"Please don't say that, Instructor Chu," said Lu Tian-He hastily as his face paled. "I'm here to apologize. I was blind. I shouldn't have entrusted my faith in that stupid Wu Yang. If I hadn't made the mistake of recommending you to Wu Yang and getting you a place in the Jiangdong military, the members of the Green Dragon Force wouldn't have suffered such abuse and you wouldn't have endured such insult as well. I will accept any punishment you wish to mete out to me, Instructor Chu.”
"But, please know that I'm earnest in my attempts to serve our nation and that General Ye was sincere in his regard for you. For our nation and for General Ye, please join the Yanjing military alongside the Green Dragon Force. I've ended our collaboration with Wu Yang and the Jiangdong military. We are going to build our own special troops. I swear that Instructor Chu will be given the due respect owed to you in the Yanjing military. Our soldiers will treat Instructor Chu as an esteemed guest and as our venerable instructor!"
Lu Tian-He's pleas echoed in the room.
He desperately hoped that Ye Fan would allow bygones be bygones and give him a second chance, join the Yanjing military, accept the position of chief instructor and continue training the Green Dragon Force as part of the military.
"There's no need for that. I'm just a nobody. I don't deserve the honor or prestige that the military wishes to accord me and certainly not the office of an instructor in the military. Please get someone else to do the job. I can train the Green Dragon Force on my own. I don't need any help from the military."
Ye Fan was clearly still furious about what the Jiangdong military had done to him and the Green Dragon Force.
That was why he had flatly refused Lu Tian-He's earnest offer.
He had had enough of the military.
He had had enough of living under another person's roof and having to follow someone else's rules. This wasn't the life that Ye Fan wanted.
His experience with the Jiangdong military had taught him that.
As for the Green Dragon Force, Ye Fan had the resources and wealth to support their training. He didn't need the military's help at all.
He had no reason to reenlist in the military and subject himself to someone else's rules and control.
Despair threatened to swallow Lu Tian-He whole when he heard what Ye Fan had said.
He wasn't going to give up yet though.
"Instructor Chu, I know that you feel constrained by the rules of the military. With your abilities and status, you deserve greater freedom. But have you thought for the members of the Green Dragon Force and what they have to gain from being part of the military? They'll be awarded with titles and offices. Their achievements will bring honor and glory to their families. The country will take care of them and their families and protect them when they face
danger."
"Besides, they must be part of the military if they wish to take part in the National Special Troops Contest that's going to be held two months later. That's when they can prove themselves worthy and make those who mocked them eat their words. That's the only way they can make the Jiangdong military pay for what it's done to them."
"Instructor Chu, for the sake of the Green Dragon Force, please reconsider my proposal. Are you willing to let the Green Dragon Force live in dishonor and disgrace and in the shadow of Wu Yang's insults?" pleaded Lu Tian-He tirelessly as his eyes gradually reddened.
His words of sincerity resounded loudly in the room.
The Green Dragon Force had ended their training then and had just returned to the mansion. They were on the way to join Ye Fan for lunch.
They heard every word that Lu Tian-He had just said.
Their eyes turned towards Ye Fan instantly. Within those eyes shone the flames of hope.
It was clear that they wanted to take part in the National Special Troops Contest and prove themselves.
Ye Fan shook his head and sighed.
"So be it then. Lu Tian-He, on account of the Green Dragon Force, I'm going to accept your offer. But all that means is that I agree to let the Green Dragon Force represent the Yanjing military in the upcoming contest. The Green Dragon Force and I do not fall under the military's jurisdiction. We will not conduct our training in the Yanjing military camp. The Green Dragon Force will continue to train here. We do not truly belong to the Yanjing military. This is but a temporary alliance. Do you understand?”
Joy seized Lu Tian-He when he heard what Ye Fan had said.
"Of course, of course! As long as Instructor Chu permits the Green Dragon Force to represent the Yanjing military in the upcoming contest, we're willing to accommodate all that you ask."
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