Chapter 26: A Perilous Arrest

In the small jeep, Wang Anmin asked with a grave expression, "Little Yang, what is the Public Security Bureau saying?"

"Leader, according to Director Lu’s report, their personnel discovered a suspicious target during the investigation. After further verification, they have confirmed it is the suspect, Zhou Baoshan!" Secretary Yang replied.

"And how does the county bureau intend to handle this?"

"Director Lu has already ordered the criminal investigation team to close the net and is preparing to launch an arrest immediately!"

Secretary Yang continued, "Considering the possibility of the suspect escaping, Director Lu has also ordered the militia from several nearby communes and the armed police to set up a perimeter, forming a second blockade line to ensure the arrest operation succeeds without fail!"

"Hm, the overall deployment is sound, but they must ensure they prioritize the safety of the public's lives during the arrest," Wang Anmin said in a deep voice.

"Yes!"

"Old Zhang, speed it up. No need to return to the county committee office; head straight to the county bureau. For a matter of this magnitude, I must be on-site to oversee the command!"

"Yes!"

...

The county bureau was a scene of frantic activity, and the atmosphere was tense.

Wang Anguo asked with a stern voice, "How is the identification of the suspect coming along?"

"Reporting to the captain, it is one hundred percent confirmed to be Zhou Baoshan!" his subordinate replied immediately.

"Good! Are the arrest teams in position?"

"They are all in place!"

"Good, have the armed police send over a group of their best men as well, just in case!"

"Yes!"

"Is there any news from the county committee?" Wang Anguo asked again.

"Reporting to the captain, Secretary Wang went to the countryside this morning and is currently on his way back!"

Wang Anguo thought for a moment and said, "We can't wait. We will head to the scene to command; let Deputy Director Huang and the others wait here!"

With that, Wang Anguo immediately led several subordinates and headed straight for the scene.

The location where the criminal suspect was discovered was a black market in the northwest corner of the county town. It was a place where people from all walks of life mingled, and residents from surrounding townships and communes, along with black market speculators in the county, liked to congregate there.

Zhou Baoshan needed to gather supplies to flee, but he dared not go to the state-run supply and marketing cooperative, so he had no choice but to head to the black market.

The county bureau had been prepared for this, so the moment Zhou Baoshan appeared, he was spotted.

However, as a vicious bandit who had rampaged through seven provinces and carried over a dozen lives on his hands, Zhou Baoshan possessed strong counter-surveillance skills. He soon realized something was wrong.

Sensing that his whereabouts might have been exposed and that he was being watched by the public security officers, Zhou Baoshan decided to flee immediately.

He looked around and noticed that the behavior of some people in the vicinity was off; those individuals seemed to be closing in on him, whether intentionally or not.

Zhou Baoshan had an immediate flash of inspiration. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "The police are here! The police are here! Run, everyone!"

The police of this era were not like the neighborhood committee aunties of later generations; they held immense power.

Small-time traders feared the police most of all. Once caught, at best their goods would be confiscated, leading to heavy losses; at worst, they would be arrested and charged with speculation.

Hearing that the police were there, over a hundred people in the black market panicked and began to scatter in all directions.

Caught in the surge of the crowd, Zhou Baoshan quickly fled toward the outside.

The police officers preparing for the arrest were stunned by the sudden turn of events. They had not expected Zhou Baoshan to be so cunning—the moment he sensed trouble, he created chaos to cover his escape.

When Wang Anguo and the others arrived at the scene, they found chaos everywhere and were furious.

"The suspect just fled this way in the confusion. He will definitely head toward crowded areas to evade our eyes. Pursue toward the main street!"

Wang Anguo continued, "Immediately initiate Plan Number Two. Seal off the entire city! We must not let the suspect escape from under our noses!"

"Yes!"

Not long after the order was given, the team leader responsible for the frontline arrest sent word that the suspect had been spotted near the supply and marketing cooperative.

