ebookland Chapter 446 A crushing defeat! Only a shred of dignity remains!
Chapter 446 A crushing defeat! Only a shred of dignity remains!
The night was dark.
Streetlights illuminate the long street.
Gu Maoyuan stood by the window of his study, gazing into the distance.
The ashtray in front of him was almost full of cigarette butts.
dong dong dong~
Gu Jinyang knocked on the door.
He turned on the light and limped over.
"Dad, why aren't you coming down for dinner?"
"I can't eat anymore, you guys eat!"
Gu Maoyuan looked out the window and took a deep drag on his cigarette.
It was as if they wanted to bury their resentment with a large amount of smoke.
"It's too late for you to be upset now. Listen to me, come downstairs and have dinner!"
After Gu Jinyang finished speaking, he reached out and grabbed Gu Maoyuan's arm.
Gu Maoyuan grabbed Gu Jinyang's hand.
He turned his head and looked at his son with a deep gaze.
"Just a few minutes ago, Lao Xu was also taken away!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Gu Jinyang's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Alas, this is the unpredictability of life!"
“In ordinary times, the days are monotonous and repetitive, as if nothing has happened.”
"But suddenly one day, many things happened all at once, catching people off guard."
Gu Maoyuan gave a bitter smile.
"Isn't this a complete rout?"
"So you're scared?"
"I……"
Gu Maoyuan released his grip, turned around, and continued looking out the window.
"To say I'm not afraid would be a lie."
“I was originally the pride of our Gu family, and people from all around were proud of me.”
"Back then, I rose to fame in one battle and was promoted to general. The family genealogy even had a separate page dedicated to me!"
"If I were to suddenly fall from grace and be dismissed from the military, wouldn't that be a disgrace to the Gu family?"
Gu Jinyang advised, "Dad, it's not that serious, don't overthink it."
"No, you don't understand!"
Gu Maoyuan took a deep drag on his cigarette, gazing intently into the distance.
“I’ve been standing here for a long time, thinking about this.”
"I recall my youthful ambition when I first joined the army."
"I remember fighting alongside my comrades on the battlefield amidst a hail of bullets..."
Gu Jinyang silently turned around and went to close and lock the door.
When I returned, I saw that my father's eyes were red.
An unknown individual rises to the rank of three-star general!
This requires not only incredible luck, but also countless hardships and efforts.
Gu Jinyang believed in his father and always wanted to be a good person.
Even if we don't go down in history, at least we'll bring honor to our ancestors.
however……
In order to make progress, compromises and concessions were made at certain special times.
While it has facilitated progress, it has also brought considerable hidden dangers.
If nothing goes wrong, all is well. But once something does go wrong, how can one not feel guilty, fearful, and worried?
"Don't overthink it. We've dealt with everything that needed to be dealt with urgently, so what's there to worry about?"
"Besides, you have so much classified information in your possession, which can act as a protective shield, so there's even less to be afraid of!"
Seeing that his father still looked melancholy, Gu Jinyang softened his tone and said:
"Even if we take a step back and say that you have made great contributions to the country and the people, you have at least achieved many military exploits."
"If all else fails, just bow your head and admit defeat; that will at least save face. After all, isn't the greatest art of politics compromise?"
Gu Maoyuan swept the attack with cold indifference.
You want me to bow down and submit?
"Yes!"
Gu Jinyang said in a calm tone:
"We made some mistakes, so we should admit our mistakes and be humble. There's nothing to be ashamed of."
"If you really haven't made any mistakes, then of course you should be willing to die rather than submit, and never bow your head even if you are beaten to death."
Gu Maoyuan, who had been somewhat arrogant, suddenly felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
"I know I've long lost my backbone, but I really can't take that step!"
“I always felt that if I went there, people would talk behind my back and call me a traitor.”
Gu Jinyang chuckled.
"Traitor? Whom did you betray?"
"You fought bloody battles to defend our land."
"You bravely rescued people from danger and protected them."
"This isn't a war between two countries; it's just a power struggle!"
"Compared to your achievements, the mistakes you made are utterly insignificant."
"Besides, you can also pin it on Wei Guanghong's family. Anyway, they're all dead, what can they do but cry foul?"
Gu Maoyuan stuck the cigarette butt into the ashtray.
What about Elder Ge?
"What should I do?"
Gu Jinyang chuckled coldly:
"You just said it yourself, the army is now in complete defeat!"
"What's that old saying again? When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; when the wall collapses, everyone pushes it down!"
"We've already done a good job by not taking advantage of Old Ge's serious illness and hospitalization."
"I believe that once he regains his senses and understands the situation, he will understand that our self-preservation was simply a matter of saving our lives."
"Besides, once his health improves and he realizes that the situation is hopeless, he will definitely think about retiring with dignity, rather than putting up a last-ditch resistance and ultimately ending up disgraced!"
Seeing his father hesitate, Gu Jinyang simply spoke even harsher.
"To be honest, you old guys should have retired and stepped down by now."
"We live in the information age. If we really want to fight a war, we need high technology, not sheer numbers!"
