331: Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine: There are things you can do but can’t talk about.
331: Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine: There are things you can do but can’t talk about.
Although they were strangers just a moment ago, because of their connection through Li Jinfang, Gao Yang quickly stepped into his role.
Since the most urgent matter was to rescue people, he decided to set other matters aside and focus on how to conduct the rescue.
To rescue the hostages, one must first know where they have been taken.
Gao Yang immediately said, “I’m not familiar with the terrain here.
Does anyone know about the local geography?
Are there any tribes or small towns nearby?”
Jiang Yun replied without hesitation, “We’re not familiar with the area either, but we have a map.
Princess, bring over the map.”
Zheng Aiai promptly spread a map on the ground, placing a compass on it.
It was rare to find that the map was a military one, and the others quickly turned on their flashlights to illuminate it.
Gao Yang knew how to read a map, but he was not very skilled at it.
While he was still trying to ascertain their location on the map, Jiang Yun had already pointed to it and said, “We’re here, about twenty kilometers to the southwest there’s a small town, but it’s not clear from the map whether there are any tribes.”
Gao Yang said gravely, “The most likely possibility is that they went to this small town.
The main population around here is the Dinka people, and their most valued possessions are cattle.
Even if someone from a tribe decided to commit robbery, it’s unlikely they would take hostages.”
Jiang Yun shook his head and said, “Not necessarily.
The Dinka are very close with Americans.
Although this oil field is a joint development between us and South Sudan, if there are Americans stirring things up behind this unrest, then it’s uncertain who might be involved.”
The great powers’ struggle was beyond Gao Yang’s analytical capabilities, but what Jiang Yun said made sense.
Many things should not be judged superficially.
To prevent Huaxia from gaining more influence in South Sudan, Americans might indeed cause trouble.
Gao Yang sighed and said, “This is difficult.
We’re all in the dark here, and guessing won’t do.
How about I try to look for some traces and see if we can track them down?”
Jiang Yun expressed his surprise, “Brother, you have that skill?”
Gao Yang gave a wry smile and said, “Let’s try.
There are too many footprints here, and they’re too chaotic, badly damaged.
I might not be able to find the right ones, but we have to give it a try.”
Jiang Yun immediately said, “Give it a try.
Any small trace is better than just guessing.”
Gao Yang stood up, took a flashlight, and started by inspecting the houses that had not been destroyed.
On the floors of the simple houses were many dusty footprints and some bare footprints.
After going back and forth through a few rooms, the situation was largely the same.
After pondering for a moment, Gao Yang grabbed a walkie-talkie and said, “Ram calling Toad, Toad, ask Manager Chen if their workers all wear the same shoes issued by the company.”
“Toad here, received.
Manager Chen says most people wear the same shoes issued by the company.
A few might wear their own, but the majority are the same,” came the response.
With a confirmed answer, Gao Yang diligently searched the ground for footprints and any other small traces, while Li Pengfei and the other six carefully followed him, assisting in a thorough search around the camp.
After spending a long time in the camp, Gao Yang finally stopped at a spot and let out a long breath.
At that moment, Li Pengfei asked anxiously, “How’s it going?
Any findings?”
Gao Yang nodded and said, “It’s messy, and the damage is severe, but it’s still noticeable.
The place we’re standing is where the robbers forced the hostages into the vehicle.
Nothing can be discerned from the burned houses, but from the courtyard and the intact rooms, it’s clear that the workers tried to resist, and the robbers fired at close range.
At least two people are shot through, one hit in the lower limbs and another in the torso.
Overall, the situation is not optimistic—there’s definitely at least one worker who is seriously injured.”
Everyone stared at Gao Yang dumbfounded, and Li Pengfei said with a look of astonishment, “Impressive, you managed to figure out so much just by walking around?
I could tell that shots were fired because of the casings, but could you really identify through-and-through wounds?
That can’t be true, can it?”
Gao Yang shook his head and explained, “It’s simple, just pay attention to the details.
There are shell casings on the ground, bullet holes in the walls, and some bloodstains.
Judging by the height, it looks like a shot to the abdomen.
At the other scene of the shooting, there’s splattered blood on the ground and bullet holes.
Considering the angle the bullets entered at, the shooter was firing at close range toward the thigh.
The bloodstains and bullet holes’ positions also make it pretty clear.”
Li Pengfei clicked his tongue in wonder and said, “Right, you really have a method.
We’ll all listen to you.
Tell us where to go.”
Gao Yang pointed to the tire tracks on the ground and said, “Once we find these, the rest is easy.
We just follow them.
The robbers used two large vehicles and one small one; they all stopped here.
I think the workers were herded and put into the vehicles, probably a large one.
