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

Chapter 753 The End of a Tyrant!

After tricking Sang Duoma, the commander of the 16th Division of the Allied Forces who was known for his uncooperative and disobedient subordinates, into seizing the toxic waste in the valley, Boss Lang waited anxiously for news in his command post in the old city.

Boss Lang was actually constantly uneasy and apprehensive, because the government army on the western front of the old city had not stopped its attack on the old city's defensive forces.

When Kang Laoda's troops stopped their attack on the old city, he drank to celebrate, but he only used this method to cover up his inner panic.

Boss Lang knew very well that once his last trump card failed, he would be completely finished.

Boss Lang paced back and forth in the command post, tapping his fingers incessantly on the table, his eyes occasionally glancing at the battle map on the wall.

Outside the window, the rising sun bathed the outline of the old town in gold, as if heralding the arrival of a new era for the old town.

Suddenly, the communications soldier stumbled in, his face pale: "Report! Commander Sandoma... the entire army has been wiped out!"
Moreover, our "Factory No. 4" was attacked by armed helicopters and has been completely destroyed..."

Upon hearing this devastating news, Boss Lang's hand trembled violently, and the wine glass shattered on the ground with a "crack," the scarlet wine spreading like blood.

He suddenly felt dizzy and quickly grabbed the table to steady himself.

Boss Lang knew very well that "the other side" had made a move, and among the surrounding powerful forces, only they had the strength to do so.

"Over there" sent out armed helicopters to first destroy Sangduoma's armored forces, and then took advantage of the situation to destroy its own "Factory No. 4". It's safe to say that Sangduoma is probably finished.

Boss Lang's face instantly turned ashen, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He stared intently at the communications soldier, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Where is Sang Duoma...?" The communications soldier lowered his head, his voice trembling, "Commander Sang's communications signal was cut off at the last moment, I'm afraid..." Before he could finish speaking, Old Man Lang slammed his fist on the table, causing the teacup to overturn and spill tea all over the floor.

“What a ‘over there’!” He gritted his teeth and squeezed out the words, a fierce glint in his eyes.

He knew that the other party was trying to completely cut off his escape route.

Without the threat of those highly toxic wastes and without the financial resources of Factory No. 4, he was like a tiger with its teeth pulled, no longer able to stir up any trouble.

Boss Lang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He walked to the window, gazing at the horizon reddened by the rising sun, pondering his final escape route.

At this time, on the streets of the old town, early-rising vendors had already set up their stalls, and wisps of smoke rose from their chimneys. Everything looked so peaceful, as if the bloody storm of the previous night had never happened.

Blessings are unparalleled, and misfortunes do not come singly.

Just as Mr. Lang was thinking about his escape route, the phone on the table suddenly rang loudly.

Boss Lang had a premonition that something bad was about to happen. With trembling hands, he picked up the phone: "Hello! This is the commander-in-chief..."

"Boom! Rat-a-tat-tat... Boom-boom..."

"Boss Lang, something terrible has happened! The government army has broken through our lines, and the brothers are about to collapse... We need reinforcements... We need reinforcements..." The microphone carried the sounds of intense gunfire from the front lines and the panicked voice of the western front commander.

“Tell the brothers to hold on, hold on, everyone will be rewarded as long as they hold on…” He didn’t finish his sentence.

A loud bang came from the other end of the phone, and the communication was suddenly cut off, leaving only a piercing busy tone.

Boss Lang's hand fell limply to his side, and the microphone fell to the ground with a "thud".

He staggered back two steps, knocking over the chair behind him, and slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Outside the window, the morning sun was still shining brightly, but in his eyes it seemed to be shrouded in a layer of blood.

Seeing Lang Laoda's distraught appearance, the adjutant and staff officer who had been standing beside him guessed what had happened.

The adjutant came over: "Boss, boss, what happened..."

As expected of a shrewd and ruthless man, Boss Lang quickly composed himself, realizing it was time for him to leave.

He immediately looked up and ordered his adjutant, "Order the troops defending the city to withdraw immediately..."

"Should we move to Langzhai?" the adjutant asked immediately.

Boss Lang nodded helplessly. They say a cunning rabbit has three burrows, and he was no exception. He had long prepared a way out for himself.

Three years ago, Boss Lang sent his men to secretly establish a stronghold in the mountains fifty kilometers northwest of the old city. It was a mountain village backed by the Sawen River and surrounded by towering mountains, and it was named Lang Family Village.

Long ago, when Boss Lang was fighting as a guerrilla in the area, he had his eye on this place.

This area is not only strategically important, but also rich in mineral resources, with several high-yield gemstone mines and large teak forests in the surrounding mountains. It can be said that this place has both of the local treasures.

Three years ago, Boss Lang sent troops to garrison this place. On the basis of the original natural defenses, they carried out a large-scale construction project, turning this place into a strong fortified stronghold.

Boss Lang had already considered this: if he were to be defeated and forced to retreat from the old city, he would go to Langzhai, where no one could do anything to him.

