Chapter 201: Rendezvous
Chapter 201: Rendezvous
In the operations conference room, everyone followed the direction indicated by Agent Cao's finger.
Zhangshan.
Zhangshan?
Most people initially showed confusion, wondering why they would head towards the mountains. That area was a dead zone, as behind Zhangshan lay the vast and desolate wilderness.
But they soon realized their mistake. No, from the current direction available for Mo Lan Corporation's evacuation, retreating into the wilderness was indeed the most likely escape route.
"But if that's the case, how will they cross the wilderness? How will they solve the issue of logistics and supplies?" one of the officials present raised a question.
Zhangshan almost blocked the entire northern region of Yangzhi, and there were no roads there, as there was no need for construction. It was nearly impossible to travel by car in that area.
Mo Lan Corporation's evacuation wasn't just a matter of one or two people; there would definitely be a large number of company personnel accompanying them. For example, the heavily funded Blood Ink Guard Squad, logistics team, technical research and development team, management team, and so on. These were Mo Lan Corporation's true resources and essence, their capital for a comeback. They wouldn't abandon them.)
Such a large number of people entering the wilderness would face a significant logistics challenge.
Someone added a reasonable guess: "Mo Lan Corporation has been deeply rooted in Yangzhi for so many years. They must have prepared an escape route long ago. Perhaps they set up supply stations in the wilderness in advance, and it's even possible that they built underground bases in the wilderness..."
This statement made sense, but many people weren't convinced. While it was possible to have supply stations in the wilderness, and the likelihood was indeed high, the idea of constructing underground bases there was an overestimation of Mo Lan Corporation's capabilities. Setting them up nearby would be useless, and transporting supplies from a distance would be a significant challenge. It was impossible to do so without attracting attention over the years.
At this moment, several officials from the Government Hall whispered among themselves, and one of them spoke up, raising a question that many were concerned about: "Regarding Mo Lan Corporation's evacuation, Agent Cao, do you plan to take action within the city or conduct a siege outside the city?"
The difference between taking action within the city and outside it was significant.
If it were within the city, these officials from the Yangzhi City Government Hall would certainly not be pleased. It wasn't out of concern for the citizens' property and safety, but because Yangzhi City was part of their political territory. Significant losses would not be a positive factor for them.
Agent Cao looked at them and gave a confident reply.
"This siege operation will take place outside the city."
The officials from the Yangzhi City Government Hall breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, they had been trying to persuade Agent Cao not to engage in battle within the city in recent days. Instead, they wanted to pressure Mo Lan Corporation's people to leave and hinted at offering him benefits and various forms of support.
Hearing this affirmative response, they believed their efforts had been effective. Consequently, they would support Agent Cao in the upcoming actions and provide the appropriate rewards.
Not everyone in the room agreed with this plan, but no one voiced their objections. Those who cared about their reputation would not suggest having the battlefield within the city, as it would not reflect well on them. Those who didn't mind such concerns had already communicated their intentions before the meeting began.
Seeing that no one else had questions, Agent Cao immediately started making calls, arranging for personnel to intercept the convoy heading towards National Avenue. To ensure Mo Lan Corporation's safe evacuation, he also deployed a substantial force, essentially committing most of his available resources.
After making all the arrangements, he returned to the operations conference room.
The next step was simply to wait. It was believed that upon receiving news of the convoy being besieged and confirming the scale of the attack, Mo Lan Corporation would start taking action.
However, in the following hours, there was no activity at the Mo Lan Corporation Tower. Everyone could only sit and wait.
Some people began to doubt Agent Cao's judgment, but most remained confident.
According to the incoming reports, the convoy Mo Lan initially dispatched was well-armed, with many elite members from the External Action Division. However, it was unlikely to be their main force, especially since none of the Blood Ink Guard Squad members were present.
Mo Lan Corporation must have something big planned; it's just that it hadn't been seen yet.
At this moment, someone hurried over with a translated telegram, "Agent Cao, urgent telegram!"
Agent Cao took it and glanced at it, then looked up at the crowd, "Our surveillance stations have detected a large number of Mo Lan Corporation personnel near the old town of Li Family Warehouse on the lower reaches of the Heihe River."
"What?"
The crowd was startled, and someone reacted quickly, "The river?"
Agent Cao said, "Yes, the risk of traveling by land is high, but Mo Lan Corporation can choose to enter the river through the underground sewer system. From their current location, they are heading towards Zhangshan."
Everyone looked up at the map hanging on the wall. From the direction of Mo Lan Corporation's personnel, they were already very close to Zhangshan, indicating that Agent Cao's judgment was accurate.
However, judging by the distance, these people would soon enter Zhangshan and could quickly rush into the wilderness.
Someone from the seats asked, "Agent Cao, since you anticipated this, have you made arrangements at Zhangshan?"
