This rule meant that even if they held a vote now and a majority of the two hundred members of the Chiefs of Staff agreed, as long as Rong Tuidi alone objected, the vote would not count.
Therefore, only when all five Chief of Staff agreed on an issue could it pass.
At times like this, they needed compromise, negotiation, and exchanges of interests to reach a consensus.
But the current situation was rather special, because Xia Chujian did not belong to any of their noble families.
So they had no way to trade family interests with one another to achieve a compromise.
What angered most of them even more was that this was a life-and-death moment for all humanity. Why should they still have to trade away their own family interests for Rong Tuidi and the others?!
Weren't Rong Tuidi and his people also members of humanity?!
These entanglements between the greater good and private interests kept the Military Department from reaching a decision.
The council chamber fell silent for a while. Zhan Xixin settled for the next best thing and said, "Then we can't simply ignore it completely, not even replying to the Senate's inquiry."
This time, Rong Tuidi nodded. "We do need to reply."
"Do this. Use the Official Account of the Chiefs of Staff to reply to the Senate's inquiry. Tell them we are considering it."
"Although Lieutenant Colonel Xia's military achievements are outstanding, she cannot surpass Marshal Huo from back then."
"Tell everyone to remain calm."
In short, this slick official intended to use the old tactic of "dragging things out."
This tactic was the most useful trick in officialdom, bar none.
It allowed them to reasonably, lawfully, and legitimately avoid doing what they did not want to do without violating any rules, laws, or