NOVPUB
Chapter 1075: Chapter 946: A Storm is Brewing (Subscribe Please!)
Looking at Kundun’s retreating figure,
Lang Cai’s eyes were filled with disappointment.
It really confirmed the saying of the ancestors.
------"Without giving a person the liberty to act recklessly, one cannot test a person’s true nature."
Kundun used to be an "honest child" despite unremarkable performance at work, but power corrupts; in the year he served as the vice chief, Kundun could no longer suppress his growing ambition.
At the same time,
a new problem arose for Lang Cai---who would take over his position?
There was only one year left until his retirement.
This year,
Lang Cai estimated would be far from peaceful.
Without Kundun, the other vice chiefs would feel they had a chance, and overt and covert struggles would be inevitable. At this critical moment of development, Lang Cai intended to ensure the economy wouldn’t be affected only by quickly deciding on his successor.
"Difficult!!"
Lang Cai rubbed his slightly swelling temples.
... 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
Elsewhere,
back in his own office,
Kundun gradually calmed down.
He considered Lang Cai’s words from earlier, recalling each word, especially the phrase "people useful to society." Why not say "national pillar," or at least "useful to the nation"?
The more he thought, the more he felt there was a problem.
At that moment, his secretary knocked on the door and came in, whispering a report: "Mr. Kundun, just now, Lu Sang Chiang went to see President Lang Cai. He left a few minutes before you went in."
"Lu Sang?"
Hearing this name,
Kundun felt an inexplicable jump in his heart.
After waving his secretary out,
he lit a cigarette.
Considering yesterday’s events, it’s no wonder Kundun felt tense. Lu Sang’s personal visit this morning was definitely no trivial matter, although it could also be normal military work. However, this was just one possible explanation.
Kundun thought for a bit.
Within the military’s power, his involvement was merely recruiting some people, although there were also some resources left by his father, which he had been controlling, though they had slightly declined.
Even if these people made mistakes, they actually couldn’t implicate him at all.
The only thing that could link him to the military issue was the contact with Dsvid’s side a few days ago, a sort of unusual connection that had existed long before but only at a superficial level.
This time,
he was interested in fruit wine and filters, and by suppressing Ling, he got the other side to leak some information to Dsvid, reaching a preliminary agreement. Once the deal went through, he wouldn’t have to take the technology, but he would want a share of the profits.
This was Kundun’s sole source of unease.
After thinking it over,
Kundun immediately found a pretext to inspect the lower departments.
En route,
he made a phone call.
"Beep... Beep... Beep..."
It rang over a dozen times, unanswered.
Kundun could only hope the other party didn’t hear it since their status was special. They were now in the Capital, having been reassigned there with no current assignment; communication should be available at all times.
The second time,
still no answer.
The third time,
Kundun dialed five times in total and still got no response. The owner of this phone number was the person responsible for intelligence on Shan State, also acting as a middleman. During his father’s tenure, this person was one of their group.
After some thought,
he made another phone call and found out that the individual hadn’t gone to work today. Kundun’s heart began to pound uncontrollably. He couldn’t believe that such a covert operation could go awry; they were supposed to be absolutely undetectable from this end.
"What on earth happened?" Kundun wondered to himself.
It was nearing noon.
The phone still wasn’t getting through, and inquiries from various sources had yielded no results.
His heart sank to the bottom.
The chance of this person going missing was virtually zero.
And then, at five in the afternoon.
Kundun’s phone rang.
Seeing the number, he immediately answered.
"Uncle Ban Nan, hello," Kundun said with a hint of respect in his tone. This was the highest-ranking individual in the military, a person his father had left behind, and had always been on his side.
"Kundun, is something wrong over there?" Ban Nan’s hoarse voice came through.
Kundun suppressed his unease and feigned calm, "Nothing at all, if you mean the rumors that were flying yesterday, I’ve already spoken to President Lang Cai about them. He didn’t say much but encouraged me. I think this won’t affect me in any way, rumors are just rumors, after all."
"Is that so?" The voice on the other end uttered just two words.
Kundun was startled, "What’s wrong?"
Ban Nan explained, "This afternoon, about ten more military administrators from our side were taken away, and many have received news of possible transfers. I looked into it, and it was Lu Sang’s doing.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made this call because of yesterday’s incident." As Kundun’s representative in the military, Ban Nan knew the reason for yesterday’s events, but today’s developments were unknown to him.
"What? Why?" Kundun’s voice shook slightly.
"I don’t know either, that’s why I’m asking you," said Ban Nan.
"..."
Kundun truly panicked. "Just our people?"
"Yes, you should know what that represents, right?" Ban Nan spoke seriously.
"I... know," Kundun said with a wry smile. If dismissals and retirements meant a desire for new faces, transfers were a warning not to choose the wrong side—they signified an intent to appease and absorb.
Such big moves.
They were no longer just warnings.
They were directly undermining his power; strictly speaking, they were already making a move against him.
Ban Nan analyzed, "Kundun, since you understand, you should also realize that we have no power to resist Lu Sang. It’s no longer the era of your father; our influence has diminished.
At this critical juncture, with Lu Sang making a move, I don’t know if this is President Lang Cai’s intention or solely Lu Sang’s, but the former seems more likely. I am very curious, why would Lu Sang take action against you?
Or rather, why did President Lang Cai decide to make a move against you."
Kundun hurriedly said, "I’m not sure either, perhaps it’s because of the rumor from yesterday. President Lang Cai might feel that I can’t give Shan State a future." Speaking to Ban Nan, Kundun didn’t mince his words.
Ban Nan wasn’t a fool; this excuse was merely perfunctory. Kundun didn’t elaborate, "I’ll try to make contact with Lu Sang in the next few days, and you should also try to figure out the reason."
"Okay," Kundun replied.
After hanging up,
Kundun’s legs were trembling.
He didn’t dare talk about Dsvid’s matter over the phone; if he did, it would truly be the end for him. And since the matter hadn’t been confirmed, it seemed he still needed to visit President Lang Cai tomorrow to feel out the situation.
As for why he didn’t go today.
Because he hadn’t figured out what to say yet—he’d never had such experience before.
...
However,
before Kundun got a chance to meet President Lang Cai,
next morning’s meeting plunged him into an icy abyss.
Half of the departments he oversaw were handed over by Lang Cai to others; he was left with only four, with the most important ones—Industrial and Commercial, Land Resources, Energy, and Customs—taken from him.
This was akin to cutting his power in half.
These were core departments.
Lang Cai had originally taken them from others to give to him, and now he had taken them back. The transfer of two departments to Kan Qin sent a signal that left the other deputy capitals somewhat puzzled.
Could the rumors actually be true?
Could it be?
Was a change of power forthcoming?
