Chapter 590: Heavy Firepower

Thinking of this, Zhang Lei's eyes grew sharp.

He couldn't wait to go back right now and give Cai Tianming a sound beating.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Lei suddenly laughed and said to Chen Jiajun and Daquan Bao, "You two coming to find me isn't just to deliver information, is it?"

Zhang Lei was very smart; obtaining such detailed information must have taken a great deal of effort.

And this Mr. Chen from Hong Kong likely didn't have a simple identity either.

Zhang Lei didn't waste words and asked this question directly.

Chen Jiajun nodded: "Captain Zhang, Li Zhenbiao and these people are involved with other forces behind the scenes. I need to obtain the direct connection between these people and that force."

"International drug lord?" Zhang Lei was stunned for a moment.

At this time, Department Head Liu suddenly spoke up: "Little Zhang, don't ask about some things."

Daquan Bao waved his hand and said: "It's fine, Captain Zhang is one of our own. It doesn't matter if he knows about this, as long as he doesn't spread it around everywhere."

Hearing the conversation between the few, Zhang Lei felt that this matter was becoming increasingly complicated.

Chen Jiajun said indifferently: "This matter involves Hong Kong, which is why I came to find you, Captain Zhang!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Lei's expression immediately turned serious.

At the same time, he understood that this was not a matter he could get involved in.

So he nodded directly at Chen Jiajun and said: "I understand. How does Mr. Chen need me to cooperate with you all?"

"First, lure 'Li Zhenbiao' and the others out; it's roughly the same as your approach. However, after catching Li Zhenbiao, I need you to give me some time to interrogate them alone," Chen Jiajun said with a smile. "Of course, I can provide you with detailed information on my end to make the arrest process more convenient for you."

"This..." Zhang Lei looked at Department Head Liu.

Department Head Liu nodded imperceptibly; what Chen Jiajun proposed was not a problem at all.

With Department Head Liu's approval, Zhang Lei agreed directly: "No problem!"

"Hahaha, I knew Old Liu was easy to talk to," Daquan Bao said with a smile. "Captain Zhang, looking at you just now, were you planning an operation?"

Zhang Lei nodded and said: "We originally wanted to play both sides, first pretending to be Li Zhenbiao to meet Haha Ge, then pretending to be Haha Ge to meet Li Zhenbiao. Now it seems that won't be necessary!"

"No, I think your approach is very good, Captain Zhang!" Chen Jiajun suddenly spoke up.

"Hm? Why? We already know Li Zhenbiao is a fake now, don't we?" Zhang Lei said, feeling a bit strange.

Chen Jiajun smiled and said: "Precisely because of that, I think your plan is good! You endure that Cai Tianming for a while, let him cooperate with the police, and clarify the figures on this drug trafficking line. In this way, let Cai Tianming think you are following his train of thought."

"When the right opportunity arrives and you feel you've dug deep enough into this line, you can then round them all up in one go," Chen Jiajun suggested very sincerely.

Hearing Chen Jiajun's plan, the few were somewhat surprised.

They didn't understand why Chen Jiajun was so invested in this matter.

As for Daquan Bao, he seemed to know a little something.

Although Chen Jiajun came from a secret society background, he had always detested things like Laundry Powder.

Back when he unified the Hong Kong underworld, he had never once entertained the idea of such business.

Moreover, he killed every drug lord he encountered.

So, Daquan Bao was not surprised by Chen Jiajun's current attitude.

As for Zhang Lei and Department Head Liu, they were a bit confused, not understanding why Chen Jiajun was so concerned about these drug dealers.

Chen Jiajun saw this too, chuckled, and said: "You two don't need to be so surprised; I have some grudges with people from a few secret societies."

Chen Jiajun didn't tell them too much; having an explanation was enough.

After Zhang Lei totted it up, although he couldn't figure out Chen Jiajun's motive, doing this only benefited him and caused no harm, so he naturally went along with the suggestion.

After finishing the discussion with Chen Jiajun and the others, Zhang Lei prepared to continue the plan.

