The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 723 New Plan Adjustment!!!

Urgent situation!
Liu Xiaotao called Zhang Jincheng aside and said to him, "Xiao Zhou's condition is extremely dangerous; he must be sent to China for emergency treatment immediately."

“I understand!” Zhang Jin nodded heavily, turned around and called Yan Kan over, “Yan, where can we find a flat, open place where we can land a helicopter?”

Yan Kan considered for a moment and then asked, "How big of a place do you need?"

Liu Xiaotao said anxiously, "It has to be at least the size of two basketball courts, and it can't be near the mountains."

"There's a place to go about two or three kilometers away, along the riverbank."

Liu Xiaotao said with some concern, "Isn't it too close to Awa Mountain Village?"

"We can't worry about that now, saving lives is the priority." Zhang Jincheng then said to Yan Kan, "Lead the way, let's hurry over there."

Then he said to Zhuang Yan, "You should immediately call the command center and request that a helicopter be sent to provide support."

Liu Xiaotao then stopped Li Ming and Lu Da and said to them, "You two lie in ambush in the woods and keep a close eye on the movements of Awa Mountain Village. If the enemy chases us out of the mountain gate, notify us immediately."

The two nodded and turned to leave.

Although Migo is currently preoccupied with his own problems, the place Yankan mentioned is too close to Awa Mountain Village and must be guarded against.

Wang Tao carried his unconscious comrade Xiao Zhou on his back, with two Kokang veterans helping to support him. Everyone followed Yan Kan and ran towards the river.

The group walked through the dense jungle, the dry branches and fallen leaves under their feet making a rapid cracking sound.

Yan Kan, wielding a machete, cleared a path ahead, the sharp blade slicing through the vines blocking the way, creating a lifeline for the team.

Wang Tao's military uniform was already soaked with sweat, but he gritted his teeth and held Xiao Zhou's body firmly with both arms, afraid that the bumps would aggravate his comrade's injuries.

The faint sound of the river could be heard in the distance, and the air was filled with damp moisture.

Liu Xiaotao checked on Xiao Zhou's condition from time to time, noticing his pale lips trembling slightly. "Hang in there, Xiao Zhou!" he whispered encouragingly.

Two Kokang veterans took turns replacing Wang Tao, carrying Xiao Zhou on their backs and racing against time with the team.

Just one hour later, a helicopter sent by the headquarters landed steadily on the ground with ground guidance.

Xiao Zhou was already suffering from an allergic reaction, so everyone carried him onto the helicopter cabin. The military doctors who were on board immediately began emergency treatment, and then the helicopter flew away.

As the helicopter gradually disappeared into the distant horizon, Liu Xiaotao finally breathed a sigh of relief, and his tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

He turned to Zhang Jincheng and said, "At least we got Xiao Zhou away in time. I hope he can pull through this."

Zhang Jin nodded heavily, having just seriously wounded another comrade, but his eyes still scanned his surroundings warily: "Now is not the time to relax, Migo's men could catch up at any moment." He took out his binoculars and carefully observed the direction of Awa Mountain Village.

Just then, Li Ming ran quickly from the woods and reported in a low voice, "Captain, there's movement from the mountain stronghold. Dozens of men, each several meters tall, are moving in our direction!"

Looking at his exhausted assault team, Liu Xiaotao knew the mission was complete and there was no need to continue engaging the enemy. He immediately ordered, "Everyone, take cover! Yankan, is there anywhere nearby where we can hide?"

Yan Kan thought for a moment and said, "There is a cave two kilometers east of here. The entrance is covered by vines, so it is difficult for outsiders to find it."

"Alright, move immediately!" Zhang Jincheng decisively ordered. "Zhuang Yan, Yan Kan, you two take two veterans and lead the way. Li Ming and Lu Da will cover the rear, and make sure to clear any traces."

The commando team sprang into action, with everyone remaining on high alert.

Zhuang Yan walked at the front, carrying a rifle, his sharp eyes constantly scanning the surrounding dense forest.

Behind them, Ruda skillfully used a branch to sweep away the footprints left by the group.

As they arrived at the cave entrance, the faint shouts of pursuers could be heard in the distance.

Yan Kan gently parted the drooping vines, gesturing for everyone to enter quickly.

The cave was damp and cool, with a faint smell of limestone in the air.

