Two days later, four low-key and understated business sedans drove into the compound of the Quan Tong Bureau. Gu Baisun, responsible for the reception, led Su Tiannan, Zhang Taotao, and senior members of the Huagong Hui out of the cars.

Su Tianyu personally went out to greet them, but he was somewhat dumbfounded when he saw who the Huagong Hui had sent.

The representative was actually Huang Peishan. He and Su Tianyu had clashed fiercely over the issue of Panama City, even arguing face-to-face. Seeing him was a bit of a surprise.

But surprise or no, the formalities had to be observed.

Su Tianyu immediately stepped forward, extending his hand and saying, "Long time no see, Chairman Huang!"

"Hehe, long time no see." Huang Peishan shook Su Tianyu's hand. "You're looking quite energetic again. I was right about you. High position, low profile. You have a bright future."

"Not at all, not at all." Seeing the other man flattering him, Su Tianyu replied modestly, "I'm just running errands for the leaders. I wouldn't call it a high position. Please, come in!"

Both men were seasoned veterans; naturally, they wouldn't bring up past unpleasantries. They tacitly agreed to let the Panama City incident be water under the bridge.

Su Tianyu accompanied Huang Peishan on a tour of the Quan Tong Bureau, then took him directly to the specially designated restaurant on the top floor.

The scenery here was excellent. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, one could see the entire Dragon River, making it the perfect place for Su Tianyu to entertain guests.

Gu Baisun ushered everyone inside. Su Tianyu excused himself to answer a phone call, giving his elder brother a meaningful look.

In the lounge across from the restaurant, Su Tianyu closed the door and asked softly, "How did you get Old Huang to come?"

Su Tiannan was exasperated. "Damn it, he's the Executive Vice Chairman, and he's in charge of foreign intelligence. Who else would come? Just because you two had a spat doesn't mean the Vice Chairman can't do his job, right?"

"That's not what I meant..."

"We're all people with status and influence now." Su Tiannan said with a smile, "The interests in Panama City have long been divided up. You didn't shortchange us, so let bygones be bygones. Besides, aren't you trying to take down Wu Boxin?! Old Huang has resources."

"Oh, is that so?" Su Tianyu said with a chuckle. "I'm fine. I'm thick-skinned. I don't care about awkwardness. I'm just afraid Old Huang might be uncomfortable."

"Don't worry, he's even more shameless than you are." Su Tiannan grinned. "People who run organizations have to have that basic skill, right?! Just talk to him like normal. No need to hold back."

"Okay." Su Tianyu nodded, then asked, "Do you agree with my proposal?"

"You mean establishing a joint organization?"

"Yeah."

"Some people are opposed to it. They think the chances of integration are low. And if the organization gets too big, it'll definitely be crushed by the regional powers. That's a pretty high risk for a large organization like the Huagong Hui." Su Tiannan said softly, "But those voices are in the minority. More people think integration is the inevitable path. To grow, to have a voice, you have to expand your size and develop your own armed forces. So, in the end, the decision leans towards your proposal."

"That's good." Su Tianyu nodded. "Old Huang isn't one of the opposition, is he?"

"No, he's not." Su Tiannan immediately shook his head. "Old Huang supports establishing a joint organization. He saw your execution and armed forces in Panama City. He thinks it can be done. Anyway, we're not going to become one big family right away. We'll all be independent. The meaning of sticking together for warmth will become clear, and there won't be too much conflict."

"Okay, I understand your side's position." Su Tianyu nodded with a smile.

"Let's go back, then." Su Tiannan called out.

Su Tianyu opened the door and said with a chuckle, "Now that you're back, you should visit the family, right? See Uncle and them."

"Yeah, I'll take Taotao back when I'm done here."

"Hehe, good." Su Tianyu nodded. "Uncle has been trying to set you up with someone, but you always refused. He'll be happy that you brought someone back yourself."

The two brothers chatted as they returned to the restaurant.

During the meal, Huang Peishan and the others raised their glasses and discussed the plans for establishing a joint organization and rescuing Wu Boxin.

...

Dragon City, inside the An family military headquarters.

After dinner, An Zecheng strolled through the military headquarters' small garden with his daughter.

"Ever since Vice Commander Xu retired, his position has been vacant. Old Tan has been vying for it for three years, but he hasn't received an appointment." An Zecheng turned to his daughter, asking with a hint of probing, "What do you think about this?"

"Dad, I don't really understand political matters." An Qiqi scratched her head, her brows furrowed slightly. "But from my understanding, if Commander Tan wants to take that next step, he needs to create some momentum."

An Zecheng picked up a watering can, looking at the plants in the flowerbed and asking, "How should he create momentum?"

"If problems arise on the border, the role of the garrison will become more prominent." An Qiqi blinked. "Simply put, if he makes the higher-ups feel that replacing Tan Hengqiang would be too costly, and they can't do without him, then his position as Deputy Commander-in-Chief will be secure."

An Zecheng nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

An Qiqi didn't notice her father's expression, and continued softly, "But if the purpose of a war is just to promote someone to some kind of commander, that's too frivolous...!"

"Hehe." An Zecheng turned to look at his daughter, saying concisely, "Suppose, the border flares up now. Before the war, the higher-ups support Tan Hengqiang and directly appoint him as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Legion. But after the war starts, the higher-ups don't give you supplies or military spending, and Tan Hengqiang can't get the support of absolute administrative power. What will be his fate?"

An Qiqi was stunned.

"If you were Tan Hengqiang, what would you do?"

"The higher-ups wouldn't just watch Dragon City be in danger and do nothing, would they?" An Qiqi immediately retorted.

"Hehe, what does the death of a few civilians, the sacrifice of a few soldiers, mean to the district's politics?" An Zecheng said with a smile. "As long as the higher-ups choke Tan Hengqiang, he'll collapse in less than three months. Dragon City's political structure is one of military and political separation. Old Li is only temporarily in contact with Tan Hengqiang because he's seeking profit, but he can't possibly take money from his own administrative coffers to support Tan Hengqiang in a war. The garrison's officers need money, they need supplies... What can Tan Hengqiang give them? Once the food supply is cut off, those fifty or sixty thousand troops will scatter."

An Qiqi was stunned.

An Zecheng pointed to his brain, gently reminding her, "Whether you're doing military intelligence or politics, the worst thing a chess player can do is get stuck in a phase of self-identification. That will make your perspective very narrow. When considering something, it's best not to think about feasibility first, but to imagine the obstacles. If your brain can't support you in solving those obstacles, then you can't do it."

"I understand, Dad." An Qiqi asked thoughtfully, "Then how do you think the situation in Dragon City should be resolved?"