Chapter 26: A Thrilling Arrest
Inside the small jeep, Wang Anmin asked with a grave expression, “Xiao Yang, what’s the update from the Public Security Bureau?”
“Sir, according to Director Lu’s report, their team discovered a suspicious target during their investigation. After further verification, they confirmed it was the suspect Zhou Baoshan!” Secretary Yang replied.
“So, what does the county bureau plan to do?”
“Director Lu has already ordered the Criminal Investigation Division to close in and is preparing to apprehend him immediately!”
Secretary Yang continued, “Considering the possibility of the suspect escaping, Director Lu has also ordered militia units from several nearby communes and the Armed Police to set up perimeter defenses, forming a second line of containment to ensure the arrest operation goes off without a hitch!”
“Hmm, the overall plan is sound, but they must prioritize the safety of the people during the arrest!” Wang Anmin said in a grave tone.
“Yes, sir!”
“Old Zhang, hurry up. Don’t go back to the County Party Committee—head straight to the County Bureau. With an incident of this magnitude, I must be on-site to command the operation!”
“Yes, sir!”
……
The county bureau was also bustling with activity at that moment, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense!
Wang Anguo asked in a cold, sharp tone, “How’s the suspect’s identity verification coming along?”
“Reporting, Captain, it’s 100% confirmed to be Zhou Baoshan!” his subordinate replied immediately.
“Good! Are the arrest teams in position?”
“All units are in position!”
“Good. Have the Armed Police send over a contingent of elite officers as a precaution!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Any news from the County Party Committee?” Wang Anguo asked again.
“Reporting, Captain. Secretary Wang went out to the countryside this morning and is currently on his way back!”
Wang Anguo thought for a moment and said, “We can’t wait any longer. Let’s go to the scene to take command. Have Deputy Director Huang and the others wait here!”
With that, Wang Anguo immediately led several subordinates straight to the scene.
The location where the suspect was spotted was a black market in the northwest corner of the county seat—a place teeming with all sorts of people, where residents from surrounding townships and communes, as well as local speculators, liked to gather.
Zhou Baoshan needed to gather supplies to flee, but he didn’t dare go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, so he had no choice but to head to the black market.
The county police bureau, however, was already prepared, so Zhou Baoshan was spotted the moment he appeared.
However, as a notorious bandit who had roamed seven provinces and had more than ten lives on his hands, Zhou Baoshan possessed strong counter-surveillance skills. He quickly sensed that something was amiss.
Sensing that his movements might have been compromised—or that he was already under police surveillance—Zhou Baoshan immediately decided to flee.
He looked around and noticed that something was off about the people nearby; they seemed to be closing in on him, whether intentionally or not.
A sudden idea struck Zhou Baoshan, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, “The police are here! The police are here! Everyone, run!”
The police back then weren’t like the neighborhood committee ladies of later years—they wielded immense power.
Small-scale traders feared the police more than anything; if caught, the best-case scenario was having their goods confiscated—a devastating loss—while the worst-case scenario was being arrested and charged with profiteering!
So when they heard the police were coming, the hundred or so people in the black market panicked instantly and scattered in all directions.
Carried along by the crowd, Zhou Baoshan quickly fled toward the exit!
The police officers, who had been preparing to make an arrest, were stunned by the sudden turn of events. They hadn’t expected Zhou Baoshan to be so cunning—the moment he sensed something was wrong, he immediately created chaos and took the opportunity to flee.
When Wang Anguo and his team arrived at the scene, they found chaos all around and were instantly enraged!
“The suspect just escaped this way amid the chaos. He’ll definitely head toward crowded areas to evade our surveillance—chase him toward the main streets!”
Wang Anguo continued, “Activate Plan B immediately. Seal off the entire city. We absolutely cannot let the suspect slip away right under our noses!”
“Yes!”
Shortly after the order was given, the team leader in charge of the frontline operation sent a report stating that a suspect had been spotted near the supply and marketing cooperative.
Wang Anguo immediately led his team toward the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. He had made a solemn pledge to the Municipal Bureau regarding this operation; if it failed, the consequences would extend far beyond himself—the entire County Bureau would suffer as well.
