Chapter 134: Chapter 135: Chang Ning’s Strategy
“This is what I’m thinking. That bandit broke the display window glass earlier, right? This way, the Assault Team has no glass blocking them, and they can completely throw a stun grenade inside to create brief trouble for the bandit.
Then we force our way in at the same time and coordinate with the Assault Team to kill the bandit, while the Sniper Team provides support and looks for an opportunity to take out Gao Sen.”
Chang Ning expressed his meaning very clearly. Compared to finding an opportunity to kill the bandit in the van, he believed his plan had a much higher chance of success.
The only difficulty with this plan was that his and Geng Jihui’s actions had to stay in sync with the Assault Team. In other words, the moment the stun grenade takes effect, they must use demolition means to destroy the back door and quickly enter the fast food restaurant to kill the bandit simultaneously, and the time is only a short five seconds.
Because in daylight, the stun grenade’s ability to temporarily blind people is weakened, but the huge noise’s discomfort to the body can also block the bandit from harming the hostage right away.
It’s a good strategy, indeed better than waiting for the bandit to get in the van. But while the bandit will be affected by the stun grenade, the hostage will be too, and even more so because the hostage is younger.
Geng Jihui voiced his inner concerns. At this time, the Lone Wolf B Team’s internal radio channel was deathly quiet with no sounds at all, as if everyone had gone into radio silence.
The Assault Team was really suffering. Xiao Zhuang and Qiang Zi had been hanging upside down in mid-air for nearly ten minutes, their stamina draining rapidly. Sweat beads gathered into larger drops on their foreheads under gravity and then dripped to the ground, shattering.
Truly sweating like rain!
Everyone was a professional counter-terrorism team member. Chang Ning’s plan had high feasibility. Without the hostage’s age factor, they could have launched the operation long ago.
“Sha Po Lang, do you have any suggestions for the hostage side?”
Gao Zhong Dui didn’t give his opinion on Chang Ning’s plan but instead asked Chang Ning how to properly handle the hostage. No matter what plan, their core was still the hostage’s safety.
Hearing Gao Zhong Dui’s question, everyone subconsciously held their breath waiting for Chang Ning’s response. Geng Jihui and Lao Pao, who were with Chang Ning, fixed their gazes firmly on him.
How to solve the matter all depended on Chang Ning this time.
Although everyone was masked and Chang Ning couldn’t see Geng Jihui and Lao Pao’s expressions, he could still sense their inner emotions through their eyes.
After giving the two a reassuring look, Chang Ning answered Gao Zhong Dui’s question, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he dropped a bombshell on everyone: “To be honest, with my plan, we don’t need to consider the hostage’s safety at all.”
Hiss~
B Team members all drew in a sharp breath simultaneously. They suspected Chang Ning had lost his mind from the pressure. Just that sentence alone was enough to ruin his future in the military unit; he might even get kicked out.
“Chang Sha Po Lang!”
Geng Jihui was closest to Chang Ning and was so shocked by his words that he nearly shouted Chang Ning’s name. He quickly pulled at Chang Ning. Chang Ning’s statement was beyond everyone’s expectations; it was like he was asking to die.
At the same time, Geng Jihui looked at Chang Ning in bewilderment. He couldn’t even find an excuse to help with what this guy said. No matter how strong the excuse, it would seem pale and powerless under Chang Ning’s words.
“What are you doing!”
Lao Pao lowered his voice, glaring at Chang Ning to express his anger and confusion. Chang Ning’s irresponsible words about the hostage insulted the profession he was now in. Based on his understanding of Chang Ning, that sentence shouldn’t have come from him.
If Lao Pao hadn’t heard it with his own ears, he wouldn’t believe Chang Ning would say that no matter what. Now he felt deeply ashamed; he had actually brought out such a bastard like Chang Ning.
After hearing Chang Ning’s shocking statement, no one dared speak on the radio. Everyone waited for Gao Zhong Dui’s response.
After a brief silence on the radio, Gao Zhong Dui said in a deep voice: “Sha Po Lang, do you know what you’re saying? I hope you give me a reasonable explanation.”
Strangely, everyone didn’t hear any emotion in Gao Zhong Dui’s words. This was abnormal; everyone knew Gao Zhong Dui thought highly of Chang Ning.
Could it be that he was too disappointed in Chang Ning and had completely given up?
Geng Jihui silently watched Chang Ning. At this point, he could only watch helplessly and do nothing.
