Chapter 201: Rendezvous
Chapter 201: Rendezvous
In the operations meeting room, everyone followed the direction of Cao's finger.
Zangshan.
Zangshan?
Most people initially wore puzzled expressions. Running towards the mountains? That was a dead zone, as behind Zangshan lay an endless wasteland.
But they soon realized the truth. From the perspective of Mo Lan Corporation's current evacuation route, retreating into the wasteland seemed like the most viable option.
"But if that's the case, how will they cross the wasteland? How will they solve the issue of logistics and supplies?" asked one of the officials present.
Zangshan was almost entirely shielded from the north of Yangzhi, with no roads because there was no need for construction. Traveling by vehicle through that area was nearly impossible.
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-invested Blood Ink Guard, logistics team, R&D team, management team, and more—these were Mo Lan Corporation's true resources and essence, their capital for a comeback. They wouldn't abandon them.
With such a large group entering the wasteland, logistics and supplies would be a significant 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 in advance. Perhaps they set up supply stations in the wasteland beforehand, or maybe they even constructed underground bases..."
This made sense, but many people weren't convinced. It was possible, and highly likely, that there were supply stations in the wasteland.
However, constructing underground bases in the wasteland was overestimating Mo Lan Corporation. It was nearly useless, and transporting supplies even a short distance was a huge challenge. It would be impossible to do so without attracting attention over the years.
At this moment, several officials from the Government Hall whispered to each other, and one of them spoke up, raising a question that many were concerned about: "Regarding Mo Lan Corporation's evacuation, Commissioner Cao, do you plan to take action within the city or conduct a siege outside?"
The difference between acting within the city or outside was significant.
If it happened within the city, these Yangzhi City government officials wouldn't want to see damage to citizens' property and safety. Yangzhi City was like their political chessboard, and too much loss would not be a positive factor for them.
Commissioner 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, these past few days, they had been trying to persuade Commissioner Cao not to start a battle within the city but instead force Mo Lan Corporation's people to leave, hinting at offering him benefits and support.
Now, hearing this confirmation, they believed their efforts had paid off. They would support Commissioner Cao in the upcoming operation and provide the deserved rewards.
Not everyone in the room agreed with this plan, but no one spoke up. Those who cared about their reputation wouldn't disregard civilian deaths and bring the battlefield into the city. Those who didn't care had already communicated their intentions before the meeting began.
Seeing no further questions, Commissioner Cao immediately started making calls, arranging personnel to intercept the convoy heading towards the National Highway. To assure Mo Lan Corporation's safe evacuation, he dispatched a substantial force, openly committing most of his available resources.
After making all the arrangements, he returned to the operations meeting room.
From this point on, it was a matter of waiting. It was believed that after Mo Lan Corporation received news of their convoy being ambushed and assessed the scale of the attack, they would initiate their plan.
However, in the following hours, there was no movement from the Mo Lan Corporation Tower. Everyone could only wait.
Some began to doubt Commissioner Cao's judgment, but most remained confident.
As news trickled in, it became clear that the initial convoy Mo Lan sent out, while having decent combat capabilities, was not their primary force. Notably, not a single member of the Blood Ink Guard was present.
Mo Lan Corporation must have something bigger planned; it just hadn't been revealed yet.
At this moment, someone hurried in with a translated telegram, "Commissioner Cao, urgent telegram!"
Commissioner Cao took the telegram and glanced at the crowd, "Our surveillance station has discovered a large number of Mo Lan Corporation personnel near the Heihe River, in the vicinity of the Old Town Li Family Warehouse."
"What?"
The crowd was startled, and someone reacted quickly, "The river?"
Commissioner Cao explained, "Yes, the risk of traveling by land is high, but Mo Lan Corporation can enter through the underground waterways. From their current position, they are heading towards Zangshan."
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 Zangshan, confirming the accuracy of Commissioner Cao's judgment.
However, judging by the distance, these people would soon enter Zangshan and, before long, charge into the wasteland.
Someone in the room asked, "Commissioner Cao, since you anticipated this, are there preparations at Zangshan?"
Commissioner Cao slowly replied, "A gang has been occupying Zangshan for a long time. I've provided them with a batch of weapons, and they will use the fortresses and fortifications from the Great Expansion Era to block Mo Lan Corporation. We just need to follow and catch up with them."
"He turned to the group and said, 'I hope all departments will cooperate to the fullest extent.'
