Solitude's Crucible (2)
I still remember the day I first arrived in Guangzhou. The Black Sea Party had launched simultaneous terror attacks and raids, neutralizing eighty percent of the People's Liberation Army's mobile units deployed in the city. From the authorities' perspective, the real gut punch was the loss of armored vehicles and tanks—their armored forces. Without those, scouring and wiping out Black Sea Party strongholds would mean accepting massive casualties.
In the labyrinth of the poor, the military and public security would be locked in hellish urban warfare, trading one life for another. Of course, some armored forces remained intact. According to Gao Xusen, most of the armed police's armored vehicles had survived unscathed, separate from the army's losses. But there weren't enough to guard more than the city's key chokepoints.
Even now, unchecked development bites us in the ass. Even within a single district, the rich and poor neighborhoods were mosaicked together in a chaotic jumble, multiplying the essential defense points for the Party's loyal supporters.
With the situation like that, they couldn't immediately commit more military forces. India, backed covertly by First World demands and support, was growing more provocative daily along the border. And there were multiple cities as urgent as Guangzhou.
The 250 million peasant workers were powder kegs scattered across every city on the continent.
When I arrived at the hunting ground with the kids in tow, Gao Xusen was already there waiting for me, as usual. He perked up at the sight of me stepping out of the car, pacing wearily under heavy guard.
"You're here! Come this way!"
His casual speech still felt a bit awkward. Before coming, I'd asked this communist noble who'd thrown in with me to commit most of the Patrol Police Detachment's available forces. And to take nominal command on-site.
I approached with a silent salute, and he switched to formal speech right away, revealing his top priority: his own safety.
"Vice President. I acknowledge the need to show my face on the front lines, but don't even think of using this body of mine as secret bait."
What a pain in the ass. I kept my expression calm as I replied.
"No need to worry. I've only placed you in the perfect spot to hand over the credit."
"One more thing. No matter how good the credit, I won't tolerate excessive troop losses."
"Don't worry about that either. We'll handle the infiltration and strikes. You just plug the gaps from outside like you are now."
Only after I reassured him repeatedly did Gao Xusen finally ask about the plan.
"So, how exactly do you plan to breach those beasts' lair? We have no idea where the traps or ambushes are."
Instead of answering, I calmly corrected his nobleman's phrasing.
"'Beasts' lair'? Watch your words, Section Chief. Do you really think everyone living there is Hulong Bang or Black Sea Party scum? Most are innocent people you, as public security chief, are duty-bound to protect. Don't forget that."
Gao Xusen looked baffled.
"What? Is that really important right now?"
"Of course it is. A leak inside means leaks outside too. One slip of the tongue could turn all your fame to a mirage someday."
"Doesn't matter! All broadcasts go through basic censorship anyway!"
"It matters to your rivals who can interfere with the censorship."
"……."
"If you're fine handing them a weakness over one careless word, then by all means. Even if it's not decisive, they could quietly hold it until a real pretext arises, then open fire. 'Behold. People's hero Gao Xusen is nothing but a reactionary opportunist who scorns the people.'"
"Hm."
Gao Xusen hesitated, then grunted in agreement.
"You're right. Thanks for the reminder. I'll keep it in mind."
"I appreciate it."
"Anyway, what's the plan? You said on the phone you were preparing something, but I can't imagine what could pierce that maze without sacrifices. The army and armed police aren't sitting idle for nothing... You must know how horrific urban combat is, Vice President..."
The battered army and Guangzhou public security's other departments were waiting for reinforcements from the central government. It was tough now, but with factories shifting to wartime production churning out tanks and APCs, they'd get the gear if they held out. No department wanted to take point and risk losses that would shrink their faction's influence.
I glanced at my watch and spoke leisurely.
"Just wait a bit. They'll arrive soon."
"Arrive?"
"Yes. It won't take long."
December winds in Guangzhou were nine times out of ten northerlies. Since Daxing Village's northern boundary hugged a branch of the Zhu River, I decided to float three stinking boats along that waterway first.
"......Huh?"
A commotion erupted from the neighborhood across the road where they'd been waiting. Gao Xusen stared in half-confusion, half-bewilderment as residents rushed north, shouting.
"What the hell's going on? Why are those... er, residents suddenly causing such a ruckus?"
"Evacuating the civilians before the assault. To minimize civilian casualties. It's a tactic you use now and then."
"We use it?"
I nodded, but Gao Xusen still looked lost.
