Gao Yang had just arrived in Damascus when the Syrian authorities granted him the rank of major to facilitate his work, while at that time, Colonel Kuteli occupied the higher rank.
Then, as Gao Yang continued to achieve victories and the Syrian authorities had no other way to reward him, Gao Yang's rank kept being promoted — first to lieutenant colonel, and then in just a few days he became a colonel, on par with Kuteli who held the highest rank at the airport. It did not take long at that rank though, as Gao Yang was soon promoted to brigadier general.
This is why Gao Yang was about to leave; otherwise, if it had been a Syrian officer being promoted so rapidly before Kuteli, it would have surely stirred some thoughts in Kuteli's mind.
But now, Kuteli showed no signs of dissatisfaction and after exchanging a few pleasantries with Gao Yang, he insisted that Gao Yang stand in the forefront of the greeting line, thus setting his position there.
