Hong Kong General: Rebirth of Rage, Rising from Prison

Chapter 271 verdict: You're to retire in Stanley!

In court, the presiding judge had the prosecutor read out the charges against Zhang Chongbang and others, including seven counts such as manslaughter, torture resulting in death, violation of police regulations, falsification, fabrication of facts, and fraud.

"Bring witnesses to court."

The presiding judge solemnly proceeded to the next item.

The eight citizens rescued from room 1304 of Guangchang Building were brought into the courtroom to testify one by one.

"Lord, we killed people and saved these citizens. They will surely speak up for us, right?"

Lu Sihui asked nervously in a low voice.

"of course."

Zhang Chongbang answered decisively and with full confidence, which reassured his subordinates somewhat.

That's right, they're the ones who saved these people, so there's no reason not to protect them.

The testimonies of the eight citizens are crucial and could influence the jury's verdict against them.

The first person to appear in court was the bald old man in 1304 who wore a striped t-shirt; today he was wearing a white shirt.

Standing in the witness stand, with his hand on the Bible, he swore an oath:

"I swear to Almighty God that all my testimony is true and factual, and there is no falsehood in it."

After taking the oath, he gave a statement and testified about the events that occurred.

“Strictly speaking, we weren’t rescued by Inspector Cheung and his team, because the bomb was just a toy. Even if it exploded, it wouldn’t cause any harm. Killing people for it is going too far.”

The great white shark's expression froze instantly, its eyes widening as it stared at the old man in disbelief.

Zhang Chongbang's eyes were also filled with surprise.

Upon hearing this testimony, he seemed to have been struck by a stick, and his whole body trembled slightly.

Everyone was stunned.

Then, the witnesses took turns going up on stage, and their statements became increasingly unfavorable to Zhang Chongbang and the others.

"As far as I know, Inspector Zhang's wife was also kidnapped at the time. Concern can cloud judgment, so who knows if their efforts were to save us or his wife that led them to be so ruthless?"

"Saving lives is a police officer's job, but killing people is not!"

"I don't know anything. Killing someone is unnecessary!"

……

One by one, witnesses came to court to testify.

There are old and young, men and women.

Some witnesses are indifferent to matters that don't concern them.

Some witnesses, dissatisfied with the police's performance on the day of the rescue, took the opportunity to vent their frustrations.

Some witnesses, after watching the news report, were indignant and spoke out for the victims' families.

The responses were varied, but not a single person stood up to say a good word for Zhang Chongbang and the others.

These words, one after another, pierced Zhang Chongbang's heart like a thousand knives, leaving him utterly devastated.

His fists were clenched, his eyes wide open, staring at the hostages he had saved by sacrificing his wife, his marriage, and his future. His heart began to crumble.

There was no longer that nonchalant ease with which he advised others to be magnanimous and to let go of worries.

The surging hatred within him felt like a volcano about to erupt at any moment. He clenched his teeth, and hatred burst forth from his eyes.

"Keng!"

Zhang Chongbang gripped the railing with both hands, the handcuffs on his wrists making a metallic clanging sound.

He stared intently at the witnesses, his suppressed rage reaching a breaking point.

Similarly, Da Baisha, Lu Sihui, and other police officers were all enraged. They stood up abruptly, their faces full of anger, and they could no longer hold back.

"Damn, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Damn it, you bastards, I shouldn't have saved you in the first place!"

"You ungrateful wretch, like the farmer and the snake, you don't deserve to be called human!"

"Damn you! You should have been blown to bits back then!"

"What nonsense are you talking about? We saved you, and this is how you treat us?"

……

Great White Shark and the others, their eyes wide with rage, jaw muscles bulging, veins bulging, knuckles clenched until white, could not suppress their anger and cursed at the witnesses.

Chen Shixian watched with great interest as they struggled, went berserk, became angry, hated, resentful, and regretful, his expression one of great satisfaction.