Wang Anguo immediately led his men toward the cooperative. He had given his word to the municipal bureau regarding this arrest; if he failed, it wouldn't just affect him—the entire county bureau would suffer.

When Wang Anguo and his team arrived, they spotted a middle-aged man of medium build with triangular eyes weaving rapidly through the crowd like a slippery catfish.

Behind him were a dozen police officers, the two groups separated by a distance of several dozen meters.

Wang Anguo assessed the environment and made a prompt decision: "Flank him! He cannot be allowed to escape!"

He then took the lead and charged forward!

Zhou Baoshan had not expected these police officers to be so persistent. He had barely managed to escape the black market before being spotted and chased again.

Fortunately, he had experience dealing with the police. He knew that in such moments, he must avoid back alleys and places with few people.

On one hand, fewer people meant he was a larger target, making it harder to escape in the confusion.

On the other hand, he was unfamiliar with the terrain; wandering into remote areas could easily lead him into a dead end, which would truly leave him helpless.

Therefore, he fled toward the densely packed supply and marketing cooperative.

Just as he was about to use the massive crowd to make his escape, Zhou Baoshan noticed several men in police uniforms suddenly appearing directly in front of him, closing in.

Realizing the danger, Zhou Baoshan acted decisively, pulling out the gun hidden on his person and pulling the trigger toward the sky!

"Bang!"

The sudden gunshot shattered the peace of the small county town. When the crowd heard the shot, they were stunned and began to scatter in a frenzy. The streets became chaotic, even more uncontrollable than the black market had been moments before.

Wang Anguo and the others had not expected Zhou Baoshan to have a gun. In the past few months, although this demon had committed many crimes and killed with abandon, he had never used a firearm.

Therefore, not only Wang Anguo and his team but even the municipal bureau had concluded he had no gun, assuming he at most carried a butcher's knife.

But now it was clear the situation was not at all as they had judged. The man not only had a gun but also dared to fire it in public.

"We must stop him! This is the county seat; we cannot let him keep firing!"

With that, Wang Anguo charged head-on toward Zhou Baoshan.

With the chaotic crowd as cover, Zhou Baoshan felt his chances of escape had greatly increased. In high spirits, he darted toward the entrance of a side alley.

He knew clearly that the police's attention was focused on the main street; entering the alley now would be less likely to draw attention.

Moreover, alleys near the main street rarely ended in dead ends, which significantly boosted his survival odds.

However, just as he was about to enter the alley, an olive-green figure chased him from the rear flank. The distance between them was now only four or five meters!

"Zhou Baoshan, don't move!"

Hearing the voice, Zhou Baoshan felt no fear; instead, he revealed a cruel smile.

He whirled his body around and violently pulled the trigger!

"Bang!"

The gun went off!

At such close range, there was no way to miss!

Wang Anguo saw the bullet flying straight toward his heart, but he was unable to even attempt to dodge. His mind went blank.

However, the pain he expected never came.

Wang Anguo did not stop to wonder why. Seeing Zhou Baoshan right before him, still wearing that cruel, bloodthirsty expression, he lunged like a tiger and tackled him to the ground.

He then performed a submission hold, twisting the bandit's right arm behind his back and slamming his hand—which still held the gun—against his own knee.

"Snap!"

The gun in Zhou Baoshan's hand was knocked to the ground!

The fierce criminal struggled, trying to reach for the gun, but Wang Anguo gave him no such chance.

Wang Anguo kicked the gun far away and used his body weight to pin him firmly to the ground.

By now, the nearby police officers had arrived to provide reinforcements, and they quickly restrained the demon who had committed countless murders.

Only then did a breathless Wang Anguo have a chance to check his own body. When he saw the clear bullet hole in his chest, he reached into his pocket to investigate.

Wang Anguo pulled out a deformed bullet head from his upper pocket—and threaded onto that bullet was a one-yuan coin!