He took Cai Tianming directly to the Jinma Hotel.

On the way, Zhang Lei only arranged the work and didn't say a word to Cai Tianming.

He knew that if Cai Tianming wanted to survive, he had no choice but to cooperate with him; under police surveillance, he definitely wouldn't be able to run.

After arriving at the hotel, Zhang Lei observed Li Shuchang, who had already arrived at the hotel early.

Although this guy was an actor and a drug addict, Zhang Lei had to act at least seventy or eighty percent like him.

According to Cai Tianming's confession, this Li Shuchang had a cold face and had smoked so much Laundry Powder that his brain was somewhat muddled.

The difficulty of playing him was still quite low.

Zhang Lei's poker face was already somewhat similar.

So he went directly to the hotel room and met Haha Ge.

This guy had been in the business for many years and still hadn't been caught by the police, so he definitely had some tricks up his sleeve.

Therefore, even though Li Shuchang was relatively easy to play, Zhang Lei did not let his guard down.

Whether he could kill two birds with one stone would depend on his acting skills.

Haha Ge looked boisterous; he laughed at Cai Tianming as soon as he came up and liked to make very nasty jokes: "How the hell did your venereal disease grow all the way onto your face!"

Cai Tianming also knew his personality and ignored him, instead pointing at Zhang Lei and saying: "Let me introduce you, Brother Chang."

"Please, this way!" Haha Ge immediately walked to the dining table and pulled out the chair in front of him.

But Zhang Lei ignored him and sat on the other side instead.

Haha Ge was stunned for a moment, then sat down and pointed at the table full of seafood, starting to boast about his power: "Fish, shrimp, crab, abalone—they are all shipped from my port! Dozens of tons are shipped in every damn day! Hahahaha!"

"Do you think I'm bragging? Do you know how many fishing boats I have? Over seventy! Such large green-lip abalones, I fly them back and forth from Australia by plane, four trips a day!"

Zhang Lei didn't speak, just watched him quietly as he continued to boast to himself.

At this time, Haha Ge suddenly said again: "I heard you like this stuff, Brother Chang, so why not try some?"

As he spoke, he had his wife bring over some white powder.

Clearly, these things were Laundry Powder.

"Trash!"

Zhang Lei leaned over to sniff it, then suddenly blew the Laundry Powder off the plate in one breath.

This immediately caused Haha Ge's expression to change, and he slammed the table and stood up.

Zhang Lei ignored him, took out a small flask of his own, poured some mints into his hand, and took a sniff.

Then he handed it to Haha Ge and said, "Want to try?"

"Although I sell this stuff, I never touch it myself; it's bad for the brain, hahaha!" Haha Ge slapped his own mouth and laughed, saying, "Spoke too soon!"

Cai Tianming seized the opportunity to say, "Haha Ge, go ahead!"

"I never brag!" Haha Ge suddenly became serious: "I know a Big Brother in the Northeast who runs nightclubs, entertainment complexes, and KTVs—he owns several hundred of them. No matter how much product you have, I guarantee it will all be sold!"

Cai Tianming followed up with flattery: "You mean that Niu Ge who hosted us last time, right?"

"Heiniu!" Haha Ge continued: "His surname is Niu, and he's even more 'niu' (impressive); there's nothing he can't pull off."

Cai Tianming continued: "I remember you also know a small-time hoodlum in Japan who can help us distribute the goods in Japan, right?"

"What small-time hoodlum? That's Beitiao Wu of the Shanno-kai; there isn't a soul in the entire Kabukicho of Japan who doesn't know him!" Haha Ge corrected him: "I'm in Seoul, I have connections in South Korea too. Do you know Mr. Jin Zhengxun? Seoul, Busan, Gwangju—they're all his turf!"

Cai Tianming snatched the cigarette case containing the camera from Haha Ge's hand and placed it on the table: "So that's the South Korean guy, the Japanese guy, the Northeast Big Brother, Haha Ge, and me, the little brother! Brother Chang, this combination can definitely work!"

