Gu Ji, who had served as a negotiation expert at bomb checkpoints and substituted for the mayor in delivering city ergency speeches during World War II, now dealt with large-scale crisis situations with ease. That phrase he shouted was sothing he thought of on the spot, inspired by Wandering Earth.
"A governnt spokesperson! All talk and no action! Would you really give up your ho willingly?"
"Right! Don’t listen to him. The Central Cabinet doesn’t understand local issues. They hide behind the scenes. Only our Special Zone Governnt cares about people’s livelihoods!"
"Don’t be swayed by rumors. Let’s drive them away together! We absolutely cannot blow up the dam!"
Unexpectedly, as they talked, opinions shifted again. A Special Zone Governnt official stirred up emotions from behind, and the villagers’ emotions were once again ignited. The curly-haired young man continued throwing stones.
Gu Ji hurriedly dodged.
This ti, he didn’t choose to ignore it but imdiately shouted, "Fatima! The light! Yes, you there! The curly-haired man in the deep purple clothes, you’ve thrown stones at twice! You might not believe , but I’m standing here unard to negotiate. Why attack ? Don’t you know it’s against the law? Why provoke national authority? Are you an interested party obstructing the plan? Does anyone know him?"
As soon as Gu Ji shouted, Fatima and Marlo, along with a few soldiers, shone their high-power flashlights over.
The curly-haired youth didn’t expect Gu Ji could lock onto him in the rain amidst the crowd. Facing the intense spotlight and series of questions, he couldn’t respond and tried to hide amongst the people, like a lurking mouse.
"I don’t think I’ve seen him. Do you know him?"
"I don’t know him either."
"Never seen him..."
The villagers whispered to each other, confirming they didn’t know the curly-haired youth.
Indeed.
This was the pace-setter hired by the Midnapore Special Zone Governnt!
Gu Ji wasn’t going to let this oversight slip.
"Don’t you understand the truth of the matter yet? When they say the national governnt is hiding, take a look who’s actually hiding behind you now!!"
As those last words ca out, many villagers quickly realized and turned to see those well-dressed Special Zone Governnt officials with umbrellas.
The gaze from countless pairs of eyes made those officials’ faces fall. One corpulent man, short and bursting with fear, quickly urged the police chief beside him.
At this mont, a glow appeared in the distance.
Fatima turned and saw a long convoy with red and blue flashing lights.
"It’s the police!"
"The police are here!"
Seeing the police co, the villagers instinctively grew tense again. As the riot van parked at the foot of the mountain and the doors opened, a large number of riot police in tan uniforms, wearing bulletproof vests, and carrying transparent glass riot shields and black batons rushed out, swiftly advancing between the two sides.
"Great! It’s the riot police reinforcents from the Special Zone!"
"Look! This is the true face of the Central Cabinet Governnt! They delay and try to wipe us out at once! Blow up the dam and destroy our hos! Let’s fight them!!"
"These damned boars! Everyone, fight back!"
"Charge! Aaah—!"
Just when Fatima showed joy at seeing reinforcents, the Midnapore Special Zone Police with a single phrase exacerbated the situation.
Suddenly, the villagers, under the police’s influence, surged with anger. Stones and bottles flew like a storm of arrows from ancient battlefields. If struck, a broken head or bleeding was the least of the concerns!
"Find cover! Quick!!"
"Special Zone Police Departnt’s riot squad, form double-shield array, advance—!!"
Gu Ji and the riot police captain shouted almost in unison. In the next second, 60 or 70 riot police ford double horizontal rows, holding transparent riot shields at a 45-degree angle at the forefront, while Gu Ji rolled and slipped quickly behind the riot van.
Suddenly, countless objects thudded down, clattering on the watery ground or slamming into the riot shields and the van’s hood, leaving dents. The windshield shattered like a spiderweb, with sharp stone edges embedded in the cracks.
Countless villagers pressed against the shields, wildly swinging sticks to break through the riot police blockade.
A tumult of footsteps, shouts, and smashing filled the air.
The scene, tense with standoff monts ago, now exploded like a barrel of gunpowder.
"Vidi! Vidi!"
Amidst the chaos, Gu Ji heard soone shout his na. Turning, he saw Fatima rushing over with a middle-aged governnt official wearing a purple headscarf. "Vidi, this is Lanate, the Chief Secretary from the Bengal Governnt, here to coordinate the Farakka Dam demolition plan!"
"Mr. Vidhi! When you requested riot police support, I foresaw potential unrest, but I never anticipated such intense conflict! Damn it!"
Lanate, with his purple scarf, cursed through gritted teeth.
Glancing at the riot police’s formation, Gu Ji shook his head. "Did you bring water cannon equipnt? These few people can’t withstand 700-800 charging villagers. Imdiately organize a third-level ergency squad, draw riot police from surrounding, nearby areas and distant towns, concentrate police force to maintain order. Also, get three fire trucks to use water cannons to drive away villagers!"
"Fatima, report the riot to the Central Cabinet, and submit the nas of all involved Midnapore Special Zone Governnt officials. The Cabinet’s intelligence system will handle it. Mr. Swaraj..."
In just a few words, Gu Ji’s instructions left Chief Secretary Lanate bewildered, voicing all Lanate’s erging thoughts tightly and effectively.
Having collaborated many tis, Fatima promptly adhered to Gu Ji’s orders, calling the Cabinet Secretary directly.
Gu Ji now sought out Swaraj and Marlo.
Unexpectedly, Swaraj had already used a satellite phone to connect with the Army Headquarters. After a conversation, he seriously turned to Gu Ji. "Vidi, the situation has severely escalated. Headquarters ordered forced execution of the dam demolition plan, and I have arranged for pilots of Hippo No. 4 and 5 helicopters to co."
"Military suppression? Colonel! Don’t do that! It’ll only make things worse!"
Upon hearing the plan to dispatch helicopters, risking crashes in the heavy rain, Gu Ji imdiately thought of the Mi-171’s two sets of "Attack" anti-tank missiles. If they indeed bombed, not only would countless innocent villagers die, but his ultimate mission would also be ruined!
Swaraj shook his head, stroking his beard.
"Vidi, you misunderstand. I don’t intend to harm civilians, only to scare them with helicopters. Otherwise, with just the riot police, we can’t hold them back for long!"
"But Colonel, even if you abstain from violence, the Midnapore Special Zone Police might not think the sa. If in fear, they fire a shot, the situation could spiral irreversibly!"
"With respect, Vidi, the situation is already out of control. I must consider my soldiers’ safety and the security of the military district’s supplies and explosives. Orders are issued, unchangeable!!"
Swaraj’s stance was exceedingly firm this ti.
Considering that the army operated under different protocols, even as an Assam governnt official, Gu Ji realized he had no jurisdiction over military orders without the highest-level authority.
Amid their intense dispute.
Ratatatatata...
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