Agent Cao slowly replied, "A gang has been occupying Zhangshan for a long time. I have provided them with weapons, and they will use the fortifications left over from the Great Expansion Era to block Mo Lan Corporation for us. Our people just need to follow and catch up with them."
He turned to the crowd and said, "I hope all departments will cooperate as much as possible."
The Iron Chain Gang?
The crowd suddenly understood, but many frowned. The Iron Chain Gang was just a gang, not an army, and even with support, it didn't seem capable of stopping the Mo Lan Corporation. If Agent Cao had anticipated the Mo Lan Corporation's move along the river, it would have been more reliable to station some people there in advance to block them.
But since it had been said, they had to follow the pre-arranged plan.
Everyone from the various departments stood up, some making phone calls, others sending telegrams. Sharp whistles sounded in the headquarters of the Patrol Bureau, accompanied by the clatter of boots and the rumble of troop carriers, as a large number of patrol officers began to assemble.
In a certain section downstream of the Heihe River, five directors emerged from the water. With the help of company employees who had disembarked earlier, they peeled off the specialized underwater swimming outer membranes from their bodies.
Surrounding them were over two hundred Mo Lan Guards, not the ninety indicated by the intelligence, each clad in thick, crimson protective uniforms, wearing protective goggles, and fully armed. In addition to the firearms they carried, most had a black-bladed longsword strapped to their backs.
On their faces was a faintly glowing Mo Lan implant, like a deep-embedded mark covering their entire faces. Each of them was expressionless, even their stance was identical, as if they were cast from the same mold.
The five directors trusted them because every Mo Lan Guard member underwent a brainwashing process upon joining, ensuring absolute loyalty. They would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the directors.
An intelligence officer approached and reported, "Directors, just ahead is Zhangshan Mountain, where the Iron Chain Gang seems to have made preparations."
The five directors exchanged glances upon hearing this.
"They've indeed made arrangements here. They deliberately let us out, intending to use the old fortifications in the mountains to block us, and then pursue us from behind, surrounding and annihilating us here."
"Simple and effective, but they seem to have overlooked the technological gap."
"Perhaps they've also provided technical support to the Iron Chain Gang?"
"As expected. Send a telegram and activate all the embedded agents within the Iron Chain Gang. Order the Blood Ink Guards to cooperate with the combat weapons and eliminate everyone there within an hour."
As the order was conveyed, boxes containing combat weapons were opened, and with the injection of high-energy nutrients, two hundred and fifty battle mantises leaped out, their compound eyes flashing cold and merciless.
Under the direction of a technician's hand signals, the mantises spread their wings and jumped and flew towards the mountains.
Inside the Mo Lan Corporation Tower, Director Luo stood in the empty conference hall, with a radio and a telegraph operator wearing headphones sitting nearby, seemingly waiting for something.
He glanced at his watch, and when the second hand reached the two o'clock position, the telegraph operator seemed to hear something and quickly translated a series of numbers.
Director Luo quickly walked over, took the numbers, and then dragged out a safe. After dialing the last number, a thick safe door opened with a click. He reached in and took out a syringe of medication, quickly injecting it into his heart.
Soon, his face relaxed.
The Mo Lan Corporation controlled its personnel through brainwashing and various drugs. Before the five directors evacuated, they had tasked Director Luo with defending the tower and holding off any potential attacks. However, they couldn't leave him without hope, so they left behind the clarification medication that had been confirmed in person beforehand.
At this point, even if he revealed the truth or chose to evacuate, it didn't matter, as the company directors had already reached their destination.
Now, it was time for Director Luo to consider his own future.
He immediately instructed the telegraph operator to send a message on a designated frequency: "I'm about to evacuate through the company's underground sewers, and I'll bring with me the materials I've collected over the years. I've also prepared gold tickets. I hope you'll keep your promise."
Soon, a reply came: "I'll send someone to meet you. I'll provide you with a new identity. After you come over, I'll first arrange a position for you in the local department. After a year or two, I'll transfer you back to work with me."
"Agreed."
"Where will we meet?"
"Wujia Town, Old Factory No.2 Cargo Pier, at four o'clock."
"I'll wait there. My people will arrive shortly after."
In the Operations Conference Room of the Patrol Headquarters, as orders were dispatched, everything was arranged efficiently. An officer approached Agent Cao and whispered something before handing him a note.
Agent Cao put away the note and asked someone nearby to take over his work temporarily. He then stepped into a nearby rest area and instructed the on-duty personnel, "Go and call Chen XUEYUAN."
A few minutes later, Chen Chuan entered the room with a Snow Lady Sword. Without waiting for him to greet, Agent Cao spoke sternly, "Chen XUEYUAN, I need you to do something immediately. Go to Wujia Town's Old Factory Pier, find and deal with Luo Qi, the head of the Mo Lan Company's Action Division, and bring back everything he's carrying."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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