Free Web NovelChapter 343: Chapter 276: I am a Chinese soldier, why should I fear life or death?
The leader’s words had almost laid out the entire plan, and his meaning was clear: if you have a better plan, speak up and let everyone hear it, if not, accept the reward and leave the court.
Fang Huai remained silent.
He didn’t want to argue with the leader over whether there would actually be such heavy rainfall soon.
It would seem too much like fortune-telling.
In fact, he knew that the Tangjia Mountain Barrier Lake had gathered rainfall from more than 3,000 square kilometers nearby, and just two millimeters of rainfall would raise the water level by one meter.
At the end of May and the beginning of June, the daily water storage was increasing at a rate of ten million cubic meters, completely filling the over 300 million cubic meters capacity of the Tangjia Mountain Barrier Lake, with a water storage elevation of 743 meters, creating an untamable colossal beast.
A sudden breach of one hundred million cubic meters of water could submerge a small city.
It was like a time bomb, initially thought harmless, but later, no one knew where to toss it, and in a moment’s hesitation, found that the bomb had turned into a massive amount of TNT, and there was no escape, only hoping it wouldn’t explode, couldn’t explode.
"What’s the matter, do you have any concerns?" the leader saw his troubled expression and asked again.
Fang Huai’s feigned contemplation was waiting for this very question.
"Leader, I think... we shouldn’t even discuss this problem anymore. Let’s wait for a team of experts and leaders from above to come. The local command can’t handle this issue anymore," he said.
The leader frowned upon hearing this.
"Experts, a leadership team? Do you think those present here aren’t experts?"
Zhang Zhongting’s coughing at this moment seemed incessant.
But Fang Huai took a deep breath, made up his mind about what to say, and spoke:
"It’s not a matter of expertise, but of authority.
The current water storage is 20 million cubic meters, and the local command can decide whether to risk blowing it up or not.
But once it reaches 50 million cubic meters, it concerns the safety and evacuation of Beichuan residents; at that time, the authority won’t be at the front line anymore, requiring the provincial leadership to make decisions.
With 100 million cubic meters, there’s no need to discuss it further, as it now involves the evacuation of Mianyang residents.
If all 300 million cubic meters are filled, the leadership of the General Staff might have to stand on the dam and direct personally, because by that time, no one would dare to detonate, and instead, they’d need to use large helicopters to transport dozens or hundreds of excavators to reduce the water level meter by meter.
As for whether it will be completely filled... the barrier lake is a reservoir, it’s only a matter of time until it happens, only a question of how high the water is when we tackle it, and maybe with some luck, only the provincial government will need to handle it. But I think, since it’s not being dealt with right now, it will definitely exceed the local command’s authority to deal with it.
When the leaders from Sichuan Province arrive, facing a greater volume of stored water, they may be more cautious, until they hand it off to the superiors. So, I think it’s useless to discuss it here.
With this time, it would be better spent on the rescue of the local displaced people."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other.
This young soldier, disdainful of the command’s rank!
Even General Luo, with his profound background, found it hard to save face.
You little guy, you’re far too bold!
Of course, everyone could hear the subtext in his words.
The leader said sternly, "Right now, the roads in Beichuan are impassable, military aircraft have no landing spots, and it’s not as simple as you think to enter. If it were that easy, the mechanized troops would have already entered Beichuan Yingxiu.
To blow up a dam storing over twenty million cubic meters of water, you’d need at least ten tons of explosives.
The effort required would fill the gap with the lives of soldiers!"
These words were not meant for Fang Huai, but rather to explain to those present and to himself.
Fang Huai did not argue but agreed earnestly with a nod:
"Yes, leader, I heard that the area over there is consumed with dust, frequent aftershocks, and near-zero visibility at high altitudes. Sending air force troops would be a death sentence.
This can wait until after the earthquake rescue is completed, and the weather clears up. Even if the water level is too high to handle, we can evacuate the population and then forcibly discharge floodwaters. In doing so, the casualties among the troops could be minimized, and the displaced people along the rivers can find stable homes after the disaster reconstruction, within three to five years.
It’s just a larger financial loss, after all, safety is the most important."
This statement halted the leaders in their tracks again.
Fang Huai’s words, while seemingly compliant, weren’t pleasing to the ear at all.
What does "forceful flood discharge" mean?
What does "displaced people" mean?
Calling him here was simply to add to everyone’s frustration!
"Comrade Xiao Fang, if you have a plan, just say it directly. We old folks here don’t need you to beat around the bush with hints and implications," said one of the leaders.
At this point, Brigade Commander Liu, who had initially called him over, also spoke.
Fang Huai then spoke with earnest and a raised voice:
"I know the leaders have concerns, and that the helicopters require high authority to mobilize, and furthermore, they can’t get in.
But people can, right?
Ten tons of explosives is just 20,000 kilograms, and I can carry 100 kilograms! If the leaders agree, I am willing to lead the charge!"
With these words, there was a prolonged silence.
At that moment, the leaders who had somewhat wanted to reprimand this young man no longer had such thoughts.
Reprimands were futile.
What was the situation in Beichuan at that moment?
