"He's ruthless enough," Chen Xiuqi nodded. "If the Right Widow ever found out her brother was dead, she'd probably bite Feng the Third's cock off."
The house where Ji Mingshuo was currently hiding belonged to none other than the Right Widow's brother. Anggong had been strangled with a rope by Ji Mingshuo, his body transported late at night aboard an awning boat and finally dumped into the river.
Not only that, after Anggong was dead, Ji Mingshuo had specially instructed Feng Hanliang to keep patronizing the Right Widow in order to monitor her every move.
A good-for-nothing like Anggong had only his sister to worry about him. As long as the Right Widow was kept at ease, Anggong's death would not come to light anytime soon.
"Who could have guessed?" Fang Jibai shook his head as well.
...
They had known the Right Widow cared about her half-brother, so when they knocked on the door earlier, they had used the excuse that "something happened to Anggong." Little did they realize that this very excuse was what frightened Feng the Third out of his wits and instantly put him on high alert, prompting him to lie in wait and strike first when Tang Yan led the charge inside.
Fang Jibai and Chen Xiuqi surveyed the surroundings of the target house and immediately understood why Ji Mingshuo had chosen Anggong as his mark.
Anggong's home stood on the far edge of Jiangjia Village, right beside a river. There were no other households within fifty or sixty meters—truly an ideal spot to conceal someone.
From a distance, Fang Jibai and Chen Xiuqi looked at the isolated dwelling. The central room was a tile-roofed house flanked by two thatched huts, fronted by a courtyard.
"The Right Widow built that tile-roofed house for Anggong. That woman was always scheming to find him a wife," Chen Xiuqi said. "Only both she and Anggong were notorious scoundrels. Any girl from a decent family wouldn't marry into a household like that unless driven into a corner."
The men crept low, their eyes fixed on the house.
There was no movement; the night was quiet.
"Did Anggong keep a dog?" Fang Jibai asked.
Chen Xiuqi looked at one of the officers.
"He used to keep one, but later Anggong slaughtered it for meat. Haven't heard of him keeping any dogs since."
Fang Jibai stared at the house for a moment longer before saying to Chen Xiuqi, "Section Leader Chen, these are all your men, and you know their strengths best. You deploy the operation."
"All right." Chen Xiuqi shot Fang Jibai a grateful look. Fourth Young Master Fang had shown him proper respect on this occasion.
"Wu Chengyu, take two men and flank from the left."
"Understood."
"Fourth Brother." He turned to Fang Jibai. "Take Tang Yan and Zhang Yin and flank from the right."
"Will do." Fang Jibai nodded. He knew both Tang Yan and Zhang Yin. After witnessing his baton skills, Tang Yan viewed him with utter awe, while Zhang Yin hailed from neighboring Jiuli and had long known of Fourth Brother Fang's reputation. Chen Xiuqi had planned things with great care.
"I'll take the rest and strike from the front," Chen Xiuqi said. "Let's try to breach the door and bring him down without alerting him beforehand."
"Are you sure there's no back door?" Fang Jibai asked.
"None," the officer familiar with the situation answered. "There used to be one that opened right onto the riverbank. Once, Anggong got drunk and fell into the river, nearly drowning. When the Right Widow found out, she spent money on foreign cement and hired someone to seal the back door shut."
"Try to take him alive," Fang Jibai said in a low voice.
"Right, take him alive," Chen Xiuqi said at once. "Hold your fire if possible. If you must shoot, avoid vital areas."
"Yes, sir!"
"Understood."
"Move out!"
...
Fang Jibai and Wu Chengyu led their respective men into flanking positions on the right and left.
Chen Xiuqi's team advanced for the frontal breach.
The courtyard wall was actually an enclosure made of thorny briars.
An agile officer took a short running start and leaped into the courtyard.
Then he gently pulled open the fence gate.
Chen Xiuqi led his men inside in single file, lunging straight toward the tiled central house.
Just at that moment, *ting-a-ling—*
A crisp ringing of bells suddenly shattered the dead of night.
