Free Web NovelChapter 330: Chapter 264: Task Assignment, Dongqi Middle School
The police officer’s face lit up with joy upon hearing this.
"Firefighters? Has...the main force arrived?"
Special Duty officers from other detachments were not bringing large forces, and only lieutenants were coming. The leadership of the whole corps was also coordinating at the big rock. As the highest-ranking firefighting cadre on the scene, He Yongjun looked around at the mournful state of the crowd in the streets and loudly announced:
"We are the People’s Armed Police Firefighting forces’ 100-man assault team! There are three more assault teams rushing to the Mianzhu earthquake zone! Support troops should already be arranging! The mechanized units of the People’s Liberation Army will be here soon!"
Actually, according to their intelligence, since yesterday afternoon, the engineering regiment of the Chengdu Military Region had been clearing roads in various areas. The People’s Armed Police from Chengdu and the Deyang Regiment were also participating in the rescue efforts across Mianzhu, and two divisions of the 54th Army from the Jinan Military Region had been making their way into Sichuan since the early hours of today.
A paratrooper unit had also landed nearby, heading toward Qingping and the nearby Xiaomuling.
Simply because on the first day, the situation in various places was gradually being summarized, and the external main forces were all assembling, waiting for orders.
A large number of engineering soldiers were following superior commands to restore the even more complex road conditions near the Longmen Mountain Range, to quickly obtain accurate intelligence on the entire disaster area.
The command authority for disaster relief by the local People’s Liberation Army was decentralized, with the disaster situation serving as the command; no need to ask for instructions, allowing them to participate in the rescue effort. The troops stationed in the disaster areas had already taken action, but since military agencies were above the county level, the troops were still gradually infiltrating from the city and county levels downward.
The vehicles transporting supplies on the road just now belonged to the military region.
Seeing that everyone gradually began to gather around, He Yongjun shouted again:
"Please trust the troops; never give up no matter what! The main forces have already arrived in the surrounding areas, and the engineering troops are actively clearing the roads. Very soon, countless units will reach Hanwang!"
"Great! What a good job by the People’s Liberation Army! Now that you’re here, we’re saved!" an old man replied loudly.
To many of them, the distinction between People’s Liberation Army and People’s Armed Police was unclear; to them, all uniformed forces were the People’s Liberation Army.
The surrounding people began to applaud, even in the face of the death of loved ones or missing children, they still clapped.
Because before the main forces arrived, they could only use their hands to dig and shovels to excavate, but with these uniformed personnel present, they had someone to ask for help.
Soon, a person wearing an orange emergency rescue suit arrived, sitting in a tricycle driven by a local civilian.
After negotiation, the firefighters finally understood why their arrival had not attracted much attention along the way.
The National Earthquake Rescue Team had already arrived yesterday afternoon, their rescue suits very similar to the firefighters’ emergency suits, except that one helmet was white and the other orange.
And because they were short-handed, the first batch of 180 rescuers scattering meant only about a dozen were at Hanwang, who had been at Dongqi Middle School since yesterday, breaking through the floors where two children were confirmed to be alive.
Breaking through rubble wasn’t easy and sometimes required many people and one or two days of effort.
The other people also realized they were helpless, and since the children were being rescued, they did not rush to ask Fang Huai and his team for help, assuming they were part of the earthquake rescue squad they had seen before.
No matter how difficult, the children had to be prioritized.
The self-discipline of the disaster-stricken people moved them to tears.
"After arriving, have you discovered any news of survivors who have not yet been reached for rescue?" He Yongjun quickly asked.
Now, without any delay, it was best to dive directly into saving lives.
"Yes, yes, yes! We received several calls for help as we were arriving!" a member of the earthquake rescue team immediately responded.
He Yongjun nodded, glancing at his watch.
"General Luo and General Wang from the whole corps have granted me temporary command authority on the scene! Now, the three Special Duty squads, split into three teams!
Guiyang Special Duty, immediately follow Comrade from the rescue team, split into three teams, and rescue the known survivors!
Special Duty Y, lead the Search and Rescue Dog Team to cooperate, conduct unknown area street searches!
You must ensure that before the engineering troops arrive, you secure an area with absolutely no survivors, where mechanical excavation can be carried out to recover bodies!
Remember, if you misjudge, you could potentially kill those who are still alive!
So, search and rescue can be slow, but must be extremely thorough! Use all professional equipment, search dogs, shouting, and any other methods you have!
Anshun Special Duty, start from this area, try to recover all bodies exposed outside, find a vacant area, set up a perimeter, and arrange them in order, awaiting identification and collection by relatives!
It’s unbearable for the dead to just lay exposed in the ruins; even seeing this would give me nightmares, let alone the residents!
Within ten hours, there mustn’t be a single body visible on the streets! Let all living persons’ emotions stabilize!"
"Yes!"
Everyone immediately answered, and the squadron personnel began to arrange work.
The surrounding people began to applaud.
The People’s Liberation Army had arrived, and finally, so had the order.
Seeing that the orders had been given, Fang Huai pushed the handcart forward and said to the police officer:
"Comrade, do you recognize this person? We came across him on the way here; he seems to have collapsed mentally and was trying to run away."
The police officer immediately called a few locals to come and identify him.
"Isn’t this the guy who sold honeycomb coal by the Agricultural Bank? This handcart is what he usually uses to transport coal! Look, there are still traces of coal on the handcart!"
