Free Web NovelChapter 327: Chapter 261: Set off!
Pm, 3:50.
"Where’s the order? Why hasn’t it come down yet? You’re the secretary, you ask again!"
"What’s there to ask! Does reconnaissance not take time? Does deployment not take time? With such a big disaster, surely troops from all over the country have to be mobilized. Do you think the detachment, the whole corps can decide? We have to wait for the Central Government to arrange it level by level!... Think about Tangshan!"
Cao Yi and Ye Jiahong were in the Squadron Department, about to start another quarrel.
But it could be heard that Ye Jiahong had already restrained his sorrow, turning it into urgency, and Cao Yi was also trying to be patient, advising him not to rush.
The Special Duty Squad was equally busy. ƒreewebɳovel.com
Most of the soldiers in the unit were crowded in here.
Fang Huai was distributing to everyone the bags of compressed biscuits he had bought from the supermarket and several dozen 1.25-liter bottles of various drinks and mineral water, while he instructed:
"These aren’t for us to eat, they’re for the people! Don’t be greedy! We won’t have much time to take a dump or have a pee on the way!"
Next to him, Huang Yong touched his head and looked at his watch:
"Why is there no sign from the leadership? Are we going or not, are you sure?"
Fang Huai suddenly looked up.
Instead of answering his question, he continued to arrange: "Song Lin! Go get an extra pair of emergency rescue gloves from Squad Leader Chen Gong! One extra pair per person, and one extra rescue belt per person, hurry!"
"Sure!"
Only then did Fang Huai turn his head, looking at Huang Yong: "Whatever else, in such a situation, no matter which unit doesn’t go, we have to!"
At these words, everyone nodded in agreement.
Right, which disaster area can do without firefighting?
The movements in everyone’s hands suddenly sped up, stuffing items into the orange mobile rescue backpacks and started to check for any items missing.
"Lifelines, prepare one of each kind... no, two of each kind."
"We need to bring two crowbars."
"How about heavy equipment? Which vehicle do we put it in?"
Fang Huai then looked up: "Get a few poles ready!"
"Impossible right? Are we going on foot?"
"Just in case!"
...
Pm, 6:55.
"Tapping."
"Tapping."
Fang Huai’s fingers were tapping back and forth on the table in the study room.
In the entire building, except for the Squadron Department, no one turned on the lights, but groups of soldiers in full emergency rescue suits sat in each class, quietly waiting.
Everyone was waiting to be dispatched.
"It’s almost seven..." Zhang Tianwang was about to say something.
Fang Huai raised his hand, interrupting him, picked up his mobile phone, dialed his uncle’s number, switched on the speakerphone, and placed it on the table.
He knew his uncle must be busy today.
But by this time, there should be two minutes to take a call.
"Beep."
"Beep."
"Hello?"
When Zhang Zhongting answered, there was a lot of noise in the background, as if many people were on calls.
Fang Huai spoke succinctly: "Uncle, it’s me. Our squadron is all ready. How soon do we leave?"
"Don’t panic, the superiors are arranging it. I’m currently at the Corps Headquarters, and we’re also actively volunteering to fight!"
Zhang Zhongting’s voice was filled with urgency just like theirs.
After hearing this, Fang Huai responded with a "Okay, you’re busy," intending to hang up without causing him any trouble.
But then a voice came through again:
"The first assault team has already taken a flight into the area. Next, from our side, the Special Duty is likely to go first. Inform your Squadron Department to be ready to face the battle at any moment.
It’s about to be seven o’clock, check the news."
The people around were ignited with a spark in their eyes.
Fang Huai stood up, saying, "Always ready!"
The people around yelled back, "Always ready!"
Both Zhang Tianwang and Zhou Tiannu, hearing the mention of "Corps Headquarters," were surprised about which leader it was but didn’t inquire at that moment.
"Okay."
The call ended.
The people from other classes, hearing the voice from the Special Duty class, rushed over in a hurry.
"What’s going on? What’s the situation?"
While others were explaining, Fang Huai glanced at the time, picked up the remote control, and turned on the TV to Central Channel 1.
The news broadcast was just starting.
The presenter Luo Jing was speaking.
"Today is May 12th, Monday, the 8th of April in the Lunar Calendar, with 88 days left to the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games."
"Today’s main content of the program is..."
The crowd gathered more and more, and the two officials heard the clear commotion outside and rushed over as well.
As they walked, they said, "All classes turn on the TV and watch the news!"
In fact, everyone had already gathered in the Special Duty class study room, staring at the TV, all waiting for that message.
"A 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in wc Sichuan... The Central Government has issued important instructions, requiring prompt rescue of the injured and ensuring the safety of the lives of the people in the disaster-stricken area."
Everyone was instantly shocked.
7.8 magnitude was on par with Tangshan!
And the epicenter was not in Mianyang.
"The relevant state departments urgently initiated the emergency plan to fully respond to the earthquake disaster in wc."
"According to the latest evaluation by the National Earthquake Network, at 14:28 BJ time today, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in wc county at 31 degrees north latitude, longitude 103.4 degrees east..."
"Ah Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Sha’anxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, XZ, Jiangsu, and other provinces and regions have felt it."
"After the earthquake occurred, the China Earthquake Bureau immediately initiated the emergency contingency plan, and also activated the China Earthquake Rescue Team internationally, forming a team of about 180 people currently..."
"The earthquake-stricken WC County is located about 159 kilometers west of Chengdu, with a total population of approximately 106,000 people."
"At present, the Chengdu Military Region has already dispatched personnel to the epicenter to understand the situation. Communication with the WC earthquake area is currently cut off, and the extent of the disaster is being further investigated and verified."
