Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

There was a deathly silence on the other end of the phone.

There was only the sound of the wind whistling.

A full ten seconds passed.

"I understand." Sha Ruijin's voice was laced with suppressed anger. "Comrade Dakang, I'm on the highway now. It'll probably take two hours to get to Lincheng. We can't turn around on the way; we have to get off at the next toll station."

"Two hours?" Li Dakang was extremely anxious. "Secretary Sha, two hours will be too late. Those workers are completely out of control. Zhao Qikun and Wang Julong's lives are in danger at any moment. Do you think you can coordinate a helicopter..."

"Li Dakang, calm down," Sha Ruijin interrupted him. "Helicopter mobilization requires going through the military region's procedures, and it will take even longer to get approval. You and Song Yunhui are both here now. You are the representatives of the Provincial Party Committee, and you should make decisions accordingly. If I'm not here, you two need to stabilize the situation. If Zhao Qikun and Wang Julong lose even a single hair, I'll hold you accountable."

The phone hangs up.

Li Dakang looked a little dejected and leaned back in his chair.

"What did Secretary Sha say?" Song Yunhui asked.

"He's on the highway, it'll take him at least two hours to get there." Li Dakang wiped the sweat from his face. "Governor Song, we can't wait for Secretary Sha. Time is too tight. If the people inside go all out and something happens to Zhao Qikun and Wang Julong, our entire provincial party committee will bear the leadership responsibility. We must handle this properly as soon as possible."

"Do you even need to tell me?" Song Yunhui's gaze was icy. "We're going back now to take over command. Secretary Yuliang, notify the public security department. Bring all the elite troops you can to the Lin City government compound, and close off the roads near the municipal government compound."

Gao Yuliang nodded and started making a phone call.

Without waiting for Song Yunhui's instructions, Zhou Tiejun contacted the Lincheng Military Sub-district.

the other side.

Qi Tongwei, director of the Public Security Bureau of Handong Province, sat in a speeding SUV.

Deputy Director Jiang Jianyong sat in the back row, while Jiang Zhentao, Director of the Lincheng City Public Security Bureau, sat in the passenger seat.

The car, with its police lights flashing, sped towards Lincheng.

"Jiang Zhentao, what's going on? The security situation in your Lincheng is absolutely terrible!" Qi Tongwei gritted his teeth. "Thousands of people have surrounded the municipal government. What is your Public Security Bureau doing? Where is the riot police? Where is the stability maintenance plan?"

Jiang Zhentao shrank his neck, not daring to utter a single word in rebuttal.

He didn't know what was going on because he had gone to a meeting in Jingzhou.

Just then, Jiang Zhentao's phone rang.

"Director Jiang, this is Gao Qingyun. Something terrible has happened. Secretary Zhao and Mayor Wang have been detained by the workers. The situation is out of control."

Jiang Zhentao's hand trembled, and his phone almost fell onto the floor mat.

Qi Tongwei snatched the phone away.

"I am Qi Tongwei. Explain clearly how you detained them. Were the hostages injured?"

"Director Qi... The workers have taken Secretary Zhao and Mayor Wang hostage with fruit knives. The door is locked from the inside. They threatened that if the problems at the cotton mill aren't resolved, they'll jump off the building with the two leaders and go to heaven."

"Damn it, you're just a useless bum." Qi Tongwei cursed. "Stabilize the situation and do everything you can to rescue the hostages."

He tossed the phone to Jiang Zhentao.

"Did you hear that? It's Director Qi's order. Carry it out immediately. If even one person jumps off a building, you, Jiang Zhentao, are in for a world of hurt."

Qi Tongwei took out his phone and made several calls in a row.

"Fire Department? This is Qi Tongwei. Dispatch firefighting forces from the surrounding area of ​​Lincheng. Bring rescue air cushions and ladder trucks. Deploy them to the area below the Lincheng City Government Building within ten minutes. If you can't cover the entire floor, you might as well quit your job as captain."

"Armed Police Special Forces. Are the snipers in position? Set up the sniper rifles in the building across the street and keep an eye on the mayor's office window..."

After arranging everything, Qi Tongwei took a few deep breaths and dialed Gao Yuliang's number.

"Teacher, something's happened in Lincheng. I'm almost there." Qi Tongwei finished his business and remembered he had to report.

"Director Qi, I understand the proper way to address someone by their title. We're also on our way to the Lincheng City government. Secretary Sha is stuck on the highway. Governor Song is in command now. Once you arrive, immediately take over on-site security command. There absolutely cannot be any bloodshed. That's the bottom line."

