Chapter 84: The Siege
Chapter 84: The Siege
Han Guo, accompanied by Chen Chuan and five other trainees, exited the grand hall and boarded an armed transport vehicle that was waiting outside. As they drove off, Chen Chuan and the others peered through the narrow sliding windows, catching a glimpse of the outside world. He also noticed a small radio set inside the vehicle.
Han Guo distributed a set of documents to each trainee, explaining, "These are the specific details about the robbers, but they're only from before their imprisonment. Fang Dawei and his gang raided Vice President Fang's residence and are suspected of abducting his seven-year-old son."
A male trainee with the surname Wu, without looking up from the documents he was impatiently flipping through, asked, "What's their motive? It's not clear from these papers."
Han Guo glanced at him and replied, "Vice President Fang had previously confiscated a batch of prohibited drugs, and it's suspected that he moved a portion of them to his residence. However, no traces of these drugs were found in his home. It's likely that he had already sold them off. The Patrol Bureau believes that the robbers kidnapped the Vice President's son to force an exchange for the prohibited drugs or to meet some other condition."
The female trainee interjected, "If that's the case, then Vice President Fang's son should be safe for now, right?"
Han Guo responded calmly, "That's assuming things unfold as predicted.
By the time I came to see you, the shootout at the bank had already ended, resulting in numerous casualties for the Patrol Bureau. These two groups have joined forces and are retreating towards the city center, but the Patrol Bureau has been tailing them. They've now retreated and taken up a defensive position in one location."
She unfolded a map in front of the group, pointing to a spot, "According to the latest information, they should be here." Her finger landed on Caijiashai.
At that moment, Guan Yuming, the deputy director of the Yangzhi City Patrol Bureau and temporary commander, stood in a temporary command post on high ground, gazing at the map on the wall. His eyes were fixed on the location of Caijiashai.
A messenger entered and saluted, reporting, "Sir, the temporary telephone line has been set up. We've received a message from the city that the supporting trainees from Wu Yi Academy are on their way, and... Vice President Fang's wife has also arrived here."
"Understood," Guan Yuming acknowledged.
He turned away from the map and stepped out of the command post, binoculars in hand, observing the distant village. People could be seen moving about within. "Are all our forces in position?" he asked.
His deputy quickly opened a folder and began, "Apart from the headquarters in Changbao District, teams from Xigang, Baofeng, Shouguan, Dongbao, Quanbei, and Daping Districts are all here, led by their respective captains..."
"No need to recite them all," Guan Yuming interrupted. "Just tell them I said to follow my orders without fail. I don't want any slip-ups."
"Yes, sir!"
Guan Yuming surveyed the scene before him. The village structures were spread out in an east-west direction, higher in the west and lower in the east. To the north was a hill, and to the east, a stream flowed. At the southwest entrance of the village, a small hillock dotted with elm trees and shrubs stood, and the village entrance was an upward-sloping path. A donkey cart lay overturned, its donkey lying beside it.
As he studied the scene, Guan Yuming couldn't shake the feeling that the small hillock at the village entrance seemed out of place. "Have the mortars, machine guns, smoke grenades, and hand grenades I requested arrived?" he asked.
"Not yet, sir," his deputy replied. "The Government Hall is holding up the approval process."
Guan Yuming was displeased. "Forget the mortars and machine guns, but even the hand grenades and smoke grenades are being withheld? Never mind, we'll manage without them.
"Send orders for Yu Xiaoyan to guard the eastern area near the stream, and for Sun Quezi to set up the radio station. Have Wei Laohu and Xiao Niangniang take their teams around the hillock, but tell Wei Laohu to hold his position for now. There's likely someone there. Once the signal is given, they can move in."
"Yes, sir!"
The messenger quickly jotted down the orders and rushed out.
After about twenty minutes, the messenger returned with an update. "Sir, all teams are in position. Captain Yu reports that a group of villagers has blocked the rear and seems to have engaged in a firefight with the robbers."
Guan Yuming's eyes narrowed. He knew this situation was more complex than it seemed. "Tell Yu to disarm and detain those villagers for now," he instructed.
The messenger replied, "Captain Yu reports that the villagers are using old weapons from the Great Expansion Era, including hunting bows and arrows. They're from nearby villages and have family ties with the robbers, giving them an advantage in numbers and local knowledge."
Guan Yuming furrowed his brow, sensing the complexity of the situation. "Tell Yu to disarm and detain the villagers for now," he ordered.