"China Mobile’s Sichuan operation has over 2,300 base stations affected by the earthquake, causing partial mobile signal interruptions."
At this time, Cao Yi, who arrived later, asked loudly from behind, "What’s the situation? Did they mention how strong the earthquake was just now?"
Standing in front, Hao Chengbin turned around and said, "7.8, the same as Tangshan. There’s still no news from the epicenter... But no news is the best news. Wait for orders. Captain Zhang already said to wait for commands. The People’s Liberation Army in Chengdu has already sent people there."
Cao Yi immediately touched the back of his head and walked away while making a phone call.
It took only two seconds before Cao Yi’s voice came from the corridor:
"Instructor, our Second Squadron has already assembled. We’re ready to depart at any time!"
"...I know, yes, yes! I know it’s urgent, yes! I know Sichuan is your hometown, you must be more anxious than me, but I was thinking if we could take the initiative... yes!"
Everyone couldn’t help but sigh.
Fang Huai knew even more clearly in his heart that at this moment, not just them, but every service member across the country, generals, field-grade officers, and junior officers were all doing the same thing.
Volunteering for battle.
He still remembered the words of a staff member from the General Staff who gave an interview,
"Commanders and political commissars from all military regions have called us directly, stating that as long as there is a need, no matter how many people are needed, we can send that many!"
At this moment, it was not only them who were anxious. The troops across the country were probably all gathered in front of the television, watching the news and waiting to charge.
Civil organizations, retired military personnel, and social volunteers had also already informed their families and were preparing to leave.
If the will to fight had form, all the collapsed buildings in the disaster area would have already been lifted by the 1.3 billion people.
...
PM, 11:59.
Fang Huai’s phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID, Yang Shaoqing, and hung up.
Yang Shaoqing had called many times today to confirm if he had left. After Fang Huai picked up a few times, he got somewhat impatient, so they agreed that if she hung up within five seconds, it meant everything was fine.
The TV was turned on, flipped through 62 channels, briefly paused on a few news stations, and then was turned off again.
"Ah, these lousy TV dramas, I don’t know what’s so good about them!" Hao Chengbin, who usually loved watching TV dramas, couldn’t help but smack the table and curse.
"Uh... it’s midnight."
"I’m going to have a drink of water."
"I can’t take it anymore, I need to use the restroom."
At this time, Cao Yi also walked into the room and surveyed the situation of the Special Duty Squad.
Everyone was sitting next to the long tables in the study room, resting with their eyes closed.
Time ticked by minute by minute, and the news from the CCTV news program was already five hours old.
They all guessed which troops might have already arrived and how many people had been rescued.
Every half hour, the TV would be turned on to cycle through all the channels to see if there were any more updates.
"Go get some sleep. If you’re like this, how are you going to fight in real action? The first 72 hours are crucial for lives, and it’s only been 10 hours. Once we arrive, we won’t have much time to sleep!"
Fang Huai also touched his forehead and said, "You all go to sleep, I’ll stay here and watch the news."
"Alright, we’ll go rest first. You hold the fort, and I’ll come to relieve you in the latter half of the night," Hao Chengbin said, patting the table.
Following the order, everyone stopped chatting and headed to the beds outside.
Fang Huai sat quietly in the dark for a while.
Looking outside, everyone slept in the same position: in their combat uniforms and boots, with their feet resting on the bed frame, without pillows or blankets.
They lay there quietly, as if they were ready to never part with their clothes, ready to endure hardship.
But soon, snoring began.
...
May 13.
AM, 1:13.
Just an hour later,
Corridors and classrooms lit up one by one with the sound of Cao Yi’s footsteps passing through.
"Tut tut tut..."
"Emergency, assemble! Everyone, put on your emergency rescue suits and gather downstairs!"
The order had come!
As everyone woke up, their hearts pounded fiercely.
Sleep vanished instantly.
Fang Huai also rose at the same time, stepped out of the study room, banged on the door of the room, and shouted, "Let’s go!"
Inside the room, there was a clatter of beds shaking and heavy footsteps.
Downstairs, the emergency lights were blazing.
Cars from the Full Attendance Command and the instructors had arrived, flashing their lights. At the same time, two buses and a pickup truck with a rain cover had also arrived.
One bus was already full, packed with members from the First Squadron.
Detachment Captain Li got out of the Full Attendance car.
Zhang Zhongting was nowhere to be seen.
Holding a piece of paper in his hand, without any nonsense, he got off the car and personally started the formation.
"Look right!"
"Look forward!"
"Attention!"
"Order!"
"In the face of the current disaster situation in Sichuan! As per the Fire Brigade’s orders, the Guizhou Fire Brigade is dispatching 100 officers to Sichuan for disaster relief!
Our Detachment will take the lead with 30 special duty officers and soldiers! Requirements: each from the First and Second Squadrons, 15 top combatants from combat positions! freewebnovёl.ƈom
Carry emergency demolition and rescue equipment and join the 30 special duty officers from the Anshun Brigade, heading to Hanwang Town in Deyang, 30 kilometers from the epicenter, to carry out rescue operations!
Fellow soldiers, General Luo and Detachment Captain Zhang are already waiting for you with the battle-ready support personnel at the freeway entrance! We must cover the 900-kilometer journey and arrive before 14:28 today. Once there, we will commence rescue operations!
The Party and The People are putting us to the test!
Comrades, what you’re facing may be the largest earthquake since the founding of the nation. I have only one demand of you! Never compromise with the grim reaper at any time. As long as there’s a breath left, you must rescue them! Can you do it?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The Second Squadron shouted three times in unison.
"Good! Cao Yi, confirm the personnel for departure, load up the equipment, and depart within ten minutes!"
