"I know a boy. I took his details when he first came to the base during an evacuation. He was striking, so I remember him clearly. Later, I learned he was taken in by an orphanage and even sent him some stuff. His name, as I recall, was Yan Shuo."

"But the list the orphanage released today didn't have that name?"

"Could he have changed his name?"

"If he's outside and not in the orphanage, it's quite natural for his name to be absent from the list, isn't it? The real question is, if these rescued kids were from the orphanage, what about those left inside?"

"Exactly! It's not like the Zhu family has a spare batch of orphans, right? Where would they get so many?" Someone hit the nail on the head, but few believed this theory. Children are treasured, and many are adopted through official channels, making the number of orphans in welfare homes quite low.

Yet, that's just on the surface. The Zhu family sheltered many orphans, but they rarely publicized this fact. As a result, very few got adopted, and most of those were physically or mentally challenged.

"We should ask the relevant authorities to investigate thoroughly. What's the use of speculations alone?"

"Heh, who knows whose lapdog those authorities sit on? Didn't someone murder countless people without any repercussions?"

"That doesn't make sense. Isn't Shao Qi an outsider? Why would the government side with him against the Zhu family? He must have some significant backing."

"I heard he's from the central government."

"Quick, check it out, there's a new video!"

The video showcased interviews with a group of children. Their pitiable states needed no exaggeration—it was evident to any observer. Every word they spoke was understood by all, and the bitterness in their eyes was far too intense for their tender ages to have fabricated.

They were all orphans taken in from various places. A few might have seen the outside world once or twice, but most lost their identities upon being sheltered—no names, no official records. They were at the mercy of others, and if they died, no trace would be left behind.

On a typical day, if a student died in a school, the public would be up in arms, demanding answers. Given the current situation, many have bombarded the government's lines, demanding a thorough investigation.

"Fools!" Zhu Rongwei also received the latest news. Their extermination team outside the city found nothing but corpses. With these videos, everything was clear.

They had indeed discovered the secret tunnels and wiped out his men. Only the insignificant workers at the livestock farm were spared.

"Act immediately, no delays!" Zhu Rongwei ordered, sending people towards the Litchi Villa.

"General, our men have been watching the vicinity, but we can't get too close. If we act, won't the commotion be too much?"

"The military is executing its duty, apprehending criminals. Why fear making noise? Act swiftly. I'll handle the online news deletion here. As long as they're all dead, there won't be any witnesses left."

"Understood, but they are all experts."

"No matter how skilled, they're just a few individuals. Can they stand against a thousand?"

"Yes!"

"Also, don't leave the Litchi Villa standing. If they resist, flatten it!"

The aide's expression tightened as he ordered the artillery to be prepared, ensuring no escape this time.

Chapter 148: Confrontation (Part 2)

The movements within the camp couldn't escape the attention of others. General Zhu left the camp today with much discussion trailing him. Still, he was surrounded by his trusted men, leaving no room for interference.

"Commander, Zhu Rongwei's aide has just mobilized troops and even brought heavy weaponry. They seem intent on confronting those at the Litchi Villa."

The man meditating with closed eyes took a while to respond. "Leave him be. The Zhu family always plays their power games while feigning detachment. I gave Zhu Rongwei some leeway because I thought the Xu family was behind him. Now that he's up against a real challenge, let him continue his charades. He'll regret it soon enough."

"We're not intervening? Those young individuals came from out of town, rumored to be from the Central Army. Still, we haven't seen any official orders from them!"

Zhao Bo opened his eyes, standing up after reviewing the reports his aide presented about the day's events. After reading, Zhao Bo was even more amused, telling his aide, "Some people don't need official orders for their missions. We won't get involved in this matter. Just keep an eye on the news. If Litchi Villa faces danger, ignore it."

"Commander..." The aide was puzzled. Ever since Commander Zhao met a few individuals recently, he had been in seclusion, paying no mind to the camp's affairs. Today's remarks added to the mystery.

Zhao Bo smiled, "Not all tasks come with clear directives. Some matters just have to unfold."

"I want to see the Zhu family fall, but there's someone who wants him toppled even more. If this dispute ends with both sides suffering, then it's a win-win for everyone."

The deputy officer was startled, realizing why the commander didn't intervene in General Zhu's affairs. Allowing him access to heavy weaponry had a purpose.

Word spread quickly once the large contingent entered the inner city. Litchi Villa got the news. Cheng Yuran was a bit anxious but seeing everyone else so calm, she asked perplexedly, "Shouldn't we hide?"

"Hide where?" Miao Miao, while cleaning her whip, felt some pent-up frustration. This was a perfect time to let it out.

Zhuo Hao added, "There's no escaping this. Besides, we initiated this mess. If Young Mistress is scared, you can leave early. You were never one of us, to begin with."

Annoyed, Cheng Yuran retorted, "Don't push your luck. I just asked a simple question. I didn’t say I'm afraid, but shouldn't we have a plan? It's just a few of us here, and there are children in the house. If we're besieged, we might escape, but what about them?"

Long Gan didn't have a strong personal opinion. Since he decided to follow them, he never thought of only saving himself. They had helped him a lot, and he felt indebted. Plus, he believed that Shao Qi and the others wouldn't lose.