Asserting Authority!

It had to be said that when Qiu Tu learned the news from Fang Ming, he was a little surprised. He had expected Yan Chen to agree, but not so readily—and he certainly hadn't expected Jia Shu to execute it so quickly. Thinking back on the interval between submitting his request for reinforcements and their arrival, barely four hours had passed. This meant Yan Chen had approved the request almost without hesitation upon receiving the report, and Jia Shu hadn't dragged his feet in the slightest. *A good sign. It shows I'm becoming more and more important to Yan Chen...* *Still...* At this thought, Qiu Tu couldn't help making a guess. *Knowing Yan Chen's personality, there's definitely a catch to these reinforcements, isn't there?* With that in mind, Qiu Tu leisurely made his way back to his courtyard. Sure enough, the moment he arrived, he found a squad of Political Department agents in black uniforms resting in the yard. At the courtyard entrance, which had been rather quiet over the past two days, several servants from the Qin family's inner estate were lingering around today. From time to time, they poked their heads in to peer around, clearly there to observe and gather intelligence. Seeing this, Qiu Tu couldn't help letting out a wry chuckle. Looks like the first trap had arrived: Yan Chen hadn't ordered the Political Department agents to sneak in secretly, but had instead had them enter the Qin family compound in broad daylight. What was the Political Department? A covert department primarily responsible for espionage, counterespionage, internal oversight, and similar affairs. Such a sensitive department was supposed to keep a low profile and avoid causing a stir. Now, with an entire squad of Political Department agents openly stationing themselves in the Qin family compound, it wouldn't be long before the whole city was abuzz with rumors. Thinking this, Qiu Tu stepped into the courtyard. Seeing Qiu Tu, Fang Ming, who had been receiving the reinforcements, hurried over to greet him. "Qiu Tu." After greeting him, Fang Ming turned to introduce him to the two Political Department agents beside him. "This is the commander of our guard corps, Qiu Tu." With that, he guided the two forward. As they approached, Qiu Tu's gaze fell upon their epaulets. One of them had two gold stars pinned to his epaulets, while the other actually bore three gold stars, just like Qiu Tu. In other words, just like Qiu Tu, he was a Political Department Rank 1 agent and a squad leader. Sure enough, when Fang Ming introduced them to Qiu Tu, he made a point of emphasizing this: "Qiu Tu, these two are Agent Cao Dabiao and Agent Chen Feng. "They're the leader and deputy leader of this reinforcement squad." At this, Fang Ming shot Qiu Tu a meaningful glance, clearly hinting that something was off. Qiu Tu kept a poker face, but inside he almost laughed in exasperation at Yan Chen. He had asked for a squad of Political Department agents as reinforcements, and Yan Chen had indeed sent a whole squad—complete with their squad leader! He and this Squad Leader Cao Dabiao held the same rank, and Cao Dabiao had more seniority and was far more familiar with the team members. If Qiu Tu didn't deploy some tactics, he'd be sidelined within minutes. How could he possibly control this squad and cultivate his own power base then? With that thought, Qiu Tu cast a penetrating gaze over Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng. Cao Dabiao was a man in his thirties with a round face, a full beard, and a pair of squinting eyes that glinted with ruthlessness and greed. With just a single glance, Qiu Tu knew he was an unruly old hand. As for Chen Feng, he was a young man in his twenties with sharp, angular features that gave him an aloof, prickly demeanor. He seemed quite cold upon seeing Qiu Tu. *Looks like another troublemaker, huh?* With this, Qiu Tu gained a clear understanding of the "test" Yan Chen and Jia Shu had set for him. Still, Qiu Tu didn't take a challenge of this level seriously at all. With that in mind, he snapped to attention and barked, "Fall in!" Hearing Qiu Tu's resonant, authoritative voice, the Political Department agents who had been lounging around in small groups were caught off guard. Fang Ming had already introduced Qiu Tu's identity earlier, so when they heard the call to assemble, they hurried over and formed up. Even if Cao Dabiao and Chen Feng harbored other intentions, seeing the squad assemble left them with no choice but to fall in before Qiu Tu as well. Having seized the initiative, Qiu Tu swept a sharp gaze across the men, then tapped his own epaulets and declared, "I am Political Department Rank 1 Agent Qiu Tu! I am the commander of this guard corps, and I am the superior officer of every single one of you! "Now... atten-shun!" With Qiu Tu declaring his authority and establishing the chain of command, the agents visibly showed greater compliance, immediately straightening their backs to stand at rigid attention. Even Cao Dabiao, the wily veteran, straightened up, albeit in a somewhat sloppy manner. Qiu Tu swept his gaze over them and shouted, "Salute!" At Qiu Tu's command, more than a dozen right hands snapped up in unison! Qiu Tu stood straight and returned the salute. Then, lowering his hand, he looked at Cao Dabiao and ordered, "Cao Dabiao, step forward!" Qiu Tu and Cao Dabiao held the same rank, and Qiu Tu even had less seniority, meaning in theory he had no authority to order him around. However, because Qiu Tu was also the commander of the guard corps, and the entire squad had just followed Qiu Tu's orders, Cao Dabiao had no choice but to comply, no matter how disgruntled he felt inside. Now that Qiu Tu was singling him out with an order, his discomfort grew even stronger. Yet having complied with the previous commands, momentum had already been established, forcing him to grudgingly step out of line and ask in a perfunctory tone, "What are your orders, Agent Qiu?" Qiu Tu didn't spare him any face, barking back instantly, "Address me as Sir!" Hearing Qiu Tu's merciless rebuke, Cao Dabiao felt his face burn. Even without turning around, he could practically feel the strange looks from his squad members drilling into his back. He knew Qiu Tu was deliberately tearing down his authority within the squad, forcibly establishing the chain of command in front of everyone. His face darkened as he gritted his teeth and glared at Qiu Tu, sorely tempted to dig his heels in and throw the command right back in his face. Just then, Qiu Tu spoke again. Looking at Cao Dabiao with cold eyes, he barked sharply, "What? Are you defying an order from a superior officer?!" In that instant, a shiver ran down Cao Dabiao's spine. Defying orders in a disciplined force was a gravely serious offense! In wartime, being executed on the spot wouldn't even be out of line! What was more, he noticed Qiu Tu's hand had already moved to the holster at his lower back. *Does he really want to kill me?* *How dare he?!* *Is he insane? If he shoots a Rank 1 agent dead over a form of address, he won't survive either!* Although ten thousand voices inside told him Qiu Tu couldn't possibly do something so reckless, the impenetrable darkness swirling in Qiu Tu's eyes and the overwhelming sense of dread forced him to back down. *There's no need to tangle with a lunatic!* *As long as the green hills remain, there'll always be firewood to burn! I'll pay him back later!* With that thought, he lowered his head and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Yes, Sir!" Qiu Tu released his grip on the holster and nodded in satisfaction. "Good! "Now, I'm assigning you a mission!"