Free Web NovelChapter 344: Chapter 277: 800 Warriors, Assemble!
Outside the tent.
When Fang Huai took the phone, the look in Zhang Zhongting’s eyes was filled with resentment.
Those who tattle should all be dragged out and shot!
As a dutiful son, he wasn’t really afraid of his parents; the main thing was, if nothing unexpected happened, on the other end of the phone, there would likely be Yang Shaoqing as well.
Fang Huai cleared his throat twice before he finally spoke.
"Hello?"
A deep voice came from his old father on the other end.
"Hmm, your uncle told me you’re going to Beichuan...to blow up some dam?"
Fang Huai replied, speechless:
"Blowing up a dam? Wouldn’t the state be after me? It’s not a dam, it’s a barrier lake!
A dam refers to a water-retaining structure used to intercept the flow of rivers and channels to raise the water level or regulate the flow... free𝑤ebnovel.com
Hey! A dam is a semi-permanent work, whereas a barrier lake is temporary and has accumulated a lot of water! If it collapses, that would create a flood! Do you understand now?"
Fang Kaiyang was caught off guard and somewhat annoyed:
"How do I not understand flooding? So, are you going to discharge floodwater now?"
Fang Huai: ...
"Why don’t you let mom take the phone? I get irritated listening to you."
"Cough! I understand! It’s about clearing the river! Your uncle said it’s very dangerous! Let me tell you, Fang Huai, you’re my only son! If you..."
"Dad, Mianyang, you’ve been there, right?" Fang Huai interrupted:
"If the flooding isn’t managed properly this time, the homes of hundreds of thousands of people will be gone. Beichuan, plus many others who have just suffered from the disaster, they barely survived the earthquake, and no sooner had their graves been settled than the floodwaters would sweep them out. Would you be able to endure that?"
A long silence.
"...Go, yes, you should go!"
Fang Kaiyang’s voice gradually became firm.
In the news, other places weren’t mentioned much, but the two words "Beichuan" had flashed countless times in the past two days on his screen.
It was truly tragic.
Hearing this, Fang Huai breathed a sigh of relief.
His father’s military blood held the dominant position.
Actually, when the old man was discharged, he joined a large factory and even had mechanical maintenance skills, as a skilled technician, but because he couldn’t adapt well to society, he opened a small restaurant instead.
His peers thought he was crazy, always eager to do everything; he did all the dirty and tiring jobs, always talking about devotion.
He couldn’t understand others’ "ulterior motives," not even sharing the same wavelength in conversation.
Only his mom tolerated him, though not without complaints.
But now, of the three people on the other end of the phone, the old man would undoubtedly be the most supportive of him.
He was about to compliment the old man on his stance.
"Er...for this task, can ex-servicepeople participate?"
Fang Huai’s expression dropped.
Now, of all times, you pull the "if there’s a fight, call me back" card?
Has the state called for you?
"Go to... just hand the phone to Mom and Yang Shaoqing! I want to talk to them for a bit!"
Immediately, his mother’s anxious voice sounded, crying out:
"My baby, my baby! I heard it’s very dangerous! Are there any leaders listening to you over there?"
"...No."
"Then you’re not allowed to go! Did you hear me? Don’t listen to your father! Stay in Hanwang and do your relief work. We can see you on the television! You..."
"...just hand the phone to Yang Shaoqing."
A long wait.
Then a soft "Hello" came from the other side.
Fang Huai immediately spoke fiercely, "You’re not allowed to persuade me!"
"...Okay."
"Good," Fang Huai finally said contentedly.
But what followed from the other side went straight to his head.
Yang Shaoqing said, "Fang Huai, let’s get married once I graduate."
"Gulp." Fang Huai swallowed hard, stunned.
Yang Shaoqing was nearly in her second year of college.
He was quite a selfish person.
Like these past few days, he didn’t even try to charge his phone to give his parents or Yang Shaoqing a message of reassurance, feeling that his life was his own, and even his parents had no say over it.
While enjoying Yang Shaoqing’s tenderness and concern, he had never thought of explaining anything to her when it came down to serious matters.
When it came to a sense of family responsibility, he was hit or miss.
At his best, he felt he was the happiest man in the world, with the beautiful Yang Shaoqing falling for him, his life perfect. Yet when it came to matters requiring explanation, he wished he were alone, to avoid the hassle.
Being single in his previous life wasn’t just because of poverty, but also because he was a wanderer.
Not the romantic kind of wanderer, but a drifting one.
He was hesitating.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar came from the other side: "Just agree to it! Making the girl bring it up, what are you thinking about!! You’re nothing like me!"
"I..." Fang Huai was about to speak.
"It’s okay, let’s talk about it when you come back. You have to come back safely!" Yang Shaoqing sensed his hesitation and cut him off again.
Fang Huai nodded at the phone.
"Okay, wait for me to come back."
The phone call ended.
Fang Huai held the phone, stunned for a moment.
Zhang Zhongting snatched the mobile phone and scolded loudly:
"I think you still haven’t grown up, acting without thinking of the consequences, thinking it looks cool. But if something happens to you, it’s a tragedy for the whole family! ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Had I not made this call, would you have never thought to explain even a word to your family?
