The Special Envoy from the Weishui Garrison turned out to be an old acquaintance of Chen Ping'an's: Zhao Lianzhi, the Bureau Chief of the Dispatching Bureau. After their previous encounters, they were on fairly good personal terms.
By the time Zhao Lianzhi hurried to Five Peaks Mountain City, Chen Ping'an had just left. Unsure of Chen Ping'an's exact schedule, he had been waiting there ever since.
In the rear courtyard of the Five Peaks Mountain Town Pacification Bureau, Chen Ping'an met with Zhao Lianzhi.
"Lord Zhao, we meet again?" Chen Ping'an said with a smile, walking forward.
"This humble official, Zhao Lianzhi, pays his respects to Commander Chen!"
This time, Zhao Lianzhi's attitude was leagues more deferential than before.
Upon seeing Chen Ping'an, he first performed a deep, formal bow, followed by a flurry of solicitous inquiries. He adopted an extremely humble posture, utterly lacking the usual reserve of a Special Envoy.
