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Chapter448
Shao Qi's cherished sword, which had accompanied him through many battles, was gone. Regrettably, not even a fragment was left for him.
He often gazed at the furnace, lost in thoughts. At first, the workers gossiped about him, but over time, they dismissed his behavior, assuming he wasn't all there mentally.
The funeral for Marshal Shao took place in Dawn City. The memorial hall was set up in the largest public square. There was no body, only a crystal coffin holding his military uniform.
In front of the temporary memorial hall hung a large black-and-white photo. The square was inundated with flowers brought by the citizens.
Neither the Zhou family nor Shao's family were present. Citizens mourned spontaneously. The official funeral broadcast mainly showcased high-ranking officials delivering eulogies with great emotion, which Zhou You had no interest in hearing.
He was at the hospital; the old man had fallen ill ever since he heard of Shao Qi's demise.
Zhou You couldn’t console him. Any words seemed insipid. He could only personally care for him as advised by the doctor.
There was turmoil in the Central Military. Rumors were that several generals trusted by Shao Qi had been replaced. The competition for the Marshal's successor was ongoing, but Zhou You was indifferent.
He would often sit for hours. Sometimes when the old man woke up and saw him, he would feel slightly more spirited. If Zhou You left too, it would be devastating for both him and Shao Zhen.
"Turn to channel one on the TV. Isn't today the burial?" the old man asked Zhou You upon waking up.
Picking up the remote, Zhou You calmly responded, "It's just an empty coffin. There's nothing worth sending off." Even the burial site was chosen by officials. Zhou You hadn't visited, and he probably wouldn't be paying his respects at the grave either.
He twirled the ring on his ring finger, listening to the emotional eulogies. Such praises were common online, but reading them brought no joy.
He yearned for that person to stand before him once again, to see the person and not just cold, detached words. He would rather that person be nothing at all.
In the afternoon, during visiting hours, several generals from the military region came. Zhou You recognized none of them. The old man spoke briefly and then feigned sleep, indicating to Zhou You that these men didn't have close ties with Shao Qi.
Zhuo Hao reported to him every day, updating him on the movements within the military region.
Shao Qi's death deeply saddened the Huoyan unit more than anyone. Recent rumors suggest that this special force might soon be disbanded and reassigned.
Of course, with their capabilities, they wouldn't serve as mere foot soldiers elsewhere, but once disbanded, they'd no longer be a cohesive unit.
"It's outrageous! They actually want our unit's training plans and to inspect our weapons and equipment!" Zhuo Hao exclaimed in frustration to Zhou You upon his arrival.
Everyone knows that the Huoyan unit is the best-equipped in the entire army. Those envious eyes have been watching for a long time. But as long as the new marshal isn't appointed, no one can touch their assets.
"Zhuo Hao, you've already reached the rank of colonel. Your contributions have been significant; surely, you should be promoted again?" Zhou You inquired seriously.
"I... I haven't thought about it." Everyone has been consumed by grief lately, promotion being the last thing on their minds.
Given his achievements in the last two years, he deserves not just one but two promotions. Shao Qi had planned to evaluate and promote them this year but had been too preoccupied.
"Who are the leading contenders for the marshal position in the military now?"
"Gu Zhuo is one, then there's the veteran General Xu Lei. Also, Commander Lin Tingyu from Yangcheng base is gaining significant support."
Zhou You recalled his brief encounter with Commander Lin, a deep and enigmatic figure. Unlike Gu Zhuo, who wore his ambitions on his sleeve, Lin would be a formidable competitor.
"Apart from vying for power, have they mentioned any strategies against external threats?"
"Currently, General Qin Xun has been assigned to take 30,000 troops to guard the Life Base. Next, a government engineering team will repair the base. We'll dispatch reinforcements immediately if there's any incident; we're always prepared."
"What if we can't receive the news?" Zhou You retorted, "What if they use a weapon that blocks our communications? How would we be informed immediately?"
"The communication there has been restored. Oh, by the way, I got you a new phone; it has your old number. Brother Zhou, I know you're grieving, but we must move forward. I'm lost too, but I don't want to lose the team that our leader painstakingly built."
Zhou You took the phone, dialed a familiar number, only to find it disconnected. It seemed that ever since news of Shao Qi's death, many of his accounts had been disappearing.
It was as if every trace of a person's existence was slowly being erased, even his ID had been deactivated.
Zhou You found this hard to accept. The public mourning felt like mockery, a final celebration before an inevitable calm.
After Zhuo Hao left, Elder Shao spoke, "Xiao You, have you ever considered joining the military?"
Zhou You shook his head, "Not really. I'm not keen on the strict discipline of military life. My current job offers more freedom."
"Shao Qi wasn't fond of restrictions either. When he joined the army, it was an accident. Martial artists had just emerged, and he was among the first to achieve prominence. With the country in turmoil, he and a group of like-minded comrades began to settle disputes. He faced many hardships and injuries. When you're at the center of power, you realize that only by ascending can you accomplish more. That's how he was propelled upwards, step by step."
Thankfully, he always performed exceptionally. The few incidents where he faced criticism were justified. You might not know, but the esteemed Marshal, so revered in public, never really cared about others' opinions. He was quite playful in private. Sometimes I wondered if he could retire one day and lead a more ordinary and peaceful life.