Chapter 130: The Team
Chapter 130: The Team
Wei Chang'an made a thoughtful sound, recognizing the move from the illustrated manuals. The plan wasn't without its merits, but the coordination required was complex, and there were too many uncertain factors to consider.
Furthermore, the Makah delegation wasn't foolish. If they were told the Sacred Artifact had been obtained, they would certainly verify it. If it wasn't produced when they demanded it, they would immediately know something was amiss.
However, Wei didn't want to dampen Feng Xiaoqi's enthusiasm. He himself had been in a similar position before, always thinking his ideas were brilliant, only to find the execution more challenging than anticipated. So, he responded diplomatically, "It's worth considering."
Chen Chuan, ever the impartial observer, noticed Feng Xiaoqi's initiative and sought the opinions of the others. Director Lei stated that he didn't have any better ideas.
Wu Han, on the other hand, had a straightforward and somewhat aggressive suggestion. He believed they should capture a member of the delegation and force them to reveal the hiding place of the Makah people.
In truth, if they set aside unnecessary concerns, this approach had a certain chance of success.
As for Wei Dong, he expressed his confusion, stating that he just needed to know who they were dealing with and where they were located.
When it was Wei Chang'an's turn, he stroked his chin and, focusing on the map, said, "There are three major checkpoints along this stretch of the national highway leading to the port. The first one is under the control of Yangzhi City and will undoubtedly conduct rigorous inspections. If I were part of the delegation, I wouldn't choose this route for the exchange.
The last checkpoint is set up by Farview Port, and while inspections may not be as strict as in Yangzhi City, the area is heavily guarded to combat smuggling operations. It's challenging for ordinary people to get close.
Therefore, the most likely location for the exchange is this middle section. At worst, we can divide into teams, with one team monitoring the checkpoint while the others patrol the road before the delegation's departure. We can either search the area repeatedly or discreetly follow the delegation from a distance, which might reveal their tracks."
Chen Chuan contemplated this approach. While it seemed rigid, it had a chance of success due to its simplicity. However, it might also lead to conflict with the delegation.
Director Lei's suggestion to observe the checkpoint was both reasonable and a subtle hint at a potential solution.
Given the significance of the Item, the Makah delegation's mental state before and after obtaining it would undoubtedly differ. Through careful observation, they could make certain judgments.
At the checkpoint, the delegation would stop and exit their vehicles, and they wouldn't be carrying weapons. The team could use their Defense Certificate to gain early access to the checkpoint and conduct a thorough search if they noticed any irregularities. Even if the delegation resisted, the lack of weapons would make it easier to manage.
However, this approach was a high-stakes gamble. Failure to find the Sacred Artifact might have diplomatic repercussions and prevent further searches.
As they were discussing this, a knock sounded at the door.
Chen Chuan walked over and opened it to find Ren Xiaotian standing outside, accompanied by the lively Lin Xiaoti. She waved at him, saying, "Hello, Chen."
Chen Chuan smiled and nodded, then invited Ren Xiaotian in, "Brother Ren, we've been waiting for you. Please come in."
Ren Xiaotian entered, momentarily pausing as he noticed the crowd in the living room, his steps becoming slightly stiff.
Chen Chuan introduced everyone, then returned to his seat, saying, "Brother Ren, your timing is perfect. We're discussing our plans and would love to hear your thoughts." He summarized their previous conversation and concluded, "Brother Ren, what do you think?"
Ren Xiaotian sat down, his small frame remaining rigid, and he didn't remove his sunglasses. "If you want to find those escaped Makah students, there's one target worth considering," he said, producing a notebook that Chen Chuan recognized. "Here," he said, handing it over.
Chen Chuan took the notebook and flipped through it. It contained records of the wilderness leading to the port, an area teeming with armed groups primarily involved in smuggling, illegal immigration, and other illicit activities.
Among them was a more influential group that smuggled illegal drugs, human organs, and weapons into the country, even including experimental bio-implants.
These groups, regardless of size, were typically involved in human trafficking and the illegal trade, often doing dirty work for the powerful.
However, in the past year or two, a new group had emerged, led by Makah people or their mixed-race descendants. They wore green arm patches and had bronze-toned skin, earning them the nickname 'Rusty Gang,' which they eventually adopted.
Given their use of Makah-made weapons, it was clear that even if not directly supported by the Makah government, they had strong ties to it.
After reading the notebook, Chen Chuan formed a judgment. He looked at Ren Xiaotian and said, "So, if the Makah people were to escape Yangzhi City with the Sacred Artifact, the most likely place they would go is the Rusty Gang, who can bypass the highway, are familiar with the wilderness, and have a base there?"
Ren Xiaotian nodded.
Chen Chuan continued, "It's not that simple. This group emerged in the past year or two. Could it be that the Makah government had pre-arranged their presence specifically to facilitate the exchange of the Oak Leaf?"
Considering the Makah people's reverence for the Oak Leaf, Chen Chuan felt this was a strong possibility. He hadn't expected Ren Xiaotian to bring such valuable information, and inviting him to this mission was indeed the right choice.
To confirm their suspicions, they could launch a preemptive raid on the Rusty Gang, without waiting for the delegation's departure date.
