After more than a month at the construction site, Yang Jian finally received a call from Wu Laizi, along with a location image indicating that the place was Brother Mao's drug manufacturing den.
Eager to see Brother Mao utterly destroyed, Yang Jian couldn't wait and immediately headed to the city to find Yang Fan, requesting him to arrange for personnel to apprehend Brother Mao.
However, Biao Biao stopped him, urging him to calm down first.
Yang Jian was confused. "Biao Biao, what's wrong? We finally know Brother Mao's location, what are we waiting for?"
"Brother Jian, it's best to report this to Captain Zhang and his team. They have more experience with such arrests."
"Ah, it's fine. Let Brother Fan get the military involved. They have plenty of experience too."
Seeing Yang Jian about to get into the car, Biao Biao still held him back. "Brother Jian, Brother Mao has always been cunning and treacherous. We need to guard against falling into his trap. We must be extremely careful when dealing with him."
"Are you suspecting Wu Laizi is feeding us false information?"
"Wu Laizi is not trustworthy. He's always been in cahoots with Brother Mao. The only reason he's listening to you now is because he fears you and has no foothold in Xinhe. But that doesn't mean he doesn't hate you, so we must be wary of him."
"But what's the point of him passing on information? Even if Brother Mao has any schemes or tricks, they're a joke in the face of absolute power. Can he really go up against the army?"
"That's true, but I still feel uneasy. How about you call Captain Zhang and see what he thinks?"
Under Biao Biao's insistence, Yang Jian called Zhang Hui and explained Wu Laizi's situation.
Zhang Hui's advice was not to act rashly. He and Qin Feiyang would fly over immediately, and they would discuss the action plan after their arrival.
Only then did Yang Jian abandon his impulse to rush to Yang Fan.
Zhang Hui and Qin Feiyang arrived in Xiao Mengla the next day at noon. Yang Jian and Biao Biao brought them to meet Yang Fan.
Based on the address provided by Wu Laizi, Yang Fan found a map of Xiao Mengla and discovered that the location was in the mountainous area southeast of the city, which was also a Wa village.
"That's not right. According to the tracker, Wu Laizi's current location is to the southwest, and the two locations are at least thirty kilometers apart."
Qin Feiyang placed the monitor in front of everyone, expressing his doubts.
Zhang Hui turned his gaze to Yang Jian. "What exactly did Wu Laizi say to you yesterday?"
"He said he was with Brother Mao and discovered that the place was a drug manufacturing plant, and Brother Mao and his dozen or so henchmen were all there."
As Yang Jian spoke, he also felt something was amiss.
Biao Biao spoke up. "This is likely a trap. Brother Mao is extremely suspicious. After Baoguo was arrested, it's unusual that Wu Laizi, as an important link in their drug chain, wasn't wanted by the police. I suspect Wu Laizi's informant identity has been exposed, and his call yesterday was likely forced by Brother Mao to lure us into an ambush."
Yang Fan nodded. "Biao Biao's analysis makes sense. In Xiao Mengla, you can buy anything with money except planes, cannons, and tanks. You can get sniper rifles, rocket launchers, high explosives, and landmines. If he lures us there for an ambush, even if we bring the army, there will be heavy casualties. No one would care if a few of us were injured, but if the army suffered heavy losses, the higher-ups of the Allied Forces would hold us accountable. It's highly probable we wouldn't be able to operate in northern Myanmar anymore."
Yang Jian gasped. "Brother Mao would really do something like this. He's capable of implementing any sinister plan. Before we fell out, to make me deal with Old Gui, he sent Baoguo to smash my house and even caused the death of my grandfather, then framed Old Gui. Most people wouldn't come up with such a wicked scheme."
Zhang Hui frowned. "Since Brother Mao is so cunning and ruthless, we indeed need to be careful and not act blindly. Mr. Yang, can you still mobilize military personnel this time?"
Yang Fan nodded. "No problem. It's just a matter of paying more money. The commander of the special forces battalion is a good friend of mine. Even without reporting to the brigade commander, I can mobilize a hundred or so people to help us catch him, provided there are no major casualties."
"Then let's go to the special forces battalion now and devise a plan to split into two groups with the battalion commander. This time, we must not let Brother Mao escape."
"Alright, I'll inform the brigade commander and battalion commander in advance to prepare."
Yang Jian's funds were invested here, and he knew his deep-seated animosity with Brother Mao. Yang Fan was now fully assisting him in handling matters here.
Eight kilometers southwest of Xiao Mengla, in a Dai village, Brother Mao and Wu Laizi were drinking tea on the balcony of a wooden house. This was Brother Mao's second stronghold.
Since Baoguo was apprehended, Brother Mao had brought several henchmen he recruited in Daluo Town into Xiao Mengla. Those henchmen were familiar with the situation in Xiao Mengla and even had relatives there.
Therefore, Brother Mao had them buy several rural houses locally to serve as strongholds. He didn't have specific plans yet and had no income, so he had to rely on his savings. Living in the countryside was more cost-effective. The main reason for not living in the city was the fear of being apprehended by Chinese police if they crossed the border. The countryside was relatively safer.
"Brother Mao, can you not sell me off? I'll stay and be your henchman without pay. I promise I won't betray you again." Wu Laizi sat opposite Brother Mao, begging incessantly. Before he was transferred here, he saw A Bin install a large amount of explosives in the original house. If Yang Jian brought people over, there would definitely be heavy casualties. If Yang Jian were killed, it would be for the best, a clean slate. But if he survived, and Wu Laizi's false information caused heavy casualties, Yang Jian would surely not let him go. Wu Laizi was now in a no-win situation. His only way out was to hope Brother Mao would forgive him and allow him to live a subservient life by his side.
Brother Mao savored his tea and nodded. "If you successfully lure Yang Jian into our trap, I can consider letting you go. However, you'll have to return the money I gave you earlier. I have many brothers with me now, and my expenses are high, so I'm a bit short on cash."
"How much do I have to return?"
"Twenty thousand. You defected to Yang Jian, so he must have given you quite a bit of money."
"Brother Mao, I swear to heaven and earth, Yang Jian only gave my mother fifty thousand for her hospitalization, which must have been spent long ago. How can I get twenty thousand for you?"
"I don't care about that. After we're done with Yang Jian, you call your sisters and have them transfer twenty thousand. Otherwise, I'll have to sell you, and then you'll have no chance of freedom at all. You'll be a slave for money your whole life, and eventually, you might even have your organs sold."
Wu Laizi's face changed drastically. Knowing that Brother Mao wasn't bluffing, he was about to plead further when Brother Mao's phone rang.
"Brother Mao, there are five military vehicles and a Cayenne heading in our direction. It's probably Yang Jian bringing people to find you."
A Bin's excited voice came from the other end of the phone. He had set up an ambush in the Wa village and installed a remote-controlled bomb in the house. As soon as the military police entered the room, he would detonate the explosives. Even if Yang Jian wasn't killed, he wouldn't be able to withstand the wrath of the military.