Haven’t you seen enough tragedies these days?
Be a man first, then a soldier!"
Fang Huai waved his hand impatiently: "I get it, the mission comes first. Commander, assign me a task! I’m the best choice, trust me!"
Zhang Zhongting’s eyebrows furrowed, he took a long breath through his nostrils, and walked into the tent with his hands behind his back.
...
In New China, there are no daredevil squads, only assault teams.
After more than an hour of discussion and requests in the tent, an 800-person assault team was formed.
Making a decision in such a short time is a special efficiency under level-one emergency response.
It was also because the Tangjia Mountain Barrier Lake had not grown to a significant threat yet.
Owing to the proactive reporting and requests from the Deyang Mianzhu Headquarters, and due to the Mianyang Command now facing rescue issues in the severely affected areas of Beichuan, An County, and Pingwu, the frontline headquarters decided:
To form an 800-person assault team made up of nearby disaster relief forces of the Chengdu Military Region Mechanized Brigade, Anti-aircraft Brigade, and Armed Police Hydroelectric Forces, to rush to the Qiu family yard to assemble, commanded by the Hanwang Headquarters, through An County, which has finished rush road repairs, by foot via Beichuan, to Tangjia Mountain to carry out blasting.
The Captain is Major General Jin from the Anti-aircraft Brigade, and the Deputy Captain is the leading Big Team Captain from the Hydropower Troops.
After deliberation, the Command added a Deputy Captain and twenty-nine firefighters, mainly responsible for the entire troops’ safety during the march.
Fang Huai and his Guiyang Special Duty Brigade.
Fang Huai joined the team as Deputy Captain, a decision unanimously agreed upon by everyone, which had nothing to do with his military rank. It was because Fang Huai had accurately grasped the soil quality, terrain, and water accumulation of Tangjia Mountain during the discussion.
He also had excellent physical fitness, able to keep up with the forced march of the team.
The Command’s leadership considered him a field expert to accompany them.
However, the proposal for the Special Duty Team to participate was put forth by General Luo.
He suggested that the climbing equipment and training of the firefighters were highly suitable to serve as the support group for this troop.
Participating in this task is not only an honor for the Special Duty Team but also for the entire brigade.
The Second Squadron outside, who was packing bags to transport supplies to Qingping, when they received such a significant task, felt a mix of nerves and exhilaration.
And they couldn’t wait.
Almost instantly, everyone emptied their backpacks, handed over the supplies to the troops taking over their original mission, and then went to their squadron’s fire truck, putting all the useful climbing equipment into their big bags.
"The supplies! The supplies we brought! Hanwang did not use them, Beichuan needs them! Bring as much as we can!"
Fang Huai shouted across the square.
Chen Zhenghai, who had just arrived not two hours ago, said enviously:
"Four units! 800 people! Fang Huai, you’re the Deputy Captain! After this mission, at the very least they should promote you to Battalion Commander, right?"
"Fang Huai, at home I’m an Instructor, but now, you’re my leader," Cao Yi also said with a smile, patting Fang Huai on the shoulder.
Hao Chengbin was even more spirited, and if it weren’t for the tragic environment, he probably would have laughed out loud.
"I always said you’re going to be a general! It won’t be long now! Not long at all!"
Everyone was bustling and discussing while they packed their gear.
Fang Huai reluctantly handed Little White over to a second stage officer from the school’s machinery company second company who had come.
"Don’t let him die; he’s my brother!"
The second stage officer carefully held the reluctant Little White, thumped his chest, and said: "Don’t worry, I really like Little White! He’s a treasure! If you don’t come back, I’ll take him to our company and make him squad leader!"
Fang Huai felt like giving him a kick.
But, most of the Second Squadron was here now.
If something were to happen, Little White might indeed not be able to return.
He waved his hand and said, "Forget it, if we don’t come back, just leave him in Hanwang to be a stray dog."
Little White opened his eyes wide and lunged forward on all fours, exposing his fangs: "Argh argh argh..."
He cursed quite filthily.
...
En route.
Being able to ride in a vehicle even for a while was all thanks to the mechanized troops who were rushing to repair both day and night.
Though it was a military green truck and there were bumps along the way, it allowed everyone a good rest.
Strangely, everyone was tired, but with their eyes closed to rest, no one seemed able to sleep.
Perhaps it was because 40 kilometers away, a batch of 10-ton blasting detonators was waiting for them.
It was one of the loads carried by the Anti-aircraft Brigade.
There was also the 69 model 40mm rocket launcher.
Some were thinking of home.
Like Ye Jiahong, who was about to head to his hometown Mianyang, and Huang Yi, who was concerned about his hometown Dujiangyan.
And some other soldiers from Sichuan.
In the last two days, just witnessing Hanwang and hearing the continuous stream of news, their hearts underwent immense torment.
But they couldn’t leave.
While they defended others’ homelands, others were also protecting theirs.
In this fire truck carrying thirty people, Fang Huai was the only one who truly fell asleep.
With some free time, all that went through his mind were his uncle’s reproaches.
He thought of his parents, Yang Shaoqing.
Soon, he fell into a peaceful sleep.
Having lived over thirty years and considering himself mature, he had never realized that the meaning of home is the resting place for the soul.
