Qin Siyang had once thought he knew Qian Wendao well enough.
Even after Qian Wendao transformed from an unremarkable United Government official into one of the most senior and powerful figures in the Safe Zone, Qin Siyang had believed that a person's true nature never changed.
Qian Wendao, who often chatted with him, should have been someone with ordinary joys and sorrows, someone who could speak from the heart to those close to him.
Yet after Qian Wendao became Secretary-General Qian, Qin Siyang found that he had changed.
Section Chief Qian had been tactful; Secretary-General Qian was forceful.
Section Chief Qian had repaid every grudge; Secretary-General Qian took everything in stride.
Section Chief Qian had considered everyone; Secretary-General Qian treasured every second.
Aside from his unchanged approach to meetings, he seemed like an entirely different person.
Qian Wendao had not changed because power had gone to his head. He had simply shed his disguise-he no longer needed to pretend to be a minor figure constrained at every turn.
So Qin Siyang could no longer tell which of the things the Section Chief Qian he had first met had said were true, and which were false.
Qian Wendao spoke again, interrupting Qin Siyang's thoughts. "We've talked enough. Let's wrap this up. Your current authorized strength is one brigade, plus a regiment you're holding on Chu Baxing's behalf. I'll expand that to a division plus a brigade, notify Qi Tian and the others to vote, then tell you the result."
Qin Siyang froze. "The brigade I'm holding on his behalf is getting expanded too?"
"Huo Dangkou ran off, Chu Baxing went back to being a commander, and that regiment is still at your camp. Anyone can tell you're holding that unit on his behalf. I'll transfer the regiment to your name, then