The Iron Chain Gang?
Realization dawned on the crowd, but many furrowed their brows. The Iron Chain Gang was just a gang, not an army. Even with support, it seemed unlikely they could stop the Mo Lan Corporation. If Specialist Cao had anticipated that the corporation would approach from downstream, it would have been more reliable to station some people there to intercept them.
But now that it had been said, they had no choice but to follow the original plan.
Everyone from the various departments stood up, some making phone calls, others sending telegrams. The Patrol Bureau Headquarters echoed with sharp whistle sounds, military boots stomping, and transport vehicles revving. A large number of patrol officers began to assemble.
Downstream of the Heihe River, five directors emerged from the water with the help of company staff who had arrived early. They removed the specialized underwater diving membranes wrapped around their bodies.
Surrounding them were over two hundred Mo Lan Guards, not the ninety indicated by the intelligence report. Each guard wore thick, dark red protective uniforms, with goggles covering their eyes and fully armed. In addition to their firearms, most of them carried a Black Blade Long Sword on their backs.
On their faces was a faintly glowing Mo Lan implant makeup, like a deep-set mark, covering their entire faces. Each guard stood expressionless, even their posture was identical, as if they were cast from the same mold.
The five directors felt at ease with these guards because every Mo Lan Guard underwent a brainwashing process upon joining, ensuring absolute loyalty. They would not hesitate to give their lives for the corporation.
At this moment, an intelligence officer approached and reported, 'Directors, we've reached Zangshan. It seems the Iron Chain Gang members have already set up camp there.'
The five directors exchanged glances upon hearing this news.
'They've indeed prepared. They deliberately let us go to use the old fortifications in the mountains to block us, then pursue us from behind, trapping us here.'
'Simple and effective, but they seem to have overlooked the technological gap.'
'Perhaps they provided technical support to the Iron Chain Gang members as well?'
'As expected. Send a telegram to activate all moles within the Iron Chain Gang. Have the Blood Ink Guard cooperate with the combat units and give them one hour to eliminate everyone up there.'
As the order was relayed, boxes containing combat units opened one by one, and high-energy nutrients were injected. Two hundred and fifty combat mantises leaped out, their compound eyes cold and merciless.
Under the guidance of a technician's hand signals, the mantises spread their wings and leaped into the mountains.
Inside the Mo Lan Corporation Tower, Manager Luo stood in the empty conference hall, with a radio and a telegraph operator wearing headphones nearby, seemingly waiting for something.
Luo glanced at his watch and waited until the second hand reached the 2:00 mark. The telegraph operator seemed to hear something and quickly translated a string of numbers.
Manager Luo strode over, took the numbers, and swiftly pulled out a safe. After dialing the last digit, the 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's control over its personnel involved brainwashing and the use of various substances. The five directors, before evacuating, had tasked him with holding down the tower, potentially facing an attack. However, they couldn't leave him without hope, so they provided him with a previously confirmed antidote.
At this point, even if he revealed the truth or chose to evacuate, it didn't matter. The company directors had already reached their intended destination.
Now, it was time for him to consider his own future.
He immediately instructed the telegraph operator to send a message on a designated frequency: 'I will evacuate through the company's underground sewers, taking with me the collected intelligence and gold tickets as promised.'
Soon, a reply came: 'I will send someone to meet you. I will give you a new identity, and once you arrive, I'll arrange a position for you locally. After a year or two, I'll transfer you back to work with me.'
'Agreed.'
'Where shall we meet?'
'Wujia Town, Old Factory Dock Number Two, at 4:00.'
'I'll be there waiting. My people will arrive shortly.'
In the operations room of the Patrol Bureau Headquarters, orders were being dispatched, and everything was bustling yet organized. At this moment, an officer approached Specialist Cao and whispered something before handing him a piece of paper.
A cold glint appeared in Cao's eyes as he took the note. He asked a colleague to take over his duties and stepped into an adjacent rest area, instructing the duty officer, 'Go get Chen Xuanyuan.'
A few minutes later, Chen Chuan entered the room, carrying a Xuejun Blade. Without waiting for greetings, Specialist Cao spoke sternly, 'Chen Xuanyuan, I need you to do something immediately. Go to Wujia Town's Old Factory Dock and find the Mo Lan Corporation's Action Director, Luo Qi. Eliminate him and bring back everything he carries.'
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
