# Chapter 828: A Truly Brilliant General
Jiangnan on the vehicle looked somewhat nervous, fidgeting restlessly!
Yang Jian chuckled: "When you first met me, I never saw you this nervous!"
Jiangnan grinned sheepishly: "How could that be the same?"
"It's like an interview—why would I be nervous meeting an interviewer? This time is different? This time I'm meeting my direct superior!"
Yang Jian's face darkened. I'm the Secretary-General after all, what kind of interviewer nonsense is this?
[From Yang Jian: Resentment value +666!]
"The Chief Commander actually likes you quite a bit. Don't put any psychological pressure on yourself. Just act normal and be your most authentic self!"
Jiangnan: (๑¯ิٹ¯ิ)
"Oh, is that so? Then I'm relieved!"
Yang Jian: (•́_•̀٥) "Uh... maybe you should tone it down a bit! The way you look right now is way too arrogant!"
The convoy took a winding path and went straight to the Jing Du military headquarters!
Looking at the fluttering flags, Jiangnan was momentarily dazed. His body instinctively straightened, his expression solemn!
Yang Jian was taken aback, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
Little brat!
It was precisely because of this spirit in Jiangnan's heart that the family unconditionally trusted him!
They turned a blind eye to Jiangnan's endless stream of bizarre gadgets!
Maintaining an attitude of asking no questions and making no comments!
Under Yang Jian's guidance, the two walked deeper into the military headquarters.
Along the way, they encountered many busy staff members, who all grinned upon seeing Jiangnan!
After saluting, they didn't forget to give a thumbs up!
With the resource layer core secured, the first to benefit were the Spirit Martial Forces stationed in various provinces!
Spirit-Binding weapons were no longer an issue, and for Jiangnan, who had secured all this, they naturally felt gratitude and respect from the bottom of their hearts!
Jiangnan returned the smiles one by one, his face stiff from grinning!
They turned into the internal office compound, where the ginkgo tree in the yard had already sprouted tender buds!
As soon as the two entered the yard, they saw a kind-faced old man sitting on a stone bench under the tree playing Chinese chess, holding a large tea mug!
Dressed in casual clothes, with many wrinkles on his face, marked by the traces of time!
Yet his body was still sturdy, his eyes bright and piercing!
This was Di Rui, the Chief Commander of the Spirit Martial Forces!
What surprised Jiangnan was that the Chief Commander was not a spirit warrior, with not a trace of spiritual energy in his body!
Across from Di Rui sat another old man, his temples streaked with gray!
He wore a military uniform, had some difficulty with his legs, and leaned on a cane!
Several crisscrossing scars on the left side of his face and scalp were quite conspicuous!
The place on his scalp where the scar was had no hair, and Jiangnan recognized it at a glance!
That was a scar left by a shell fragment—he really had a hard life! Respect welled up in Jiangnan's heart!
A veteran!
He whispered: "Brother Jian, I know the Chief Commander, but who's the other one?"
Yang Jian smiled: "Yang Zhiyi, commander of the Northern Spirit Martial Forces!"
Jiangnan: =͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇)
At this moment, on the chessboard, Yang Zhiyi was already in "checkmate," red-eyed and scratching his head frantically!
"Tsk! Every time I come, you drag me into a game, just to bully me?"
"When the first batch of Spirit-Binding weapons comes out, prioritize the North for me, got it?"
Di Rui laughed: "I told you, if you win, I'll arrange it. The North isn't urgent; let's give it to the West first!"
Yang Zhiyi was about to speak when he saw Jiangnan and Yang Jian in the yard. His eyes lit up!
"Haha! You're here, kid? Seeing this little one isn't a wasted trip!"
"Truly a man from the North—that fight was beautifully done!"
Jiangnan said obediently: "Greetings, Senior Yang!"
Yang Zhiyi clearly liked Jiangnan a lot. He stood up with his cane and patted Jiangnan hard on the shoulder!
Di Rui smiled: "You're here? Come sit down and play a game with me!"
Jiangnan wiped his forehead in a cold sweat: "Ah? You want to play chess with me? I only know a little!"
Di Rui beckoned, looking kind: "Don't be nervous. Treat it as relaxation!"
"Playing chess is like leading troops. You've been fighting more and more brilliantly recently!"
"Master one thing, and you master all things. Give it a try!"
Yang Jian kept nudging Jiangnan with his elbow, frantically signaling.
Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Jiangnan sat down across from Di Rui.
Di Rui smiled: "Use whatever ability you have!"
"If you win against me, there's a reward. Don't disappoint me!"
As soon as Jiangnan heard there was a reward, he perked up immediately, his eyes shining!
"Grandpa Di, if you're talking about that, then I'm wide awake now. Bring it on!"
For the reward! I, Jiangnan, will give it my all!
Yang Jian: (≖_≖٥)…
Where did that nervousness from earlier go?
As soon as rewards are mentioned, do you have to try so hard?
Di Rui laughed heartily: "Good kid. Grandpa will see what you're made of today. Set up the pieces!"
They set up the chessboard, and Di Rui generously let Jiangnan move first.
Jiangnan unceremoniously advanced a pawn!
With the sound of "slap slap!" the slaughter on the chessboard began!
Yang Jian stood behind Jiangnan, and even Yang Zhiyi brought a small stool to sit by the table, watching with great interest!
Jiangnan moved without thinking, placing pieces rapidly—slap, slap, just playing!
Di Rui was stunned: "So fast? Let me tell you, don't go easy on me just because I'm the Chief Commander. I don't buy that!"
Jiangnan beamed brightly: "A man must be fast! Don't worry, Grandpa Di. I'm working hard for that reward!"
