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

Chapter 733 The Trip to Mandalay!!
"Brother, I would like to ask you to accompany me to Mandalay. Would you agree?"

Zhang Jin replied without hesitation, "No problem, I'd be happy to accompany Brother Kang on a trip to Mandalay." After a moment's thought, he asked, "Is Brother Kang worried about anything?"

Facing Zhang Jincheng, Kang Laoda made no attempt to hide his worries, "That's right, you know I fought against the government army for over ten years. Some grudges can't be resolved in a short time. Some people in the government army wish they could kill me..."

"I can understand."

"However, peace is the ultimate goal pursued by all our soldiers, and I believe that no true soldier wants to fight," Zhang Jin said with a smile, trying to reassure them.

Kang Laoda was quite excited by Zhang Jincheng's words. He looked at Zhang Jincheng with shining eyes and said, "Well said! It is a blessing for the country and the people to have a soldier like you, my brother."

Zhang Jin said he was not used to being praised, so he quickly changed the subject: "When are we going to Mandalay?"

Kang Laoda laughed and said, "Let the brothers rest well today, and we'll set off for Mandalay tomorrow, how about that?"

The thought of recapturing the old city fills me with anticipation; to be honest, I've been waiting for this day for over three years.

“Okay, I’ll follow Brother Kang’s arrangements. We’ll set off for Mandalay tomorrow.”

“I invited you here because there is another matter I need to discuss with you. We have already studied the ‘Sword Assault’ operation plan that you formulated last time.”

The plan mentions cooperation with the government military, but it doesn't go into some details. I want to consider these details before negotiating with them.

"Brother Kang has considered things very thoroughly. The issue of the two companies joining forces does indeed require serious consideration."

At the time, because I wasn't very familiar with your two families' situations, the arrangements weren't very detailed. I'd like to hear Brother Kang's thoughts on this."

“My dear brother, then I’ll make a fool of myself and offer my thoughts…”

Kang Laoda told Zhang Jincheng his idea, and the two discussed it carefully for a long time.

Even though it was late at night, the study light was still on.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Boss Kang pulled Zhang Jincheng back to his study to discuss the details.

He pointed to several key locations on the map, his voice low and firm: "These strongholds must be jointly controlled by us, otherwise joint operations will be like a carriage without wheels, impossible to even begin..."

Zhang Jin nodded thoughtfully and assisted Boss Kang in formulating all the negotiation details.

Kang Laoda personally poured Zhang Jincheng a cup of hot tea: "Brother, we owe you a lot this time. I don't know how to thank you enough..." Amidst the fragrant tea, Zhang Jincheng looked out at the dark sky: "Brother Kang, after we recover the old city, all you need to do is lead the local people back to a normal life. That would be the greatest thanks you can give us."

"Don't worry, my dear brother, I'm not the kind of person who would abandon someone after using them..."

The next day.

Early in the morning, three SUVs, with a Mercedes-Benz S600 luxury car sandwiched between them, drove out of Mengla and headed west along the highway toward the government-controlled area.

The convoy sped through the morning mist, the wheels making a soft rustling sound as they rolled over the gravel road.

Inside the Mercedes-Benz sat Zhang Jincheng, Boss Kang, and Boss Kang's adjutant.

On this trip to Mandalay, in addition to Zhang Jincheng and other commando members, Chief Kang also brought eight guards, who rode in two off-road vehicles. Together with the "warriors" who came with the commando team, there were a total of four vehicles.

For convenience, Zhang Jincheng disguised himself as Kang Laoda's bodyguard captain on this trip to Mandalay. On the way, the people in the car rarely spoke, each lost in their own thoughts.

Zhang Jincheng and Kang Laoda sat in the back seat, looking out the car window at the undulating mountains in the distance, the morning light gilding the mountains with a golden edge.

Kang Laoda offered Zhang Jincheng a cigar, which Zhang politely declined but did not press the matter. He lit it himself, took a deep drag, and the smoke swirled in the carriage.

Zhang Jin noticed a faint worry between Kang Laoda's brows, unable to guess whether he was concerned about the safety of this trip or about the negotiations.

After driving for several hours on the winding road, the outline of Mandalay finally appeared in the distance.

