Taxes are only within machine gun range!

Chapter 148 This humiliating defeat...

"Haha..." The soldier who was turning the knob chuckled again, "But this TV station doesn't always have programs. Let's try our luck. If we're lucky, the programs will be better than those on other TV stations."

As he spoke, the images on the television screen began to change.

"Looks like we're lucky!"

Malakham TV is having a show right now, and it looks really exciting because the camera is on a helicopter, pointed at the sea.

"Interesting, what movie is this?"

The interest of those in the hospital whose injuries were not too serious was immediately piqued.

"This isn't a movie," the soldier who was trying to liven things up said mysteriously. "What this TV station broadcasts are all real military operations! The footage we're seeing now is real footage from not long ago, no more than three days ago."

"Wow, this is so exciting! What's the background of this TV station?"

Because Malakand TV only displays initials on the screen, people who don't watch TV regularly can't immediately glean any useful information from the images.

"Hehe, you'll see when you see it. All I can say is that it's not far from us, it's very close..."

Gail looked at her missing limbs in despair, forcing her gaze to the television and trying to focus on the compensation payment.

So what if he's missing an arm or a leg? He'll be rich in the future!
This is it for my whole life!

Soon, a blue information box appeared on the TV screen, showing a presenter with a very good image and demeanor.

"Wow, this girl looks pretty energetic!"

"Not bad, it's my favorite Da Lei, hahahahaha..."

"It's very close to us. Where is it? I'll have to go there sometime and see if I can visit it myself."

Even those whose testicles were blown up by shells or shrapnel started spouting nonsense without any restraint.

The entire hospital suddenly became vulgar and obscene.

The host glanced seriously at the script in his hand and said, "This evening local time, Malacan TV exclusively reported on a maritime law enforcement operation led by the local tax authority. Local tax authority chief Milton Mins successfully seized a shipment of illegally smuggled heavy weapons and dismantled a group of unidentified armed men attempting to threaten regional security."

At this time, the news headline read, "Footage of maritime operations exposed, smugglers' brutality shocks the nation."

"Chief Milton led an elite tax enforcement team in a surprise attack on a transport ship suspected of smuggling weapons using an armed helicopter. The footage shows the helicopter suppressing enemy fire with machine guns in international waters, while rappelling team members quickly took control of the deck and killed 10 violent smugglers on the spot."

"At the same time, Chief Milton seized an unregistered 152mm D-20 howitzer and its ammunition on board, securing the evidence. All the remaining eight smugglers surrendered and have been arrested and are awaiting trial."

"Chief Milton emphasized that smuggling and tax evasion are crimes that cannot be punished."

"..."

Immediately following was a one-sided battle scene.

They were called violent smugglers, but everyone could see that the most violent ones were the law enforcement team members.

They would first use artillery to relentlessly wash the deck, shouting for people to lay down their weapons and surrender, but in reality, they wouldn't give anyone a chance to surrender. Then, they would have people rappel down, and grenades would be thrown into the cabins like they were free.

If the attack is thwarted, immediately call in helicopters to strafe the interior of the ship from the outside.

No carbon-based life form could withstand such an intense attack and intimidation, and before long, all the smugglers were handcuffed.

The soldiers watching TV were immediately thrilled: "Holy crap! They're using helicopters to raid arms smuggling operations?! That's really exciting, so incredibly exciting!"

"An unregistered large-caliber howitzer? Hmm, something feels off about this."

"Holy crap, did you guys see that barrage from the helicopter? The people down there were blown to bits! So satisfying, hahaha!"

"Damn, is that a Gatling gun on that helicopter? I thought that kind of weapon only existed in movies."

"But this name sounds so familiar... Malacan Town, Milton, oh my, aren't these the people we're supposed to fight?"

"We didn't fight them. We fought the rebels further north. Milton isn't under our jurisdiction; we can just watch the show."

"Didn't I hear he was involved with the rebels...?"

"That has nothing to do with us. Stop arguing and watch quietly!"

Although on the battlefield, everyone shares in the glory and the loss, they still watched with a smile even when their allies were suffering, once victory was already secured.

They're disabled themselves, why would they care about others?

Soon, the host's voice became a little more serious.

"The tax bureau initially thought this was just a routine maritime law enforcement operation and a typical arms smuggling case, but during the inspection of the cargo hold, tax officials found at least 10 kilograms of high-purity cocaine hydrochloride!"

"After securing the scene, law enforcement officers immediately dumped all the drugs into the sea."

