Chapter 41: Remain Unchanged Amidst the Myriad Changes

  On July 7th afternoon, Indian Air Force Commander Wandall shot himself in his residence in New Delhi.

  As soon as the news was released, it immediately became a global media focus. For a time, there were various speculations about Wandahl's cause of death. Some people believed that Wandahl committed suicide due to his defeat in the morning, some believed that Wandahl was forced to death by Santos, and some believed that Wandahl was assassinated.

  About an hour and a half before the news was reported on Indian TV channel -1BN, Ji Youguo had learned of it from the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Foreign Affairs Intelligence Bureau. With his keen intuition, Ji Youguo immediately realized that Wang Dalu's suicide by gunshot was not an isolated incident.

  The Air Force Commander is not a small figure, and his sudden suicide must be related to India's internal contradictions.

  Wang Yuanqing came to the study and put down several state documents, saying: "Chief, Director Pan Yunsheng has arrived."

  "Pan Yunsheng of Military Intelligence Bureau?" Ji Youguo immediately lifted his head.

  Wang Yuanqing nodded, among the people he knew, there was only one person named Pan Yunsheng.

  "He's arrived just in time, let him come in quickly."

  Two minutes later, a middle-aged man who looked like he was only in his early forties walked into the study.

  He is the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Pan Yunsheng, who is 53 years old and holds the rank of Lieutenant General in the Army. His smooth and fair complexion makes him look much younger than his actual age, only by carefully observing those rough hands can you tell his real age. For five years, Pan Yunsheng has been presiding over work at the Northwest Physical Experiment Center, leaving Military Intelligence Bureau affairs to several deputy directors and department heads. As one of the best intelligence "practitioners" in the Republic, Pan Yunsheng's experience is a legend. Not to mention anything else, outsiders still do not know his true identity, and even fewer people know what he looks like.

  "Xiao Pan, when did you arrive in Beijing?"

  "Just got off the plane." Pan Yunsheng casually put his coat on the chair, "I heard from Old Peng that several big things have happened recently, so I took some time to come back and take a look."

  "Aren't you clear about Old Peng's character? He can blow up a small matter into something huge." Ji Youguo personally poured tea for Pan Yunsheng. "It's not a big deal, South Asia was messed with by the US and India is getting restless, they attacked Pakistan, we had to intervene to mediate."

  "Was it a fierce fight?"

  Ji Youguo shook his head and asked instead: "Is everything all right at the Experimental Center?"

  "The first phase of research will be completed within the year, and samples can be taken out at the beginning of next year. Preliminary estimates suggest that the performance of the new product has been improved by 20% to 25% compared to existing products. The second phase of research will start at the beginning of next year, focusing on high molecular composite materials and special alloys. This time I came back, just to ask for instructions from the leader, whether it is possible to give a long vacation to the scientific researchers at the experimental center during the two to three months preparation period for the second phase of research."

  Ji Youguo was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "You must have agreed, right?"

  "This..." Pan Yunsheng showed an awkward smile. "The researchers at the research center are mostly young and middle-aged backbone, either already having a family or reaching the age of marriage. They have been in the Great Northwest for five years, dedicating their youth to the motherland. If we don't consider their personal problems, it's too inhumane."

  "What you said is right, they have dedicated everything to the country and nation, the country cannot afford to owe them." Ji Youguo picked up a cigarette and took advantage of the opportunity to light it, thinking quickly. "We can let them take family leave, but not all at once, after all, research work still needs to continue, if everyone runs away, who will do the research? Organized, disciplined, batch-by-batch family leave. In addition, you need to make good arrangements for safety and confidentiality."

  "I understand this, I will arrange it." Pan Yunsheng knew that the Premier meant to send special agents for close surveillance and secret protection.

  "When can we expect results from the second phase of research?" Ji Youguo raised a key question.

  "With the results of the first phase, the second phase research will be much smoother. However, the difficulty of the second phase research is also much greater. From the information I have mastered, it will take at least three to five years."

  "Write me a detailed report as soon as possible."

  "The report is ready." Pan Yunsheng took out a document from his briefcase and placed it in front of Ji Youguo, "This is a detailed report on the main projects, progress arrangements, problem-solving, and final results of the second-stage research, co-authored by Professor Luo Yizu and dozens of experts including Researcher Ji Xiaojie. I'm just a mailman responsible for delivering messages; I couldn't write such an academic paper myself."

  "Really?" Hearing his daughter's report, Ji Youguo also became interested.

  "Also is the matter of research funding."

  "What about the research funding for the second phase?" Ji Youguo looked at Pan Yunsheng.

  The head of the Intelligence Bureau nodded and said, "Several major projects have been established, and expert groups are reviewing them. Therefore, it is best to allocate funds by the end of this year, or at the latest, early next year."

  "I personally discussed this matter with Pang Xinglong and will give you a reply as soon as possible."

  Pan Yunsheng nodded and didn't say anything more.

  Ji Youguo flipped through the documents and then said: "Now, there's something I'd like to hear your opinion on."

  "What's up?" Pan Yunsheng casually picked up a cigarette from the table, as if this were his office.

  "A few hours ago, an Indian Air Force commander committed suicide at his home."