Kang Laoda stubbed out his cigar and patted Zhang Jincheng on the shoulder: "Brother, Mandalay is just ahead. When you meet the government's representatives later, please help them out."

Zhang Jincheng smiled and nodded, saying, "Brother Kang, don't worry, I will definitely help you succeed in the negotiations on this trip."

"Hehehe, I believe you!"

Upon arriving in Mandalay, the group first went to the office set up there by Kang Laoda.

This office is actually a beautiful villa located in the eastern suburbs of Mandalay.

Upon arriving here, Kang immediately ordered his adjutant to make contact with the government military headquarters in the city.

After the adjutant left, Boss Kang personally led Zhang Jincheng on a tour of the villa.

This three-story building is tastefully decorated, and the courtyard is filled with tropical flowers. The sound of the fountain brings a touch of coolness to the hot afternoon.

“This is my lodging in Mandalay,” Kang Laoda pushed open the floor-to-ceiling window of the second-floor study and pointed to the golden pagoda that could be faintly seen in the distance. “I stay here every time I come to negotiate. From this spot, you can see the spire of the Royal Palace.”

Zhang Jin noticed an enlarged military map hanging on the wall of the study, with the areas controlled by both sides marked in red and blue.

Following his gaze, Boss Kang explained, "This is a situation map drawn last year, and some places have changed since then." As he spoke, he took out a pen and modified a few markings on the map.

“The grudges between us won’t be resolved in a short time. Although we are facing a common enemy this time, we still have to be on guard. If they take the opportunity to attack me, I will really have no way to escape. That’s why I sent my adjutant to make contact first…” Kang Laoda explained to Zhang Jincheng.

Kang Laoda's wariness stems from historical issues.

At that time, the Democratic League Army and the government army in the "Kim Jong-il region" were irreconcilable enemies. The two sides fought countless battles to seize territory, and Kang Laoda was also the target of the government army's bounty for his capture.

Later, the government realized that it was impossible to completely eliminate the National League for Democracy, so it tacitly accepted their existence, but still isolated them politically.

Soon after, the adjutant brought back news that the government and military had agreed to hold talks the following morning.

To show their goodwill, the government sent their third-ranking officer, the chief of staff, to personally visit the office and host a banquet that evening to welcome Kang Laoda.

Just as the adjutant finished his report, the sound of a car engine came from outside the villa.

Kang Laoda walked to the window and saw three military vehicles parked outside the gate. The door of the black sedan in the lead opened, and a middle-aged man in a crisp military uniform stepped out.

"It's the Chief of Staff of the government army who's come in person," Kang Laoda whispered to Zhang Jincheng. "It seems they're really sincere this time." As he spoke, he straightened his collar and hurried downstairs to greet him.

Zhang Jin followed closely behind, maintaining the proper distance expected of a bodyguard.

The chief of staff of the government army shook hands with a smile: "Brother Kang, it's been a long time. You still have such an extraordinary presence!" As he spoke, his gaze swept over Zhang Jincheng standing to the side, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Hehehe, Chief of Staff Luo flatters me. I'm old now, it's the young people's world... Please come in..." Boss Kang said with a smile and politely.

The banquet was held at the Emerald Palace Hotel, Mandalay's most luxurious hotel.

Under the crystal chandelier, amidst the clinking of glasses, both sides were cautiously testing each other's limits.

When Chief of Staff Luo raised his glass, he specifically mentioned, "To our common cause of peace, cheers!"

However, Zhang Jin noticed that the two guards behind him remained highly vigilant throughout.

It was late at night when we got back to the villa.

Standing on the balcony, Kang Laoda frowned as he gazed at the brightly lit Mandalay in the distance. "Brother, what do you think of their performance tonight?"

Zhang Jincheng pondered and said, "This Chief of Staff Luo is a smiling tiger. He is very good at putting on a show, but there is something hidden in the way he looks at you."

"We need to be wary of them suddenly changing their minds during tomorrow's negotiations."

“Brother, you’re right. We can’t be fooled by appearances,” Kang Laoda nodded in agreement.

On the morning of the second day after arriving in Mandalay, Kang Laoda, along with Zhang Jincheng and his adjutant, went to the government military headquarters to discuss joint operations against Lang Laoda.