Chen Chuan filled the others in on the situation, and after some thought, they agreed that it was highly likely.
Chen Chuan asked, "Brother Ren, do you know where these people are?"
Ren Xiaotian nodded. "I know."
Lin Xiaoti spoke up, "For this, Uncle Master personally went to the wilderness to find out the location of the Rusty Gang. Then he came to your place, Chen."
Chen Chuan turned to Ren Xiaotian and said earnestly, "Thank you, Ren. We owe you one this time."
Ren Xiaotian shook his head. "There's no conclusion yet. No need to jump to decisions."
Chen Chuan agreed, "Yes, I don't know how many people are in the Rusty Gang or what their equipment is like."
Ren Xiaotian walked over and pointed out the location of the Rusty Gang on the map.
It was located about 150 kilometers southeast in an outpost. The location was close to the Ho River, providing easy access to water. It had previously been a gang's base, but was later taken over by the Rusty Gang.
Ren Xiaotian then shared more details. The Rusty Gang had around forty to fifty members, a quarter of whom possessed Makar firearms and homemade firearms. However, a significant portion of them carried bows and arrows, and they had about nine vehicles, two of which were self-modified armored vehicles.
The good news was that the Makar people were a very nature-worshipping ethnicity, and this belief had already permeated their bones. As a result, none of the gang members had any bio-implants.
Ren Xiaotian concluded with a cautious reminder, "If the Makar government is behind this, we should be careful."
Chen Chuan agreed wholeheartedly. The last time he fought the Makar, he was unarmed and had to rely on his bare hands. This time, he intended to be armed.
Even if they were skilled fighters, as long as they couldn't withstand a blade, they would still be cut in two. However, necessary precautions were still needed. He decided to obtain several high-powered assault rifles through Cheng Zitong's connections, just in case.
"We don't have much time," Chen Chuan said decisively. "Since there's a high possibility that the Rusty Gang is hiding fugitives, we should take action as soon as possible." He looked up at the group. "Even if they're not there, it doesn't matter. We'll consider it as eliminating an armed smuggling team."
Wu Han was the first to agree, his face showing disgust. "Exactly! Even if we're wrong, it doesn't matter. We'll consider it as taking down bandits. Those teams in the wilderness, the ones who survive, are all bloodthirsty. Which one doesn't have a bounty on their head?"
Wei Chang'an smiled inwardly, thinking, "Even if there's no bounty, it's fine. After we take them out, we'll just have the Patrol Bureau issue one later."
In a 1919 book, there's a mistake-free version!
Luo Kaiyuan spoke cautiously, "Chen, do we have enough people?"
Wei Chang'an spoke up, "I can call my team. There's about six of them, and they're all absolutely trustworthy."
Wei Chang'an's team consisted of old friends from Wu Yi Academy, as well as some close friends. Almost all of them were from Patrol Bureau families, and their relatives, friends, and elders were all known to each other. They were all trustworthy.
Feng Xiaoqi added, "We also need enough firearms and vehicles."
There were no objections. Once they were in the wilderness, who would know who was using what? As long as someone in the team had a weapon permit, it was fine.
Wei Chang'an assured them, "I can get us a batch of firearms and borrow some stab-proof vests. This will increase our chances." Although stab-proof vests didn't offer much protection against firearms, they provided some defense against cold weapons and arrows.
Chen Chuan asked, "Wei, is that okay?"
Wei Chang'an gave him a reassuring look. "Don't worry, Chen. I have a weapon permit. Getting a batch of decommissioned firearms from the Patrol Bureau is easy."
Chen Chuan hesitated, "Can you get smoke grenades?"
He had seen the resistance organization throw smoke grenades in the square and thought they would be useful for their team, which had excellent individual skills but lacked teamwork.
Wei Chang'an said, "I'll try. It shouldn't be a problem. Even if it doesn't work out, I can find someone in the bureau to help."
Chen Chuan agreed, "Okay, let me know how many you need, Wei."
Wei Chang'an readily agreed, "Sure!" He could front the money if needed. After all, he owed Chen Chuan a favor. But he also understood that as a team, it was better to settle financial matters beforehand.
Lin Xiaoti walked up to Chen Chuan and tugged at his arm. "Chen, I have something to tell you."
Chen Chuan signaled to the group and followed her to the side. "What is it?"
Lin Xiaoti handed him a list and whispered, "This is what the teacher asked me to give you. She said you might need it for this assigned task."
Chen Chuan took the list and saw that it was a vehicle rental agreement. The payment had already been made, and all he needed to do was make a call in advance.
He realized that this was He Nan returning the favor, standing in Director Lei's shoes. He thought about it and decided not to refuse.
In fact, he had already planned for the firearms and vehicles and coordinated them in advance. He hadn't expected that he wouldn't need to worry about it anymore.
"Thank the teacher for me," he said.
"Sure, Chen," Lin Xiaoti said, raising her hand playfully. "I'll definitely bring it."
Chen Chuan returned to the group and discussed further. After confirming that there were no objections, he said, "Then let's set the time for the day after tomorrow. Everyone, prepare tomorrow, and we'll depart at one o'clock the day after tomorrow. We'll try to finish it in one day."
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(End of Chapter)
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