Chapter Summaries

Zhou Quan approved the National Security Department restructuring and ordered a joint operation against the JC Group and Yi Tianxing, with Thai police taking the lead. He also directed Ah Nin to coordinate with Macau to target the Yi Family, while the Hong Kong Island Police Force would provide support.

• Kong Chi Lap agreed to arrange for Duan Xiangren and Miu Chi-shun to fill senior superintendent vacancies in the National Security Department.
• Luo Danian reported that Mo Chou had revealed the JC Group and Yi Tianxing were hiding on an island in Southeast Asia, and that officers had obtained its coordinates.
• Zhou Quan ordered contact with Thai Police Headquarters to launch a transnational operation, assigning the National Security Group to handle it.
• Zhou Quan instructed Ah Nin to coordinate with Macau's Security Secretary so the operation would also take down the Macau Yi Family.
• Zhou Quan planned for Thai police to lead the assault while the Hong Kong Island Police Force supplied intelligence and support.

Zhou Quan assigned Luo Danian to coordinate with Macau and Thai officials while preparing a major operation against the Golden Triangle’s drug networks. He left Luo Danian and Kong Chi Lap committed to the plan, whose success could determine the next two Police Force Number Ones.

• Luo Danian agreed to contact Macau’s Secretary for Security and meet Thai Police Major General Withaya, while focusing the National Security Group on the Macau Yi Family.
• Zhou Quan said he planned to meet Mainland China’s policing chief after the JC Group operation to organize a campaign against the Golden Triangle.
• Zhou Quan explained that Fang Xinwu’s undercover team had mapped the Golden Triangle’s networks and that intelligence could prompt Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand to join an operation.
• Zhou Quan resolved to act before a coming atrocity and to bring his undercover officers home rather than leave them trapped in the drug trade.
• Luo Danian and Kong Chi Lap saluted and accepted responsibility, recognizing that the operation’s outcome could shape who became the next two Police Force Number Ones.

The Police Force implemented a major reorganization that elevated younger officers and prepared a transnational operation against the JC Group. As Kong Chi Lap joined the operation in Thailand, He Wenzhan led a separate team to target Macau’s Yi Family.

• The Personnel Division promoted Wang Dong to lead the Mobile Unit over Ling Jing and appointed Ma Hiu Tin head of the Narcotics Investigation Division.
• Luo Danian coordinated support for the operation against the JC Group while Thai Police Headquarters took primary responsibility for carrying it out.
• Kong Chi Lap led Hong Kong Island officers to Thailand as deputy commander of the multinational operation.
• He Wenzhan led a National Security Department team into Macau under the security secretary’s command to destroy the Yi Family.

The Hong Kong Island Police Force and Macau authorities dismantled the Yi Family’s arms-trading network, and Zhou Quan appointed Luo Danian Acting Commissioner while he traveled north. The appointment publicly marked Luo Danian as Zhou Quan’s intended successor and left him responsible for Hong Kong Island’s policing and public safety.

• Luo Danian and Macau’s Security Secretary jointly led an operation that arrested the Yi Family’s principal offenders and accomplices in Macau.
• The Hong Kong Island Police Force completed operations against the JC Group and the Yi Family, and Leung Tsz Mei held a press conference about the cases.
• Zhou Quan gathered the Police Force’s core management and announced that he would lead a delegation to Mainland China for an exchange visit.
• Zhou Quan issued an executive order appointing Luo Danian Acting Commissioner of the Police Force during his absence.
• Luo Danian accepted the appointment and pledged to maintain public safety and stability across Hong Kong Island.

Zhou Quan assigned Luo Danian to act as Commissioner while taking Chow Sing Sing and Lau Kit-fai north to lead a major Police Force delegation. The delegation departed for Beijing to assess new firearms and discuss equipment procurement with Mainland China’s Ministry of Public Security.

• Zhou Quan ordered Chow Sing Sing and Lau Kit-fai to assemble and lead the visiting delegation, while colleagues remaining in Hong Kong would assist Luo Danian.
• Chow Sing Sing selected modified Type 92G pistols and NP-22 pistols as the proposed new service weapons, and planned for officers with varied needs to assess them during the visit.
• Chow Sing Sing and Lau Kit-fai held briefings, while Chan Kwok-wah coordinated the visit with the Ministry of Public Security’s representative posted to the Hong Kong Island Police Force.
• The following morning, Zhou Quan, Chow Sing Sing, Lau Kit-fai, and a large team of operational and administrative specialists left Tai Kwun for the airport.
• The Police Force delegation boarded its official aircraft for Capital International Airport, where it expected to meet the Ministry of Public Security’s reception team.

The Hong Kong Island Police Force delegation arrived in the capital and received an exceptionally high-level welcome from Mainland China's Ministry of Public Security. Zhou Quan met Minister Hao Jianguo at Police Headquarters Building No. 1, where both delegations exchanged salutes before cameras recorded the reception.

• The Ministry of Public Security sent a ceremonial convoy and senior officials to receive Zhou Quan and the Hong Kong Island Police Force delegation at the airport.
• Zhou Quan greeted Hao Gao Ming, while Chow Sing Sing and Lau Kit-fai exchanged pleasantries with First-Class Police Commissioners.
• Zhou Quan, Chow Sing Sing, and Lau Kit-fai traveled in three stretch Lincolns as the convoy drove past Chengtian Gate to Police Headquarters Building No. 1.
• Hao Jianguo welcomed Zhou Quan at the building, and both delegations exchanged formal salutes as cameras photographed the meeting.

Zhou Quan and the Hong Kong Island Police Force delegation shared a welcoming lunch with Minister Hao Jianguo and other Ministry of Public Security leaders. Zhou explained that the delegation had come to deepen exchanges and seek help contacting domestic defense manufacturers for a major equipment procurement, and the chapter ended with the Police Force preparing to spend its unusually large budget.

• Minister Hao Jianguo welcomed Zhou Quan and the Hong Kong Island Police Force delegation to lunch at the Ministry of Public Security cafeteria.
• Hao Jianguo asked Zhou whether the delegation's unprecedented size meant the Hong Kong Island Police Force had a major plan underway.
• Zhou said the delegation first intended to strengthen exchanges with Mainland officers and learn from their public-security experience.
• Zhou asked Hao to help the Police Force contact domestic defense manufacturers, especially Norinco, to discuss pistols, armored vehicles, and other equipment.
• Zhou's delegation planned to use the Police Force's extra US$750 million allocation to replace its pistols and invest in high-tech equipment while laying the groundwork for future domestic procurement.

Zhou Quan secured Hao Jianguo’s help in connecting the Hong Kong Island Police Force with Norinco to discuss buying domestically produced firearms and other equipment. He then asked to discuss his final matter with Hao alone, keeping the force’s plan to target the Golden Triangle Drug Den secret.

• Hao Jianguo recognized the scale and political value of the Hong Kong Island Police Force’s plan to replace its pistols with domestically produced models.
• Hao agreed to contact Norinco and invite a delegation to discuss cooperation after the meal.
• Zhou Quan thanked Hao for supporting the force, and Hao asked him to explain the third matter.
• Zhou requested a private conversation with Hao and withheld details of the Golden Triangle Drug Den plan to protect the undercover men.

Zhou Quan and Hao Jianguo presided over a smooth preliminary meeting between the Hong Kong Island Police Force and Mainland China's Ministry of Public Security, then Zhou invited Hao to his office. As they left, Zhou asked Lee Family Ka-chun to bring over a safe, setting the stage for their private discussion.

• Zhou Quan and Hao Jianguo let their colleagues discuss policing exchanges and weapons procurement while they offered few opinions.
• The two sides reached a consensus at the closed-door preliminary meeting and agreed to coordinate their work.
• Hao Jianguo invited Zhou Quan to sit in his office, and Zhou accepted.
• Zhou Quan asked Lee Family Ka-chun, a minute-taker being groomed for future leadership, to bring over a safe.

Zhou Quan met privately with Hao Jianguo and presented intelligence gathered by Fang Xinwu and other informants in the Golden Triangle. The chapter ended as Hao Jianguo began reviewing the files.

• Zhou Quan entrusted Lee Family Ka-chun with safeguarding the Golden Triangle intelligence during the Hong Kong Island Police Force Delegation's visit.
• Hao Jianguo and Zhou Quan shared tea and exchanged friendly remarks before beginning their private discussion.
• Zhou Quan asked Hao Jianguo about Fang Xinwu, also known by the codename Qifu, and Hao Jianguo recalled his work on the Hong Kong-Thai Joint Anti-Drug Operations.
• Zhou Quan explained that he had arranged for Fang Xinwu to infiltrate the Golden Triangle and handed Hao Jianguo files from Fang Xinwu and other informants.

Zhou Quan’s long-term plan used undercover officers inside the Golden Triangle’s syndicates, especially Eight-Faced Buddha’s organization, to disrupt international drug trafficking. Fang Xinwu redirected the organization toward distant markets and rival syndicates, leaving the drug trade in greater turmoil.

