Commander Lu said, "Old Li, things have come to this point, those two enemy agents have already turned their attention to you, what else do you have to say?"

Commander Li sighed, looked up, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Old Lu, I know you're trying to trick me. I admit I made a mistake this time, but I have my bottom line. I would never betray my country."

Old Lu, I haven't forgotten how we drove out the Japanese devils, and how we followed our great leader to conquer this vast land. Those years were tough, but full of passion.

Our victory was hard-won. I swear, I, Li Hongtu, will never betray my country or hand over the fruits of our labor to others.

He gave a bitter smile. Not betraying the country was his firmest bottom line and the last bit of dignity he left for himself.

...

Xue Yanchen and Luo Jingyan planned to go out today to buy fabrics, cotton, pots, pans, and other daily necessities. Because there were so many things to buy, they would need a car to transport them.

The military has few vehicles, and they are usually strictly controlled. They are generally not lent out except for official business.

However, some cadres did buy their own cars, and Commander Lu was one of them.

Commander Lu has a vehicle provided by the military, but he also has three sons who all want to drive. Since he couldn't abuse public resources, he simply bought a car for himself.

Xue Yanchen had already spoken to Commander Lu yesterday to ask to borrow his car, and he quickly brought it over.

Before leaving, Grandma Xue stuffed a dozen large denomination coins and some nationally valid coupons into Luo Jingyan's hands.

"Jingyan, you need money to buy things. Here is five hundred yuan that Grandma gave you for your wedding. Take it."

When she left Beijing, Xue's mother gave her 100 yuan, but the old lady had her own little savings that she planned to use when her grandson and granddaughter-in-law got married.

This was a token of her elders' goodwill, and Luo Jingyan couldn't refuse, so she accepted it.

"Thank you, Grandma."

After Luo Jingyan and Grandma Xue got into the car, they were about to head to the city.

Li family

Although Li Xue was unable to rescue Commander Li, as a member of the cultural troupe, she went to work every day just like any other soldier.

After having breakfast, Chen Xiulan didn't have time to tidy up the house. She put on her coat, grabbed her bag, and prepared to go out.

But when she reached the sentry post, she was stopped by the guard at the gate.

"Sir, please open your bag; we need to check it."

"Why? They never checked that before."

The guard replied, "Because Commander Li has been arrested, he is suspected of having ties with enemy agents planted here by foreign forces. Anyone who has close ties with him will be questioned. Comrade, please cooperate with us, open your bag, and then allow our female soldiers to search you."

"You mean you're going to search them too?"

"Unless you stay at home, comrade, don't go anywhere."

Chen Xiulan waved her hand: "Forget it, forget it, investigate if you want, I'm innocent anyway."

She took the bag off her shoulder, but when she went to open it, she reached inside.

Bang!

No sooner said than done.

With a sharp gunshot, a bullet burst from the barrel. The soldier had probably anticipated Chen Xiulan's move and dodged immediately when he saw her draw her gun. The bullet grazed his shoulder.

Thus, Chen Xiulan had a chance to escape.

The sentry on the nearby post noticed the unusual activity and fired a few shots at Chen Xiulan with his sniper rifle, but unfortunately, none of them hit her.

It was clear that Chen Xiulan was about to escape from here.

Just as Chen Xiulan was being checked by the security guard at the gate, Xue Yanchen happened to drive up here.

Both he and Luo Jingyan, who was sitting in the passenger seat, noticed Chen Xiulan's unusual behavior. Xue Yanchen stopped the car in time, and Luo Jingyan knew what he was going to do: "She has a gun."

Xue Yanchen clenched his fist; he was only empty-handed.

But he hesitated for only a second before opening the car door and jumping out. Luo Jingyan followed him out of the car.

"Honey, why did you come down here too?"

"I also want to help you."

"It's too dangerous."

"I'm not afraid."

"Okay, then you hide behind me."

Luo Jingyan thought to herself that if she could release Pang Hu at this moment, catching that woman would be a piece of cake. She would first assess the situation and, if she really needed to release Pang Hu, she would find a secluded place to do so.

In fact, it wasn't so easy for Chen Xiulan to escape. There were many sentry posts guarded by snipers outside the military region gate.

She moved cautiously with every step. Xue Yanchen and Luo Jingyan slowly approached her using walls and trees as cover. Once they were close enough, Luo Jingyan picked up a pebble from the ground and swiftly struck Chen Xiulan's wrist, which was holding a gun. Chen Xiulan cried out in pain and dropped the gun.

Xue Yanchen immediately bent down and rushed over, quickly rolled on the ground a few times, picked up the pistol that Chen Xiulan had dropped, and fired a shot. Bang! It hit Chen Xiulan's calf.

Chen Xiulan knelt down on the ground with a thud. Soldiers quickly came over, subdued her, and took her bag.

Chen Xiulan's piercing gaze pierced the soldier who was suppressing her. Whether it was out of desperation or despair after being captured, she suddenly uttered Japanese.

Xue Yanchen handed the gun to one of the soldiers: "Quickly take her into the military area."

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