Chapter 371, Internal Conflict
Marka rubbed the brand on the back of his left hand, as if he could still remember the pain when the hot iron mark was branded on him a few years ago.
He is a member of the Hand-Bringing Gang. As the name suggests, the main feature of this gang is that they will use a hot iron to brand a mark on the hands of their members to show their identity as gang members.
This gang is not big, as its influence only extends to two or three blocks; but it is not small either, as more than 300,000 people rely on them within their area of activity.
However, they haven't been having an easy time lately.
In other words, no one has had an easy life since the start of martial law.
When martial law first began, the Laoshou Gang thought that this was no different from the occasional strict control incidents in the past. But their expectations were soon dashed.
The duration of martial law was longer than they had imagined, and the intensity of the martial law was too much for them to bear.
After lying dormant for a period of time, the Lao Shou Gang could no longer bear it.
They started firing guns and causing riots.
These methods made the Astra Militarum infantry division stationed in their territory very uncomfortable. In almost a month, the attacks and riots they caused resulted in hundreds of casualties of the Astra Militarum; although the price they paid was far greater than this number, it was still worth it in their eyes and could still be considered a victory.
Then, intoxicated by their victory, they attempted to attack an infantry platoon on duty.
In their eyes, this operation was almost foolproof.
Less than thirty Astra Militarum soldiers were patrolling a street. They had already observed clearly that this team was the best target to attack. After the fight started, it would take at least fifteen minutes for troops from other places to come to support them.
Then, roadside bombs exploded one after another beside the patrol's vehicle, forcing the military vehicle to stop. Then, from all directions of the street and from hidden houses, three or four hundred gunmen from the Burning Hands Gang rushed out and completely surrounded the Astra Militarum. Bullets were fired from all directions, and the scene became extremely bad in an instant.
Originally, they wanted to resolve the battle within ten minutes, leaving more time for evacuation. But in reality, the battle was almost over after the sixth minute.
However, the result was completely opposite.
They caused casualties among seven Astra Militarum soldiers, and the gang gunmen left more than 170 bodies. Such heavy casualties caused the gang gunmen to collapse in just a few minutes, and they retreated uncontrollably.
Without even needing any support, they were ambushed and hit by a roadside bomb, and then, with the same light weapons, less than thirty Astra Militarum soldiers VS three or four hundred gunmen, suffering seven casualties and killing one hundred and seventy.
Such a result completely stunned everyone in the Laoshou Gang.
Am I fighting Superman?
How can the difference be so big!
Before they could recover, they were hit by a severe raid and their lair was completely wiped out.
At this point, they completely gave up the idea of confronting the military control forces, and just honestly played hide-and-seek, shot from behind, and retreated immediately if they missed a shot, and resolutely refused to touch the Star Army teams with more than five people.
That being said, when they are forced into this situation, there is actually very little they can do and they feel extremely suppressed and aggrieved.
Things got even more fucked up when a new government task force, said to be from the 'Alliance', moved into the neighborhood.
A large amount of food was distributed, and the new government's policies were also announced. Abandoned factories were reopened, and these people also organized transport teams and construction teams. As long as they entered and had a job, their entire family could be assigned a job grade. Those with formal jobs could be assigned the so-called E4 grade, which would provide them with enough food and support their families; their families could also be assigned the E2 grade, which would at least provide them with a subsidy. Moreover, as long as they were assigned a grade, they could strive to get a job, which would allow them to move up.
Those who are unemployed can also declare what they want to do. If a group of girls, women, and children are willing to go to the streets to take orders and mend clothes, that can be considered as having a job and can be promoted to a higher level; if everyone can be organized to do this, that can also be considered as having a job.
If all else fails, then joining the army is also a way out. The Alliance's recruitment office has been recruiting soldiers, and the treatment they offer is better than before.
All in all, everyone had a good meal.
At the beginning, due to long-term distrust of the government, the public was particularly skeptical about policy announcements.
But after receiving actual food and being able to choose weekly pay for work, those doubts may not have been completely dispelled, but at least they have become much less serious.
Although it can't be said that I eat and drink well, I have been able to fill my stomach and keep warm.
Now, not only has the Laoshou Gang not tried to trick people into doing dangerous things, but even many of its own peripheral members have chosen to leave the gang.
The traitors even extended to the core gang members who had been burned.
If the previous martial law only strangled their necks, causing them pain and discomfort, and making them unable to move, then now it was like stabbing them directly in the heart.
This has really reached the point where I am extremely anxious, but no matter how hard I try I just can't win. What should I do?
As a core member of the gang, Marka was sent out by the boss.
After going through untold hardships and passing through many military control areas, they met a big man who had always supported the development of their gang and also gained benefits from their gang's activities. He could be said to be the person behind them.
However, the mansion that he had only visited once was now in a state of decay and there was a smell of blood.
It is said that he was swept up by the new government's Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Then Marka had no choice but to return in shame.
On the way there and back, Marka saw many things happening in the military zone. He had visited most of these places before, but when he saw them again, they were completely different from what he remembered.
These changes were reflected in his mind, causing his thoughts to change quietly.
After returning to the gang, he was summoned by the boss for questioning.
"What did Mr. Orlon say?" the boss asked impatiently.
"Mr. Auron is finished." Marka said.
He explained clearly to the boss what he had seen and heard.
After hearing this, the boss's face showed fear and anger.
"Fuck! He's useless! He brags every day about how awesome he is, how influential he is, and how powerful he is, but in the end, when the alliance comes, isn't he slaughtered like a dead dog?"
After venting his anger, the boss turned to another person and asked, "What about those 'good neighbors' I asked you to contact? How did they turn out?"