"Understood, Secretary Gao. I will definitely guarantee the safety of the hostages." Qi Tongwei hung up the phone.

"Jiang Zhentao," Qi Tongwei kicked the passenger seat, "call the Lincheng Traffic Police Detachment. From where we are now to the Lincheng Municipal Government, get all the green lights. Have the traffic police go out and clear the streets manually, and tow away all the cars blocking the way."

Jiang Zhentao took out his phone and started making calls.

The streets of Lincheng were filled with the wailing of police sirens.

Traffic police officers on motorcycles set up a cordon at the intersection.

The normally congested main roads were cleared to create multiple lanes.

Twenty minutes later.

Police cars, SUVs, and minibuses drove into the Lincheng City Government compound.

The entire compound was in complete chaos.

More than 100 workers gathered around the flower beds and on the steps.

Holding banners, they shouted slogans demanding food and survival.

Dozens of police officers, holding shields, formed three human walls, firmly blocking the crowd outside the office building.

Downstairs in the open space, firefighters are inflating a yellow rescue airbag.

Song Yunhui got out of the car and quickened his pace.

Gao Yuliang, Zhou Tiejun, and Li Dakang followed closely behind.

Qi Tongwei led Jiang Zhentao and Jiang Jianyong to run over from the other side to join them.

Chen Changqing greeted him, his brow beaded with sweat.

"Distinguished leaders, I am Chen Changqing, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. You've finally arrived." Chen Changqing was almost in tears.

"What's the situation inside now?" Song Yunhui was concerned about the safety of the hostages.

"Ding Qiulin and Li Jianguo have tied the two leaders to chairs. There should be a sofa and desk blocking the back of the door. The special police tried to get in through the ventilation duct, only to find that it didn't lead to the mayor's office. They are extremely agitated now. They threatened to bleed Secretary Zhao dry if they didn't see Secretary Sha within half an hour." Chen Changqing summarized the situation at the scene with a stiff upper lip.

"Ridiculous! Useless! Trash!" Li Dakang stepped forward and grabbed Chen Changqing by the collar. "You cadres in Lincheng are all good-for-nothings; you can't even handle two workers."

"Secretary Dakang, they have weapons. And they specifically demand money. The cotton mill's hole can't be filled, and they won't listen to any advice," Chen Changqing explained aggrievedly.

Song Yunhui rolled his eyes at Li Dakang.

Looking around, his gaze swept over Gao Yuliang, Li Dakang, and Zhou Tiejun, finally settling on Qi Tongwei.

"Time waits for no one. Secretary Sha is still on his way. We must race against time to rescue him."

Comrade Dakang and I are in charge of the negotiations. Comrade Dakang, you used to be the top leader of Lincheng, these workers are familiar with you, so they might listen to what you have to say.

Li Dakang nodded reluctantly, "Okay. I'll go."

Song Yunhui turned to Gao Yuliang and Zhou Tiejun, "Secretary Yuliang, Commander Zhou, you two stay here to direct the operation. devise multiple rescue plans. If negotiations break down, a military assault must follow."

"Governor Song, please rest assured. We will do our utmost." Gao Yuliang adjusted his glasses. "Qi Tongwei, you command the special police to rappel down from the roof and stand by. Be ready to break the windows at any time."

"Yes, sir. I guarantee I will complete the mission." Qi Tongwei stood at attention and saluted.

Song Yunhui pulled off his suit tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt.

"Comrade Dakang, let's go. We'll meet these two workers who are about to cause chaos."

The two walked towards the office building.

I had just reached the bottom of the stairs.

A loud bang suddenly came from the window of the mayor's office.

Glass shards rained down from the sky.

It crashed onto the rescue air cushion and the concrete ground below, making a loud crackling sound.

A bloodstained office chair was pushed out of the window and crashed straight to the ground.

"No money. We'll all die together!" A hoarse roar erupted from upstairs.

Li Dakang suddenly looked up, his eyelids twitching wildly.

The office chair on the ground had a broken leg, and the dark red bloodstain on the backrest was extremely conspicuous.

If this were to hit someone on the head, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Li Dakang cursed Zhao Qikun inwardly, calling him a useless piece of trash who was good for nothing but causing trouble. He usually acted arrogantly in the municipal party committee compound, but when it came to real combat, he couldn't even calm down a worker.

If someone were to die, Li Dakang's political career might be over.

Song Yunhui looked at Qi Tongwei, who was still on the phone, and waved to him, "Director Qi, take your sniper rifle and come with me."