  "I've read this news on the plane." Pan Yunsheng lit a cigarette, without any look of shock. "Is Yuan Shou asking me what this has to do with the domestic situation in India?"

  Ji Youguo immediately burst out laughing, indicating that this was exactly what he meant.

  "Although I am not very clear about the domestic situation in India, I have also been paying attention to the direction of the Indo-Pakistani war in recent days." Pan Yunsheng looked very serious when discussing professional issues. "Vandana's suicide is by no means an isolated incident. After five days of fighting, India has not gained an advantage on the battlefield and has even lost air superiority over Kashmir. The ground troops deployed along the border have not been able to move forward so far. Santos must have faced questioning from the opposition party and even within his own party. As he is only an interim prime minister, the opposing voices are even stronger."

  "Are you saying Vandal is just a scapegoat for Santos?"

  Pan Yunsheng nodded slightly. "Someone has to take responsibility for the failure, Santos doesn't want to bear this responsibility, so naturally someone has to be found to bear it for him."

  Ji Youguo rubbed his chin and quickly began to think.

  "Santos may be facing impeachment threats."

  "I had thought of this too." Ji Youguo stood up and walked back and forth in the room, "With consecutive defeats, the ruling party's support rate will definitely plummet. In order to maintain the ruling party's position, the National Party may sacrifice Santos. To gain a breathing opportunity, they must shift the public's attention, and Vandal became a sacrificial lamb in the political struggle. Anyway, Santos will find a way to end the war as soon as possible. The question is, will Santos step down?"

  "At least he won't step down in the short term." Pan Yunsheng also stood up, "In addition, we have to consider another possibility."

  Ji Youguo was slightly startled and stopped in his tracks. "You mean Santos is preparing to deal with the opposition?"

  Pan Yunsheng nodded and knew that Ji Youguo had already figured it out, so he didn't say anything explicitly.

  After a slight hesitation, Ji Youguo picked up the phone on the table. "Little Wang, contact Peng Maobang and Zhao Rundong, and ask them to come over immediately."

  Half an hour later, Peng Maobang and Zhao Rundong arrived at the Yuanshufu one after another.

  When they saw Pan Yunsheng, both generals were slightly surprised, apparently they did not know that Pan Yunsheng had returned.

  "I've already discussed it with Xiao Pan, I'd like to hear your opinions." Ji Youguo said while offering cigarettes to the two generals.

  "It's possible, but I think..." Zhao Rundong shook his head and didn't continue.

  "The key is how we should respond." Peng Maobang bypassed the question and got to the point. "Xiao Pan's analysis makes sense, the defeat of the Indian Navy and Air Force has led to a crisis of confidence in Santos, and even within the National Party, there are people who are dissatisfied with him. Regardless of whether Santos can keep his position as interim prime minister, we must figure out what we can do and what we should do."

  "Our actions will definitely have an impact on the situation in India," said Zhao Rundong, looking at Ji Youguo.

  Ji Youguo is also considering this issue.

  "If we strengthen our offensive, it will force Santos to step down." said Pan Yunsheng. "If we hold back, Santos will have a chance to catch his breath and free up his hands to deal with domestic issues."

  Zhao Rundong sighed and said: "For us, a quick battle is the most beneficial. Letting Santos step down may be the best way to end the war."

  "The newly appointed prime minister may not necessarily stop the war immediately." Peng Maobang expressed a different view.

  "There's another possibility we haven't considered." Ji Youguo glanced at the three of them, "Santos is very likely to shift domestic contradictions outward and use India's nationalist sentiment to secure his position."

  As soon as this was said, Zhao Rundong and Pan Yunsheng were the first to change color, and Peng Maobang also quickly understood.

  "A person who dares to launch a war is definitely an unscrupulous careerist." Ji Youguo picked up his cigarette, "Santos' past life experience shows that as a collateral branch of the Gandhi-Nehru family, he is not willing to serve as a selfless green leaf. Judging from Santos' purpose in launching the war, he must want to use the war to consolidate his position within the family and the party. What would he do if someone threatened his position?"

  "But Santos' connections in India, especially within the army, are far from being as strong as Rahul Gandhi's," Zhao Rundong pointed out.

  "Now that the Gandhi-Nehru family has produced a Santos, who can guarantee that there won't be several more in the Indian army?" Ji Youguo smiled faintly and continued, "Don't forget about America's role. The Gandhi family has always pursued a pro-Russian policy, with their controlled military-industrial enterprises having close ties with Russia. If Rahul Gandhi were to come to power, he would definitely adjust his foreign policy, improve relations with Russia, and even take the initiative to get along with us, securing a period of peaceful development for India. In this situation, how can America's interests be realized?"

  "If America joins hands with Santos, Gandhi is in danger." Pan Yunsheng smiled and shook his head.

  "The key is what we should do?" Zhao Rundong brought the topic back.

  "Do nothing," Ji Youguo paid special attention to the expression of the Minister of National Defense, "respond to changes with constancy. Santos and Gandhi are competing in magic, no matter who wins, we are all winners."

  Zhao Rundong was shocked, this remark indicated that Ji Youguo seemed unwilling for Santos to step down!