In fact, when Kang Laoda and the government army joined forces to attack him, just in case, Lang Laoda began to secretly move his family to Langzhai, and even moved some officers' families there, leaving Kang Laoda with an empty shell.

Boss Lang stood up, straightened his collar, and a fierce glint rekindled in his eyes.

"Pass on my order: all core personnel must immediately retreat to Langzhai, taking with them all weapons and supplies they can carry."

As for the troops in the city…” He paused, his voice low and cold, “Let them leave a small number to continue the resistance and buy us time.”

The adjutant nodded knowingly, then turned and quickly left.

Boss Lang walked to the safe, quickly took out a stack of documents and several heavy bags of gold bars, and stuffed them into his briefcase.

He took one last look around this once-powerful command post. The battle map on the wall still marked the former sphere of influence, but now it was all just a memory.

In the distance, sporadic gunshots could be faintly heard; it was the last resistance of the fleeing soldiers.

The staff officers in the command post looked at each other in bewilderment. Some had already begun to secretly pack up their documents, preparing to evacuate.

"Commander-in-chief, we..." the adjutant began cautiously, but was interrupted by Boss Lang raising his hand.

He slowly stood up, straightened his disheveled collar, and suddenly let out a chilling laugh: "Alright, everyone's here..."

As Lang Laoda strode out of the command post, he bumped into the chief of staff who was rushing over.

The chief of staff looked anxious: "Boss, the retreat route has been arranged, but government reconnaissance planes have been circling over us. I'm afraid..."

"Take the mountain trail!" Boss Lang interrupted him sharply, a sly glint in his eyes. "The emergency passage built three years ago should come in handy now."

The chief of staff suddenly realized what was happening and immediately issued an order via walkie-talkie.

Boss Lang led several trusted men through a hidden door at the back of the command post and into a deep tunnel.

The damp air was filled with the smell of earth, and under the dim light, the moss on the walls was faintly visible.

The tunnel winds its way through a dense forest on the outskirts of the old town.

As he walked briskly forward, Boss Lang pondered his next plan.

He knew that although Langzhai was easy to defend and difficult to attack, the government army would never let him go easily.

He must contact foreign powers as soon as possible to seek new support.

Stepping out of the tunnel, the blinding sunlight made Boss Lang squint.

In the distance, several SUVs had been waiting for a long time.

He glanced back towards the old city; smoke still lingered, and the sounds of gunfire could be faintly heard.

"Get in the car!" Boss Lang commanded in a low voice, and was the first to climb into the car.

With engines roaring, the convoy sped toward Langzhai in the northwest.

Outside the car window, the scenery rushed past, but Boss Lang's eyes grew increasingly cold.

"Boss Kang, government forces, do you think this is the end?" He clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm. "As long as Boss Lang is alive, this game is far from over!"

The convoy gradually moved into the distance, disappearing into the towering mountains. Meanwhile, the flames of war continued to burn in the old city.

The convoy bumped along the rugged mountain road. Looking out the car window at the distant, undulating mountains, a cold smile appeared on Lang Laoda's lips.

He took out his satellite phone and dialed an encrypted number.

"Hello, it's me." Boss Lang's voice was deep and hoarse. "I need you to fulfill the promise you made three years ago."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a male voice with a heavy accent: "Old friend, you're in a bad situation right now."

"Enough with the nonsense!" Boss Lang interrupted sharply. "You know the coordinates of Lang Village. I want to see the first batch of weapons within three days."

I'll give you double the price!

Wow! You're so generous! But it's not enough, my friend!

"Thomas, don't be so greedy. Who else but me would pay a high price for that pile of junk you have?"

"No, no, no, my friend, that's not how it's done. That was the usual price. Now you're about to be finished, surrounded by enemies, and I'm also taking a huge risk, okay..."

"Fuck... triple! If that's not enough, I'd rather go into the mountains and fight a guerrilla war..."

"Hahaha... Deal."

"That damned vulture..." After slamming down the phone, Boss Lang signaled the driver to speed up.

As the convoy rounded a sharp bend, an armed patrol suddenly appeared ahead.

The adjutant gripped his gun tightly in tension, but Boss Lang waved his hand and said, "Don't panic, they're our Langzhai support troops."

The leading officer strode forward and saluted: "Boss, the village is ready. We've taken care of Boss Kang's spies."

The eldest brother, Lang, nodded in satisfaction: "Very good. Tell the brothers, from today onwards, we will let everyone know that the Lang family is not finished!"

The convoy drove into the deep mountains, where the road grew narrower and narrower. In the distance, the outline of a village built against the mountainside gradually came into view.

The towering walls, the numerous sentry posts, and the faintly visible heavy weapons all demonstrate the defensive strength of this mountain stronghold.

As the convoy entered the village gate, the family members who had been waiting for a long time came to greet them.

Looking at his wife and children, a rare tenderness flashed in Lang Laoda's eyes.

