Chapter 1391
Clan Clashes with Law Enforcement Team
To completely dismantle that drug den, the provincial department coordinated thousands of police officers, prepared for several months, and successfully dismantled it using tactics such as deploying officers from other areas, joint operations by multiple police units, and raids in the early morning. While there's no widespread crime in Xuejia Village now, the clan-based resistance to law enforcement bears some resemblance to what happened back then.
Moreover, it seems that the problem mainly involves Xue Shih-hao personally. It's unlikely... and wouldn't be in accordance with procedure, to mobilize that scale of police force for a forced crackdown just to arrest him.
Gao Linfeng's words are very practical and represent the common helplessness of grassroots law enforcement when faced with such deeply entrenched clan forces.
He looked at Luo Fei, waiting for instructions, his eyes conveying a sense of "you see, things are just that tricky."
Luo Fei listened quietly to Gao Linfeng's description and concerns, but his face did not show the seriousness or frustration that Gao Linfeng had expected. On the contrary, a very faint, almost playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Captain Gao."
Luo Fei spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty.
“I am somewhat aware of the situation you described. Clan power, banding together to fight, elderly people blocking the way, young and strong people gathering... it does sound like a problem. For ordinary people, or rather, for regular law enforcement procedures, it may be a difficult problem.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the figures who had been standing quietly in the shadows behind him—ghost team members, dressed in different ways and with unique auras, seemingly out of place in this serious office.
Then, he looked at Gao Linfeng again, his tone as relaxed as if he were talking about a trivial matter.
"However, that won't work here. I've never failed to arrest someone just because others won't let them into the village."
Gao Linfeng was taken aback. Following Luo Fei's gaze, he also looked at the "extraordinary people" with a puzzled expression on his face.
He had always assumed these were Luo Fei's entourage or special clerical staff from the national security system, and hadn't paid much attention.
Luo Fei turned his head slightly and spoke to those behind him.
"Perfect timing, Chen Yifan and the others have gone to take care of things at the bathhouse."
"It's time to get some exercise here. Xuejia Village, right? Sounds interesting. Let me take you there to warm up."
Upon hearing this, the Ghost Team members' previously lazy or relaxed demeanor subtly changed. Although they remained standing there without moving, Gao Linfeng inexplicably felt the air pressure in the office drop slightly.
"Director Luo, who are these people...?"
Gao Linfeng couldn't help but ask.
"Oh, them."
Luo Fei introduced it casually.
"They're another group of colleagues of mine, specializing in handling tricky cases that require a bit of 'special methods.' You could call them the 'Ghost Team.' In terms of investigation and analysis, and following the rules, they might not be as good as Chen Yifan's special case team, but when it comes to handling this kind of work that requires 'going in and making arrests'..."
Luo Fei smiled.
"The special task force is not even as good as their little finger."
Gao Linfeng was secretly astonished and began to re-examine the group of people.
There was an elderly man in a worn-out Zhongshan suit, with a refined air like a retired teacher; a young girl carrying a long sword, her eyes cold and aloof; a tall, burly man, silent as an iron tower; and several young people dressed more street-style, yet with eyes as sharp as eagles. They didn't look like regular law enforcement officers at all; they seemed more like a… ragtag army? Or perhaps a group of extraordinary individuals from the common people?
"Teacher Huang."
Luo Fei looked at the old man in the Zhongshan suit.
"Shall we go stretch our muscles?"
Teacher Huang adjusted his glasses and smiled gently.
"Since Director Luo has given the order, I will naturally keep him company. I've been sitting for too long, so I need to stretch my legs."
Luo Fei nodded, then turned to Gao Linfeng, his expression becoming slightly more serious.
"Captain Gao, there's another matter that requires your immediate attention."
"Please give your instructions."
"Based on the information I have."
Luo Fei spoke slowly, each word clear and forceful.
Three months ago, Xue Shih-hao was also involved in another murder case.
He murdered a young girl and dumped her body, along with the car used in the crime, into a reservoir in the western suburbs.
"what?!"
Gao Linfeng suddenly raised his head, his eyes widened instantly, and the color drained from his face.
"Three months ago...the West Suburbs Reservoir...could it be...could it be the case of that missing vocational school girl?!"
