Taking office, the official appointment

The five-day leave passed in a flash.

Early on the fourth morning, before the sky had fully brightened, Yang Wenqing was already standing on the landing platform in his courtyard, ready to depart. Lan Ying perched on his shoulder, sapphire eyes still hazy with sleep.

Jiang Wan was talking to him. When it was time to leave, she hugged Yang Wenqing and said, "Take care," before letting him go.

"Look after yourself!" Yang Wenqing reminded her.

Then he turned, ducked through the flying shuttle's hatch, and boarded. The shuttle took off and brought him to the square outside the General Bureau, where his dedicated shuttle waited. It was a medium-sized official transport provided specifically for him by theater command. Its interior had been divided into two sections: the forward section held the standard passenger cabin and meeting area, while the rear had been converted into a private resting cabin.

Liu Qin and Nian Qian had been waiting beside the shuttle for some time. After Yang Wenqing and Yang Yuan arrived, Yang Yuan inspected the shuttle and confirmed that everything was in order before climbing into the cockpit.

After takeoff, Yang Wenqing received a call from Red Aunt. She had already reached Lower River Province. She would also go to East Sea Province to assist him, but her official affiliation would not be transferred. Since she worked in intelligence, that would help conceal her identity. She would head to the Mutual Aid Society first to recruit personnel.

They exchanged a few brief words before ending the call.

The following afternoon.

When the distinctive, long dividing line between the pale yellow waters of the Redwater River estuary and the blue sea appeared outside the porthole, the shuttle began its descent.

Yang Wenqing looked down through the porthole and sent Jiang Wan a