In the Name of Divine Ability, Section 26

A glimmer of understanding flashed in Lu Zhao's eyes.

At the heart of how power operated was not the rank of one's position, but who could command the will of those carrying things out.

The theories taught at school were too abstract, and he had never actually held a senior leadership position. Only by encountering such things in practice could he understand them deeply enough to avoid mistakes in the future.

Afraid that Lu Zhao didn't understand how to socialize, Zhang Like continued, "You should get along with them too. When you see each other, give them a nod, and say hello if you're in a good mood. Sitting together for a meal in the cafeteria, for example, can really build a sense of belonging."

"But I've always eaten alone. Wouldn't it be awkward if I suddenly went over to them?"

Lu Zhao rubbed his chin, showing no great resistance to the idea.

"Then how about this?" Zhang Like said. "I'll throw a celebration banquet tomorrow. Once everyone sits down for a few drinks, we'll be closer."

Lu Zhao nodded in agreement. "All right."

Four years of tempering had taught him that, outside matters of principle, he had to be more tactful.

The car fell quiet again, leaving only the roar of the engine and the rustle of the wheels against the road.

The evening breeze blew, and Lu Zhao sank into thought.

Then he suddenly spoke, his voice clearly carrying over the engine:

"Before coming here, I went into the computer room and found the plan to change the patrol routes from a year and a half ago. Your name was on it."

Chapter 31: The Tables Turn

At those words, Zhang Like's breathing noticeably caught, and the vehicle swerved.

The patrol routes fell within Zhang Like's authority, and a year and a half ago, he had not yet completely fallen out with Lü Jinshan.

It was no surprise that his signature was on it, but when something went wrong, he would bear the main responsibility.

Zhang Like asked, "There's something like that in the computer room?"

"The Federation has been promoting computerized office work. Starting a year ago, all valid documents had to be recorded."

Lu Zhao explained what computerized office work meant to someone like Zhang Like, who had never touched a computer.

For the Federation, which had yet to even land on the moon, a digital life connected by the internet was still rather unfamiliar. The Great Cataclysm had advanced the production of life supplements and fostered one giant corporation after another, but it had also delayed many technologies.

Everyone was busy staying alive and had no time to tinker with anything else.

As far as Zhang Like knew, documents were still kept in archives. In a small place like Ant Ridge Border Station, it wasn't unusual for them to be gnawed on by rats or destroyed in a fire.

But things were different now. Everything would be backed up on computers, and through the dedicated government network, the data would be backed up to a county-level data center.

So some things were no longer up to Zhang Like.

He had to stand on Lu Zhao's side. As long as he pinned the blame on Lü Jinshan, everything would get better.

One in the morning, Ant Ridge Border Station.

The convoy drove through the chill of the late night and entered the camp gates. Lights were scattered sparsely across the compound.

The other teams assigned to seal off the perimeter had already returned one after another. Lu Zhao's team was the last to arrive.

Beside the camp's parking area.

Lü Jinshan had brought several key junior leaders from the border station to welcome the returning heroes.

As soon as Lu Zhao got out of the car, Lü Jinshan led the others over to greet him, covering three steps in two and taking his hand.

"You did an excellent job on today's mission. Tomorrow, I'll recommend you to the higher-ups for a commendation."

Then his round, smiling face turned toward the crowd, and he declared loudly, "During this major joint bandit-suppression operation for the Fangcheng special case, Comrade Lu Zhao faced adversity with a high degree of political awareness and turned the situation around."

"It also demonstrates the remarkable results of our border station's vigorous efforts in recent years to build combat strength and develop talent!"

Goosebumps rose all over Lu Zhao, and he pulled his hand free.

The others frowned as well, especially the grassroots officers, whose eyes were already burning with obvious anger.

Lü Jinshan had expected this. He showed no trace of annoyance and continued pouring out formal pleasantries as though nothing were amiss.

At least when it came to political maneuvering, Lu Zhao truly had to admit he was no match for him.

After Lü Jinshan had talked for more than ten minutes straight, everyone was growing impatient.

Finally, Lü Jinshan cleared his throat and said, "All right, everyone can go back and rest. Dismissed."

Everyone breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief, and the ordinary soldiers began to disperse on the spot. But after taking only a couple of steps, they noticed their company and platoon commanders hadn't moved and were still standing rigidly in place.

Some quick-witted squad leaders immediately pulled their men back.

Less than five minutes passed between Lü Jinshan dismissing them and their scattered ranks forming up again.

Lü Jinshan's genial smile vanished abruptly, and the atmosphere turned strange.

Zhang Like waited a moment, then turned and shouted, "All personnel, attention! At ease! Dismissed!"

Whoosh!

The border soldiers scattered in every direction.

As Lu Zhao walked along with Zhang Like, he asked, "Was that necessary?"

