National Forensic Doctor-Chapter 1009 - 945: Qi Mountain Stronghold

Qi Mountain Stronghold.

It straddles the ridgeline of a large mountain, composed of a mix of wooden buildings spanning hundreds of meters... and brick-and-stone hybrid structures.

From a distance, it’s evident that the construction here takes advantage of the old wooden structures, haphazardly combined with modern building materials. Sending a drone to circle the area reveals a multitude of temporary buildings scattered within, some even crafted from plastic tarps, bamboo, and dirt into low, makeshift tents.

Just by looking at this scene, it’s clear that people live here. However, it doesn’t resemble normal housing, but rather makeshift communities built by homeless people, or shanties of scavengers.

The criminal police arriving at the foot of the mountain instinctively frown upon seeing the shantytown overhead.

This type of shantytown, akin to slums in Europe and America, is a natural breeding ground for crime. It differs from the so-called urban shanty areas, which are at least somewhat managed and regulated. Shantytowns are built carelessly, with no consideration for fire safety, featuring dead-end streets, and residents who, in order to protect themselves, tend to implicitly form gangs. In other words, the formation of a shantytown inevitably leads to the emergence of numerous gangs.

The most common shantytown gangs in our country are scavengers, with drug abuse and theft being the prevalent forms of crime, occasionally including human trafficking and robbery. Picking up one-yuan bottles doesn’t stop them from snatching kids worth thirty thousand.

The stories of shantytowns abroad are even more numerous, with the famous favelas of Rio de Janeiro being so complicated in both population and layout that even elite officers tread with caution. Cities like New York in the United States implement strategies like territorial control to combat crime, involving assaults building by building.

"We’re understaffed; call for reinforcements," suggested Wu Junhao, who specifically came from Ningtai to assist, looking up at the Qi Mountain Stronghold and making the immediate request.

Accompanying him, Su Shanming, Captain of the Third Brigade of the Chang Le City Criminal Police Detachment, hesitated and said, "We already have over a hundred people here. How about we go up first and take a look?"

For this operation, the police forces from Chang Le City and Ningtai County were split evenly, and it took several minibuses to transport everyone, along with all types of equipment, which was already a significant strain.

Wu Junhao simply shook his head and said, "What if they all run into the mountains the moment we start ascending, or, as we make our way up, they gather together and cause trouble? This place is much larger than we anticipated, with the population likely much higher as well. Looking at the size, there are at least three to four hundred people, at least twice our number."

Su Mingshan hesitated, then suggested, "If the enemy is numerous and we are few, shouldn’t we strike quickly before they can react? Otherwise, if they barricade the paths, how can we attack them from below?"

Wu Junhao laughed, "We’re constables, not soldiers, who’s going to attack them head-on? Now that we know there are criminal suspects above, our task is to somehow block the paths and encircle them, that’s the most crucial thing. As for the rest, let them blockade the routes if they want to; I won’t assault them head-on. If our pistols can’t reach them, we use sniper rifles, and if that’s not enough, we call in artillery. We’re not in the age of cold weapons anymore; no one’s trading lives with them."

Wu Junhao’s words were harsh, and Su Mingshan didn’t like to hear them, but they were effective, and he couldn’t ignore them.

Honestly speaking, the sight of the stronghold perched on the mountain ridge was also daunting to Su Mingshan. He had never fought in the field and had no idea how to assault such a stronghold. But he knew that with just his handful of men, if the enemy resisted and they charged up with pistols, the number of casualties would ultimately depend on the enemy’s cunning.

The greatest fear wasn’t even an all-out resistance; if they opted for passive resistance, the mission would become very difficult to complete.

The vehicles stopped on site, allowing everyone to get off for a rest, relieve themselves, and drink water. Wu Junhao quickly conferred with Jiang Yuan and others, then decided to implement Plan C.

Plan A involved encircling and capturing people, Plan B was to enter the stronghold and capture, and Plan C was now to encircle without capture. The primary difference between them actually lay in the numbers. The geography of Qi Mountain Stronghold was clear: they not only had maps but satellite topographic images, and could fly drones once at the scene.

However, the exact number of people inside the Qi Mountain Stronghold was not previously certain to Jiang Yuan and his team. Based solely on satellite imagery, many shanties remained concealed among the dilapidated wooden buildings.

Only upon arrival at the base of the mountain, observing from the side, and employing drones for confirmation, could they glean an approximate headcount.

The logistic trucks began unloading copious amounts of equipment, which the officers picked up themselves.

Bulletproof vests, anti-stab suits, shields, or ceramic plates were freely available, with an overstock transported in. Handcuffs, batons, and stun guns were personnel-specific and only issued upon request. However, firearms and ammunition required registration, noting both quantity and serial number.

He Daxuan from the Armed Police led a team, bringing more shotguns and submachine guns this time, with only a few rifles and sniper rifles in tow.

Additionally, the Changler City Bureau dispatched two squads from their special police team. Contrary to popular belief, the special police force of a prefecture-level city is mostly akin to a robust squad, equipped with flashy gear and impressive postures, but in practical terms, they primarily serve as explosive ordnance disposal and patrol police, rarely engaging in gunfire.

This operation actually provided an opportunity for the special police, but their main role was still to take positions.

Over a hundred officers suited up and then boarded the vehicles again, heading to their respective task destinations.

Essentially, the exit paths from Qi Mountain Stronghold.

Jiang Yuan followed the majority, driving all the way to the base of the mountain along the main road until Qi Mountain Stronghold was out of sight, then disembarking to start the ascent.