Of course he remembered! Three months ago, a 19-year-old girl from Dongguan Vocational Technical School mysteriously disappeared. After her family reported it missing, the police conducted a large-scale investigation, but the clues were few and far between. Finally, some of the girl's belongings were found near the Xijiao Reservoir, leading to the suspicion that she might have fallen into the water. However, multiple search and rescue operations yielded nothing, and the case remained unsolved, becoming a thorn in his side. Could it be... could it be that the girl didn't accidentally fall into the water, but was murdered by Xue Shihao and her body dumped?!
"Director Luo! You...you've done this..."
Gao Linfeng's voice trembled slightly with excitement and shock.
This news was too sudden and too significant!
Luo Fei raised his hand to stop him from asking further questions.
"I'll explain the specifics later. Now, I need you to do two things immediately."
First, dispatch a team of trustworthy and capable men, equipped with professional underwater salvage equipment, to the West Suburbs Reservoir immediately to conduct the salvage operation based on the coordinates I have provided. It is imperative to locate the vehicle and the victim's body.
This is crucial physical evidence!
"Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"
Gao Linfeng did not hesitate.
"second."
Luo Fei continued.
“Select a few criminal police officers from your team who are familiar with the terrain of Xuejia Village, preferably know some people in the village, but are absolutely loyal and reliable. You don’t need many, just two or three will do.”
Their task wasn't to participate in the arrest, but to guide us, help us identify the main paths within Xuejia Village and the location of Xue Jingshan's house, and, if necessary, communicate and explain—of course, I estimated that communication and explanation wouldn't be very effective, but it was required procedure. My colleagues from the Ghost Team and I were responsible for going in and 'inviting' Xue Shihao out.”
Gao Linfeng quickly processed Luo Fei's instructions. Retrieving the body was a major criminal investigation task that could not be delayed.
Upon entering Xuejia Village... looking at the "ghost team" beside Luo Fei, and then at Luo Fei's nonchalant expression, as if he were going on a picnic, Gao Linfeng's heart pounded.
Is this even feasible? With just six or seven people? Trying to go to a den of dragons and tigers like Xuejia Village and capture Xue Jingshan's grandson? This sounds even more unreliable than a fantasy.
But he didn't voice his doubts. Luo Fei was his superior, and a superior with a completely different style and unfathomable power. Since he dared to say that, perhaps... he really had something to rely on? Gao Linfeng suppressed all his doubts and nodded emphatically.
"Yes, Director Luo! I understand! I'll make the arrangements right away! I'll personally select the salvage team to ensure their reliability! I'll also call the guide immediately!"
Gao Linfeng returned to the main office of the Criminal Investigation Detachment with great efficiency and began to deploy his troops.
Hearing that a team was to be organized to conduct a secret salvage operation at the West Suburbs Reservoir, and that this was a direct order from Director Luo involving Xue Shihao's murder case, the criminal police were surprised, but their professionalism prompted them to act quickly. A highly skilled salvage team was soon assembled, received its equipment, and quietly set off.
When Gao Linfeng selected three more criminal police officers who were familiar with the Xuejia Town area, were alert, and kept their mouths shut, and told them that their mission was to lead Director Luo to Xuejia Village to "find" Xue Shihao, the atmosphere in the office became somewhat strange.
"What? Go to Xuejia Village to arrest Xue Shihou?"
Old Li, one of the selected veteran detectives, stared wide-eyed.
"Captain Gao, just... just the few of us? Plus Director Luo... and the... comrades he brought?"
He glanced through the glass door at the strangely dressed ghost team members standing or leaning in the corridor outside, his tone filled with disbelief.
"That's how Director Luo arranged it."
Gao Linfeng said expressionlessly.
"Will this... will this work?"
Another younger detective, Xiao Zhang, lowered his voice.
“We’ve been to Xuejia Village before. Last time we went to investigate that electricity theft case, before we even entered the village, the big yellow dog at the entrance was barking like an alarm, and then Old Secretary Xue and his men came out to ‘welcome’ us. They were polite, but you think you can act alone? No way! Let alone this time we’re going to arrest his own grandson! I reckon they’ll get wind of our car when we’re about two miles from the village entrance.”
The colleagues who weren't chosen also gathered around, and started gossiping.
"Yes, Captain Gao, does Director Luo not know the situation well? In Xuejia Village, clan mentality is too strong, and people stick together tightly. If outsiders go in, especially those wearing police uniforms, it's almost like entering enemy-occupied territory."
"Look at the people Director Luo brought... they're all dressed up in all sorts of outfits. Is that little girl with the sword cosplaying? And that old man, he looks like someone doing Tai Chi in a park... Could they be here to arrest people? Or are they going to perform some kind of acrobatics?"