"Back then in court, Huo Zhaotang treated us the same way. What did Zhang Chongbang say later?"

Popcorn immediately put on a high-pitched voice and picked it up to imitate: "We are police officers, saving lives is our duty. We don't need to repay great kindness, just do good deeds and don't worry about the future."

After putting on a show, he snorted disdainfully, "Zhang Chongbang, you spout this load of bullshit, always acting like a saint. But now that they've been betrayed, they're even more agitated than we were back then."

"That face was uglier than eating shit."

"Isn't he supposed to be magnanimous and easygoing? Why is he so agitated now?"

Chen Shixian's lips curled up slightly: "Because persuading people doesn't cost anything."

"It makes him seem aloof, magnanimous, and sophisticated."

Baozhu, Qiu Gangao, Ahua, and the others all looked at Zhang Chongbang with disdain and smiles, their faces full of schadenfreude.

"Quiet!"

The presiding judge slammed his gavel down, looking at Zhang Chongbang and the others with displeasure: "Defendants, please remain calm, otherwise, it will be considered that you are disrupting court order."

Zhang Chongbang, Great White Shark, and the others, their faces flushed red, slowly sat down.

They all stared menacingly as the hostages walked off the witness stand.

"Next, please have the on-site commander at the time, Superintendent Cheung Man-yiu, come to court to testify."

Zhang Wenyao walked in and headed towards the witness stand.

He looked like he was at an awards ceremony, dressed in a suit and tie and looking radiant, not like someone coming to court. This contrasted sharply with the dejected appearance of Zhang Chongbang and the others.

After all, while Zhang Chongbang and his men suffered for wiping out the bandit king's gang, he gained both fame and fortune.

As soon as Zhang Wenyao stepped onto the witness stand, he saw Chen Shixian in the audience.

He nodded slightly without making a sound, and their eyes met briefly as a greeting.

"Boss, it's Inspector Zhang!"

"He certainly won't talk nonsense like those heartless hostages; he'll definitely speak up for us."

The Great White Shark saw Zhang Wenyao enter and spoke with hope.

"That's right, Inspector Zhang swore back then that he would protect us!"

Cao Yun spoke up.

If Zhang Wenyao can testify for them, at least there is still a chance that their torture and forced confession that led to death will be resolved.

Zhang Chongbang noticed the exchange of glances between Zhang Wenyao and Chen Shixian, but his face showed worry.

“Superintendent Cheung, in the defendant’s statement, you said that before the operation began, you ordered them to prioritize the hostages and implied that you would support them no matter what methods they used, even if they went too far.”

"If something goes wrong, you'll protect them and take all the blame, right?"

"Da da!"

Zhang Wenyao patted the megaphone in front of him, and his voice echoed in the empty courtroom.

He cleared his throat and said slowly, "I'm sorry, I think there might be some misunderstanding here."

"As the on-site commander at the time, I did order them to rescue the hostages as quickly as possible in order to save them."

Ignoring the earnest expressions of Zhang Chongbang and the Great White Shark, he changed the subject: "However, I have never asked them to use extreme measures, nor have I allowed them to abuse their power, and of course I will not allow them to kill anyone!"

? ? ? ? ! ! ! !
Zhang Chongbang, Great White Shark, and the others were stunned by these words, their faces turning extremely grim.

Were they also betrayed?
Why say it?

Zhang Chongbang was slightly taken aback.

Memories overlap with the present.

The words that Situ Jie uttered in court back then are highly similar to the words that Zhang Wenyao is saying now.

At that moment, he was stunned.

So, do they want to follow the same old path that Chen Shixian and his group took?

No, no!
Zhang Chongbang panicked.

His wife is in the hospital and is about to give birth; the baby is about to be born.

I absolutely cannot be a criminal father.

Although he is not a rising star in the police force, he is already an inspector at a young age, and his future is bright.

We can't let it be destroyed like this.