But he quickly regained his cold expression and turned to his adjutant, saying:

"Convene a military meeting immediately. I need to know the reserves of every bullet and every grain of food in the village."

As the sun sets, the council hall in Langzhai is brightly lit.

Boss Lang stood in front of the sand table, listening to his subordinates report on the defense deployment.

He occasionally made marks on the sand table with a red pen, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"Plant landmines here, here, and here," he said, pointing to several key routes into the mountains. "If the government army dares to come, let them taste what hell on earth is like!"

As night deepened, Elder Lang stood alone at the highest point of the village, gazing towards the old town.

The night wind tousled his hair, but it couldn't dispel the hatred in his heart.

He took out an old copper coin that he always carried with him and rubbed it repeatedly in the moonlight.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river," he muttered to himself. "Old Kang, we'll see."

It is said that Lang Laoda's army, which was guarding the old city, retreated without a fight. Kang Laoda's troops, who launched an attack from the south of the old city, easily broke through the defense line, crossed fifty kilometers in a day, and occupied the old city.

Kang Laoda rode in an off-road vehicle, slowly making its way through the smoke-filled streets.

He wore a victor's smile, but his eyes constantly scanned his surroundings warily.

"Old City, I, Kang... am finally back."

This once prosperous city is now a scene of devastation, with bullet holes riddled with buildings on both sides of the street and the air thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder.

"Reporting to the commander, the search of Boss Lang's command post has been completed." An officer ran up quickly, saluted, and said, "All the important documents have been taken away, leaving only some unimportant information."

Kang the Elder scoffed, "He really is an old fox. Pass down the order to immediately organize a pursuit force and intercept them at all costs!"

Just then, a communications soldier rushed over: "Report! The 3rd Division of the government army has moved into the north of the city, and they are demanding that we evacuate the old city immediately!"

Kang Laoda's face instantly darkened. He gripped the riding whip tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The staff officers nearby looked at each other, none of them daring to utter a sound.

"Fine, so they're going to kick you away after you've served your purpose," Kang said through gritted teeth.

He had long anticipated this day, but he hadn't expected the government army to be so impatient.

"Get me contact Aung San, the ZF army's frontline commander. I want to ask him why he broke his promise..." Kang Laoda said to his adjutant, sitting in the chair that Lang Laoda used to sit in.

"Yes, I will contact the government immediately!" The adjutant saluted and immediately picked up the radio to make contact.

The adjutant's fingers moved rapidly across the radio buttons, and a piercing static crackled through the headset.

Kang Laoda impatiently tapped the table with his belt, his eyes fixed on the old city map on the wall, riddled with bullet holes.

"Reporting, boss, we've made contact!" The adjutant suddenly straightened up and handed the microphone to Boss Kang.

Kang grabbed the microphone, his voice filled with suppressed anger: "Hello, is this Commander Aung San? This is Kang... What do you mean by this?"
Why should our troops withdraw from the old city?

Are we going to go back on our agreement now?

This is a betrayal of your trust..."

A low laugh came from the other end of the phone: "Boss Kang, the situation has changed."

Things are different now. Boss Lang's troops were not completely wiped out, but successfully retreated.

His strength hasn't been greatly diminished. Even if he cede the old city to you, you wouldn't be able to defend it with your strength.

Therefore, the higher-ups just issued me the latest operational order, requiring my unit to take full control of the old city's defenses to prevent a counterattack from Boss Lang.

"Bullshit!" Boss Kang slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly. "If we don't talk about it, Boss Lang has already been beaten into a stray dog. How dare he retaliate against Laocheng? I think you just want to take Laocheng for yourselves."

"Calm down, Chief Kang," Aung San's voice remained unhurried. "We can designate an area in the east of the city for your troops to temporarily garrison. My troops will be stationed in the west, and the old city will be jointly defended by both sides. As for the other conditions..."

"Alright!" Kang Laoda shouted sternly, then said into the microphone, "Commander Aung San, we appreciate your 'good intentions'."

However, you don't need to worry about the Kang family army.

After hanging up the phone, Boss Kang quickly put on his military cap, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Pass on my order: the entire army must retreat to the east of the city within one hour. The alleyways there are complex and easy to defend, but difficult to attack."

Furthermore, I've taken all the weapons left behind by the boss of the West City area; they absolutely cannot be left to the government army!

As soon as the order was given, the command center sprang into action.

Standing by the window, Kang Laoda gazed at the government troops gathering in the distance, a cold smile appearing on his lips: "Trying to play dirty tricks? Let's see who's more ruthless!"

The old town was shrouded in an eerie silence under the cover of night.

The soldiers of Kang's army were silently moving weapons and ammunition from the armory, deliberately keeping the noise of the truck engines to a minimum.

He lit a cigar, and the bluish-white smoke swirled in the moonlight, reflecting on his ever-changing face.

Kang Laoda did not expect that the government army would be so eager to reap the rewards of their victory so soon after they had just won.

(End of this chapter)