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

Chapter 772 Everyone's Prepared!!!

Lang Yuancai angrily slammed the communicator in his hand to the ground. The metal casing bounced a few times on the wooden floor, making a piercing impact sound.

The entire command center fell silent instantly; everyone held their breath.

"My 'Scorpion' team, which I've painstakingly cultivated for many years, has been completely wiped out?" He repeated these four words through gritted teeth, then suddenly turned around and kicked over the sand table next to him, scattering plastic models and marker flags all over the floor.

“I don’t believe it… This scorpion has failed me; he’s a complete waste! And Steven the Scorpion is a complete waste too…”

His subordinate mustered his courage and stepped forward to persuade the enraged Lang Yuancai: "S-order, the most urgent task now is to strengthen defenses..."

"Shut the hell up!" Lang Yuancai interrupted him roughly, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the battle map.

Reluctantly, he grabbed a red pen and drew a large X on the ambush site, so hard it almost pierced the paper.

"...These special forces soldiers have ruined my plans again. I must find a way to get rid of them..."

Lang Yuancai's chest heaved violently, and the veins on his forehead bulged like twisted earthworms.

He suddenly ripped open his collar, revealing a hideous scar on his neck—a mark left from a battle with the government army many years ago.

"Keep recruiting those mercenaries who live on the edge, any number you want, the better the better, I have plenty of money..."

"Yes, sir!" one of his men shouted, standing at attention.

Not long after, Steven returned with a few remnants of the "Sea Wolves".

Lang Yuancai quickly walked to the window and saw Steven being helped out of the car by two men, his right arm wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage.

When Steven "Sea Wolf" and others staggered into the command post, Lang Yuancai had regained his outward composure, but the throbbing veins on his temples betrayed his inner rage.

"Mr. Steven, how did you get so badly injured? Someone, quickly take Mr. Steven to the mountain stronghold to see a doctor." Lang Yuancai said, feigning concern.

Steven weakly raised his head, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. Gone was his former arrogance; he hung his head like a defeated rooster.

His lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something, but Lang Yuancai raised his hand to stop him.

"Hehe, let's heal our injuries first. We can talk about this later!" Lang Yuancai's voice suddenly became gentle, but the coldness in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.

After the medical staff helped Steven away, Lang Yuancai's face instantly darkened.

……

Meanwhile, Kang Jiasheng, far away in the old city, was also worried about the situation of the escort convoy.

"S order, Lieutenant Kang from the escort convoy is calling." At this moment, a communications soldier suddenly stood up and reported.

Kang Jiasheng strode to the radio, grabbed the receiver, his knuckles turning white from the force. "Hello, this is Kang Jiasheng. How is the convoy going?" His voice was filled with suppressed anxiety.

Intermittent static and sporadic gunshots came from the other end of the microphone. "Reporting to Commander S, Mr. Zhang's assault team, along with our support troops, arrived simultaneously and eliminated Lang Yuancai's 'Scorpion' guard. The convoy is now safe."

Kang Jiasheng's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and the microphone trembled slightly in his hand.

He took a deep breath, his voice steady and powerful: "Very good, immediately escort the captured 'Number Four' to the designated location, strengthen the guard along the way, and absolutely no more mistakes can be made!"

After hanging up the call, he turned to look out the window. The afterglow of the setting sun gilded the outline of the old city with a blood-red hue. Kang Jiasheng's fingers tapped unconsciously on the table, a thought flashing through his mind—the success of this operation would probably thoroughly enrage that madman, Lang Yuancai.

"Pass down the order," he suddenly said, his voice low and firm, "In order to prevent Lang Yuancai from resorting to desperate measures, all strongholds are to be placed on high alert, and patrols are to be increased, especially the main roads leading to Lang Yuancai's territory, which must be guarded at all costs."

"Report!" Hurried footsteps came from outside the door, and his intelligence chief, Sagabalai, rushed in. "S order, our intelligence department has just intercepted an important piece of information. Lang Yuancai's men are making contact with the two international mercenary groups, 'Blood Wolf' and 'Black Spider,' on the black market."

Kang Jiasheng's pupils suddenly contracted.

He had heard of these two notorious mercenary groups even in the "Golden Three Region".

Sagabalai strode over and handed over the latest intelligence: "S Order, Lang Yuancai is not only contacting mercenary organizations, but also purchasing a batch of heavy weapons at high prices on the black market."

"Saga, your intelligence department is to keep a close eye on this news from today onwards. I need to know every move that old fox Lang Yuancai makes..."

"Yes!".

Meanwhile, in Lang Yuancai's mountain stronghold, a doctor was treating Steven's wounds.

The intense pain from the alcohol irritating his wounds caused Steven to break out in a cold sweat, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Outside the door, Lang Yuancai's footsteps grew closer, each step seeming to tread on Steven's taut nerves.