"What we need are generals who can adapt to the times, have keen learning and insight, and dare to constantly innovate themselves!"
"How can we become a first-class power if we don't dare to break the rigid mechanisms of the past, innovate, and boldly reform?"
"Do you really want to be in another ten or twenty years without advanced fighter jets to defend our airspace, or powerful aircraft carrier battle groups to patrol the seas?"
"If we want to regain our place at the top of the world and become a superpower, we must have a strong armed force to safeguard our global interests."
"Otherwise, in this dog-eat-dog world, those countries that fear power but do not appreciate virtue will always think that we are easy to bully, and will not fight back when we are hit or when we are insulted."
"Now that you've stepped down at the height of your career, making room for others, you not only preserve your dignity but also inspire the younger generation to strive for excellence. Why not do it?"
"If you choose to resist stubbornly for the sake of so-called integrity and reputation, you are simply courting death. Don't you even consider whether you can mobilize a single soldier? Do you have the resources to resist?"
"You have nothing, so why are you pretending to be a tough guy? Listen to me, a wise man knows when to yield. If you don't back down, you'll be ruined, but if you do, you'll at least save face and won't let your fellow villagers down!"
Gu Maoyuan silently watched his son.
In his eyes, his son has always been exceptionally intelligent; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to get into Yenching University so easily.
However, Gu Maoyuan sometimes finds it incredible that his son displays a shrewdness and composure beyond his years.
Especially Wei Guanghong...
That was my son's savior and best friend.
To prevent future troubles, he made a decisive and ruthless decision, only seeking to give his brother a quick death.
Unfortunately, the assassination attempt failed, and in the end, they had to devise a plan to burn Wei Guanghong alive to ashes.
So shrewd, realistic, and ruthless...
Was it because his mindset changed after he became crippled and disabled?
At this moment, Gu Maoyuan didn't want to ask any more questions.
He had known all along that he only had two paths to take.
First, if resistance fails, they'll be dealt with.
While this might prevent former teammates from calling him a traitor and a coward, it would lead to a disgraceful and ruined life.
Second, take the initiative to admit mistakes and strive for a safe landing.
This might draw criticism and condemnation from some people, but it preserves the honor and dignity in front of the villagers.
Whichever is the lesser of two powers that harm each other!
Gu Maoyuan certainly wouldn't give up preserving his greater reputation and glory just for the praise of a small group of people.
not to mention……
Even if you don't think about yourself, you have to think about your son!
Do you think I can land safely if I take the initiative to admit my mistake?
"Of course!"
Gu Jinyang said decisively:
"Don't forget, you are still very useful for military reform."
"Since you've taken the initiative to admit your mistake, how could he possibly go all the way?"
"I even have a feeling that he's waiting for you to take the initiative to go to him right now!"
Gu Maoyuan gritted his teeth and patted his son on the shoulder.
However, just as he was about to leave, he was called back.
"I think you'd better change into a formal suit and bring the draft military land management plan with you."
"With rapid economic development, local land demand has surged, necessitating strengthened management, protection, and utilization of military land at the legislative level."
"Your carefully drafted proposal not only clarifies the unified management system, but also strengthens the guarantee and protection of land for national defense construction, and innovatively proposes methods for the replacement and transfer of land use rights."
"I believe that if you present him with such a beneficial draft to the country and its people in person, he will immediately understand your good intentions and will definitely give you a dignified response!"
After thinking about it, Gu Maoyuan nodded in agreement.
Since I'm not going to have a public falling out, there's obviously no need to use confidential information as a bargaining chip.
Present a meaningful draft plan to your work.
This demonstrates both one's ability and loyalty, making it a win-win situation!
"You're really smart, kid!"
Gu Jinyang chuckled.
"It's not that I'm smart, but given the current situation, when you're under someone else's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head!"
"Yeah, it's better to live a miserable life than to die!"
After a while.
Gu Maoyuan, dressed in his general's uniform and standing tall in military bearing.
He carried his briefcase, strode out the door with his head held high.
In the quiet courtyard, it seemed that only he was walking forward.
But Gu Maoyuan knew that many people were watching him from inside the houses along the way.
Curses, ridicule, contempt, admiration, sighs...
Gu Maoyuan didn't care what others thought or said.
After passing through checkpoints and undergoing multiple security checks, he entered the secluded courtyard.
The courtyard was dimly lit, and Secretary-General Su Changli came out to greet them.
Is Mr. Shen here?
Gu Maoyuan asked softly.
"Of course he's here! He's waiting for you to have dinner together!"
Su Changli's words immediately warmed Gu Maoyuan's heart.
"Zhao Ruilong should still be around, right?"
Gu Maoyuan then asked another question.
"Yes, Director Zheng and Team Leader Lu are here too."
Gu Maoyuan nodded silently.
Following Su Changli into the house, my previously heavy steps seemed to become lighter.
The news had already spread the moment he stepped into the courtyard.
Inside the hospital ward.
Luo Chunxia silently put down her phone without saying a word.
She deliberately put the phone on speakerphone when I answered it just now.
So Ge Xiufen, who was standing nearby, naturally heard it all too.