At this moment, Zhang Chongbang's will to survive exploded. Listening to Zhang Wenyao's repeated attempts to distance himself from the situation, he gritted his teeth, his face contorted with resentment, and loudly questioned:

"Officer Zhang, you clearly promised us you would protect us, how can you go back on your word now?"

"I only told you to do things, not to kill people!"

Zhang Wenyao, without batting an eye, disregarded the lives of Zhang Chongbang and the others, and with an air of righteousness, glanced around at everyone present and loudly declared his position: "I am a police superintendent and the on-site commander. As a superior, it is reasonable for me to exert pressure on my subordinates in order to solve the case."

"However, all of this is within the bounds of the law." "Police officers take an oath from the first day they join the force and memorize the police sermon. They must strictly abide by the rules and regulations at all times and in all places."

"It is absolutely unacceptable to bend the law for personal gain."

"This is an ironclad discipline, an unwavering bottom line!"

"Every police officer should keep this in mind and always remember it!"

Zhang Wenyao spoke with righteous indignation, turning the witness testimonies into his own pronouncement of justice.

Just kidding, he's now a role model in the police force, a manufactured hero.

How could I possibly associate with these rotten fish and shrimp?

Moreover, everything he has now is the work of his sugar daddy, Chen Shixian.

If you've taken advantage of someone and are now being held accountable, it's impossible to cooperate obediently and admit everything you promised in court without being out of your mind.

Chen Shixian nodded slightly, satisfied with Zhang Wenyao's performance.

"You bastard, you scumbag!"

"Trying to shift the blame afterward, you scum, you're not even human!"

"You bastard, I won't let you get away with this!"

……

Great White Shark, Cao Yun, and the others were enraged. Looking at Zhang Wenyao's face, they cursed him furiously.

Unlike their fury, Zhang Chongbang's face was gloomy, his cold gaze sweeping over Zhang Wenyao and Chen Shixian's faces, his jawline taut.

The heart is ashamed.

Everything I've suffered today must have been orchestrated, including my testimony in court.

A sense of despair and intense hatred welled up within him.

"Defendant, please control your emotions!"

The presiding judge reiterated this point.

"Bang bang!"

The bailiff banged his baton against the iron bars, his eyes filled with intimidation: "Sit down!"

"Shut up!"

Zhang Chongbang's face darkened as he reprimanded him.

Continuing to make a scene will not help and will only leave a bad impression on the judge.

Now, everything is out of control, and we can only leave it to fate.

Next to appear in court were He Luping, the newly recruited police officer who had advised Zhang Chongbang and the Great White Shark in room 1304, as well as some of his colleagues who worked closely with him in the police force.

“At the time, I reminded Inspector Cheung and the others that torture is illegal and irregular. We are police officers and must remember the bottom line.”

"But they didn't listen and insisted on doing things their own way."

The prosecutor pressed further: "So, at that time, Zhang Chongbang and the others clearly knew what they were doing, right?"

After hesitating for a moment, He Luping nodded: "Yes."

Zhang Chongbang, Great White Shark, and the others closed their eyes in despair, while Lü Sihui covered her face and began to sob softly.

The last glimmer of hope was utterly extinguished.

None of their former colleagues, with whom they had a good relationship, spoke up for them.

They have been completely abandoned by the police force.

Despair was written all over their faces.

After rounds of evidence presentation, witness testimony, and jury voting, the trial proceeded.

Soon, the presiding judge, holding the verdict that would determine the fate of Zhang Chongbang and others, announced the results.

"All rise!"

"In this case, the defendants Zhang Chongbang et al. are suspected of seven charges, including manslaughter, torture resulting in death, violation of police regulations, falsification and fabrication of facts, and fraud. After review by this court and hearing the testimonies of both the prosecution and the defense, this court believes that the evidence is conclusive and sufficient."

"Now, based on the jury's verdict, we will pronounce the sentence."

"Because the defendant's behavior was egregious and he was a former public official who knowingly broke the law, his crime is aggravated."

