Once all the idle bystanders had left headquarters, the strange look on Chu Shixin's face vanished in an instant, replaced by a grave expression.
He hurried over to Zhang Xueming and lowered his voice.
"Army Commander."
"Something's happened."
The smile faded from Zhang Xueming's face, and his eyes sharpened.
"Speak."
"Our radio contact with Fengtian... has been lost."
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Chu Shixin's forehead.
"We haven't been able to get through for four hours. We've tried every frequency and sent the highest-priority encrypted messages, but they've all vanished into the sea."
"Not a single reply."
Zhang Xueming's pupils contracted abruptly.
He spun around and fixed his eyes on the enormous map of the three northeastern provinces hanging on the wall.
Fengtian.
That was his home.
And the heart of all Northeast China!
Contact had been lost for four hours?
At a moment as precarious as this, he knew better than anyone what that could mean.
Something terrible had happened!
Every trace of expression disappeared from Zhang Xueming's face, leaving only a chilling, murderous severity.
He turned slowly and walked toward Chu Shixin, one step at a time, each word forced out through clenched teeth.
"Four hours?"
"Contact's been down for four hours, and you're only telling me now?"
"Crash!"
Zhang Xueming kicked over the chair beside him. The expensive Yellow Rosewood chair broke apart on the spot.
"Where's the communications soldier?! Get your ass over here!"
A young soldier came tumbling in, his legs shaking like a sieve.
"Ar... Army Commander..."
"I asked you, why didn't you report it immediately?!" Zhang Xueming roared so fiercely, it seemed he could tear the roof off.
"We... we thought it was equipment failure, or... or Fengtian had gone radio silent... so... so we didn't dare disturb you..." The communications soldier