Detective: From the Police Academy

Chapter 540 Rush to the Card!

Mae Dian Wa Lai, located in northern Kalun State, is a strategic key location connecting Hpaan and Myawaddy.

The entire journey from Pa-an to Valais is 125 kilometers long and involves crossing at least four armed groups and ten checkpoints.

Two hours have passed since Luo Rui and his convoy passed the last checkpoint that was attacked.

Right now, their four vehicles are driving on NH85, with low shacks and burning fires on both sides.

Inside the car, Cai Xiaojing unfolded the map and said, "We won't reach Valais today. We still have to go through jungle roads, checkpoints, and minefield mountain roads ahead."

If an armed conflict were to break out between KNU and DKBA, the danger would lie at the last point, the Valais Gorge, a crucial pass that would blockade Valais.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Jiang Feng frowned and said, "Something's not right. Look at the local residents in the distance carrying their bags. If it were just a sporadic armed conflict, they wouldn't be fleeing with their families."

Luo Rui pondered for a moment and said, "Call the embassy and ask about the situation."

Jiang Feng took out his satellite phone and was about to dial a number when a call suddenly came in.

Meanwhile, Deng Sheng, who was driving, also had his cell phone ring at the same time.

The two quickly answered the phone.

A few minutes later, they put down the phone, their expressions unusually serious.

Jiang Feng said, "President Luo, it's Director Zhou on the phone."

"How did he say?"

"They told us to turn back immediately because it's not just the KNU and DKBA that are engaged in armed conflict. The Myanmar government army is also gathering in the Hpa-an area to clear out the KNU. A large-scale armed conflict is about to break out!"

Deng Sheng immediately said, "I received a call from Chairman He. He told us to withdraw immediately, otherwise we wouldn't be able to go back."

He said the situation is very dangerous, as the Myanmar government forces want to cut off the ammunition supply line from Thailand to KNU, and the DKBA also wants to profit from it.

Mr. Luo, my advice is that it's best not to take the risk. If the Burmese military government really attacks, they will definitely advance towards Walai, because the KNU 5th Brigade controls the Walai Pass.

Luo Rui frowned; no one had expected this to happen.

A tense atmosphere filled the car, and then a satellite phone call came in.

Jiang Feng picked up the phone and quickly handed it to Luo Rui: "It's Song."

After Luo Rui took the call and pressed the call button, he heard Song Qiyuan's voice from the Yunnan Provincial Department: "Luo Rui, is that you?"

"Director Song, it's me!"

"Where are you now?"

"NH85 highway leading to Valais."

"Return the way you came immediately, don't waste any time! This is the order from our provincial department and ministry. Moreover, Governor Wu and Director Hu of Haidong Province have both called me. The situation is extremely dangerous!"

The Myanmar government army is advancing towards Pa-an, and the KNU will definitely intercept them there. If nothing unexpected happens, the war will break out tomorrow morning!
"Once NH85 is cut off, you'll be trapped inside with nowhere to retreat!"

Luo Rui immediately replied, "I know, and I will follow the arrangements, but two of us have already gone there."

There was silence on the other end of the phone, followed by muttering sounds, indicating that Song Qiyuan was not alone on the other end.

Then his voice came: "Go back to Yangon first, and we'll talk again after the war is over!"

"But……"

"No buts!" Song Qiyuan's tone was extremely stern: "You must understand, this is not in China, this is not a case-solving operation, this is war!"

At this moment, everyone in the car was staring at Luo Rui, waiting for him to give the order.

Luo Rui gritted his teeth, pondered for a long time, and then said to Deng Sheng, who was driving, "Turn around! Go back to Yangon!"

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Feng, Cai Xiaojing, and Lin Chen all breathed a sigh of relief.

Song Qiyuan, who was on the other end of the phone, also heard this: "Luo Rui, you must be extremely careful. If you encounter armed conflict, do not try to break through the checkpoint. We will contact the embassy and the Myanmar authorities now and ask them to make way for you."

"Understood, Director Song."

"Stay in touch at all times, and call the embassy in case of emergency."

"it is good."

After hanging up the phone, Deng Sheng immediately used a walkie-talkie to contact the vehicles behind him.

Immediately afterwards, the car behind became the car in front, two pickup trucks, protecting the SUV that Luo Rui and the others were riding in.

Thein Sheng shouted into the walkie-talkie to the four drivers: "Don't rest on the road. Everyone in the car, pay attention to the road conditions and try to get back to Yangon by dawn tomorrow!"

