211: Chapter 211 Divine Soldiers Descend from the Sky, Suppressing the Riot

Zhang Di stared at the seated Zhu Wenhao and muttered, "Playing God!"

The wooden club was raised high, slicing down with a whistling sound.

The distance was extremely close.

If Zhu Wenhao showed the slightest hesitation—even a tilt of the head or a raising of the hand—that aura of superiority that intimidated the entire town would crumble on the spot.

Take one step back, and everything would be lost.

Zhu Wenhao did not dodge.

His body was as steady as Mount Tai, his eyes fixed on the descending club.

Below the stage.

Deputy Police Chief Li Sanqiang, whose defensive line had been scattered, saw Zhang Di's club about to land on Zhu Wenhao's head, blood seeping from the gauze on his forehead.

He disregarded any law enforcement protocols, reached back to his waist with his right hand, drew his Type 92 police service pistol, and was about to pull the trigger.

To protect his superior, even if he were stripped of his badge afterward, he would accept it.

Zhu Wenhao caught the movement below the stage from the corner of his eye and shook his head slightly.

Once a shot was fired, the nature of the event would change from a villagers' disturbance to a bloody conflict; Secretary Qiu Dehai would never take the blame for such a mess.

Director Xu Jie sat not far away and rose to block, but with several office chairs obstructing the path, she could not reach in time to rescue.

Just as the club was less than half a foot from Zhu Wenhao's forehead.

A palm reached out from behind Zhu Wenhao.

Five fingers spread, steadily catching the wooden club.

A dull "thud" sounded.

The club was clamped tightly in mid-air, unable to move an inch further.

The newcomer was wearing a logistics uniform and a blue work cap.

Using the club's counterforce, his left hand flashed into Zhang Di's center, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it in the opposite direction.

The crisp sound of bone dislocation exploded.

Zhang Di let go in pain, howling, his center of gravity lost to the great force, and he fell forward.

The man followed up with a kick to Zhang Di's knee, pressing him to the ground.

With a knee pressing against his spine, his right hand pulled a pair of silver handcuffs from his waist, which locked with a "click."

This person was none other than the captain of the SWAT team of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Zhu Zheng.

Below the stage, Police Chief Zhao Gang held his walkie-talkie: "All units, attack! Arrest them on the spot!"

The order was given.

The doors of the three riot control vehicles on the periphery swung open, and thirty fully armed SWAT officers wedged into the chaotic venue from all directions.

Tactical formations unfolded.

Two-man teams, shield cover, baton suppression.

The young thugs from the Zhang Clan could not withstand a single encounter with this steel division.

In an instant, they were all pressed to the ground, hands zip-tied behind their backs.

The noisy venue was completely suppressed.

Zhu Zheng walked to the side of the podium.

He stood tall and straight, offering a salute.

"Secretary Zhu! Captain Zhu Zheng of the SWAT team from the Municipal Public Security Bureau, acting under the orders of Police Chief Li Jianguo, has come to wipe out the criminal underworld forces in Heishi Town. All troublemakers have been captured. Please issue instructions!"

This report was resonant and clearly carried across the entire open-air square.

Zhu Wenhao stood up from his chair.

The winter sun pierced through the clouds, shining right onto his overcoat.

He adjusted his cuffs and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Thank you for your hard work, Captain Zhu."

He did not turn to address Secretary Lu Guoliang, who was hiding in the back, nor did he spare another glance at Secretary Qiu Dehai and Town Mayor Luo Xingbang.

He walked down the podium step by step.

The area below was a mess; barriers were overturned, and banners were torn to shreds.

Zhu Wenhao walked over, bent down, and reached out both hands to Li Er, who had fallen to the ground.

Li Er's old, tattered cotton-padded jacket was covered in mud. Just moments ago, when the thugs charged, this man had not retreated but had loudly scolded his own clansmen not to follow suit, only to be kicked to the ground by Zhang Yue.

Li Er looked at the hand extended toward him, his eyes heating up, and he used the leverage to stand up.

"Did you break any bones?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

"No... no major damage. My skin is thick," Li Er said, brushing the mud and water off his body.

Zhu Wenhao continued forward, walking up to Li Maisui's grandparents.

The two elders had just risked their lives to stand in front of the police cordon, trying to block the crazed youngsters, and had been pushed to the ground.

Zhu Wenhao personally helped the two elders up and brushed the dust off the old man's shoulders.

Around them, the vast majority of the villagers from the second branch, third branch, and other surnames stood with their necks retracted, three meters away.

When the thugs made their move, they had chosen to protect themselves, not daring to step forward to argue a single word.

Director Xu Jie took a high-power megaphone, walked quickly down from the podium, and handed it to Zhu Wenhao.

Behind the curtain, Secretary Qiu Dehai saw that the situation had been forcibly suppressed and leaned over to Secretary Lu Guoliang's side.

"Secretary Lu, look at this Zhu Wenhao! He's completely unorganized and undisciplined!" Secretary Qiu Dehai seized the opportunity to sow discord. "He mobilized the SWAT team from the Municipal Public Security Bureau without reporting it to the County Party Committee or the Town Party Committee! Now that the incident is quelled, instead of coming to check on your safety, he runs off to curry favor with those mud-legged peasants. Does he have any respect for you in his eyes?"

