In the name of supernatural powers

Chapter 6 Lü Jinshan

Border Post Administration Building.

Lu Zhao stood in the corridor smoking, waiting for Zhang Like to finish his meeting.

Compared to him, a lowly patrolman, Major Zhang Like was the station's second-in-command.

The conference room door opened.

A slightly overweight middle-aged man stepped forward first. Upon seeing Lu Zhao, he smiled and praised him, "Little Lu has done another good deed today."

Lu Zhao stubbed out his cigarette, stood at attention, and saluted, but didn't bother to say a single word of flattery.

His name is Lü Jinshan, and he is the station chief of the border defense station.

"Work hard, and I'll try to get you promoted by speaking to the higher-ups."

Lu Jinshan smiled broadly, as if he wasn't the one who had been holding Lu Zhao back from his promotion.

When he first arrived, Lü Jinshan transferred him away from the front-line company on the grounds that he needed to "train in multiple positions".

The following year, Lu Zhao finally made it into the company and earned a second-class merit by fighting drug dealers. However, he was delayed until the minimum service period was reached, citing "his work performance still needs to be evaluated."

In the third year, the pressure couldn't be contained any longer. Lu Zhao was promoted to lieutenant, but then battalion-level positions were blocked, and he was given a nominal post instead.

With Zhang Like's help, Lu Zhao was finally promoted to lieutenant this year and became the platoon leader of the outpost company.

This should have been received last year.

After offering a few words of encouragement, Lü Jinshan left with his hands behind his back, feigning nonchalance.

People began to emerge from the meeting room. Zhang Like walked out and approached Lu Zhao, who cut to the chase:

"Lend me some more money."

"What are you doing?" Zhang Like asked warily. "Didn't we just lend you money for your mother's medical treatment?"

"My phone's broken."

Lu Zhao took out a double-folded folding cloth.

Zhang Like hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll buy it for you."

"You're dragging your feet on paying a thousand yuan, are you afraid I won't pay it back?" Lu Zhao was speechless. "If you're short of money, I'll just borrow it from your nephew."

“I already told him I can’t lend you money.”

Seeing that everyone had dispersed, Zhang Like put his arm around Lu Zhao's shoulder and said in a low voice, "I'm not afraid you won't pay me back, I'm afraid you'll use my money to buy a ticket to Cangwu City. They're definitely on guard against this pressure. Listen to me, we can just quit."

This is what he was wary of; a thousand dollars is enough to get from the South China Sea to Cangwu City.

There's an old saying that a common man's anger can cause blood to spill five steps away, and it's not an exaggeration in modern times either. As an extraordinary being, Lu Zhao has the ability to fight to the death.

The armory has been under heavy security these past few days because of Lu Zhao. The station chief is afraid Lu Zhao will intercept the armory. If he gets his hands on a sniper rifle, the consequences will be unimaginable; the station chief will probably have to flee overnight.

Whether the entire border post can stop Lu Zhao depends on how many bullets are in his gun.

Lu Zhao said, "I have impeccable political background, would I do such a thing?"

"Hard to say."

Even after Lu Zhao made repeated assurances, Zhang Like still refused to give him the money and instead took him out to buy a cell phone.

Then we went to a restaurant together.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Like said, "The fugitive you killed today was a bandit."

"Green Forest" refers to bandits who gather in the mountains and forests, and since the 30s it has specifically referred to a bandit force.

In their early years, the bandits roamed all over the country, committing all sorts of atrocities, including arson, murder, robbery, and murder. Many major crimes were committed by them.

"Then I've done something good." Lu Zhao smiled, unconcerned, and said with a hint of disdain, "A bunch of chickens and dogs, what can they possibly do to the world?"

"Back then, the situation was unstable, and the army was tied down by beast tides, which allowed them to cause trouble. Now that it's a peaceful era, anyone who tries to gather in the mountains will only be wiped out."

These so-called heroes are essentially gangsters, engaging in acts of bullying men and women, arson, murder, and robbery.

Zhang Like didn't deny it: "That's true, but you also need to be careful about your safety. The boss said he'd give you some paid leave, what do you think?"

He hoped Lu Zhao could calm down for a while.

Lu Zhao said, "Are you afraid I'll run away with a gun?"

“I’m afraid.” Zhang Like poured wine for Lu Zhao. “Privately, Lü Jinshan said he can’t let you continue in the front line, but with your resume and achievements, demotion is definitely out of the question, and promotion is hindered by the Chen family.” “The station chief said he can arrange a deputy regimental-level position for you, as the assistant director of the sanatorium.”

