The barrage on the Toyota pickup truck followed by the mercenaries could almost be described as boring.

The counterfire blocking line spread by two individual grenade launchers blocked the retreat of those Toyota pickup trucks in the first place. And after that, two powerful heavy machine gun muzzle-sprayed chains, like the whip of the legendary god of war, cut back and forth on the fragile Toyota pickup truck.

A few Toyota pickup trucks that were lucky not to burst into flames during the first wave of attacks turned desperately to flee, but the 12.7mm M90 Barrett sniper rifle perfectly illustrates what it means to have nowhere to run.

There were no captives, let alone survivors, and in just one minute, the originally menacing pursuers became burning wreckage and broken limbs in this arid land.

Peinan, who had barely found a chance to shoot, was not surprised by such a result. But the mercenaries who followed Peinan saw the hellish scene in front of them, and they really had a little palpitations. When he looked at Tang Guoming and the others, there was a little more jealousy in his eyes.

It was precisely because of this feeling of jealousy that after Tang Guoming gave the order to clean up the battlefield and evacuate as soon as possible, Pei Nan and several other mercenaries moved a little faster than usual. And in the following trip, several mercenaries also really woke up and responded to Tang Guoming's instructions as quickly as possible.

Seeing the outline of a building on the horizon in front of the vehicle, Pei Nan, who was driving, turned his head to look at Tang Guoming with some excitement: "Tang, there is still half an hour at most, and we will be safe!" ”

Listening to Peinan's excited shouting, several mercenaries crowded in the armored car also rushed behind Peinan, staring at the outlines of buildings on the horizon that were getting clearer and clearer, and shouted: "God forbid! I was finally able to lie down and sleep in a room with hot water and air conditioning! ”

"I smell the money! There is also a fine single malt whisky! ”

"I just want to get a ticket from the French as soon as possible...... It's the best season in Hawaii, and the beach is full of hot babies, and they're waiting for me......"

Also staring at the outline of the building revealed on the horizon, Tang Guoming frowned slightly. Reaching out and grabbing a monocular that Pei Nan threw beside him, Tang Guoming stared at the obviously military fortress-style building complex and said, "This is the camp you said the buyer built?" It seems that he does have a lot of money! ”

With a bit of excitement, Pei Nan's voice was a little louder: "Oh...... Not exactly his handiwork! Originally built by an American security contractor, the complex was all but abandoned after they screwed up the job, becoming a dump of building materials for locals to choose from. But just a year ago, several different security contractors actually returned to the area and worked together to renovate it. The buyer we're looking for has just rented an office here. ”

Glancing sideways at several mercenaries who were extremely excited, Tang Guoming said as if inadvertently: "It seems that the safety factor here is very high?" ”

Peinan nodded: "Many of the employees of those security contracting companies are retired soldiers of the U.S. Army who have experienced actual combat. Therefore, when rebuilding this complex, almost all the security measures used were applied to the US military. Oh...... Don, you should know about the Green Zone set up by the US military during the occupation of Iraq? It's almost as safe as the Green Zone, hence the nickname Oasis! ”

A disdainful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and Tang Guoming replied casually: "Is that the so-called high-security zone?" The U.S. military and civilians involved in the military operation can enjoy everything exactly according to the American pattern of life. In addition to the less than satisfactory weather conditions, the U.S. military almost moved a small American town to Iraq. But Pennan, you should also know that in addition to the green zone set up by the US military, there is also a much wider brown zone that surrounds the green zone? Is there a brown zone here that the Americans have never recognized? ”

Opening his mouth in surprise, Penan let out a few wordless chuckles as he drove intently towards the complex known as the Oasis......

Although the U.S. military never acknowledges the existence of the so-called brown zone, almost all military personnel in the world know that the so-called high-security zone set up by the U.S. military relies on the brown zone, which is more extensive and surrounds the green zone, to block all foreign attacks.

The people who served as the brown zone guards were basically some pro-American Iraqi natives. Some of these natives were originally deserters from the Iraqi army, while others were local civilians who had little basic military training but had a great affection for the United States.

In terms of combat capability alone, these pro-American Iraqi natives who served as the defense of the brown zone are hardly worth mentioning. However, the requirements of the US military are not high, as long as these pro-American Iraqi natives can be detected before the attack is coming, so as to provide enough time for the US military to react to defend or counterattack.