Xiao Zhuang and Lao Pao’s hearts were like being hit by a shell, stirring up huge waves that wouldn’t calm for a long time; Qiang Zi and the two in the Sniper Team still hadn’t come back to their senses.
This showed just how great the impact Chang Ning had on everyone.
Who knew, Chang Ning acted as if he didn’t know the severity of the situation, pretending not to see Geng Jihui and Lao Pao frantically signaling with their eyes. He continued: “Wild Wolf has nothing to explain. I think I’ve made it very clear.”
‘It’s over!’
B Team members watched wide-eyed as Chang Ning dug his own grave.
Hui Lang clearly saw the changes in Gao Zhong Dui’s emotions right beside him. He didn’t know what to say to Chang Ning now.
Normally, Chang Ning didn’t seem like the arrogant type. Could it be caused by too much pressure from rescuing the hostage?
The excuse that popped into Hui Lang’s mind to absolve Chang Ning almost made him laugh himself. No one, not even him, would believe such a lame excuse, let alone anyone who knew Chang Ning’s background.
For Chang Ning to train and go on a mission with B Team, Wolf Fang’s psychological instructor must have tested him early on. So psychological factors as an excuse was best not said, lest people think Wolf Fang’s selection was too easy.
Fortunately, Chang Ning didn’t continue to rile everyone’s nerves. After hearing what he said next, everyone’s taut nerves relaxed.
“Because with my plan, the hostage won’t face any danger at all.”
Chang Ning dared to say this because he had the confidence. When devising this strategy in his mind, Chang Ning repeatedly checked his data panel and communicated with the system, doing his utmost to make it foolproof.
Besides, he couldn’t afford the consequences of failure, so his heart wasn’t as calm as it seemed on the surface.
After multiple comparisons and calculations, Chang Ning believed that if he was the first to enter from the back door, he could completely take out all the bandits before the stun grenade effect wore off.
With Chang Ning’s current shooting level, no one in B Team or Gao Zhong Dui’s team could match his speed and accuracy.
“The stun grenade’s effect isn’t just targeted at the bandit; the hostage will also be hit indiscriminately. Isn’t this also an advantage for us?
As long as we take out all the bandits within the stun grenade’s effect time, that is, within five seconds, the hostage won’t see the bloody scene or even hear the gunshots clearly. This way, the psychological impact on the hostage will be minimized.
The psychologist just needs to counsel the hostage afterward about the kidnapping incident. They won’t have seen the gore and violence, so the difficulty of recovery will be greatly reduced.”
Chang Ning then laid out everything he had considered. Time was short, so this was all he could think of.
“Overall, it looks flawless, especially using the stun grenade to let the hostage avoid the upcoming bloody violence, which is the finishing touch.
To be honest, Sha Po Lang, without this twist, I would have you withdraw from this operation right now and kick your buttocks hard. The punishment back home would also be severe.”
Setting aside the plan’s extremely high demands on the executors, Gao Zhong Dui was genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart that Chang Ning could come up with such a thoughtful plan in such a short time.
Although B Team were all newcomers, they were trained by Gao Zhong Dui with time, energy, and massive Wolf Fang resources. Even if still lacking, they had the eye to judge a operation plan’s merits.
Geng Jihui gave his view on Chang Ning’s plan: “I admit Sha Po Lang’s plan is perfect, but the demands on executors are a bit high. In my view, B Team currently has difficulty executing it. At least A Team’s veterans would be needed to avoid failure.
It demands too much tacit understanding and marksmanship from executors. The first step requires the Assault Team and Demolition Team to act simultaneously, meaning the stun grenade explosion time and directional demolition must sync.
If demolition is late, the time to kill the bandit shortens and the hostage faces life danger, since the stun grenade lasts only five seconds. If early, the bandit reacts and both hostage and us are in danger. I really don’t dare bet on whose gun is faster, ours or the bandit’s.”
After speaking, Geng Jihui glanced at Chang Ning first, his eyes full of apology. He had personally rejected his good comrade’s plan, and naturally felt bad inside, but as captain, he had to view Chang Ning’s plan from the big picture.
Chang Ning patted Geng Jihui’s shoulder lightly to signal it was okay. Everyone was for the mission; he understood.
Moreover, he knew the key issues in his own plan. What Geng Jihui said was spot on; why would he be unhappy?
To put it bluntly, Geng Jihui was the commander of this operation. Even if he rejected the plan without explanation, what could Chang Ning do?
