He Was the Exception to the Rule

Elder Xu was a Founding Marshal of the Dragon Kingdom!

Now a hundred years old, he had once been known alongside the God of War Qin Lie as one of the Twin Pillars of the Military.

When honors were handed out after the war, he had stepped aside of his own accord.

He had refused the rank of marshal and accepted only the rank of general.

But no one in the military dared underestimate him.

A single word from him could shake the entire armed forces.

"Sit down, all of you!"

Elder Xu waved for everyone to take their seats.

He walked to the map, fixed his gaze on the red dot marking Beacon Fires, and spoke slowly.

"I heard everything you said just now."

"What Zhao Shanhe did broke discipline. It was against the rules."

Elder Xu paused and swept his gaze across the room.

"But I've spent my life at war. I've seen more than enough death, and I've learned one thing—"

"Military law can restrain a man's actions, but not his heart!"

He raised a hand and pointed to Jiangcheng on the map.

"Back then, when we marched into battle with our lives on the line, what were we fighting for?"

"Not fame. Not fortune!"

"We fought so our families back home would be safe."

"So our brothers-in-arms and their children would never be bullied!"

"Today, a comrade's son is in trouble, and Zhao Shanhe has flown into a rage!"

"That's courage! That's loyalty! That's the Military Spirit of the Dragon Kingdom!"

"If we stand by and watch a comrade's child be humiliated..."

"Who will take a blade for his brothers on the battlefield tomorrow?"

"Who will fight to the death for his country?"

"Military discipline matters, but the hearts of our soldiers matter more!"

Elder Xu did not raise his voice, yet every word struck the assembled officers like iron.

The naval general who had opposed the move fell silent, his expression torn.

He was right...

Mobilizing an army like that was an unforgivable offense!

But Elder Xu's words had struck a nerve.

He remembered his old squad leader.

If that man hadn't shielded him from a grenade, grass would have been growing over his grave for years. He would never have lived to hold the power he had today.

If his old squad leader's child were being bullied by some thug, he would draw his gun even if it meant punishment!

He might be even more reckless than Zhao Shanhe!

At that thought, the naval general was the first to speak.

"Military discipline is absolute. That's an iron rule!"

"But then again—"

"What's a soldier without courage? A machine?"

"When we fought the Japanese Invaders, we never abandoned a single brother! Zhao Shanhe isn't just protecting a comrade's son. He's protecting a soldier's dignity!"

"We can't stamp out that spirit!"

At his words, the other generals voiced their agreement.

Elder Xu looked around the room and continued slowly. "I know you all have concerns. But rules are rigid; people aren't."

"Some things must be done even if millions stand in the way!"

"Some lines must be held even if it costs us our lives!"

"Whatever the consequences of Zhao Shanhe's actions, I'll shoulder them myself!"

Silence fell over the meeting room.

Every general had the same thought—

Mobilizing a hundred thousand soldiers was against the rules?

But Elder Xu was the one who made the rules!

"You said the boy's surname was Yue?"

Elder Xu suddenly turned to the senior colonel who had brought the report.

"Yes!"

The senior colonel nodded at once. "His name is Yue Xiaofei. He's the son of Zhao Shanhe's former company commander."

Elder Xu frowned, a complicated look flashing through his eyes.

After a moment's silence, he let out a long sigh.

"Ah... I once knew a man named Yue."

"He covered my escape during a breakout, and we were separated."

"It's been sixty years. I imagine... he's long gone."

No one dared respond. They simply watched Elder Xu in silence.

This legendary general rarely showed such emotion in front of others.

"Pass on my orders!"

Elder Xu came back to himself. His eyes sharpened like a sleeping lion's opening.

"Order the Air Traffic Control Department to clear every air corridor. Zhao Shanhe's forces are to pass through at full speed. No one is to stop them!"

"Order the Jiangbei Military Region to prepare to receive them and support the operation!"

"And tell Zhao Shanhe this—"

Elder Xu's voice rose, firm and ringing.

"If he needs men to seek justice, I'll give him men!"

"If he needs authority to bring those thugs down, I'll give him authority!"

"Whatever happens, I'll take responsibility!"

"Yes, sir!"

The senior colonel snapped to attention, saluted, and strode out.

In the night, radio signals streaked across the sky toward every corner of the Dragon Kingdom.

Rumble!

The Supersonic Fighter Jet broke through the clouds and roared south.

"War God, Elder Xu personally ordered Jade Spring Mountain to back you!"

The deputy general hurried over, unable to hide his excitement.

"Every air corridor along the route is open, and Jiangbei has sent troops to meet us!"

"Good!"

Zhao Mengsheng nodded.

Elder Xu's support was a shot in the arm!

But he did not relax. "How long until we reach Jiangcheng?"

"War God, even at supersonic cruise, at least half an hour!" the deputy general reported.

"Half an hour? No! That's too slow!"

Zhao Mengsheng frowned. The sounds of Yue Xiaofei being beaten in the basement kept echoing through his mind.

His old company commander's son was in mortal danger!

He could not bear to wait another moment!

If anything happened to Yue Xiaofei, he would never forgive himself. Nor would he be able to face his old company commander.

"Wait! Jiangcheng! Jin Dapao!"

A name flashed through Zhao Mengsheng's mind.

"Jin Dapao?"

The deputy general froze, then asked, "The Platoon Leader Jin from the 7th Armored Company you mentioned before?"

"That's him!"

Zhao Mengsheng's eyes lit up. He pulled out his Satellite Phone at once.

"After he left the military, wasn't he assigned to the Jiangbei Provincial Public Security Department?"

Memories surged back like a tide!

In the 7th Armored Company's barracks, Jin Dapao always had a cigarette between his lips and his eyes wide as he squared off against the Raw Recruits.

He was the Artillery Platoon's commander.

He had a fiery temper, and his throat seemed to itch if he went a day without cursing someone out!

He had enlisted three years before Zhao Mengsheng.

And when it came to guts, not a man in the company could fault him.

On the battlefield, after he ran out of ammunition, he would charge the enemy with a satchel of explosives in his arms, shouting that he wanted to blow them all sky-high.

That was how he had earned the nickname Madman Jin. He could even scare the enemy into wetting their pants!

With his record and ability, if he had stayed in the military, he would have had at least one gold star on his shoulder by now.

But that same fiery temper had led him to talk back to his superiors, forcing him into early retirement.

He had been assigned to the Jiangbei Provincial Public Security Department!

Zhao Mengsheng shook off the memory, found the number, and dialed.

"That old bastard should still be at the Jiangbei Provincial Public Security Department. Jiangcheng happens to be under his jurisdiction!"

A few seconds later, someone picked up.

A rough, booming voice, thick with the rasp of cigarettes, burst from the phone.

"Who is it? In a hurry to die? Can't you tell I'm working a case?"

"Jin Dapao! It's me, Zhao Mengsheng!" Zhao Mengsheng roared into the phone.

"Hahaha!"

An even louder laugh exploded from the other end.

"Well, if it isn't the Great God of War Zhao!"

"I heard you just conquered Wolf Country. Now you remember me? What, calling to show off your little military triumph?"

"Don't get cocky, Zhao Mengsheng!"

His tone shifted. "When it comes to fighting, you couldn't hold a candle to Company Commander Yue! Without him watching your back, you'd have died a dozen times on the battlefield!"