Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 94 - 84: Encirclement and Suppression

Han Guo led six trainees, including Chen Chuan, out of the grand hall. They boarded an armored transport vehicle that was waiting for them and drove off.

Chen Chuan and the others sat inside the vehicle, able to see outside only through small, sliding windows. He also noticed a small radio set placed inside.

Han Guo distributed a file to each person and said, "This contains detailed information on the criminals, but it’s only from before they were imprisoned, so just give it a look. Fang Dawei’s group raided Councilor Fang Zuo’s residence and is suspected of kidnapping his seven-year-old son."

"What’s their motive?" a male trainee with the surname Wu asked without looking up. He flipped through the file, annoyed. "It doesn’t say in here."

Han Guo glanced at him and said, "Councilor Fang Zuo previously seized a batch of illegal drugs and was suspected of moving some of them to his home. However, no trace of these items was found at his residence. It’s very likely he has already sold them. The Patrol Bureau speculates that the criminals kidnapped Councilor Fang’s son to force him to exchange them for a batch of illegal drugs, or to meet some other demand."

The female trainee said, "If that’s the case, doesn’t that mean Councilor Fang’s son is safe for now?"

Han Guo said flatly, "Only if our speculation is correct.

"By the time I came to see you, the firefight at the bank was over. The Patrol Bureau suffered considerable casualties. The two groups of criminals have joined forces and are retreating toward North City. However, the Patrol Bureau has been on their tail, so they haven’t been able to escape the pursuit. They’ve now fallen back to a certain location to dig in."

As she spoke, she took out a map and spread it in front of them. "According to the latest intel, they should be here." She tapped a spot with her finger. "Cai Family Stronghold."

At that very moment, Guan Yuming, Deputy Director of the Yangzhi City Patrol Bureau and the operation’s acting commander, was staring at a map on the wall. His eyes were fixed on the location of the Cai Family Stronghold.

An orderly entered from outside, saluted him, and said, "Reporting, sir. The temporary telephone line has been laid. We’ve received a message from inside the city. The Wuyi trainees dispatched to support the operation are en route. And... Councilor Fang’s wife has arrived here."

Guan Yuming said, "Understood."

He retracted his gaze and walked out of the temporary command post, which was set up on high ground. Picking up a pair of binoculars, he observed the distant stronghold, where he could faintly make out people moving about. He asked, "Is everyone here?"

The aide who followed him immediately opened a folder and said, "Aside from the Headquarters in Changbao District, the Patrol Officers dispatched from the other precincts have all arrived—Xigang District, Bao Feng District, the Defensive Zone, East Castle District, Quanbei District, and Daping District. They are led by their respective precinct captains:..."

"Skip the names. Tell them we’re all old colleagues, so I’m not going to call them over for individual briefings. When the time comes, they just need to follow my orders. Tell them not to drop the ball."

"Yes, sir!"

Guan Yuming surveyed the area ahead. The buildings of the stronghold spread from east to west, with the terrain higher in the west and lower in the east. To the north was a small hill, and to the east ran a stream. Southwest of the entrance was a low, earthen mound dotted with a few elm trees and shrubs. The entrance itself led up a gentle slope, where an overturned donkey cart lay, the donkey that had been pulling it lying motionless on the ground.

But the more he looked, the more that low mound in front of the stronghold bothered him. Something about it felt wrong.

He asked, "Have the machine guns, mortars, smoke bombs, and grenades I requested arrived yet?"

His aide replied, "Reporting, sir. Not yet. The head office says the request is stuck in approvals at the Administrative Affairs Hall."

Guan Yuming was clearly displeased. "I can forget the mortars and machine guns, but not even grenades and smoke bombs? Fine. We’ll make do without them."

"Relay my orders. Have Sun Quezi deploy his men near the bridge to the east. Yu Xiaoyan is to take a radio and a squad, circle around behind Xiaoxi Village, and cut off the path to the hill. Wei Oldhu and Lady Xiao will each take a squad and move toward the earthen mound. Tell Wei Oldhu’s squad to hold their position. Odds are, it’s occupied. They’ll advance when they see an opening."

"Once everyone else is in position, on my signal, they’ll lay down suppressing fire on the stronghold. I want them to make some noise, even if they don’t hit anyone. Also, go tell the men from the contracted company that when we provide suppressing fire, they are to use their speed and attempt a frontal assault."

"Yes, sir!"

The orderly quickly jotted down the orders and immediately ran out.

About twenty-odd minutes later, the orderly returned. "Reporting, sir. All squads are in position. But Captain Yu says a group of organized villagers is blocking the path to the rear. It seems they’ve already exchanged fire with the fugitives."

Guan Yuming’s gaze turned cold. "Where did they get guns?"

The orderly said, "Captain Yu reports they’re old relics from the Great Expansion. Some are even using hunting bows and crossbows. They’re from several nearby villages, and most of them are related to the people in the Cai Family Stronghold. There’s a fair number of them, and they’re familiar with the local geography, so they’ve managed to keep the fugitives occupied."

Guan Yuming frowned. He had a feeling it wasn’t that simple. He instructed, "Tell Yu Xiaoyan to disarm those people and detain them for now."

At a time like this, he absolutely could not allow another armed force to be operating nearby. Still, he didn’t have the bandwidth to look into it right now. He would deal with it after taking care of Fang Dawei’s crew.

A short while later, the orderly came to report again. "Director, Captain Yu says the villagers were very cooperative. They’ve surrendered all their weapons."

Guan Yuming nodded. "Good. Give the signal."

"Yes, sir!"

A moment later, a signal flare went up. Almost simultaneously, gunfire erupted from several directions around the Cai Family Stronghold, and the men from the contracted company began their rapid advance toward it.

There were nearly twenty of them. They advanced in fits and starts, following a winding path, and quickly closed in on the stronghold’s entrance. The first few men then put on another burst of speed and rushed inside.

The men behind them, seeing things go smoothly, started to follow. At that exact moment, however, muzzle flashes erupted from the top of the mound, accompanied by a sharp RAT-A-TAT-TAT. The men on the slope were mowed down, several of them torn to pieces by the hail of bullets.

Guan Yuming’s expression didn’t flicker. In a calm voice, he said, "A ’Courtyard Sweeper’ machine gun. So there really was a firing position. They have backup."

Through his binoculars, he saw that the few contractors who had made it inside couldn’t retreat; they could only bite the bullet and push forward. But then a huge man appeared and actually hammered one of them to the ground with a single punch. There was also an incredibly fast black shadow zipping low to the ground. Every time it passed one of the contractors, they would collapse without a sound.

In just ten seconds or so, everyone who had rushed in had fallen silent.

Just then, the sound of a fierce firefight erupted from behind the mound. After a little over thirty seconds, the machine gun fell completely silent.

A moment later, an orderly entered. "Reporting, sir! Captain Wei reports that they’ve secured the mound. Two armed hostiles eliminated, one fled into the stronghold. We’ve recovered one damaged ’Courtyard Sweeper’ light machine gun and a quantity of ammunition."

Guan Yuming grunted in acknowledgment. ’It’s a shame the mound isn’t higher than the stronghold,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, capturing it would have given us the high ground to fire right down into them.’

"Don’t try to stop me! I need to speak with your Director!"

Just then, a woman who looked to be under thirty burst in. She had long, wavy hair, slender, arched eyebrows, and wore delicate earrings and a modified, lake-green traditional gown. The moment she saw Guan Yuming, she burst into tears. "Director Guan," she sobbed, "please, you have to save my son! You have to save my little boy!"

The aide said, "Director Guan, this is Madam Fang."

Guan Yuming looked at her and said, "Madam Fang, we will do everything in our power to ensure his safety."

"But... but I just saw you open fire! Can’t you negotiate? You can tell the kidnappers that as long as they guarantee my son is safe, I’ll give them any amount of money they want..."

Guan Yuming said, "Madam Fang, we know how to handle this." Turning to the Patrol Officers at the door, he ordered, "Take Madam Fang away to rest."

"No, I’m not going anywhere! I’m staying right here!" Madam Fang absolutely refused to leave. Given her status, the Patrol Officers couldn’t physically remove her and could only try their best to persuade her.

Just then, the telephone rang. The aide picked it up, then turned to Guan Yuming. "Director Guan, it’s the Director on the line."

Guan Yuming took the receiver. "Hello, this is Guan Yuming."

"What’s the situation?"

"We’ve surrounded the Cai Family Stronghold." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Don’t push them too hard. You can even leave them an opening to escape. The Municipal Administrative Affairs Hall is watching this closely, and I’ve already gotten calls from on high. Remember: I don’t care about anyone else, but you are to save Councilor Fang’s son, no matter the cost."

Guan Yuming was silent for a moment. "Understood."

After hanging up the phone, he looked up at his aide. "Send a message. Tell Yu Xiaoyan’s people to open up a path. Then send someone to hail them. Announce that as long as they hand over the boy, we can negotiate terms."

About seven or eight minutes later, the orderly returned. "Reporting, Director. They sent someone out to negotiate. They’re demanding a large amount of Anti-Differentiation Medicine—no fewer than twenty boxes—as well as fifty thousand Jianyuan Coins and three vehicles."

"I’ll pay! I’ll pay! I’ll give them whatever they want, just as long as they free my son!" Madam Fang blurted out before Guan Yuming could even speak.

Guan Yuming thought for a moment, then said, "Tell them we can provide what they’ve asked for, but we must see the child first to confirm that Councilor Fang’s son is unharmed."

The orderly saluted and went out to relay the message.

After waiting a few minutes, the runner returned. "The fugitives say we can send someone into the stronghold to see the boy. They said they don’t need the other items right away, but we must bring the medicine first. Otherwise, the deal’s off."

Just as Guan Yuming was considering this, someone entered and spoke a few quiet words to his aide. The aide looked up and announced, "Director, the team from Wuyi is here."

Guan Yuming looked up. "Perfect timing!" He told his aide, "Go bring them over. I have something for them to do."

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