“Mr. Steven,” Lang Yuancai pushed open the door and entered with a fake smile on his face, “Are you alright? How badly are you injured?” But his gaze swept coldly over Steven’s right arm, which was wrapped in bandages.

Steven swallowed hard. "Lang Sling, this operation failed because I was careless. I didn't expect these special forces soldiers to be just as capable as our 'Sea Wolves,' and they were also equipped with three assault vehicles, giving them formidable firepower. That's why our ambush failed..."

Lang Yuancai suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing eerily in the cramped infirmary. "Hahaha... This temporary setback isn't so terrible," he abruptly stopped laughing, his eyes turning sinister, "What's terrible is being scared out of your wits, then you're all for nothing, Mr. Steven, what do you say?"

Steven broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this, realizing the threatening tone in Lang Yuancai's words.

The smell of disinfectant in the infirmary suddenly became pungent, and the air seemed to freeze.

“Lang S’s lesson is right,” Steven said, forcing himself to sit up straight, his voice hoarse. “I, Steven, have been in the underworld for over a decade and have never been afraid of anyone.”

"I've suffered a setback this time, but I'm determined to get my revenge tenfold!"

Lang Yuancai nodded in satisfaction, reached out and patted Steven's shoulder, but the force was so strong it felt like he was choking him.

“That’s more like it. I’ve already sent someone to contact the ‘Black Spider’ mercenary group. They’re experts in assassination and sabotage.” He leaned down and whispered in Steven’s ear, his voice like a viper’s hiss. “Once your injuries have healed, I want you to personally lead the team and teach those special forces a lesson they’ll never forget.”

Steven felt a chill run down his spine, but he still nodded with a forced smile.

Lang Yuancai straightened up with satisfaction, turned and walked towards the door, but suddenly stopped at the doorway.

“By the way,” he said without turning his head, “I heard you have a younger sister studying in London? I’ve already sent someone to ‘take care’ of her. You just focus on recovering from your injury and helping me out.”

Steven shuddered at these words, his clenched fists digging deep into his palms.

He then realized that he had long since become a pawn in Lang Yuancai's hands.

"Hehe, Steven, I'm a man of fair rewards and punishments, so I've decided to give you another chance. You can't afford to make another mistake..." Lang Yuancai patted Steven's shoulder one last time, revealing his true intentions, and strode away.

After Lang Yuancai left, the infirmary fell into a deathly silence.

When you're under someone's roof, you have no choice but to be accommodating and hypocritical.

Steven and his Seawolf crew suffered heavy casualties in this mission, and Steven himself was also seriously injured. He needs to recuperate with Lang Yuancai and cannot leave for the time being.

Most importantly, Steven and his men hadn't received their payment yet, and he couldn't explain it to his men. Steven was no pushover; he stared at the ceiling of the infirmary, his eyes gradually turning cold. "Heh heh... you bastard, who do you think you are?"

…………

The reinforcements sent by Kang Jiasheng successfully met up with the escort convoy in the old city. The two teams joined forces and embarked on their journey back to the old city in a grand procession.

With the combined force now numbering three hundred and close to the old city, Zhang Jincheng's tense nerves finally relaxed.

Watching the convoy drive away, and confirming that it was safe, he led the assault team to turn around and speed back towards "Awa Mountain Village" along the mountain road they had come from.

At this time, the defense of "Awa Mountain Village" was quite weak, with only a company from the old town and self-defense members from "Old Miao Village" remaining to guard it.

Moreover, the self-defense team members of "Old Miao Village" also need to rush back to "Old Miao Village" to guard against those DX warlords taking advantage of the situation.

After returning to "Awa Mountain Village", the commando team immediately began a new round of deployment work.

They first arranged for the local mountain militia of "Lao Miao Village" to return to their base to ensure its safety.

Subsequently, with the assistance of Agui, who was familiar with the local situation, the assault team began to set up the self-defense force of "Awa Mountain Village".

They carefully selected both strong young men from the local mountain people and capable individuals from captured soldiers, striving to build an elite self-defense force that could both protect their homeland and be familiar with the terrain.

Upon learning that they could join the mountain people's self-defense force, the villagers of "Awa Mountain Village" and some of the surrendered soldiers showed great enthusiasm.

They learned from the self-defense members of those "old Miao villages" that the self-defense forces of the mountain people were completely different from those rampant DX armed groups. They were a righteous force fighting to protect their homes and defend their loved ones.

What's even more appealing is that joining the mountain people's self-defense force not only allows you to protect your homeland and defend the dignity of your village, deterring outsiders from easily invading, but also provides you with generous benefits and excellent welfare.

For example, an ordinary member of the self-defense force can receive a monthly living allowance of 800 yuan after joining the team. This income is equivalent to two months' income for an average local farmer.

In addition, they receive three brand-new military uniforms every year, fully equipped inside and out.

In terms of daily diet, all three meals a day are provided by the military canteen, with a variety of dishes and balanced nutrition.

Such a level of compensation is enough for a family of four to live a comfortable life and even save a considerable amount of money.

