215: Chapter 215 Zhang Laoqi is Arrested

Late at night on the second day.

Heishui Village, the Zhang Clan ancestral hall.

The bronze tripod was filled with grayish-white incense ash, and dozens of Zhang Clan ancestral tablets loomed faintly in the dim candlelight.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi knelt on a prayer mat, holding three sticks of high-grade incense in his hands.

"Ancestors above."

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi hung his head, his voice raspy. "Protect the Zhang Clan's eldest branch, help us survive this catastrophe, and ensure the continuation of our bloodline."

He kowtowed in respect, then steadily inserted the incense sticks into the bronze tripod.

Footsteps sounded from behind him.

Accountant Zhang Cai stepped into the back hall and stopped three paces away.

"Clan Elder, the assets have been tallied," Accountant Zhang Cai reported in a hushed voice. "The cashed-out funds have been distributed to all households of the eldest branch. We selected the most valuable gold and silver jewelry and buried them in the empty tombs next to the ancestral graves overnight."

"They were covered with old soil and scattered with withered grass; outsiders won't be able to tell anything is amiss."

"The laborers who dug the graves were vagrants hired from outside. We brought them into the village blindfolded and sent them away blindfolded. There is no risk of failure."

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the altar table.

Accountant Zhang Cai stepped forward, took out several bank cards and a black USB security token, and presented them with both hands.

"These cards were opened years ago using the IDs of unrelated outsiders; they cannot be traced back to the Zhang Clan," Accountant Zhang Cai explained in a low voice. "The boat is arranged for tomorrow night at Pier 7, heading straight for Nanyang via the waterway."

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi took the USB token, rubbing his thumb repeatedly over the plastic casing.

This small USB token contained electronic backups of all the interest transfers between the Zhang Clan and county and town officials over the past decade or more.

This ledger was both a death warrant and a lifeline.

After Zhang Yue led the charge on the venue and was arrested, Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi followed established practice and dialed the private number of Town Party Committee Secretary Qiu Dehai.

All that came back through the receiver was the endless mechanical prompt.

He had been abandoned.

Secretary Qiu Dehai, and even County Party Committee Secretary Lu Guoliang, were waiting for the Zhang Clan to be wiped out so they could polish their political achievements.

Since there was no way to retreat, the best strategy was to flee.

In the direction of the village outskirts, a few dog barks rang out abruptly.

Immediately after, the barking joined into a chorus, the frantic howling tearing through the night sky of Heishui Village.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi's hand tightened around his cane.

Accountant Zhang Cai listened intently. "Clan Elder, strangers have entered the village, and there are many of them! I will go out to scout the situation; you must leave quickly!"

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi grabbed Accountant Zhang Cai's arm, his aged eyes fixed on the accountant who had followed him for half his life.

He struck a blue brick on the side of the altar table heavily with his cane.

The brick sank, and the sound of a mechanism turning came from beneath the altar table. A two-foot-square stone slab slowly moved aside, revealing a secret passage leading downward.

"This secret passage was dug by our ancestors to hide from war; it has only been passed down orally by the clan leaders of each generation," Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi said, pointing to the dark tunnel. "It leads directly to the dead tree forest on the mountain behind the village."

He patted Accountant Zhang Cai's hand. "If the situation outside looks bad, don't try to resist; just flee directly along this path."

Accountant Zhang Cai nodded heavily, turned, and strode out of the back hall.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi did not linger, bending down to enter the secret passage.

Outside the ancestral hall, Heishui Village had been covered by an iron net.

Under the large locust tree at the village entrance, several black anti-riot vehicles without license plates were hidden in the shadows.

SWAT team members scattered like ghosts, advancing rapidly along the village road.

Zhu Wenhao, wearing a black overcoat, stood in the night wind.

His posture was upright, his expression cold and stern.

"Police Chief Zhao Gang." Zhu Wenhao's voice pierced the night. "Have the SWAT team advance. Make arrests according to the list; do not leave a single key member of the eldest branch behind."

"Understood." Police Chief Zhao Gang pressed his earpiece and quickly issued tactical orders.

"Is there any movement reported from Zhang Yuanhang?" Zhu Wenhao asked.

"Zhang Yuanhang sent word," Police Chief Zhao Gang reported. "Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi has stayed behind closed doors all afternoon, remaining in the ancestral hall. Just now, Accountant Zhang Cai also went in. The two of them are hiding inside plotting. Fearing that he might alert them, Zhang Yuanhang has been guarding the perimeter and didn't dare to get close."

Zhu Wenhao looked up at the starless and moonless night sky.

"Tell Zhang Yuanhang to keep them pinned down," Zhu Wenhao commanded. "Accountant Zhang Cai is the Zhang Clan's accountant; he knows the flow of funds from the Zhang family's extortion over the years and the black money they sent out better than anyone. This person must be captured."

Police Chief Zhao Gang's phone screen lit up.

Scanning the incoming text message, Police Chief Zhao Gang looked up. "Secretary Zhu, Zhang Yuanhang reports that Accountant Zhang Cai has come out of the ancestral hall and is looking around to check the situation."

Zhu Wenhao waved his hand.

"Order the SWAT team to detach an elite unit and strike directly at the ancestral hall to make the arrest."

"The perimeter will be combed and searched by the police force from the County Public Security Bureau."

