Chapter 56 Is Jiang Huaiyan Right

Chapter 56: Was Jiang Huaiyan Right?

The atmosphere in the meeting room became icy. Zhu Shinian's words had gone too far; no matter how divided their political views were, you shouldn't wish illness on someone.

Another major general, always a loyal confidant of Tao Juan, knew about the history between Zhu Shinian and Ning Ye. He cleared his throat softly, intending to smooth things over for Zhu Shinian.

But before he could figure out how to ease the tension, Jiang Huaiyan spoke calmly, beating him to it.

"Even if I were to suffer from premature gland degeneration and die tomorrow, I still wouldn't vote in favor."

"This is most likely a trap set by the Empire. We are at a disadvantage, with high risks, and the rewards don't justify the sacrifices. I still do not support investing any resources in this matter."

He slid the three proposals neatly back to the center of the table, his movements calm and unhurried.

Jiang Huaiyan lifted his head, his eyes swept across everyone at the long table: "It is Major General Zhu's right to propose these plans for a vote by the provisional military-civilian committee, and it is my right to veto them. Regardless of what any of you think of me, I will not agree to risk any of our operatives or elite forces for something like this..."

As the initial wave of heroism subsided, the others began to reflect on Jiang Huaiyan's words.

Jiang Huaiyan was indeed rational to the point of being cold-blooded, but what he said was not without reason.

Was it really a worthwhile trade—to sacrifice elite soldiers like Major General Zhu, who could take on a hundred men, and the deep-cover agents who had spent a decade embedded in the Empire, for such a cause?

The lives of patients were lives, but weren't the lives of agents and elite soldiers also lives? Even if they volunteered to sacrifice themselves, how could others stand idly by?

Yet, many of their comrades were inferior alphas, and sooner or later, they might die from premature gland degeneration.

Risking their lives for themselves and their fellow soldiers... many of them were willing to do so.

"Enough!"

A voice exploded from the other end of the table. A tall alpha in the corner suddenly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor with a harsh screech.

"Mr. Jiang!" he repeated, his voice louder than before, his chest heaving with anger. "Do you even understand what we're talking about? Premature gland degeneration—it's a terminal illness! Now there's a cure, there's hope, and you want to block this path just because of a 'possibility' that it's a trap?"

Jiang Huaiyan looked up at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

If he wasn't mistaken, this guy was the same one who had lost a bet to Zhu Shinian a few days ago and had to bark like a dog.

What was his name again... something... Han Zhandong.

"Senior Han, calm down. Sit down and speak."

The colonel beside Han Zhandong, seeing his agitation, quickly poured him some water.

Han Zhandong, realizing he had gotten carried away, sat back down.

"Director Jiang is a noble. I hear nobles' blood is a bit more noble than ours," he said sarcastically. "I remember the Jiang family crest is a snake. Snakes are cold-blooded, so it's no wonder they can't understand how people like us can readily die for others."

Jiang Huaiyan looked at him, as if something had occurred to him. He didn't seem angry at all and didn't bother to argue back. He just watched him quietly, as if waiting for him to finish.

"You and Governor Tao and Major General Zhu are not the same kind of people at all. Bah! What right do you have to veto the Major General's plan?"

"Old Han," someone whispered, trying to calm him down. It was true that the resistance forces weren't particularly close to Jiang Huaiyan, but such words were too damaging to the atmosphere. Many couldn't bear to watch.

His old comrades knew Han Zhandong's temperament well and wouldn't take it personally—otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to oppose Zhu Shinian publicly back then.

But while his old comrades might let it slide, there was no guarantee Jiang Huaiyan would be gracious enough to ignore such remarks.

Deputy Governor Lin Wenyuan quickly stood up to explain on Han Zhandong's behalf: "Director Jiang, Old Han speaks without a filter. Don't mind him."

Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, Lin Wenyuan looked refined, but his words were coarse—mentioning straight pipe and brain. Even Jiang Huaiyan had to smile.

"That's just how he is—he speaks without thinking. A few days ago, he offended Major General Zhu and had to bark like a dog. Don't take it to heart."

Although Lin Wenyuan was belittling Han Zhandong with every word, his underlying message was clear: let it slide.

The resistance forces were united, Jiang Huaiyan thought, giving a noncommittal smile. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"Mr. Jiang's concerns are reasonable," Lin Wenyuan continued. "How many traps has the Empire set for us that we've fallen into? We ended up here because the Empire tricked us. Otherwise, who would give up a good life to become outlaws? Mr. Jiang is right—caution is necessary. Old Han, apologize to the Director now."

Not wanting to embarrass Lin Wenyuan, Han Zhandong stood up, his neck stiff, and apologized to Jiang Huaiyan.

"But Major General Zhu's plan does have its merits," Lin Wenyuan changed the subject. "Premature gland degeneration has plagued us for years, causing so much suffering. Personally, I think if there really is a chance..."

He paused, leaving the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was clear.

Jiang Huaiyan looked up at him. Lin Wenyuan avoided his gaze, cleared his throat, and said, "Since opinions are divided, let's follow the procedure. Everyone, vote."

