HLM -Chapter 1133 Capture in One Strike

The majority of trees in the logging area were Douglas firs.

Speaking of Douglas firs, most people—unless they are botanists or professional timber importers—might not know what they are. But if you say “Christmas tree,” most would immediately understand.

Indeed, in many parts of the world, young Douglas firs, also called Pseudotsuga menziesii, are used as natural Christmas trees to decorate for the holiday season.

So the purpose of this timber-stealing gang was clear. With December approaching, every household would be buying Christmas trees, and these people had come to steal Douglas firs for resale.

Gerald led the team into the logging area and shared this information with Wang Bo, who then went to meet the local informants who had reported the crime. He needed to get these people down the mountain overnight.

Seeing him, the four dogs excitedly ran over and jumped on him.

Zhuang Ding quickly pushed them away with his paws: “Go away, go away, you little brats! Zhuang Ding’s with me, get lost!”

Wang Bo approached the four locals and spoke in Mandarin: “Thank you for your courage. Fellow townsmen, there might be some action soon, so you should head down the mountain first. Your hiking trip is affected, so I will compensate you.”

The eldest, Du Zewen, said, “Mayor Wang, you are too polite. We are not heroes; we just can’t ignore illegal activities when we see them.”

Wang Bo patted his shoulder. “The hotel has been arranged for you. Rest tonight, and I’ll contact you tomorrow.”

He assigned a police officer to escort the four down the mountain and stayed behind with the four dogs, who could provide significant assistance.

Excited to be left behind, the dogs jumped on Wang Bo again. Their enthusiasm was unstoppable. Wang Bo sighed—Chinese rural dogs were just like this: loyal and passionate with their owner, but ruthless toward enemies.

Douglas firs, or Pseudotsuga, are a type of pine tree—tall, evergreen, and majestic. The tallest can reach 100 meters, with trunks up to 12 meters wide.

Their bark is thick and rough, and they produce cones about 8 cm in size with square or diamond-shaped scales. But many of these trees die young; being cut for Christmas trees is their main use.

Douglas firs make good Christmas trees because of their beautiful shape from a young age and their resin’s faint natural pine scent.

In New Zealand, they serve not only as timber but also as ornamental trees for streets and landscapes.

Three teams took their positions in the planned ambush area, forming a triangle.

Within the triangle, some people were cutting small trees with chainsaws, confirming Wang Bo’s suspicion—they were harvesting Christmas trees.

It pained him. Naturally grown Douglas firs have important uses. Though the bark is rough, the wood inside is excellent.

When Wang Bo built villas, he used these trees—cut directly from the mountain. The wood is reddish or pale yellow, resinous, strong yet elastic, and has a faint pine aroma—a top-tier building material.

Now, these trees had been cut down before reaching maturity.

Once everyone reached their positions, it was time to act.

The helicopter went first, roaring into the sky, a massive spotlight cutting through the darkness. Over the comms, Uncle Bing’s stern voice boomed:

“Timber thieves below, listen! You are surrounded! This is the Sunset Town Police! Drop your weapons and surrender immediately! Warning, warning! Drop your weapons now! Surrender on the spot!”

Startled, the thieves dropped their heavy chainsaws and tried to run.

Only fools would surrender. The mountain terrain was complex and forested—perfect for hiding, nearly impossible to catch.

The police held the three most accessible mountain paths, where the thieves were most likely to escape.

Still, the dogs were released—Zhuang Ding, the queen dog, and the Chinese rural dogs—all six lunged forward, barking.

The sound of police dogs echoed across the mountains. The barking intimidated some thieves; they froze or climbed trees, essentially waiting to be caught.

Others came straight at Wang Bo, who bent down, grabbed one, and slammed him to the ground. Nearby, Atulu laughed: “Awesome, boss! And you said you don’t play rugby—perfect tackling technique!”

There were over ten thieves. Four were caught on the spot, six or seven climbed trees in fear, and ultimately none escaped.

The helicopter was key. Flying above, its scanning radar and onboard computer could lock on to human figures—no escape.

The dozen or so thieves sat handcuffed, heads down, while Zhuang Ding and the Chinese rural dogs monitored them. One tried to adjust his posture, but the dogs misunderstood and pounced.

“Ah, help! I was just moving because my leg went numb!”

Many Douglas firs lay toppled in the forest—both small Christmas-tree-sized ones and massive trees thicker than a person’s waist.

Atulu shook his head in pain. “These prime trees, half a century in the making… damned, all destroyed.”

Native to North America, Douglas firs thrived in New Zealand, becoming the country’s second-largest commercial timber species. But being cut down so soon was a shame.

Wang Bo said, “Find a way to transport them down—wasting them would be a pity.”

Douglas fir wood is strong, durable, and naturally beautiful. It resists dents, perfect for house frames, masts, floors, fine woodworking, and beams. Its uses are wide.

Atulu said, “The big trees are hard to transport, but if cut into pieces, my tribe can carry them. Waste not—they can be carved.”

Wang Bo patted his shoulder. “Then, take the small ones for Christmas trees; the rest is yours.”