Liu Xiaotao was the last to enter the cave. He gently put down the vines, turned around and said to the others, "Keep quiet and turn off all communication devices. From now on, we are in radio silence."

In the darkness, only the faint sound of each other's breathing could be heard.

Zhang Jin fumbled in his backpack and took out night vision goggles. After putting them on, his vision became clear immediately.

He lowered his voice and said, "This cave is very deep. Let's go in a bit further to avoid them discovering the entrance."

The group moved slowly forward in the darkness, with Yan Kan at the front, guiding the way based on his memory.

Water droplets occasionally fell from the cave walls, making a crisp sound in the silence.

Zhuang Yan suddenly stopped and made a warning gesture: "There's a fork in the road ahead."

Liu Xiaotao went closer to take a look and found that the passage on the left was relatively narrow, while the passage on the right was much wider.

He pondered for a moment and said softly, "Go to the right. There's more space there, and it'll be easier to deal with any situation that might arise."

Just then, Lu Da suddenly pricked up his ears: "Listen!" In the distance, he could faintly hear messy footsteps and barking dogs. The pursuers had obviously discovered the clues they had left behind.

Li Ming quickly checked the magazine and whispered, "They're catching up, less than two hundred meters away."

Zhang Jin made a decisive decision: "Everyone to your combat positions! Wang Tao and Li Ming, guard the left passage. Lu Da and I will take the right. Lao Liu, you lead the others to continue retreating inwards."

Just as Liu Xiaotao was about to object, Zhang Jincheng shoved the night vision goggles into his hand: "Stop arguing, this is an order!" Liu Xiaotao gritted his teeth and led Yan Kan and the Kokang veterans quickly deeper into the cave.

In the darkness, Zhang Jincheng and Lu Da stood back to back, their guns pointed in the direction they had come from.

The flashlight beams in the distance grew closer, and the faint sounds of Migo's men conversing in the local language could be heard.

Lu Da's finger rested lightly on the trigger, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the darkness, followed by a barrage of gunfire.

Bullets struck the rock face, sending sparks flying. Zhang Jin shouted, "Fire!" Two automatic rifles simultaneously unleashed their fire, turning the narrow passage into a death corridor.
Intense gunfire echoed through the narrow cave, and the sparks from bullets hitting the rock walls were particularly glaring in the darkness.

Zhang Jin said that in the brief light, he saw three enemies fall to the ground, but more shadowy figures were surging in from the end of the passage.

"Reload!" Lu Da roared, quickly retreating behind cover.

Zhang Jin immediately filled the gap, accurately suppressing the enemy's charge with pinpoint fire.

A stray bullet grazed his shoulder, tearing a hole in his uniform, but he didn't budge and continued pulling the trigger.

At the same time, the sound of gunfire could be heard from the left passage.

Wang Tao and Li Ming used natural stone pillars to build a defensive line, pinning the enemy who were trying to encircle them to their feet.

Li Ming suddenly groaned as a stray bullet grazed his right leg, causing him to fall to his knees. However, he continued firing until he emptied the last magazine.

Deep inside the cave, Liu Xiaotao heard the gunfire suddenly intensify and immediately stopped. "They can't hold out!" He clenched his fist and turned to the rock face: "Are there any other exits from this cave?"

Yan Kan wiped the sweat from his forehead: "There's an underground river if you turn right. Follow the current to the back mountain, but the water is very deep."

"There's no time!" Liu Xiaotao decisively ordered, "Zhuang Yanyan and Kan, you take the wounded and leave first. The rest of you come back with me to provide backup!"

……

After a bloody battle, the assault team finally returned to their base in the "Old Miao Village" that afternoon.

Although the battle was won, it came at a heavy cost in casualties. One member of the "Sharp Sword Commando" was seriously wounded, and several others were slightly injured.

In addition, six of the carefully trained Kokang veterans were killed, and more than a dozen were injured, some seriously and some lightly.

It can be said that the "Old Miao Village" also paid a heavy price in this battle.

War always brings casualties. Although everyone understands this, it is still very painful to see comrades who have been with us day and night sacrificed or seriously wounded.

The next day, Zhang Jin stayed in his room for the entire day and didn't come out.

Everyone guessed he was thinking about his next move, so no one bothered him, except for A-Gui who brought him food twice. In the evening, Zhang Jincheng came down from the stilted house and loudly said to Liu Xiaotao, "Old Liu, how about you accompany me for a walk?"

