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

Chapter 726 Unexpected Events Abound!

Zhang Jin said that his talks with Boss Kang went smoothly, and they discussed the specific details of the operation and contact methods in detail.

Six or seven hours passed in this way without them realizing it, and the two seemed to have forgotten their hunger and thirst.

Because the two of them were discussing important matters, no one dared to enter the study to disturb them. By the time they came out of the study, it was already completely dark.

The people waiting in the living room were clearly getting impatient, pacing around inside and strolling into the yard from time to time. Finally, they saw the two of them come out with beaming faces, and judging from their expressions, the negotiations had gone well.

Seeing this, everyone crowded around and asked about the results of the discussion.

Zhang Jin smiled without saying a word, while Boss Kang clapped his hands to signal everyone to be quiet: "Everyone, please rest assured, this cooperation with Brother Zhang is a match made in heaven. We have already drafted a comprehensive plan and can begin preparations tomorrow."

The steward hurriedly instructed the servants to prepare wine and dishes. Steaming hot eight-treasure duck, jade shrimp... the mahogany round table was quickly filled with a continuous feast.

During the meal, Boss Kang, emboldened by a few drinks, loudly proclaimed, "Brother Zhang, I'm very happy that we call each other brothers. Let's drink until we drop!"

Zhang Jin also raised his glass and clinked it with Kang Laoda's, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Kang. Let's keep in touch between our two families in the future. Cheers..."

After several rounds of drinks, the moonlight had already climbed onto the windowpane. When Zhang Jincheng got up to take his leave, Boss Kang personally saw him to the door, and the two talked in hushed tones for a while.

A night breeze swept by, and the lanterns cast swaying shadows on the ground, as if foreshadowing the waves that this collaboration was about to stir up.

After having dinner at Boss Kang's place, Zhang Jin declined Boss Kang's warm invitation to stay and the group headed to "Old Miao Village" overnight.

The night was as dark as ink, and the mountain path was bathed in a silvery glow from the moonlight.

Sitting in the car, Zhang Jincheng gazed at the undulating mountains in the distance, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

Kang Laoda's generosity and sincerity made him feel at ease, but the mission was arduous and could not afford any mistakes. He would have to start the "Operation Sharp Sword" as soon as he got back.

Zhang Jin said that they rushed back to the "Old Miao Village" camp overnight without stopping. When they arrived, Liu Xiaotao was leading the assault team in training.

Upon seeing Zhang Jincheng and his group return looking travel-worn, Liu Xiaotao immediately waved to signal a halt to the training and quickly went to greet them.

He noticed the unusual glint in Zhang Jincheng's eyes and knew that this trip would be fruitful.

"Jin Cheng, is everything going smoothly?" Liu Xiaotao asked in a low voice, while waving to signal the other team members to continue training.

Zhang Jin said excitedly, "Don't worry, instructor, this trip went very smoothly. Our Sharp Sword Operation is finally about to begin."

He then gave a brief and concise account of his trip to Mengla.

After listening to the report, Liu Xiaotao's eyes lit up with excitement. He patted Zhang Jincheng's shoulder hard: "Great! Boss Kang's influence in the 'Jin San area' is deeply rooted. With his help, our operation has a much better chance of success."

Then, Liu Xiaotao changed the subject and said, "I also have some good news for you. The agricultural expert you asked me to find will arrive in a few days."

Furthermore, I visited several mountain households and assured them that I would pay them no less than the income they would earn from planting Yingsu, and they were all willing to try planting it with us.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jincheng's eyes flashed with a hint of relief: "That's wonderful! This is truly a double blessing! With expert guidance and the cooperation of the mountain villagers, our alternative planting plan can be carried out smoothly."

Liu Xiaotao nodded and took out a hand-drawn map from his pocket: "I have already made preliminary plans for the planting area. Look at this sunny slope, the soil is fertile, and it is most suitable for planting cash crops." His finger traced across the map, outlining a hopeful blueprint.

A gentle night breeze stirred, causing the torches on the training field to flicker.

Zhang Jincheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Instructor, I have an idea. How about we call a meeting tomorrow to refine and implement the action plan? Time is of the essence, we must race against time."

"That suits me perfectly!" Liu Xiaotao laughed heartily. "I've already asked the cooks to prepare a late-night snack. Let's eat and chat."

