Chapter 349 At a Dead End
Before midnight, Lu Jingyan realized something was wrong.
He lay prone behind the sand dune, holding up binoculars to stare at the few shacks.
According to the original plan, Black Wolf and his men were supposed to disperse after loading the goods onto the truck.
But instead of dispersing, this group grew larger and larger.
Seven or eight more people emerged from the shed, each carrying a gun.
"Old Lu, something's not right," Gao Jianjun said in a low voice. "These bastards seem to be waiting for something."
Lu Jingyan remained silent, his eyes fixed on that side.
Black Wolf stood in the middle, a cigar dangling from his lips, talking to a few of his men.
Under the moonlight, the smile on his face looked particularly sinister.
"Withdraw," Lu Jingyan suddenly said. "Withdraw immediately."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a flare was launched into the sky.
The entire desert was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.
"Damn it!" Gao Jianjun cursed, then grabbed the teammate next to him and rolled backward.
The bullets struck the sand, kicking up dense dust.
People appeared from all directions, at least thirty or forty of them.
They were dressed in uniform military green combat uniforms and were well-equipped, clearly having been lying in ambush for some time.
Lu Jingyan grabbed the injured teammate and ran away.
The gunfire behind me was as dense as popping beans, and bullets whizzed past my ears.
"Run to the valley!" he roared.
The team members ran towards the three o'clock direction, where there was a narrow valley.
The complex terrain allowed them to temporarily shake off their pursuers.
But before he had run two hundred meters, an explosion suddenly came from his left.
One of the team members stepped on a landmine and was blown away.
Lu Jingyan turned his head and his heart clenched.
That was a veteran who had been with him for five years, surnamed Li, from Northeast China, and had a two-year-old daughter.
Gao Jianjun's eyes instantly turned red, and he picked up his gun to go back.
Lu Jingyan pressed down hard on his shoulder, "Go! He's already gone!"
Gao Jianjun gritted his teeth as Lu Jingyan dragged him forward.
Another flare was launched into the sky.
This time it's much clearer.
Black Wolf led his men in pursuit, followed by a dozen or so wolfhounds.
Those beasts ran incredibly fast, baring their teeth and their eyes glowing green in the darkness.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Lu Jingyan urged his team members to run deeper into the valley.
Seven people came in, now only five are left.
Everyone was wounded, and most of their ammunition was used up.
After running into the valley, Lu Jingyan instructed his team members to take up advantageous positions.
Two people guarded the left side, two people guarded the right side, and he himself blocked the middle.
"Jianjun, count how many bullets we have left," he said, panting heavily.
Gao Jianjun touched the magazine. "I have three more here. How about you?"
“Two.” Lu Jingyan’s face was frighteningly grim.
Including the others, there were less than twenty magazines in total.
At this rate of consumption, it will last for a maximum of two hours.
Black Wolf's men had already chased them to the entrance of the valley, but they weren't in a hurry to come in.
They deployed defenses outside, completely surrounding the valley.
"Brothers inside!" Black Wolf's voice came through, "Why bother?"
He lit a cigar, took a puff, and said, "You can't escape."
Lu Jingyan didn't reply, silently drawing a tactical diagram on the ground with his fingers.
"Be smart and hand over the information, and I'll spare your lives," Black Wolf continued to shout.
Gao Jianjun spat, "Bullshit!"
Gunshots rang out, bullets struck the mountainside, and stone chips flew everywhere.
Lu Jingyan stopped the team members who were about to retaliate, saying, "Don't waste bullets."
He looked up at the sky.
There are still four hours until dawn.
We must find a way to break through or send the intelligence out.
"Old Lu," Gao Jianjun moved closer to him, "I'm afraid this time we're..."
"Don't say discouraging things," Lu Jingyan interrupted him.
He took the captured intelligence document out of his pocket and wrapped it tightly in a waterproof cloth.
"You're the fastest, break out from the right flank later." He handed the intelligence to Gao Jianjun.
Gao Jianjun was stunned. "And what about you?"
“I’ll cover you.” Lu Jingyan’s voice was calm. “This intelligence must be sent back to Beijing.”
Gao Jianjun shook his head, "No, we'll go together."
“This is an order!” Lu Jingyan stared at him. “You must take the intelligence out.”
He paused for a moment, then said, "Tell Wan Tang that I will go back."
Gao Jianjun's eyes reddened, and he nodded firmly.
Lu Jingyan turned around and looked at the other three team members.
"Brothers, we'll attack from the left to draw their fire."
"Jianjun, walk from the right, and no one is allowed to look back."
The three team members responded.
Lu Jingyan took a deep breath and touched the peace charm on his chest with his fingers.
Wan Tang, wait for me.
When I get back, our family of three will be reunited.
...
On the other side, in Beijing.
The lights in Courtyard No. 1 are still on.
Su Wantang sat at her desk with a map of Northwest China spread out in front of her.
She hadn't received a telegram from Lu Jingyan for three consecutive days.
When I called the military region, all I got was, "The mission is classified and cannot be disclosed."
Qin Zheng stood behind her. "Miss, I've sent someone to wait at the entrance of the military district."
"Stop anyone from the Northwest immediately and ask them for information."
Su Wantang nodded, her finger moving inch by inch across the map.
She remembered that among her mother's belongings was a map marking the mineral veins in the Northwest.
It had a special symbol drawn on it, exactly the same as the one on the captured intelligence.
Could it be...
She stood up, walked to the wall, and pressed a button.
The wall opened, revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside were several booklets left by my mother.
She flipped to one of the books and carefully compared the markings on the map.
really!
There is a secret passage near the mine that leads to a military base 30 kilometers away.
If Jingyan is trapped...
Her fingers gripped the booklet tightly.
"Qin Zheng, contact the Northwest Military Region immediately and tell them..."
Before he could finish speaking, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
Wang Ma pushed the door open and came in. "Miss, Madam Meng has arrived."
Meng Wan walked in, carrying a food box in her hand.
"Wantang, you're still awake?" She put down the food box. "I made you some bird's nest soup."
Su Wantang forced a smile. "Mom, I'm not hungry."
Meng Wan pulled her to sit down, "Jingyan is a lucky child, he'll be alright."
She paused for a moment, then continued, "Back then, his father was on the front lines, and I went through the same thing."
Su Wantang bit her lip.
It wasn't that she didn't trust Lu Jingyan; she was just... too scared.
I've finally found someone to care about and a home in this lifetime.
She can't lose him.
......
The desert night is so cold it can freeze a person into an icicle.
Gao Jianjun lay half-prone on the sand, the sand beneath him soaked with blood. He had a bandage Lu Jingyan had given him in his mouth, and he looked like a stranded fish, struggling to breathe.
"Old Gao, Old Gao, don't sleep!" The young soldier next to him reached out and patted his face.
Gao Jianjun struggled to open his eyes, his vision blurred. He fumbled at his side, pulling out the intelligence report that was tightly wrapped in a waterproof cloth.
"Help me... help me tie it to my body..."
The young soldier quickly wrapped the intelligence report tightly around Gao Jianjun's chest with bandages.
"Brother, let's wait for reinforcements." The young soldier's eyes reddened. "You're injured like this, if you run any further, someone will die."
Gao Jianjun raised his hand and slapped him on the head. "Bullshit! I'm tough as nails, I won't die!"
He gritted his teeth and got up from the ground. His entire back was soaked with sweat, it was hard to tell if it was sweat or blood.
The howling of wolfhounds could be heard in the distance.
Black Wolf's men caught up.
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