After several hours of bumpy travel, Li Baolong finally arrived in the Kaogan region of Myanmar. Upon setting foot on this land, he was surprised to find that, despite being in a foreign country, the people around him could all speak fluent Mandarin, making communication with the locals exceptionally easy and smooth, without any language barrier.
Strolling along this bustling street, Li Baolong quickly noticed that the area seemed to be completely under special control—the Bai family, a powerful warlord, firmly held sway over everything. Everywhere he looked, armed soldiers with serious expressions patrolled the streets and alleys, casting a tense and oppressive atmosphere over the entire area.
Now, Li Baolong has transformed into a jade merchant, eagerly anticipating purchasing a batch of high-quality jadeite here. He began visiting jade shops run by local Burmese residents, trying to glean the latest developments and price trends from the shop owners.
After several days of tireless visits and inquiries, Li Baolong finally gained a more thorough and in-depth understanding of the situation in this mysterious place.
It turned out that the one who wielded power and controlled everything in this place was the warlord Bai Cheng. This influential figure commanded a large and well-trained militia force, numbering in the thousands. These soldiers were all strong and disciplined, forming a solid force for Bai Cheng to maintain his rule.
However, Bai Cheng and his army's atrocities went far beyond this. They openly engaged in the heinous crime of drug trafficking, reaping immeasurable profits. At the same time, Bai Cheng also wantonly seized and extensively mined over a dozen jade mines rich in resources. With these valuable mineral resources, he was able to continuously accumulate enormous wealth, further consolidating his rule.
Bai Cheng's brother-in-law, Yang Dayong, nicknamed "Cannon Brother," is a notorious local gang leader. He is known for his fierce and ruthless nature, having grown up amidst gunfire, developing a combative and vicious character. Particularly noteworthy is his mastery of the 60mm mortar, earning him the respectful title "Cannon Brother" among those who know him.
In recent years, although the Kokang region appeared peaceful on the surface, Brother Pao had never ceased his criminal activities. Leading a group of one or two hundred ruthless bandits, he frequently smuggled arms and trafficked drugs throughout Myanmar, amassing hundreds of millions of dollars in just a few years. Furthermore, Brother Pao operated a large-scale casino and nightclub in Kokang. This entertainment venue housed hundreds of beautiful young women, some skilled in singing and dancing, others alluring and seductive, attracting countless guests. Brother Pao himself indulged in a life of extravagance and debauchery, turning the area into a chaotic and corrupt place.
On this day, the sun blazed down on the earth, and the air was thick with a stifling heat. Pao Ge, wearing a floral shirt with the collar open revealing a gold chain, was flanking two hot, beautiful Vietnamese women, one on each side, uttering flirtatious words and engaging in lively banter. At that moment, he and the women were engaged in a passionate and intense "exercise."
Suddenly, one of his henchmen rushed over, panting, and said, "Boss, something terrible has happened! A shipment of our important goods has been stolen by those bastards from the warlord Wei family! And more than a dozen of our brothers have been killed or wounded!" Upon hearing this news, Pao Ge's expression changed drastically. His previous playful expression vanished instantly, replaced by a face full of anger.
He abruptly shoved the beautiful woman beside him, jumped up from the sofa, and roared, "Damn it! You dare touch my stuff? You're asking for trouble!" Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone, quickly dialed several numbers, summoned his trusted men, and ordered them to prepare ample weaponry. In no time, a convoy of over twenty luxury SUVs assembled, each carrying four or five burly men armed with various weapons, totaling about a hundred men.
This imposing team sped off like lightning towards Woniu Slope, more than twenty miles away. Dust billowed along the way, and the roar of their engines was deafening. Before long, they arrived at their destination. There, they saw another group of fully armed men standing opposite them, led by Wei Chao, the very man Li Baolong had risked his life to rescue in Thailand. While Wei Chao's group was slightly smaller, they still numbered several dozen men, ready for action.
Upon meeting, the two sides immediately opened fire without exchanging a word. Gunfire and shouts erupted, echoing throughout the valley. Bullets rained down, crisscrossing the air and scattering sparks. Just over ten minutes later, more than a dozen men from each side lay dead in pools of blood; the battle was exceptionally fierce.
Pao Ge glared with bloodshot eyes and cursed, "Wei Chao, you despicable bastard! How dare you openly rob my goods! Today I'll wipe you out!" Wei Chao retorted without backing down, "Hmph! You're the real scoundrel! All you do is play around with women and do drugs. You even dared to sell that harmful stuff on my turf! You deserve to die!"
And so, the two went back and forth, neither giving an inch, exchanging insults incessantly. This fierce verbal battle lasted a full half hour, yet neither could gain the upper hand. Finally, seeing that continuing the stalemate was pointless, and with over a dozen wounded brothers urgently needing medical attention, Brother Pao had no choice but to order a retreat. The wounded men were rushed to the hospital for treatment without a moment's delay.
Wei Chao led dozens of men in a hurried retreat towards the main camp, most of them bearing injuries. Some of the wounded clutched their wounds, their faces contorted in pain; others supported each other, struggling to move forward. Wei Chao himself was also exhausted, but he still mustered his spirits and led everyone back to safety as quickly as possible for treatment and rest.
Meanwhile, Li Baolong was strolling leisurely along the bustling Guogan Street. He soon noticed a beautifully decorated jade shop and casually walked inside. As soon as he entered, he saw a middle-aged owner sitting behind the counter, intently handling a piece of jade in his hands.
Li Baolong smiled and walked towards the shop owner, politely greeting him: "Hello, boss! I'd like to ask you something." The shop owner looked up, sized Li Baolong up and down, and replied politely: "Oh, this gentleman looks unfamiliar. What would you like to ask? As long as I know the answer, I will answer it to the best of my ability."
Li Baolong cut to the chase, saying, "I just wanted to ask if there are several jade mines around here? Also, do you know a man from mainland China named Huang Jian?" Hearing this, the shopkeeper put down the jade he was holding, thought for a moment, and replied, "Well… there are indeed quite a few jade mines of varying sizes around here, at least seven or eight. And there are quite a few Chinese working there. But this Huang Jian you mentioned, I really don't remember him," the shopkeeper said, shaking his head.
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