By the way, some Kokang people in the vicinity have also expressed their willingness to support our work.

The chirping of insects in the distance added a touch of life to the tranquil night.

Zhang Jin looked up at the starry sky and felt a surge of pride.

He knew that starting tomorrow, an operation to change the fate of the "Kim Jong-il region" would begin.

This is not only a military operation, but also a project to improve people's lives and benefit the local people.

“Let’s go,” Zhang Jincheng straightened his collar and continued, “How about this, Instructor, you wait at home for the experts to arrive.”

I'll take a few men to the old city and try to bring back Li Wencai, Boss Lang's staff officer.

Hearing Zhang Jincheng plead with you like this, Liu Xiaotao couldn't help but laugh. He guessed Kang Laoda's intentions and said with a smile, "I won't argue with you this time, but you must be careful. It's not an easy task to snatch people from the enemy's lair."

I never expected Boss Kang to use this to test us, hehehe..."

"Actually, this isn't a bad thing. Capturing Boss Lang's strategist is a heavy blow to him, and it will definitely make those officers who rebelled against him panic, which will certainly benefit our next move."

Liu Xiaotao nodded, a sharp glint in his eyes: "That's right. Li Wencai is a cunning man. If we can take him down, it will not only weaken Boss Lang's strength, but also deter those wavering forces."

He thought for a moment and suggested, "However, shouldn't we report this to headquarters immediately?"

"Yes, when we came here, our leader mentioned that we should contact the government army here as soon as possible and urge them to send troops to eliminate Boss Lang's troops. This matter needs to be handled quickly."

The deployment of the government forces is crucial to the entire "Sharp Sword" operation. This needs to be explained to the leadership; if all else fails, pressure them to send troops.

Liu Xiaotao nodded and said meaningfully, "Don't worry, since the headquarters leaders have approved our Sharp Sword Operation, they will definitely find a way to get the government troops here to move out."

Zhang Jin and Liu Xiaotao walked side by side toward the temporary command post, the fallen leaves beneath their feet making a soft rustling sound.

“Instructor, I plan to take Zhuang Yan and Wang Yilu with me.” Zhang Jincheng unfolded a hand-drawn map of the old city, pointing to a certain mark. “According to Boss Kang’s intelligence, Li Wencai goes there every night…”

The next day, the commando team received orders from headquarters to access the "Operation Sharp Sword" plan.

Early in the morning, before the fog had completely dissipated from the old Miao village, Zhang Jincheng led four assault team members—Zhuang Yan, Lu Da, Wang Tao, and Ye Peng—along with A Gui and Yan Kan, a total of seven people, to the old town.

Since most of the residents of the old town are Kokang, Ah Gui and Yan Kan sometimes play a significant role when they go with them.

They drove away in their newly purchased "Warrior Off-Road Vehicles," as it would be difficult to conduct mobile operations in the "Kim San Area" without off-road vehicles.

Unexpectedly, no sooner had they left than the headquarters sent them four "Warrior" all-terrain combat vehicles.

The "Jingqi Mengshi" is a new generation of high-mobility military off-road vehicle independently developed by the Beijing Automobile Group in Liujiazhuang. It has 100% independent intellectual property rights and almost 100% of its parts can be domestically produced.

The "Beijing Auto Warrior" has an exterior design similar to the American Hummer. Its models include two main series: long-nose and short-nose, and eight main types: single and double-cab soft and hard tops, sloping soft and hard tops, boxy hard tops, and high hard tops.

The "Beijing Auto Warrior" off-road vehicle is a 1.5-ton class high-mobility military off-road vehicle with full-time 4-wheel drive, a total weight of 5 tons, a load capacity of 1.75 tons, and a towing capacity of 2 tons.

The vehicle's parameters and performance indicators fully meet and exceed the 12 major requirements for development.

The vehicle's load-bearing capacity is increased by 17%, power by 25%, fuel consumption by 30%, driving range by 50%, wading depth by 0.75 meters, braking, hill-climbing ability, adaptability to harsher climate conditions and more complex geographical environments, as well as handling stability and durability are all significantly improved, resulting in a more comfortable ride and a smoother ride.

Thanks to the application of several key technologies with world-class advanced levels, its overall performance has reached the international cutting-edge level. Among the 15 key technical indicators for evaluating military off-road vehicles, the "Beijing Auto Warrior" surpasses the American "Hummer" in 12 and is on par with it in 3.