Liu Xiaotao knew this guy must have something on his mind, so he joked, "You've finally decided to step out of your room! Alright, then I'll accompany you for a walk!"

The two of them slowly climbed up the mountain path worn by the villagers, heading towards the mountain peak on the side of the village. They reached the top of the mountain in about half an hour.

Looking into the distance, the mountains rise and fall, and the golden afterglow spills onto the treetops.

"It's so beautiful," Zhang Jin exclaimed, admiring the stunning sunset.

"You little rascal, you didn't come back just to have me come with you to see the scenery, did you?"

"Isn't it beautiful?" Zhang Jin replied, seemingly ignoring the question.

"I just think you're acting a bit strange, actually having the mind to appreciate the beautiful scenery."

"Alas, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have known that beneath this beautiful scenery grows the most wicked thing in history."

"Could this be the balance of the universe, where beauty and evil coexist?" Zhang Jin said, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Liu Xiaotao joked, "Don't I know you? Stop pretending to be poor in front of me. Just say what you want to say. If you keep me bottled up, can you take responsibility?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jin found a large rock to sit on and slowly said, "Instructor, I want to go to Mengla as soon as possible."

Liu Xiaotao understood what he meant. Helping Lao Kang retake the old city was the first and most crucial step in their "Operation Sharp Sword" plan.

"Are you going to meet Boss Lang?"

Zhang Jincheng nodded, but did not answer Liu Xiaotao's question. Instead, he asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Instructor, I once heard you say that you know an expert in agricultural production? Are there any agricultural experts familiar with the climate here?"

Liu Xiaotao didn't know what he meant, so he nodded and asked curiously, "Yes, there's a nationally renowned agricultural company in my hometown. Several of my cousins ​​work there as senior researchers. Why are you asking about this?"

He did not tell Zhang Jincheng the specific facts, because this nationwide "Min Nong" mega-agricultural group was the business of their Liu family.

Liu Xiaotao and Liu Wu, along with other members of the Liu family, are usually very low-key, and no one knows their backgrounds.

"Could you please invite them over to study what crops are suitable for growing in our mountain village's environment and soil?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiaotao stared wide-eyed at Zhang Jincheng and said in an exaggerated tone, "Damn, you're not going back because you want to treat this place like Niwan? The next step of Operation Sharp Sword is to target the 359th Brigade."

Zhang Jincheng said with a smile, "You know what, I actually have that plan."

"Instructor, I've thought about this very carefully. To fundamentally change the current situation in the 'Jin San area' and solve the 'flour' problem here, we must ensure that the mountain people here have enough to eat and escape poverty."

Liu Xiaotao gazed at the distant, layered mountains and lit a cigarette, lost in thought.

"You're quite the visionary."

However, farming alone cannot solve the fundamental problem. The mountain people here have relied on that stuff for generations; the industry chain is deeply entrenched.

“That’s why we need agricultural experts.” Zhang Jin picked up a pebble and weighed it in his hand. “To find the most suitable cash crop for this area, we also need to integrate processing, transportation, and sales. I’ve inquired and found that farmers in some impoverished counties in Yunnan Province who grow coffee beans are now earning more per mu than those who grow other crops.”

The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of the two people.

Liu Xiaotao suddenly laughed: "No wonder you've been staying home these past few days, so you've been thinking about this. But..." He changed the subject, "What about Boss Lang? We can't just abandon our important work and actually become farmers, can we?"

"We can do both at the same time!" Zhang Jincheng said with a smile. Then he added, "Alright, let's not talk about that now. Let's talk about the present. I might have to spend more time in Mengla. The family is counting on you. Please find an agricultural expert as soon as possible to come and develop a planting alternative plan based on the actual conditions here. I'd like to conduct an experiment in the old Miao village first. What do you think?"

“No problem. Actually, the climate and geological conditions here are similar to those in southern Yunnan. I think finding alternative crops to Ying Su should not be a problem.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jincheng happily said, "Alright, let's split up and go back to the command post to ask for instructions. I'll go to Mengla tomorrow."

The next day, Zhang Jin set off with Zhuang Yan, Wang Tao, and A Gui, driving their newly purchased "Warrior Off-Road Vehicle".

