Chapter 251: Reaching Consensus

Li Mingsheng was held by Chi Army soldiers entering the main building, then searched at the side door.

When the Chi Army soldier took out the tweezers used on Su Tianyu's "back garden," Li Mingsheng's face turned green: "I'm not carrying any electronic devices!"

"Mayor sir, you saying you're not carrying anything isn't enough," the Chi Army soldier shook his head directly. "We need to see for ourselves."

"I won't use tweezers!"

"Then what?"

"...I'll do it myself!" Li Mingsheng replied through gritted teeth, being coerced into a body search.

......

Ten minutes later, third floor.

Li Mingsheng was brought to an empty room, looking up at the curtained window, pausing slightly.

"Hello, Mayor sir," Zhao Weihu said smiling.

"You came yourself? You're quite bold!" The shock in Li Mingsheng's eyes flashed past.

Zhao Weihu smoked, replying softly: "Aren't you quite bold too? I called you to come, and you came."

"I'm different from you - you're a bandit, I'm Dragon City's official - this is my responsibility," Li Mingsheng replied with relaxed demeanor, bending to sit on the sofa.

"Responsibility?! Seventy to eighty thousand laborers enter the city, not only don't get citizens' due rights, but are even extorted. Not enough to squeeze their blood and sweat money dry, but also take their lives - hehe, this is what you call responsibility?" Zhao Weihu sat opposite Li Mingsheng, pointing at his face saying word by word: "If you really understood a bit of responsibility, had a bit of backbone, I wouldn't have given up being a good civilian and officer to run to Xinaluo fighting for foreigners!"

Li Mingsheng waved directly: "I didn't come in for political debate - Dragon City's development plans aren't something you can understand! Let's discuss the main topic directly."

Zhao Weihu crossed his arms looking at him: "First release that batch of people you captured on Xinaluo's coast."

"Can release some, but not all," Li Mingsheng shook his head refusing. "We need to rebuild trust. I'll have 80% of arrested members released - the remaining people, we'll discuss after our hostages are released."

Zhao Weihu slowly nodded: "That works too."

"Then hurry up, no need to drag on."

"Hehe, don't rush - besides this, I also want 30 million ransom for my people to take directly," Zhao Weihu said looking down. "Just now in the back courtyard, I lost quite a few brothers - need to give them an explanation."

"Don't go too far! After this ends, have you thought about your situation?"

"Hehe, fuck!" Zhao Weihu replied with disdain. "I'm a desperado, an old thunder god - you talk to me about situation? I'm talking life and death with you directly, okay?!"

Li Mingsheng fell silent.

"30 million isn't much," Zhao Weihu sneered. "What you embezzle from laborers in one day is several million. Moreover besides this, not only should you not hate me, you should thank me."

Li Mingsheng looked at him with complex expression.

"Emergency incident, hostages taken - we're a vicious extremist organization, while you're the glorious mayor risking yourself for citizens' and civil servants' safety," Zhao Weihu said teasingly. "I'm using my life to help you gain fame! Asking you for 30 million more isn't too much, right?"

Li Mingsheng gritted his teeth: "Fine, I agree."

"Straightforward!" Zhao Weihu stood up calling: "Come, arrange a phone for Mayor sir to raise money."

Li Mingsheng looked at the arrogant Zhao Weihu, also suddenly saying: "You're very clever too."

"How am I clever?"

"Making such a big commotion - isn't your purpose to buy laborers' hearts, expand your forces?" Li Mingsheng replied softly. "Some corrupt elements in the city, emergency policies, all made laborers dissatisfied - you jumping out to cause trouble now is equivalent to making big trouble for those who don't dare to."

Zhao Weihu replied hands behind back: "I don't have as many schemes as you. My demands are simple - if you don't provoke me, I won't cause chaos in Chinese main cities... after all I once fought for this place, went to battlefields, shed blood. But if you people want to use me as a punching bag for political reasons, then sorry - I'll risk bearing a bad name to be a real terrorist!"

Li Mingsheng looked at him, slowly standing to walk toward the Chi Army soldiers' side, reaching to take the phone.

......

Half an hour later.

The arrested Chi Army forces in Xinaluo and investor Old Huang's people were all brought out - then the special police checked names one by one, releasing 80% of members, finally keeping only Old Huang and over ten investor core members.

Before people left, the media hadn't learned of it, and the city government had four trading companies jointly raise 30 million in cash for them to take. Because this money couldn't possibly come from city government - that would be too shameful, equivalent to completely compromising with bandits - so the money could only be shared by those unfortunate ones.

You have corruption, you have bribery, you have policy benefits - anyway you have everything, so at critical moments bleeding a bit was inevitable.

......

After the Chi Army people were released, Zhao Weihu immediately found Zhu Bajie, saying softly: "Notify people inside and outside the compound to prepare withdrawal."

"What about hostages?" Zhu Bajie asked back.

"We'll also release 80%," Zhao Weihu said pointing at Zhu Bajie frowning. "Keep Karl, and propose to them to have Secretary-General Lu come back."

"Ah? Didn't we release him?" Zhu Bajie was somewhat surprised.

"Having him come back has reasons for having him come back," Zhao Weihu waved saying: "Go handle it!"

......

Far in the east was a super district with vast territory and stable political environment called - the Chinese District.

In the Chinese District's southwest was a place of rising dragons called Chuan Prefecture, whose capital was called - Chongdu.

About 100 kilometers from downtown Chongdu in the suburbs was a small mountain range unmarked on electronic maps - there beside mountains and waters, with beautiful scenery, were rows of Hui-style courtyards.

In the central courtyard, a youth about twenty years old held a phone, walking quickly while saying softly: "I'm going to Old Triangle now, good, sister, I understand... mm...!"

In the Old Triangle region, a youth sat in the Western Theater Command mansion of the Chinese District, looking up at Dragon City news, saying flatly: "This Zhao Weihu rather has the talent of a general!"

"I think he's too rash - even if he gets out, he won't live long," a middle-aged man beside him replied shaking his head.

"Let's make a bet - I bet he can rise in Xinaluo."

"What makes you say that?"

"...His taking over Dragon City's Supervision Assembly was to establish his own label," the youth peeled an orange, saying blandly. "Once people get out, he'll be the spiritual leader of laborers."

"Aren't you too arbitrary?"

"We'll see!"

......

In Dragon City command center headquarters.

While Secretary-General Lu was discussing plans to intercept fleeing bandits with the Garrison Corps Commander, Li Mingsheng's secretary walked in quickly, saying softly: "Secretary-General Lu... you may need to go back once."

"Go back? Go back where?!" Old Lu was somewhat confused.

"Back to the Supervision Assembly compound - the bandits specifically asked for you to go, escort them leaving."

"...No, why have me go back? I already got out!"

"We're not clear either - they just want you to go, otherwise won't release hostages."

"Fuck your mother!" Secretary-General Lu's mood exploded on the spot. "Having me go in and out - looking for thrills?!"