Masses of the People’s Liberation Army were still making their way in, continuous aftershocks shaking the mountains, rocks tumbling down, and roads collapsing in abundance.
There was only one way through, and it had been blocked by landslides. Those who had entered were traversing cliffs.
Even light-equipped troops found it extremely difficult to get through, and now he wanted to carry explosives with the extra weight!
No wonder he was so daring; if he actually had this determination, he would stand up to any leader who showed up today.
However, as soon as he had spoken those words, Zhang Zhongting couldn’t care about the many leaders present any longer. He grabbed his phone and walked out of the tent.
The nearby communication base stations have been partly repaired, and if you stand in areas with a strong signal, you can still make phone calls, though the connection is unstable.
In the past two days, Fang Huai’s phone battery had died, and the calls from Zhang Mei were constantly trying to reach him.
Every time he received a call, he told his eldest sister that the situation in Hanwang was very good, there was no risk of collapse, it was safe.
But now, this nephew actually wanted to head to Beichuan!
He even wanted to carry explosives!
The discussions in the tent were about the big picture; he couldn’t interrupt, but now, he absolutely had to call his sister.
...
The inside had already descended into a cacophony of voices.
Fang Huai had even entered the core circle at the summons of an expert, standing next to the map, joining the discussion about the situation of the barrier lake.
General Luo could only stand aside, watching with a complicated expression.
"Based on these two photos sent back, even if you reach the scene, it’s impossible to reach the highest point of the barrier! It’s simply not climbable by humans!
Without helicopter support, with so many people, how will you transport the explosives up there?!"
The leader roared his stance.
He thought about delaying because he didn’t want to lose a single soldier.
But Fang Huai was also becoming somewhat stubborn, pointing at the side of the barrier in the photo, obstinately saying,
"We don’t need everyone to take risks! Just form an assault group to go up, establish a rope path, and the others can be hauled up by the rope!
If a troop goes in, there won’t be anyone who can’t climb up? I don’t believe it! I can make it up!"
At that moment, an expert in a suit also folded his arms behind his back:
"If you get up there... how can you ensure that you find the suitable points on the barrier for blasting? How can you prevent secondary disasters after the explosion? How can you ensure that the points won’t collapse again after the blast, leading to another blockade?"
Fang Huai’s eyes widened: "If it collapses, it collapses! The two villages inside have already been washed down to the Jianjiang River! Are there any people left? Releasing the floodwater, that’s stopping the biggest disaster!
Besides, why should we be the ones to determine the blasting point? What’s the Individual Soldier Satellite Communication Equipment for? frёeωebɳovel.com
We transmit the images, and you experts at the Command center decide, isn’t that better?
If it collapses again, then we’ll carry and blast again!
It’s still early, and the water only amounts to 20 million cubic meters; we have a chance to try again! Even if we can’t completely drain the lake, we can ensure the water level remains low, and drag it out until the rescue operation ends, then face a relatively simple situation!
When it gets to 50 million, or 100 million cubic meters, will you still dare to blast?
Time is the biggest opportunity!"
Fang Huai seemed to have a plan in mind, fluently answering and defusing the several tricky questions posed by the expert with forceful counter-questions.
The leader, seeing the expert at a loss for words, heavily tapped on the map on the table, at the position of Tangjia Mountain, and shouted:
"Some parts of the barrier are quite loose! Transporting ten tons of explosives with so many people going up, can you ensure it won’t collapse, causing casualties?"
Unexpectedly, Fang Huai’s momentum grew even stronger, his voice thunderous:
"What do we, the People’s Liberation Army soldiers, have to fear from life or death?
Below is the homeland and savings of millions of people; if a few hundred of us die, then we die!
Leader, right now, you’re the one asking questions, and I’m the one answering!
Once the water level builds up and the leadership from above comes down, the ones who might need to answer this question could be you, or some other military leaders!
This problem will become your problem!
I dare to ask, if the leadership above asks you how to ensure safety, what will be your answer?!"
The leader took a deep breath.
Our soldiers don’t fear death.
He knew clearly, that was his answer, and it was no different from what this young man had said.
These soldiers are so endearing.
years ago during the flood, his soldiers could jump in one by one, without hesitation, using their bodies as sandbags.
years later, they jumped again into these large mountain ridges, using their hands to dig and shovel.
The will of steel.
If this young man hadn’t been so brash, he would have liked to hug him and say: Good soldier!
At this moment, Zhang Zhongting came back holding a mobile phone, standing dumbfounded at the entrance of the tent. He watched Fang Huai and the leader arguing.
And yet, the leader stopped talking, falling into contemplation.
He knew what that look meant; whenever he himself fell into such contemplation on the disaster site, it meant considering sending people into danger.
"Fang Huai, take the call!"
Zhang Zhongting called out softly, then picked up the phone and said,
"Brother-in-law, did you hear that? I didn’t let him go, he’s choosing to go on his own, and now he’s still assuring the leadership."
The expressions of the leaders inside were all a bit off.
Assurance...
Is this the attitude to give assurances to the leadership?
Which bold and reckless soldier dares to argue with leadership like that?
Brother-in-law... after all this time, it’s your family’s child!
