Zhou Xian had barely left when Tan Mingchao’s lungs felt like they would explode with anger. He knew that having missed Xin Xiaoming at the airport, there would be no further opportunities to silence him.

Sitting in the car, trying to calm down, Tan Mingchao called his father: "Xin Xiaoming didn't show up at the airport. Zhou Xian had him secretly brought back by land."

Tan Hengqiang was silent.

"I... I can't handle this for now, Dad," Tan Mingchao said, ashamed.

"It's alright, I'll take care of it." Tan Hengqiang didn't blame his son, because he knew this wouldn't be easy. Ever since the military supplies were hijacked, the garrison had been in a constant state of damage control. Whether it was dealing with matters in the Second District or tracking down Xin Xiaoming, they were at a disadvantage, always one step behind in terms of information.

The father and son ended the call. Tan Hengqiang thought for a moment, then turned to his chief of staff and said, "Xin Xiaoming is back. Silencing him is no longer an option. You and I should go see Old Xin."

"Alright!" Chief of Staff Zhang replied.

At the same time.

Sitting in his car, Zhou Xian held his phone, feeling elated as he said, "Keep a close watch on Old Xin, as well as the core officers of the Third Division. As soon as we finish gathering evidence here, we'll move to arrest them."

"Actually, we can apply for control of Xin Chaojie now. After all, it's a fact that his son has improper financial dealings with Hongfang Group. Given his position, we can definitely apply for his joint liability, because his son doesn't have the characteristics of someone capable of transferring benefits," the other party replied.

"No, no, we can't rush." Zhou Xian shook his head. "If you make a move now, Old Tan will definitely try to stop us, and things might even turn ugly. We're in the driver's seat right now, so we can't give them a chance to find fault. We must get the evidence first."

"Alright, I understand."

"The key word now is 'steady'!" Zhou Xian replied.

...

An hour later.

Inside a solitary room in the Dragon City Garrison Corps' Discipline Department, Xin Chaojie stood by the window, staring out, a storm raging in his heart.

Even before the investigation team went to the Second District to arrest Xin Xiaoming, Old Xin’s situation had become even more precarious. Before, the people in the Discipline Department would still let him make calls and have some personal meetings, but now they had completely cut off his contact with the outside world. He had no idea what was happening.

Footsteps approached, and the door opened. Chief of Staff Zhang walked in.

Xin Chaojie turned his head woodenly, his eyes showing a hint of surprise, and a premonition rising in his heart: "Oh, Chief of Staff, why are you here?"

Chief of Staff Zhang looked at Xin Chaojie with his hands behind his back. After a brief pause, he sighed and said, "Alas, I really didn't want to see you at a time like this."

Xin Chaojie's heart sank when he heard this.

Chief of Staff Zhang waved his hand lightly, dismissing his attendants. He walked alone to the window and took out a cigarette case.

Xin Chaojie looked at his profile and asked, his voice trembling slightly, "Chief... Chief of Staff, what's wrong?"

Chief of Staff Zhang took out a cigarette and handed it to Xin Chaojie: "Is your heart better?"

Xin Chaojie took the cigarette distractedly: "Much better."

"Alas!"

Chief of Staff Zhang sighed again, lighting the cigarettes for Xin Chaojie and himself. He took a deep drag: "...I tried my best."

Xin Chaojie held the cigarette in his mouth, looking at him in astonishment, not responding.

"Your son has been arrested. He's already been brought back to Dragon City," Chief of Staff Zhang said, looking out the window, his tone flat. "There's nothing we can do. You should be taken away soon."

"Chief of Staff, how old is my son? What he did...!"

"Do you believe what you're saying?" Chief of Staff Zhang turned to look at him and asked: "Hongfang Group, Huaxia Capital! How big is your胆子 [dǎnzi, guts]? Are you trying to die?!"

Hearing this, Xin Chaojie immediately retorted, "Chief of Staff, I'm not the only one taking money! Many of our garrison's generals are secretly involved with Huaxia Capital..."

"But you're the only one who's been caught!" Chief of Staff Zhang interrupted, pointing at his chest. "You're the most connected to the hijacking of military supplies, aren't you?"

Xin Chaojie was speechless.

