Chapter 291: Hurricane Rescue

"Actually, my interrogation began even before the arrests. As long as there is criminal activity or a crime committed, clues will inevitably be left behind. From these clues, one can discern what the perpetrator desires. One can either break through head-on or utilize their desires to achieve a breakthrough from the opposite direction."

Director Liu, having heard Li Xuewu's words, gained some insight and inwardly marveled that this Li Xuewu had truly transformed from a prodigal into a talent.

Li Xuewu flicked his cigarette butt out the window, rolled up the glass, and then explained the question Director Liu had previously asked.

"The person I want to catch is not the 'Fatty' from just now, nor is it the 'Zhu Laoba' he mentioned, and certainly not that Fu Zhanghua."

Director Liu didn't fully understand Li Xuewu's objective, but he had heard some things about Li Xuewu from Director Wang.

Although the neighborhood office had some connections with various factories, the nature of the institution meant Director Liu was unwilling to pry into factory affairs.

Li Xuewu didn't offer much explanation either, continuing instead: "Zhu Laoba's desires are nothing more than lust and money. He is willing to part with lust but not money; catching him is easy."

"Those who mix in the underworld are the least loyal. Do you believe me? The moment Zhu Laoba sees me, his first sentence will definitely be that Fu Zhanghua made him do it."

"Hahahaha!"

Director Liu burst into laughter and then said, "I look forward to that moment."

Li Xuewu continued nonchalantly: "I don't know Fu Zhanghua's identity right now, but I know he must be a 'decent' man."

"The characteristic of a decent man is having many fixed assets. Like a donkey on a millstone, he can never run out of this circle."

Director Liu asked teasingly: "Then you are certain you can catch Fu Zhanghua? Certain you can pry open Fu Zhanghua's mouth and get what you want?"

"Hehehe."

Li Xuewu chuckled: "The more decent a person is, the less loyal they are. 'Loyalty is often found among the butcher-dog generation, while betrayal is always found among the scholars.' That saying isn't wrong."

"Hahahaha!"

Director Liu laughed: "You've even insulted yourself with that one."

Li Xuewu didn't explain further, as he had already seen the light on the communicator flash again.

"In this era, even the butcher-dog generation lacks loyalty; what bottom line could scholars possibly have?"

"Command Vehicle, Command Vehicle, Vehicle No. 7 calling Command Vehicle."

"Command Vehicle received, please speak."

"Hostage situation encountered at Mao'er Hutong, armed resistance, requesting support, requesting support!"

Li Xuewu patted Yan Jiecheng, then, with a cold face, gripped the communicator and said: "Report enemy firepower, report enemy firepower."

Vehicle No. 7 carried two district cadres, two police officers, four security guards, four protection team members, and one police dog handler.

Except for the district cadres who were unarmed, the police and the dog handler carried sidearms, and the eight team members all carried Type 56 assault rifles.

This level of firepower was enough for a small skirmish; how strong must the enemy's firepower be?

"The enemy occupies the high ground of the water tower. We cannot assault; we get shot the moment we show our heads."

"Report your position."

"We are east of the Waterworks main gate."

"Received."

Li Xuewu thought for a moment. That waterworks in Mao'er Hutong was built quite early, with the gate facing south, because to the north was the former Office of the Commander of the Gendarmerie, which was now vacant.

"We will go via Di'anmen Outer Street to the west side of the waterworks."

After giving instructions to Yan Jiecheng, he opened the public channel and said to all walkie-talkies and receiving stations: "This is Command Vehicle No. 1, this is Command Vehicle No. 1. Please report any vehicles that have completed their tasks near Mao'er Hutong, Fangzhanchang Hutong, and Doujiao Hutong."

"Repeat: This is Command Vehicle No. 1. Please report any vehicles that have completed their tasks near Mao'er Hutong, Fangzhanchang Hutong, and Doujiao Hutong."

"Static~ Static~"

The console crackled, and a voice came through: "Vehicle No. 1 is at Front Gulou Garden, Vehicle No. 1 is at Front Gulou Garden, please instruct."

"Vehicle No. 2 is at North Bingmasi, Vehicle No. 2 is at North Bingmasi, please instruct."

"Vehicle No. 4 is at Shajing Hutong, Vehicle No. 4 is at Shajing Hutong, please instruct."

"Vehicle No. 9 is at Fuxiang Hutong, Vehicle No. 9 is at Fuxiang Hutong, please instruct."

Li Xuewu thought for a moment; four vehicles were enough. Plus the people in Vehicle No. 7, he had over a dozen people on his side.

"I now order: Vehicle No. 1 to proceed to Fangzhanchang Hutong for security, Vehicle No. 1 to proceed to Fangzhanchang Hutong for security."

"Vehicle No. 1 received!"

"Vehicle No. 2 to proceed to Mao'er Hutong, east gate of the waterworks, to rendezvous with Vehicle No. 7, rendezvous with Vehicle No. 7."

"Vehicle No. 2 received!"

"Vehicle No. 4 to proceed to Doujiao Hutong for security, Vehicle No. 4 to proceed to Doujiao Hutong for security."

"Vehicle No. 4 received!"

"Vehicle No. 9 to cross the river from Guaibang Hutong to Di'anmen Beidajie to rendezvous with me, Vehicle No. 9 to cross the river from Guaibang Hutong to Di'anmen Beidajie to rendezvous with me."

"Vehicle No. 9 received!"

After issuing the orders, Li Xuewu put down the microphone, picked up a pen, and turned on the flashlight on his head to start drawing a map of the buildings surrounding the waterworks on paper.

After finishing, he turned and handed it to Director Liu behind him: "Director Liu, please take a look. This is my previous impression of the waterworks; please help me supplement it."

Director Liu took the notebook Li Xuewu handed over, and with Li Xuewu providing the light, looked at the sketch.

"The water tower is not directly south of the office building; it's a bit to the east. Also, a pressure pump room and dormitory were built on the vacant land on the west wall side."

"Good."

Li Xuewu took it back, looked at it, and then picked up the console to issue orders: "This is the Command Vehicle, this is the Command Vehicle. Now ordering: Vehicle No. 1, upon reaching the position, enter from the Office of the Commander of the Gendarmerie and block the rear wall of the waterworks."

"Vehicle No. 1 received!"

"Vehicle No. 4, upon reaching the position, enter from the Culture Ministry dormitory courtyard and block the east wall of the waterworks."

"Vehicle No. 4 received!"

Li Xuewu and his team were already near the entrance of Heizhima Hutong. After Li Xuewu patted Yan Jiecheng, Yan Jiecheng drove the vehicle into Heizhima Hutong.

Once Li Xuewu issued the orders, Yan Jiecheng knew they were to drive from Fangzhanchang Hutong onto Di'anmen Outer Street.

When turning into Fangzhanchang Hutong, he even saw the headlights of Vehicle No. 1 from behind.

It was night, so the hutong was easy to navigate; if it were daytime, it would have been chaotic.

Once on Di'anmen Outer Street, Yan Jiecheng floored the accelerator, and the vehicle's speed increased significantly.

The patrol vehicle and two sidecars following behind also increased their speed.

Even the 'Third Brother,' who was handcuffed and hooded in the patrol vehicle, could feel this tense atmosphere.

It wasn't that Third Brother had a keen sense of smell, but that he heard the sound of bolts being pulled back.

When they reached the intersection with Mao'er Hutong, Vehicle No. 9 had also arrived.

Li Xuewu pushed open the car door, ran a distance along Mao'er Hutong, and then pressed against the wall to look inside.

The situation was not quite what he had imagined; he didn't hear the crackling of "firecrackers," but saw the lights at the entrance of the waterworks were on.

Li Xuewu had already seen the water tower mentioned by Vehicle No. 7, but it was pitch black, and he couldn't see anything at all.

After the reconnaissance, Li Xuewu led his men back the way they came and called Vehicle No. 7 using the console in the vehicle.

"This is the Command Vehicle, Vehicle No. 7, please answer if you hear me."

"Vehicle No. 7 received."

"Please report the situation on the scene."

"Received."

As Vehicle No. 7 answered, there was a pause, and then the report from Vehicle No. 7 came through the loudspeaker.

"My vehicle is currently pursuing Target No. 23. When we opened the door, his mother shouted loudly and obstructed our advance. The target fled from the backyard with people. When we pursued to the waterworks, we discovered the target had taken a hostage. Now the target has taken the hostage into the water tower; we cannot assault."

Li Xuewu's heart skipped a beat; this was troublesome.

This water tower was a product from many years ago, and he didn't know the inside.

Furthermore, this water tower was a brick and stone structure; it was incredibly sturdy and impossible to assault by force.

The target taking the hostage into the water tower was like a turtle retreating into its shell. Attacking would risk the hostage; not attacking would leave the hostage in danger.

"Report how many hostages and how many targets."

Because the walkie-talkie was close to Li Xuewu's command vehicle, the call quality was excellent.

"One hostage, female. Three targets, all male."

"Received."

Li Xuewu said this and put down the handset.

Director Liu looked at Li Xuewu's furrowed brows and asked: "What do you intend to do?"

Li Xuewu didn't answer Director Liu but called Vehicle No. 7 again.

"Vehicle No. 7, where is Target No. 23's mother?"

It was clear they were surprised by Li Xuewu's question, but then Vehicle No. 9 also understood Li Xuewu's intention.

"Report Command Vehicle, still at the target's home."

Li Xuewu furrowed his brows, flipped open the notebook on the passenger seat, and found Target No. 23's home address.

"In Mao'er Hutong."

Li Xuewu looked at the location; it wasn't far from the villa where Sister Lou was currently staying, just nearby.

"Come, come, come, one person over here."

Li Xuewu pointed to the sidecar parked on the side of the road and shouted.

"Officer Li."

Li Xuewu recognized this person but didn't know his name. However, time was tight, and there was no time for pleasantries.

He pulled this comrade from the station, who was wearing a cotton-padded coat, to the passenger side, pointed to the address in the notebook, and instructed: "The target's mother should be at home. Now, you four go over, find the target's relatives, and bring them here. If you have his mother, bring his mother; if you have his children, even better."

"Yes..."

Hearing Li Xuewu's order, although regulations required him to obey, this order made the man furrow his brows.

"We don't do the 'using family members to threaten' thing."

The one who said this wasn't the comrade from the station Li Xuewu had instructed, but Director Liu.

Here, the only one who could refute Li Xuewu's opinion was Director Liu.

"Who said I was going to threaten the target?"

Li Xuewu glared and said: "This is called 'loving persuasion,' understand? Having the target's relatives come over to persuade him is more effective than us persuading him."

"Oh, oh, oh, I misunderstood."

Director Liu apologized repeatedly, saying he had misunderstood, but his eyes were still filled with suspicion as he looked at Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu said to the police officer from the station who was still standing there: "This is the first time I've met you. Let me tell you, this is the last time you question my orders. If you dare to question the commander's orders during an operation again, I'll strip you of that uniform. Move out."

"Yes."

The man flushed, saluted, ran to the sidecar, greeted the sidecar behind, and the four men in two vehicles drove around toward Guaibang Hutong.

Director Liu saw Li Xuewu criticizing the man from the station and smiled awkwardly, knowing this was Li Xuewu expressing dissatisfaction with his interference in the command.

Li Xuewu was the commander-in-chief; his orders were unquestionable during this operation. This was the authority of the commander-in-chief.

Just as Li Xuewu was arranging things, a call came through the console.

"Vehicle No. 1 is in position, current location north wall of the waterworks, 11 people."

"Received."

Li Xuewu replied, and just as he was about to put down the microphone, a voice came through the loudspeaker again.

"Vehicle No. 2 is in position, current location east wall of the waterworks, 11 people. Also, the water tower is right before my eyes."

"Received, please stay hidden and wait for orders."

"Received."

Li Xuewu looked at the commander of Vehicle No. 9 standing on the side.

"Old Xing, you take your men, climb over the wall from here, and sneak to the west wall, but don't go in. Wait for my orders."

"Yes, Officer Li."

Old Xing agreed, returned to the vehicle, gathered his men, handed the criminal suspects in the vehicle to the patrol personnel there, and led over a dozen people over the wall into the courtyard.

The main street side was separated from the waterworks by two courtyards, but the water tower was seven or eight stories high. It was best to stay far away and sneak over slowly.

Li Xuewu took binoculars and looked at the water tower. Useless; the sky in this era was exceptionally dark.

At night, one could only rely on moonlight. There were streetlights on the main road, but none in the other small hutongs.

Because there was no light pollution, Li Xuewu saw the water tower as just a dark mass; he couldn't see the people inside at all.

This wasn't necessarily a disadvantage.

Because Li Xuewu couldn't see the people inside the water tower, the people inside couldn't see Li Xuewu's side clearly either.

The headlights were turned off far away; everything relied on the streetlights here.

Even with streetlights, Li Xuewu had the vehicles parked against the wall along the street.

Being cautious had always been the standard for Li Xuewu's operations.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, a gunshot suddenly rang out from the direction of Vehicle No. 7.

Li Xuewu stood at the corner of the wall and looked, but really couldn't see anything. He turned back, picked up the handset, and asked: "Vehicle No. 7, Vehicle No. 7, report the situation."

"Command Vehicle, Command Vehicle, just now the personnel inside the water tower fired at our side from a high position. No casualties caused. Report finished."

"Vehicle No. 7, can you see the other side?"

"Report Command Vehicle, cannot see the other side."

"Vehicle No. 7, do not return fire, wait for orders."

"Vehicle No. 7 received."

Li Xuewu put down the handset and looked into the distance. Seeing that the two sidecars that had gone out still had no movement, he furrowed his brows and continued to stand at the entrance of the hutong, looking toward the water tower.

Director Liu walked to Li Xuewu's side and asked: "What do we do now?"

Li Xuewu turned to look at Director Liu, then continued looking at the water tower direction, and said: "Now we need to attract the target's attention to one direction, then send a surprise force to assault the water tower from above."

"You mean to use the target's relatives as a point to attract the criminals' attention?"

"Mm-hmm."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "This is the first step. I also need your cooperation."

Director Liu nodded solemnly: "Tell me, I will definitely cooperate with you."

Li Xuewu said sternly: "After the target's relatives are brought over in a moment, I will persuade them. Then I will have the patrol vehicle take you toward the edge of the water tower. After rendezvousing with Vehicles No. 2 and No. 7, have the target's relatives call out. Don't let them say too much, you speak."

"What should I say?"

"Small talk. Don't directly persuade the target to give up resistance; just stall for time."

Director Liu nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Li Xuewu looked at the somewhat nervous Director Liu and said: "Don't worry, the patrol vehicle has steel plates, and there will be light machine gun cover when you advance. Go ahead boldly."

"Hehehe."

Director Liu chuckled dryly and then said: "You saying that makes me even more nervous, as if it's a one-way trip."

"Hahahaha!"

Li Xuewu saw Director Liu joking and laughed as well.

As the commander-in-chief, he couldn't let his subordinates be too nervous.

"Success depends entirely on you."

"Don't worry, I will definitely do my best."

After finishing instructions to Director Liu, Li Xuewu walked to the patrol vehicle and gave instructions.

It was the same plan as before, only this time he instructed the patrol vehicle to protect Director Liu and the target's relatives well.

Another thing was to use the light machine gun to reply directly if they encountered an attack. This was the dialogue window; they couldn't be soft.

After finishing instructions, he pointed to two security guards to follow him to the streetlight.

"You two prepare yourselves. In a moment, sneak into the waterworks with me and sneak to the edge of the water tower."

While talking, Li Xuewu used a pencil to draw the infiltration route after entering the waterworks.

"The east wall is too close to the water tower; climbing the wall will make noise. We will enter from the west wall. There is a distance of dozens of meters from the west wall to the edge of the water tower, and there is a filtration pool in between."

"We will use the sound of the water in the filtration pool and the concrete wall to advance to the water tower. No showing heads; crawl at all times."

"No problem, we have practiced the 400-meter obstacle course very well."

Li Xuewu looked at the security guard who spoke and asked: "Your name is He Yuan?"

"Yes, Li Kezhang."

"In a moment, you carry two ropes on your back; remember to bring the grappling hook."

"Yes."

Li Xuewu asked the other security guard: "Your name is Qi Delong?"

"Yes, Li Kezhang."

"I remember your marksmanship is good. In a moment, when we get up there, you use the long gun to follow behind the two of us and snipe from top to bottom. He Yuan and I will use sidearms to assault downward. Is that okay?"

Qi Delong looked at Li Xuewu and said: "Your marksmanship is also very good. You should be the one sniping from above, and I will assault down with He Yuan."

Li Xuewu smiled, patted Qi Delong's shoulder, and said: "Cut the crap. Are you the commander or am I the commander?"

"You."

"Then that's it."

Li Xuewu pulled the two closer, leaned into their ears, and said: "The situation inside is unclear. Protecting our own safety is the most important thing, so don't hold back. If you find the target, shoot to kill immediately."

"Yes."

Li Xuewu spoke softly, and the two also replied softly.

He Yuan asked Li Xuewu in a low voice: "What about the hostage?"

Li Xuewu tapped He Yuan's helmet lightly with his fist and said: "Still the same sentence: protecting our own safety is the most important thing."

"Yes."

Both were sharp and understood the implication in Li Xuewu's words.

"Alright."

Li Xuewu let them go, then took them to sit in the patrol vehicle's compartment and started taking off their clothes.

Don't misunderstand; it wasn't *that*.

Because cotton-padded clothes would restrict movement, Li Xuewu prepared to take them into battle lightly for this special operation.

First, take off the combat uniform, then take off the cotton-padded clothes inside, leaving only thermal underwear, then put the combat uniform back on.

After taking off the cotton-padded clothes, Li Xuewu didn't dare to get out of the car for the time being.

The winter now was not the same as in later generations.

In later generations, in Beijing, wearing a thin sweater and a leather jacket was enough to get through the winter.

Now?

Inside was underwear, then thermal underwear, then cotton-padded clothes, then outer clothes.

Those with money and status also had to wear an overcoat.

Don't doubt the cold at this time; there was a saying in the Northeast describing it as "freezing you to the point of shivering."

He checked the weapons with the two of them and drank the hot water in the canteen.

Now was the time to store heat; in a moment, there would be a special battle.

Li Xuewu also hadn't expected an armed hostage situation; he thought they were just petty thieves, at most using iron rods.

He didn't expect that a situation where a dog jumps over a wall in desperation, or a rabbit bites when pushed, would actually occur.

Just as he tucked the pistol into the holster, the sound of a motorcycle came from outside the car.

Li Xuewu pushed open the car door and looked; the comrade from the station had brought two old people and one child off the car.

"Over here."

Li Xuewu waved his hand, then said to the people being escorted in the car: "Send these people to the compartment of Vehicle No. 9."

"Yes."

In the compartment here were Third Brother's gang; seven people whose belts had been pulled out were lined up and escorted off the car by the patrol personnel.

Then the two old people and one child who had just been brought over were sent into the compartment.

The comrade who went to pick up the people wanted to follow into the car, but was stopped by Li Xuewu pressing on his head.

"There are comrades in the car. You've worked hard too; go find a sheltered place to smoke a cigarette."

The man was stunned for a moment, then saluted and left.

"Comrade, it has nothing to do with us!"

"Why are you arresting us? If you have something to say, go find Yang Shuhuai!"

"Bang!"

Li Xuewu pulled the car door shut.

Because it was a modified truck compartment, the compartment door was also double-opening, so it was a bit stiff.

Li Xuewu closed the door with a loud sound, interrupting the shouting woman.

Li Xuewu turned back and looked at the two old people and one child who had come up by the light in the car.

Actually, saying they were old wasn't quite right, and saying they were young wasn't quite right either.

The two adults were in their forties, and the child was about six or seven.

The one who said it had nothing to do with them was the man sitting on the seat.

Seeing Li Xuewu looking at them, the man lowered his head in embarrassment.

The woman holding the child, however, started spraying saliva at Li Xuewu again.

"Who are you people? Why did you bring us here? If Yang Shuhuai broke the law, we..."

"Slap!"

Before the woman could finish, she was slapped back by Li Xuewu.

"You!"

The woman was stunned by Li Xuewu's slap, and even the child in her arms was startled by Li Xuewu, shrinking into the woman's arms.

He Yuan and Qi Delong looked at each other and looked away, each busy with their own preparations.

The man sitting beside the woman raised his head and said to Li Xuewu: "Why are you hitting people?"

With her man backing her up, the woman suddenly opened her throat to howl.

But just as she narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth, she was scared back by Li Xuewu's raised hand.

"I don't have time to reason with you."

Li Xuewu sat on the opposite seat, stared at the two, and said: "Now your son has taken a gun and held a female comrade hostage, hiding in the water tower."

"It has nothing to do with us."

Before Li Xuewu could finish, the man said again that it had nothing to do with him.

Li Xuewu glared at the man and said: "If you dare to interrupt again, I will say you are grabbing my gun and then shoot you dead."

"You!"

Just as the man was about to speak, he was scared into silence by Li Xuewu's action of pulling out his gun.

Seeing the two keep their mouths shut, Li Xuewu continued: "Everyone is born of parents. If you can't educate your son well, I will help you educate him. But that female comrade in the water tower is innocent."

"Now I require you to go outside the water tower and persuade your son to surrender, including this little one."

Li Xuewu pointed to the child shrinking in the woman's arms and asked: "Is this Yang Shuhuai's son?"

The woman pursed her lips, tears streaming down, holding the child tightly, but didn't dare to nod, fearing that if she nodded, Li Xuewu would snatch the child away to threaten her son.

"What a good child. If his future is affected because of this bastard father, how much will he hate his father?"

"Wuwuwuwu."

The woman held her grandson and buried her head in tears. The man looked at Li Xuewu and stopped speaking, then opened his mouth and said, "That wicked creature eats, drinks, whores, gambles, and smokes—he has all five vices. He even gambled away his own wife. We two old folks really can't control him anymore. You can do whatever you want with him; he deserves his punishment. Just don't cut off the roots of our old Yang family. I beg you."

While talking, the man was about to kneel, but Li Xuewu didn't buy it and had no intention of helping him up.

"If you can persuade him to come out, you will have performed a great service. I guarantee not to prosecute you. If the hostage rescue fails in the end, then I will settle the account of harboring a criminal with you."

While talking, Li Xuewu said fiercely to the two: "Giving warnings, obstructing arrests—that's a clear crime of harboring. I can say this: if your son kills the hostage, then you two will never come out until you are old. Think about what will happen to your grandson."

"Wuwuwuwu."

Hearing Li Xuewu's words, the woman's crying grew louder.

"Bastard."

The man sighed and then said to Li Xuewu: "I am a maintenance worker at the waterworks, responsible for the maintenance of the water tower. He often went to the water tower to play when he was a child, which is why he ran here."

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow when he saw the man knew the structure of the water tower. He Yuan and Qi Delong, who were pretending to be passersby, also looked over.

"If you can help me save the person, I will help you sever the relationship between the child and him, ensuring it won't affect the child's future."

"Really?"

The man looked at Li Xuewu in surprise, his voice trembling.

The woman also stopped crying, looking at Li Xuewu with hope in her eyes.

This son had tortured them to the point of exhaustion. They knew this day would come sooner or later and knew the family would definitely be affected by him.

They only hoped to delay the time until their son was arrested, or better yet, that the good-for-nothing would suddenly die outside one day.

Li Xuewu took out his credentials from his pocket.

"I am the Deputy Director of the Jiaodaokou Station; I can handle household registration matters."

Seeing Li Xuewu's credentials, the couple knew the person in front of them was truly a cadre from the station. They looked at each other and saw determination in each other's eyes.

It wouldn't work if they didn't abandon one now.

Only by abandoning the son could they save the grandson.

Besides, that son had nothing worth saving.

It was like playing a game in later generations: the main account was ruined, so you strip what you can, use up the final value, and give it to the secondary account.

Re-leveling the secondary account at least meant knowing how not to let it become like the main account.

"Okay, we agree. I will tell you about the internal structure of the water tower and the position where he is most likely hiding."

"Clang, clang."

Just as the target's father finished telling Li Xuewu about the internal structure of the water tower and the target's likely hiding spot, and the three of them finished formulating the plan, the compartment door was knocked.

Li Xuewu waved his hand at He Yuan and the other, and pushed open the car door.

"Li Suo."

As soon as Li Xuewu opened the door, he saw Director Zheng and Director Wang from the neighborhood office accompanying several people standing by the car door.

"Leaders, why are you here?"

Li Xuewu jumped out of the car and saluted Director Zheng.

Zheng Fuhua introduced solemnly to Li Xuewu: "This is Director Gao from our branch bureau."

"Director Gao, hello."

Li Xuewu saluted again and greeted him.

"Comrade Li Xuewu, hello."

Director Gao was quite amiable and took the initiative to shake hands with Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu opened the car door and said: "Leaders, let's get in the car and talk."

"Good."

Led by Director Gao, Zheng Fuhua, Director Wang, and two accompanying personnel got into the car, while the others refused Li Xuewu.

Li Xuewu nodded to the others and got into the car.

Because the car had the heater on, the environment in the compartment was quite warm.

Inside the compartment, He Yuan and Qi Delong sat on either side of the target's family.

The man and woman obviously heard Li Xuewu's address and knew that a bigger leader had arrived.

Seeing Director Gao and Director Zheng sitting on one side, Li Xuewu sat beside He Yuan.

Director Zheng looked at the man and woman with their heads lowered, and the child shrinking in the woman's arms.

"Li Suo, we received Shen Fang's report tonight. Director Gao and I both attach great importance to your operation, so we went to the neighborhood office to take a look. We didn't expect such a situation to arise. Director Gao and I were worried, so we came here."

Director Gao looked at Li Xuewu with a smile and said: "Comrade Li Xuewu is very capable. We already saw the results in the neighborhood courtyard just now. I don't know how you plan to proceed with this operation?"

Li Xuewu replied sternly: "There are three targets and one hostage, all inside the water tower. Rescue is extremely difficult."

"But fortunately, the target's parents are upright people who do not wish to see their son go further down the path of crime, so they took the initiative to ask to persuade the target."

"The target's father also provided us with information on the internal structure of the water tower."

Director Gao looked at Yang's father and said: "Being able to uphold morality, you are a qualified citizen."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Yang's father nodded shrunkenly. This really wasn't something to be proud of; being praised by a big shot wasn't anything to be happy about.

Director Gao saw the slap mark on Yang's mother's face and asked: "You aren't being forced to do this, are you?"

"No, no, how could that be?"

Yang's father waved his hand and denied it repeatedly, while nudging his old partner.

Yang's mother also smiled dryly and said: "We are all doing this voluntarily."

"Well done."

Director Gao nodded to Li Xuewu and said: "Continue."

"I plan to carry out the operation in two steps."

While talking, Li Xuewu took out his notebook and explained to Director Gao and Director Zheng: "The waterworks has already been surrounded. In a moment, I will order everyone to provide covering fire."

"I will lead the assault team to climb over the west wall, and the patrol vehicle will use light machine guns to cover the target's parents as they approach the main gate."

"After the target's family and I reach the designated position, the covering fire will stop, and the target's family will persuade them at the main gate of the waterworks. There are lights there, so the effect will be better."

"I will lead two comrades from the assault team to climb the water tower and break through from above."

Director Zheng looked at Li Xuewu's notebook and asked with furrowed brows: "What is the success rate?"

Li Xuewu looked at Director Gao, then at Director Zheng, and said: "I can only guarantee that the two comrades from the assault team and I will give it our all, even if it means sacrificing our lives."

"Good, well done."

Director Gao patted Li Xuewu's shoulder and said: "Brave and resourceful, amazing. Director Zheng and I will wait here for your good news."

"Yes."

Li Xuewu saluted and then led the others out of the car.

Because this vehicle would be used to suppress the target on the water tower with light machine guns in a moment, Li Xuewu ran to the jeep to convey the covering fire plan.

Command was transferred from Li Xuewu to Director Zheng, who had temporarily arrived.

Li Xuewu, He Yuan, and Qi Delong shivered as they checked their equipment again, then signaled to Director Zheng and easily climbed over the wall of Di'anmen Outer Street.

Once inside the wall, they ran toward the waterworks, and in their ears, they heard the sound of covering gunfire.

Taking a moment to glance at the direction of the water tower, seeing the brick wall being hit by bullets and smoking, he knew the people inside the water tower definitely wouldn't dare to show their heads.

The power of the light machine gun had already been mentioned before; it wouldn't even make you scream if it hit you, because it could kill you instantly.

After meeting up with the comrades from Vehicle No. 9, the three of them didn't stop at all and climbed directly over the west wall of the waterworks.

Feeling the bullets "whooshing" over their heads, the three of them crawled on the ground as soon as they landed and started crawling slowly toward the concrete wall of the filtration pool.

Once inside the wall, the three of them advanced rapidly.

The training for the 400-meter obstacle course came in handy.

The bullets overhead were like the training nets; they couldn't show their heads.

After Li Xuewu and the two leaped over the second wall, the corner was the base of the water tower.

Li Xuewu took the rope from He Yuan's body and hooked the grappling hook.

He signaled for the two to run to the base of the wall first, because that was a blind spot for shooting; people above couldn't see below unless they stuck their heads out.

At this time, who would dare to stick their head out above?

Li Xuewu saw the two had run to the base of the water tower wall and was just about to get up to throw the grappling hook when a stray bullet hit the concrete trough beside him.

Although it didn't hit Li Xuewu, the concrete debris sprayed Li Xuewu in the face.

And it actually hurt quite a bit.

Li Xuewu didn't wait any longer; waiting was useless. Stray bullets had eyes; they didn't hit people with guts.

The more you fear stray bullets, the more they find you; the less you fear them, the less they dare to provoke you.

Li Xuewu didn't care about the dust kicked up by the bullets hitting the water tower wall; he threw the grappling hook in his hand with force and then ran toward the base of the water tower wall.

Someone might ask, why not test if the grappling hook was secure before going up?

If the grappling hook wasn't secure, wouldn't it be a wasted run?

You can go test it if you want; Li Xuewu wouldn't.

Li Xuewu would rather run back and throw it again if it wasn't secure.

"It's okay."

Li Xuewu stood at the base of the water tower wall and tested the strength of the grappling hook; it was very stable.

He signaled softly to the two and took the lead in climbing up.

What the people inside the water tower didn't know was that the gunfire outside had stopped intermittently to allow the three people climbing up like a string of beads.

Yang Shuhuai stuck his head out and secretly looked out the window. Seeing the gunfire stop, he reached out with the long gun in his hand, intending to fire a shot at the vehicle that had driven to the entrance.

At the same time, he said to the brother beside him: "Yuanzi, go up and see if there's any situation. Xiaobin, keep an eye on that woman."

Just now, because the light machine gun was firing too fiercely, no one dared to stand on top of the water tower, so Yuanzi, who was keeping watch, ran down to hide.

Yang Shuhuai had already pulled the trigger; he had a feeling this shot would definitely kill the driver.

But just as he was about to fire, he saw the rear door of that strange truck open.

Fearing a trap, Yang Shuhuai hurriedly shifted the gun aimed at the driver toward the rear of the vehicle, aiming at the person about to come out.

But to his surprise, the ones walking out from the rear of the vehicle were his own parents and son, accompanied by the neighborhood cadre.

"Damn it!"

Yang Shuhuai angrily punched the concrete windowsill of the water tower.

"These bastards are playing dirty; they actually used my family to threaten me!"

Yuanzi, who was climbing the stairs, lowered his head and asked: "Brother Yang, what happened?"

Xiaobin, who was hiding beside the hostage, also stood up, walked to Yang Shuhuai's side, and stuck his head out to look.

"It's Brother Yang's parents and son. These people are too shameless!"

Because the water tower only had windows on the third floor, the only other opening was the water tank platform on the sixth floor.

Yuanzi was standing on the stairs; he couldn't go up or down.

"Brother Yang, should I still go up?"

"Go up, pay attention to staying hidden."

"Got it."

This Yuanzi started climbing up again.

Yang Shuhuai saw his parents walk into the light by the main gate from the window.

Especially looking at his son held in his mother's arms, Yang Shuhuai was furious, raised his gun, and fired a shot into the air.

"Damn your grandfather! If you have the guts, come at me. Using my family to threaten me, what kind of heroes do you think you are!"

"Son! Wuwuwuwuwu!"

Seeing her son standing at the water tower window cursing like a madman, the woman felt a pain in her heart.

"Daddy!"

The little boy held in the woman's arms clearly heard Yang Shuhuai's voice. Resisting his fear, he stretched his head out from his grandmother's arms and shouted toward the water tower.

Blood is thicker than water. Hearing his son's childish voice, Yang Shuhuai stopped cursing, lowered his head, and shouted to his parents: "Dad, Mom, your son can't fulfill his filial duties anymore. Let Xiaoyun fulfill them for me in the future."

After shouting to his parents, Yang Shuhuai shouted to his son: "Xiaoyun, listen to Grandpa and Grandma!"

"Daddy!"

Yang Shuhuai's father shouted toward the top of the water tower with trembling hands: "Son, how could you bear to let me, a white-haired man, send off a black-haired one?"

Hearing his father call him 'son' again, Yang Shuhuai also shed tears. The last time he was called that should have been more than ten years ago.

"Son, come down. Let's admit the punishment, okay? If it's a fine, Dad will pay it, okay? Come out! Ah!"

Yang Shuhuai wiped away his tears and said bitterly to Director Liu: "Liu Quanyou, I have no grudges with you in the past or recent days. Why did you arrest my parents?"

(Recently preparing for a trip to the Northeast; daily update times are uncertain. Please understand. After October 1st, update times will be determined based on the situation.)

Special thanks to a reader {Shudu1}, who corrects my typos every time. Thank you~ ===== CHAPTER 292 =====