January 3, 2015. Northern base.

The South Executive Institute and the North Research Institute are located on the north and south sides of the entire base, respectively, with a large living area in the middle. At this time, in a seven-story building in the northwest of the Execution Institute complex, nearly half of the executive officers of the entire base were gathered.

But in reality, the number of these "more than half" is really not very large - only twenty or thirty people.

Some people have tasks on their hands, while others have to keep the security of the base running, and they can't attend this rather solemn occasion.

Honours, and investiture ceremonies.

In fact, this was originally unexpected by most people. According to the tradition of the empire, in principle, officers below the rank of colonel did not engage in the ceremony of conferring titles. And even school officials will not enjoy such treatment unless they have special contributions.

However, the reason why this precedent is being set now is because today's protagonist received a Purple Star Medal.

It is a military merit medal issued by the royal family in recognition of the great contribution made by a soldier. In fact, since the first Purple Star was awarded to a major in '53, this is only the sixty-fourth time that such an order has been awarded in the Empire's military system.

Therefore, the executive officers who are currently in the hall on the first floor of the headquarters of the Security Bureau have some envy on their faces. But it was just pure envy—after all, what that man was doing was something that none of you here could have imagined.

Ying was on the fifth seat in the third row, with his waist straight, staring at the fifty-year-old man on the rostrum.

The man was prematurely haired, thin, and was making a tirade, pausing and gasping for breath from time to time. Obviously, the physical condition is not optimistic.

This is the nominal number two person in the northern base, the president of the Southern Executive Yuan, the imperial Wynbo, and Tong Xizheng.

But it wasn't him who should be paid attention to—the dean had been asking about the affairs of the hospital a long time ago because of his health. Instead, he handed over the decision to Dai Bingcheng most of the time.

What he cared about was that the deputy chief in charge of the northern base was not present.

The award of the rank of lieutenant, of course, has no reason to alarm the senior officials at the level of the deputy minister, but today's big drama is the award of the Purple Star Medal. The royal envoys all stood beside President Tong, but the deputy chief was "absent due to illness...... There is a lot of meaning in this.

Someone next to him suddenly bumped his arm, he turned his head and found that it was a very familiar colleague: "Hey, Xiaoying, you are informed, tell us, what is the situation today?" ”

Not only this colleague, but even several people nearby looked at him, as if they wanted to find out some inside information from him.

He thought about it and felt that it didn't hurt to say it. Anyway, it won't be long before everyone knows.

Therefore, he lowered his body slightly and said in a low voice: "It is said that not long ago, at the cabinet meeting, Zhang Buge of the Ministry of National Defense had a quarrel with the chief minister-because of the incident in Pingyang. The prime minister also took a stand, saying that the secret service was 'mishandled'. So, I think our vice president ...... this time."

"Ah......h

One whispered, "That...... The dean has to be promoted? ”

Ying resolutely glanced at the old man and smiled: "It's hard to say." ”

However, he revealed some inside information, and most people knew it in their hearts. Even if the deputy chief wants to leave, the old man on the stage probably won't be able to go any further.

"So you're going to be airborne?" The colleague continued to ask, "Then ...... our director?"

Ying resolutely put away his smile, looked at Dai Bingcheng, who was standing behind the old man expressionlessly, and shook his head: "We'd better not talk about the director's affairs." Let him hear it, be careful—"

He grinned, and everyone understood, and each smiled and stopped talking.

However, Ying Ran still knows more - Dai Bingcheng seems to have visited Liu Yangbo a few days ago. And Liu Yang later met his father again. After that night, the matter of Li Zhen's award and title seems to have been decided.

He acted unconcerned about this as usual, but that didn't mean he didn't know.

It seems that the other night, the thought that popped into my mind was not wrong at all. Li Zhen is really lucky, he caught up with him at such a sensitive time, and picked up a big bargain.

Lieutenant? Hehe...... I can't stop it.

After all...... Director Dai entered the secret service office as a second lieutenant back then, and became a lieutenant in less than half a year.

By this time, the dean's speech was nearing its end. He paused, raised his voice, and said in a daze, "...... It was decided to confer the rank of lieutenant on citizen Li Zhen, the Imperial Chinese Empire, the Special Affairs Office, and lieutenant. ”

There was a slight inhalation from the audience.

Then the dean stepped aside and nodded slightly to the royal envoy. So the envoy dressed in a light purple sè retro dress walked to the front of the stage, looked up at everyone present, and then continued in a solemn and solemn tone: "In addition, with the approval of His Majesty the Emperor, the Special Affairs Office, and the Ministry of National Defense, on January 3, the 37th year of Chang Gung, Lieutenant Li Zhen was awarded the Order of the Purple Star. ”

Unlike his colleagues, Ying Ran nodded slightly.

As expected......

Director Dai wants to go further.

At the beginning, he was thinking that Li Zhen might only be able to take one of the lieutenant rank and the Purple Star Medal. After all, his age is there.

Today, however, it all turned out to be true.

Director Dai and his father must have made a lot of efforts. Director Dai was born as a civilian, and like Li Zhen, he was recognized as a "star of Mingrì" in the secret service system. However, when he reached the rank of major and the director of the Security Bureau, he seemed to be blocked by an invisible glass plate.

Until I entered this system because of some ideas.

Director Dai's ability is obvious to all, and the reason why he has not made further progress in seven years is actually because of some unspoken rules of this empire.

Constitutional......

It has been constitutional for hundreds of years. However, this seemingly dynamic system hides a pool of stagnant water that is gradually rotting. A century-old aristocratic family, with intertwined background strength, could not be completely disintegrated by the constitution. The imperial power on the dragon throne was indeed taken off - but it was divided among the aristocratic families and became the "imperial power" of a certain group.

The clique has been stubborn for hundreds of years, carefully screening for "talent" from among the civilian population – either absorbing them as fresh blood or placing an invisible partition above their heads.

Director Dai wanted to break through that partition.

That's why we have today's scene -

The same "star of Mingrì" - this is simply a copy of Director Dai's youth.

Since such a bright star can be promoted exceptionally......

Why can't I go further?

…… This is a signal.

Ying Ran raised his eyebrows slightly, and applauded with everyone.

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