Chapter 354 Sand Table Simulation
As night fell, the bedrooms in Compound No. 1 were quickly converted into temporary combat rooms.
A huge sand table depicting the northwest terrain sits in the center of the room, taking up half of it. The walls are covered with military maps, densely marked with various terrain symbols.
Scattered on the table were Lu Jingyan's notebooks, telegram records, and several confidential documents.
Su Wantang stood barefoot in front of the sand table, wearing a loose silk robe.
Her fingers lightly traced the models representing mountains and rivers, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
When Wang Ma brought in the hot milk and saw this scene, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything.
The door was pushed open.
Qin Zheng strode in, carrying a stack of documents.
"Young Miss, the preliminary intelligence has been compiled."
Su Wantang took the document and quickly flipped through it.
"The ambush site is at Blackwind Pass?" She looked up at Qin Zheng.
“Yes.” Qin Zheng pointed to a location on the map. “This canyon is about five kilometers long, with cliffs on both sides, and the narrowest part is less than thirty meters wide.”
Su Wantang walked to the map and carefully examined the location.
"Easy to defend, hard to attack," she said softly.
Qin Zheng nodded. "The survivors' testimonies confirm that Black Wolf's squad was well-equipped, possibly with American equipment. Moreover, they were extremely familiar with the terrain, which clearly indicates that they had been planning this for a long time."
Su Wantang tapped her finger on the map. "How many people are there?"
“At least thirty people.” Qin Zheng’s voice was deep. “Their firepower far exceeds that of ordinary mercenaries.”
Su Wantang closed her eyes.
Thirty people.
American equipment.
Familiarize yourself with the terrain.
This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision; it was a carefully laid trap.
"What is their goal?" She suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Qin Zheng. "Just to kill them and silence them?"
Qin Zheng was stunned for a moment.
"What the young lady means is..."
"If the goal is simply to kill, we could just blow up the entire canyon," Su Wantang said coldly. "Why go through all this trouble to set up an ambush?"
Qin Zheng gasped.
"They want them alive."
“Yes.” Su Wantang turned and walked back to the sand table. “They want to know how much intelligence Lu Jingyan has, and they want to know the military’s deployment.”
Her fingers moved across the sand table, simulating Lu Jingyan's possible escape routes.
“Gao Jianjun has sacrificed his life,” she said softly. “That soldier broke through the encirclement with the intelligence.”
"Jingyan must have deliberately stayed behind to cover the retreat."
Qin Zheng clenched his fist.
Su Wantang's finger stopped at a valley.
“He won’t choose to break through head-on,” she muttered to herself. “It’s too risky, we don’t have enough ammunition, and we’re outnumbered.”
“He’ll head this way.” She pointed to a canyon on the map. “There’s a narrow path here, difficult to traverse, but it can get us behind enemy lines.”
Qin Zheng stared at that spot, his eyes widening.
"Young Miss, how did you know..."
“Because I know him.” Su Wantang interrupted him. “Lu Jingyan won’t make pointless sacrifices. He will definitely find a way to come back alive.”
Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
Just then, the phone on the table rang.
Su Wantang went over and answered it.
"Miss, it's me." Du Kangnian's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"explain."
"The black market in Shanghai is in an uproar." Du Kangnian's voice was tinged with excitement. "An intelligence broker known as 'Earth Rat' contacted me, saying he knows a temporary stronghold of the Black Wolf Squad."
Su Wantang's fingers gripped the microphone tightly.
How much do you want?
"Fifty small yellow croakers."
Su Wantang sneered, "Quite the appetite."
“I think there’s something wrong with this person,” Du Kangnian said in a low voice. “The price he set was too high, and the timing was too coincidental.”
“There are bound to be problems,” Su Wantang said calmly, “but I’m determined to stick with this hook.”
Du Kangnian was stunned, "Young Miss..."
“As long as the intelligence is accurate, money is not a problem.” Su Wantang interrupted him. “Tell him that I need the most detailed intelligence, including the specific location of the stronghold, its firepower configuration, and the number of personnel.”
"If he can't explain it, then let him be thrown into the Huangpu River."
Du Kangnian was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I understand."
After hanging up the phone, Su Wantang turned to look at Qin Zheng.
"Someone in the black market contacted Du Kangnian, saying they knew Black Wolf's stronghold."
Qin Zheng's eyes lit up instantly, "Is it true or false?"
"I don't know." Su Wantang walked back to the sand table. "But whether it's true or not, we have to try."
She picked up a small stick and marked a new location on the sand table.
"Assuming this intelligence is true, Black Wolf's stronghold is here."
"Let's assume that Lu Jingyan was arrested and detained here."
Her fingers traced across the sand table, connecting several key points.
"The fastest route from Heifengkou to here is through this canyon."
"If they have a car, they can get there in two hours."
Qin Zheng stared at the sand table, his brows furrowed.
"Young Miss, do you think Commander Lu has really been arrested?"
Su Wantang raised her head, her eyes icy cold.
"The bounty on the black market is for a person to be alive, not for their head."
What does this mean?
Qin Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed. "That means they need Commander Lu to be alive."
“Yes.” Su Wantang nodded. “So Jingyan must still be alive.”
Her voice was calm, but Qin Zheng could hear the tremor in it.
"I'll have someone continue the investigation." Qin Zheng turned and walked out.
"Wait a minute," Su Wantang called out to him.
Qin Zheng turned around.
"Prepare two teams." Su Wantang's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "One team will follow the information from the ground rats to investigate, and the other team will search along the route I have deduced."
"We need to walk on two legs; we can't rely on just one clue."
Qin Zheng was stunned for a moment, then he understood.
"Understood." He saluted and strode out.
The room fell silent again.
Su Wantang stood motionless in front of the sand table.
Aunt Wang came over with a glass of milk. "Miss, would you like something to drink?"
Su Wantang shook her head, "I won't drink."
"Your health will collapse if you continue like this," Wang Ma said, her voice trembling with tears. "You're carrying a child."
Su Wantang's hand unconsciously rested on her stomach.
The child kicked her again.
She took a deep breath, took the milk, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Alright, you can go now."
Wang Ma wanted to say something, but seeing her expression, she didn't dare to speak and turned to leave the room.
The door closed.
Su Wantang walked to the window and looked into the distance.
The northwest direction was pitch black.
Her hands gripped the window frame tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"Lu Jingyan," she whispered, "if you dare to die, I will..."
Before she could finish speaking, tears fell from her eyes.
She raised her hand to wipe away her tears, then turned and walked to the wardrobe.
Open the cabinet door.
Several of Lu Jingyan's military uniforms were hanging inside.
She reached out and took out a piece of casual clothing, gently stroking the rough fabric.
His scent still lingered on it.
A pungent smell mixed with sweat and sunshine.
Su Wantang buried her face in her military uniform and took a deep breath.
That familiar scent instantly enveloped her.
After an unknown amount of time, a bold reverse tracking plan took shape in her mind.
She slowly raised her head and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand.
His gaze returned to its firm and cold intensity.
She stood up, neatly folded her military uniform, and placed it beside her pillow.
Walk back to the sand table.
He picked up the phone on the table and dialed Qin Zheng's number.
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