In other words, what the U.S. military needs is not the combat effectiveness of those pro-American Iraqi natives, but wants those pro-American Iraqi natives to act as human shields. In the years since the U.S. military occupied Iraq, at least a dozen suicide bombings have been stopped in the Brown Zone, and even the blast wave of the explosion has not touched the Green Zone.

In the past few years, almost no one in the US military has suffered casualties in these suicide bombings, but the US military has always been vague about how many pro-American Iraqi natives who served as the defense mission of the brown zone have been killed or wounded, and finally simply turned around and denied the existence of the brown zone.

Seeing that the outline of the building was getting clearer and clearer, Tang Guoming hesitated for a moment, and turned his head to look at Pei Nan, who was concentrating on driving: "According to the safety standards of the green zone you mentioned, everyone who enters this area must go through a security check?" ”

Habitually shrugging his shoulders, Pennan reached out and pulled out a hard plastic card with a bar-shaped identification code from his bosom: "Those who frequent the traffic and those who have dealings with an office in the area will be issued with such a pass." However, those who enter for the first time will be subject to strict security checks. ”

After a little hesitation, Tang Guoming reached out and grabbed the communicator in the wheeled armored car: "Pan Guan, follow us and drive in." After entering, you and Dagong go separately! ”

Turning his head and glancing at Tang Guoming, Pei Nan shook his head with a little crying and laughing: "Tang, your caution is not a little redundant?" We're in the same boat now......"

Gently putting his finger on the needle next to the seam of his trousers, Tang Guoming squinted his eyes slightly, looking at the outer fortifications built with steel mesh sandbags at the entrance of the building: "Unfamiliar places, unfamiliar people, will always make me a little nervous!" ”

With a slight sigh, Pennan slowed down and slowly slid his car to the outer fortifications, which were nearly a kilometer away from the entrance to the complex.

Turning off the engine in a decent manner, Penan held it high in front of the driver's window of the armored car with one hand, opened the DIY movable metal curtain bed on the side of the armored car with the other, and slowly handed the hard plastic identification card out: "Fernandez, you are a more serious guy again?" ”

Approaching the DIY metal curtain bed on the side of the armored car, two strong men with Mexican ancestry and wearing MARPAT desert digital camouflage combat uniforms said that they knew Peinan, but they still raised the muzzle of their guns slightly to aim at Peinan, and put on a full-fledged driver.

After confirming that all the vehicles had turned off the engines, a strong man who was on alert reached out and took out a civilian version of the code reader from behind his waist and swept the identification card outside the window that Peinan handed out, and after the green light on the code reader turned on, he relaxed the tense muscles on his arm and showed a slightly stereotypical smile towards Peinan: "You guys are back late, and there is one less car?" ”

Sighing helplessly, Pei Nan nodded with a wry smile: "I met a big trouble, and I almost couldn't come back!" ”

Twisting his face to look at the mottled bullet marks on the wheeled armored vehicle, the strong man with a hideous smile took a few steps back and waved his hand towards a bunker diagonally on the side of the fortification: "Good luck!" ”

As the strong man who was on guard gave the order to let him go, the anti-ram spike barricade that was originally lying in front of the wheeled armored vehicle quickly fell down. Several armed men who had pointed their guns at wheeled armored vehicles in the fortifications also lowered their guns.

In the two masonry towers not far from the fortifications, as well as the two independent ring fortifications, the armed men with twin anti-aircraft guns re-aimed their guns in the original warning direction. Farther away, the reflection of a sniper rifle sight or two quickly disappeared, no longer staring at the wheeled armored vehicle that wanted to drive into the complex.

Driving slowly along the circuitous route deliberately isolated by steel mesh sandbags after the fortifications, Pei Nan seemed to notice that Tang Guoming, who was sitting next to him, was intently looking at the buildings and defenses near the left side of the vehicle, and simply slowed down the speed again thoughtfully, so that Tang Guoming could carefully see the defense situation around the building complex: "Tang, is this your professional habit?" I understand that you have the qualities of a professional soldier, but is this ability to maintain a combat mentality at all times really good for you? You Chinese soldiers will never learn to relax? ”

Turning his head towards Pei Nan with a shallow smile, Tang Guoming responded in a harmonious voice: "Of course I will have a time to relax, but it can only be in my country." And here...... Do you think I can relax in a country where it's easier to buy AK than food? What's more, there are at least six snipers and two machine guns around that are not very well hidden, always aiming their guns at us? ”

Shrugging his shoulders noncommittally, Pennan drove into the entrance to the complex. Watching from the rearview mirror as Pan Guan and Halbara quickly jumped out of the Humvee and quickly blended into the crowd of the complex, Pennan smiled wryly and drove into a relatively closed compound made of heavy shipping containers.

