During that war, Iraq’s so-called elite armored ground forces were utterly powerless in the face of America’s high-tech weaponry and absolute information dominance. They couldn’t even manage an effective assembly, let alone put up any resistance. As soon as the troops gathered, American airstrikes and long-range attacks would immediately follow, turning the Iraqi army into sitting ducks. It was a thoroughly one-sided war.

This war not only shocked Iraq, but also stunned the top leadership of the Republic, who had always placed great emphasis on traditional army building. As a result, the Republic’s military reform entered a new climax.

What William Lawson wanted to do was to have his father voice these opinions a year or two in advance. Of course, not just in casual conversation, but through official channels—such as submitting a formal report to his superiors or publishing a professional article in a newspaper—to attract the attention of higher-ups. Once the Kuwait War actually broke out, the contrast would highlight The Lawson Family’s foresight.

He himself was already the operations director of a major military region and highly valued by his superiors. With such credentials, plus the old man’s formidable reputation, rising even higher in the military would be just a matter of time.

They say the twenty-first century is an era of “competing fathers.”

But in reality, in an officialdom-oriented country, it’s always been an era of “competing fathers”!

The so-called “second-generation officials” and “second-generation rich” are by no means products unique to the twenty-first century.

On this point, William Lawson was very clear.

He had to persuade The Lawson Family to accept his opinion. Fortunately, judging by the current situation, The Lawson Family was already shocked by him, so being completely convinced was not far off.

William Lawson’s confidence soared to new heights as he continued to elaborate on his “military reform” theory.

Chapter 9 William Lawson’s Purpose

William Lawson sat in a corner, with a woman beside him. Both held wine glasses, with some snacks laid out in front of them. But this wasn’t a hotel—it was inside a villa.

The lighting in the living room was a bit dim. A dozen or so young men and women were dancing, turning the living room directly into a dance floor. The music from the boombox wasn’t loud, giving off a somewhat decadent vibe. The group was dancing something akin to a slow, close-contact dance.

“Come on, Sister Julia, have a drink…”

William Lawson raised his glass and clinked it with the woman beside him.

Sister Julia looked about twenty-three or twenty-four, with long, beautiful hair, wearing a white long-sleeved T-shirt with small flowers outlined in silver thread at the cuffs, and a long skirt with a hem densely embroidered with some kind of beautiful pattern in silver thread. Even in the dim light, it was clear that Sister Julia’s skin was extremely fair and delicate. Her lips were naturally red, her features exquisitely refined. Every gesture exuded a lazy elegance, as if she was indifferent to everything, carrying a faint aristocratic air.

They were drinking beer, and Sister Julia sipped hers gracefully.

“Wei Hong, do you really want to stay in the countryside forever?”

Sister Julia took a sip of beer and asked softly.

When William Lawson was born, it was during the height of the Great Revolution. The Lawson Family named him “Victoria Lawson”; Edward Lawson was originally called Victor Lawson—both names full of revolutionary spirit. After the Great Revolution ended, their names were changed. Sister Julia was a neighbor of the Lawson family, a few years older than William Lawson, and had watched him grow up like a real sister, so she insisted on calling him by his old name, “Victoria.”

William Lawson smiled and said, “The countryside is pretty nice—fresh air, good for your health.”

“Don’t be stubborn, come back. Uncle only has you as a son, and the old man is getting on in years. Don’t let people say you’re unfilial.”

Sister Julia continued to gently persuade him. Over the years, she had always played the big sister role. When William Lawson was acting out a few years ago, Sister Julia also tried to talk sense into him, though not always successfully.

Sister Julia looked gentle and refined, with an aristocratic air and a maturity beyond her years, but deep down, she wasn’t all that well-behaved or docile. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have such high prestige among the younger generation of Beijing’s elite families. Many young scions regarded her as their big sister.

“Jie, you’ve got it wrong. I’m really not being stubborn. I think spending some time in the countryside, gaining some grassroots work experience, might not be a bad thing. Which of our fathers didn’t spend time in the countryside?”

William Lawson said with a smile.

William Lawson’s smile was very attractive, with an indescribable quality—a bit melancholic, a bit sunny, mixed together into a unique charm.

Sister Julia glanced at him, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “That doesn’t sound like something you’d say.”

William Lawson laughed, “Then what would you expect me to say?”

Sister Julia tilted her head, thought for a moment, then said, not entirely sure, “I feel like… you’ve changed… grown up…”

“People are always changing. I can’t always be the mischievous William Lawson I used to be.”

Sister Julia smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately, her expression very close and intimate.