There'd been an incident in China once. When residents of a demolition zone refused administrative enforcement and barricaded themselves, officials flipped a truck full of drinks in front of the area. As residents swarmed to grab the spilled goods, officials sealed the site and started demolition on the sly.
Same tactic now. Nothing tempted the hungry like food. The three low-deck cruise ships and catering firms contracted under public security's name were convinced they were doing slum relief. They'd have announced food rations per head at the dock as planned, so it was natural the suspicious lurkers would grab family and friends and swarm at the smell. The buildings, with zero soundproofing, amplified one shout to many households.
"Here they come."
Gao Xusen turned at my words, gaping at the five dump trucks lined up and stopped about 120 meters away along the road.
"What the...?"
In a recession-hit metropolis, construction sites lay abandoned everywhere. Despite the government's infrastructure stimulus, bankrupt firms had left gray, pockmarked scars of halted development across the city.
I'd eyed the heavy trucks left idle at those sites. Owners, starved for work, eagerly handed them over for 500,000 yuan each. Modifying them for breaching—lowering centers of gravity, adding V-shaped battering rams—was quick. Materials from the sites, paid later; idle technicians were plentiful.
Soo-yeon's underlings swarmed out on one call from her, finishing in 57 minutes. Promised three days' wages for flawless work in an hour.
More hands meant higher wages. So the five trucks Gao Xusen saw now mimicked El Fuego's narco tanks from Mexico—at least up front. Heavy battering rams over headlights, long steel plates shielding windshields. Cargo beds welded with 30 tons of steel beams for destructive mass.
"Hold on."
Gao Xusen, intuiting the plan, excitedly grabbed my sleeve.
"Hold on, hold on, hold on! Are you insane? You tell me to mind my image, then plan this absurd bullshit?!"
"Calm down."
"How can I calm down? We're already under orders to slap maximum sedition charges on crimes alienating public sentiment! If we bulldoze those houses just for being in the way, what am I supposed to do? Absolutely not! Stop it now!"
"Money solves that."
"What?"
"Money. They're onto us, so we'll proceed."
The modified trucks were too conspicuous. Triangular-jawed, boar-like snouts. I signaled Kyung-tae, who radioed the lead truck.
"Unit 1. Charge."
The waiting vehicle accelerated instantly.
"Wha? Wh-what?!"
As Gao Xusen flailed in panic, the maxed-out truck thundered past us, straight into the poor district.
Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung!
Thunder charging the earth. Low-rise hovels, crusted in poverty and age, demolished at dozens of kph. Shoddy walls with bamboo instead of rebar, hollow concrete blocks—styrofoam against a 50-ton-plus truck. Rising dust flowed horizontally like a sandstorm.
After forty meters, the slowing truck veered diagonally another ten, then stopped—clearing for followers.
"This mad..."
The communist noble clutched his head, muttering curses at the overwhelming sight.
Confirming the driver safe, I ordered Unit 2. Unit 1's red taillights pierced the dust as beacons.
Probably won't even need Unit 4.
The shanties were frailer than expected. Three 50-ton charges should open a path to the Hulong Bang lair.
The Guangdong Triad vermin's nest loomed like a lord's castle amid drab alleys and faded roofs. A dingy five-story half-built building, purpose unknowable.
"Money? What money?!"
He could've figured it out mulling alone, but shock froze him; he hounded me.
Kwa-reu-reu-!
Another chain of roars. Unit 2 parted wreckage like a ship slicing waves, clearing a new path matching Unit 1's.
As the noise faded, I answered his nagging.
"Compensate the victims. Enough that those who hear envy the payouts more than they blame authorities. Separate owners and tenants—200,000 yuan per household should do."
"Who pays that much?! How many houses wrecked?!"
"You, of course. A high Party official sparing no personal wealth for justice. Good optics, right? Showmanship is a hero's virtue."
His face soured at "you."
Even 200 households totaled 40 million yuan—barely 7 billion won. Not just greed; fundamentally different mindset. They saw avarice as virtue, wealth as blessing. Once money was theirs, they never let go.
Gao Xusen was already stuffed.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
"Don't worry. That's nominal. Actual payout from our 'public funds.'"
As I spoke, a third sand cascade flowed. A straight path to the target complete.
Unit 5, last in line, overtook Unit 4 and rolled up. Its bed held vaults of art, antiques, jade carvings, yuan bundles—instead of H-beams—plus assault team for the lair.
I climbed aboard with Kyung-tae.
I gave Gao Xusen a brief farewell.
"See you soon."
The stuffed noble watched me with a complicated expression.