Secretary Lu Guoliang stood with his hands behind his back, casting a cold glance at Secretary Qiu Dehai.

"If you had half of his composure, Heishi Town wouldn't have rotted into such a state."

Secretary Lu Guoliang ignored this clumsy provocation.

He watched the young man holding the megaphone with great interest, wanting to hear what kind of show he would put on next.

Zhu Wenhao raised the megaphone and tested the sound.

"Folks of Heishui Village."

"Today, the County Party Committee and the Town Party Committee have gathered everyone here to distribute the compensation that rightfully belongs to you. Do you think this is just about handing out money?"

He held the megaphone, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue.

"This is not just about money. This is the Provincial Party Committee and the Municipal Party Committee declaring war on those malignant tumors that suck the marrow from your bones. This is to tell you clearly that the state's iron law against corruption and criminal underworld forces will not allow anyone to trample upon it."

He took a step, paced in front of the crowd, stopped in front of a few middle-aged men who had hidden the furthest away just moments ago, and pointed a finger.

"You few, with sound limbs and strong builds. But your performance just now was extremely disappointing."

"You are not even as good as these elderly people over sixty." Zhu Wenhao's tone deepened. "Uncle Li Er dared to stand up and block them, Grandpa Li dared to risk his life to hold the police line. And you? Where has your courage gone?"

He withdrew his finger and faced the sea of villagers.

"I know you might be unconvinced in your hearts. You might say that I am standing here talking without feeling the pain, preaching big principles."

"But ask yourselves. Why have you been bullied by the Zhang Clan for so many years? Why could Village Secretary Zhang Dahai and Zhang Xing snatch food from your bowls time and time again?"

"Because you fear trouble, because you think it's better to avoid conflict. The greatest danger in the world is to be in a state of apparent peace while harboring unpredictable worries. You bury your heads in the sand, thinking that as long as the club doesn't fall on your own head, you can pretend not to see it. It is precisely this attitude of 'it's none of my business' that gave the criminal underworld the audacity to act recklessly!"

"Your concessions are the source of their confidence to commit violence."

The venue was deathly silent.

Zhu Wenhao's tone softened, revealing a bit of gentleness.

"I don't want to be harsh on everyone; seeking advantage and avoiding harm is human nature. But open your eyes and take a good look at these village bullies in handcuffs on the ground."

"Do they have three heads and six arms? Are they invulnerable?"

"As long as you dare to stand up, dare to say a loud 'No' to those criminal underworld forces, the law of the country will become the strongest shield in your hands."

Zhu Wenhao raised his hand and pointed to Deputy Police Chief Li Sanqiang at the very front of the defensive line.

"Look at Deputy Chief Li, look at all the public security officers present today. They shed blood and sweat just to tell you one truth: the government's team has the ability and the determination to protect every law-abiding citizen."

He turned around.

"I hope that after the folks receive their money today, don't rush home. Go to Deputy Chief Li, go to the work desk, line up, and register."

"Write down, point by point, all the evil deeds that Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi and Village Secretary Zhang Dahai have committed in the village over the years—establishing their own rules, occupying farmland, and forcibly collecting protection money. Record your statements and press your red fingerprints."

"Darkness can only be rampant for a while. As long as the fire in our hearts as ordinary people does not go out, the light will always be there."

"If a thousand people share the same heart, they will have the strength of a thousand; if ten thousand people have different hearts, not one will be of any use. The future of Heishui Village depends on you to set the rules yourselves!"

As his voice faded.

After a brief, deathly silence, someone took the lead in clapping.

Immediately after, applause swept through the entire open-air square like a tidal wave.

The villagers, who had once cowered, felt the fire rekindled in their eyes.

These words were not high-and-mighty preaching, but a diagnosis of their deep-seated pain, which completely awakened the courage they had suppressed for years.

Li Er was the first to turn and walk toward the registration desk where Deputy Police Chief Li Sanqiang was.

"Officer Li, I want to report them by name! Two years ago, Village Secretary Zhang Dahai occupied three acres of my family's grain land and wrote an IOU without paying!"

With a leader, the crowd surged instantly.

The villagers of the second and third branches no longer cared about the bullies howling on the ground, forming long lines, competing to recount the exploitation and oppression they had suffered over the years.

Public opinion turned into a torrent, completely crushing the last remaining psychological defenses of the Zhang Clan.

Zhu Wenhao handed the large megaphone back to Director Xu Jie.

He straightened his coat, walked with steady steps, ascended the wooden steps again, and returned to the podium.

He came to Secretary Lu Guoliang.

He did not mention the thunderous methods he had just used, nor did he boast about his own achievements, but bowed slightly.

"Secretary Lu, the situation was chaotic just now, and I failed to protect the safety of the County Party Committee leadership immediately. I apologize."

Secretary Lu Guoliang looked at the young man in front of him.

Every word and sentence was measured, concealing all the limelight and sharpness perfectly.

Secretary Lu Guoliang reached out and patted Zhu Wenhao's shoulder heavily twice.