Luo Rui let out a breath and looked at the rear windshield of the car.

Bao Tianqiang and Yang Zixiong have already gone to Valais, and their fate is truly unpredictable.

On the bright side, they are following Hu Jing's criminal gang, which is backed by DKBA and may also be colluding with KNU, so they shouldn't encounter any accidents on the way.

But the fear is that once their identities are exposed, if they are murdered, their bodies may not even be found.

Seeing Luo Rui's worried expression, Cai Xiaojing squeezed his hand: "Don't worry, let's go back to Yangon first, and if possible, we can go to Myawaddy from Thailand."

Luo Rui nodded, closed his eyes, and leaned back in his chair.

Song Qiyuan was right about one thing: this is war, not solving a case or apprehending a wanted criminal.

In China, when a murder case or a body is discovered, the police will do everything in their power to find clues and bring the murderer to justice no matter what.

However, in Karen State, human life is not valued; people are worthless, and no one cares about human life.

In another SUV sat Qian Baishan, Fang Yonghui, and Qiao Xue.

The three of them kept their eyes on the situation outside the car.

Unlike when they arrived, there were more and more vehicles and local residents carrying luggage along NH85, all trying to escape the impending war zone.

During their visit, they also saw many monks driving cars with the names of Buddhist temples painted in red on the vehicles.

These monks, dressed in yellow robes with one shoulder exposed, maintained order and protected women and children along the way.

As they moved forward, they encountered more and more checkpoints, all of which were KNU checkpoints.

The outpost where the armed conflict had previously occurred has been recaptured by the KNU.

Three tree stumps stand by the roadside near the checkpoint.

Three DKBA militants were tied to the tree stump, one of whom was the militant leader who had confronted Luo Rui earlier.

The three men were dead, their heads bowed, their chests riddled with gun barrels and slashed open with knives.

Blood flowed down their bodies and gathered at their feet.

When Fang Yonghui saw this from inside the car, he was shocked and cursed, "This is truly inhumane! So many people have died in the blink of an eye."

Qiao Xue looked at the previously arrogant armed leader, who had the most wounds on his body, his chest pierced by bayonets.

Two stray dogs, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, were licking the blood at his feet.

Qiao Xue felt nauseous, covered her mouth, and forcibly turned her head away.

At this moment, a long line had already formed ahead, waiting to pass through the checkpoint, and both sides of the road were lined with fully armed soldiers.

Qian Baishan leaned out of the car window, looked around, and said, "There are at least forty people, all armed."

Fang Yonghui saw it too and frowned, saying, "They won't release them!"

Immediately afterwards, cries and pleas came from the checkpoint ahead.

The people in the cars ahead had all gotten out and were standing on the roadside, gradually converging towards the front. A leader in a green military uniform stood on a pickup truck, holding a pistol, and shouted something to the people below.

At this moment, Luo Rui and the others also got out of the car and looked at the area fifty meters ahead.

Jiang Feng asked, "What is he saying?"

Deng Sheng translated, "You have to pay to get across."

"how much is it?"

"7750 million kyats!"

"Huh?" Lin Chen was startled.

Luo Rui said, "That's equivalent to five thousand yuan."

"That's quite a lot. Where would these people get so much money? This is just profiting from the war!"

Qian Baishan said, "That's not true."

Deng Sheng sighed: "If they don't pay, we can't get through. It's like paying for our lives. If we don't get through, the government army will attack first thing tomorrow morning, and then we'll be in danger."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the officer standing on the roof of the vehicle raised his gun and pulled the trigger at someone trying to climb onto his vehicle.

"Bang! Bang!"

Two piercing gunshots rang out in everyone's ears.

At this time, hundreds of people had gathered on the road, all wanting to pass through the checkpoint.

Upon seeing the person who had been shot fall to the ground, the crowd immediately dispersed, none daring to approach.

The officer stood on the roof of the vehicle, looking down at the crowd below like an evil god, shouting continuously.

Luo Rui and his group all felt that this place was no place for humans to stay.

To kill someone so easily, what the hell is the difference between that and an animal?!

Qian Baishan and Fang Yonghui shook their heads, both feeling a tightness in their chests.

Cai Xiaojing, Lin Chen, and Qiao Xue all lowered their heads and clenched their fists.

These are just ordinary people; all they want is to live.

As Deng Sheng listened to the officer's voice, he translated, "He said that those with money should line up, and those without money should get out of here. If anyone is willing to go to the mountains, they can help them with their work. Each person will be provided with two meals and will also receive money."