• Zhou Quan expanded his undercover network in the Golden Triangle, where the Nuo Ka Group, Puzha Group, and Eight-Faced Buddha’s organization were major powers.
• Fang Xinwu gained control of Eight-Faced Buddha’s organization with Police Force support while keeping its drug business operating and shifting its target markets.
• Fang Xinwu and the undercover officers used the organization’s profits to draw its drug-trafficking members into clashes with the Silver Triangle and Golden Crescent.
• Fang Xinwu’s strategy intensified conflict among drug syndicates, disrupted international drug prices, and eased pressure on anti-drug operations.

After reviewing Zhou Quan’s intelligence on the Golden Triangle’s five major drug-trafficking organizations, Hao Jianguo proposed a four-country conference to launch the Four-Country, Five-Region Joint Anti-Drug Operations. Zhou agreed to oversee the effort and offered to contact Thailand, while Hao would approach Myanmar and Laos.

• Hao Jianguo praised Zhou Quan’s intelligence and proposed convening a four-country policing conference to launch joint anti-drug operations.
• Hao Jianguo explained that the evidence could help Mainland China, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand target the Golden Triangle’s major drug organizations and improve Mekong River security.
• Hao Jianguo asked Zhou Quan to oversee the operations on behalf of the Ministry of Public Security and the Hong Kong Island Police Force.
• Zhou Quan agreed, saying the Golden Triangle plan was central to the Hong Kong Island Police Force’s work and his own plans.
• Zhou Quan offered to contact Police General Phongsaphat in Thailand, and Hao Jianguo agreed to approach the police systems in Myanmar and Laos.

Hao Jianguo agreed with Zhou Quan’s plan to mobilize Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos for a joint anti-drug operation in the Golden Triangle. He summoned Yu Ping to help implement the operation while Zhou Quan safeguarded his undercover informants’ identities.

• Hao Jianguo agreed that Zhou Quan would contact Thai Police Headquarters while he approached police authorities in Myanmar and Laos.
• Hao Jianguo returned the undercover informant files to Zhou Quan and said Yu Ping would work with him on the operation.
• Hao Jianguo summoned Yu Ping, director of the Anti-Drug General Bureau, to his office.
• Zhou Quan secured the informant files in a safe and waited with Hao Jianguo for Yu Ping.
• Yu Ping arrived, reported to Hao Jianguo, and saluted Zhou Quan.

Hao Jianguo appointed Yu Ping to assemble Mainland China's personnel for the Four-Country, Five-Region Joint Operations and placed Zhou Quan in overall command. Yu Ping proposed Gao Gang to lead the field operations, leaving Hao Jianguo concerned that Gao Gang's stubborn, independent style could cause friction with Zhou Quan.

• Zhou Quan and Yu Ping greeted each other before Hao Jianguo invited them to sit and discuss the operation.
• Hao Jianguo showed Yu Ping intelligence on Golden Triangle drug organizations and assigned him to assemble Mainland China's operations personnel under Zhou Quan's command.
• Yu Ping proposed Gao Gang of the Yun Province Anti-Drug Corps to handle the actual operations.
• Hao Jianguo questioned the choice, citing Gao Gang's history of disregarding orders and warning that Zhou Quan held full command of the joint operation.

Yu Ping argued that Gao Gang and Yun Province’s Bison Special Police Force were best suited to the joint anti-drug operation, and Zhou Quan agreed to work with them. The decision was settled, and Hao Jianguo asked Zhou Quan which Hong Kong Island Police Force units would participate.

• Yu Ping explained Gao Gang’s experience in the Golden Triangle and proposed selecting him and Yun Province’s Bison Special Police Force for the operation.
• Yu Ping privately hoped the mission would help Gao Gang advance his police rank.
• Hao Jianguo asked Zhou Quan whether he approved of using Gao Gang, and Zhou Quan agreed that Gao Gang and the Yun Provincial Anti-Drug Corps were well suited to the mission.
• Hao Jianguo confirmed that Gao Gang and the Bison Special Police Force would represent the mainland side.
• Hao Jianguo asked Zhou Quan which Hong Kong Island Police Force units he planned to deploy.

Zhou Quan and Hao Jianguo finalized preparations for the joint anti-drug operation across four countries and five locations, including Hong Kong Island Police Force deployments and field command. They agreed to send the Hong Kong personnel to Yun Province early so they could coordinate with Gao Gang’s team before the operation began.

