Chapter 1 A Generation Ends

A person's life, perhaps the most helpless thing, is having to see off one's own dying loved ones in their twilight years.

Pu Xingbang was already nearing seventy, an old man with a full head of white hair, and today he would be bidding farewell to his father, who had been by his side for almost his entire life.

Pu Yuan, the governor of the Pu region, patriarch of the Pu family, the actual leader of the Old Triangle area. He was the hero who led the nation out of its predicament after the Epoch Era, completely ending the internal wars, and using more than thirty years to unify his homeland!

For the vast majority of people in the Old Triangle, Pu Yuan was their spiritual leader, the hope of the nation.

Today, this hero had withered away to barely seventy-odd pounds, his flesh and blood dried up, his aged skin clinging tightly to his bones, a sight that could not help but evoke sorrow.

Inside the emergency room, Pu Xingbang stood beside the bed, looking down at his father, calling out softly in his local dialect, "Dad, I... I'm here...!"

On the hospital bed, the old man known to outsiders as Blind Pu nodded slowly and replied in a weak voice, "...My breath... can't... can't hold on anymore. Have you finished your work?"

Pu Xingbang nodded forcefully, tears streaming down his face.

Pu Yuan had eight wives and more than twenty children in his lifetime. In his later years, after falling seriously ill, he relied on medication to sustain his life, just to hold on to his breath, to pave the way for the successor he had chosen to take the stage.

The political and military situation in the Old Triangle was very complex. To the northwest, it bordered the Fifth District, to the north it bordered the Hua District, and its coastline was a maritime barrier that the West had long coveted. However, the region's economy was relatively backward, its territory small, and its own strength slightly weak. It existed in the center of several large districts, and it was not easy to have developed to its current state.

In his youth, Pu Yuan gradually gained power with the support of local families, and these families were able to give him support through marriage. Therefore, he had many wives and children, which also left him with difficulties in inheriting power in his later years.

However, Pu Yuan had been in power for more than forty years, and he had plenty of time to consider what would happen after his death. Therefore, after falling seriously ill, he had already begun to transition power to the successor he had chosen, first by having Pu Xingbang enter the political arena, taking over all affairs in the capital, Hanoi, and then slowly making him the Executive Secretary-General, Executive Deputy Director-General, and Director-General.

On the military side, Pu Xingbang had also moved from the position of war zone commander to the General Staff Department as Chief of General Staff and Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

Every step of the way over the years, Pu Yuan had planned for his son in a very solid and unhurried manner.

On the hospital bed, Blind Pu looked at his son, who was no longer young, and gently instructed, "For those who can be spared... spare them... The old people haven't outlived me, those who should have gone have gone. Their remaining descendants should be remembered for their contributions, consider whether they should stay or go... For those who affect unity and stability... be decisive and don't leave any hidden dangers."

Pu Xingbang held his father's hand and nodded slowly.

"Our own strength is weak, we must adhere to the development path, unite with the Hua District, engage in trade, and conduct military interactions. This policy must not be changed by anyone during the Pu family's reign. If anyone becomes muddled, all the generals of the Pu family's army can rise up against them." Blind Pu opened his eyes with effort, and with his withered hand pulled his son: "...You are not young anymore, you must cultivate Zheng Guo to take over power!"

"I know, Dad!" Pu Xingbang replied in his local dialect, nodding heavily.

"It's not that I, Old Pu... am unwilling to relinquish power!" Blind Pu sighed, looking up, "For hundreds of years, our family has controlled the government. How easy is it to talk about reform... Let's develop first. If one day, the political situation is stable, the economy recovers, and the people awaken... we will hand over power... No family can prosper forever, we must accept reality."

"I understand, Dad!"

Blind Pu stared blankly at the ceiling, his inner emotions surging. He was somewhat unwilling, somewhat helpless: "I was thirty-two years old when I founded the Pu regime. Today, it has been more than sixty years... Half a century has passed, and we still have not been internationally recognized and established a district... This is my life's regret... Xingbang, remember your name, and I hope that in your lifetime, you can fulfill this wish for me, for those dead generals and soldiers..."

Pu Xingbang gritted his teeth: "Before I die, I will definitely fulfill your last wish!"

"Good... good...!"

Blind Pu nodded repeatedly in response, his voice gradually weakening.

He looked at his father, gently clutching his hand, and stared blankly, tears streaming down his face, without saying a word.

His breathing gradually weakened, the rise and fall of his chest was no longer visible to the naked eye, he slowly closed his eyes, and his arm fell naturally.

Pu Yuan, who had fought all his life, was gone, leaving this world with regret.

Pu Xingbang slowly stood up, saluted his father, and choked with emotion until he was speechless.

Two minutes later.

The generals and political officials who had been waiting for a long time outside the corridor all entered the emergency room, saluted the old governor, and bid him farewell.

The room was filled with weeping, and many old men over seventy years old felt their dreams shattered when they saw the governor pass away.

They were all capable officers during Pu Yuan's reign. At this moment, the leader was gone, and the efforts and visions of their generation had come to an end. Future generations would judge their merits and demerits.

...

Hanoi City.

Gui Mengjun had just returned home to meet his father, and before the two could talk about the governor, the phone rang.

"The old governor has passed away!"

"...!" Gui Mengjun lowered his head in silence, his eyes red.

"The Governor's Mansion has already prepared a state funeral, but the news has not yet been announced to the outside world." The other party said quickly.

"Understood." Gui Mengjun replied, "That's it!"

The two ended the call, and Gui Mengjun placed the phone on the table, leaned back on the sofa and said, "He's gone!"

"Ah!" Gui's father also sighed.

...

Inside the sanatorium.

The tear stains on Pu Xingbang's face had disappeared. As he walked out, he whispered, "Enter the state funeral procedure. Don't leak the news for now. Call a press conference at eight o'clock tomorrow morning!"

"Yes!" The person behind him nodded repeatedly and took the initiative to ask, "What about the Hua District?"

Pu Xingbang paused for a moment: "Don't invite their political figures to come to pay their respects for now!! Don't give any clear answers to the outside world either."

"Understood!"

"Transfer the Third Army of the First War Zone and the 97th Army of the Second War Zone into the city!" Pu Xingbang paused and said, "Be quick!"

"Yes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Pu Xingbang quickly walked out of the sanatorium and got into his car.

The motorcade left, and Pu Xingbang sat in the back seat. After a long silence, he sent a brief message to his sister who had married into the Hua District: "You are not allowed to return to pay respects to our father for the time being! Wait for my notification!"