Minister Zhan came earlier than Li Mu expected, he set off before dawn, so he was able to arrive at the 107th Regiment station at nine o'clock.

In order to meet the military region's big competition, the 107th Regiment has entered a state of high-intensity training for 20 days, and Xu Zhan has also presided over such training for the first time.

Under the strange gaze of the soldiers, Deputy Regiment Commander Li began to rarely show up.

Leading Minister Zhan to the underground fortifications of the regiment headquarters building, Li Mu did not say a word, Minister Zhan did not say a word, and the group was in a hurry. Minister Zhan drove lightly, only brought a lieutenant colonel intelligence staff officer and a driver, and three people came over in one car.

Li Mu is also the only one on Li Mu's side. As the reserve commander of the tactical saber commando, Li Jiujiu also had to participate in the whole process to understand the situation and receive instructions and orders.

It stands to reason that even if there is something else, Minister Zhan should first inspect the troops according to the usual practice, and then talk about business. He didn't care about the inspection, and went straight to the point, which made Li Mu have a bad premonition.

After entering the combat conference room, Minister Zhan sat down, didn't even drink a sip of tea, and asked Li Mu directly: "Can the troops carry out their tasks now?"

And so it was!

Li Mu hesitated slightly, and nodded resolutely, "Yes." ”

Minister Zhan's face sank like water, and he nodded to the intelligence staff officer of the lieutenant colonel, and the intelligence staff officer named Hu Yong put the hand-held lockbox in his hand on the table, opened it, and asked Li Mu, "Deputy Regiment Commander Li, I don't know if you have heard of the Crescent Brigade?"

Li Mu's mind suddenly appeared like this: several militants wrapped in headscarves, wearing various camouflage uniforms, and holding AK series rifles flaunted their might in front of the camera, while another soldier armed with a machete aimed at the neck of a civilian kneeling on the ground with his hands tied behind his back, and swung the knife vigorously, the head fell to the ground, and blood gushed out.

Similar images have appeared frequently on the Internet in recent times, and those rampant soldiers are from a terrorist armed group that calls itself the Crescent Brigade.

"The armed groups in South Sudan have been very popular on the Internet recently, and their methods are extremely cruel. What I learned was from the news media. Li Mu said.

Hu Yong took out a document from the lockbox and handed it to Li Mu, saying, "That's right, an extremist armed force that has recently emerged in South Sudan is far more cruel than we imagined. We have only just mastered the situation of this Crescent Brigade. According to intelligence, the Crescent Brigade is a newly emerging illegal armed force in South Sudan and is very strong. We suspect that they have the support of certain countries behind them, but at the same time, we also judge that the Crescent Brigade may be out of control. Within six months, they controlled most of South Sudan's drug trade. The way they obtain resources is very brutal, mainly torture and killing. ”

Li Mu quickly browsed the information, his brows tightened more and more.

After waiting for two minutes, Minister Zhan spoke, and he said, "The biggest difference between the Crescent Brigade and other armed groups is that they have no political demands. The rest of the armed forces throughout South Sudan will be seen by them as enemies and allies. United Nations peacekeepers are also within range of their strikes. ”

Li Mu looked up in amazement and subconsciously asked, "The peacekeeping force camp has been attacked?"

Shaking his head, Minister Zhan said, "There was no attack, but two of our engineers were kidnapped, and the Crescent Brigade took the initiative to contact the UNMISS Theater Command and ask for a ransom." This is what happened the day before yesterday. ”

No wonder he was in such a hurry, Li Mu was immediately relieved, and at the same time tried his best to find the location of South Sudan in his memory.

It is bordered by Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Gang, and the Central African Republic in the eastern part of North Africa. couldn't help it, Li Mu had a headache. None of these countries are pleasant, and all of them are the most vivid representations of war, civil strife, killing, and poverty that have been the most vivid expression of the terms war, civil strife, killing, and poverty for decades.

"The Crescent Brigade is demanding a $5 million ransom, and if the ransom is not paid within five days, the two hostages will be publicly executed," Hu said. That's what they've always done. ”

The corners of Li Mu's mouth twitched, and he asked, "Within five days, it started the day before yesterday?"

"Yes. ”

Li Mu looked at Minister Zhan, "In this way, there are only less than three days left for us." ”

Minister Zhan nodded, "The hostage's company has prepared the ransom and prepared for the worst." The UNSMISS Theater Command is also actively looking for ways to solve the problem. But after our research, there is little hope for efforts in other directions. Either pay the ransom or take tough measures. ”

Li Mu would not be so curious as to ask why the tactical saber commando team should do this, what should be said, Minister Zhan will definitely say. Maybe those two engineers were military personnel at all, maybe they were employees of some key department, or they were simply field personnel of the intelligence department, and maybe they were even singled out and sent out from the southeast.

Letting the southeast send someone to solve this matter is obviously not something that Minister Zhan can decide, and he must have received an order from the higher-level leading organ.

"You've been on missions in Africa, and I want you to lead a team to South Sudan and try to get people out. Minister Zhan said in a deep voice, pointing at Hu Yong, "Staff Officer Hu is very familiar with the situation in Africa, and he will assist you in your work." ”

Not a command, just like a command.

Without waiting for Li Mu to answer, Minister Zhan immediately asked, "Let me ask again, are your people okay? If not, I will transfer people from other units, special forces and reconnaissance units under the military region, no matter which department, I will transfer whoever you want." ”

Li Mu came back to his senses and said, "I'll use my people." Chief, we are ready to go. ”

Hu Yong wanted to speak, but stopped.

"Okay, go get ready right away, I'll take you to the airport. Minister Zhan said.

Li Mu asked, "Chief, how many people can I bring?"

His brows were furrowed, but Minister Zhan asked rhetorically, "How many people do you want to bring?"

Li Mudao, "Four." ”

"Four?" Hu Yong didn't care much about it, and his tone was a little anxious, "How can four people be enough, you are not the most suitable person in the first place, and compared with the special forces, you are definitely not comparable." Seven people may be a little less. ”

Li Mu glanced at him, but he didn't speak, waiting for Minister Zhan to speak.

Minister Zhan pondered for a while, and nodded slowly under Hu Yong's surprised gaze, "You make your own decision, I just want the result." ”

Li Mu left quickly, and when he got outside, he said to Li Jiu, who was standing guard in person, "You take Minister Zhan to the reception room of the regiment headquarters to sit for a while, and I will gather people." ”

"Got a mission?" asked Li in surprise.

Li Mu nodded, didn't say much, and left quickly.

Note: There is an alliance leader at the starting point, haha, thank you Brother Cliff!