Chapter 120: All‑Out War

Our Lu family's assault team is already on standby in the western suburbs. Lu Xiao stood by the window, gazing at the night‑shrouded Shen City, and said, "One thousand five hundred men, all elite. As soon as you give the order..."

"How's Kunshan?" Sun Lingyun asked.

Qin Chang'an shook his head. "The security regiment's brothers are all ready; two thousand troops can enter the city at any time. Just..."

"As long as your security regiment charges in from Kunshan and coordinates with our Lu family's assault team," Lu Xiao turned around, "we can definitely go toe‑to‑toe with Yang Chengdong."

Sun Lingyun also nodded. "That's right. Once the fighting starts, our Sun family's forces in Jiangnan can arrive within three days. The Lu family side..."

"Five days." Lu Xiao picked up the thread, "At most five days, we can bring in two more brigades."

Qin Chang'an stood up and paced the room. On the surface, the situation looked favorable for them. His own Kunshan security regiment, the Lu family's assault team, plus Sun Lingyun's two battalions, indeed gave them the wherewithal to fight Yang Chengdong. Moreover, once all‑out war broke out, reinforcements from the Sun and Lu families would keep pouring in.

But...

"Young Commander?" Li Yong whispered, "Should we send a telegram to Kunshan to have the security regiment..."

Qin Chang'an did not answer. He walked to the window and gazed toward the Security Command Headquarters in the distance. That was the foundation his father had built with his own hands—twenty years of painstaking effort, twenty years of accumulation...

"Chang'an." Sun Lingyun seemed to notice his hesitation, "Now is not the time to let emotions rule. Yang Chengdong has already torn apart the facade, and we..."

"I know." Qin Chang'an cut him off, "But have you considered that once fighting breaks out, the Security Army will be finished?"

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Isn't this exactly what we want?" Lu Xiao said, somewhat puzzled.

"No." Qin Chang'an shook his head, "You don't understand. The Security Army is the Qin family's foundation, the legacy my father left me. If it's wiped out..."

He didn't finish, but everyone understood his meaning. Without the Security Army as its base, even if they ultimately won, Qin Chang'an could only rely on the Sun and Lu families, becoming their puppet.

"But now..." Li Yong started to speak, then stopped.

"I know." Qin Chang'an gave a wry smile, "Yang Chengdong simply isn't giving us any room to maneuver. He's trying to wipe us out completely."

Another burst of gunfire came from outside the window. The fighting at the northern district camp continued.

"There's still one more problem." Qin Chang'an suddenly said, "Lin Yu."

Upon hearing that name, the temperature in the room seemed to drop sharply.

"That lunatic." Sun Lingyun snorted, "He's definitely just watching the show now."

"It's not just watching the show." A flicker of warning crossed Qin Chang'an's eyes, "He's waiting. Waiting for us and Yang Chengdong to lose both sides, then..."

Another silence fell. Everyone knew the Fourth Bureau was the most terrifying. Director Lin Yu was like a venomous snake lurking in the dark, ready to strike a deadly blow at any moment.

"Time waits for no one." Lu Xiao glanced at her watch, "Yang Chengdong will soon bring up the artillery. When that happens..."

Qin Chang'an closed his eyes. He understood all too well. But just thinking that the Security Army, his family's foundation, would be destroyed by his own hand made his heart feel like it was being cut by a knife. He is the commander of the Kunshan Security Regiment, with troops at his command, able to fight Yang Chengdong to the bitter end. Yet no matter who wins or loses, the outcome of this battle will be the Security Army's foundation left in ruins.

By then, even if he could sit in the seat of Security Army Commander, what would it mean? Without an army, he would only be at others' mercy, reduced to a puppet.

"Give me half an hour." He finally said, "Let me think it over."

Gazing at the night outside the window, Qin Chang'an sank into deep contradiction. Whether to move troops into the city for a bloody showdown or to hold back and preserve strength, neither option seemed perfect.

And in the sky over Shen City, a fine drizzle had begun to fall at some point.

Fourth Bureau Headquarters.

Lin Yu sat behind his desk, fingers lightly tapping the surface. The rain outside grew heavier, but his gaze was unusually clear.

Speak.

Yes. Zhou Wei opened his notebook, "Yang Chengdong has already taken control of the Security Command Headquarters and begun purging the Qin family's influence. As of now..."

The exact numbers.

Seventeen dead, forty‑three arrested, most of them elderly members of the Qin family. Zhou Wei paused, "Moreover, Yang Chengdong has mobilized the First and Third Regiments, which are now besieging Sun Lingyun's two battalions."

Lin Yu nodded, indicating to continue.

Sun Lingyun's troops are well equipped and have temporarily halted the Security Army's advance. Zhou Wei lowered his voice, "However, Yang Chengdong has already mobilized the artillery battalion."

What about Qin Chang'an's side?

He's hesitating whether to send the Kunshan Security Regiment into the city. The Lu family's assault team is already on standby in the western suburbs.

Lin Yu's lips curled slightly upward, "They're all just waiting to watch the show."

Should we...

No. Lin Yu waved his hand, "Let everyone stand down. Strengthening surveillance is enough."

Zhou Wei bowed and withdrew. Soon, plainclothes agents of the Fourth Bureau sprang into action, blending into the crowds and hiding in every corner. Some posed as tea house attendants, some as rickshaw pullers, others as vagrants...

Team leader. One agent, holding a listening device outside a residence in the French Concession, said, "Inside the Sun Gongguan, they've already started debating whether to break out."

Understood.

Team leader. Another agent, hidden in a large tree in the western suburbs, said, "The Lu family's assault team is adjusting its deployment, apparently preparing..."

Keep watching.

An invisible net was quietly spreading over the entire Shen City. The Fourth Bureau's informants had infiltrated every corner.

Director. Zhou Wei re‑entered the office, "All the intelligence has been compiled."

Lin Yu took the report and skimmed it quickly. Suddenly he stopped at one page.

Interesting.

What?

Before taking action, Yang Chengdong had secretly met with representatives from Yan Jing. Lin Yu snorted, "Looks like he was prepared all along."

Zhou Wei pondered, "So this operation..."

It's not just aimed at Qin Chang'an." Lin Yu set down the report, "He intends to use this opportunity to seize complete control of the Security Army."

Then what should we...

Keep watching the show." Lin Yu rose, walked to the window, "Let them fight until they both lose."

But..." Zhou Wei worried, "If the Lu and Sun families' reinforcements arrive...

Too late." Lin Yu turned, his eyes sharp, "Within three days this spectacle ought to be over."

"The Bureau Chief meant..."

"Yang Chengdong won't give them time to summon reinforcements."; Lin Yu sat down again, "He will launch a general attack before dawn. As for Qin Chang'an..."

He hadn't finished speaking, but Zhou Wei already understood. This was a carefully designed scheme, everyone playing their own role. And their Fourth Bureau was the best audience for this grand performance.

"Right."; Lin Yu suddenly said, "Get people ready."

"Prepare what?"

"Cleanup."; Lin Yu's eyes flashed with a cold glint, "After they finish fighting, it'll be our turn to take the stage."

Zhou Wei's heart jolted. He finally understood that the Bureau Chief intended to take advantage of the mutual weakening of all forces to thoroughly cleanse Shen City.

The rain outside grew heavier and heavier. The lights of the Fourth Bureau Headquarters remained bright throughout this sleepless night.