Encirclement

Leading the six students, including Chen Chuan, Han Guo walked out of the Grand Auditorium and boarded an armored transport vehicle that had been parked outside beforehand, which then drove out. Chen Chuan and the others sat inside. They could only see outside through narrow sliding windows, and he noticed that a small radio transceiver was also set up here. Han Guo handed out a dossier to each of them and said, "Here is specific information on the perpetrators, though it only covers the period before their imprisonment, so just look it over. Fang Dawei's gang raided Councilor Fang Zuo's residence and is suspected of kidnapping Councilor Fang's seven-year-old son." "The objective? What's their objective?" a male student surnamed Wu asked without looking up, flipping through the dossier with some irritation. "You can't tell from this." Han Guo glanced at him and said, "Councilor Fang Zuo previously seized a shipment of contraband pharmaceuticals and was suspected of moving part of it to his home. However, no traces of such items remained in his residence. He likely resold them earlier. The constabulary deduces that the perpetrators abducted Councilor Fang's son in all probability to force an agreement to exchange him for a batch of contraband drugs, or to meet some other demand." The female student chimed in, "If that's the case, then Councilor Fang's son isn't in any immediate danger for now?" Han Guo said flatly, "Assuming things are as deduced. "When I came to meet you, the firefight at the bank was already over. The constabulary suffered considerable casualties. The two groups of perpetrators joined forces and retreated toward the north of the city. But the constabulary kept on their tail, and they haven't slipped out of the pursuit perimeter. Right now, they've holed up in a stronghold." With that, she took out a map and spread it before them. "According to reports from the frontline, they should be right here." She tapped her finger on it. "Caijia Stockade." At the very same moment, Guan Yuming, Deputy Chief of the Yangzhi City Constabulary and provisional commander, looked at the map hanging on the wall, his eyes fixed on the position of Caijia Stockade. A dispatch messenger came in from outside, saluted him, and said, "Reporting in! The temporary telephone line has been laid. We've received a transmission from the city: the students dispatched by Wuyi to assist the operation are on their way. In addition... Councilor Fang's wife has rushed here as well." Guan Yuming said, "Understood." Pulling his gaze back, he stepped out of this temporary command post situated on the high ground. Raising his binoculars, he surveyed the distant village stockade, discerning vague figures pacing back and forth inside. "Has everyone arrived?" he asked. The deputy following behind him immediately opened a folder and reported, "Aside from Changbao District, where the headquarters is located, constables dispatched from the branch stations in Xigang District, Baofeng District, Shouguan District, Dongbao District, Quanbei District, and Daping District have all arrived, led by their respective division captains. Specifically..." "Skip the roll call. Tell them we're all old acquaintances, so I won't summon them individually for pep talks. When the time comes, just do whatever I order. Don't drop the ball on me." "Yes, sir!" Guan Yuming looked ahead. The village's houses stretched from east to west, higher in the west and lower in the east. To the north lay rolling hills; to the east ran a stream. Southwest of the village entrance stood a low earthen knoll covered in a few elms and shrubs. Leading into the entrance was an upward gentle slope, where an overturned donkey cart lay, the donkey hitched to it also sprawled dead on the ground. Yet no matter how he looked at it, that low knoll in front of the village looked like an eyesore. He asked, "Have the machine guns, mortars, smoke grenades, and hand grenades I requested arrived?" The deputy replied, "Reporting: not yet. The station says approval got held up over at the Municipal Administration." Guan Yuming said displeased, "Never mind the mortars and machine guns, but they won't even give us hand grenades and smoke grenades? Fine, we fight the same without them. "Pass the order: have Sun Quezi take up position near the eastern bridgehead. Yu Xiaoyan is to take a radio and lead a squad around behind Xiaoxi Village to cut off the road leading into the hills. Wei Laohu and Xiao Niangniang will each take a team around the knoll; tell Wei Laohu's squad to hold in place for now—there's an eighty percent chance someone's posted there, so they're only to move in when they spot an opening. "Once the rest are in position, when they hear the signal, lay down suppressive fire into the village. Even if you can't hit anyone, make plenty of noise. And go brief the people from the commission companies: while we lay down suppressive fire, have them use their speed to make a frontal push." "Yes, sir!" The dispatch constable noted this down quickly and rushed off at once. After a wait of about twenty minutes, the dispatch constable returned and reported, "Report! All squads are in position. However, Captain Yu reports that an organized militia of villagers has blocked the rear. It seems they exchanged fire with the bandits earlier." Guan Yuming's gaze chilled. "Where did they get guns?" The constable said, "Captain Yu reports they're all old relics left over from the Great Expansion, and some are using hunting bows and crossbows. They hail from several nearby villages and most have kinship ties with the folks of Caijia Stockade. There's quite a lot of them, and