0028 32 Gunshots in the Forbidden City
“Secretary Ling, the view from your room is quite nice,” Jiang Yunpeng said, standing at the window and looking out.
Ling Xingzhi smiled and shook his head, then walked to the window. "Wangyue Villa has a beautiful view from any angle."
Jiang Yunpeng stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the lake, pavilions, and towers. The weather was fine, the sky was blue, and he wondered, "Hey... who lived here before? Is Prince Gong's Mansion far from here?"
“General, you’re mistaken. The Prince Gong’s Mansion was Heshen’s residence. This place, located in front of the Forbidden City, must have been where the prince lived.”
Ling Xingzhi patiently explained, but it's unclear whether Jiang Yunpeng's words contained any veiled sarcasm.
“Nowhere else can compare to the Yonghe Temple where the prince lived. It was a wonderful place for Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong,” Jiang Yunpeng nodded, then turned his head and smelled the aroma of tea.
"What kind of tea is this? It has a delicate fragrance, unlike the Longjing tea I usually drink."
General Jiang walked to the side of the table and sat down. The woman washing the tea poured out the tea and placed it on both sides. Jiang Yunpeng picked up a cup, took a sip, and looked up to ask, "Tibetan snow tea? Was it sent by the Tibet Military Region a while ago?"
Ling Xingzhi smiled and said, "General, you are so knowledgeable. The Chairman enjoyed the Tibetan snow tea and sent some to my father and me."
General Jiang paused, his hand holding the teacup still, and the smile on his face changed instantly. "I just came from the Chairman's place, and he didn't give me anything. Oh dear... it seems he's quite stingy..." As he said this, General Jiang stared intently at Ling Xingzhi, exuding a rather oppressive aura.
“You are an old friend of the Chairman, and old friends naturally don’t need to be polite. The things are good, and the intention is good… but our relationship is really just so-so,” Ling Xingzhi said the last few words very slowly.
After hearing this, Jiang Yunpeng's face lost all its smile. During this period of time, he had been in contact with Ling Xingzhi and found him to be a reliable and reasonable person who would not make things difficult for others because of his status. However... he was Ling Qingyun's child, and his mind was more complicated than the intricacies of Beijing.
Jiang Yunpeng dislikes cunning people, but Zhou Pei is just right—he's shrewd but not annoying.
“General, we are all working for the Chairman, so you don’t need to be too wary of me,” Ling Xingzhi smiled, lowered his head to pour Jiang Yunpeng a cup of tea, pushed it in front of him, and then met Jiang Yunpeng’s eagle-like eyes, speaking softly, “I am different from my father.”
Jiang Yunpeng glanced at the tea, then at Ling Xingzhi, and placed his hand on the table. It was clear that the muscles in his face were tense, and the years had left their mark on his face, fine yet dignified.
In an instant, the two were on the verge of exchanging blows, the air thick with the tension of a massive army poised to strike.
A few seconds later, Jiang Yunpeng suddenly laughed, “The person who leaked the weapon model was not my daughter. She had no motive and no reason whatsoever.”
Ling Xingzhi nodded, "I know, but someone always has to take the blame. The chain of evidence against Jiang Yanci is complete."
“I heard the Chairman say…” Jiang Yunpeng’s hand reached up from under the table and placed on it, his fingertips touching the teacup. “This matter could be big or small. Your father insisted on investigating it, and his attitude… was as if he was afraid that nothing would be found out.”
Jiang Yunpeng gripped the teacup and looked at Ling Xingzhi.
Ling Xingzhi smiled calmly, "Not long ago, my father and I had a dispute over the Mentougou matter. He wanted to teach me a lesson by leaking the information. I apologize for letting you get involved in this scandal."
"Is it possible that the list was leaked..." Jiang Yunpeng leaned forward, his face full of murderous intent.
"Possibly."
Time and space seemed to freeze for three seconds. Jiang Yunpeng withdrew, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then clicked his tongue after swallowing the tea. "It's good tea, but it's a bit cold."
