The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"Have you never thought about what happens if you lose?"

Chen Fang asked.

"Hahaha..."

Hou Jidao burst into laughter.

Speaking slowly, he said, "I, Hou Jidao, joined the revolution when I was in my teens. I've been through countless battles, big and small. I've seen through the political arena thoroughly. Do you really think I would lose to a young brat like you?"

After saying this,

he stood up.

He leaned on his cane with both hands.

He glanced at the policemen at the stairway entrance.

He said, "With just these few people, do you truly believe you can protect Shangguan Shoudong? Dream on! The reason I showed up is that I don't want to hurt innocent people, including you. Just hand him over, and I'll give you a way out. Of course, if you resist, then I won't be polite."

After saying this sentence,

he suddenly looked up,

staring sharply at Chen Fang, he asked, "Are you still not planning to admit defeat? Betting on someone who has nothing to do with you, do you think it's worth it?"

"It's worth it!"

Chen Fang said firmly.

"And you guys?"

Hou Jidao asked the policemen at the stairway entrance.

Honestly, such a scene was still somewhat intimidating for these policemen.

There was a look of hesitation in everyone's eyes.

At this moment, Shen Jianye shouted, "We'll follow Mayor Song's orders. How he tells us to act, we'll act. Even if we lose our lives here, we won't regret it."

Clearly,

that sentence gave the policemen strength.

They also began to echo in agreement.

Seeing this scene,

Hou Jidao sighed.

He said, "Alright, since you've all made your decision, I respect your choice."

After saying this,

he waved his hand to Zhang Jian,

and then slowly started to walk back.

After Hou Jidao walked away, Zhang Jian shouted with a malicious look, "Get the gear!"

With that command,

a pickup truck drove directly to a spot not far from the cafeteria building.

The men in black suits surrounding the building quickly ran to the side of the pickup.

A tarpaulin covering the bed of the truck was lifted,

revealing a wooden crate underneath.

Once the box was opened, it was filled with guns and ammunition.

Seeing this scene,

Song Jiangshan gave a bitter smile to Chen Fang and said, "Mayor Chen, you should go inside first. Leave this to us, and don't worry. As long as I'm alive, I won't let them get to the second floor."

After saying this, he stood on the balcony and said to the more than twenty policemen above and below, "Brothers, thank you for trusting me, Song Jiangshan. Today is my fault for bringing you into such danger. Since all of you are willing to stay to make amends, let's have a big fight together, and on Huangquan Road, we will go together."

"On Huangquan Road, we will go together!"

Everyone shouted together.

Those with guns drew their pistols, and those with submachine guns pulled the triggers.

After all, as police officers,

they honestly didn't have much ammunition on them.

Moreover, when they retrieved the guns from the armory today, they didn't expect things would escalate to such a dire stage.

Now, there's no retreat.

As Song Jiangshan said, they can only have a big fight.

"Mayor Song, please."

Chen Fang knew that once he went inside, it was uncertain if they would meet again.

As he shook Song Jiangshan's hand, there was a slight tremble.

Song Jiangshan smiled slightly.

He said, "Brother Chen Fang, sorry for deceiving you so much before. If we have the chance to meet again in the future, I'll invite you for a drink to apologize. If not, come to my grave and drink with me."

"Deal."

The two hands were tightly clasped together.

As he turned to enter the large room, Chen Fang's eyes suddenly moistened.

In fact, he also wanted to stay on the balcony and fight alongside Song Jiangshan, but there's more important work to do later, so he couldn't do that.

No matter when, he must prioritize the bigger picture.

Just as the door of the compartment was closed,

gunfire erupted outside.

Such a scene, seen only in movies and TV, was unimaginable for everyone present.

The entire process lasted about ten minutes or so.

Everyone inside the compartment was almost drenched in sweat.

Similarly, everyone trapped in the City Committee building and the City Government Building heard the gunfire, and they were equally terrified, huddling under tables with their heads down. At that moment, no one knew what was on their minds.

Gradually,

the gunfire began to wane.

Thud, thud, thud.

A frantic knocking resounded.

Shen Jianye's voice was heard.

"Open the door, open the door..."

"Hurry and open the door!"

Chen Fang, who hadn't sat down, immediately gave the order.

Originally hiding under the table, Zhu Chuanguo jumped out upon hearing this, blocking anyone trying to open the door, and shouted, "You can't open it. If you do, we'll all be dead."

"Ah Fang, the people outside are all wounded."

Looking through the crack of the door, Zhang Cheng shouted.

Ignoring Zhu Chuanguo now,

Chen Fang waved his hand and calmly said, "Open the door."

"Can't open it, I said no, it means no!"

Zhu Chuanguo stood with open arms, blocking the doorway.

He roared, "The people outside have nothing to do with us. We absolutely cannot open this door."

"Secretary Zhu, they stood outside to protect us,"

Chen Fang pleaded earnestly.

Zhu Chuanguo swallowed, saying, "I know, but they've made their choice. Since they want to protect us, they have to protect us to the end. Anyway, we cannot open this door."

"Damn it, you bastard, and you're still the leader? Get out of my way!"

Guo Peihan finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

He grabbed Zhu Chuanguo by the collar.

"You... you... if you touch me, you're dead."

Zhu Chuanguo was still somewhat scared of Guo Peihan, and having been grabbed, his voice trembled a bit.

Guo Peihan gave a flick of his hand,

dragged Zhu Chuanguo aside, and opened the door directly.

He cursed, "Who's to say if we'll even live to see tomorrow? Do you think I'm afraid of you? Get lost!"

As soon as the door opened,

a person covered in blood fell in.

It was none other than Shen Jianye, who had been knocking.

It was clear that his shoulder and arm had been shot.

He turned over, pointing to the balcony, gasping, "Song... Song..."

"What's with Song Jiangshan?"

Chen Fang's heart skipped a beat as he asked.

Just as he looked up,

he was stunned.

At the door of the compartment stood Hou Jidao.

Still with the cane, smiling faintly as before.

Behind him was Zhang Jian.

Behind Zhang Jian were more than a dozen men in black suits, armed to the teeth.

This wasn't the main point; the main point was that two of those men in black suits were carrying another 'bloodied figure', it was Song Jiangshan.