As night fell, the bonfire in "Awa Mountain Village" illuminated the resolute faces of the newly formed self-defense team members.

As the captain of this newly formed mountain people's self-defense force, A-Gui stood on the makeshift reviewing stand, his gaze sweeping over these young people who were about to shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting their homeland.

"From today onwards, we are the guardians of this mountain stronghold." His voice echoed through the valley. "Remember, the weapons in your hands are not for killing, but for protecting your homes and loved ones."

Ah Gui walked to the front of the line, his dark face filled with determination.

He addressed the villagers, shouting in the local dialect, "This is where our ancestors have lived for generations, and now we finally have our own strength!"

A cheer erupted from the crowd.

Several elderly people with white hair wiped away their tears. They never imagined that one day they would see their children and grandchildren take up arms not to fight, but to protect the land where they had lived for generations.

Zhang Jincheng and his assault team stood quietly at a distance from the crowd, observing the ceremony. His gaze was intense as he watched A Gui deliver his impassioned speech.

"Look, it's truly gratifying," Zhuang Yan said with a knowing smile, his eyes shining with approval. "Brother A-Gui has now transformed into a truly outstanding leader, exuding LX's style in every gesture!"

Zhang Jincheng nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

Ah Gui was the first friend they met in the "Jin San area" and one of the greatest contributors since the establishment of the commando team.

He noticed that several young men in the group were standing up straight, their eyes shining with determination.

"Report, Captain!" A burly young mountain dweller suddenly stepped forward. "Hehe... When are we issued guns? I want to learn how to use a gun as soon as possible!"

Ah Gui laughed heartily, patted the young man on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, it will start at dawn tomorrow."

"But remember, guns are not toys; you must learn to respect them." He looked at the rest of the team, "Everyone go home and get some rest tonight. Starting tomorrow morning, we'll prove our resolve with our sweat!"

By the light of the campfire, several commandos began distributing uniforms and training equipment to the new recruits.

Zhuang Yan squatted on the ground, patiently teaching several young people how to tighten their leg bindings.

As the sun sets, the cooks from the old town and some women from the mountain villages set up more than a dozen large pots and were busily preparing a sumptuous dinner.

Amidst the rising smoke, the delicate aroma of rice mingles with the rich flavor of cured meat, making one's mouth water.

These ingredients were all spoils of war seized by the commando team from the Michael warehouse.

In this battle, the commando team not only completely wiped out Michael's forces, but also seized countless amounts of money and mountains of supplies.

The logistics staff were extremely busy just counting the spoils of war.

The wealth accumulated by the Mi family over two generations was thus wiped out by the raiding party.

The most astonishing items were over ten tons of high-quality rice and tens of thousands of kilograms of top-grade cured meat, which were originally intended for Mi Gao's family and as reserve rations to feed his troops.

To celebrate the rebirth of "Awa Mountain Village" and the establishment of the mountain people's self-defense force, Liu Xiaotao proposed to hold a bonfire dinner, inviting all men, women, and children of the village to participate, with plenty of rice and meat.

Upon hearing that they would be eating meat and rice that evening, the villagers of Awa Mountain Village were as excited as if it were New Year's Day.

It's no exaggeration at all. The mountain people here don't even have enough to eat on a normal day, let alone have the chance to eat fragrant rice and cured meat. Only the chieftains can afford such a luxurious meal.

The children in the village were absolutely ecstatic. Even before it was time for their meal, they were already drooling around the big pots...

The mountain village was brightly lit under the night sky, and the cheerful sound of the lusheng (a traditional reed pipe instrument) echoed through the valley.

The women, dressed in their festive best, sang folk songs and danced traditional dances, distributing steaming rice and cured meat to everyone present.

The white-haired old man, leaning on his cane, shakily raised the bamboo tube of wine and shouted in his aged yet resonant voice, "May the mountain god bless our warriors!"

"Roar, roar, roar..." The members of the mountain people's self-defense force raised their glasses and roared loudly.

Zhang Jin said that they were surrounded by the crowd, and watching this lively scene made them feel extremely happy. This was the meaning of their struggle.

Zhuang Yan walked over carrying two bamboo tubes and handed one to him: "Captain, come and try the rice wine brewed by Mi Gao's family." Zhang Jincheng took the bamboo tube, tilted his head back and took a sip. His eyes lit up and he said: "Hey, I can taste the flavor of this wine. I remember when we first came to Awa Mountain Village, Mi Gao used this kind of wine to entertain the three of us."

“Yeah, we thought the alcohol content wasn’t too high, so we drank it bowl by bowl. But when we got back, Lei Jun got a little drunk…” Zhuang Yan suddenly stopped talking and looked up at Zhang Jincheng.

Sure enough, Zhang Jincheng also thought of his fallen comrade Lei Jun.

"Yeah, if that brat could live to see this scene, how wonderful that would be..."

(End of this chapter)