"We're old brothers, do you think I wanted to see you like this?" Chief of Staff Zhang asked.

Xin Chaojie took a hard puff of his cigarette and clenched his fist as he replied, "Someone is deliberately trying to frame me."

"It's pointless to say that now." After a long pause, Chief of Staff Zhang said in a hoarse voice, "The commander's intention is that it stops with you."

Xin Chaojie stared at him blankly, silent.

"You should know that the commander and I didn't not try to protect you," Chief of Staff Zhang continued. "If we really wanted to abandon you from the start, you definitely wouldn't be here right now, and you wouldn't have had the chance to contact the outside world. Mingchao originally wanted to pin the blame on Yang Gang, but Zhou Xian latched onto your line and wouldn't let go. Once your son was arrested, the outcome was already decided."

"I... I know." Xin Chaojie nodded slowly.

"Confess your guilt." Chief of Staff Zhang turned to look at Xin Chaojie, his eyes also filled with pity and regret. "That's the best way out."

Xin Chaojie's mind was in turmoil, his fingers unknowingly deforming the cigarette. He lowered his head and asked in a hoarse voice, "If I die, can this be over? Can Xiaoming be saved?"

"What do you think? We're not gods! The investigation team was sent by the Grand District Council. To put it bluntly, they're here to target our garrison." Chief of Staff Zhang frowned at him. "You and Xiaoming will both have to confess your guilt. And your officers and henchmen will all have to turn themselves in."

Hearing this, Xin Chaojie looked up, staring at Chief of Staff Zhang in disbelief. "You... you mean the garrison's pressure will be borne entirely by my Xin family?!"

Chief of Staff Zhang was silent.

"What does that mean?! My eldest son, my son-in-law, those officers under me, they'll all be given heavy sentences, or even the death penalty?!" Xin Chaojie's eyes were becoming crazed, his voice agitated. "Chief of Staff Zhang, you can't do this! I, Old Xin, have been with you for so many years, even if I haven't made any contributions, I've worked hard, right? I was greedy, but you know that the hijacking of military supplies had nothing to do with me! Why should my Xin family take the fall for this?"

"If we don't take the fall, at least a third of the generals in the garrison headquarters will be removed, and many people will be implicated." Chief of Staff Zhang pointed at Xin Chaojie. "It's not that we're making you take the fall, but it's only because you came forward that we have no choice...!"

"Pa!"

Xin Chaojie threw the cigarette on the ground, the veins on his neck bulging as he retorted, "I can die!!! But you can't let my entire family be exterminated!"

"We're not exterminating your entire family! The main offenders just need to confess their guilt, and we can protect the rest."

"Bullshit! Life imprisonment, suspended death sentence, two hundred years, what's the difference between that and extermination?!" Xin Chaojie roared. "Can't I just take it all on myself?"

"No, it's not enough." Chief of Staff Zhang shook his head.

Hearing this, Xin Chaojie suddenly turned to look at the door. He knelt down with a thud and shouted, "Commander! Commander!! I know you're outside! I beg you, for the sake of my years of service, please help my family get through this! I'll write a confession and then commit suicide, okay? Is that okay?!"

Outside the door, Tan Hengqiang sat in the reception room, listening to Xin Chaojie's shouts. He slowly put down the teacup he had just picked up and sighed, "Old Xin, Old Xin! What can I do...!"

Inside the room, Chief of Staff Zhang looked at Xin Chaojie. "You have no choice, and neither do we. We're only arresting military officers now. If the headquarters doesn't protect you, your wife, your two daughters, those relatives of yours who are leeching off the military, who can escape? If we just randomly arrest one of them, they'll be sentenced to at least fifteen years!"

Hearing this, Xin Chaojie turned to look at Chief of Staff Zhang, his eyes filled with despair.

"Think about it. Once you've thought it through, call your subordinates," Chief of Staff Zhang said, looking out the window. "They can't run. If they run, and no one takes responsibility, then no one in your family will be able to escape. You understand what I mean...?"

"Hehe... hehe...!" Xin Chaojie sat on the ground, his face pale, making a neurotic laugh. "I understand, how could I not understand...!"

...

After landing in Dragon City, Su Tianyu immediately called Zhao Weihu: "Brother, how are your preparations going?"