Atlas of Heaven and Man.

Chapter 1465 Momentum Rising from the Clouds

Chen Chuan was slightly surprised. He had previously received information that Cen Xinwu had been recommended by the advisory group, but not himself.

He didn't immediately reach out to take the temporary authorization letter, but instead looked at Fang Yanxing:
"Advisor Fang, I remember that I wasn't the one who ultimately qualified for the group. Has anything changed?"

Fang Yanxing lowered his hands slightly and began to explain:

"Commander Chen, it's like this. Actually, nothing has changed. Advisor Cen will soon become a reserve member of the advisory group. He will need to undergo rigorous assessments and complete the national tasks assigned by the advisory group before he can become a formal member and have voting and decision-making power."

He paused for a moment.

"And what the advisory board is now granting you is the status of a formal advisory member."

Chen Chuan hummed in agreement and then said, "I don't think the advisory group would make this decision lightly, nor would it arbitrarily change the established selection and appointment procedures. Could I know the specific reasons?"

Fang Yanxing explained, "Commander Chen, it's like this, the advisory group did not change the procedures."

Following procedure, we selected the candidates and submitted them to Tian Shu, who approved them. However, while approving the selection…” He glanced at Chen Chuan, “Tian Shu also appointed Commander Chen as a formal member of the advisory group.”

As he said this, a hint of complexity appeared in his eyes as he looked at Chen Chuan.

The higher authorities generally do not directly reject the advisory group's recommendations, because doing so could be easily interpreted as a very serious political signal, suggesting that "Tian Shu" no longer trusts the advisory group, which would trigger political turmoil and unnecessary unrest.

This is why the advisory group initially believed that the higher-ups would not object to submitting the recommended candidates, because in order to maintain stability, the higher-ups would certainly not reject their proposals unless the advisory group had made any major mistakes.

However, this time the situation was somewhat unexpected. While the higher-ups did not reject their recommended candidate, they issued an additional instruction to directly promote Chen Chuan to a formal advisory position on the advisory board.

It should be noted that this person was directly appointed by the highest organization composed of the upper echelons of power, Tian Shu.

In the more than ninety years of history of the Republic of China, such a situation only occurred during the founding period. He almost thought that there would be no more such examples after that, but now there is one again. This is recognition from the highest institution, and its value goes without saying.

Fang Yanxing didn't know what Tian Shu was thinking when he made this decision. Was it because of the merits Chen Chuan had made? Right in front of him was a merit that could overthrow the country. If we only consider it from a military point of view, this was indeed the greatest achievement since the overthrow of the old dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China.

Even setting aside these factors, Chen Chuan was one of the main driving forces behind Skyline and also made significant political achievements. So, was it only with these considerations that he was granted the status of a formal member?
Maybe so.

In fact, the greater loss this time may be Cen Xinwu, who was jointly recommended by the Refinement and Integration factions. Tian Shu's choice not only made his competition with Chen Chuan meaningless, but also almost meant that Tian Shu was dissatisfied with this choice.

Given Tian Shu's statement, is there still a chance for Cen Xinwu to become a formal advisor in the future? He felt the hope was very slim.

Chen Chuan thought of many things in an instant. He looked at Fan Zhentong, who was standing beside him without saying a word, and after thinking for a moment, asked, "When will this result be announced?"

Fang Yanxing said, "It usually happens after the New Year, before the second day of the Lunar New Year."

He said sincerely, "So this time we would like to ask Commander Chen to go back in the next couple of days so that we can go through a voting process for you."

Chen Chuan said: "Is it necessary to hold another voting process?"

Fang Yanxing said, "It is necessary. Consultant Chen, you are already a consultant, and we hope that you can make the same considerations as the advisory group on this matter."

Since the procedure is not yet complete, Chen Chuan is not theoretically a member of the advisory group, so the list can only be announced according to the previously decided quota.

However, if Chen Chuan's appointment is announced later, it will be obvious to anyone with a discerning eye that there is a problem behind it.

If Chen Chuan can return before the end of the year, it can be procedurally ensured that he is still elected by the entire advisory group through a vote, so that people will not think that the advisory group has a disagreement with the will of the higher authorities.

Chen Chuan nodded and said, "I understand. However, as a frontline commander, I am entrusted with a heavy responsibility by the country. I may not have time to go back in the next couple of days and will need to wait a while longer."

Fang Yanxing immediately advised, "Commander Chen, I think we have a way to handle this, don't we?"

His meaning was clear: everyone here is a fighter from the Dongxuan Temple. You can send a clone to stay here and go back yourself. Isn't that easy?
Chen Chuan shook his head, "The New Year is just around the corner, and I will not abandon all my subordinates to return to Zhongjing alone. None of the senior generals here would do that."