"At the same time, more weapons and drug smuggling networks were extracted from the suspects. At this point, the helicopter was running low on fuel and had to return. However, the Commissioner of Taxation, adhering to the principle of safeguarding tax revenue, made a last-minute decision to risk going to the dock to carry out a special operation to destroy the smuggling network."

Soon, to everyone's anticipation, the various weapons and firepower on the transport ship were covered with tarpaulins. It continued along the original route and only after reaching a port did it turn and point its side toward the dock.

"This group of smugglers is incredibly brazen, illegally smuggling a large number of armored vehicles and tanks. Chief Inspector Milton angrily condemned this contempt for the law and the IRS, saying that a strong crackdown is necessary!"

Upon seeing this, the noise from the soldiers in the hospital suddenly decreased significantly.

They finally realized something was wrong.

Smuggling drugs is one thing, smuggling a cannon can be covered up... but what about that bunch of armored troops on TV?!

Are you kidding me? What kind of smuggler could smuggle such a huge amount of weapons and equipment?

It's important to understand that the purchase of weapons and equipment, especially high-end weapons, is never a simple commercial issue; it involves politics.

Take fighter jets, for example. Even the most advanced F117 today only costs $1.1 million. Which country can't afford to buy one?
Buying this kind of weapon is buying a diplomatic commitment, buying a protective umbrella. It also requires hiring a group of people and equipment to maintain the equipment, which is equivalent to binding the company to some extent.

In other words, if a country suddenly buys a large number of F-16s, and even several warships, what will its neighboring countries think? Will they panic, and will they start an arms race?
In such a small country, an armored force is enough to influence the geopolitics of the region.

The massive armored force shown on television is definitely not something as simple as just smuggling.

and……

A wounded soldier raised his right hand, which only had an index finger left, and asked, "Why does this port look so familiar?"

"This, isn't this the Port of Champelli? I was there a few days ago. It was surrounded like an iron barrel, and it was guarded by elite regular troops."

"This……"

As soon as these words were uttered, a speculation and an extremely terrifying thought gradually crept up.

At the same time, the transport ship on the television screen opened fire.

Large-caliber shells, various anti-tank missiles, and rockets were rained down on the armored forces that had gathered together at the port, as if they were free.

Immediately following this was a series of explosions, with flames almost engulfing all the armored units—and these explosions continued even after the attack ceased and all ammunition was exhausted!
A chain reaction!

Boom... boom...

The explosion that came from afar didn't sound particularly loud on camera, but the shock it caused to everyone present was unparalleled.

That powerful armored force, capable of altering the regional situation, vanished in just over ten minutes.

"That, that's not a smuggler..."

"Holy crap, that's the regular army, that's Lopez's armed forces, that's his elite armored unit!"

"Milton...Milton, annihilate Lopez's armored forces!"

"Completely annihilated without a single casualty!!!"

"The situation at the front is nothing like what they say. Victory is not in sight at all. There must be a problem on Milton's front, a really big problem!"

"Damn it, Lopez has no shame at all. He can turn such a humiliating defeat into a great victory? The docks are in such a mess, who can he fool? Does he think we're all idiots?"

"Have you no shame? You even lost to Milton, who only has two towns under his control! Are you going to lose to the rebels in the north next?"

"..."

It was only then that Gail remembered why a shell had inexplicably fallen from the sky while she was grilling luncheon meat.

Because they are not safe behind the scenes.

Because Milton got his hands on Lopez's howitzer!
At this point, the television broadcast ended.

But the atmosphere in the hospital just wouldn't liven up; no one even made lewd jokes about the news anchors, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

The TV presenter concluded by saying, "The situation remains tense in the provinces of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, and Retalulleu, and safeguarding border security is of paramount importance."

"That concludes today's main news from Malakham. I'm your host, Vilaya. Now, please welcome my colleague to provide the weather forecast for Malakham and Akochchi towns. There's been a lot of rain lately, so please be prepared..."

"..."

Nobody's in the mood to check the weather forecast.

They are thinking about a very real problem.

“If, if…” a soldier asked with fear, “if the regular army is ultimately defeated, will we still receive pensions and reparations? Will Milton and the rebels give us money?”

This question doesn't need an answer at all.

Even a fool knows the answer is "no"!
They're already being lenient by treating prisoners of war well; why would they want money?
"Damn it, if I had known it would turn out like this, I wouldn't have gone to this so-called front line!"