The ZF military headquarters is located in a heavily guarded white building complex in western Mandalay.

As the convoy entered the gate, Zhang Jin noticed the positions of the snipers and the patrol routes around him, and silently memorized them.

In the reception room, Chief of Staff Luo was already waiting with several high-ranking officers. On the huge battle map hanging on the wall, Boss Lang's territory was prominently marked in red. "Brother Kang, let's get straight to the point," Chief of Staff Luo said, pointing to three red arrows on the map. "Our government army will be responsible for dealing with Boss Lang's forces in Jiangdong. As for the garrison south of the old city, we'll need..."

……

After a day of negotiations, both sides basically reached an agreement and are ready to submit the agreement to the government headquarters for approval before signing.

Kang Laoda's worries were not unfounded; unexpectedly, an accident occurred that very night.

Because the meeting was very successful, Boss Kang was in a good mood and insisted on having a drink with Zhang Jincheng to celebrate when he returned to the office that evening.

The people in the office were all Kang Laoda's confidants, his adjutant, and Zhang Jincheng. The four of them gathered in the living room, happily discussing and drinking fine wine.

Kang Laoda's adjutant whispered to Zhang Jincheng, "It's been more than three years since Kang Laoda was defeated in the old city. This is the first time he's been so happy and the first time he's drunk so much."

Zhang Jincheng has a high alcohol tolerance, but he dares not drink to his heart's content. Ever since entering the "Jin San area", his nerves have been constantly on edge.

For a long time, the glass of wine he was holding was still half-full; he didn't want to spoil everyone's fun, so he just offered a token amount.

Hearing his adjutant say this, Zhang Jincheng smiled and nodded: "The success of this matter means that Boss Kang's wish is within reach, so he will naturally be happy."

"Our leader has spent his whole life on the battlefield. I really hope he can settle down after this victory. He's almost sixty years old. At his age, he should be enjoying his retirement in a few years," the adjutant said with emotion.

"The negotiations with the government and the military included their recognition of you. They believe that once you recapture the old city and establish your own government, you will be able to settle down. The people there are also looking forward to a stable life. This is the result that all parties want to see."

"Mr. Zhang doesn't seem like a soldier; he's more like a political figure," the adjutant said meaningfully, his eyes revealing admiration.

"Haha... Actually, these two shouldn't have been separated in the first place."

Time flies when you're having a good time, and before you know it, it's eleven o'clock.

Zhang Jin said he was going to the restroom. As he walked into the corridor leading inside, he glanced out the window unintentionally.

The blinds on the windows were open, and through the gaps in the blinds, one could see the lawn outside the villa.

Scattered lawn lights were scattered about, and something seemed to be obscuring them for a moment. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, it caught Zhang Jincheng's attention.

Zhang Jin said he knew that the men Kang had brought were all outside on guard, but the shadow had flashed too fast, so he went to the window to see what was going on.

As soon as he got close to the window, he heard a thumping sound outside.

Zhang Jin immediately raised his hand, recognizing the sound as coming from a silenced pistol.

He instinctively shouted, "Something's up!" Then he walked to the end of the corridor, where there was a switch on the wall that controlled the living room lights. Zhang Jincheng turned off the large chandelier in the living room with a "snap".

At the same time, the glass on the other side shattered with a crash, and a burst of silenced submachine gun bullets swept into the living room. All the guns were equipped with silencers, and the dense bullets shattered the furnishings in the living room.

Zhang Jin said that as he turned off the lights, he also drew his M.9 pistol from under his arm and immediately fired back out the window with a series of "bangs".

Gunshots immediately shattered the tranquility of the night.

At the same time, the same gunshots rang out from the riverside in the living room. Zhang Jin knew that Zhuang Yan and Wang Tao were firing at the enemy.

The two men immediately suppressed the enemy fire coming from outside the window.

Zhang Jin took the opportunity to bend down and reach the other side of the living room, which was pitch black.

However, Zhang Jin clearly remembered the location of Brother Kang, and he whispered, "Brother Kang, where are you?"

Then Kang Laoda's voice came from beside the sofa: "Brother, I'm here."

