In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 31 Offensive and defensive changes
Upon hearing this, Zhang Like's breathing clearly caught in his throat, and the vehicle swayed slightly.

The patrol route was within Zhang Like's jurisdiction, and a year and a half ago he had not yet completely fallen out with Lü Jinshan.

It's not surprising that it has his signature, but he will bear the main responsibility when problems arise.

Zhang Like asked, "Does the computer room have something like this?"

"The federal government is promoting digital office practices, and starting a year ago, all valid documents are required to be recorded."

Lu Zhao explained to Zhang Like, who had never touched a computer before, what information-based office work meant.

For the Federation, which hasn't even completed a moon landing yet, the information-based life of the internet is still somewhat unfamiliar. The cataclysm accelerated the development of life-sustaining agents, fostered giant corporations, and also delayed many other technologies.

Everyone was busy trying to survive; no one had time to tinker with anything else.

In Zhang Like's mind, the documents are still kept in the archives. In a small place like the Ant Ridge Border Station, it's not surprising that they are sometimes gnawed by rats or burned down.

But things are different now. All issues are backed up on computers, and the data is backed up to the county-level data center via the government's dedicated network.

Therefore, there are some things that Zhang Like can no longer control.

He had to stand on Lu Zhao's side; everything would be fine as long as he shifted the blame to Lü Jinshan.

One o'clock in the morning, Ant Ridge Border Station.

The convoy drove through the chill of the night into the camp gate, where the lights were sparse.

The other teams that carried out the outer blockade have returned one after another, and Lu Zhao's team was the last to arrive.

Next to the camp parking lot.

Lü Jinshan, accompanied by several key leaders from the border station, welcomed the triumphant heroes.

As soon as Lu Zhao got out of the car, he led his men to greet him and took Lu Zhao's hand in three quick steps.

"You did a great job on today's task. I'll ask the higher-ups to give you credit for it tomorrow."

Then, his round, smiling face turned to the crowd, and he said loudly, "In this major task of joint bandit suppression in Fangcheng, Comrade Lu Zhao rose to the challenge with a high degree of political awareness and reversed the downward trend."

"This also reflects the remarkable achievements of our border station in recent years in strengthening combat capabilities and emphasizing talent cultivation!"

Lu Zhao got goosebumps and pulled his hand away from hers.

Everyone frowned, especially the junior officers, whose eyes were filled with obvious anger.

Lu Jinshan had anticipated this, and showed no anger whatsoever, casually continuing to speak politely.

At least in terms of manipulating officialdom, Lu Zhao was truly inferior to him.

After speaking for more than ten minutes, everyone was getting impatient.

Finally, Lü Jinshan coughed lightly and said, "Alright, everyone can go back and rest now. Dismissed."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The ordinary soldiers began to disperse on the spot, but after taking only a few steps, they found that their company commander and platoon leader had not moved and were standing still in place.

Some quick-thinking squad leaders immediately pulled their soldiers back.

It took only five minutes from Lü Jinshan's disbandment to the regrouping.

Lu Jinshan's kind smile vanished abruptly, and the atmosphere became eerie.

Zhang Like waited a moment, then turned around and shouted, "Attention! At ease! Dismissed!"

Wow!
Numerous border guards dispersed in all directions.

As Lu Zhao and Zhang Like walked down the street, he asked, "Is this necessary?"

“We’ve always valued taking sides, and the power struggles within the Federation are all about fighting without breaking down.” Zhang Like explained to him, “You’ll understand if you read more news and newspapers; even the gods are constantly exchanging blows.”

"The original intention of preaching is to take sides and demand obedience from others. In work, loyalty is not the most important factor, not ability. Attitude is not the most important factor, not results."

After saying that, he put away his seriousness and said in a teasing tone, "Women often say that all I want is an attitude, and many leaders are just like little women who need to be coaxed."
-
In the early hours of the morning, at the dormitory building of the Ant Ridge Border Station.

The beams of light from the streetlights cut through the night fog, attracting countless mosquitoes and moths.