*Not good.*
Chen Xiuqi's face changed. Barking "Take cover!", he dropped prone to the ground and rolled aside.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Several gunshots erupted, followed by muffled groans and cries of pain—someone had been hit.
"Fire!" Enraged, Chen Xiuqi snapped the order. Raising his gun, he fired several shots in rapid succession at the window lattice where the muzzle flashes had appeared.
Gunfire broke out in full fury.
Hearing the shooting, Fang Jibai was startled as well. He immediately led Tang Yan and Zhang Yin around to close in.
"A tripwire bell?" he asked, crawling over to Chen Xiuqi.
"Yes." Chen Xiuqi gritted his teeth in fury. "The bastard is too cunning. I was careless."
Fang Jibai shook his head. It wasn't really carelessness; it was simply that this Japanese spy was exceptionally crafty.
The main issue was that Chen Xiuqi's men were just local town police who had no experience dealing with Japanese agents, leaving them completely in the dark regarding such underhanded tricks.
...
"Ji Mingshuo!" Fang Jibai suddenly called out at the top of his voice. "Your murder of Anggong, a villager of this town, has come to light! If you know what's good for you, lay down your weapons and surrender. You might be spared your life! Otherwise—"
"Resisting to the end only leads to death!" Chen Xiuqi immediately caught on to Fang Jibai's intention. He signaled his men to hold their fire and shouted loudly.
A stretch of silence followed from inside.
"I didn't kill anyone!" a voice shouted back. Though heavily accented, the words could still be understood.
"Whether you killed someone isn't for you to decide!" Fang Jibai yelled. "If you really didn't kill anyone, why did you open fire and resist arrest?"
"Fuck your mother!" the man inside cursed. "In the dead of night, I thought bandits were breaking in! How is that resisting arrest?"
"Is there any use in arguing that now?" Chen Xiuqi barked. "Ji Mingshuo, toss out your gun, put your hands up, and surrender! I guarantee you won't be killed for now. As for what happens to you later, that depends on yourself!"
Silence returned from inside.
"Ji Mingshuo, think carefully! You are surrounded! We're giving you a way out, and if you don't take it, you won't have Chen to blame!"
"Who are you?"
"Chen Xiuqi of the Lücheng Police Station!" Chen Xiuqi loudly proclaimed his name and title.
Inside, silence fell again.
*Bang!*
Fang Jibai fired a shot into the air. "Ji Mingshuo, Section Leader Chen's patience has its limits."
"Fine! I'll surrender my gun! I didn't kill anyone, you can't harm me!" Ji Mingshuo shouted. "I know people you can't afford to provoke! If you harm me, someone will see that justice is done for me..."
"Fine!" Chen Xiuqi shouted. "I give you my word that your safety is guaranteed!"
Just then, a window swung open, and a handgun was thrown out.
"Move in!" Chen Xiuqi commanded.
On either side of Fang Jibai, Tang Yan and Zhang Yin prepared to rise, but Fang Jibai held them back.
Meanwhile, Wu Chengyu led his men in a direct charge through the entrance.
Next came the glare of flashlights and a flurry of chaotic shouts.
"Pin him down!"
"Don't move!"
"I'm not moving!"
"Section Leader, we got him!" Wu Chengyu called out in delight.
"Splendid!" Overjoyed, Chen Xiuqi scrambled up and led the rest of his men into the central room.
"Fourth Brother, we could have rushed in too..." Tang Yan said, reluctance in his voice.
Zhang Yin parted his lips, wanting to speak as well, but ultimately dared not make a sound. This was Fourth Brother Fang; he was afraid of catching a beating.
"You don't know shit." Fang Jibai gave Tang Yan a sharp flick on the forehead.
Ignoring Tang Yan after that, he climbed to his feet with the rifle slung across his shoulder and prepared to enter the central room. But after standing at the entrance and listening for about ten seconds, he abruptly spun around.
Fang Jibai pulled back. In a low whisper, he said to Tang Yan and Zhang Yin, "Quiet. Follow me."
Chapter 18