Di Rui shook his head, laughing. If you play like this, you'll fall into my trap without even knowing!
Too young after all!
He continued playing with Jiangnan, and soon the battle was halfway through!
As they played, the smile on Di Rui's face gradually faded, and his thinking time grew longer!
Yang Zhiyi, beside him, was getting anxious: "What are you thinking about? Take his rook!"
Di Rui shook his head: "Don't fuss! If I take his rook, I'll lose my cannon. It's a trap!"
"No, that's wrong! It's a trap within a trap! If I take it... sigh~"
As he pondered, he began muttering frantically!
Sweat beaded on his forehead!
This was not just "knowing a little"? It was "knowing a little" multiplied by a hundred, right?
Young people these days are so modest!
Instead, I'm the one who's been trapped. Moving pieces without even thinking?
What kind of brain is that?
If I lose again, I'll lose a lot of face!
Jiangnan propped his chin with one hand, stuffed the other in his pocket, looking utterly bored!
"Are you done yet?"
Di Rui frowned deeply: "Wait! Just a little longer!"
Jiangnan: (๐´~`๐)…
Even Yang Jian was shocked!
He knew the Chief Commander's chess skills—he was virtually undefeated!
His level was almost on par with professional national players!
Yet Jiangnan, using only one hand, had pushed the Chief Commander to this state? He was even sweating!
Since when did Jiangnan become so fierce at chess? He'd never heard of that before!
After hesitating for a long time, Di Rui finally placed a piece. Jiangnan immediately responded: "Check!"
Di Rui: ∑(❍ฺД❍ฺlll)!
"A trap within a trap within a trap? I didn't see that!"
"It's not over yet. Let me think a bit more!"
Even Yang Zhiyi, who had been watching, was now confused, his eyes full of shock!
"He thinks that far ahead? This young man's layout ability is astonishing!"
Just then, another spirited white-bearded old man strolled into the yard!
Seeing Jiangnan playing chess with the Chief Commander, his eyes lit up, and he came over to watch!
"Take it! Take his knight! Don't hesitate. Trust me!"
Di Rui gritted his teeth: "Take!"
Jiangnan placed another piece: "Check again!"
Di Rui glared: "It's all your fault for giving bad advice! Shoo, shoo!"
The newly arrived old man's face darkened, utterly bewildered: "This... this can't be right!"
Di Rui let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly: "No, I lost this game!"
"Good kid! You've got skills!"
Jiangnan beamed: "You're too kind, too kind!"
The white-bearded old man widened his eyes: "Come on, I think you're just not good enough!"
Di Rui glared: "Nonsense! If you're so good, you take over!"
The white-bearded old man retorted angrily: "If you're no good, then get down!"
With that, he pushed Di Rui aside and sat down across from Jiangnan!
"Come on, play a game with your Grandpa Zhou!"
Jiangnan grinned: "Doesn't matter who comes!"
The white-bearded old man glared: "Oh? Quite cocky, aren't you? You go first!"
But as time passed, the white-bearded old man also stopped smiling!
By now, four or five old men had gathered around the chessboard, talking and giving advice, faces red and voices loud!
In this short time, Jiangnan had already beaten four old men in a row!
Still, one hand propping up his chin, the other in his pocket—it looked so effortless!
Yang Jian was dumbfounded!
Was Jiangnan's chess game so hard on old men? There weren't that many old men in the entire military headquarters!
What level of skill was this?
But suddenly, Yang Jian noticed that Jiangnan's hand in his pocket seemed never to have been taken out?
He couldn't help but secretly open his third eye a crack, a violet light flickering!
The next second, Yang Jian's expression froze!
Inside Jiangnan's pants pocket was clearly a phone!
On the screen was the interface of "Happy Chess," and the board on the phone was exactly the same as the one on the stone table!
No matter how the old man moved, Jiangnan moved the same way in the phone!
Open a space wormhole to peek at the screen? Then use the AI's moves against the old men?
Yang Jian: (⑉ԾжԾ) Pfft~
"Give it your all," my foot!
So this is how you play? No wonder you're so fierce!
If the Chief Commander finds out, he'll spank your butt until it's raw!
Jiangnan chuckled gleefully!
What's five old men? Even a hundred old men couldn't beat me like this!
I've set it to Hell Grandmaster Mode!
Unconvinced? Come and fight!
How could I, Jiang the Chess King, lose? I'm serious about the reward!
But just then, the phone vibrated once, and the screen went black!
The smile on Jiangnan's face froze!
Damn! Battery dead and shut down?
(̿▀̿̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿̿)̄
What now? Don't let me down at the critical moment!
Yang Jian behind him could barely hold back his laughter. Battery dead, huh? Let's see how you cover this up!
Jiangnan pulled his hand out of his pocket and placed both hands against his nose!
"Ahem, dear grandpas, how about we call it a day here? We can continue another time!"
"I still have the medal ceremony to attend later! As for the time..."
Di Rui was taken aback, then remembered the medal ceremony. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion!
"Each generation produces its own talents, each leading the way for hundreds of years!"
"Your chess skills, young man, are truly worthy of a brilliant general! Excellent, excellent!"
The other old men nodded in agreement!
"I, Old Zhou, am convinced. To have such strategic thinking at such a young age is truly rare!"
"Brains and skill—neither lacking. This is what a young person should be like!"
Jiangnan scratched his head, looking shy!
୧(ૢ⁼̴ꇴ⁼̴) "Not at all~ You seniors flatter me too much!"
Yang Jian, standing by, clenched his fists, holding back his laughter until he was about to burst!
"Each leading the way for hundreds of years," my foot!
There's no "leading" here—Jiangnan's just left with the "stink"!
What a godly, stinky move this is!
—
Author's note: