freenovelworld Chapter 778 Internal Strife?
Chapter 778 Internal Strife?
Inside the bungalow area, the air seemed to freeze. Faced with Liu Daba's hysterical threats and the musket with the hostage pointed at it, Chief Guard Cheng's face remained as cold as frost, showing no sign of wavering.
As he listened to the other party's slang, a contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Give it up? You think you can take that lying down?"
Chief Guard Cheng snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping over Liu the Scarface and the two bandits beside him like a blade:
"Forget about your already exposed filthy relationship, just look at that piece of junk in your hand, daring to bare your teeth at our soldiers. There's absolutely no way this will end well today!"
Chief Guard Cheng remained calm and unmoved.
He slowly raised his pistol, the muzzle steadily pointing at Liu Dabalai. However, in the instant he aimed, his gaze swept over the woman, pale-faced and slightly swollen, whom Liu Dabalai was holding tightly in front of him, and a trace of pity finally flashed deep within his steely will.
That was not just a hostage, but also a mother and her unborn child.
But the thought of the radio and codebook found in the commander-in-chief's office was like a thorn in his heart, making him unable to tolerate any suspicion.
Who can guarantee that this hostage situation isn't just a ruse to escape unscathed?
Tonight, we must not let a single one escape!
"Put down your weapons and surrender immediately! This is your only way to survive! Otherwise, kill them without mercy!" Chief Cheng issued his final warning, while firmly raising his Type 54 pistol, the muzzle steadily pointing at Liu Daba.
However, in the instant his finger slightly adjusted its point of force as he pulled the trigger, the rock-solid muzzle shifted almost imperceptibly upwards and to the right of Liu Daba's head. At the same time, his left hand made several unintelligible gestures.
At an extremely slight angle, he precisely avoided the woman's vital points, which were tightly bound in front of the ruthless bandits. He was betting on the panic of Liu Daba's rabble under immense pressure, on their inability to notice this subtle difference, and on using this overwhelming and powerful posture to force them to break down mentally and dare not act rashly, ultimately achieving the goal of subduing the enemy without a fight.
His soldiers understood immediately, and all the gun barrels that had just lowered slightly instantly rose again, the crisp "click" of the bolts being pulled back was particularly jarring in the quiet night.
The soldiers aimed their guns, some crouching, some standing, their deep muzzles like hawks, gripping the three men in the field, pressing down on them with a palpable killing intent.
Liu Daba La was a seasoned veteran of the martial world, someone who had seen it all and knew all too well what was in the eyes of these warriors.
That was a resolute determination to complete the mission at all costs!
Looking into the unwavering, cold, and resolute eyes of Chief Guard Cheng, and the surrounding array of motionless gun barrels poised to unleash fire at any moment, the last vestiges of his complacency and ferocity vanished instantly, like a punctured balloon. His hand gripping the musket began to tremble slightly, and he couldn't help but feel genuine cowardice and despair.
Just then, a skinny bandit named "Hou San" next to Liu Daba couldn't withstand the pressure any longer. His legs trembled violently, and he whispered in a tearful voice, "Boss... how about... how about we 'slip away'?"
"The wind is strong... I'm afraid I can't escape now... They're 'regular police'... I heard... I heard they 'don't kill surrendered prisoners' (treat prisoners well)... Maybe... maybe I can still be spared..."
As he spoke, Hou San actually tried to throw his homemade rifle to the ground, and tremblingly raised his hands to surrender to the soldiers. He muttered, "Comrades of the People's Liberation Army... I surrender... I didn't mean to..."
He had only taken two steps forward, trying to show his sincerity.
"Oh!"
Another deafening roar of a gunpowder gun erupted! The not-so-loud sound exploded in the silent night sky!
Everyone was shocked!
"Lie down!"
Almost at the same moment the sound exploded, the well-trained soldiers instinctively lowered their center of gravity, tightened their fingers on the triggers, and all their eyes were sharply turned toward the source of the sound.
Strict discipline and the ability to accurately assess the situation on the ground in a very short time suppressed the soldiers' instinct to immediately open fire and counterattack.
However, the soldiers discovered that the one who had been shot and fallen to the ground was actually Hou San, the bandit who had just tried to surrender, and the shooter was another bandit.
The shot landed squarely on Hou San's back, who was about to surrender! The immense impact sent Hou San sprawling forward, his body convulsing violently; he was clearly going to die.
