Chapter Thirty-Eight: Shock

  Ye Ziran hastily called out: "Zhu Huajia, quickly get up and go to the neighboring village committee to make a call to the county, hurry, if it's late they will be in danger." He had to call three times before Zhu Huajia reacted. What kind of bloody storm had he experienced, he was almost frightened silly.

  Zhu the painter had returned from the provincial city especially for the house foundation. After submitting his report to the village committee, he went home to take a look at the house and was preparing to leave when "Two Lis" suddenly burst in. When Zhu realized who they were, he almost fell to the ground.

  In the following time, Zhu was in a daze, like a walking corpse. He only understood one thing: "This is it". Until Ye Zheyi and others rushed in, he was kicked to the ground by the two Lis. Then, he lay on the ground and watched the entire fight. This intense battle, although less than three minutes long, was so shocking that no blockbuster could compare. Amidst the flying bullets and bloody shadows, Zhu felt himself hovering between life and death, his breathing almost stopping from tension. Until the end of the battle, he remained stunned.

  Yezhen called him three times before Zhu slowly came to, his voice trembling as he asked: "Ye Chang, what's going on? Are they all dead?"

  Ye Ziran repeated it again, telling him to go make a call for help immediately.

  Zhu the painter suddenly came to his senses and said, "Ye Chang, I have a beeper in my bag." The beeper craze had just started in the city, and Zhu the painter had also gotten one for fun and was carrying it with him.

  "Quickly bring it over."

  Zhu saw Zhang Liren and Liu Bing bleeding non-stop, knowing the situation was urgent. Because his legs were weak and he couldn't walk, he crawled to Ye Zhenran's side and took out his phone. Ye Zhenran's right hand was gripping her left hand, which was covered in blood, and she dictated a number for Zhu to dial. After the call connected, Ye Zhenran took the phone from Zhu and said: "Zhu, quickly use a cloth strip to bandage my arm."

  The phone was dialed directly into Comrade Tang's office, and Secretary Hu answered it.

  Yè Zhī Rán recognized the voice as that of Hú Secretary, and without time for courtesy, he hastily said: "Hú Kē, this is Yè Zhī Rán. Please immediately transfer me to Táng Secretary. It's an emergency situation - we've encountered the A-level fugitives 'Two Lǐ' in Jiǎng Jīng Village. Hurry up and transfer!"

  As soon as Secretary Tang picked up the phone, Ye Zhenran immediately said: "Secretary Tang, I am Ye Zhenran. It's an emergency. I and Officer Zhang from the police station, Liu Minjing, and a villager are at Zhu Huajia's house in Jiangjin Village, Mashixiang Township. We encountered the 'Two Lis' brothers, who are wanted nationwide for murder. They have been shot dead by us, but I and two colleagues from the police station were seriously injured by gunfire and knife wounds. Please send someone to rescue us quickly. I'm trying to stop the bleeding now. Yes, it's the 'Two Lis', no mistake. We've already killed them. Secretary Tang, please send someone to rescue us quickly. Officer Zhang and Liu are bleeding a lot. Where are we? We're at Zhu Huajia's house in Jiangjin Village, Mashixiang Township."

  "Hang up the phone, Ye Zhenran shouted at Huang Rucheng again: 'Huang Rucheng, how are you? Can you hold on? Quick, help Zhang Suo and Liu Bing bandage themselves, tear off strips of cloth to bandage them, hurry up and help, saving lives is urgent.'"

  Huang Rucheng was heavily hit on the head with a gun, his left ear and scalp were bloody, and he lost a lot of blood, but his injury was the lightest among the four. After hearing Ye Zhenran's order, he quickly crawled to Liu Bing's side to help him stop bleeding.

  Tang Guoqiang was shocked upon hearing the news, but quickly calmed down. His first phone call was to County Public Security Bureau Director Shang Zhiyuan: "Director Shang, this is Tang Guoqiang. There's an emergency situation - 'Two Lis' have sneaked into Mashizhen Jiangjing Village Zhu Huajia's home in our county and have been shot dead on the spot by Mashizhen Mayor Ye Zhenran and comrades from the police station. Mayor Ye and two comrades from the police station were seriously injured during the fight. You must immediately bring people to the scene, organize rescue work and control the scene, confirm the identities of the deceased, and contact me if there's any situation. The situation is urgent, please personally lead people to go there at once."

  Having received instructions from the county party secretary, how could he dare to slack off? Moreover, this was his own work, and the news was so exciting!

  "The second call was made to the office of the county hospital director: 'Director Yang? This is County Party Secretary Tang Guoqiang. There's an urgent task - Vice Township Mayor Ye Zhenran from Mashih Township and two comrades from the police station were seriously injured in a battle with thugs, their lives are in danger. Immediately organize the best doctors, send two ambulances to rescue them, the location of the incident is at Zhu Hua's home in Jiangjing Village, Mashih Township. Remember, the safety of the wounded must be guaranteed, time is life, set off immediately.'"