“I want to be discharged, I want to go back, I want to tell my brothers the truth, I absolutely cannot sign up for the army.” Gale said through gritted teeth, “Besides, the enemy is definitely not as weak as the propaganda says, they can even just leave cans of meat lying around! They all wear helmets!”

These wounded soldiers who had been on the front lines finally began to share their observations of what was wrong on the front lines.

"Yeah, I was wondering why the rebels were like Superman. I shot him several times, but he could still get up, roll behind cover, and act like nothing happened."

"They have machine guns and they're spraying bullets like they're free, but the recruiting officer says they can't even afford AKs?"

“I…I was nearby when the regular army launched the airstrike, and I saw the rebels launch more than one missile! I don’t think they are as weak as they say.”

"Lopez lied to us, they absolutely lied to us!"

"Once this news gets out, let's see what they have to say. They even have the complete video. Who can he hide it from now on?"

"Damn it, I want money now, I want compensation now, otherwise who am I going to get it from after we lose the war? I've lost my hands and feet, and if I don't get this compensation, I'll have to beg for a living. I got crippled because I fought the rebels, and I have to get an explanation!"

"The Hell Tax Collector! You've all forgotten his nickname, he's the Hell Tax Collector! He came from hell! We have no chance of winning! We're doomed..."

"Even if Lopez's cannons didn't pay his taxes, he'd still take him down! Do you think we can fight against someone like that?"

"I want to go back to Mexico, it's too terrible here, I want to go back..."

"..."

The hospital was thrown into chaos.

No, it wasn't just the hospital; the entire sphere of influence under Lopez was in turmoil.

……

At this moment, in a bar on an old street in the town of Malacan.

Milton leisurely sipped his tea while glancing at Flora, who was drinking and watching TV beside him.

She took the day off today; let her do whatever she wants.

No wonder his nickname is "the bottle".

Brandon, watching TV, was incredibly excited: "Boss, I really want to see how Lopez's TV station will report this, hahaha!"

“There probably won’t be a major victory in subspace,” Milton said slowly. “But Lopez will definitely pretend that he doesn’t care and that the losses are not significant, and then use the advance on the northern front to make up for it.”

"Perfect timing. Checking the official news can supplement the information we haven't received."

"After all, we are in a special operation, so we can't clean up the battlefield."

Brandon nodded: "On the main battlefield, it seems we can hold out for now..."

At that moment, Matteo, the part-time owner of the bar, walked in from outside.

"Boss, the guys from Mexico are here."

“Yes, let him in.” Milton nodded. “It’s just a casual, informal conversation, no need to be too serious.”

To be honest, Milton didn't expect Tapachula's response to be so positive.

Flora tried to contact the police chief there last night, and today he's bringing people over to visit!

This is no small city; it has a population of 20 and is located near the port, making it the most economically powerful city in Chiapas state.

The struggle between the Van Kang and Coco gangs for control of the city can also be seen as a proxy war between the Sinaloa Group and another group.

Otherwise, given the size of the Fan Kang gang, it would be difficult for them to truly control the city's underground transactions.

This is why Milton did not attempt to take over Van Cam's forces in Tapachula after completely eliminating them, because he knew he simply couldn't.

Milton originally intended to have Flora move the company there first, and then make his move when the opportunity arose. However, he did not expect that the police chief there would be so eager to do so.

It seems the situation over there isn't good either... The outbreak of the uprising must be giving them a lot of headaches.

"Let him in."

Milton nodded.

Just then, a slight noise came from the doorway.

Brandon raised his hand to stop the group of people in an SUV from entering the bar: "Wait a minute, you have to put down your weapons before you can come in."

A man in a police uniform following behind, already somewhat impatient, immediately showed his displeasure upon hearing this: "We've already registered all the firearms according to your border control requirements. Aren't you going a bit too far?!"

He was the deputy director of Tapachula and knew that Milton's side had taken down Van Conn's gang, but he didn't think that taking down one of the Sinaloa Group's agents meant anything.

I don't think it's necessary for the director to travel all this way to this place and adopt such a humble attitude in order to cooperate with Milton.

The fight against drugs is tough, but Milton, who only has two small towns under his command, what help can he possibly offer? What's the point of wasting so much time coming here?

Brandon stood firm: "I don't think a peaceful, equal exchange needs these kinds of guns."

"you……"

"Alright, put the gun down." The man who looked to be close to 40 waved his hand. "These are friends, there's no need to be so tense."