Accompanying him were two biologists, Sulei from the Agricultural University and her Ph.D. student Qiao Shengli.

Both were dressed in outdoor gear to protect themselves from sun and abrasions, and they had covered their faces. Together they climbed the mountain, each carrying their own backpack and walking stick, without complaint.

"Here, we already have hallucinogenic mushrooms." Qiao Shengli, while walking, suddenly pointed to the side of the path, then with her walking stick dug out a red-capped mushroom from the base of a tree.

"There are mushrooms just by the side of the road; no wonder they wanted to rely on them to get rich." Wang Chuanxing immediately stepped forward to take photos.

"Climatic conditions are the most important," said Sulei. "Just like on the way to XX Mountain from Lijiang, there are forests of wild cannabis everywhere. The local government has tried to eradicate them several times, to no avail. The growing conditions are just too good. The cannabis sheds that Americans spend a lot of money to grow hydroponically, here they’re growing in the open air, like fine bamboo, thick and dense."

"It must be different from the cannabis in the United States, right?" Wang Chuanxing was also somewhat curious.

Sulei smiled mysteriously and added, "Some are indeed different from those in the United States."

As an experienced detective, Wang Chuanxing caught on: "Are some the same?" freёwebnoѵel.com

Qiao Shengli, who was more lively, laughed: "Some of our varieties are quite popular abroad."

Sulei cleared her throat and continued: "First of all, although cannabis is divided into two subspecies, the original subspecies and the Indian hemp subspecies, the varieties that have been cultivated in our country for a long time are the original ones. But from a biological perspective, it’s easy for the original and Indian hemp subspecies to crossbreed. Moreover, the content of THC within both subspecies is also unstable, so..."

"Could foreigners bring seeds from their countries over here?" Wang Chuanxing blurted out.

Sulei was taken aback for a moment and replied, "I hadn’t thought about that, but it is true that our domestic cannabis subspecies have already been contaminated. The Agricultural University has done research in this area; I just saw it on the way here... Xiao Qiao?"

Her student Qiao Shengli immediately took out her phone, scrolled through it, and said, "Are you talking about the article by Chen Xuan, ’A Study of Cannabinoid Chemotypes and Genotypes in Cannabis Varieties from Southern Yunnan Farmers’ published in the ’Journal of Southwest Botany’? The core of the study was a group of cannabis varieties from a farmer in Southern Yunnan, which measured THC and CBD in 21 individual plants. It turned out all 21 contained THC, ranging from 0.07% to 1.35%. Three of them had more than 1%."

Wang Chuanxing frowned: "I crammed a bit the other day; cannabis with less than 0.3% THC is considered industrial hemp, right? Those with more than 1% are already on the level of narcotics that can be sold in Europe and America?"

"About industrial hemp..." Sulei shook her head and added, "1% is definitely not acceptable."

Wang Chuanxing had another thought: "If the foreigners just tried a few more times, they could easily find individuals with more than 1% THC."

"Yeah, and they can share with each other too," Qiao Shengli chimed in from the side. "During the flowering season, they even go into the hills with sickles and backpacks to harvest, because the female flowers have higher THC content. Moreover, they care about this abroad because cultivation costs are high, all money spent on purchasing. But if the cannabis is free, what’s the harm in smoking a few more?"

"Does this also work on the principle of ’strength can produce wonders’?" Wang Chuanxing was beginning to understand.

Qiao Shengli explained: "So the concept of industrial hemp was created. The figure of 0.3%, or even 0.2%, is meaningless; for the people who smoke it, you just roll a thicker joint."

"But didn’t you say earlier that there were concentrations as low as 0.07%? Those would have to be rolled as thick as cigars," said Wang Chuanxing.

At this point, Sulei followed up: "Because the concept of industrial hemp was created for the purpose of extracting CBD, while THC is psychoactive, CBD can be used medically and is more valuable abroad. However, the reality is that THC and CBD both come from the same precursor, cannabigerol, catalyzed by different enzymes, so the two are positively correlated. Cannabis with a THC content as low as 0.07% or even lower would also have a nearly zero CBD content, making the cultivation of industrial hemp unprofitable."

"So we need to find cannabis with low THC but high CBD content?"

"That’s the principle of industrial hemp. But the relationship between the two is expressed by the regression equation Y=0.648X-0.025. The standards of 0.03% or 0.02% have been squeezed as low as possible," Sulei paused before concluding, "That’s why domestic policies on industrial hemp are tightening up across the board now."

"The mushroom situation should be tightened up too," said Wang Chuanxing with a wistful look towards the path ahead. The mountains here were tall, a classic case of ’easy to navigate by sight, but grueling to traverse.’

Chirp chirp...

The walkie-talkie on Jiang Yuan’s waist rang out.

"Captain Jiang, it seems like they’ve realized something’s wrong up on the mountain and are starting to mobilize," reported the drone operation team from below.

Jiang Yuan checked the time: "Half an hour already, and only now they begin to mobilize?"

"That’s what we see from above. They must have sent word as soon as they saw our drone, but the response has been sluggish, and many seem not to care much."

"Understood." Jiang Yuan ended the call and switched the walkie-talkie to channel 1, saying, "All units, be aware that the gang from Qi Mountain Stronghold might attempt to escape. Be prepared for resistance."

"Received."

"Received!"

The teams responded in succession, their spirits high.

A mission that captures hundreds of people at once is a rarity indeed. Don’t ask how big the case is or how deep it goes. If asked, it’s organized crime involving both drug use and trafficking, one of the top in terms of scale and numbers nationwide.