"At this moment, he would never permit the existence of another armed force nearby. However, he didn't have the mind to pursue this matter now. He'd deal with it after handling Fang Dawi's group.
The messenger soon returned with a report, "Commissioner, Captain Yu said that the villagers are very cooperative. They've surrendered all their weapons."
Guan Yuming nodded, "Good, send out the signal."
"Yes, sir!"
In a short while, a signal was sent out. Almost simultaneously, gunshots rang out from several directions in Caijiashai. The personnel dispatched by the Commission Company also began to rush towards the village.
There were nearly twenty of them, running for a while and stopping for a while, taking a winding route. They quickly approached the village entrance, and the front few sped up, soon charging into the village.
Seeing their success, the rest followed suit. However, just at that moment, a burst of fire and the sound of bullets emerged from the low hill. Those who had reached the gentle slope were knocked down one by one, some even torn into several pieces.
Guan Yuming's face remained calm. In a tranquil tone, he said, "The Liting machine gun is indeed a formidable weapon. Someone is supporting them."
Through his telescope, he saw that the Commission Company personnel who had charged into the village couldn't retreat. They had no choice but to push forward. But a burly man emerged from the village, punching one of them to the ground. There was also a very fast, dark shadow crawling on the ground. Whenever it passed by a Commission Company member, they would silently fall to the ground.
In just over ten seconds, all those who had rushed in went silent.
Meanwhile, intense gunfire erupted from behind the low hill. After about half a bell, the machine gun fell completely silent.
The messenger soon entered, "Report: Captain Wei reports that they've occupied the low hill, killed two armed robbers, and one fled into the village. One damaged Liting machine gun and several rounds of ammunition were seized."
Guan Yuming hummed in response, only to regret that the low hill wasn't as high as the village. If they had occupied it, they could have had the advantage of high ground and directly fired into the village.
"Don't stop me. I want to talk to your commissioner."
Just then, a woman under thirty, with wavy long hair, delicate curved eyebrows, wearing exquisite earrings, and dressed in an emerald green modified robe, rushed in. Upon seeing Guan Yuming, she started crying, saying, "Commissioner Guan, please, save my child, save my child!"
The deputy said, "Commissioner Guan, this is Mrs. Fang."
Guan Yuming looked at her and said, "Mrs. Fang, we will ensure his safety."
"But, I just saw you shooting. Can't we negotiate? Can't we tell the robbers that as long as the child is safe, I'm willing to give them any amount of money..."
Guan Yuming said, "Mrs. Fang, we have our considerations. We'll take care of it." He then instructed the messenger at the door, "Take Mrs. Fang downstairs to rest."
"No, I won't go anywhere. I'll stay here!" Mrs. Fang refused to leave, and due to her status, the messengers couldn't force her. They could only try to persuade her.
At this moment, the phone rang. The deputy answered it and said to Guan Yuming, "Commissioner Guan, it's the Commissioner's call."
Guan Yuming took the call, "Hello, this is Guan Yuming."
"How's the situation?"
"We've surrounded Caijiashai."
"Don't push them too hard. You can loosen up a bit. The City Hall is very concerned about this matter. They even got a call from above for me. Remember, you can ignore the others, but you must ensure the safety of Councilor Fang's child at all costs."
Guan Yuming remained silent for a moment, then said, "Understood."
After hanging up, he turned to his deputy, "Send a message. Tell Yu Xiaoyan to make way, and send someone to negotiate. If they agree to release the child, we can discuss the terms."
After about seven or eight minutes, the messenger returned, "Report, Commissioner. They sent someone to talk. They demand a large quantity of anti-metamorphosis drugs, at least twenty boxes, along with 50,000 Jianyuan currency and three vehicles."
"I'll give it all, I'll give it all, as long as they release the child," Guan Yuming said, cutting off Mrs. Fang's anxious plea.
Guan Yuming thought for a moment, then said, "Tell them we can provide the items, but we must first confirm the safety of Councilor Fang's child."
The messenger saluted and left to convey the message.
After a few minutes, the messenger returned, "The robbers said we can send someone to check on the child, but we must bring the drugs first. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss."
As Guan Yuming was considering this, someone entered and spoke to the deputy, who then said, "Commissioner, the Wu Yi team has arrived."
Guan Yuming looked up and said, "Perfect timing!" He instructed his deputy, "Go and invite them in. I have something to discuss."
...
(End of Chapter)
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