Look at this footprint, considering the force of the step, the person leaving this trace must have set one foot on the vehicle, then used the other to push off and climb in.
So, following the big vehicle’s tire tracks should be the right way.”
Jiang Yun slapped his hand and said with delight, “An expert indeed shows his hand, and it makes all the difference.
Ram, I won’t stand on ceremony now.
Shall we set off immediately?”
Gao Yang nodded, “We’ll depart at once.
Do you have a vehicle?”
Jiang Yun replied promptly, “We have a vehicle, but it’s parked quite a distance from here.”
Gao Yang pointed in the direction where his vehicle was parked, “My car is over there.
Send two people to drive the cars here.
I’ll follow the tire tracks outside first.
Once I’ve gotten familiar with the tracks, we’ll get in the car and drive over.”
Jiang Yun waved his hand, saying, “Mole, Princess, you two go get the cars.
The rest of us will follow Ram on foot, and let’s move quickly.”
With a flashlight in hand, Gao Yang simply followed the tire tracks ahead, while Jiang Yun and the others silently trailed behind.
Having left the campsite far behind and reached a meadow where the tire tracks were much clearer, Gao Yang stopped and took a breath of relief, “Alright, we can get in the cars here.
The bandits didn’t split up; they left together.
We’ll just follow them.”
What followed just fell into place.
Xia Chen drove the car with the headlights on, simply following the tire tracks straight ahead.
Though there were occasional breaks in the tracks, Gao Yang would get out of the car and quickly find them again.
Although they had to keep an eye on the tire tracks, after less than half an hour, they could pretty much determine the direction.
The tracks indeed led to the small town, and unless something unexpected happened, they could head straight to the town to search.
After confirming their destination was the town, Jiang Yun, in the same car as Gao Yang, asked, “Ram, what do you think we should do?”
Gao Yang shook his head, “It’s hard to say right now.
If the hostages have been taken to the town, it’ll be troublesome.
Once in town, the tracks won’t be so easy to follow.
The key question is, should we kill freely, or try to avoid harming the bandits as much as possible?
What if the bandits have tight security?
What then?”
Jiang Yun remained composed, “The safety of the hostages is our top priority.
If we few can’t manage the rescue, we’ll have to give up and try to monitor the bandits’ movements instead.
If there’s an opportunity to save the hostages, we’ll certainly take them out.
If there’s no risk to their lives, we’ll avoid killing if possible.
But if their lives are in danger, we’ll act decisively.
We’ll handle the rescue, but locating the hostages is up to you.
No one surpasses you in that area.”
Gao Yang nodded, “If a forceful rescue is indeed necessary, I’ll act with you.
Now, tell me about your equipment.”
Jiang Yun gave a wry smile, “Well, other than an AK47 and a knife for each of us, we have nothing else.
How to put it, we came from Wau.
The security company project hasn’t panned out, so we could only get our hands on AK47s.
Hearing there was trouble here, we rushed over in such a hurry that aside from flashlights and compasses, we only have a few entrenching tools and nothing else.”
Gao Yang frowned, “Just having AKs makes things difficult.”
Jiang Yun sighed, “I know, but it’s too late now.
With time so pressing, this will have to do.
Let’s see how things go.
If there’s a chance to rescue the hostages, we’ll take it.
If not, we’ll have to wait for reinforcements.”
Gao Yang sighed, “That’s all we can do for now.
But if we can’t get the hostages out, we’ll probably have to negotiate.
If the kidnappers just want money, that’s one thing, but I’m afraid if they have political demands, it could involve the South Sudanese government, and then the trouble would be much greater.”
Jiang Yun replied with a bitter smile, “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
But thinking more about it now is pointless.
We’ll have to adapt as things unfold.”
After a moment of silence, Gao Yang couldn’t resist asking, “Jiang Yun, tell me honestly, did you guys really just come out here with the idea of starting a security company?”
With a grave voice, Jiang Yun said, “Here’s the thing, there are more and more domestic investments overseas, and the number of workers following them is increasing as well.
But in many places, safety cannot be guaranteed, just like here.
When something goes wrong, those security guards who only care about money run off.
So we’ve been planning to establish a formal security company, specifically to serve Huaxia enterprises in unstable countries.
At least we won’t be at a loss when real trouble arises, and we can make money.
Why not do it?”
Gao Yang said gravely, “That is a good plan, and it makes sense.
If you really set up a security company, you’ll not lack work.
But why do you need to set up the company abroad?
Can’t you establish it domestically?
Oh, I see now.
You shouldn’t be allowed to go abroad yet, right?
Could it be that you’ve come with some other mission?”
Jiang Yun gave a faint smile, “Although it’s obvious to the discerning eye, some things are better done than said, so there’s no need to spell it out so clearly.” (To be continued.
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