As the commander, I should set an example and will not make an exception for doing this.

Unless someone comes to replace me, I will accept orders to return to Zhongjing.

Fang Yanxing was immediately in a dilemma. Taking over as the commander-in-chief of the front line was no simple matter. It required a complicated process and involved a struggle of interests from various parties.

Even the highest advisory group couldn't possibly complete the procedures in just a few days. Moreover, the advisory group had sent Chen Chuan back early to handle the matter discreetly because they didn't want the matter to escalate.

To make a major fuss over this, even mobilizing the highest-ranking commander at the front, would be tantamount to openly announcing it to others. But looking into Chen Chuan's deep, calm eyes, he knew that the matter was beyond change.

He took the temporary authorization letter and said helplessly, "Alright, I will pass on Commander Chen's opinion to the advisory group."

This matter will only cause headaches for the advisory group when they return. After all, the advisory group did not inform them in advance when they did this. It is understandable that a front-line commander would not want to leave his army. It is a perfectly legitimate reason.

He shook hands with Chen Chuan again and added him on the phone, saying, "Commander Chen, I'll take my leave now. If you have any thoughts, please feel free to contact me."

After saying that, he didn't stay any longer. He greeted Fan Zhentong beside him and returned to the airship. A little while later, he boarded the airship and left.

After he left, Chen Chuan invited Fan Zhentong to his office inside the fortress, poured him and himself a cup of tea, and handed the teacup to Fan Zhentong, who took it and said:
"Fang Yanxing is a neutral figure in the advisory group. He is a well-known good guy who doesn't want to offend either side. He didn't participate in the vote this time. He usually acts as a lubricant between the various factions, so we asked him to come and persuade you this time."

Commander Chen, you made the right choice.

You don't need to consider the overall interests of the advisory group at all. Our role as advisors is to firmly uphold our own position. The interests of the advisory group will never outweigh the interests of the nation.

Besides, some individuals don't represent the entire advisory group.

Chen Chuan nodded. He knew very well how the current situation had come about. If he rushed back now, it would be tantamount to endorsing those who opposed him.

While it is necessary to consider the overall interests of the advisory group, this is based on the premise that both sides of the game have the same position.

In his view, the capitulationists and conservatives were the enemies, and there was no room for compromise with them. If he officially joined the advisory group, these people would be the main targets.

He said, "I won't be going back anytime soon," picked up his teacup and took a sip, "Let's talk about it after the New Year."

Fan Zhentong expressed his approval: "Commander Chen, there are people who oppose you and people who support you. Before you officially join, just do your own thing, and we will handle the rest."

As Fang Yanxing's airship departed, another airship was slowly flying towards the front line.

Gao Ming sat in the cabin, finished the breakfast provided by the airship, washed up briefly, and then went to the porthole to look down.

Looking down from high above, most of the area was shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see clearly. Only the camps scattered across the vast land could be vaguely discerned.

He already knew that the place of convergence was like this, and that it would be clearer by noon, but it should be almost at the front line by now.

At that moment, a short alarm sounded from the boundary marker.

He took a pill out of his pocket, turned around, picked up the water glass on the table, and drank it.

When he arrived, he was told that even ordinary people without mutated tissue in their bodies need to be wary of mutated infection when they are active in the fusion zone, and it is best to take an inhibitor every three hours.

This stuff is addictive if you eat too much of it and it's bad for your health, but thankfully he'll only stay for a few days before going back.

After flying for another ten minutes or so, the airship finally arrived at its destination amidst reports from inactive consciousness entities.

As he disembarked from the airship, an attendant was waiting there and saluted him: "Hello, Lawyer Gao, I am here to greet you on the orders of the commander-in-chief. You can leave the unimportant items to us."

Gao Ming thanked him and followed the orderly into the battlefield bunker, taking the elevator to the top.

Chen Chuan was waiting for him there. When he saw him arrive, he smiled and said, "Gao Ming, you must have had a long journey. Put your things aside for now."

Gao Ming said, "It's alright. I've just had to take my medicine more often along the way, nothing else."

By then, the fog had mostly dissipated, and he could see the magnificent city in the distance. He put down his suitcase, walked to the observation deck outside, took off his glasses and wiped them, saying, "Cousin, is this the legendary Youdu?"

Chen Chuan also came out and said, "Yes, this is Youdu."

Gao Ming put his glasses back on, glanced around a few times, and said, "Cousin, will this place become the new front line in the future?"

Chen Chuan said: "It's possible. The massive collision is unknown. We don't know exactly what will happen. We can only make some limited analyses based on the current situation. But at least we can guarantee that the urban belts centered around the various central cities are still the safest places at present."

……

……

(End of this chapter)