since they're familiar with the surrounding terrain, they managed to hold their own against the bandits for a bit." Guan Yuming frowned, knowing full well things weren't that simple. He instructed, "Tell Yu Xiaoyan to disarm them and keep them detained for now." At a time like this, he would never allow another armed force lurking on his flank. But he had no inclination to investigate right now; it could wait until Fang Dawei's gang was dealt with. A moment later, the dispatch constable returned to report, "Chief, Captain Yu says the villagers were very cooperative and handed over all their weapons." Guan Yuming nodded. "Good. Fire the signal." "Yes, sir!" Moments later, a signal flare went up. Almost simultaneously, gunfire erupted around Caijia Stockade from multiple directions, and the personnel dispatched by the commission companies charged rapidly toward the stockade. There were nearly twenty of them, bounding forward in bursts and taking winding paths to quickly close in on the village entrance. The foremost few accelerated again, swiftly dashing inside. Seeing their success, those behind followed suit. Yet right at that moment, a muzzle flare burst from atop the low knoll along with a rapid, rhythmic thrumming rattle. Men surging up the gentle slope were cut down one by one, several ripped clean into multiple pieces. Yet Guan Yuming showed no reaction, saying in a calm tone, "A Liting-pattern machine gun. A firepoint indeed. Someone is coordinating with them." Through his binoculars, he saw that the commission operatives who had breached the stockade could not retreat and had no choice but to press forward blindly. But a burly man emerged on the other side and brought a man down with a single punch. Another blazingly fast dark silhouette darted low along the ground; every time it flicked past an operative, the operative collapsed silently to the ground. In barely ten-odd seconds, all who had charged in fell lifeless. By now, intense gunfire had also erupted behind the low knoll. After roughly half a minute, that machine gun fell completely silent. Shortly after, the messenger stepped in. "Report! Captain Wei reports the low knoll has been secured. Two armed bandits were killed, one fled into the village. We have seized one damaged Liting-pattern light machine gun and a quantity of machine-gun ammunition." Guan Yuming grunted in acknowledgment. It was just a pity the knoll wasn't higher than the village; otherwise, securing it would have given them commanding high ground to fire directly down into the stockade. "Don't stop me! I want to speak to your chief!" Just then, a woman under thirty years old barged in. She had long wavy hair, slender arched eyebrows, wore delicate earrings, and was dressed in a lake-green modified ruqun. The moment she saw Guan Yuming, tears streamed down her face like pear blossoms in the rain. "Deputy Chief Guan, please, you must save my child! Save my child!" The deputy said, "Deputy Chief Guan, this is Mrs. Fang." Guan Yuming looked at her. "Mrs. Fang, we will do everything we can to ensure his safety." "B-but I just saw you open fire! Can't you negotiate? You can tell those bandits that as long as they ensure my child is unharmed, I'll pay whatever they want..." Guan Yuming said, "Mrs. Fang, we have our own operational considerations." Turning to the constables at the door, he ordered, "Escort Mrs. Fang away to rest." "No! I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right here!" Mrs. Fang adamantly refused to budge. Given her status, the constables could hardly use force and could only try their best to persuade her. Just then, the telephone rang. The deputy picked it up, then turned to Guan Yuming. "Deputy Chief Guan, it's the Chief on the line." Guan Yuming walked over and took the receiver. "Hello, this is Guan Yuming." "What's the situation?" "We've surrounded Caijia Stockade." "Don't push them too hard. You can leave an opening if appropriate. The Municipal Administration is very concerned about this, and someone from up above even phoned me directly. Remember: never mind the rest, Councilor Fang's child must be protected at all costs." Guan Yuming fell silent for a moment before saying, "Understood." After hanging up, he looked up at his deputy. "Send a wire: tell Yu Xiaoyan to yield his position. Then have someone call out to them. As long as they're willing to hand over the child, terms are negotiable." After roughly seven or eight minutes, the dispatch constable returned and reported, "Reporting, Chief! The other side sent someone to parley. They demand a large supply of anti-alienation drugs—no fewer than twenty boxes—as well as fifty thousand Jianyuan notes and three vehicles." "I'll give it! I'll give it! I'll give whatever they want, as long as they let my child go!" Before Guan Yuming could speak, Mrs. Fang cried out frantically. Guan Yuming considered it, then said, "Tell them the items can be provided, but we must see the child first to confirm Councilor Fang's son is still safe." The dispatch constable saluted and went out to deliver the order. After waiting a few minutes, the messenger returned and said, "The bandits said we can send someone into the village to see him. We don't have to bring the other things yet, but the medicine must come first. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss." Just as Guan Yuming was pondering this, someone entered the doorway and whispered a few words to the deputy, who looked up and said, "Chief, the people from Wuyi have arrived." Guan Yuming looked up and said, "They arrived just in time!" Turning to his deputy, he instructed, "Go invite them over. I have instructions for them."