Ling Xingzhi nodded, picked up the teapot, and said, "Let me pour you another cup."
Jiang Yunpeng drank the tea that Ling Xingzhi had personally poured for him, put down the teacup, relaxed completely, and leaned back on the soft pillow behind him.
"Doing this will do you no good. Do you have a way out?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Xingzhi blinked, lowered his head to pour himself a cup of tea, quietly finished the tea, and then said in a nonchalant tone, "I still want to thank the General for gracing me with his presence and having tea here."
Jiang Yunpeng understood. Ling Xingzhi invited him today not to take sides, but to convey two meanings. First, the leak of the list was a dispute between father and son, which involved his daughter. Ling Xingzhi had swallowed his pride and apologized, giving him ample face.
Secondly, although there were indeed conflicts between him and his father, he did not intend to betray his father and partner with others.
Jiang Yunpeng stood up, patted off imaginary dust from his clothes, and said, "The military parade is tomorrow. The safety of Beijing still depends on Secretary Ling. I won't bother you any longer. I'll be going now."
Ling Xingzhi didn't keep the guest. He stood up and accompanied Jiang Yunpeng out. After seeing him to the door, Jiang Yunpeng stopped and turned back to Ling Xingzhi, saying, "I don't blame anyone for Jiang Yanci's matter. It's because I've always spoiled her, which made her lower her guard and unable to handle being framed."
Ling Xingzhi nodded; he could tell that Jiang Yunpeng seemed to have something to say.
"Throughout history, it has been common for emperors and ministers, brothers and sisters, to fight each other for power. I only hope that Yan Ci is doing well. I have worked hard all my life and know how deep the waters of Beijing are. I don't want her to get involved in this mess again."
"She has a good father."
The wind blew by, ruffling Ling Xingzhi's hair.
Jiang Yunpeng twitched the corner of his mouth, "Once we leave this Wangyue Manor, we'll keep to ourselves."
Ling Xingzhi narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. He noticed that the willow trees had turned a bit yellow. He sighed slightly. It must be getting late autumn soon.
Jiang Yunpeng disappeared from sight, and Ling Xingzhi didn't linger either. He called a car and left Wangyue Villa.
On the day of the military parade.
Beijing time, 6:00 AM.
Fengzeyuan was already brightly lit, and the secretariat staff were running around inside and out. At the first crow of the rooster, the sky began to lighten.
"When will the Chairman wake up? There's a morning meeting at seven o'clock. Minister Ling and Secretary Ling are already waiting outside."
The person asking the questions was Zhou Daichuan, the vice chairman of the military control office. He was already dressed neatly and standing outside Fengzeyuan.
"The Chairman has woken up and is undergoing a medical check-up. Please wait a moment."
Not long after, Zhou Daichuan was invited in. The chairman was sitting in a chair, while his personal physician was packing his things. "Isn't the meeting at seven o'clock? Why are you in such a hurry?"
The chairman asked with a smile.
Zhou Daichuan chuckled. “Chairman, I’m here to talk to you about the Suzhou Military Region matter. There’s still no progress, and General Hu won’t say anything. He just wants you to be careful. Your five-year term is almost up, and some people are getting impatient.”
The chairman's face darkened, and he waved for everyone in the room to leave.
After listening to Zhou Daichuan's report, the Chairman pursed his lips and remained silent. "The relationship between General Jiang and General Hu is already... complicated. Even if you send Jiang Yunpeng, you won't get any information out of him."
"What were her emotions when her husband died? Was she sad?"
Zhou Daichuan shook his head, but the chairman seemed to understand something. "We must send Jiang Yunpeng. Only if he gets involved can General Hu help us."
"Are you saying that General Hu still likes General Jiang...?"
"Bullshit! They're all in their seventies or eighties, what's the point of talking about liking or disliking them?"
"..."