Facing Pennan, who jumped from the armored car, a middle-aged man with pink skin and blond hair, laughed exaggeratedly and opened his arms: "Ah...... My dear Pennan, it's a pleasure to see you again! Oh...... You've also brought me new friends? ”

Sideways to avoid the hugging gesture posed by the overly enthusiastic middle-aged man, Penan looked back at Eric, who was dragged out of the armored car by his companions: "Mr. Pierre, let's go inside and talk?" I have a little surprise for you, of course...... We have also paid a terrible price! ”

Scanning the bullet-riddled wheeled armored vehicle, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on Pierre's sweaty face: "Oh...... Looks like you're in some trouble? So, go to my office and talk? Gentlemen, will you please come in too? I have some cold beer in my office that might moisten your dry throats......"

Babbling to himself, Pierre turned around and walked into a converted shipping container room in the courtyard. Without waiting for Penan and the others, who were escorting Eric, to stand still, Pierre had already neatly pushed a heavy large ammunition box in front of Penan and the others: "Have a drink first...... My God! ”

Dumbfounded as he looked at Eric, who was torn off by Penan and the cloth stuffed in his mouth, revealing his true face, Pierre's face changed drastically, and he almost rushed to the door with an arrow and closed the door of the house with force: "Where did you find this guy?!" ”

Shrugging his shoulders at Pierre, whose face suddenly turned pale, Penan bent down to open the huge ammo box and took out a bottle of beer from the ice water in the ammo box: "It doesn't matter anymore! What I'm concerned about now is – how much is this guy worth? ”

Swallowing his saliva with difficulty, there was a noticeable tremor in Pierre's voice: "My dear Monsieur Pennan, this cargo you have brought with you in the strict sense of the word...... It's worth a lot of money, so much so that I can't afford to buy it right away. On the other hand...... The goods you bring back are not only valuable, but they also come with a huge hassle! ”

Gulping down the cold beer that came to his lips, Penan burped loudly, "That's not the answer I wanted!" Mr. Pierre, I was collecting the goods at your request, and you are now telling me that you are unable to fulfill the promise of return? What does this mean, I think you should be well aware ?! ”

Seeing that Pennan's eyes turned cold, and the other mercenaries who followed Penan also looked unkind, the beads of sweat on Pierre's face suddenly became dense: "My God! My dear Mr. Pennan, things are changing, do you understand? It is no longer a matter of simply collecting and purchasing goods...... In the days you've been out of here, something has happened that has made the original purchase plan ...... It's not that simple! ”

With a gloomy face, Pennan put his hand on the handle of his leg self-defense pistol: "But I've always liked to solve problems in the simplest way!" ”

Standing behind Peinan, Tang Guoming quietly looked at Pierre's embarrassed appearance, and suddenly said to Pierre in English: "What do you mean by the huge trouble attached to the value?" ”

Looking at Tang Guoming, who had never met before, Pierre cautiously looked at Pennan's face, and said hesitantly: "The day after you left here, Eric's men kidnapped some workers and ordered the company that hired them to pay a ransom!" But we all know that Eric once executed all the hostages immediately after receiving the ransom. So...... Until the hostages are confirmed to be safe, whoever captures Eric will have to take care of the hostages' personal safety. You know, it's a big problem......"

Suddenly, Erik, who was handcuffed behind his back, chuckled sadly, turned his head and looked around at everyone in the room: "You guys...... It's all dead! I have ordered my men to execute those hostages in two days! This command can't be changed, not even me! Even if I let you go, you will be used as scapegoats to appease the anger of the bigwigs who are pursuing this matter! You guys...... It's all dead! ”

Ignoring Eric's threatening words, Tang Guoming quickly analyzed Pierre's rather inverted words, and slowly said to Pierre: "You just said that whoever captures Eric will be forced to bear the safety of those hostages. So can I understand it this way - once the hostages are freed, the troubles attached to Eric are gone, and all that remains is value? ”

Nodding his head like a chicken pecking rice, Pierre hurriedly agreed: "That's true!" ”

Turning his head to look at Peinan, whose face was full of gloom, Tang Guoming whispered in Chinese: "You just said - we are in the same boat?" ”

Looking at Tang Guoming with a calm face in surprise, Pei Nan responded in surprise: "Tang ...... What do you want? ”

Tang Guoming: "Solve the trouble!" ”