The so-called good neighbors refer to the several forces around the block where they live. There are rebels and gangs. In the past, the relationship between them was good and bad, but in the boss's opinion, at this time of life and death, everyone should unite and overcome difficulties together.
Therefore, he sent people to contact those "good neighbors" and form alliances.
However, he once again received bad news.
"No one is willing to partner with us... The Pingkang Army said they are negotiating with the government. The Haifeng Gang can no longer be found. It seems that they have been wiped out. The Ping'an Army has already accepted the conditions of the Alliance Government and has completely surrendered. I almost couldn't come back from there..."
"grass!"
The eldest brother stood up and paced back and forth anxiously.
He was mumbling a lot.
"We can't just let it go like this..."
"Let me think of some other solutions..."
"We can't let those piglets work for the government like this..."
"To kill, to scare!"
"What transport convoy? Bomb it if it passes by!"
…
Some vicious plans kept coming out of the boss's mouth.
Malka sighed.
He said, "Boss, vote now."
"What?" The boss's eyes suddenly turned and stared at Marka.
He has always ruled his gang with brutality, and he never allows a second voice in the gang except his own.
Normally, Marka wouldn't dare to say a word under such a look.
However, he dared to say today: "Vote, there is no chance of winning. Along the way, I have seen too many military control areas, not just here, but all places in Mingyan City are undergoing transformation. I think the new government is really determined to completely change the entire nest city. To be honest, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Everyone can live a stable life…"
"Do you want to die?!"
The Boss pulled out his signature weapon.
It was a specially modified pistol. The cracked muzzle could fire three large-caliber shotgun shells at the same time. Marka had seen the power of this thing with his own eyes. One shot could shatter a person's entire upper body.
But there was not much fear on Marka's face.
He just sighed.
'Bang'
Gunshots rang out.
Marka was fine, but the boss with the branding hands had a hole in the back of his head.
There was a man behind him, holding a gun, with smoke coming out of the muzzle.
The sudden death of the boss shocked the other brothers in the house. Some were confused, some didn't know what to do, and some subconsciously pulled out their guns.
Malka shouted, "Put down your guns!"
"You killed the boss!" someone shouted.
"He wants to lead all of us to death!" Malka glared at him, "Do you want to be buried with him?"
The man was speechless.
Who wants to die?
"You have all seen what the neighborhood looks like. Ask yourself, if we have a stable life, why do people follow us? Other gangs and rebels either die or surrender. Those who die are not remembered by anyone, and those who live live a good life with the civilians."
"They say being in a gang is cool, but how many of us have really been cool? Why did you join a gang in the first place? Wasn't it because you couldn't make ends meet? Now that you can make ends meet, don't you want to?"
"He is the boss, he enjoys a life of luxury, he is greedy and he refuses to accept the government's conditions. What about us? Why should we follow him and die?"
"If he is just greedy and his mind is not clear, then that's fine. Didn't you hear what he just said? The people in the neighborhood are not our own family and friends?"
"Don't be delusional. The era of gangs is over. There is no way out if we continue like this."
"I plan to go to the government working group right now to discuss the future of our Blasting Hands Gang. It would be best if we could be like the Peace Army, where everyone relies on the connections and favors they have made in the neighborhood over the years to help others, and maybe they can become officials of varying degrees in the future. If that doesn't work, then we can just find a job, where everyone has hands and feet, and life won't be difficult."
"What if they want us to be destroyed?"
"Then we're done for." Marka said expressionlessly, "Don't you see the current situation clearly? If they want us dead, then we're doomed. It's just a matter of two days earlier or later!"
The person asking the question fell silent.
"Do you have anything else to say? If not, I'm leaving."
In the silence, someone said, "You killed the boss, so you want to be the boss yourself? No one recognizes you yet, but you start talking like a boss?"
Malka replied: "In two days, the gang will be gone. Whoever wants to be the boss can do it."
…
What happened within the Laoshou Gang is just a microcosm.
In the eyes of Lieutenant General Hans, all the changes are clearer.
Recently, he hasn't called Gu Hang to complain.
What else is there to complain about?
When the powerful governor got a group of reliable administrative personnel from somewhere and had them stationed at the grassroots level in different blocks and start working, the intensity of the security battles faced by his troops dropped sharply.
Those riots and attacks have not completely disappeared, but at least they have been reduced to a large extent.
Especially in some places where the situation is good, the troops stationed there feel like they are on vacation.
And he was finally able to free up his hands to transfer troops from places with higher security levels to places with lower security levels.
Some "abandoned" neighborhoods still require more powerful military actions. To eliminate cults or stubborn gangs, to use force to separate the crowds and escort them all to temporary resettlement areas.
Although Mingyan City is still not a good place, Hans, from an outsider's perspective, can clearly see that everything here is developing rapidly and in a positive direction.
Could it be possible that Koroja, which has been in chaos for thousands of years, could really undergo earth-shaking changes under the leadership of that young governor?
Emotionally, he didn't dare to believe it. The past impressions were too deeply rooted in his mind.
But rationally, he had to admit that everything would really change.
Just as he was feeling emotional, he suddenly received a call from Gu Hang.
"Lieutenant General Hans, I am very satisfied with the work your troops have done in Mingyan City. You will have two months to deal with the situation in Mingyan City. After two months, you will be transferred to the next hive city."
Lieutenant General Hans immediately retracted his sigh.
Damn, you really don’t treat me as a human being, do you?
You haven’t even had a break yet and you’re going to a new place?
————
Happy New Year everyone!
(End of this chapter)
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