Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

"Yes, Governor Song." Qi Tongwei responded and followed him into the office building.

Following Song Yunhui's instructions, Jiang Zhentao retrieved the building's design blueprints.

We arrived at the floor where the mayor's office was located.

Several people were studying blueprints in a room opposite the mayor's office.

Song Yunhui pointed to a small cubicle at the back of the office, "This is the lounge. It has a window. Mayor Wang takes his lunch break in there."

"Yes, I've been inside," Jiang Zhentao replied.

"Details? Tell me the details!" Song Yunhui was very anxious.

Time is of the essence; the longer we delay, the more trouble we'll cause.

Jiang Zhentao recalled carefully, "I remember now, there was a small platform, about the size of a balcony, probably about 60 centimeters long."

We can't attack through the main gate; the door is too thick, and the sound of banging on it will disturb Li Jianguo inside.

"Jiang Jianyong, Jiang Zhentao, you two will be lowered from the rooftop to the platform." Song Yunhui turned to look at Jiang Jianyong. "Are you confident you can rescue the hostages at all costs?"

Jiang Jianyong patted his chest and said, "Governor Song, rest assured, I will do my best."

Qi Tongwei's mind raced.

This is a tough battle, but also an opportunity.

Opportunities to show up in front of Governor Song are few and far between; messing it up will lead to utter ruin, while doing it well will pave the way to success.

"Governor, I'll lead a group of people in through the main gate," Qi Tongwei volunteered.

Song Yunhui glanced at Qi Tongwei.

He understood Qi Tongwei's thoughts: he was capable, had a strong desire to win, and was willing to fight desperately in crucial moments.

"Be careful, the first priority is to ensure the safety of the hostages," Song Yunhui instructed.

"I guarantee to complete the mission!" Qi Tongwei pledged, "If I fail to complete the mission, I, Qi Tongwei, will take off my police uniform."

Inside the office.

The smell of blood and sweat mingled together.

Zhao Qikun sat at his desk, blood smearing half his face, groaning incoherently. "This is a crime, and I, Zhao Qikun, will never let you get away with this."

"Shut up, you son of a bitch!" Li Jianguo kicked Zhao Qikun in the stomach.

Zhao Qikun screamed in pain, curled up into a ball, and didn't dare to utter a sound.

He once dreamed of becoming a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, just like Li Dakang.

These days, just being alive is a luxury.

He died with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Yesterday, Sha Ruijin was still making empty promises to himself, but now he's just a hair's breadth away from death.

Li Jianguo, holding a fruit knife, pointed it at Zhao Qikun's nose. "You, Zhao, don't try to scare me. I've worked in this factory for twenty years, and at the very end, you just throw us out with a single sentence. The resettlement fee is only 1000 yuan, and you still can't pay it. My wife is still lying in the hospital waiting for money for surgery. If you don't bring the money today, I'll use you as a sacrifice."

Wang Julong remained remarkably calm, even with his hands tied behind his back to the chair.

Ding Qiulin also had a fruit knife in his hand and a cigarette in his other hand.

"Li Jianguo, calm down," Wang Julong gasped for breath, trying to persuade him. "If you want to solve the problem, arresting Secretary Zhao won't help. The municipal finance department will definitely give you the money if they have it. Even if you kill Secretary Zhao, you won't be able to conjure up any more money."

"Mayor Wang, stop pretending to be a good guy." Ding Qiulin's hand trembled, the tip of the knife quivering. "You talked so nicely before, about cooperating with the restructuring, but what happened? That guy surnamed Zhao wants to demolish our cotton mill. If we don't deal with you, who will we deal with? You've destroyed our livelihoods, so nobody can survive."

Li Jianguo, his eyes red, slammed his knife into the desk, sending wood chips flying. "Yes, if Secretary Sha hadn't come today, we'd all die here. The city may not have the money, but the province certainly does. Secretary Sha got a 29 billion yuan project. We're just a small group, so we don't ask for much—just 9 million yuan."

At this time.

A tremendous roar came from outside the window.

The wind generated by the helicopter made the blinds sway wildly.

Li Jianguo cautiously retreated to a blind spot by the window and peered outside.

Li Dakang sat at the helicopter cabin door, holding a megaphone, with half of his body leaning out.

Zhou Tiejun sat down next to him and changed into his military uniform.

"Li Jianguo! Ding Qiulin! This is Li Dakang!" The loudspeaker's voice echoed in the air.

Li Jianguo shouted loudly, "Li Dakang, you used to be the Party Secretary of our Lincheng!"

We want to see Secretary Sha.

If Secretary Sha doesn't come, we'll take action.

Tomorrow today will be the anniversary of the deaths of two people surnamed Zhao and Wang.

Li Dakang yelled through the loudspeaker, "You little bastard!"

Back when I was the Party Secretary of Lincheng, if you went to the Municipal Party Committee to petition, I was the one who poured you tea.

You're trying to play these tricks on me now?

Secretary Sha is still on his way here.

Don't act impulsively.

Forget everything else, let's just scare them both first.

Li Jianguo was stunned for a moment after being scolded, and his momentum weakened slightly. "Secretary Li, is the province going to give us the money or not? Thousands of people at the cotton mill are waiting to eat."

Zhou Tiejun snatched the megaphone and said, "I am Zhou Tiejun, Commander of the Handong Military Region. Li Jianguo, I make you a promise today: as long as you put down the knife, I will personally take you to see Secretary Sha and Governor Song."

"If you dare to lay a finger on Mayor Wang or Secretary Zhao again, my men will raze this place to the ground and raz your ancestral graves to the ground. Do you hear me?"

Li Jianguo's expression changed.

Zhou Tiejun is a well-known figure in Handong. He is a man of strong character who keeps his word.

Meeting him today, I can confirm he's indeed a ruthless man of few words.

Ding Qiulin panicked slightly, his grip loosening. "Jianguo, the military region commander is here, shouldn't we...?"

"Shut up!" Li Jianguo gritted his teeth. "Don't listen to their nonsense. If we put down the knife, we'll have no bargaining chips, and we'll end up in jail."

The loudspeaker played Li Dakang's words of persuasion to surrender on a loop.

In the corridor outside the mayor's office

Chen Changqing, accompanied by a locksmith covered in sweat, strode over.

"Governor Song, this is the best locksmith in the city," Chen Changqing said in a low voice.

Song Yunhui pointed to the door lock, "Be quick and quiet."

The locksmith was also under a lot of pressure, and Qi Tongwei told him how to adjust his mindset.

The lock-picking tool was inserted into the keyhole.

The roar of the helicopter continued, and Li Dakang was still arguing with Li Jianguo through a loudspeaker, making a very loud noise.

This provides the best cover for unlocking.

Song Yunhui glanced at his watch; the second hand ticked away. He knew very well that this standoff couldn't last much longer. Li Jianguo and Ding Qiulin were on the verge of collapse.

Once they realize that Li Dakang is just stalling for time, Zhao Qikun and Wang Julong will be in danger.

Qi Tongwei stood by the door, his body tense, his hand on the trigger.

He silently recited the assault steps in his mind.

The door opens, I step to the side, lock on, and fire—I must take down the enemy with one shot.

Click.

A very slight, crisp sound.

The locksmith gestured and stepped back.

At the same time, news arrived that Jiang Jianyong and Jiang Zhentao had entered the bedroom.

Without hesitation, Song Yunhui turned the doorknob.

The door opened.