When Wang Anguo and his team arrived, they spotted a middle-aged man of medium build with slanted eyes darting through the crowd like a slippery catfish.
Behind him were a dozen or so police officers, with several dozen meters separating the two groups.
Wang Anguo surveyed the surroundings and made a snap decision: “Flank him! We absolutely cannot let him get away!”
With that, he charged forward at the head of the group!
Zhou Baoshan hadn’t expected these police officers to be so tenacious. He’d barely managed to escape from the black market, but after taking only a few steps, his trail was picked up and they were already in hot pursuit.
Fortunately, he had experience dealing with these police officers. He knew that in situations like this, he must avoid taking back alleys or paths with few people.
On the one hand, fewer people meant he stood out more, making it harder to escape in the chaos.
On the other hand, being unfamiliar with the area, taking a remote path could easily lead him into a dead end—and then he’d truly be in a situation where no one would come to his aid.
So, he made his way toward the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, where the crowd was at its thickest.
Just as he was about to rely on the massive crowd to escape to safety, Zhou Baoshan noticed several people in public security uniforms suddenly appearing directly ahead, closing in on him from all sides.
Realizing the danger, Zhou Baoshan acted without hesitation. He immediately pulled out the gun he had hidden on his person and fired into the air!
“Bang!”
The sudden gunshot shattered the tranquility of the small county town. Upon hearing the blast, everyone froze in shock before scattering in all directions. Chaos erupted on the streets, even more uncontrollable than the earlier turmoil at the black market.
Wang Anguo and the others never expected Zhou Baoshan to have a gun. After all, over the past few months, although this demon had committed numerous crimes and killed without mercy, he had never once used a firearm.
So it wasn’t just Wang Anguo and his team—even the city police department had assumed he didn’t have a gun, and at most, he might have a butcher’s knife.
But now it was clear the situation was nothing like they’d anticipated—not only did he have a gun, but he dared to fire it in broad daylight.
“We must stop him! This is the county seat—we can’t let him fire a gun here!”
With that, Wang Anguo charged forward, heading straight for Zhou Baoshan.
With the chaotic crowd providing cover, Zhou Baoshan felt his chances of escape had greatly increased. In high spirits, he immediately fled toward an alleyway nearby.
He knew full well that the police were currently focused on the main street, so slipping into an alley at this moment would be unlikely to attract attention.
Moreover, alleys near the main street rarely dead-end, which further increased his chances of escape.
However, just as he was about to enter the alley, a figure clad in olive green came charging up from his side and behind him—the distance between them was a mere four or five meters!
“Zhou Baoshan, freeze!”
Upon hearing the voice, Zhou Baoshan showed no sign of fear; instead, a cruel smile spread across his face.
He spun around and suddenly pulled the trigger!
“Bang!”
The gun went off!
At such close range, there was no way he could miss!
Wang Anguo watched the bullet fly straight toward his heart, unable even to make a move to dodge it; his mind went completely blank.
Yet the pain he had imagined never came.
Wang Anguo didn’t stop to wonder why. Seeing Zhou Baoshan right in front of him, his face still bearing the same cruelty and bloodlust as before, he pounced like a tiger and immediately pinned him to the ground.
He then used a joint lock to twist the bandit’s right arm behind his back and slammed the hand holding the gun down hard onto his knee.
“Crack!”
The gun in Zhou Baoshan’s hand was knocked straight out of his grasp and onto the ground!
The fierce man struggled to pick up the gun, but Wang Anguo wasn’t about to give him that chance.
With a single kick, Wang An Guo sent the gun flying far away, while at the same time using all his strength to pin the man firmly to the ground.
By then, nearby police officers had rushed over to provide backup, and soon the crowd had subdued this demon who had killed countless people.
Only then did the breathless Wang Anguo have a chance to examine his own body. When he saw the obvious bullet hole in his chest, he immediately reached inside to inspect it.
He then pulled a deformed bullet from his jacket pocket—and on top of that bullet was a one-yuan coin!