Though humble, I dare not forget my country's troubles

No one but Su Chen himself knew he had come from another world.

But with memories of both lives, he naturally felt affection for his family and friends in this world, too.

Su Chen also understood one thing.

Never underestimate an enemy's treachery.

Since Haidong Country had dared to strike openly, it certainly would not sit around waiting for retaliation. It would try to strike first.

Su Chen had no intention of letting his family in this world get caught in the crossfire.

So even though Zhu Yuanzheng's arrangements sounded a little excessive,

he said nothing more.

Traffic restrictions had already been imposed along the convoy's route, leaving the roads clear all the way.

About an hour later,

the convoy left the city and entered a wooded area in the outskirts.

After several more turns and checkpoints, they finally entered a sizable building complex.

"Mr. Su, this way, please."

As soon as the car stopped, Li Shuhua hurried out, his gaze filled with respect as he looked at Su Chen.

Though they were more than forty years apart in age,

in Li Shuhua's eyes, learning was not a matter of seniority. Whoever knew more deserved to be the teacher.

In that brief hour on the road, Li Shuhua had gained far more than he had in the preceding decades.

The Qin Emperor and the Han Martial Emperor.

The Tang Founder and the Song Founder.

The Hundred Schools of Thought.

The struggle for supremacy among the Three Kingdoms.

Even those simple descriptions had filled Li Shuhua with longing and excitement.

If he could, he would have traveled through time to witness the dazzling eras Su Chen described and pay his respects to those ancestors who had ruled supreme.

Li Shuhua committed every sentence, every word Su Chen spoke to memory, terrified of forgetting even the smallest detail.

These were all pieces of buried history, profoundly significant in any age.

Only after hearing Su Chen's account did Li Shuhua understand.

Five thousand years was not merely a number.

For across that long span of time,

we had achieved glory countless times.

Countless ancestors had emerged whose deeds shook heaven and earth.

It was these people and these events that gave those vast five thousand years their profound weight and meaning.

This was true history!

This was a true heritage!

Li Shuhua was already utterly convinced by the young man before him.

Had there not been more pressing matters at hand, he would have kept Su Chen talking for three days and nights.

"Salute!"

The moment Su Chen stepped out of the car, the soldiers already lined up beside it snapped to attention and saluted.

As soldiers, protecting their country and its people was their highest duty.

And today, Su Chen had fulfilled that duty for them.

They could only express their respect in a soldier's way.

"All right, return to your posts! No one enters or leaves without orders!"

Zhu Yuanzheng waved everyone away, then led Su Chen briskly into the building.

This complex had been built specifically to deal with matters concerning the Ancestor Symbol.

Alongside the military and the History Research Institute, countless other departments worked together here.

It could be said that this place was now the center of the nation's highest authority.

Su Chen followed Zhu Yuanzheng into an elevator and rode up, soon arriving at a quiet little conference room.

As soon as they entered, Zhu Yuanzheng snapped to attention and raised his right hand to his brow.

"Su Chen, on behalf of the nation, thank you for your contribution."

At a moment like this, declining the praise would only seem insincere.

But Su Chen was not one to become arrogant over his achievements, either.

He smiled and replied.

"You're too kind, General Zhu. I'm a citizen of this country, too. Though humble, I dare not forget my country's troubles. Isn't this simply what I should do?"

"Good! Good!"

Zhu Yuanzheng laughed heartily as well.

"'Though humble, I dare not forget my country's troubles'-well said! If everyone in our country thought that way, how could our nation fail to prosper?"

"But credit must be given where it's due! If you were a soldier, what you did today alone would more than qualify you for my position."

"Tell me what you want. Whatever it is, I'll do everything I can to request it from the state!"

Li Shuhua glanced at Zhu Yuanzheng. His lips moved, but he said nothing.

To anyone else, Zhu Yuanzheng's words might have sounded like nothing more than gratitude and praise.

But Li Shuhua had known him for decades and easily picked up on his underlying meaning.

With Su Yan's current standing and power,

if he truly cared about authority, why would he settle for being a general?

Whatever he wanted, he would not even need to ask. Countless people would rush to deliver it to him. Why would he need to request anything from the state?

Zhu Yuanzheng was testing him!

He wanted to see whether Su Chen would place himself above the nation.

Even if Su Chen said nothing, the slightest hint in his expression would not escape Zhu Yuanzheng's sharp eyes.

Though both men were already fairly certain of Su Chen's character,

his importance now was simply too great.

They had to be exceedingly cautious in deciding whether to remain guarded around him or trust him without reservation.

"General Zhu, Mr. Li."

Su Chen looked at them both, his expression sincere.

"When Emperor Xia passed his legacy on to me, he entrusted me with a duty."

"From that day forward, I was to continue guarding the Nine Provinces in his stead and protect the common people."

"I gave him my word, and I will keep it!"

"Besides, Dayu isn't my ancestor alone. He's the ancestor of countless people throughout Huaxia!"

"If I turned our ancestor's legacy into a tool for fighting over power and personal gain,

"it would not only desecrate our ancestor, but also show contempt for history!"

"I don't care what other inheritors are like."

"As far as I'm concerned, only those who respect history can earn history's respect!"

"Anyone who desecrates their ancestors isn't even fit to be their descendant, let alone inherit their legacy!"

"So, General Zhu, if you have any concerns, just say them openly. There's no need to hide them."

At those words, Zhu Yuanzheng and Li Shuhua were instantly filled with solemn respect.

"Well said!"

Li Shuhua slapped his thigh and turned to Zhu Yuanzheng with a knowing half-smile.

"Old Zhu, surely you can put your mind completely at ease now?"

Under Su Chen's and Li Shuhua's gazes, a trace of embarrassment appeared in Zhu Yuanzheng's eyes.

Li Shuhua went without saying. After decades of friendship, he was bound to catch his hidden meaning.

But Su Chen's response made it clear that he, too, had seen through his intentions.

Personally, Zhu Yuanzheng already trusted Su Chen completely. He could even be said to admire him.

But with the nation's future at stake, he still had to do what needed to be done.

"Su Chen, please don't hold this against me."

Zhu Yuanzheng dropped his earlier courtesies and spoke earnestly.

"Many people see only our nation's prosperity today. They've forgotten how we got here, step by step."

"Those so-called developed countries-where did their achievements and success come from?"

"Which of them didn't colonize? Which didn't invade? Which didn't plunder?"

"But what about us?"

"We grew strong through decades of our own hard work!"

"We relied on countless migrant workers living apart from their wives and children!"

"We relied on exporting resources from across the entire country!"

"We built up the strength we have today bit by bit, a dime at a time."

"How great a price did we pay to get here? How much humiliation did we endure?"

"So I have no choice but to be cautious. I dare not be anything else!"