"Pass on my order: follow the clues and strike precisely. Do not disturb any ordinary villagers who are not on the arrest list."

Tactical orders were quickly issued through the channel.

Five fully armed SWAT team members broke away from the main team, using the cover of the night and earthen walls to rush toward the ancestral hall.

At a dead end in the alley, Zhang Yuanhang, wearing an old military overcoat, made a tactical gesture, indicating the position.

In front of the half-open vermilion-painted gate of the ancestral hall, Accountant Zhang Cai poked half his body out, about to check for movement on the front street.

Two SWAT officers pounced forward like leopards.

Before Accountant Zhang Cai could make a sound, a hand wearing a tactical glove clamped tightly over his mouth and nose, while another officer delivered a sharp knee strike to the back of his knee.

Accountant Zhang Cai's legs went limp, and he was hoisted into the air. With silver-white handcuffs secured behind his wrists, he was swiftly dragged into the dark alley behind and handed over to the support personnel on the perimeter.

Having cleared the obstacle, the SWAT team leader, holding a submachine gun, kicked open the ancestral hall door.

The beams of tactical flashlights cut through the darkness as the five men covered each other, quickly storming into the front hall, crossing the courtyard, and closing in on the back hall.

"Secure!"

"Secure!"

The report sounded briefly over the channel.

The back hall was empty.

The incense sticks on the altar table were still burning, and the grand armchair still retained warmth.

The SWAT team leader looked around, his tactical flashlight sweeping across the floor. On the blue brick to the side of the altar table, there was an unnatural, fresh friction mark.

He stepped forward, pressing down hard on the blue brick with his military boot.

A mechanical sound arose, and the stone slab beneath the altar table revealed a gap.

"Secret passage discovered!" the SWAT team leader pressed his earpiece. "The suspect has escaped through a secret passage! Requesting perimeter lockdown!"

Leaving two team members to guard the entrance, the leader took the lead with his gun raised, quickly pursuing down the dark, narrow stone steps.

Village entrance command post.

Police Chief Zhao Gang received an urgent report from the front line and turned to face Zhu Wenhao.

"Secretary Zhu, there is a secret passage in the ancestral hall; Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi has fled. The SWAT team is in pursuit."

"The net has been cast; he cannot escape."

He looked at the rolling mountains behind Heishui Village.

"Order the peripheral County Public Security Bureau police force to spread out in a fan shape along the mountain behind Heishui Village and conduct a dragnet search."

This was a hunt.

A large number of police officers flooded into the village road.

The doors of each household in the eldest branch were kicked open one after another.

Verifying identities, putting on handcuffs, and escorting them away.

The cries and curses were ruthlessly suppressed by the police tactical flashlights and stern uniforms.

As for the villagers of the second and third branches, their doors remained tightly shut; hearing the commotion outside, no one dared to peek out.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi thought that clan law could override national law, unaware that the hearts of the people had long since turned against him.

When the fig leaf of profit was torn away, this fortress collapsed in an instant.

Zhu Wenhao walked with his hands behind his back, stepping into the village where he had personally reshaped the rules.

Under his feet was the solid yellow earth, and ahead was the night sky about to break into dawn.

Dead tree forest on the mountain behind the village.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi, leaning on his cane, fled, stumbling through the thorn-filled forest.

His heavy, ragged breathing was exceptionally distinct in the quiet night.

Ahead, the shadows of the trees swayed.

The beams of flashlights broke through the darkness, weaving into a net.

"Stop! Hands on your head!"

Criminal police from the County Public Security Bureau surrounded him from three directions.

The dark muzzles of their guns were pointed directly at this man who had once ruled Heishui Village with an iron fist.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi stopped, his cane slipping from his hand and falling to the ground.

He raised his head, looking at the stern police force surrounding him, and slowly raised his hands above his head.

Half an hour later.

The village square of Heishui Village was filled with police cars transporting prisoners.

Key members of the Zhang Clan's eldest branch were squatting on the ground.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi was escorted by two police officers to stand before Zhu Wenhao.

The once high-and-mighty Clan Elder now had disheveled hair, and his cotton-padded jacket was covered in mud.

Zhu Wenhao looked down at him.

"Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi, before the law of the land, the umbrella of the clan cannot protect you." Zhu Wenhao's voice was steady.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi looked up. "The winner takes all, the loser is the villain. Secretary Zhu, you have good methods. But once these old bones of mine are locked away, can you pull out the roots of poverty in Heishui Village?"

"Only by removing your tumor can the people of Heishui Village farm their own crops," Zhu Wenhao pointed to the tightly shut doors of the second and third branches. "Without your exploitation, they will naturally be able to live a good life."

He waved his hand to signal.

The police escorted Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi toward the police car.

Police Chief Zhao Gang stepped forward and handed over a summary list.

"Secretary Zhu, all involved personnel from the eldest branch have been caught. Accountant Zhang Cai has also been detained. What are the next arrangements?"

"Interrogate Accountant Zhang Cai overnight."

"The accounts in his head are the key to prying open the various powers in Qingjiang County. The confession must be made into an ironclad case." Zhu Wenhao issued the order.

Facing the faint light of dawn, the convoy of police cars drove out of Heishui Village in a grand procession.

The sleeping village welcomed its own rebirth.

The sunlight of the law would eventually shine upon every corner of this land.