"Well, you can't say that. Director Luo is from the National Security Bureau after all. Maybe he has some special methods?"
"Special methods? No matter how special the method is, in a place like Xuejia Village, you still have to follow their rules."
Unless you can mobilize a detachment, no, at least a battalion, fully armed, for a surprise attack in the early morning, there might be some chance.
"Just these few people, going in broad daylight... I think it's risky."
"The key is that if Director Luo insists, Director Zhong will probably have to cooperate as well."
But if a conflict really breaks out and things escalate, who will clean up the mess?
Gao Linfeng listened to his colleagues' whispered discussions and actually agreed with them.
He knew better than anyone how difficult Xuejia Village was to deal with.
It wasn't just a matter of a few elderly people blocking the way; it was a collective resistance, both psychologically and practically, against outside law enforcement from the entire village. Xue Jingshan was like a local tyrant in the village; his words sometimes carried more weight than the law. In the past, almost any official business requiring entry into Xuejia Village, regardless of its size, had to go through the town government first and obtain Xue Jingshan's approval or at least tacit consent before it could proceed smoothly. Otherwise, at best they'd be turned away, at worst they'd trigger a mass incident. Last time, another team of colleagues tried to enter the village to find an economic criminal who might be hiding there, but they couldn't even get past the stone archway at the village entrance before being "persuaded" back by a group of women carrying children and stools—an awkward and helpless scene.
He also felt that Luo Fei's move was too presumptuous, even somewhat childish.
That "ghost team" didn't look like they could handle tough battles at all.
However, Luo Fei's previous displays of skill and unfathomable confidence prevented Gao Linfeng from completely dismissing the possibility. Perhaps... this young director of the National Security Bureau truly possessed hidden cards and a modicum of logic that Gao Linfeng was unaware of?
"Alright, stop talking about it."
Gao Linfeng spoke up to stop the increasingly loud muttering.
"Execute orders. Lao Li, Xiao Zhang, Xiao Wang, the three of you, get ready, bring your identification and guns, you'll be leading the way for Director Luo and the others. Remember, your task is to give directions and conduct procedural communication when necessary. Everything else, follow Director Luo's instructions. Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask, and try not to look at things you shouldn't look at."
He paused, then lowered his voice and spoke to the three selected detectives.
"In case... I mean in case, if things go wrong, protect your own safety first, and then report to me immediately. Be alert once you enter the village."
The three detectives looked at each other, seeing tension and apprehension in each other's eyes, but in the end they nodded.
"Yes, Captain Gao."
After making the arrangements, Gao Linfeng returned to his office to report to Luo Fei.
"Director Luo, the salvage team has already set off. The guide is ready and can depart at any time. What do you think..."
Luo Fei stood up, stretched his wrists, and gave the Ghost Team members behind him a faint smile.
"Let's go and take a look around Xuejia Village."
Let's see what kind of impenetrable fortress this old man Xue has hidden behind his precious grandson.
Teacher Huang nodded with a smile. Xiao Qi silently gripped the long sword in his arms. Tie Shan took a step forward, and the other ghost team members also adjusted their state. Although they were still relaxed, an invisible, sharp aura began to emanate from them.
As Gao Linfeng looked at the group, his doubts surged like a tide, but since things had come to this point, he could only follow orders, call in the three detectives who were leading the way, give them a brief explanation, and then follow behind Luo Fei and his group.
Outside the municipal police station building, the sun shone brightly. Luo Fei got into his car, while the members of the Ghost Team each got into two unremarkable-looking black minivans.
Three police officers led the way in an ordinary sedan with local license plates.
The convoy of four vehicles quietly drove out of the city's public security bureau compound and headed towards Xuejia Town on the outskirts of the city.
In the Criminal Investigation Division office, many police officers were peering out the window, watching the "strange" convoy depart.
"You just went like that?"
"Yes, I went."
"Can you come back?"
"...Who knows? Anyway, let's wait and see. Sigh, hopefully nothing goes wrong."
Gao Linfeng stood by the window, watching the convoy disappear around the street corner, his brows furrowed, his unease growing stronger.
He always felt that this trip to Xuejia Village would not be as easy as Luo Fei made it out to be.
A storm may be quietly gathering over that seemingly peaceful village.
As the convoy left the city, the scenery outside the windows gradually changed from dense buildings to sparser urban-rural fringe buildings, and finally to open fields and scattered factories. (End of Chapter)