Jiangjing, Jiangbei Bridge.
The entire Jiangjing City is divided by the Huang River into two urban areas. The locked-down districts Xin'an, Minxu, Baohai, and Nanxin are all in the southern part.
The only passage to the outside world from these lockdown zones is the Jiangbei Bridge.
After the lockdown began, the government deployed a large number of military and police forces to establish checkpoints at Jiangbei Bridge. Without a pass, no one is allowed to enter or exit.
Fully armed soldiers wore masks, loaded guns, and stood guard by the roadside; machine guns were even set up!
Several armed helicopters hovered around the bridge, patrolling back and forth. High-power searchlights illuminated the river surface to prevent smuggling by water.
The bridge was already filled with vehicles, and a dense crowd squirmed toward the security checkpoint, trying to leave for the outside safe zones.
There were at least tens of thousands of people.
People's faces showed fear and unease. The noisy crowd mixed with sirens, shouts, and crying babies created chaos.
Even more distressing was that no one really understood what was happening, but the gravity of the situation instinctively made them want to flee the lockdown zones.
Police officers stood on elevated platforms, shouting through loudspeakers: "No passes, no passing the checkpoint. Please go home and wait!"
In fact, most people did not have any passes, but no one returned home; all pushed forward.
Everyone hoped, maybe they could get out.
At the front of the crowd, they were blocked by a metal barricade at the checkpoint. Soldiers would not allow anyone without a pass to pass.
"Let me through! Let me through! I'm not infected! I'm a normal person!"
People cried out desperately, trying to prove their health.
But the soldiers were indifferent and mechanically repeated: "Only those with passes can pass the checkpoint. Those without passes must go home and wait."
A woman holding a little girl begged a military officer: "I'm not going out. Can you take my daughter out? Please!"
The officer's eyes showed some pity but he shook his head.
The top had already issued a strict order: no passes, no crossing the checkpoint. Anyone attempting to riot would be shot without mercy.
Someone in the crowd shouted: "I'm the deputy general manager of Changnan Industries. I'll pay 300,000. Can I get a pass?"
The crowd quickly became restless.
"I'm the director of Xinghai Group. I'll pay 400,000!"
"I offer 500,000!"
Among the crowd, a middle-aged man dressed properly and with an official demeanor stepped forward, took out his work ID, and quietly said to the officer:
"Lieutenant, I'm Gong Shulin, director of the Tax Bureau in Baohai District, Jiangjing City. Can you make an exception and let me through?
Heh, I've had dinner with your military district's Staff Officer Wang Zhe; we're pretty familiar!"
The lieutenant carefully examined Gong Shulin's work ID, then handed it back and shook his head: "Sorry, Director Gong, no pass means no entry."
Gong Shulin's smile froze and his face darkened.
As Tax Bureau director, Gong Shulin was a big figure in Jiangjing City. Many people courted him, even billionaires treated him respectfully.
Yet a low-ranking lieutenant refused to give him face?
But facing fully armed soldiers, Gong Shulin could only suppress his anger and retreat into the crowd to make calls.
He hoped to use his connections to get a pass.
Among the crowd, a stylishly dressed, arrogant young man was holding up a phone filming video. He was holding a heavily made-up woman in his arms.
After recording, the young man posted the video on an online platform with a provocative title:
"Jiangjing Locked Down, Military Suppressing Civilians?"
Soon, his video gained tens of thousands of likes.
The young man smiled smugly and boasted to his companion: "See my influence!"
His name was Li Han, a junior college graduate who once screwed screws in a factory but became popular by chance during the rise of short videos.
He had over two million followers on the largest short video platform Tiktok and was a major internet celebrity nicknamed Brother Li. He amassed tens of millions in a few years.
Li Han's companion coquettishly asked, "Brother Li, can we get out?"
Li Han bragged, "Why be afraid? I have two million fans, and Jiangjing's Culture and Tourism Bureau asked me to shoot promotional videos."
He even showed photos of himself with several officials from the Jiangjing Culture and Tourism Bureau.
"Wow!"
His companion gasped with admiration, which made Li Han even more proud...
...........
Qin Jun's convoy stopped outside Jiangbei Bridge. Looking at the long line of tightly packed vehicles ahead, Li Weiguo turned to Qin Jun: "The streets are blocked. We'll have to walk through."
Then he instructed the soldiers: "First squad in front, second squad at the rear, keep them surrounded in the middle. Don't let anyone fall behind!"
So the group crossed the bridge, heading toward the checkpoint.
An Xinling, An Mian, and Chen Chong also got out of the police car and followed the army.
Seeing the military group arrive, the crowd reluctantly parted to make way.
They scrutinized Qin Jun, escorted by soldiers, silently. In their eyes were curiosity, confusion, and mostly envy.
After a long walk, escorted by the army, Qin Jun and the others finally reached the checkpoint.
A senior officer who had received the news quickly approached.
This officer was Zhao Yi, deputy commander of the Third Division of the Jiangjing Garrison Military District, holding the rank of colonel. At thirty-seven years old, he was the youngest colonel in the garrison with a promising future.
Zhao Yi approached Qin Jun warmly: "Qin Jun, how was the trip?"
Qin Jun knew Zhao Yi well. Zhao Yi's rise as the youngest colonel was largely due to the Qin Family's influence.
As an aside, the Jiangjing Garrison Military District was under the Southeast Military District, whose commander was also surnamed Qin Committee Chairman....
Zhao Yi immediately led Qin Jun and the others to pass the checkpoint, while An Xinling showed the official pass issued by the municipal government office and followed Qin Jun.
This scene was in plain view, without concealment.
People silently watched all this, gradually growing dissatisfied. Why could this young man leave the lockdown zone without a pass?
While they themselves could only wait there!
Li Han's face darkened.
He had just tried to pass with his companion and was directly driven away, and even his status as Brother Li didn't help. It was humiliating.
Seeing Qin Jun blatantly using privilege and entering without a pass made Li Han furious with jealousy.
Damn it, why was this guy so powerful?
He himself had two million fans!
Li Han also knew the situation was severe. Surely an outbreak had occurred in the lockdown zone, and staying meant waiting to die!
Suddenly, he had an idea.
He stepped out of the crowd and pointed at Qin Jun: "Why can he leave without a pass, but we can't?
We want out too!"
He had planned to stir up the crowd's discontent, get everyone to make a ruckus, and pressure those bastards!
Heh, manipulating public opinion was his specialty....
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