District 9

If someone else had received a transfer order personally from the Commander-in-Chief under such circumstances, they would most likely choose to prevaricate and test what Zhou Xingli meant before making a decision.

But Fu Zhenguo is different from such people. The fact that he dared to scold Zhou Yuanzheng angrily during the battle was enough to show this man's tough character.

After a brief silence, Fu Zhenguo asked bluntly: "Commander-in-Chief, before I go back, do I have to hand over the command of the Third Fleet to the staff?"

These words were too blunt and direct. They were almost asking Zhou Xingli openly if he wanted to take away my military power.

"Lao Fu, apart from the position relationship, how many years have we been friends?" Zhou Xingli asked in return.

Fu Zhenguo didn't answer the call.

"I, Zhou Xingli, guarantee you with my personality that there will be no problems when you come back." Zhou Xingli said bluntly: "The headquarters will do its best to rescue your son. But if you don't come back, then sit in my position. It is difficult to deal with the current situation. Your son has been arrested, and you have to take your family on board... Lao Fu, you have to consider the internal impact. "

Fu Zhenguo gritted his teeth.

"Lao Fu, when you come back, please cooperate with the military intelligence department and explain the situation truthfully, and we will work together to find a way to rescue Xiao Zhen." Zhou Xingli continued to add: "I guarantee that there will be no changes in your third fleet."

"Commander-in-Chief, if I, Fu Zhenguo, had had second thoughts, I wouldn't have waited until now."

"Lao Fu, if I, Zhou Xingli, want to engage in political conspiracy, I will not go against all opinions and appoint you as the commander-in-chief of the Third Fleet." Zhou Xingli said with sonorous words: "If you believe me, there will never be any problems. "

"Okay, I'll go back." Fu Zhenguo agreed.

"I'll wait for you at the headquarters." Zhou Xingli replied.

"Before I go back, my family has to get on the ship because I can't trust people from the Xu family." Fu Zhenguo said bluntly, "I want to hand over my wife and children to Chief of Staff Liu."

"No problem, I'll call there myself."

"Okay, that's it, Commander-in-Chief."

After saying that, the two ended the call. Fu Zhenguo stood indoors and thought for a moment, then immediately shouted: "Call Chief of Staff Liu over."

"Yes!" The guard soldier saluted and immediately ran out.

…

About five minutes later, in the conference room.

Staff Officer Liu looked at Fu Zhenguo and said urgently: "Commander, if we go back now, there may be problems."

Fu Zhenguo sat on the chair and said nothing.

"Your son is currently in the hands of the enemy, which will make many people at the top of the command uneasy. They may even speculate that there is a risk of defection in our Third Fleet. Letting you go back is to eliminate this risk." Liu The chief of staff analyzed it very quickly: "Once you go back, you won't have any initiative. Fu Zhen's case may also be handed over to the military intelligence department of the headquarters, and you won't be able to get a word in at that time. They won't Maybe because of your son, if you make any military compromise with the Chen clan, once things get worse, Fu Zhen's situation will be very dangerous, but you can't do anything!"

Fu Zhenguo still remained silent.

"Also, the upper echelons of the headquarters, led by Xu Hancheng and Zhou Yuanzheng, are themselves dissatisfied with our Third Fleet. They are very likely to use this incident as an excuse to engage in political conspiracy." Chief of Staff Liu continued: "You may even be removed from your position. Commander-in-Chief Zhou, if faced with too many voices opposing you, will most likely choose to compromise in order to ensure stability below... So, I don't think you can go back. of."

"If you don't go back, what about rebellion?" Fu Zhenguo looked up at Staff Liu and asked.

When Staff Liu heard this, he was speechless. He knew that if Fu Zhenguo chose to disobey orders and not return to the headquarters, Commander Zhou and others would definitely take measures. When the incident escalates, once the fire is fired, the Luhuai Sea will be out of control, and no one knows how many people will die.

Moreover, the officers of the Third Fleet are all on duty at sea, but their families are all in the city. If the first shot is fired, Staff Liu doesn't know how much control he and Fu Zhenguo can control.

Not going back means breaking up. This is indeed a difficult choice. There are risks in taking a step forward, and there are risks in taking a step back.

"Old Liu, please send someone to bring my wife and children back first." Fu Zhenguo stood up and said, "I'll go back."

Staff Officer Liu looked at him and in desperation used his private address: "Old Fu, otherwise we will leave...?!"

Fu Zhenguo looked at him blankly: "I have always been upright in my life. I have devoted most of my life to the navy. I don't want to mess with it and end up being called a traitor. When things get to this point, Chen The intention of the department is very obvious. They just want to provoke conflicts between me and the higher-ups and divide us. If we don’t go back, it will play into their hands.”

Staff Liu was silent.

"You take good care of my family. Zhou Xingli has been pretty good to me over the years. Since he called me, I can't owe him anything. I'll go back and pay him back in person." Fu Zhenguo replied loudly.

"Lao Fu, what if...?"

"If anything happens, I will contact you." After Fu Zhenguo finished speaking, he urged with his hands behind his back: "Go pick up my wife and children."

"Okay." Chief of Staff Liu nodded.

…

Fu Zhenguo knew very little about what was going on at the headquarters, but he could guess that many senior officials who had long disliked him would definitely speak ill of him in front of Zhou Xingli.

The kidnapping may well have turned into an internal political struggle.

Fu Zhenguo had some foresight about this, but he still decided to go back at this moment.

On the one hand, Zhou Xingli has treated Fu Zhenguo very protectively in the past two years. Without his protection, Fu Zhenguo might have been captured by the Zhou Yuanzheng faction after the Battle of Yandao, and the best outcome would have been It is to leave the center of power, because the latter is the number one leader in the navy. In addition, Fu Zhenguo's popularity among senior military officials was relatively low. Xu Hancheng and the headquarters and staff were very dissatisfied with him, so Zhou Xingli used him in a re-appointed position to withstand a lot of internal pressure.

This is why Fu Zhenguo said that what he owed Zhou Xingli must be repaid in person.

On the other hand, if Fu Zhenguo chooses to disobey at this moment, there will really be no way back. If the headquarters feels that he is out of control, they will definitely take extreme measures. Once the conflict escalates, Luhuai Port will be devastated, which is something Fu Zhenguo does not want to see.

He had given half of his life to the navy, and he did not want to bear the reputation of a judge until the end. And he still has some hope for the Zhou government. He always feels that the government he has been loyal to for half his life still has some human touch...

…

About forty minutes later.

Staff Officer Liu's people personally picked up Zhang Yue, Fu Yu and others, and under the protection of the troops, drove towards the port.

After making sure that nothing would happen to his family, Fu Zhenguo also left the port in a car and prepared to go to the headquarters.

On the way, Fu Zhenguo looked out the window, thought about it for a while, and then sent a text message on his personal phone.

…

at the same time.

Zhou Yuanzheng sat in the small conference room and said to Zhou Xingli: "Commander, let me have someone talk to him first."

Zhou Xingli looked at his nephew and replied calmly: "Don't go too far. Fu Zhenguo is a meritorious service after all. If after investigation, no communication between him and Chen Xi is found, then this investigation must be ended as soon as possible." event."

"I understand what you mean." Zhou Yuanzheng nodded.

After the two talked, Zhou Yuanzheng walked away.

"well!"

Zhou Xingli looked at the window and sighed: "Old Fu, Old Fu, look at how popular you are."