Waiting for the bandit to get in the van and then taking the chance also had a win rate, and risked far less than Chang Ning’s plan.
Before Chang Ning could speak, Gao Zhong Dui’s voice came over the radio: “How come at the crucial moment, you B Team plans to be cowards? Was all your usual training just for show? Or were those slogans you shouted just for fun?”
As B Team’s direct supervisor and chief instructor, Gao Zhong Dui had a direct understanding of Lone Wolf B Team’s strength, so he believed B Team could execute Chang Ning’s plan now.
Lone Wolf Special Assault Team wore the military region’s best individual equipment. With stun grenade and directional demolition acting together, as long as time was pre-agreed on the radio, it was fully achievable.
As for marksmanship, Gao Zhong Dui was even more assured. The previous massive CQB training wasn’t wasted. In indoor close-quarters gunfight, B Team had met his inner expectations; otherwise, he wouldn’t have brought them rushing over upon hearing of this case in Donghai City.
Even if something went wrong, Chang Ning was the safety net. Gao Zhong Dui knew that guy’s marksmanship well; for the assassin to privately comment he was no less than him, how bad could it be?
As for why Geng Jihui rejected Chang Ning’s proposal, Gao Zhong Dui as a veteran could guess. No matter how excellent before, they were unbloodied rookies without battlefield or actual combat experience. Even if training facilities were very close to real battlefield, fake was fake.
Rookies know it’s training, so no battlefield awe in their hearts. Suddenly facing actual combat, they’d definitely not perform as well as on the training ground.
Geng Jihui’s performance was already good, just overly cautious. Newcomers getting nervous in first actual combat was normal.
“Report, we’re not cowards, and we didn’t go through the motions in training! We can complete Sha Po Lang’s plan!”
Under Gao Zhong Dui’s deliberate provocation, Xiao Zhuang couldn’t hold back and stood up. He wouldn’t allow Gao Zhong Dui to deny all the sweat they left on the training ground.
“Then show me. Anyone can talk big.”
Gao Zhong Dui didn’t indulge Xiao Zhuang at all, leaving him speechless.
Everyone was a firsthand witness to the event. Everyone saw Geng Jihui’s over-cautious performance; no doubt about it. Xiao Zhuang naturally couldn’t deny it.
What frustrated him was that Geng Jihui hadn’t done anything wrong; he just chose a safer method.
The radio fell silent again. At this time, even the usually rowdy paratrooper played true ostrich, not daring to breathe loudly, afraid to disturb Geng Jihui’s final decision.
At the fast food restaurant’s back door, the skin on Geng Jihui’s brow furrowed like a “river” character, eyes flickering uncertainly, clearly calculating furiously inside.
Lao Pao silently took out the demolition explosives, inserted the detonator into the pre-calculated satchel charge, connected the timer, and waited for Geng Jihui’s order, while Chang Ning leaned against the wall with eyes closed, thinking who knows what.
At this moment, everyone quietly waited for Geng Jihui to decide.
“Time’s up. Where’s your van? Looks like Huaxia police aren’t really putting hostages first like the media says.”
With that, Gao Sen raised his gun to kill the hostage.
“Wait!”
Seeing this, the police commander’s face changed drastically. He couldn’t care less and hurried forward, passing Gao Zhong Dui to the front to face the bandit directly. He couldn’t let the bandit harm the hostage.
“The van is coming right away.”
Before the commander finished, Gao Sen rudely interrupted: “You think I’m a fool? How many times have you said that?”
Through the telescopic sight, Ostrich saw Gao Sen still hiding behind the hostage, lips pressed tight, cursing inwardly that Gao Sen was so agitated yet still wouldn’t show his head.
“Don’t get agitated! Don’t get agitated! I’m not lying to you; the van really is coming.”
With that, a half-new van passed through the onlookers and police cordon and stopped at the fast food restaurant’s entrance.
“See, I really didn’t lie to you.”
Seeing the van arrive, the commander’s facial expression visibly relaxed. Gao Zhong Dui also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Though this mission was police-led, a hostage incident wouldn’t look good on him.
‘The van’s here? Looks like my plan won’t be needed.’
Hearing Ostrich’s report in his earpiece, Chang Ning knew his plan was off the table. Strangely, he should feel disappointed, but in fact, Chang Ning’s heart was very calm, as if that plan wasn’t his idea.