Cai Tianming had effectively helped Zhang Lei out of a tight spot, allowing Zhang Lei to let out a long sigh of relief.

He didn't dare stay here any longer, lest Haha Ge notice any flaws.

He put away the cigarette case, then stood up directly and walked toward the door.

However, on his way out, he still said to Haha Ge: "I will arrange for my uncle to meet with you."

Seeing that the deal was done, Haha Ge and his wife were overjoyed and hurriedly picked up their red wine, ready to toast.

But Zhang Lei ignored them completely, maintaining his cold and aloof persona as he left the room. "Good brother, truly my good brother!" Haha Ge said to Cai Tianming.

Cai Tianming nodded, then turned and followed Zhang Lei out.

After leaving the room, Zhang Lei led the group at a light jog until they reached the room the Police had prepared in advance.

Taking advantage of the meeting, Zhang Lei changed his clothes while laughing neurotically; the laughter was exactly the same as Haha Ge's.

Then he repeated Haha Ge's version of events to Li Shuchang.

Although the process went smoothly, that bastard Li Shuchang was a "dead friend" type.

During the negotiation, he forced Zhang Lei to eat the Laundry Powder.

At this moment, Xiao Bei leaned into Zhang Lei's ear and whispered: "Mr. Chen just told me that the stuff on Li Shuchang was replaced with powdered sugar by them, so it's fine! But remember to keep acting in front of Cai Tianming."

Zhang Lei immediately took the stuff from the other party's hand with bravado and ate several lines in a row.

Finally, it was Cai Tianming who couldn't bear to watch anymore and patted Li Shuchang's arm, which brought the matter to an end.

Zhang Lei saw Cai Tianming's small gesture, sneered, but did not expose him on the spot.

Instead, he immediately channeled his inner actor, trembling all over as he rolled on the ground.

Xiao Bei immediately had people press Cai Tianming out, then kicked Zhang Lei and said: "Alright, Captain Zhang, they've left!"

"Little girl!" Zhang Lei knocked on Xiao Bei's head in annoyance, then said coldly: "Sure enough, that Li Shuchang is actually Cai Tianming's puppet."

Xiao Bei nodded: "The relationship chart Mr. Chen gave us is very accurate; this time we've really caught a big fish."

Zhang Lei did not deny it: "It seems we can finally dig out this tumor, Li Shuchang."

The two talked for a while, and the next day they took Cai Tianming to Ezhou.

The matter of the trucks hadn't been settled yet; they had to deal with Cai Tianming's apprentices first to be at ease.

After all, if those bastards with Cai Tianming's skills were allowed to escape, catching them would be even more difficult.

In Ezhou, they quickly found the two truck drivers.

Before setting off, Zhang Lei installed a surveillance device on Cai Tianming and gave him a few portable ones, warning him: "If I suspect any of your words or any of your actions, I will terminate the operation immediately."

"Understood!" Cai Tianming said honestly.

Zhang Lei continued: "If you don't redeem yourself through service, you're finished."

"Understood, Captain Zhang!" After saying this, Cai Tianming got out of the car.

Cai Tianming was let through and charged aggressively at the two truck drivers, roaring: "Did you bastards get high again?"

Seeing that the other party was still holding a water bottle, Cai Tianming rushed up and gave the two of them a brutal beating.

He even picked up a gun from the ground, intending to use it on them.

However, seeing the Police in the distance watching him closely, Cai Tianming knew this wasn't a good opportunity to escape.

He could only toss the gun aside, grab the two truck drivers who had already passed out from the drugs, and drive the truck directly to a paper mill.

This paper mill was a paper mill on the surface, but in secret, it was a "Kitchen."

It was the territory of his apprentices, Da Long and Xiao Long.

The Police also immediately deployed personnel here to monitor everything inside.

Furthermore, learning from Cai Tianming that these two were deaf-mutes, they immediately invited a sign language expert to assist the Police in the case.

The expert stared at the monitor and began to translate word for word.

Da Long: "Master, are you alright?"

Cai Tianming: "Unload the goods first."

