I returned to the villa entrance and stood at the door without going in. Wang Dong knew I was looking for him and came out from inside.
I told him to come to our room after lunch, as my master wanted to speak with him.
He readily agreed and asked if I had anything else. I replied that I was just passing on a message from my master and had nothing else.
Wang Dong said he understood and returned to the living room.
As I walked back, the officer who picked us up hurried over. Seeing me, he said, "Young man, it's good I saw you. The General asked me to invite you. Since you're here, please go to the inner room for a moment."
I was taken aback. Wu Guodong inviting me suddenly was definitely not just for a casual chat; he might have something important to say.
I followed the officer inside. The officer opened the door to the inner room for me and didn't come in himself, letting me go in alone. Da Feng Fiction Network.
The room contained only Wu Guodong, not even a guard.
Wu Guodong saw me enter and motioned with his finger to the stool I had sat on earlier, inviting me to sit down.
He said, "Tell me, you are not the Master's disciple, are you?"
I was startled. Wang Dong hadn't managed to trick me, so how had Wu Guodong, weakened by illness and on the verge of death, figured it out?
Wu Guodong smiled and said, "Don't guess. No one told me. Your conversation gave you away. You've read books, and quite a lot, too. In today's terms, you've at least reached high school. Yet, when they introduced you, they said you were an abandoned orphan wandering the streets. How could a street beggar who can't read have so much knowledge and such refined speech? Let alone know about past wars, how could he speak so eloquently? You probably don't know that our primary and secondary schools are synchronized with the mainland. All textbooks are purchased from the mainland through the port. Our children receive the same education as yours. It's just that while we can teach children knowledge, we can't change their destinies, which are in the hands of the Burmese government. We have no control over that."
He paused and continued, "I didn't ask you here solely to expose you. More than half of it is to chat with you more. I feel a sense of kinship when I talk to you, a familial connection I haven't felt in a long time. However, child, you must first tell me why you came here to see me."
I truly hadn't expected this legendary drug lord to be such a thoughtful and somewhat kindly old man. He saw through me but didn't expose me, and he summoned me alone not to cause trouble, which touched me deeply.
I said, "General, my true identity is the manager of a gemstone gambling base in Ruili. My name is Li Hua. We recently opened, and during the period before and after our opening, a middle school principal named Sun colluded with people on your side and attacked and assassinated me and my company repeatedly. Each time, it was devastating. Because they were using your name, I thought to myself that we have no past grievances and no recent enmity. Surely, a high-ranking figure like you wouldn't hold a grudge against a young man like me over a bit of money. I wanted to come and ask you directly what was going on. Before I came, I considered that if it were purely for profit, we could fully cooperate and expand our businesses in raw stones or redwood. There would be no need for assassination or sneak attacks to gain such meager rewards. I came here a few days ago, but I was framed and lured with my friends to barracks near a poppy field, where we spent a night in a den of pythons and leopards. Fortunately, I survived, but I couldn't meet you. Upon returning, I heard that the divine doctor was coming to treat you, which gave me the idea to impersonate a disciple and come here. You know the rest."
Wu Guodong: "Weren't you afraid of being exposed and beheaded?"
I said, "Although I am young, I have faced death every time. So, death has become a numb concept to me. My only concern is to complete my mission. Life and death are in the hands of fate."
Wu Guodong: "I didn't expect you to be so indifferent to life and death at such a young age. I haven't misjudged you. You are talented and will achieve great things in the future! Now that you've seen me, is there anything else you want to tell me? But let me state first, I know nothing about the matters you just mentioned. Look at my condition yesterday, do you think I had the energy to do these things?"
I nodded: "General, in fact, I've already understood that what happened recently at my place has nothing to do with you. I just don't understand how such things could have happened within General Wu's army without your knowledge!"
The General closed his eyes slightly in pain. He shook his head and slowly opened his eyes to tell me, "Some things cannot be explained in a few words. Although I've led soldiers and fought battles my whole life, I dare say I've never lost. I never expected to lose not on the battlefield, but in choosing my people. As the saying goes, 'You reap what you sow.' I've brought this trouble upon myself, and I can't express my bitterness!"
Wu Guodong closed his eyes again, leaning quietly on the bed, and spoke no more.
Since he didn't speak, I couldn't ask. I could only sit there and wait for him to continue.
After a long while, he opened his eyes and said to me, "I'm tired. Shouldn't you be having your meal? Go and eat first. We'll talk again when we have time."
He waved his hand at me. I stood up, bowed to him, and then left.
There was no one in the living room outside. I guessed the officer had cleared the area, keeping others away.
I went back to my room to find the divine doctor and explained the general situation to him. He was anxious; I had gone to the villa, and he had disappeared, and there was no way to contact me by phone. He thought something had happened to me.
The divine doctor then realized that the General had seen through the deception and suspected my identity was problematic.
After lunch, Wang Dong furtively came to our room. The divine doctor gave me a look, and I tactfully excused myself. Since we were acting, we had to play our parts well. The divine doctor was helping him get someone out, and it had nothing to do with me, so I needed to avoid suspicion.
I went to the parade ground. The parade ground was empty at noon. The temperature difference between morning and evening here was significant, and noon was the hottest time with the strongest UV rays. Staying under the sun at this hour was not a good idea.
I found a shady spot and sat on the grass, lost in thought.
From the mess hall, I could tell that the garrison here was not large, at most the strength of a regiment. This regiment was not a combat unit but likely Wu Guodong's guard regiment.
This meant his main forces were not stationed here.
This was merely the former command center, and now it was just Wu Guodong's retirement place.
Therefore, there must be a new command center, with military forces stationed there, operating outside Wu Guodong's control.
I wondered if the divine doctor could find out the location of this center or identify the person in charge.
Suddenly, I felt a sense of loss. I had worked so hard to infiltrate the enemy's ranks, only to end up in isolation.
Of course, it wasn't entirely without gain; at least I knew the outcome.