In the "Golden Three Region," many roads are only accessible to off-road vehicles. In this no-man's-land, no one is willing to invest in building road infrastructure.

The various local armed groups based here are even less willing to spend their own money to repair roads; instead, they set up toll booths and collect tolls from passing vehicles.

The commando team was stationed in Laomiao Village, located in the central part of the "Jin San area". Zhang Jin said they were going to Mengla in the south, 500 kilometers away, which used to be the location of the Southern Army of the Allied Forces.

After the National League Army was torn apart, Duan Yu, the former leader of the Southern Army, occupied Mengla and declared himself king.

Duan Yu is no ordinary person. He is not a local but comes from a country with a strong sense of national identity. Like countless other passionate young people, he came to North America with the intention of supporting the cause of the nation.

Later, Duan Yu and some other Qing soldiers joined the Nationalist Army.

They were not only intelligent and talented, but also brave in battle, and quickly stood out to become commanders at all levels in the National League Army. Duan Yu was one of the more outstanding members.

In order to secure his position, Duan Yu married the daughter of Kang Laoda, a powerful figure in the Kuomintang army at the time.

This is also why Kang Laoda sought refuge in Mengla after his defeat.

Coming to the son-in-law's territory is safer than going anywhere else, and it's close to the border of the Xia Kingdom, so no one dares to cause trouble here.

After a bumpy two-day journey, Zhang Jincheng and his group finally arrived at the outskirts of Mengla.

The terrain here is more bustling than the old town, and armed personnel can be seen patrolling the roads from time to time.

A-Gui skillfully pulled out several passes, which Liu Xiaotao had specially prepared before their departure.

“We’re in Duan Yu’s territory ahead,” Zhang Jin said in a low voice. “I’ve heard he’s very cautious, so we need to be careful.”

As soon as the SUV entered the checkpoint, it was stopped by more than a dozen heavily armed soldiers.

The leading officer carefully checked their documents and questioned them for a long time in the local dialect.

Zhuang Yan quietly gripped the pistol hidden under his seat, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Let them through!" the officer suddenly shouted, waving his hand to signal the barrier to rise.

Zhang Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but then noticed that an armed pickup truck had followed their car.

"Looks like they're 'escorting' us," Zhang Jin said with a wry smile. "This Boss Duan certainly lives up to his reputation."

The "Warrior" drove into Mengla city, where the scene was unexpected.

Although the streets are not as nice as those in Chinese cities, they are clean and orderly. Because they are close to Yunnan Province and have frequent trade with other parts of China, they have developed rapidly in recent years. You can even see schools, clinics and shopping malls along the roadside.

Although Mengla is small, with only one main street, it is very bustling. The shops on both sides of the street are flashing neon lights, and the most common places here are hotels and entertainment venues.

Many places have a lot of people coming and going at their entrances. Although they are marked as entertainment venues, they are actually just places to gamble.

It is known as the "Little Hong Kong" overseas, which stands in stark contrast to the chaos in other towns in the "Golden Triangle Area".

"It seems the rumors are true," Wang Tao said in a low voice. "Duan Yu is indeed putting his heart into managing this place."

It's so late, it's obviously inappropriate to visit Boss Kang. Zhang Jin decided to stay the night and talk about it tomorrow.

They found a hotel to stay in. The hotel wasn't big, but the facilities and hygiene were quite good. The only difference from hotels in China was that there were armed guards walking around the entrance.

A-Gui smiled and said to Zhang Jincheng, "These soldiers are just for show; they are a means for Duan Yu to obtain funds."

"By assigning two people to stand guard here, these shops have to pay him 'protection money.' The entertainment venues pay the most, since they have even more soldiers there. In reality, they don't care who goes in!"

“This is one of the unique features of the ‘Kim Jong-il region’: there are soldiers carrying guns everywhere. No wonder many people are hesitant to come here,” Zhang Jincheng said with a smile.

After dinner, Zhang Jin called A Gui to his room. He wanted A Gui to visit Boss Kang alone the next day, as his sudden visit seemed too abrupt, and he also wanted to give Boss Kang some time to consider.

"Brother Gui, can you talk to Boss Kang?" Zhang Jin asked tentatively.

"Haha, no problem. Although I'm just a soldier, I've been under Boss Kang's command for over ten years. Boss Kang treats us very well. He's approachable and always greets us."

(End of this chapter)