruit soldiers."
"Recruit soldiers?"
Tang Li glanced at Mei Zhu, then looked outside. Like Mei Zhu, he spotted the convoy, clearly military-standard vehicles with military paint. Four of the five vehicles had mounted guns and raced down the street, forcing pedestrians and other vehicles to scramble aside.
Judging by their direction, they had come from outside the city and were heading inward.
Mei Zhu had completely organized his thoughts by now. Standing