The Move That Traps the Big Catch

Tonight was destined to be the most chaotic night the city had seen since the apocalypse.

Tens of thousands of people, desperate to escape the city, used every possible means to flee in a frenzy. Ignoring all dangers, their shrill screams echoed through the streets, drawing the attention of countless survivors who hadn't yet fallen asleep in the dark. Amidst the chaos, the Commander's modern army moved swiftly.

Soldiers emerged from ambush points, others were deployed to new districts, and more military units arrived from outside, forming a perimeter to block the thousands of slaves trying to break free.

"You're completely surrounded! Drop your weapons and surrender! Turn towards the light and embrace your freedom!"

"The Commander promises that only the ringleaders of the slave base in central Jinling will be held accountable, the rest will be granted amnesty!"

"Life is once, don't sacrifice everything for the gain of one person!"

Across the darkened streets, calls of righteousness rang out. Commanders and team leaders of various squads were actively involved in blocking the rebels, using military vehicles and various non-lethal methods to prevent any casualties.

But the slaves were unafraid, ignoring the calls to surrender. Their eyes burned with a bloodthirsty resolve, and they raised their guns toward the military forces, shouting.

"Fire! Break through!"

"They won't let me live ahead, they won't let me die behind! I'm not afraid of anything!"

"If I get out of Jinling, I'll survive! Get the hell out of my way, you bastards!"

"Rat-a-tat! Rat-a-tat!"

The sound of gunfire shattered the night's silence. The city's chat channels erupted in a frenzy.

"These lunatics! They're shooting at the Commander's army!"

"Damn, it's going down! They're losing, this is a death struggle!"

"I don't get it, why not just lose and live peacefully under the country's rule? Why fight for some kingdom or glory?"

"They should fight back! The army has tanks and planes! These people are finished, they don't appreciate the mercy the Commander has offered. He said no one will be held accountable for past crimes!"

All corners of the city were filled with survivors, witnessing the chaos as they tried to find a good vantage point to observe the mass escape. They saw the slaves charging forward, as though determined to die, disregarding everything in their mad rush to break through the military.

The army did not fire.

Soldiers stood firm, shields in hand, batons at the ready, enduring the relentless attacks of the slaves, despite the bullets raining down like a storm. No soldier fired back; instead, they responded with tear gas and smoke bombs, trying to control the chaos without harm.

This scene played out in various parts of the city, with many survivors watching helplessly.

"Why aren't they shooting?" some questioned, while others explained, "They are the Commander's army, they cannot shoot ordinary people."

"Ordinary people? These lunatics have lost their minds! They're completely controlled! They don't even fear death!"

"Liberation isn't about killing them; it's about giving them true freedom."

More survivors fell silent, watching as the army struggled to maintain order amidst the chaos. Even those who doubted the Commander's intentions or resisted his leadership couldn't help but feel a subtle admiration. The Commander's every move was cautious and strategic, yet in the end, even he couldn't stop the uprising.

From a military standpoint, this was an incomprehensible blunder. But it was what the people needed.

The night wore on, and it became clear that even with the army's extensive preparations, the slaves' desperation could not be contained. They broke through the encirclements one after another, seemingly determined to charge through at all costs. As soon as part of the slaves broke through, new squads were immediately dispatched to pursue.

No killing, no harm, but also no surrender.

Some sharp-eyed survivors began to sense a strategy unfolding, though few spoke up in the chat. All attention was fixed on the escape, as the city's survivors offered their support to the Commander by providing valuable intel.

"They're on East Street! 21 rebels in sight! I'm following them! The army missed them, someone notify the Commander!"

"Caught two of the bastards! They tried to shoot me, but I caught them and tied them up with one hand!"

"Found one hiding under the drain by my building! Thought he could hide there, but I grabbed him easily!"

Messages flooded the chat, all being quickly compiled and sent to Jiang Xiaoci. As the city watched the slaves cause chaos, Jiang Xiaoci waited for the right moment, then slowly opened a secure channel: "Wang Shi."

"Miss Jiang, I'm here."

"Are there any more people in the gathering area?"

"Less than fifty left. They haven't left yet."

"Did you leave smoke bombs?"

Jiang Xiaoci narrowed her eyes. "Move in. We need to flush them out. The demolition squad is already on its way."

"Yes."

Wang Shi responded quickly.

With his strength, controlling tens of thousands might be difficult, but a few dozen was no challenge. Five minutes later, Wang Shi contacted Jiang Xiaoci with an update.

"Miss Jiang, all the remaining slaves have been captured and are being taken out of the gathering area."

"I found a hidden underground passage. It's in a normal room, with protection against most forms of detection. It's a temporary tunnel."

Wang Shi paused before continuing, "From my preliminary analysis, this tunnel leads to the far outskirts of the city center. It's not long enough to exit the city, but it's a direct path that could bypass the military lines."

"I suspect the enemy leader used this tunnel to escape. They've been gone for some time."

Jiang Xiaoci wasn't surprised by the new intel; she had expected this move.

"Wang Shi, drop off the prisoners. You're the fastest, follow the tunnel."

"Yes!"

Wang Shi quickly responded, turning back to pursue.

Ten minutes later, his report came in: "Got him. Adult male. After using electromagnetic lie detectors and interrogation, he admitted to being the leader."

"Bring him back."

Jiang Xiaoci nodded, then dialed Chen Dafeng: "Captain Chen, how's the search going?"

"I've caught a few slaves, but none of them seem to be the leader."

Chen Dafeng's frustrated voice came through. "I don't even know what this bastard looks like! How am I supposed to find him?"

"Don't worry. Keep searching, Captain. His points are valuable."

Jiang Xiaoci's tone was a reminder, and Chen Dafeng could only comply, widening his search.

But the area was too large. He felt the chance of finding Dong Fangqiang was slim.

"Any updates from the teams outside your search range?" Jiang Xiaoci asked, watching the tactical screen. The officers shook their heads. "No, nothing yet. No suspicious individuals."

Jiang Xiaoci nodded, a faint smile on her lips: "Then it seems the man Wang Shi has is the big fish we've been looking for."

Mike had been quietly observing Jiang Xiaoci's moves, aware of the strategy she was setting up. He had realized she suspected the enemy still had tricks up their sleeve and wasn't fully trusting of the fake scenarios the military was spreading.

This was why Jiang Xiaoci had sent Chen Dafeng on a wide search, but his real task was never to find Dong Fangqiang. His job was to keep exposing his search, which would force the enemy leader to avoid him.

As the night wore on, the city seemed to implode with chaos. The so-called slave uprising appeared to be a major blow to Mike's army, but in reality, every move was being carefully orchestrated by Jiang Xiaoci. The noose around Dong Fangqiang was tightening.

Five minutes later.

12:32 AM.

Through Jiang Xiaoci's perspective, Mike saw Wang Shi emerge from the shadows of the street, dragging a frail figure behind him, approaching the command vehicle.