The iron shot inside the homemade gunpowder gun was quite powerful at close range, instantly blasting apart the bulging coarse cloth bundle on Hou San's back!
With a "poof," the package shattered, and the golden sand and gold beans inside, mixed with Hou San's blood and rags, spilled out. Under the cold moonlight, they reflected a chilling and eerie light, like a small patch of glittering stardust scattered on the ground.
The one who fired the shot was none other than the fierce-looking bandit named Sun Laowai who had been hiding on the other side of Liu Daba!
After firing his gun, Sun Laowai shrunk away like an eel, nimbly hiding behind Liu Daba and the limp woman, concealing himself completely.
Liu Daba was stunned by the sudden infighting and gunshots. He instinctively turned to look at Sun Laowai, his eyes filled with astonishment and questioning: "Sun Laowai! You son of a bitch..."
Sun Laowai abruptly interrupted him, his voice urgent and low, carrying the ruthlessness of a desperate man: "Boss! Wake up! Don't be confused! The 'cops' don't kill those who surrender?"
Bah! Those aren't covered in red! Have you forgotten last winter in Heixiazi Gully, when we planted a few road patrol "mines" to steal that train car? There were some of them wearing these uniforms!
Sun Laowai reloaded the gunpowder and quickly pointed the barrel at the surrounding soldiers: "This blood feud was started long ago! Surrender? Surrender means you'll be eating peanuts right now! You're doomed!"
Then, Old Sun abruptly changed the subject, his tone filled with the excitement of discovering a loophole: "Boss! Look closely! That official's gun isn't aimed directly at your forehead! He's holding back! He wouldn't dare to really shoot this woman! We still have a chance! Don't let your legs give out first!"
Sun Laowai's words were like a bucket of cold water mixed with ice, suddenly waking up Liu Daba, who was still somewhat hesitant, and completely shattering the psychological deterrence that Chief Cheng was trying to maintain.
A few wisps of gold dust drifted out from the cloth bag that Hou San had blown open, shimmering eerily in the moonlight...
……
The atmosphere inside the armored vehicle was equally tense.
Actually, Old Wang had already glimpsed those figures through the crack in the car window when they emerged from the weeds. His fingers were already on the holster at his waist, but when he looked at Jiang Xia and Old Li beside him, his urge to rush out was instantly suppressed.
He quickly pulled out the radio, pressed the warning signal three times, covered Jiang Xia who was still sighing, then made a "shush" gesture to the old geologist and pointed outside the car.
After everyone quieted down, he carefully rolled down half of the car window and extended the "sound wave collector," which had a distinctly "cowboy" style, towards the direction of the standoff in the distance.
Through the loudspeaker, the conversations and gunshots between the bandits in the distance, though mixed with background noise, were clearly captured and transmitted back.
When he heard Sun Laowai's bloodthirsty and treacherous roar, especially the phrase "Insert those who wear these clothes!", Lao Wang's forehead veins bulged.
"Damn it! They're bastards! I thought they were just a bunch of stupid thieves stealing gold, but I never expected... I never expected they had our comrades' blood on their hands!"
Jiang Xia's eyes were also bloodshot. He punched Lao Wang's shoulder hard and said, "Why did you give that signal? You should have just taken out your gun and blew them out!"
"Nonsense! You think I don't want to? I've been taught a lesson about protecting you..."
"We're inside the armored vehicle, do you think their lousy homemade guns can penetrate it? You're just too stubborn!"
Old Wang groaned as he was punched, but he didn't argue. He just frowned and sighed, "Bah, do you think I don't know? What did Chief Guard Cheng tell me before he left? Your safety comes first! If I make any rash moves, and some rats come out and head for this car, I'll be completely helpless!"
"Tch, we'll stay inside the armored vehicle, they won't be able to bite us!" Jiang Xia wanted to argue, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
The elderly geologist, who had been silently listening to the sounds, had his eyes reddening at some point, and his fingers were so cold that they clenched painfully.
"Xiao Jiang! Quick! Quickly use the radio to tell Chief Cheng and the others! Tell them to ask!" The old man's voice trembled, with a hint of nasal tinge.
"Just now...did those bandits mention 'Black Bear Gully'? Were they referring to...Black Bear Gully in Gaosong Mountain?"