• Zhou Quan told Hao Jianguo that elite teams from the National Security Department and Flying Tigers would take part, with Narcotics Investigation Division specialists providing technical support.
• Zhou Quan named Kong Chi Lap as the on-site commander and planned for him to coordinate the Hong Kong Island Police Force’s departments, while operational officers led individual missions.
• Hao Jianguo suggested sending the Hong Kong Island Police Force personnel to Yun Province to meet Gao Gang’s team and prepare for their cross-border mission.
• Zhou Quan agreed to Hao Jianguo’s proposal and said he would officially order the relevant operations personnel to head to Yun Province.
• The three men reviewed the operation’s details, concluded their closed-door discussion, and began advancing the plans in their respective roles.

Zhou Quan ordered Hong Kong Island Police Force to mobilize elite units for the Four-Country, Five-Region Joint Anti-Drug Operations, which would train in Yun Province before entering the Golden Triangle. He then joined Hao Jianguo and Thai Police General Phongsaphat for a preliminary planning call, where Thailand’s divided political support for cooperation remained a concern.

• Zhou Quan put Acting Commissioner Luo Danian in charge of preparations and ordered personnel and equipment to assemble quickly in Yun Province for intensive training.
• Luo Danian appointed Kong Chi Lap to lead the operation, while elite officers from the Operations Security Department, International Affairs Department, Mobile Unit, and Narcotics Bureau were selected.
• Pang Yik-hang, Jing Jinxian, Chan Kwok-wah, Chan Chi-kit, Ling Jing, and Ma Hiu Tin organized their respective teams, including T Squad, a temporary Technology Group, a Mixed Squad, and Anti-Narcotics Squad 1 under Cheung Tsz-wai.
• Kong Chi Lap led the Hong Kong Island contingent on a charter flight to the Yun Province Anti-Drug Corps to train with Mainland counterparts before crossing into the Golden Triangle.
• Zhou Quan and Hao Jianguo held an encrypted satellite conference with Police General Phongsaphat to discuss launching the joint operations, while Phongsaphat’s limited political backing in Thailand cast doubt on sustained cooperation.

Zhou Quan and Hao Jianguo offered Police General Phongsaphat evidence of Golden Triangle drug trafficking and Thai border-force corruption in exchange for Thailand's support for a joint anti-drug operation. Phongsaphat agreed, seeing a chance to weaken his political rivals and advance his bid to become Bangkok's mayor.

• Hao Jianguo and Police General Phongsaphat exchanged pleasantries during their satellite video conference.
• Zhou Quan told Phongsaphat that they had evidence against the Golden Triangle's five major drug lord factions and corrupt border forces, and offered the Thai-related material first.
• Phongsaphat realized the evidence could implicate Bita Military Camp and damage the faction opposing him and his mayoral rival.
• Phongsaphat pledged Thailand Police Headquarters' full support for the Four-Country, Five-Region Joint Anti-Drug Operations.
• Hao Jianguo wished both sides success, and the chapter noted that Myanmar and Laos would not resist if Thailand agreed.

Zhou Quan took command of the Four-Country, Five-Region Joint Anti-Drug Operations and traveled to the Golden Triangle Special Administrative Region to establish the joint command centre. He left the initial briefing having ordered personnel to use live ammunition against the drug organizations, while seeking to capture their core members alive.

• Hao Jianguo, Zhou Quan, and Phongsaphat launched the joint operations, and the four countries’ highest-ranking police officials appeared together at a press conference.
• Zhou Quan traveled to the Golden Triangle Special Administrative Region with Ying Cheung-sam, Yu Ping, and other personnel, while Kong Chi Lap and Gao Gang led their teams across the border.
• Zhou Quan strengthened secrecy at the Joint Operations Command Centre, and Jing Jinxian’s team helped establish its communications hub.
• Zhou Quan told the participating commanders that the operations would target the Five Drug Lords Organizations and ordered personnel to use live ammunition, while trying to capture core members alive.

Zhou Quan chaired a joint operations meeting and assigned security duties and targets for the campaign against the Golden Triangle’s five major drug organizations. He ordered the forces to rest and launch simultaneous attacks at five the next morning, with detailed intelligence to follow before the operation.

• Zhou Quan warned the officers that Nuo Ka’s drug-controlled child soldiers posed a particular danger and ordered Withaya and Jing Jinxian to secure and monitor the command center.
• Zhou Quan told all participating forces to guard against child soldiers and avoid unnecessary casualties.
• Zhou Quan assigned China and Thailand the Nuo Ka, Puzha, and Eight-Faced Buddha groups, Myanmar the Shapuqiu Group, and Laos the Kangsucha Group.
• Zhou Quan ordered the forces to rest, attack their targets simultaneously at five the next morning, and receive detailed briefings before the operation.
• The officers raised no objections and saluted as Zhou Quan adjourned the meeting.