Two days later.
It was still the same General Commander's office.
Only, the place had changed beyond recognition.
The plain, simple desks, chairs, and cabinets that had belonged to Li Huaiyuan had vanished without a trace.
In their place stood a complete set of heavy, exquisite solid-wood furniture.
The walls that had once displayed the Western Frontier Defense Army's flag and various photographs had been replaced by an entire wall of real-time electronic maps.
On the deep-blue light screen, the Western Frontier Defense Army's ring-shaped defensive line was clearly displayed.
One marker after another, one cluster of data after another, flickered and shifted ceaselessly.
In the corner, where the filing cabinets had once stood, a row of glass display cases had been installed.
Medals, certificates, and several pitch-black pieces of keratin sat quietly on dark velvet inside.
Underfoot, the original alloy flooring had been covered by a dark-blue carpet, with the Western Frontier Defense Army's crest—sword surrounded by clustered mountains—woven into its center.
The entire room was luxurious without being vulgar.
Everywhere, it radiated a cold, intense sense of order.
Two soldiers in crisp generals' uniforms sat facing each other on the genuine-leather sofas in the reception area.
The man in the seat of honor had gray-white short hair combed with immaculate precision. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his eyes behind the lenses were deep and tranquil, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
He was Yang Siwen, the newly appointed General Commander of the Western Frontier Defense Army.
Opposite him sat the Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Western Frontier Defense Army, Liu Songming, whose round face perpetually wore an enthusiastic smile.
"Commander, now that you're here, the Western Frontier's game of chess has truly come alive!" Liu Songming's voice boomed, thick