A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1203 Ye Fan's Decision

"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."

Ye Fan nodded. "If there is nothing else, please leave us. Look for me again in Yunzhou when the contest approaches. I will permit the Green Dragon Force to leave with you and enroll in the contest."

"Of course, Instructor Chu. I'll return to camp immediately and share this piece of good news with my commander-in-chief. I'll have the Green Dragon Force's promotions and benefits ironed out immediately." Having gotten Ye Fan's word, Lu Tian-He returned to the Yanjing military camp happily.

Three days later, a set of official documents reached Yunzhou.

Ye Fan was appointed as the honorary chief instructor of the Yanjing military and General Green Dragon, and given full command over the Green Dragon Force.

Wang Dong-Sheng was promoted to honorary deputy chief instructor and commodore and given the role of assisting Ye Fan.

The rank of the commodore was higher than that of the colonel and beneath that of a general.

The five members of the Green Dragon Force had been enlisted in the Yanjing military and promoted to lieutenant colonels.

Ye Fan didn't pay those documents any heed.

These were but empty titles that added some flourish to their names but had no true benefit or use. Ye Fan did not read the documents at all and instead instructed someone to set them aside.

Even though Ye Fan appeared unmoved by what the Yanjing military had done, that didn't mean that the rest were equally unmoved.

The members of the Green Dragon Force were elated when they found out that they had been promoted to the position of lieutenant colonel.

The next promotion would bring them to the rank of colonel, and the next to general.

They were only a few steps away from being an actual general.

The title was one of the greatest honors that they could bring to their family.

Li Er had a pig slain and roasted that night to celebrate his son's promotion.

The Ye family was overjoyed as well when they found out that Ye Yu-Yan had been promoted to a lieutenant colonel. In fact, Ye Yu-Yan's father couldn't sleep at all that night. Sheer elation kept him up all night. He was so proud that his daughter had gotten herself made a lieutenant colonel at such a young age. He was convinced that she would become a general in the future.

"The history books write about the famous female generals of the Yang family. Well, the modern age will remember our daughter as the famous general from the Ye family!" laughed Ye Tian as he emptied three cups of wine in succession.

He was convinced that his daughter's achievement rivaled that of Ye Fan's.

No matter how incredible Ye Fan might appear to be, he was still a brute who got everyone to submit to his will through sheer brute force and strength. He had no official title to his name.

Ye Tian's daughter had though. She had received a promotion from the state. He was convinced that she would rise up the ranks to become a general within the decade.

Such an achievement wasn't something that an ordinary ruffian like Ye Fan could attain. He was just a hooligan who had crowned himself ruler of Jiangdong.

Ye Tian had no idea that his joy and pride was Ye Fan's subordinate.

In fact, he had no idea that Ye Fan had been bestowed the title of General Green Dragon long before his daughter had been promoted to lieutenant colonel. He would have been infuriated if he knew that Ye Fan hadn't cared for the title at all.

Ye Fan hadn't mentioned a single word about the title that the Yanjing military had bestowed upon him.

Because he had not said a single word, no one knew anything about it.