When Chen Ping'an addressed Yan Wu, he used his name directly. But when addressing the other man, he called him Commander Lin. Such a form of address, while seemingly respectful, actually created a great deal of distance.
While addressing colleagues by their official titles was common practice at the Garrison Commandant's Office, doing so in a semi-private setting carried a different weight. The implications were undoubtedly worth careful consideration.
Chen Ping'an, for his part, didn't care what those two were thinking about his recent actions.
As the saying goes, a new official has to make a strong first impression. While he didn't necessarily have to go on a warpath, a bit of disciplinary action was essential. His responsibilities were growing, as was the number of people under his command. He could no longer rely purely on sentiment and camaraderie to lead.
