“Tell me, if it’s just a tropical depression, but we prepare for it as if it were a severe typhoon, how much effort and resources would that require?”
“Not to mention, we’d definitely have to evacuate civilians. You know just how much disruption and inconvenience a severe typhoon would cause them.”
“And if it turns out to be nothing more than a tropical depression, we might even lose the people’s trust in us.”
With that, he turned to Sheng Zexi. “Xiao Sheng, can you personally bear all these consequences and losses?”
If Lin Chushi had simply pressured Sheng Zexi to take a military pledge, then Lin’s father had laid everything out plainly—and with even greater force.
His tone, though seemingly mild, was far more aggressive than Lin Chushi’s.
Faced with such questioning from Lin’s father, Sheng Zexi showed no fear.
Instead, he met the challenge head-on.
“Yes, if the severe typhoon doesn’t come, I, Sheng Zexi, am willing to take the military pledge and bear full responsibility. But—” Sheng Zexi paused, “Brigade Commander Lin and the Lin family have repeatedly obstructed this…”
“If a severe typhoon does hit, and you’ve only prepared for a tropical depression, can you shoulder the consequences and losses? Are you confident enough to take that military pledge too?”
Since the Lin father and son were being so aggressive, Sheng Zexi had no intention of letting them off the hook.
If they were trying to drag him down, he’d pull them into the water with him.
He wanted to see just how much conviction the Lin family truly had.
Sheng Zexi’s counter left the Lin father and son momentarily stunned.
Then, Lin Chushi erupted in anger. “Sheng Zexi, what do you mean by this? How dare you demand a military pledge from a superior? Who do you think you are?”
“If Sheng Zexi doesn’t have the authority, then surely I do.”
At that moment, Commander Lu stepped forward once again, standing firmly on Sheng Zexi’s side.
“Since both sides have made their arguments, I can’t favor one over the other.”
“So here’s my proposal: Chushi, Zexi, each of you will take a military pledge. On my end, we’ll proceed with preparations for a severe typhoon.”
“If the typhoon hits, then Chushi will face disciplinary action.”
“If it doesn’t, then Zexi will be the one held accountable.”
“What do you think?”
Lin Chushi hadn’t expected to be dragged into this mess.
Worse, Commander Lu had actually proposed such a thing.
What could he do? Refuse?
If it had been Sheng Zexi making the demand, Lin Chushi, being of higher rank, could have easily dismissed it.
But it was Commander Lu who had suggested it.
So he—
“I agree!” Sheng Zexi declared first.
Then he turned to Lin Chushi. “Does Brigade Commander Lin not dare to agree?”
“Is it because you lack confidence in your own judgment?”
“Or is it that Brigade Commander Lin only accepts promotions but can’t handle taking responsibility?”
Lin Chushi was now cornered. Faced with Sheng Zexi’s taunt, what could he say?
Gritting his teeth, he forced a smile. “Of course I have confidence in my judgment. Fine, let’s take the military pledge.”
Lin’s father, however, frowned.
Their original plan had been to trap Sheng Zexi alone. Now, thanks to this Lu fellow, even Chushi had been dragged in.
Lin’s father studied Commander Lu with suspicion and doubt.
Did this man know something?
But no matter how much suspicion or dissatisfaction he harbored, there was nothing Lin’s father could say at this moment.
Thus, under the witness of all present, Sheng Zexi and Lin Chushi each signed their military pledges.
“Since the decision has been made, I will now oversee the arrangements.”
“Zhao Hongxing, continue monitoring the meteorological data. Report any changes immediately.”
“As for Huansha Island, starting tomorrow, we will implement defensive measures as if a severe typhoon is imminent. Civilians in danger zones must evacuate promptly…”
Commander Lu issued the necessary orders, and no one raised any further objections.
Once the instructions were given, everyone dispersed.
As they stepped out of Commander Lu’s office, Lin Chushi turned to Sheng Zexi with a mocking smile.
“Xiao Sheng, do you really trust your wife’s word that much? You’d stake your career on a woman’s speculation? Aren’t you afraid of losing everything?”
His tone dripped with disdain for women, making Sheng Zexi’s expression darken.
“My wife is the one I trust most. Should I have trusted you instead, Brigade Commander Lin?”
“In my eyes, my wife is exceptional. If she says something, she’s right.”
Lin Chushi burst into laughter, convinced that Sheng Zexi had completely lost his mind over a woman.
Pathetic.
He sneered inwardly but kept his thoughts to himself.
Sheng Zexi had no interest in further conversation with someone like Lin Chushi and quickly walked away.
Zhao Weiguo and Zhao Hongxing followed closely behind.
Once they were at a distance, Zhao Weiguo couldn’t help but ask, “Regiment Commander Sheng, are you really that confident in Dr. Gu’s prediction?”
Sheng Zexi didn’t even glance at him. “You’ve seen her abilities firsthand. Why doubt her now?”
Zhao Weiguo: Well… that’s true.
Still, even if he had witnessed her skills, he doubted he could ever be as unshakably certain as Sheng Zexi.
“Regiment Commander, I’ll keep monitoring the weather. If anything changes, I’ll notify you immediately,” Zhao Hongxing assured.
“Good. Thank you.”
Meanwhile, Lin Chushi and his father watched Sheng Zexi’s retreating figure with cold eyes.
“You let Sheng Zexi provoke you into signing that pledge. If a severe typhoon does hit, not even I can protect you from the consequences,” Lin’s father said icily.
Lin Chushi tensed at his father’s words but quickly reassured him.
“Father, there’s no way it’ll be a severe typhoon.”
“Gu Jianing is just a woman—how much experience could she possibly have?”
“How could she possibly outperform the entire meteorological department?”
“Or predict weather patterns three days in advance with such precision?”
“Sure, she might have some basic knowledge—maybe she noticed signs of wind—but it’s just a tropical depression. There’s no way it’s a severe typhoon.”
“If it were a typhoon, the instruments would’ve detected it by now.”
Lin Chushi was trying to convince himself as much as his father.
“I hope you’re right. Otherwise… this time, even I won’t be able to save you,” Lin’s father warned grimly.
A military pledge was ironclad—no exceptions.
“Still… since things have come to this, we might as well fan the flames.”
Lin’s father’s eyes glinted coldly. “You handled the rumor campaign well before, didn’t you?”
“Do it again.”
“If the typhoon doesn’t come, we’ll use this to drag that arrogant Sheng Zexi down for good.”
Anyone aligned with Commander Lu was an obstacle to their ambitions.
If they kept cutting off Lu’s support, it wouldn’t be long before he, too, fell from power.
“And make sure to emphasize that Sheng Zexi is being shielded by our dear Commander Lu.”
A sly grin spread across Lin Chushi’s face. “Understood, Father.”
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