The next morning, Duan arrives at the General's house to find that the General has refused to pay the ransom demanded for the release of the kidnapped commander. Duan tells the General that he can get the money, but the General must take him to see the General so that they can discuss the details of the situation further. He tells Duan to ask the reporter of the Shen newspaper for help, but Duan says that he does not care about the hostage. He says that people like him are just fighting for their own interests. Duanc says that if he insists on giving the money to the General, he is his friend. The General says that Duan is too good at judging things with "imagination righteousness and justice" and that he is always giving in to consequences when they actually affect him.