Although Kang Laoda was over fifty years old, his long years of combat experience made him very alert and quick to react. Upon hearing Zhang Jincheng's warning, he quickly climbed onto the sofa and then rolled on the floor.

"Are you alright?" Zhang Jin asked, touching Boss Kang's arm.

"I'm fine." Despite the surprise attack, Boss Kang's voice remained calm.

"Come with me." As Zhang Jin spoke, he grabbed Kang Laoda's arm, led him to the entrance of the corridor, and then helped him hide inside.

There are no windows in the corridor that face outwards, so it's safe for now.

Zhang Jin pointed to the restroom at the end of the corridor and said to Brother Kang, "Brother Kang, you should quickly hide in the restroom."

The restroom has only one small window, and there's a safety net above it, so people can't get in from the outside.

Kang Laoda knew that the attackers were definitely targeting him, so he nodded and hurriedly hid in the bathroom.

As soon as Boss Kang left, Zhang Jin heard a slight noise coming from the stairs on one side.

He quickly hid to the side, and sure enough, two figures, one in front and one behind, carrying submachine guns, slowly came down from the second floor.

Zhang Jin raised his hand and fired two shots, and the two men fell down the stairs with a thud.

The first person landed right at Zhang Jincheng's feet. He reached out and picked up the submachine gun, and only then did he realize that the two men were wearing civilian clothes.

Then Zhang Jincheng slowly climbed the stairs, carrying a submachine gun.

Just as he reached the corner of the stairs, a burst of bullets came at him, shattering the wood covering the wall and sending splinters flying. The bullets stung Zhang Jincheng's face, and he raised his gun and fired a burst of bullets upstairs.

Zhang Jin had just stopped firing when he heard Zhuang Yan say from above, "Captain, don't fire. It's me. I've taken care of all the enemies up there."

Upon reaching the second floor, they saw a man lying there. Zhuang Yan, holding a gun, laughed and said, "I've taken care of the few people who climbed up here."

Are there any more outside?

"They should all have been taken down by Taozi."

The two people talked as they went up the stairs to the top of the villa, where there were two tables and several rattan chairs, making it look like a relaxation area.

There was also the corpse of an enemy that Zhuang Yan had killed nearby.

Zhang Jin walked around the villa for a while. There was no one around, only a few corpses on the lawn. He said to Zhuang Yan, "Let's go to the living room and take a look."

By this time, the lights in the living room had been turned back on. The room was a mess, and two office workers were lying on the floor, seemingly dead. Fortunately, the others were alright.

Wang Tao walked in and whispered to Zhang Jin, "The other party came in two SUVs. They were parked at the intersection over there, but they've already driven away."

"Go check on the people we killed, and also check our casualties." After saying that, Zhang Jincheng turned to A Gui and said, "Boss Kang is in the restroom, go and ask him to come out."

When Boss Kang came out of the restroom, his face was ashen.

He surveyed the devastated living room, his gaze lingering on the bodies of his two fallen confidants for a long time, his fists unconsciously clenching and unclenching.

Kang Laoda looked at his adjutant and said to him, "Find out who did it. I won't let him get away with it..." His voice was like ice, every word carrying a chilling murderous intent.

Then he changed his expression to Zhang Jincheng and said gratefully, "Luckily you were here, otherwise I would have been in grave danger tonight."

"Can you guess who the other person is?" Zhang Jin asked, frowning.

Kang Laoda shook his head: "It's not certain yet, we only have some doubts."

Wang Tao approached the two men and said, "We killed seven of their men. We had four guards and two office staff members on our side. A total of six of them died."

Zhang Jincheng pondered for a moment, then said to Brother Kang in a consultative tone, "Brother Kang, my opinion is to evacuate immediately."

The enemy probably didn't anticipate our strong counterattack capability. If they send more troops, they'll definitely reinforce their forces. Therefore, we should withdraw from here immediately before they can react.

“Alright, I’ll follow your arrangements, brother.” Boss Kang immediately agreed to Zhang Jincheng’s suggestion.

Upon seeing that Boss Kang had agreed with his opinion, Zhang Jin immediately ordered preparations for evacuation.

(End of this chapter)