Mr.President, Let's Get a Divorce
Chapter 316 - 319 Two hundred people can’t, but one President can

Chapter 316: 319 Two hundred people can’t, but one President can

Tang Xiaohua didn’t dare to think too much at the moment.

The armed police officer saw her guard certificate, but he didn’t mention the President, indicating that they probably didn’t know the President was also inside the cinema’s screening hall.

Judging by the fact that she had called Wen Nian and he hadn’t answered, it was almost certain that everyone inside the cinema had been taken control of.

"Has there been any casualties so far?"

"One person tried to flee and got injured, according to the monitoring. Everyone has been gathered at the back row of the cinema, squatting with their heads held, but the criminals have not injured anyone."

Tang Xiaohua responded, "So what’s the situation now?"

"The chief captain of the armed police force is negotiating with the leader of the criminals."

After understanding the basic situation, Tang Xiaohua immediately called Qu Yu to inform him of the situation at the Bright Light Cinema.

It wasn’t difficult to imagine the grim look on Qu Yu’s face on the other end of the phone,

"Qu Yu, it’s a critical moment in the election. It’s imperative to maintain secrecy about the President being held hostage in the cinema. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

"I, I understand."

Qu Yu certainly understood. Under normal circumstances, they would directly inform the Military Department and have them launch a rescue operation, but now, the Vice President would employ any means at his disposal.

From the criminals’ side, choosing the number one hall of this cinema was likely because it had three exits and was closest to the outer part, which would make their actions more convenient.

This was Tang Xiaohua’s analysis.

"You should know who in the Military Department can be trusted one hundred percent."

"I know!"

"The armed police are negotiating with the criminals, and the criminals are demanding a ransom of 3 billion US dollars."

"..."

"For such a big deal, you know without me saying that the armed police will report to their superiors, and such a large sum will definitely be reported to your place."

"I understand."

"So, Qu Yu, you have to take the place of your superior in responding to these reports. You stay in the President Mansion, on the one hand, responding to the problem, and on the other hand, deploying personnel for me."

"How many people do you need?"

"Nine guards from the President Guard Team and Minister Long Siyan. And one squad of elite soldiers from the Anlin Military District, soldiers, not officers."

"Understood! Will you lead them all?"

"Minister Long will be responsible for the guard team, as for the squad of soldiers from the Anlin Military District... I will find someone to take charge."

"Okay."

"Qu Yu, we need to act fast."

"Yes!"

After hanging up the phone, Tang Xiaohua took a deep breath and called Lu Ziqing, "Brother Lu..."

"Are you outside the Great Bright Light Cinema?"

Before she could speak, Lu Ziqing asked first.

"Yes."

"I’m here too, but I didn’t bring my military ID, so I can’t get in."

"Tell me exactly where you are, I’ll come to get you."

After Tang Xiaohua finished speaking, she ran in the direction Lu Ziqing had told her, which was precisely the same spot she had entered before, and stopping Lu Ziqing was the same junior traffic cop.

Tang Xiaohua walked over, "This is the Deputy Commander of Xilin Military Region, Major General Lu Ziqing."

The junior traffic cop was a bit stunned, but looking from Tang Xiaohua to Lu Ziqing, his eyes burning with scrutiny, he didn’t dare to obstruct for fear of delaying the actions of the officers.

The crowd was dispersed. Once word got out that there was an armed robbery inside, people running out from other screening rooms in the cinema were both terrified and panicked, vividly describing the situation. The public naturally stayed away, and those who could return home would not linger in the streets.

In less than half an hour, the entire three streets were deserted.

Tang Xiaohua pulled Lu Ziqing aside and detailed the situation for him, turning his face half-green with concern,

"Are you sure?"

Tang Xiaohua nodded, "One hundred percent sure."

She didn’t know what Wen Nian was thinking; she hadn’t come, but he stubbornly stayed inside to watch the movie.

The chief captain from the armed police command team finished negotiating with the criminals and returned.

The good news was that the criminals’ intent was not on killing, just the money; the bad news was... just the money.

"Commander... Lu?!"

Captain Zhang Feng of the armed police was genuinely shocked when he saw Lu Ziqing, running over to him as if he had seen a lifesaver. When he saw Tang Xiaohua beside him, he also greeted her,

"Guard Tang, I heard from my men that you were here too."

"Hello, Captain Zhang."

"But... how come you are here?"

"The President gave me the day off today. I was out shopping when I came across this situation."

Zhang Feng acknowledged her, then his hopeful gaze returned to Lu Ziqing,

"Commander Lu, I don’t think the authorities will readily agree to the 3 billion US dollars. To put it bluntly... those two hundred lives might not be worth 3 billion US dollars in some people’s eyes."

The reasoning was understood by everyone, Tang Xiaohua included.

Back when Duan Shen faced a terror attack, the lives of the hostages were not within the consideration of those in power.

"Even if they agree, how can we trust the criminals’ word?"

Fire ignited in Lu Ziqing’s eyes, having been suppressed all night, this was the perfect place to vent!

"So... Commander Lu, what do we do about this?"

"You report back. Where is your armed police command center? Take me there."

"Commander Lu, you want to?"

Zhang Feng hesitated, he wanted to ask for Lu Ziqing’s help, but he didn’t intend to relinquish command authority.

Lu Ziqing glanced at him and knew what he was thinking.

"I will not command any of the armed police officers; I just want to check the surveillance to understand the situation inside. Without that, I can’t even help you if I wanted to."

"Alright, Chairman, please follow me."

Tang Xiaohua said, "I’ll wait for people over there."

"Okay, let’s keep in touch by phone."

Tang Xiaohua needed the President Guard Team’s people, but Long Siyan only brought Song Yangling and two squads of elite soldiers from the Anlin Military District.

"Although the President Guard Team can be trusted, if they all come, it will raise suspicion in others."

Minister Long had thought things through even more comprehensively than she had.

"Senior Lu has gone to the armed police command post."

Minister Long spread out a detailed blueprint of the Bright Light Cinema. He circled a few points with a pen,

"If there are defenders at these locations, we can be one hundred percent certain that this is a premeditated hostage situation. It’s only a matter of time before the President is discovered."

"These two points, the ventilation ducts, and the sewer pipes are also guarded. That’s enough proof that this team has at least two elite leaders. Spy or mercenary, it’s all bad. They are determined to succeed."

"I understand."

"So, if they can’t achieve their goal, they will definitely take extreme measures."

Tang Xiaohua took a deep breath, everything Minister Long said had already crossed her mind.

"The magnitude of two hundred people is not small, if they lose patience, they might also use human lives to force the timeline."

"...If that happens, the President will not let any member of the public get hurt before his eyes."

Tang Xiaohua murmured,

"Then he will definitely stand out..."

"Yes, two hundred people may not convince the government to pay out 3 billion US dollars, but one President can."