Liu Yiwu. Eastern Theater Command Political Commissar. Second in command of the Command. Originally the 1st Group Army's political commissar — after the Command stabilized at Huai'an City, a Command Military Council meeting had been held and he'd been elected to the Political Commissar position. Senior Colonel before the apocalypse, Lieutenant General now.

A rapid climb by any standard.

Not surprising, though. The old institutional structures had collapsed. Without functioning oversight mechanisms, the Eastern Theater Command operated as its own sovereign body, and promotion within it followed whatever logic the organization found convenient. Shen Cong's own case was the same — at New Hefei he'd been fast-tracked to full Colonel, having previously held no military rank whatsoever. His official pre-apocalypse record was Communist Youth League member, and he'd probably been expelled from even that after his parents died and he stopped paying dues.

In the post-apocalypse, ranks and titles weren't worth taking seriously.

"Colonel Chen." Liu Yiwu's voice on the radio had a regional accent Shen Cong couldn't place — his experience with dialects wasn't broad enough. The tone was measured and settled. "This is Liu Yiwu, Eastern Theater."

The most senior official Shen Cong had ever spoken with, by a significant margin. Before the apocalypse that might have produced some social discomfort. Now he felt nothing in particular.

"Yes," he said.

Not exactly sophisticated as opening remarks went.

Liu Yiwu's tone didn't shift. "I won't spend time on the origins of the Great Calamity — that's not what I need right now. What I want to understand is the situation in Anhui Province. What is the state of the Anhui Provincial Military District's reconstruction work?"

Shen Cong considered for a moment. "Given the death-eater incident, I can't extend full trust to the Eastern Theater Command yet. Certain information I'm not in a position to share at this time."

"Then come to Huai'an City. Sit down with us in person."

"I don't currently plan to do that."

"If we can reach your radio, you're somewhere in the counties surrounding Huai'an."

"I know. I don't want to come."

"Colonel Chen —…