"We've always placed importance on choosing sides, while struggles within the Federation are about fighting without breaking apart." Zhang Like explained, "Read more newspapers and watch the news, and you'll see. The immortals all bombard each other with the Six Classics."

"And the point of expounding the classics is to choose a side and demand obedience from others. At work, ability doesn't come first, loyalty does. Results don't come first, attitude does."

With that, he put aside his serious expression and said teasingly, "Women often say all they want is the right attitude, and plenty of leaders are like little women too. They all need to be coaxed."

In the early hours of the morning, at the Ant Ridge Border Station dormitory building.

Beams of lamplight cut through the night fog, attracting countless mosquitoes and moths.

Lu Zhao returned to the dormitory building, and as soon as he stepped onto the stairs, he heard:

"Did today's operation go badly?"

Old Niu's voice was dry and hoarse, with an accent unique to the South Sea that drew out the ends of his words in a thin tone.

"You could say that."

Lu Zhao stopped in front of the guardroom window and deftly caught the cigarette Old Niu passed through the gap.

The cigarette had no filter and was harsh, as though chili powder had been added. A puff hit hard, the smoke scraping his tongue and throat like sandpaper.

It had made him choke the first time, but he was long past being the greenhorn who had first arrived at the border station.

Zhang Laoniu said, "You've gone straight at Lü Jinshan?"

Lu Zhao looked surprised. "Old Zhang told you?"

Zhang Laoniu replied, "The people who just came back were all talking about it. This border station is a tiny place. Who could you keep it from?"

On second thought, Lu Zhao saw his point. The border station had a thousand people at most, and only a few hundred on its official rolls.

His conflict with Lü Jinshan had been out in the open for more than a day.

"You dared to go up against Lü Jinshan. Found yourself a backer?"

Lu Zhao laughed. "No. Grandpa Niu, could you find me one? Preferably someone who sits in the South Sea Circuit Government Bureau."

"With that stubborn donkey temper of yours, even if I brought you a mountain of gold, you might just kick it over."

"You really can find one?"

"If I could, would I still be working as a gatekeeper here?"

"I thought you really were a hidden master, Old Niu."

Disappointment filled Lu Zhao's face, and Zhang Laoniu laughed at his words.

He had fought in the War of National Defense, not commanded it.

Under the Federation's system, the Hall of Martial Virtue in the Western Capital stood at the top, followed by circuits, counties, cities, towns, and townships or villages.

The Federation's highest governing body was the Hall of Martial Virtue, and its largest local administrative units were the Circuit Administration Bureaus. The Federation was made up of these Circuit Administration Bureaus and was known as one capital and twelve circuits.

The South Sea Circuit Government Bureau Lu Zhao had mentioned governed the entire South Sea, an area of 450,000 square kilometers with three counties, seventy cities, and a population of nearly five hundred million.

Without exception, the people who sat there were Martial Marquises, beings who would have been called earth immortals in ancient times.

If Zhang Laoniu could find someone like that, Lu Zhao would certainly seek their backing.

He simply didn't want to become a plaything of the powerful; he wasn't averse to power itself. Power existed objectively, and its existence did not depend on any individual's likes or dislikes.

He could also possess power in the future.

Zhang Laoniu crooked a finger, and Lu Zhao leaned closer in some confusion. Zhang Laoniu lowered his voice and said, "That Lü fellow has a younger brother who specializes in smuggling. You could look into it."

Lu Zhao's eyes visibly widened.

Thoughts raced through his mind like lightning, and in an instant he connected the news to the smuggling route on the mountain behind the station.

Lü Jinshan is most likely involved in smuggling.

Lu Zhao straightened up and returned to his usual half-dead state.

"Thanks, Uncle Niu. I'll head back and get some rest."

"So now you know to call me Uncle Niu."

Zhang Laoniu lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said,

"I have some connections in Red Water, but you'd have to give up your status as a fresh graduate and commissioned trainee from the Imperial Capital, enter society, and take the entrance exam for military school again. Come find me whenever you can't hold on anymore."

Lu Zhao smiled. "If you have connections like that, why don't you think of something for Old Zhang?"

Compared to Zhang Like, who was his nephew, Lu Zhao seemed more like his own kin.

"Even with connections, he needs the ability to make use of them." Zhang Laoniu was frustrated at his nephew's failure to live up to expectations. "It doesn't matter in a small place like Ant Ridge, but if he wants to move up to the county seat, his level of Life Development can't be low. If it is, he can only work as an assistant."

"I can hold on for now. You'd better save those connections for getting into a retirement home." Lu Zhao waved, turned, and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Zhang Laoniu smiled helplessly and sat in the guardroom, watching over the silent mountain ranges as they slept.

Chapter 32: Third Entry into Primordial Unity