"Right! It’s Old Three Ma! He sells honeycomb coal right below my house. His wife died early, and now both his kids are dead, so pitiful..."
With his identity confirmed, Fang Huai looked at the police officer and said:
"Could you take him into custody?"
"No problem, go save people quickly! Leave this area to us!" the police officer nodded.
After speaking, he seemed to remember something and sighed:
"The town government building collapsed, falling directly from the second floor to the first. During the earthquake yesterday, many town leaders were inside having a meeting. Some died on the spot, and some were injured.
With many departments leaderless, since our station still has people, we can assist you in organizing a resident aid team later, to help with the rescue!"
There are also self-rescue teams organized by several large enterprises. We will call them over to cooperate with you!"
We don’t understand rescue operations, and several of our colleagues are gone too. Faced with this situation, we can only try our best to maintain order... I feel ashamed, so ashamed!"
Having said this, tears fell from the police officer’s eyes in large drops.
Seeing this, the surrounding soldiers looked at the ruins and felt a lump in their throat.
"You’re doing very well," He Yongjun comforted the old officer with a pat on the back.
Thinking of his own past efforts, and after the Instructor turned to arrange the rescue, Fang Huai couldn’t help but ask the police officer in a low voice:
"Huaili Electric Company donated a batch of wireless loudspeakers, you should have them here, right? For fire protection publicity. Were they sounding during the earthquake yesterday...?"
"Wireless loudspeakers..." the police officer fell into thought. frёeωebɳovel.com
"Yesterday during the earthquake, there was a loudspeaker sounding below my building!" a resident immediately exclaimed:
"By Yinhan Mall, right? Two minutes before the earthquake, it was broadcasting earthquake escape tips! It had been sounding for several days; I was particularly annoyed because that loudspeaker woke me up and I got up early for work. Deeply imprinted in my mind!
In the days before, some people even said they wanted to complain, saying it was too loud, always waking them up from their naps, but in the end... it saved lives!"
Someone else shouted out loud.
"Exactly, exactly, there was one on Jixian Road too! Yesterday there was an old man foolishly arguing with the loudspeaker on the street, complaining about the noise disturbing his sleep, attracting a crowd on the roadside to watch. Suddenly, the earthquake struck, and afterwards, the old man went bowing to the loudspeaker, saying it saved his life! It was just at half-past two for work time; many who were delayed by the commotion almost walked into the buildings!" freewebnσvel.cѳm
With that said, the police officer also remembered, saying: "I know, it’s the promotional loudspeaker set up by the Fire Brigade! It was sponsored by some company, for some... publicity week! That must be what you’re talking about, right?"
Relieved, Fang Huai exhaled.
Old Teacher He also heard the conversation and turned his head to give Fang Huai a profound look, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Fang Huai, having received the answer, did not continue the discussion, and turned his head to address Old Teacher He:
"Instructor! I want to join in the search and rescue!"
Saying this, he opened his backpack, took out Little White, and began to fit the search and rescue dog protective gear he had purchased onto Little White.
Old Teacher He had seen him bring the dog earlier and looked at Little White skeptically, saying, "Is this... going to be effective? Don’t cause harm!"
"Woof!" Little White barked in defiance.
Fang Huai insisted, "Search and rescue dogs are precious, we are the first troops to enter Mianzhu with a search and rescue dog. Little White has also passed the police dog trainer’s test; please let me give it a try."
Hearing the conversation, the head of the Earthquake Rescue Team turned around.
"Let this comrade help us with the search and rescue at Dongqi Middle School! We are in dire need of search and rescue personnel there! It’s quite far from your search and rescue starting point, so he can try first!"
The situation at Dongqi Middle School was critical; after a day and night of search and rescue and demolition, their team was reaching its limits. Seeing that the Fire Brigade was about to start rescue from Yingchun Gate, he thought it would be good to pull whoever he could to help.
It’s not just about searching; assistance in the rescue was also needed.
Better still, to bring some equipment with them.
Hearing this, Old Teacher He also looked at Fang Huai.
Among the Guiyang Regiment, Fang Huai was no doubt one of the elites.
However, Hanwang Dongqi Middle School was also one of their main rescue targets; letting Fang Huai go there meant whether the dog would be useful or not, his assistance in direct rescue efforts would be valuable.
"Okay! Little Fang, since you are now participating in the rescue mission, take a set of hydraulic demolition tools with you, and go with them! But comrade, you will be responsible for leading our people to identify your known rescue targets!"
"No problem! This is our mission too!" the Earthquake Rescue Team member said with a look of joy upon hearing about the equipment.
Fang Huai replied even louder, "Guaranteed to complete the mission!"
He then tugged on the leash.
Little White looked around and barked, "Woof!"
At that moment, the task assignment for the Second Squadron was completed, and the group, hearing the Instructor’s assignments, came over.
Cao Yi crouched down, feeling sentimental, and for the first time, patted Little White on the head, saying: "I never thought you’d also go into battle. Perform well and continue the task of Little Black!"
"He will!" Fang Huai stood up, ready to leave.
Who knew, just then the woman from earlier came rushing back, holding a bag and crying out: "My Wu Tao! Oh, Wu Tao! Please help me, I found his bag at the staircase! He must be under this building! Please help me save him!"
With that, she pointed to a nearby building and took out identity documents from the bag to show everyone.
Everyone turned towards that building.
The police officer signaled with his eyes.
The person was definitely already gone.