Lu Zhao returned to the dormitory building and heard as soon as he stepped onto the stairs:
"The operation didn't go well today?"

Old Niu's voice was hoarse, with a long, thin tone characteristic of the South China Sea. "I suppose so."

Lu Zhao stopped in front of the guardhouse window and skillfully took the cigarette that Lao Niu handed out through the crack in the window.

This cigarette has no filter and tastes very spicy, like it has chili powder added. One puff is extremely harsh, and the smoke feels like sandpaper scraping against your tongue and throat.

He was initially put off, but he's no longer the naive young man he was when he first arrived at the border station.

Zhang Laoniu said, "You've directly gone to war with Lü Jinshan?"

Lu Zhao looked surprised: "Old Zhang told you?"

Zhang Laoniu replied, "The people who came back just now were all discussing how such a tiny border post could possibly keep secret from anyone."

Lu Zhao thought about it again and realized it made sense. The border defense station had a total of over a thousand people, with several hundred specifically on the official payroll.

His conflict with Lü Jinshan was not something that came to light just today.

"You dare to go against Lü Jinshan? You've found a powerful backer?"

Lu Zhao laughed and said, "No, Mr. Niu, could you help me find one? Preferably someone who can sit in the South China Sea Province government."

"Just because of your stubbornness, even if I brought you a mountain of gold, you might just kick it over."

"Can they really find them?"

"If I could be found, would I still be working as a doorman here?"

"I thought you were a true hermit monk, Lao Niu."

Lu Zhao looked disappointed, while Zhang Laoniu was amused by his words.

He said he had fought in the war of national defense, but he did not command any troops in the war of national defense.

Under the federal system, the Xijing Wude Hall was the largest, followed by the Dao, Jun, Shi, Zhen, and Xiang (village).

The highest governing body of the federation was the Wude Hall, and the largest local administrative unit was the Daozheng Bureau. The federation was composed of these Daozheng Bureaus, collectively known as the One Capital and Twelve Circuits.

The South China Sea Administration, as Lu Zhao mentioned, governs the entire 450,000 square kilometers of the South China Sea, encompassing three prefectures, seventy cities, and nearly 500 million people.

Without exception, all the people who could sit inside were Zhuge Liang, beings who could be called earth immortals in ancient times.

If Zhang Laoniu can find someone like that, Lu Zhao will definitely try to get close to him.

He simply didn't want to become a plaything of the powerful, not that he was resisting power itself. Power is an objective reality; its existence or non-existence does not depend on anyone's likes or dislikes.

He may also have power in the future.

Old Zhang beckoned with his finger, and Lu Zhao approached with some suspicion. He heard the other man lower his voice and say, "That kid surnamed Lü has a younger brother who specializes in smuggling. You can look him up."

Lu Zhao's eyes widened visibly.

Thoughts raced through my mind like lightning, instantly connecting the news with the smuggling route in the back mountain.

'Lü Jinshan is most likely involved in smuggling.'

Lu Zhao straightened up, returning to his usual half-dead state.

"Thanks, Uncle Niu, I'm going back to rest now."

"Now you know to call me Uncle Niu."

Old Zhang lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said...
“I have some connections in Chishui, but you have to leave your status as a recent graduate and a sponsored student in Beijing, enter society, and retake the military academy entrance exam. Come find me when you can’t hold on any longer.”

Lu Zhao laughed and said, "If you have such a way, why don't you think of it for Old Zhang?"

He was more like a blood relative than Zhang Like, who was his nephew.

“Having connections is useless if you don’t have the ability.” Old Zhang said with a sigh of disappointment, “It doesn’t matter in a small place like Ant Ridge, but if you want to go to the county town, your life development level can’t be low. If it is, you can only be an assistant.”

“I can still hold on for now. You should save your connections for the retirement home.” Lu Zhao waved his hand, turned and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Old Zhang smiled helplessly and sat in the guardhouse, watching the silent mountains as he fell asleep.

(End of this chapter)