African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1480: Chapter 30: The Red Flag Rises Under the Night Sky

The headquarters of the 37th Division is not far from the city center, and it has a direct telephone line to the city government.

Upon receiving the city government’s request, the 37th Division had already deployed two battalions into Xiqueslav City.

The commander of the 37th Division shouted into the phone’s other end, ”Mayor Filatov, you’d better explain clearly what’s happening in the city. What exactly is going on in Xiqueslav City Center, why has an unknown enemy emerged, where did they get their weapons, and how dare they attack the arsenal in the city?”

Mayor Filatov, receiving this rebuke, was sitting on the sofa, highly tense, wearing a loose-fitting pajama.

In response to the commander’s questioning, he replied hesitantly, ”General Malele, I only just woke up to the sound of gunfire and came to the city hall first thing. After all, it’s just past three in the morning, the entire Xiqueslav City is pitch-black, most people are fast asleep at this hour.”

”In such circumstances, figuring out the situation will require some time. However, there is bad news; we have already lost contact with the police department, otherwise I wouldn’t have been so reckless to call you.”

General Malele retorted, ”You idiot, the police department has probably already been overrun by the enemy. I’ve received reports from below, the enemy is attacking two arsenals inside the city.”

”We have three platoons guarding the arsenal, nearly a company’s strength, which suggests the enemy has at least a hundred men equipped with weapons. Otherwise, they wouldn’t dare split their forces. Your police department is likely in dire straits.”

The words of General Malele instantly sent a chill down Mayor Filatov’s spine.

At this moment, Filatov was less worried about the impact on his political career and more concerned about his personal safety and property.

After all, they now knew for certain that a group of bandits had appeared in Xiqueslav City, and very likely they were the Labor Party organization. Besides them, Filatov couldn’t think who else would dare oppose the government.

He said this because the riots in Xiqueslav City clearly weren’t aimed at ”making money,” otherwise with such energy and capability, the bandits would be better off robbing Xiqueslav City’s bank instead of the arsenal.

If they truly intended to make money, Filatov would breathe easier, since he didn’t own the banks anyway.

But if the riots were indeed instigated by the Labor Party, Filatov couldn’t sit still. As mayor of Xiqueslav City, if the Labor Party succeeds, his outcome wouldn’t be good, with the worst being paraded and executed, the least, imprisoned for reform.

After a brief mental storm, Filatov considered the first possibility more likely, given that during his leadership of Xiqueslav City, he never showed the Labor Party any mercy.

It’s not just his persecution of the Labor Party, but even his other acts in Xiqueslav or simply his identity as a ”puppet government” mayor wouldn’t end well.

Therefore, at this moment Filatov could only treat the 37th Division as his last straw to clutch onto. He urgently pleaded to General Malele, ”Your Excellency, it’s not time for accountability now. I’m certain the riots in the city are instigated by the Labor Party organization, and they’ve definitely acquired a significant amount of weapons through other means.”

”I implore you to immediately deploy troops into the city to suppress the Labor Party’s rebellion; otherwise, if they seize the arsenal, the situation becomes grave. In fact, just from the city police, they could get dozens more guns.”

Facing Filatov’s incoherent words, Malele replied with a sullen face, ”You don’t need to tell me, I’ve already dispatched two battalions into the city, later I will personally lead troops to enter the city to quell the unrest.”

Upon hearing this, Filatov’s tense heart finally relaxed a bit, he praised, ”Your Excellency, once we eliminate the rebels in the city, I will certainly ask the higher government to commend you.”

Malele replied impatiently, ”Alright, the most important thing your city government should do now is cooperate with the actions that follow, first clarify the enemy’s numbers, distribution, etc. My main force and I will probably take half an hour before entering the city, for the next while, you better fend for yourself!”

Having said that, General Malele hung up the phone. He rubbed his eyes and instructed the others at headquarters, gather all troops immediately, we must enter Xiqueslav City by 4:20...

On the other end of the phone, Mayor Filatov, far from relaxed, was reflecting on what General Malele had last said.

”Fend for yourself...” At this moment, Filatov suddenly realized the precarious situation: ”No good, I’m still not out of danger. After all, no one knows what the Labor Party is doing, before that greasy-headed big-eared guy Malele completely quashes the unrest, the city hall is probably also one of the Labor Party’s targets; I can’t stay here.”

Saying this, he put down the phone and told his cousin Leonid who had rushed here, ”You idiot, what are you staring at me for? Quickly get a car here, we must immediately leave this damned place and head to the headquarters of the 37th Division outside the city.”

”The Labor Party, suddenly initiating riots at this time, must have also made preparations. City Hall is likely one of their targets too. If we don’t leave now, we won’t be able to get out later.”