"Hmph..." The deputy director reluctantly put the gun back in the car and followed the director into the bar.

Milton looked at him, nodded, and simply said, "Milton."

“Omar Tikal. It’s nice to meet you, and I’m glad you’ve reached out to me.”

As he spoke, Director Omar walked naturally to the bar counter, took out some pesos from his pocket, placed them on the bar counter, and at the same time reached for a bottle of wine.

Then he began to pour the wine into the glass next to Milton... The wine flowed down the side of the glass without a single froth.

Everyone else was completely dumbfounded.

Omar, pouring Milton a drink, and acting like it's his right?!

Even Milton himself was a little confused. He quickly raised his hand and said, "Let's talk this out. We have a cooperative relationship. I need Tapachula to open a PMC company and recruit employees. There's no need for this."

“But I need your help, I desperately need it.” Omar stopped pouring the wine, his voice sincere, even pleading. “The situation in Tapachula is now close to getting out of control.”

"Nearly out of control?" Milton frowned and turned to look at him. "I haven't heard of that."

Milton keeps up with the local news every day, but he's never heard of any problems in Tapachula.

The uprising began in the north of Chiapas, and the direct impact of the war did not reach there at all.

“The state’s finances have collapsed,” Omar explained. “Chiapas is already the poorest state in Mexico. Although we don’t need to participate in the war, it has still been a huge blow to us.”

"Mayor Carmen's stance on drug control was not so firm to begin with. Now, I am almost certain that he has adopted a policy of tacit approval, no, condoning, of drug cartels in exchange for even greater profits."

"The entire city is visibly in chaos. After the destruction of the Fan Kang gang, the balance of drug cartels has been restored, and so chaos has returned... Especially recently, the Sinaloa Cartel is desperately infiltrating the city. Any police officer involved in the anti-drug campaign will soon be killed on the streets."

“This place wasn’t so badly contaminated by drugs before. We’re not far from the docks. We have beautiful scenery. We’re on the right track. I don’t want to see drugs destroy my hometown.”

"And you, you are very strong. Of course, I will repay you, and I will definitely not let you help me for nothing."

The deputy director frowned – so what if he took down one of Fan Kang's gangs? Is that considered strong?

Milton chuckled. "Why are you telling me all this? It seems like this is the first time we've met. We even had someone else make the phone calls before, right?"

“I know you are fighting drugs, and you are very determined.”

"why?"

“You took down the Van Kang gang, but I haven’t heard where Guzman’s shipment went. When you destroyed a dozen tanks belonging to the regular army, you also dumped the drugs into the sea… So, I believe you.”

The deputy director, who didn't usually care much about other countries' affairs, suddenly widened his eyes. What?!

He destroyed over a dozen regular army tanks?! That's wiping out an entire armored company?! Is Milton really that strong? When did this happen?

No wonder... Chief Omar has always been so humble!
But how did he do it?
Upon hearing this, Milton tapped the table, feeling a mix of emotions.

In 1994, Mexico was not yet completely crippled by drugs, and a large number of officials and police officers were still fighting against them.

It's not surprising that an official came to him wanting to cooperate.

“Alright.” Milton nodded. “How would you like to collaborate?”

Omar immediately said, “I will find your ‘War Wind Company’ in the name of the police department and sign a contract with you, inviting you to assist in protecting local police officers from drug dealers. In return, I will issue you a temporary law enforcement permit… Of course, this is actually not very useful, because the situation has begun to get out of control, and we can no longer control many people.”

“Even many of my officers have been secretly corrupted.”

This is simply...

Isn't this the contract Milton wanted?

Now they've actually delivered themselves to my door?
Sure enough, as long as you can fight and demonstrate absolute strength, you won't have to worry about others not wanting to cooperate with you.

“You seem very anxious, why?” Milton nodded in agreement to cooperate, but still expressed his doubts. “You know, the more anxious you seem, the fewer bargaining chips you have.”

“Because we can’t wait any longer!” Omar shook his head. “Two city councilors who support anti-drug efforts have already been shot dead. The fact that it hasn’t been reported yet is just because the mayor is putting pressure on them! Their next target is likely me. I have almost publicly broken with the mayor, publicly condemned all drug cartels, and made the police department’s anti-drug stance clear.”

“They’ll make their move on me in a week at most. And I don’t think I’ll survive the attack.”

P.S.: Sorry, I was too tired today and took a nap. I forgot to set my alarm, and when I woke up it was almost nine o'clock...

(End of this chapter)