Taking this opportunity, Cai Tianming installed the surveillance equipment Zhang Lei had given him all over the factory.

Subsequently, Cai Tianming pointed at the raw materials and gestured to Da Long: "The goods are needed urgently this time, hurry up!"

Da Long: "Understood!"

Cai Tianming: "You two decide, any split is fine!"

Da Long shook his head: "No, no, no, Master, whatever you say goes."

Clearly, it was not hard to see from their conversation that Da Long was still very grateful to Cai Tianming.

Soon, Xiao Long brought over two bottles of Moutai and gestured to Cai Tianming: "Master, come, eat something first!"

After handing the matters over to their subordinates, the few of them sat around the table and began to eat.

As Cai Tianming ate, tears began to fall, and he picked up a wine glass and poured a cup of wine onto the ground.

Da Long and Xiao Long asked with concern: "Master, what is wrong?"

Cai Tianming gestured in grief: "Your mistress is dead; she and my two older brothers walked too slowly and were blown to death! Time was too tight, so they were only buried simply, and I haven't paid my respects yet."

Seeing Cai Tianming's gestures, Da Long and Xiao Long appeared very shocked.

Subsequently, the two of them, Da Long and Xiao Long, asked their wives to get incense, candles, and paper money to help Cai Tianming perform the memorial rites.

Unfortunately, there were no such things inside the factory.

Then, these two fellows directly took out cash to burn as paper money.

At this moment, the two drivers who had previously knocked themselves out finally woke up, and they walked timidly in front of Cai Tianming: "Brother Ming, sorry about before! We took too much drugs. Is the cargo alright?"

Cai Tianming was burning cash to pay respects to his wife and completely ignored these two fellows.

Seeing that Cai Tianming did not acknowledge him, the driver could only bite the bullet and say: "Then we will return to Yuejiang to report back to Biao Shu. We are leaving first!"

Seeing this scene, the Yuejiang Police Guo Weijun and Cheng Shixiong immediately prepared to follow.

However, the two of them did not even have travel money for the road, so several Police officers took out the cash from their pockets and gave it to the two.

But most of it was in denominations of a few or a few dozen, contrasting with the hundred-dollar bills Cai Tianming was burning at the time.

It appeared exceptionally ironic.

Zhang Lei said to the two: "We will take the first high-speed train down."

The two nodded, took the travel money gathered by the various Police officers, and left directly following the other party's truck.

After Cai Tianming returned, Zhang Lei prepared to take him to Yuezhou.

And the drug manufacturing factory here in Ezhou also had to be taken down immediately.

However, just as they were about to act, Daquan Bao walked over with Chen Jiajun.

"Everyone, please hold off on acting!" Daquan Bao said to the Ezhou Armed Police.

"Director Shi, is there something wrong?" the Commander of the Armed Police unit asked curiously.

Chen Jiajun spoke up: "These two, Da Long and Xiao Long, might have heavy firepower in their hands."

"Heavy firepower?" The Captain of the Armed Police unit widened his eyes instantly.

Zhang Lei also looked at Chen Jiajun with a nervous expression.

Chen Jiajun had someone bring over a list, handed it to the two, and said: "This is the weaponry Da Long and Xiao Long purchased from Hong Kong through Cai Tianming's channels; you gentlemen might as well take a look!"

The Armed Police Captain took it and looked, and cold sweat immediately broke out.

The list showed that these two fellows, Da Long and Xiao Long, had purchased quite a few AKs, explosives, RPGs, and such things through Cai Tianming's connections.

If they had rashly charged straight in, they would definitely have suffered a setback.

Chen Jiajun continued: "Moreover, according to my understanding, these people who run 'Kitchens', that is to say, drug manufacturing factories, are most skilled at having three burrows for a cunning rabbit; I think that besides heavy firepower, they also have tunnels. Therefore, I want to remind everyone that this matter must be handled with caution."

Hearing Chen Jiajun's words, the Commander of the Armed Police unit and Zhang Lei could not help but nod.

They immediately scrapped the previous plan and began to reformulate a new one. (End of chapter)