The two talked as they got into the car and headed towards the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Beijing time, 6:45 AM, Qin Zheng Hall.
Ling Xingzhi and Ling Qingyun were sitting in the conference room when the door opened and the chairman walked in. The two stood up to greet him.
The morning meeting mainly explains the specific procedures. At 10:00 AM, leaders from various countries will arrive at the entrance of the Forbidden City, where the President will personally greet them, and the meeting will be broadcast live on television.
The foreign leaders who came this time mainly included those from Russia, North Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, as well as a number of African countries and Middle Eastern royal families.
After the meeting, they exchanged greetings and gifts at Huai Ren Hall in Zhongnanhai. At noon, the military parade officially began on Tiananmen Rostrum.
After the military parade, there will be a break and meetings. The specific procedures will be arranged according to the schedule provided by the secretariat. The Premier will also need to handle some matters, and meetings with the former chairmen are essential; the passing down of tradition must not be neglected.
Some segments will also be broadcast on the evening news.
Not long after the morning meeting began, the sound of orderly footsteps and slogans could be heard outside, as soldiers were doing their morning exercises.
The President and the Premier were very excited about the military parade, as it was a moment to showcase the nation's strength and great power, with tributes coming from all directions. This is an indelible part of the genes of every monarch throughout China's five thousand years of history.
In the early morning, there were sounds of marching, shouts, and casual conversations among high-ranking officials.
Beijing time, 7:17 AM, outside the Hall of Diligent Governance.
No one noticed—at some point, the footsteps stopped, the slogans continued, but there was still a rustling sound.
The door to the Hall of Diligent Governance was kicked open, and everyone still had smiles on their faces, as gunfire was about to erupt.
The sound of orderly footsteps turned into waves, surging towards the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Ling Xingzhi forgot how he lunged forward; a sharp pain shot through his right shoulder as gunshots rang out.
Beijing time, 7:40 AM, inside the Hall of Diligent Governance.
Armed guards lined up in a row, and the chairman sat in the main seat on the sofa. The room was silent.
"Secretary Ling is fine, just a scratch; the bullet grazed his shoulder."
The military doctor came out from the inner room and told Ling Qingyun about Ling Xingzhi's injuries. After listening, he waved his hand and didn't say anything more, his expression twisted in a grimace.
Beijing time, 8:00 AM, outside the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The gates of the Qin Zheng Hall were tightly closed, and no one knew what was happening inside.
The troops stood in a row outside the gate, while planes patrolled overhead.
Beijing time, 8:30 a.m., Tiananmen Gate Tower.
Zhou Xiye entered the venue, greeted the mayors and secretaries from various cities, and then took his seat. The red viewing platforms on both sides of Tiananmen Square stretched out towards the square, which was packed with people.
The red expanse spread outwards from the center of Tiananmen Square, and Zhou Xiye was inexplicably excited.
This is a military parade, a rare event that happens only once every ten years.
The sky was blue, the air was fresh, and the five-star red flag fluttered freely across the way.
Beijing time, 9:00 AM, Tiananmen Gate Tower.
Wei Luochen took a selfie with her phone; she was sitting in a spot reserved for the families of high-ranking officials. After posting the selfie on various social media platforms, her WeChat Moments were soon flooded with likes and compliments.
She looked at the comments, chuckled, put away her phone, and adjusted the black suit jacket draped over her shoulders.
Looking up and around, she spotted Zhou Xiye in the crowd.
He frowned subconsciously.
Beijing time, 10:00 AM, Tiananmen Gate Tower.
As the world leaders entered, the chairman, wearing a smile, walked to the podium amidst cheers and applause.
After the speech, the national flag, carried by the guard of honor in square formations, passed through Chang'an Avenue and arrived at the square.
The national flag was raised as the national anthem resounded.
Beijing time, 10:45 AM, Tiananmen Gate Tower.
The military parade officially began.
But no one knew that after the military parade, all the officials were "arranged" to enter the Forbidden City, and not even a cat could escape.
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