Shi Dazhuang and Meng Yan were both badly hurt in the fall, but fortunately, they weren't injured. Except for the police officer pulling the suitcase in the room, everyone else was unharmed. However, witnessing their colleague being brutally killed by the bomb left everyone stunned and unsure what to do.
Shi Dazhuang knew that he and Meng Yan alone could not handle the situation here. The criminals were too ruthless; they were no longer ordinary drug dealers, but terrorists. He took out his phone, dialed Director Yan of the Baoteng City Public Security Bureau, reported the situation, and requested special police support.
Director Yan said that the special police's armed helicopter had departed half an hour ago. Only then did Shi Dazhuang realize that something had happened to Peng Jiahu, and that the situation might be even worse than his own.
" Director Yan, I request to participate in this operation," Shi Dazhuang said.
"No, you're not currently employed here, so I don't have the authority to approve your request," Director Yan said.
" Director Yan, the criminal is very likely Mu Kuo's younger brother, Mu Ka. He's after my child with Yu Gang," Shi Dazhuang continued pleading. "If it weren't for my mistake in revealing Yu Gang's identity, this disaster wouldn't have happened. Director Yan, please let me participate. I'm familiar with jungle warfare, and I know these bastards' true colors!"
Director Yan, his former superior, knew his temperament and personality very well. He comforted him, saying, "You don't need to blame yourself. I just reported the situation to the provincial department and learned that due to a mistake by the Thailand police, the Wu Suotun Group is conducting a full-scale internal purge. Several of our informants there have been cut off. They probably already knew about Yu Gang's situation, so Mu Ka's entry into the country as retaliation was premeditated, and you just happened to be there."
Shi Dazhuang felt a chill run down his spine. Recalling the events of the past two days, he felt it was quite a coincidence. Moreover, without Wu Suotun's permission, Mu Ka could not have brought so many people and weapons into the country, nor would he have dared to cause such a commotion within the territory. Doing so would only attract the attention of the Southern Yunnan government, making their future drug trafficking activities more difficult.
It seems that Wu Suotun has internal problems. In order to prove that those who betray him will not have a good ending, he allowed Mu Ka to enter the country to retaliate against Yu Gang's family and the Ruihekou Narcotics Squad.
" Director Yan, I must save Yu Gang's daughter. If anything happens to her, I will never have peace of mind for the rest of my life," Yu Gang pleaded again.
Director Yan sensed the determination in Yu Gang's words. After a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, he said, "Alright, I'll call Wuzhong later to explain the situation. Be careful."
"Yes! Thank you, leader!" Shi Dazhuang said.
Director Yan added, "I have mobilized all police forces in the city to support the operation towards Ruihekou Mangdian. You will be in command of this operation. These criminals are ruthless and must be resolutely dealt with! Remember one thing: they must be eliminated within the territory; no cross-border operations are permitted."
"Yes! We will complete the mission!" Shi Dazhuang stood at attention and saluted without realizing it, as if he were standing in front of Director Yan.
Meng Yan mobilized everyone he could to conduct a town-wide search. The two main streets of Mangdian suddenly became brightly lit, and even people from various villages were guarding the main intersections with flashlights. However, the refined man who used the alias Bai Xiaosan and Yu Meiren seemed to have vanished into thin air, without a trace.
Shi Dazhuang kept looking at the map, calculating Mu Ka's escape route. He imagined where he would escape to if he were Mu Ka, and where he would arrange for backup.
As he pondered, he suddenly realized he'd overlooked something, but couldn't quite place it. He started pointing at points on the map with his finger, and when he reached Kuaziba, Shi Dazhuang was startled and roared, " Meng Yan! Quick, bring a few men and come with me to Kuaziba!"
When Peng Jiahu heard the sound of helicopter rotors in the sky, he was as excited as if he had heard his own mother calling him. He fired a shot to indicate his location while he and Sanzi searched for the way they had come in, relying on their memories.
The helicopter quickly located them, and guided by its headlights, they returned to the open space in front of the bombed-out wooden building.
After about half an hour of search and rescue, the other team members were also found. After counting, of the eight team members brought by Peng Jiahu, four were dead and two were injured. Including himself, only three were still alive.
Peng Jiahu was a man who had seen many battles, but such heavy casualties still pained him deeply. Fortunately, the two wounded soldiers were not seriously injured. After receiving simple treatment, he arranged for a team member to drive them back to Ruihekou Hospital. He also instructed Sanzi to stay behind and wait for orders, since four team members had sacrificed their lives here, and their bodies could not be ignored.
The helicopter was equipped with satellite communication equipment, Peng Jiahu contacted Shi Dazhuang, only to learn that the bandits had attacked the police station.
"They're fucking outrageous!" Peng Jiahu cursed. "If we catch them, Laozi 'll skin them alive!"
Shi Dazhuang said, "I'm going to Kuaziba now, Mu Ka will most likely go there."
Peng Jiahu said, "Then you need to be careful. These guys are all armed with AKs and carrying rocket launchers. They're definitely ready for war!"
Shi Dazhuang said, "Don't worry, police forces from surrounding counties and cities are rushing to our side to provide support. We can start the search operation at Tiantian. You must block their exit route. I estimate they will either go through Guaizi Ridge or Nangou River."
Peng Jiahu said, "I'm worried they might go to both places, but I don't know which Mu Ka might be. I only have one helicopter here!"
Shi Dazhuang thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the Nangou River."
Peng Jiahu didn't quite understand why they didn't go to Guaizi Ridge but instead went to the Nangou River. In his opinion, the terrain of Guaizi Ridge was complicated, making it easier for the bandits to escape. Although the route to the Nangou River was shorter, it would be easy for the police to catch up with them. Moreover, there were border posts every so often in the shallow parts of the Nangou River, while the deeper parts were difficult to cross and hard to carry weapons.
However, he had always admired Shi Dazhuang's judgment, so he didn't ask any more questions. In any case, he could only go to one of the two places first.
Tracking down a small group of bandits in the vast mountains is no easy task. After searching for an hour in the directions and sections of road that the off-road vehicle might travel, Peng Jiahu decisively abandoned the search and flew directly to the Nangou River.
At this moment, Shi Dazhuang got off the car at the small intersection outside Kuaziba and led people along the path into the dam area.
The jungle boots rustled on the ground, carrying far into the quiet night.
Shi Dazhuang's eyelids suddenly twitched inexplicably. Mu Ka's cunning and cruelty exceeded his imagination. He recalled Yu Gang's warning years ago that Mu Ka was a more terrifying person than his Mu Kuo.
" Meng Yan, you take some men to Grandpa Enkun's house, I'll go check on Yu Gang's grave," Shi Dazhuang said.