At Zhang Jincheng's request, the command secretly transported four "Warrior All-Terrain Vehicles" equipped with different weapons to the assault team through the "Liu's Mining Group," a Xia state enterprise in the Indochina Peninsula.

One vehicle was a fire support vehicle carrying a six-barreled rapid-fire machine gun, another was equipped with a large-caliber sniper rifle that could be easily disassembled, and the other two were mainly used for transport missions.

On the rugged mountain roads of the "Kim Sam District," this four-wheel drive mountain vehicle is indeed a fantastic means of transportation. Many mountain roads in the Kim Sam District are impassable for off-road vehicles, but this all-terrain vehicle can navigate them with ease.

In subsequent operations, these four vehicles played a significant role, greatly enhancing Operation Sharp Sword's assault capabilities.

Zhang Jin and his group of seven drove two Warrior off-road vehicles at high speed on the winding mountain road, the wheels making a crisp sound as they rolled over the gravel.

A-Gui sat in the passenger seat, occasionally pointing to the fork in the road ahead to guide the convoy. The morning mist gradually dissipated, and the outline of the old town in the distance became faintly visible.

"Captain, the checkpoint on the outskirts of the old city is just ahead," Zhuang Yan said in a low voice, putting down his binoculars.

Zhang Jincheng nodded, signaling the convoy to slow down. He took out the pass provided by Boss Kang and said, "Everyone stay calm and proceed according to plan."

At the checkpoint, two soldiers carrying "Aka-47" rifles lazily stopped the vehicle.

Ah Gui chatted with them in fluent Kokang dialect, while Yan Kan offered them several packs of cigarettes at the right time.

After checking the passes, the soldiers glanced greedily at the "cargo" in the back of the vehicle—several boxes of "medical equipment" covered with tarpaulins—before waving them off.

After entering the old town, the bamboo houses on both sides of the street gradually become denser.

Zhang Jin told the convoy to find a better hotel in Dongcheng to stay in, because this mission was different from the last one, and they needed to settle down here first before making any further plans.

The eastern part of the old town is quite bustling, with thirty or forty gambling dens and hotels concentrated there. There are many visitors, and staying here won't attract attention.

The convoy stopped in front of the "Jinyu Mantang" Hotel in Dongcheng. The three-story bamboo building was decorated with red lanterns, and several guests dressed in ethnic costumes stood at the entrance to greet them.

Ah Gui skillfully checked in using the local dialect and even slipped a red envelope to the front desk in exchange for several rooms with the best views.

Zhang Jincheng indicated that the team members would stay in different rooms. He, Zhuang Yan, and Yan Kan stayed in a room on the third floor facing the street, from which they could overlook the entire Dongcheng District.

"Settle them in first, then we'll meet in room 308 in two hours," Zhang Jin instructed in a low voice.

The room was simply but neatly furnished, with bamboo curtains half-drawn, letting in dappled sunlight.

Zhang Jin opened the window, and a humid, hot breeze mixed with the noise of the street rushed in.

The neon lights of the casino in the distance were still on during the day, and several drunken gamblers were being escorted out by security guards.

After settling in, A-Gui took Yan-Kan out to inquire about the situation.

Ah Gui has friends in the police force, where Boss Lang is based. He also needs to find Balai, the guard company commander, because he relied on Balai's intelligence to capture Lang San.

But less than two hours after they left, Agui and Yankan rushed back.

Zhang Jincheng stood by the window, gently tapping his fingers on the bamboo window frame.

On the streets of the old town, all sorts of people come and go, the shouts of vendors and the roar of motorcycles intertwined.

Zhuang Yan walked silently to his side and handed him a cup of hot tea: "Captain, Brother Gui and the others are back."

Ah Gui pushed open the door and entered, his expression was off, and Zhang Jin guessed that something might have happened.

"Brother Zhang, something terrible has happened!" A-Gui said, panting.

"Don't rush, Brother Gui, please sit down and tell me slowly," Zhang Jincheng said gently.

Ah Gui sat in a round-backed chair by the window and said anxiously, "Let's go to the guard camp to find my friend and try to contact Bale through him."

