Chapter 54: Sniping Liu Lichuan (Part 5)

  The next morning, the mansion was empty and deserted, with no one in sight.

  Everyone dispersed and inquired about news everywhere.

  At noon, Li Zhen returned to the mansion first. Then Yang Banhou came back, and the rest of the soldiers also returned one after another. After everyone returned to the mansion, Li Zhen looked at the soldiers sitting around him and asked: "Yesterday, each of you was assigned a target for sniping, have you investigated the situation clearly?"

  "It's all clear now."

  Yang Banhou and the rest of the soldiers replied in a low voice, all with an eager expression.

  Everyone has a target. For example, Li Zhen's target is Liu Lichuan of the Small Knife Society, and he needs to investigate the situation and determine the location for the assassination of Liu Lichuan, as well as confirm the retreat route. Yang Banhou's target is Pan Qiliang, the Flying Tiger General of the Small Knife Society, and he investigates Pan Qiliang's residence and various places where Pan Qiliang goes out.

  The remaining soldiers will also be responsible for the Dongjiang General Zhang Hanbin, the Beibei General Cai Yongliang, as well as Li Weichi, Chen Alin, Lin Afu, Xu Weiren and other Xiaodao Hui core members, all of whom are targets to be assassinated.

  Li Zhen said solemnly: "Everyone is ready, let's start acting. Each person enters the designated position and prepares to assassinate the target. Remember, life first, enemy second."

  Yang Banhou worriedly said: "You alone against Liu Lichuan, won't your strength be a bit too weak?"

  Li Zhen shook his head and said, "I alone am enough to take out Liu Lichuan, no need for help."

  Pausing for a moment, Li Zhen continued: "One more thing, regardless of whether the task is completed or not, everyone must return by nightfall. Alright, everyone can disperse now."

  As soon as he finished speaking, everyone began to bustle about.

  Li Zhen put the sniper rifle in a black bag and slung it over his back, wrapping it with silk strips to prevent exposure. After doing all this, Li Zhen changed into a coarse linen garment and left the mansion.

  One after another, Yang Banhou and the rest of the soldiers all dispersed to carry out their tasks. Everyone was equipped with guns and ammunition, and also prepared daggers, which could be used for long-range attacks or close-range stabbing.

  ……

  County government office

  This was originally the county government office of Shanghai County, but after being occupied by the Small Swords Society, it became their headquarters.

  Especially after Liu Lichuan established the country, the county government almost became a palace. All orders were issued from the county government, but the small knife society was forced to the corner without even having time to breathe, and no one had time to enjoy it. Every leader of the Small Knife Society was tense, thinking every day about how to defend Shanghai and maintain the current war results.

  Outside the county government office, a main road leads directly to the south gate of Shanghai County.

  There are wine houses and inns on both sides of the road a hundred meters away from the county government.

  Liu Lichuan, if he came out of the county government office and headed to the south gate, would have to pass through the road under the wine tower. The place Li Zhen chose was one of the inns there. The room Li Zhen booked was on the second floor, with a window facing the street, which was just right for hiding and also suitable for Li Zhen to ambush Liu Lichuan who would be passing by on the street.

  Bang! Bang!

  Suddenly, there was a light knock at the door outside the room.

  Li Zhen raised an eyebrow and hastily hid the sniper rifle he had taken out of his bag before walking over to open the door.

  Outside the house, a middle-aged man in his forties stood. His face wore a professional smile, but his eyes had a cunning glint. When he saw Li Zhen, his eyes rolled around and asked: "Young master, what do you need again?"

  Li Zhen was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No need!"

  The middle-aged man said: "Young master, you came to our place to rest, I suppose you're tired and want someone to relieve you, I can find someone who is absolutely tender."

  Li Zhenwen heard this and had already guessed what the middle-aged man meant.

  Before Li Zhen could refuse, the middle-aged man introduced himself incessantly: "Young master, in the past when there were many foreigners in the city, they would come to stay at our inn and find a pretty person to accompany them, to dispel their fatigue and boredom. Alas, the foreigners have left, and business is not good, I'll give you half price, what do you think?"

  Li Zhen shook his head and said: "I'm just resting in the hotel room, don't come to disturb me."

  The middle-aged man saw Li Zhen unmoved and was very disappointed, so he took his leave.

  Li Zhen closed the door, locked it, and thought to himself that it was fortunate that this middle-aged man had come knocking at this time. If Liu Lichuan were to pass by from downstairs when he was ready to open fire, and someone outside knocked on the door, then it would be a tragedy. Li Zhen took out his sniper rifle again and began to set up inside the room. All Li Zhen needed to do now was to wait for Liu Lichuan to pass by from downstairs, and then snipe him.

  Sitting by the window, Li Zhen waited slowly.

  The long wait was nothing out of the ordinary for Li Zhen and didn't make him anxious.

  Bang!

  Suddenly, the sound of gunfire echoed faintly from within the city.

  Li Zhen's eyes revealed a hint of a smile, knowing that someone among the dispatched had already fired. The gunshot rang out, but it was unknown whether they had successfully completed their mission. However, Li Zhen quickly retracted his thoughts and continued with the long and tedious wait.

  Time slowly passed, and sporadic gunfire echoed through the city.

  However, Li Zhen was still quiet here.

  The sun sets in the west, it's already evening. A cold wind blows outside the window, and the weather becomes colder. Li Zhen looks calmly at the empty streets, still quietly waiting.

  "Ta-da! Ta-da!"

  Suddenly, a hurried horseshoe sound came from under the window.

  Li Zhen lifted the curtain to look down and found a team of soldiers with red scarves wrapped around their heads rushing from the direction of the south gate towards the county government office. At this moment, a bright light flashed in Li Zhen's calm eyes. Li Zhen immediately took action, picking up the sniper rifle from the table, checking the barrel and other parts, then leaned his body against the wall.

  The window opened a slit, and the barrel of the gun protruded from it. Li Zhen's eyes approached the scope, aiming at the street below, entering a state of readiness to snipe.

  The soldiers who had just gone to the county government were in a hurry, with anxious expressions on their faces.

  It is likely that someone has killed one of Liu Lichuan's generals, and the soldiers have come to report the news. Once Liu Lichuan receives the message, he will probably leave the county government office and head to where his general was killed.

  The opportunity has arrived.

  Li Zhen waited quietly for about a moment, and then saw a team of people rushing out of the county government office.

  This group of people is Liu Lichuan and his entourage.

  As night began to fall, the soldiers accompanying him had lit torches.

  Torches illuminated the night sky, making it as bright as day. Li Zhen's gaze swept through the crowd exiting the county yamen and spotted a man who stood out starkly. He was tall and imposing, wearing a bright yellow changshan robe with a golden jade belt around his waist, and on his head he wore a bright yellow cloth scarf, forming a striking contrast to the red cloth scarves worn by the surrounding soldiers.

  There was no doubt that this man was Liu Lichuan.

  Liu Lichuan rode out on horseback, surrounded by many guards protecting him.

  Li Zhen peered through the scope, finding Liu Lichuan also looking worried. But these had nothing to do with Li Zhen, who was hiding in a hotel room adjusting his position, gun aimed at Liu Lichuan running out of the county government office and towards the road below.

  Bang!

  Li Zhen pulled the trigger and immediately a gunshot rang out.

  Under the night sky, a bullet broke through the air and shot straight at Liu Lichuan's brow.

  PS: Fifth update