Lu Zhao fell silent, and for a moment Zhang Like's breathing slowed down.

He naturally understood Zhang Like's subtext: the higher-ups still intended to obstruct him, but were afraid of completely enraging him.

Thus came this seemingly quick promotion, jumping from lieutenant to deputy regimental commander, which was actually a move to get himself thrown into a retirement home.

The position is not about its level, but about the amount of power it carries.

In the past, Lu Zhao would never have agreed; if he left the front line, he would have no chance to turn his life around.

But now that he has mastered the art of refining essence into qi, he is absolutely confident that he can reach fifty points of vitality in a short period of time, thereby gaining the qualification to freely change careers.

While the Marquis of Wu is a behemoth to an individual, the Yan Federation is not hers to be underestimated by the Chen family. Different fields are like different worlds; the Chen family may have influence in the border defense system, but that may not be the case in other places.

He pondered, 'I could get a deputy regimental commander's rank and then leave the military.'

A sense of ease I had never felt before welled up within me; perhaps this is freedom.

As long as he ensures a steady increase in the level of life development, he doesn't need to bow down to anyone.

Lu Zhao asked, "The rainy season will make the monsters more active. If I leave, who will take charge of the Ant Ridge outpost?"

Zhang Like replied, "It's not certain yet, but it's highly likely that we'll choose between Qin Ze and Liang Fei."

"Qin Ze is a sloppy worker who doesn't know how to handle important tasks. Liang Fei is smooth, but too opportunistic and hard to trust. Zhang Yanfeng has always worked in clerical positions and has no frontline work experience."

Lu Zhao shook his head in disapproval; he didn't believe these three people could defend Ant Ridge.

These three are veterans of the border defense force, who have been working there for over a decade, just loafing around and waiting to die.

Zhang Like laughed and said, "Do you really think everyone is like you? In my opinion, they are capable enough. If they can do better than you, then there's no point in opening the Imperial Capital."

There's a saying in the Yan Federation: "The Martial Virtue Hall comes from the capital, and the general is in Chishui."

The two giants of the education sector, and the vast majority of the bigwigs in the military and political circles, come from these two places.

The entire border post, including Lü Jinshan, consisted of officials and soldiers, and their upper limits were basically fixed, while Lu Zhao was being groomed as a future ruler.

His abilities are beyond question, and it would be too harsh to use him as a standard to demand things of others.

Lu Zhao frowned and shook his head, saying, "I still don't quite approve of them."

“Lu Jinshan is very sincere this time. He should be promoted in two years, so there’s no need for us to hold a grudge against him,” Zhang Like advised. “Just bear with it for two years, as a favor to me…”

Lu Zhao interrupted, "The rainy season will be here in another month. Flash floods will bring monsters into the country. Will they be able to do their jobs? I can leave, but I have to wait until the rainy season is over."

Zhang Like was somewhat taken aback. He had assumed that Lu Zhao was unwilling to leave the front line because of his desire for power.

This is in line with his style; if he had been more tactful, he might not have ended up in this predicament.

But no one could criticize Lu Zhao; he simply upheld what was right.

He sighed and said, "Lu Jinshan will only think you don't know what's good for you. I'll go with you and talk to him."

Lu Zhao knew he was in a difficult position, so he assured him, "I don't want to stay here forever either. I will accept the promotion after the rainy season."

He won't stay in this small place forever, but he won't miss that extra month. Staying an extra month will save a few lives in the surrounding three counties and eight villages.

To be honest, Lu Zhao was determined to stay in his post, so the leaders had no choice but to promote him. Because procedurally, as long as Lu Zhao didn't make any fundamental mistakes, even the highest-ranking official couldn't do anything about it.

With the matter settled, Zhang Like finally ate and drank to his heart's content, and said, slightly tipsy:

"You should be careful of the Green Forest gang. This guy has done something serious. They just mentioned in the meeting that a special task force from the county will be coming."

"What's the point of investigating someone who's already dead? You can't expect a dead person to talk, can you?"

Lu Zhao, however, was slightly more sober. He had seen the world and had been exposed to many things at Imperial University.

For example, a state has the power to make the dead speak.

I recalled my university professor.

There was a class called "The Relationship Between Spirit and Memory," which talked about how developing inner spiritual power can read minds, even the minds of the dead.

This kind of thing can't be publicized, otherwise people will start spreading rumors that the government is brainwashing people.

The heart of a dead person is devoid of subjective consciousness and is easier to read than that of a living person, but only if the brain is fresh and intact.

(End of this chapter)