As the officer continued to shout orders, armed personnel on both sides of the road began to clear the road surface, with vehicles moving to the right and people moving to the left.

Those who did not have a vehicle and were only walking with their packs would be beaten by armed men, either slapped or hit on the head with a rifle butt.

At this moment, in the middle of the vehicle, five monks wearing yellow robes walked forward with their hands clasped together and straw sandals.

The people on the road quickly made way for them. An elderly monk, who was leading the way, walked to the side of the car, looked up at the officer on the roof, and whispered something.

The officer clasped his hands together, bowed, and then ordered his soldiers to open a passage.

People nearby handed their babies to the monks, but only those under three years old.

Adults who tried to give their children over three years old to monks were beaten by armed men.

In an instant, cries and screams rose up and echoed throughout the road.

Shortly afterward, five monks carried the four children into a car and drove it through the passage.

The parents who had just dropped off their children tried to chase after the car, but were punched and kicked by armed men.

Lin Chen sighed deeply: "These monks still have a kind heart."

Deng Sheng shook his head: "Not necessarily. Children under three years old have no memory. After they are taken away, no one knows what will happen to these children."

Hearing this, Lin Chen's eyes widened: "It can't be that bad, can it?"

Qiao Xue also said, "If that's really the case, then it's terrifying."

Cai Xiaojing let out a sigh of relief and said nothing.

Everyone felt a heavy weight pressing on their hearts, making it hard to breathe.

At this point, the officer started shouting again, conveying the same message: either pay to get through, go back, or come with them to the mountains to work for them.

Armed personnel were also maintaining order. Those with money paid and were allowed to pass slowly, while those who didn't have enough money used their cars as collateral to leave this troublesome place with their families.

Almost in the blink of an eye, nearly all the vehicles on the road belonged to armed personnel.

The road was cleared, and Luo Rui and the others got into the car and started driving forward.

Upon reaching the roadblock, Deng Sheng and several others got out of the vehicle and discussed something with the officer from before.

After listening to a few words, the officer walked to the car and looked at Luo Rui and his group.

The security personnel in the two pickup trucks behind had already hidden the rocket launchers and kept the weapons in the vehicles.

If the other party wants to check, they will definitely be able to find it.

But the officer saw that the car was full of Chinese people and knew he dared not forcibly stop them. After receiving a large sum of money, he waved his hand and ordered his men to remove the roadblock.

"Thank you," Deng Sheng said, then quickly led his people into the car.

A moment later, the four vehicles quickly passed through the checkpoint.

Luo Rui glanced back and saw that the roadblocks had been put back in the middle of the road, blocking the civilians who wanted to pass through.

At the same time, the officer from before, with his hands on his tactical belt, turned around and stared at them with a fierce look and a slight smile.

"call……"

Jiang Feng breathed a sigh of relief: "That was a close call."

Deng Sheng looked very sad and said, "The poor ones are all commoners; the ropes are all broken at the thinnest part."

Clearly, Thein Sheng, as a Burmese from the lower classes, likely had a deep understanding of the plight of ordinary people.

It was already six o'clock in the evening, and the sky was gradually getting dark. In the distance, thick smoke billowed.

Luo Rui suddenly spoke up: "Deng Sheng, tell our cars not to get too close, everyone to have their guns in their hands, switch to fully automatic rifles, and don't lock the car doors!"
Two pickup trucks, one in front of the other, and the two men with the rocket launchers, loading the shells, are keeping a close watch on the roads in front, behind, and to both sides!

Deng Sheng turned around and looked at him with surprise.

"Do as I say!"

Deng Sheng nodded and began using the walkie-talkie to contact the vehicles in front and behind.

Jiang Feng swallowed hard and turned to look at Luo Rui.

Luo Rui glanced at him, stood up from his seat, found three sets of bulletproof vests in the trunk, and handed them to Cai Xiaojing and Lin Chen.

"Put them on quickly! If you have bulletproof vests, put them on. If you don't, stuff something in your chest."

Cai Xiaojing and Lin Chen nodded; they understood what Luo Rui was worried about.

Soon, the four vehicles began to adjust, protecting the two SUVs carrying Luo Rui and his group in the middle, and keeping a distance of more than 20 meters between them. Everyone also took out their guns.

Fang Yonghui, Qian Baishan, and Qiao Xue sat in the second-to-last SUV. After hearing Luo Rui's instructions, the three of them immediately found bulletproof vests and put them on.

They were holding either an M16 or an HK416, while vigilantly watching the situation outside the car window...

(End of this chapter)