  After making these two phone calls, Secretary Tang took a slight breath. As the county party secretary, he deeply understood the huge impact that this event would soon produce. Just thinking about it was exciting! The "Two Lis" brothers, who had been pursued nationwide for several months and had engaged in multiple shootouts with armed police, had finally been killed under the leadership of Vice Township Head Ye Ziran and with the help of grassroots police officers from the township police station. This was almost unbelievable. This event was not only a sensational piece of news but would also bring unparalleled glory to Mashitian Township and Changja County. If this opportunity could be used to bring tangible benefits to Changja County, Tang Guoqiang would certainly be overjoyed. After some consideration, he first called Vice Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Gu Songlin.

  "Is Secretary Gu there? I am Tang Guoqiang. I'm reporting an emergency incident. This afternoon, Vice Township Head Ye Zhenran of Mashizhen Town led the police officers from the police station to a villager's home in Mashizhen Town and shot dead two notorious criminals 'Li brothers' who were wanted nationwide. Vice Township Head Ye and two police officers were seriously injured. I have dispatched colleagues from the Public Security Bureau and the County Hospital to rescue the wounded, protect the scene and confirm the identity of the deceased."

  Gu Songlin was called away by his secretary to answer a phone call while accompanying leaders from the Central Civilization Office and Provincial Civilization Office on an inspection tour of Jia'nan City's High-tech Development Zone, along with a large group of reporters. As Jia'nan City's High-tech Development Zone is a key national-level civilized unit under construction in the province, the provincial TV station sent a live broadcast vehicle to report on it.

  Upon hearing Tang Guoqiang's report, Gu Songlin felt very surprised and hastily asked: "Has the situation been verified?"

  "County Public Security Bureau Director Shang Zhiyuan has led a team to the scene and is expected to arrive soon. I am waiting for his call." Tang Guoqiang reports.

  "Have you reported to other leaders of the municipal party committee?"

  "None." Tang Guoqiang replied crisply.

  Gu Songlin nodded secretly, Tang Guoqiang was a man in his circle, not only with political wisdom, but also strong ability. Putting him at the grassroots level to hone him for a while would enable him to take on greater responsibilities. What's rare is that he is very reliable. In such an emergency, he didn't report to the municipal party secretary or the mayor, but instead reported to him, the deputy municipal party secretary, in the first instance. It can be seen that he has great respect for himself. As a leader, whether one can grasp the latest developments in his own territory is the most direct manifestation of leadership power.

  Gu Songlin said with satisfaction: "Secretary Tang, verify it and report back to me immediately."

  "Alright, I'll hang up first."

  Jiangjing Village is just at the foot of Xishan Mountain, and it only takes twenty minutes to drive there from the county public security bureau. Tang Guoqiang soon received a call from Director Shang.

  "Comrade Tang, I've arrived at the scene. The ambulance from Central Hospital is right behind me, and medical personnel are already rescuing the injured. It's been confirmed that the two killed were indeed the 'two Li' brothers. Currently, Police Station Director Zhang and another police officer are seriously injured, Township Head Ye was shot in the left chest and left arm, and a villager was injured in the head, but none of them are in life-threatening danger for the time being."

  "Alright, you guys work hard and protect the scene, do your best to rescue the injured comrades, they are all heroes." Tang Guoqiang said loudly, a surge of heroic spirit suddenly rising in his chest! He called Secretary Gu again: "Secretary Gu, it has been confirmed, it is indeed the 'two Lis' brothers, both have been shot dead." As he spoke with excitement, his voice slightly trembled: "We have four comrades who participated in the battle, Deputy Township Head Ye Zhenran, Police Station Director Zhang, a police officer and a villager, all four comrades are injured and being rescued."

  "Alright, alright. Secretary Tang, your comrades in Changja County are doing a great job. I'm currently with the Central Civilization Office and Provincial Civilization Office colleagues, as well as a large group of reporters and TV broadcasting vehicles. This major news will definitely interest them, so I'll bring them over directly now. You go direct the rescue efforts for the injured." Gu Songlin was also somewhat excited after receiving confirmation: "Secretary Tang, you should report to Municipal Party Secretary Lin right away, I'll come over first."

  Actually, even without Secretary Gu's words, Tang Guoqiang would have reported to Secretary Lin anyway. After all, Secretary Lin is the top leader of Jianan City. Such a big thing happened in Changjia County, if Secretary Lin didn't know about it, he would be derelict of duty as county party secretary. He had already shown sufficient respect for Secretary Gu by reporting to him at the first opportunity. Secretary Gu naturally understood this point too, so he reminded him to report to Secretary Lin.

  "What? The two Lis were killed within Changjia territory? Was it a deputy township head leading the police station's militia to subdue them?" Secretary Lin heard the report and still didn't believe it, asking: "Is that true? Were there any casualties among the police?"

  Tang Guoqiang recounted the situation he had learned about.

  Secretary Lin was delighted to say, "Great, Comrade Chang Jia has made a meritorious deed, congratulations to you all! You must organize the best forces to rescue the wounded, I will report to the Provincial Committee immediately." For Secretary Lin, this is something that can make him look good in front of the Provincial Committee, he needs to report it up at the first time.

  Within an hour, the news spread like wings. The Jianan Municipal Party Committee, Municipal Government, Public Security Bureau, Yangtze Provincial Party Committee, Provincial Public Security Department, and Ministry of Public Security all quickly learned of this news, and their attention was focused on Changjiang County.

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