"The death sentence for Zhang Chongbang and others is upheld!"

The presiding judge raised his gavel and brought it down with a thud, settling everything down.

"The court is now adjourned!"

Below the stage, reporters' flashbulbs were constantly going off, and many cameras were focused on the expressions of Zhang Chongbang and others after hearing the verdict.

Zhang Chongbang, Great White Shark, and the others stood frozen in place, as if drowning, their faces extremely pale, and even their breathing stopped.

It took a long time for me to come back to my senses.

Everything that's happened recently feels like a dream.

No one could believe it was true.

Not long ago, they were police officers in uniform, wielding power.

Now, tell them they're all sentenced to death, they're all doomed?!

Although Hong Kong Island does not have a true death penalty, all death sentences are pardoned by the Queen and become life imprisonment.

However, this also means that they will have to spend the rest of their lives in Stanley.

Just thinking about it is incredibly despairing and painful.

"Wow!"

From the audience below the courtroom, Popcorn let out an exaggerated gasp of excitement, as if the judge had announced some good news.

He shouted praises at the judge's retreating figure, "Judge, you are wise! Well done!"

"Fair and just, well done!"

Qiu Gang'ao, Ahua, and Aquan were all overjoyed.

With a "whoosh".

Zhang Chongbang, Great White Shark, and the others all turned their attention to this. The Bursting Beads' actions were tantamount to rubbing salt into their wounds.

Dancing on someone else's grave.

"Chen Shixian, I know this is all your conspiracy. You are cunning and despicable, using despicable means to distort the facts, reverse right and wrong, and frame us!"

"This is contempt of the law, this is a crime."

"You are shameless, despicable, and despicable! You deserve to go to hell!"

Urged on by the bailiffs, Zhang Chongbang couldn't help but turn his head, grit his teeth, and shout loudly with bloodshot eyes.

"Officer, can I have two minutes to say something?"

Chen Shixian, Qiu Gang'ao, and others stepped forward and greeted the bailiffs.

The bailiffs were acquainted with Au Wing-yan, and Chan Sai-yin had also made some arrangements with them before going to court.

They naturally slowed their pace, giving them some space.

"Zhang Chongbang, did I frame you?"

Chen Shixian chuckled: "You didn't torture someone to death?"

"You're accused of manslaughtering Inspector Yao, deceiving your superiors, and falsely claiming credit—you have no part in that?"

He reached out to straighten Zhang Chongbang's crooked bow tie, his gaze suddenly turning cold, and he said in a lecturing tone:
“Inspector Zhang, you’ve said it before, a suspect’s life is also a life. If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price.”

Why are you so agitated now?

"You think you've done nothing wrong and are completely unrepentant?"

Zhang Chongbang's face stiffened. These were the words he had said to Chen Shixian and the others back then.

The arrow shot back then has now struck right between the eyebrows.

His lips moved slightly as he tried to argue, "I'm not like you. We were forced to do this to save people!"

"The killing of Inspector Yao was an accident!"

"Hahaha!"

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Shixian burst into laughter without any restraint, laughing so hard that his whole body trembled and tears streamed down his face.

"Zhang Chongbang, that's the funniest joke I've ever heard."

"Back then, weren't we trying to save people?"

“You didn’t react this way back then.”

"For the sake of your hypocritical sense of justice, you chose to help the thief rather than your own brothers."

"You said, wrong is wrong, and right is right. People can make mistakes, but they can't go down the wrong path."

“At that time, you pointed your finger at us and said that torture and forced confessions led to death, and we can’t deny it for the rest of our lives.”

"Similarly, you can't deny the deaths of Inspector Yao and the six officers, and you can't deny that Ji Zhengxiong was tortured to death by you!"

"Now, you're returning all of this to you, and you just say you had no choice, that it was an accident? That's ridiculous."

"In short, from now on, your so-called justice is worthless!"

(End of this chapter)