Jiang Huaiyan was sure to vote against it, and the plan was doomed from the start. Nevertheless, everyone cast their votes.

In the end, all three proposals received nearly half of the votes against them. Regardless of Jiang Huaiyan's veto, the plans would not pass.

Since it was an emergency meeting with no other items on the agenda besides this unexpected incident, Lin Wenyuan announced the adjournment.

The crowd filed out of the meeting room. Several of Zhu Shinian's close friends stayed behind to comfort him. He smiled and shook his head, saying that it was a fair and open vote, and his proposal's failure was nothing to be upset about.

But after the room emptied, Zhu Shinian stood before the ballot box, staring at the "no" votes for a long while.

Then he gathered the three proposals, folded them, and placed them into a folder.

Was Jiang Huaiyan right?

He wasn't exactly wrong.

Zhu Shinian was willing to sacrifice himself, but when the risk of the plan was extremely high, he couldn't lead his subordinates to their doom as well.

Many people had families. They might be willing to be heroes and sacrifice themselves, but if possible, who wouldn't want to return home alive and enjoy a reunion dinner with their families?

And Zhu Shinian himself... he closed his eyes. His grandmother was still alive. If he could help it, he didn't want her to have to bury him.

Before Tao Juan went to the front lines, he told Zhu Shinian to learn to see the big picture. But Zhu Shinian still couldn't think like Tao Juan.

He knew he wasn't a good politician. He couldn't detach himself from individual lives and treat people as numbers to calculate whether the cost was worth it.

He went with the flow. If he was sent to the front lines to kill enemies, he fought bravely, one against ten. If he was sent deep into enemy territory as an agent, he infiltrated and remained undetected for years.

He could do all of that well.

He didn't understand why Tao Juan had to assign him tasks he wasn't good at. Clearly, Tao Juan, Lin Wenyuan, and Jiang Huaiyan were already leading the resistance forces well enough.

When he was young, he admired Tao Juan and Jiang Huaiyan. They were indeed skilled at commanding the big picture, considering every aspect meticulously.

Zhu Shinian was the last to leave the meeting room. When he passed by Jiang Huaiyan's office, he saw the door half-open. Jiang Huaiyan was still in the office.

He was slumped over his desk, apparently asleep.

Was work that exhausting? Zhu Shinian wondered. He rarely saw Jiang Huaiyan appear so out of his depth.

In the past, no matter what he faced, Jiang Huaiyan always seemed to handle it with ease.

Zhu Shinian really didn't know how to face him.

He could not come to terms with Jiang Huaiyan's involvement in his brother's death, and he knew he should be grateful—thankful that he helped him leave the Empire, thankful for giving up everything to join the Resistance.

What he had said to Jiang Huaiyan during the meeting was really... too harsh.

He knew full well that Jiang Huaiyan, like those poor alphas in the Resistance zone, used the cheapest and strongest suppressants, and he knew that Jiang Huaiyan might indeed be suffering from premature gland failure.

When it came to matters concerning Jiang Huaiyan, Zhu Shinian was becoming increasingly harsh, more and more unlike himself.

If only Jiang Huaiyan were as unrepentant and selfish as Ning Ye, who treats human lives like dirt.

But he simply wasn't. Zhu Shinian could neither continue to worship and admire him as before, nor could he openly hate him or kill him.

He was not carefree enough to focus only on the greater good and ignore personal grievances, yet he also knew he shouldn't be consumed by private vendettas, especially since Jiang Huaiyan didn't intend for his brother to die.

It seemed he should... apologize for those words.

Zhu Shinian was still hesitating about how and when to speak when, the next moment, Jiang Huaiyan sat up and opened his eyes.

His eyes looked even more bloodshot than during the meeting, probably because he hadn't rested well for a long time.

Zhu Shinian had a strange impression that Jiang Huaiyan... seemed to have lost a bit of weight, his complexion was paler, and he had changed a lot overall.

When he first met Jiang Huaiyan, Zhu Shinian felt that he was even more like a nobleman from a movie than Gu Zhen—graceful in every gesture, as if he were born to be an aristocrat.

But after just a few days in the Resistance, he seemed to have changed a lot... Zhu Shinian couldn't pinpoint what had changed, but he was very different from the person Zhu Shinian remembered.

“Director Jiang.”

Hearing Zhu Shinian greet him, Jiang Huaiyan froze for a moment, then quickly stood up and walked to the door.

“Major General Zhu, why... haven't you left yet?”

“I took another look at everyone's votes and reflected on the plan I wrote,” Zhu Shinian answered truthfully. “I might... really not be cut out for making decisions. I wonder why my mentor gave me a task like this.”

“I'm sorry I couldn't support your plan during the meeting. It was my fault; I didn't mean to belittle you.”

“You just lack experience. You've never thought from a leader's perspective before. It's not a problem with your abilities.” Jiang Huaiyan comforted him, watching him.

He was about to say more, but after a moment's thought, he felt that Zhu Shinian probably didn't want to hear his comfort or advice, so he stopped.

“...Saying those things to you during the meeting,” Zhu Shinian suddenly said. “I'm sorry. I couldn't control myself for a moment.”

Author's note: