Chapter 256: Self-Appointed Armed Guard

Inside the Kasalo border, battle had already broken out - the special forces company combined with special police squads deployed over a hundred people, charging into the dense forest on both sides of the road to intercept the Chi Army's escape.

Meanwhile, helicopters actively launched from Dragon City and garrison troops were also converging on the Chi Army's escape point.

This level of confrontation had escalated to a small-scale military conflict - almost all participants on both sides were professional soldiers.

In the dense forest.

Zhao Weihu ran while commanding through his earpiece: "Receiving personnel attention - helicopters won't approach - don't shoot, don't expose firepower early - they might suppress from oblique above, outside our forces' firing range, to entangle!"

"Received!"

"Dispersed troops use platoon-level units to break out independently - first commanders must ensure troop integrity!"

"Received!"

As the Chi Army withdrew according to plan, helicopters had also flown in at low altitude nearby. The commanding officer in the lead aircraft ordered all attack helicopters to open thermal detection equipment, machine guns aimed at red dot areas on screen, ready to fire!

Rescuing hostages was no longer the primary goal - the garrison's orders were to capture Chi Army personnel involved in the hostage-taking to the greatest extent possible, so the helicopters above wouldn't distinguish between hostages and bandits - seeing red dots meant shooting directly!

If Zhao Weihu had only issued hostage-taking orders, acted with restraint, not harming those corrupt officials and civil servants who only knew extortion, he definitely couldn't have rescued Old Huang and the soldiers captured on Xinaluo's coast at the first scene.

Without killing, Dragon City's command departments wouldn't be frightened, wouldn't negotiate with bandits!

But after killing, and killing so many, Zone One similarly wouldn't compromise - if troops didn't even have emergency response capability in the main city, how could they answer to the people!

So conflict was unavoidable - Zhao Weihu understood this point - he knew before coming that there would be fighting, knew he might not get out, but once done was done - no medicine for regret!

When the helicopter formation approached the forest, Chi Army receiving personnel immediately demanded on the communication channel: "Report, enemy helicopters have entered our strike range!"

"Wait more! Let them get closer!!" Zhao Weihu shouted.

"Rata-tat-tat...!"

As he spoke, rotary machine guns and heavy machine guns from seven or eight helicopters simultaneously aimed at the mountain forest, beginning indiscriminate fire!

Deafening gunfire rang through the sky - from an overhead view, the dense mountain forest was struck with debris flying, tree trunks as thick as adult thighs were continuously swept down, heavy trunks crashing down with crackling sounds, raising waves of dust, branches piercing the wet ground - complete chaos.

Chi Army casualties increased sharply, but most soldiers' formation still hadn't broken - they dispersed in units, continuing to step toward the receiving point while fleeing.

......

In the dense forest opposite the Chi Army's escape direction, Su Tianyu looked at the helicopters in the sky, momentarily feeling like he was back on the independence battlefield - this feeling was too familiar - guns and artillery roaring, screams rising and falling - the only difference was this time he had no comrades, only burdens.

Su Tianyu reached to pull Li Mingsheng, saying in a low voice: "Mayor, they should have infrared thermal detection equipment - we can't run randomly, otherwise if helicopters spot us thinking we're fleeing bandits, they'll spray fire directly - that would be too damn wrongful a death."

Li Mingsheng looked at him panting: "Did you leak the rescue plan?!"

"No, they were prepared in advance - I even took a bullet in the leg," Su Tianyu replied pointing at the gauze on his thigh.

Li Mingsheng with disheveled hair looked at Su Tianyu while breathing heavily, asking softly again: "Then why did they release you?"

Su Tianyu had already prepared his lines: "Our Dragon City official army wanted to attack forcefully - hostages were useless - we had some connections with the Chi Army, so they sold my boss a favor and released me."

This answer was somewhat forced, but with Li Mingsheng's intelligence, he wouldn't dig deep questioning Su Tianyu in this situation!

Regardless of Dog Six's previous motives, at this moment he was clearly standing on Li Mingsheng's side wanting to save him.

"Mayor, we'll wait for the helicopters to pass, then move toward the outer perimeter to find our soldiers encircling the Chi Army," Su Tianyu said softly again. "I served in the military - I can get you back."

Li Mingsheng swept a complex gaze over Su Tianyu, his lips moving but making no sound.

Seeing his expression, Su Tianyu thought this big figure was scared witless - because he had personally seen on the independence battlefield how those military civilian officials and political officials with extensive connections in the city district actually performed when entering the battlefield, so he softly comforted: "No problem - just three of us would be a very small red dot under the helicopters' thermal detection equipment - once we pull back distance, danger isn't high!"

Li Mingsheng nodded at him without replying.

Beside them, Secretary-General Lu squatted behind Li Mingsheng, also cursing softly: "Division Commander, this fucking Supervision Assembly isn't human - we do so much work for them, make achievements - they don't even think before forcing an attack... completely disregarding our safety!"

Li Mingsheng glanced at him: "Follow Little Su and run."

"Brother Little Su, what I said to you earlier was thoughtless words in urgency - don't take it to heart," Secretary-General Lu patted Su Tianyu's shoulder. "Your family is fine - we were afraid you'd be threatened by bandits before, so sent people to protect them! The people sent were all called by me - they're very safe."

Su Tianyu coldly glanced at him, saying with a smile: "You better keep up with me later - these bullets have no eyes - who knows when one shot might hit you!"

"Good, thank you for your trouble!" Secretary-General Lu adjusted his dirty glasses, smiling and nodding.

After speaking, the three stopped talking. Li Mingsheng hid behind a tree trunk, constantly watching the helicopters in the sky, face deathly pale, seeming very nervous.

After a while, the helicopters finally passed overhead, and gunfire around them was sparse - at this point Li Mingsheng finally let out a breath.

"Let's go!" Su Tianyu stood up calling to the mayor.

The three ran wildly together as Su Tianyu pointed toward Dragon City saying: "That way - I hear gunfire coming from that direction - if we cross through the forest we'll definitely meet our own soldiers!"

At this moment, Secretary-General Lu followed slightly behind as Li Mingsheng swept a sidelong glance, replying softly: "Don't run toward the capture forces!! We'll return ourselves!"

"Ah?!" Su Tianyu looked at him somewhat shocked.

......

Above the forest, seeing the other side's weak counterattack capability, the helicopter squad immediately lowered altitude again, flying almost touching the treetops to give maximum firepower suppression!

Zhao Weihu running at the front of the formation looked back at the helicopters' position, immediately shouting: "Damn it, these people don't know why we're called the Chi Army!! Show weapons, face-to-face anti-air!! Get these flies shot down for me!"

Orders given, receiving personnel hidden in the mountain forest immediately threw off their anti-thermal detection gray cloth, directly revealing several anti-aircraft gun mounts and over ten RPGs!

"Fire!!" The Chi Army staff officer commanding remotely shouted hysterically.

In Dragon City, in a dimly lit warehouse, over ten men stood together staring at a hastily assembled large screen, whispering among themselves.

This "small command center's" purpose was only clear to those inside - it wasn't officially established.