Strongest Soldier King

As soon as a few Zhongnanhai bodyguards heard this, their eyes turned red. How could they endure being labeled as cowards? They thought Luo Zheng was indeed safe on the coast guard ship, exchanged glances, and nodded to each other. They dashed to the side with killing intent and jumped into the sea without hesitation, filled with endless rage towards the Japanese invaders.

Luo Zheng rushed to the ship's edge and saw everyone swimming toward the opposite side like big fish. They quickly dispersed and infiltrated from several directions toward the freighter's location. Luo Zheng smiled; these warriors indeed deserved to be Zhongnanhai bodyguards. Not only could they defend, but they also had formidable attacking prowess.

Tong Haisheng came over, noticed the absence of Zhongnanhai bodyguards, and quickly inquired. Upon learning that they infiltrated the freighter by sea, he immediately shouted through the intercom, "All units, focus your firepower! Suppress the enemy's firepower."

Luo Zheng knew Tong Haisheng's arrangement was to provide fire cover for the Zhongnanhai bodyguards, to prevent them from being discovered as they infiltrated. There's no place to hide in the open sea, and if found, there would be one inevitable outcome. Gratefully, he nodded and said, "The opposing force on the freighter comprises about thirty men. Their weapons and ammunition are unknown; however, with three coast guard ships surrounding them, I believe they cannot escape. Inform the Guard Command to secure the coastline to prevent enemy infiltration elsewhere."

"Understood." Tong Haisheng immediately agreed, taking out his phone.

Luo Zheng spoke through the earpiece to Lan Xing, "Immediately notify the Shanghai special police unit and the Armed Police to assemble and stand by, ready for action at any moment."

"Yes." Lan Xing responded without hesitation.

"Boom!" A loud explosion suddenly echoed, as if the entire sky had been blasted open.

Luo Zheng was shocked, and looking in the direction of the sound, saw a coast guard ship hit by something, creating a huge hole and causing seawater to gush in. The coast guards on the sinking ship didn't panic and continued to conceal themselves, engaging in a firefight with the enemies on the freighter.

"What's going on?" Luo Zheng shouted in astonishment and anger.

Tong Haisheng, unable to make a call, urgently asked through the intercom, and a voice anxiously reported, "We've been hit by an RPG. Our ship is beyond control, sinking, and might submerge at any moment. Requesting instructions."

"What?" Tong Haisheng was shocked and looked at Luo Zheng. Luo Zheng originally thought the enemy lacked heavy weapons and that three coast guard ships would suffice. Unexpectedly, the enemy also had RPGs. His face darkened as he immediately barked, "Rescue immediately, let another ship hold the enemy off, inform the Guard Command to dispatch armed helicopters for support."

"Yes." Tong Haisheng loudly took the order and went to ensure safety.

Luo Zheng stood on the deck, coldly watching the freighter ahead. The counterattack remained vigorous, seemingly with endless ammunition. Luo Zheng's expression grew solemn, brows furrowing. Why did the opponents desperately launch an overt attack? What schemes were hidden behind this?

"Whoosh—!" A rocket, with a trail of despairing flames, shot toward a coast guard ship with an icy momentum as if intending to ignite the whole void. The coast guard ship couldn't dodge in time and was hit again, producing a deafening explosion and a blaze reaching the sky, engulfing the coast guard ship amidst drifting smoke.

"Beasts!" Luo Zheng's complexion turned ashen from anger, watching as the coast guard ship sank rapidly. Suddenly, he realized the enemy attacked the same ship twice, clearly intending to lure the other two ships to rescue, then deliver heavy firepower.

At that thought, Luo Zheng's face changed drastically. Seeing Tong Haisheng approaching, he immediately shouted, "Stop advancing, tell them to jump into the sea and move away. It's a trap; the enemy wants to lure us in before using heavy firepower."

"What?" Tong Haisheng was startled but quickly reacted, grabbing the intercom and shouting, "117, 117, respond if you hear me."

"We hear you; our ship is about to submerge. Please instruct." A voice replied, filled with boundless fury.

"Immediately retreat by sea, immediately retreat by sea," Tong Haisheng quickly instructed.

"We can still fight!" The other side roared unwillingly.

"That's an order!" Tong Haisheng shouted without hesitation.

"Yes." The other side replied indignantly.

After the call ended, Tong Haisheng looked at Luo Zheng. Luo Zheng's gaze was coldly focused on the freighter ahead. The freighter was massive, looking like a moving sea island, hard to turn and slow-moving, unable to chase down coast guard ships. The coast guards only had light weapons, no heavy firepower. The enemy was concealed amid the container crates, with heavy firepower. If the fight continued, the coast guard would suffer losses. Luo Zheng immediately ordered, "Retreat at once."

"But?" Tong Haisheng protested.

"No buts, execute the order. The enemy has RPGs. Do you want the other ships to be attacked too?" Luo Zheng sternly commanded, observing that Niu Gang and others were nearing the freighter, close to infiltrating it. He exhaled in relief and thought, "Brothers, it's up to you now."

"Yes." Tong Haisheng shouted resentfully, passing on the order.

Soon, the advancing coast guard ship stopped and reversed, distancing itself from the freighter. At this time, two more RPG rounds flew from the freighter towards two coast guard ships. The people on the coast guard ships were shocked and quickly maneuvered to dodge, but it was too late. Luo Zheng heard a loud explosion, the coast guard ship shook violently, and he grasped the ship's edge to maintain his footing before sternly questioning, "Is the ship alright?"

Tong Haisheng rushed for an inspection, communicating with everyone via intercom. Luo Zheng followed and found the bow hit, with an RPG striking the ship's guardrail, exploding on deck but with limited power. The coast guards quickly maneuvered the ship backward, Tong Haisheng looked at Luo Zheng with lingering fear and said, "Fortunately, we reversed earlier, or it would've hit the ship's engine room at the stern."

"The enemy's desperate counterattack is ruthless and unconstrained. What on earth are they attempting?" Luo Zheng suspiciously asked, staring coldly at the freighter ahead.

Normally, even in a firefight, it would be limited to light weapons. Sailors might have special permission to carry light arms against pirates, but possessing RPGs or similar heavy weapons is utterly prohibited. Such reckless attacks imply something far from ordinary. Luo Zheng sensed something was amiss and loudly shouted through the earpiece, "Lan Xing, can you locate the situation on the freighter via satellite?"

"Investigating, give me a few minutes. Moreover, the Shanghai SWAT and Armed Police have been notified and are assembling. They're asking what the upcoming tasks are to prepare weapons and equipment accordingly," Lan Xing quickly asked.

"Hmm, tell them to prepare for a tough battle," Luo Zheng coldly replied, unleashing a murderous aura. Looking at Tong Haisheng, he asked, "Is there a sniper rifle on board?"