However, my friend told me that Balai was arrested by Boss Lang two days ago…

"Oh, do you know why you were arrested?" Zhang Jin said he had a feeling that this might be related to him and his ilk.

“A few days ago, the soldiers who had gone on missions with Bale ran away from Boss Lang. It’s said that it’s related to them, but I don’t know the details.”

Zhang Jincheng thought to himself that it was indeed related to him. Those soldiers who followed Balai in ambushing him were later imprisoned in Migo's Awa Mountain Village. It must have been the assault team that attacked the Awa Mountain Village, and they took the opportunity to escape back.

Zhang Jin then asked, "Do you know what the current situation is like in Bale?"

"I asked my friend, and he's currently being held in a large jail behind the command post. I don't know if he's dead or alive."

Zhang Jincheng pondered for a few seconds, then said to Zhuang Yan, "Monkey, you go out with Brother Agui again right away and find out the situation in the dungeon where Balai is being held."

“Okay,” Zhuang Yan got up to go out with A Gui, but then seemed to remember something. He knew the captain would definitely save Balai, so he reminded him, “Won’t this affect our capture of Li Wencai?”

"Whatever happened to Bale is related to us. We can't just stand by and watch him die. Now that we know about it, we have to do something about it."

Let's put aside the arrest of Li Wencai for now and deal with it after we rescue Balai.

"Saving lives is urgent! You two need to hurry and investigate thoroughly so we can take action as soon as possible."

"I understand!" Zhuang Yan turned around and went out with A Gui.

Just as Zhang Jincheng guessed, Bale's accident was caused by those soldiers who escaped.

When Zhang Jincheng led the assault team to raid Awa Mountain Village, they also breached the camp's defenses, allowing the soldiers of Lang Laoda's guard company, who were being held there, to escape.

When Bale returned, he lied to Boss Lang, claiming that everyone else had been killed by Zhang Jincheng. But now these people have returned unharmed, and Boss Lang immediately became suspicious of Bale.

Boss Lang summoned the escaped soldiers to a secret place and questioned them personally. He concluded that Bale had been released by those three men.

At this point, when Boss Lang learned that Lang San had been arrested and the missile launcher had been destroyed, he realized that these events were not accidental and that Bale must have been the mole who leaked the information.

Upon realizing this, the already suspicious Boss Lang flew into a rage and immediately ordered his men to arrest Balai.

Balai knew that Boss Lang was ruthless. If he admitted that he had been released, not only would he die a terrible death, but his family would also be harmed.

Therefore, he insisted that he had escaped back and knew nothing else.

When Elder Lang saw that Balai was stubborn as a cooked duck, he ordered his men to torture him severely, beating him half to death, but he still wouldn't let go. Helpless, he locked him in the dungeon and interrogated him slowly.

The dungeon was located behind the command post, surrounded by barbed wire and sentry posts.

The damp stone walls were covered with moss, and the air was filled with the smell of decay and blood.

Bale was chained to a corner, his military uniform was tattered, and his exposed skin was covered with whip marks and branding marks.

"Company Commander Bale, I'm giving you one last chance." The interrogator crouched down and used a dagger to lift his chin. "If you tell the truth, Boss Lang promises to give you a quick death."

Bale struggled to lift his head, spitting out a mouthful of blood: "I...I really crawled back from a pile of dead bodies." Before he could finish speaking, the interrogator's iron rod slammed heavily onto his shoulder blade again.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Yan and A Gui, disguised as vegetable vendors, were observing the market two hundred meters away from the dungeon.

Ah Gui lowered his straw hat and glanced at the patrolling soldiers out of the corner of his eye: "They change shifts every four hours. There's a drainage ditch on the west side of the wall. The guards are most lax at four in the morning."

……

In the evening, Zhang Jincheng and Agui returned to the hotel.

Zhuang Yan took out a folded piece of paper, which unfolded to reveal a sketch. He handed the sketch to Zhang Jincheng.

"This is a diagram of the dungeon where prisoners are held. The security is not very tight, with only one squad of soldiers guarding it."

"However, it's very close to the headquarters in front, with a small gate similar to the one in front. In case of any incident, the guards stationed at the headquarters will rush over very quickly," Zhuang Yan explained from the side.

"When do the guards change shifts?" Zhang Jincheng asked.

“The work shifts here are different from other places. They work in shifts every four hours, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m..”

(End of this chapter)