Chapter 354 - 285: Besides Rescue, There Is Order

The East is Red, the Sun Rises.

On the clear morning of May 16th, a heartening piece of news rapidly spread across the nation: More than 800 soldiers and officers had bravely pressed into Beichuan and successfully demolished the Tangjia Mountain Barrier Lake, which had just been designated as "Risk Level One" by the state.

No sooner had it been identified than it was blown up. By rights, it should not have been so widely reported.

But good news about Beichuan was hard to come by, and each and every bit of it was seized upon by all media outlets, using their utmost creativity to report and boost people’s confidence.

On the same day, the morning of the 16th, in front of the cameras, the senior leader issued a call to all officers and soldiers involved in the rescue:

"Now, it has been 88 hours since the earthquake, and the earthquake relief work is still in the critical moment of rescuing people. Saving lives remains the top priority of the relief efforts. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we must exert a hundredfold effort and never lightly give up!"

On the afternoon of the 15th, overcoming various conditions, 60 military helicopters and 30 civil helicopters were mobilized to enter the epicenter to transport the injured, professional rescuers, and urgently needed relief supplies.

The original 20 helicopters in the earthquake area that had been taking risks to fly continuously at high intensity saw a sudden reduction in pressure.

As of now, a rescue team of 100,000 people had entered all units at the township level and above.

The entire nation was invigorated.

Other countries were also closely monitoring the domestic situation.

Many nations’ military intelligence departments were busy assessing China’s military strength and strategic capabilities through satellite imagery and the disaster relief process.

After China implemented the "Three Lines" construction, it relocated its military defense industry to the inland, with the Sichuan region becoming a stronghold of military manufacturing. The most sensitive institutions, such as nuclear weapons, aviation, and electronics, are all located here. What the international community was most worried about after the earthquake was actually the damage to nuclear facilities and the crisis of radiation leakage. There have been assessments by various countries’ satellites on this, but it is kept secret.

At the same time, there was also a comparison of the military strength displayed in the US-China disaster relief efforts.

After the US’s Katrina hurricane disaster, the US Military also deployed relief troops at the first instance.

It cannot be denied that the People’s Liberation Army’s equipment still has a way to go to match with the US Military, and the biggest gap shown in the disaster relief is in the number of helicopters, as well as the large-scale engineering machinery and equipment.

The smaller number of helicopters has limited the mobility and speed of troop deployment of the People’s Liberation Army.

years ago, during the Tangshan earthquake relief, the People’s Liberation Army also mobilized a large number of troops to the disaster area, mainly through forced marches, with soldiers relying on their two legs to get around.

This time, the rescue troops were mechanized forces, even capable of entering Chengdu through civil aviation and trains before engaging in the earthquake area. However, after entering the disaster area, with the roads destroyed, ongoing aftershocks, and mudslides threatening road usability at any moment, helicopters became especially pivotal.

Based on reports from various media, as of today, the military’s disaster relief helicopters should not exceed one hundred, whereas the US Military’s helicopters are essentially available as many as called for.

Furthermore, all personnel of the US Military’s "Cavalry Division" can be transported by helicopter.

However, the spirit of the People’s Liberation Army, not only compensated for the lack of helicopters but also achieved miracles that other countries’ militaries would find hard to replicate.

At the onset of the earthquake, due to aftershocks and heavy rain, coupled with rugged mountains, helicopters were unable to land at the epicenter. On one hand, the People’s Liberation Army conducted high-altitude parachuting, and on the other hand, it sent an assault team on a forced march into the area, demonstrating a spirit of serving the people and the tradition of fearlessly sacrificing and continuous combat, which earned respect from military personnel around the globe, and awe from adversaries of the People’s Liberation Army.

Of course, in the midst of a major disaster, besides surveillance, the satellites of various countries to some extent also provided satellite photos for humanitarian relief efforts.

The helplessness of a nation lies in having to balance border defense and earthquake relief under the constraints of mechanized strength, unable to let either side fall.

Innumerable people dedicated to the national industry are reviving their spirits, turning grief and helplessness into motivation, vowing not to let the nation fall into such helplessness again.

Meanwhile, the 800 brave soldiers of Tangjia Mountain Barrier Lake once again assembled into front, middle, and rear teams and advanced toward Beichuan.

...

They passed through the forest and entered a section of highway that retained its post-earthquake appearance, where they had not yet been able to rush to repair.

According to their intelligence, the mechanized troops were set to repair this area by this afternoon, and it was anticipated that they would finish the last stretch of the road to Beichuan and repairs by tomorrow.

Something strange happened on the way they came. Although the flood had already passed, as they approached Beichuan County, they saw a signal flare representing evacuation shoot up.

Today’s aftershocks had clearly diminished. Everyone quickly traversed between the rolling stones, much less cautious than when they came.

But today, there was a thin mist, and the weather was even hotter than yesterday.

By not even 10:30 AM, the ground was already scorching, and the fierce sun on the east side was steaming their moist clothing.

Some soldiers were already staggering.

The three captains led the way at the front.

"Quick! Quick! Quick!" Major General Jin shouted loudly, not letting them fall.

Fang Huai was also wiping sweat as he walked.

"After the Tangshan earthquake during the emergency rescue, the relationship between rescue timing and survival rate was as follows: 95% survival rate within half an hour, 81% on the first day, 53% on the second day, 36.7% on the third day, 19% on the fourth day, and 7.4% on the fifth day.

The chances of survival drop lower each day, halving each day.

It has now been more than 90 hours, and the fourth day is about to end, I’m afraid we can’t rest. Let’s hold on until the mechanized troops enter the city."

Major General Jin nodded and looked at Fang Huai and Brigade Captain Chen.

"We slept for half a night in the car on the first day, so it’s only been two days without sleep. What about you? Can you hold on?"

Fang Huai and Brigade Captain Chen looked at each other.

The Firefighting and Hydropower Troops were unlucky; they did not get full rest before coming, and many had not slept at all.

Especially the Firefighting.

When the People’s Liberation Army or the People’s Armed Police encounter a rescue, they have to call in the Firefighting personnel. Here, the firefighting force is precious.

Everyone had only minimal rotational rest, and they found it even harder to stop.

Perhaps a few dozed off for several minutes.

Fang Huai sighed, "We’ll overcome."

Brigade Captain Chen did not say anything but pointed ahead to the corner of the road, "There are people ahead, looks like the People’s Liberation Army."

Major General Jin looked intently.

"... No, they are yours, People’s Armed Police."

"They have so many student ranks; they must be from a school, from the People’s Armed Police." Fang Huai, having recognized their camouflage uniform’s insignia and the national emblem on their hats, made a judgment.

"Halt the advance!" Major General Jin raised his hand.

"Halt the advance!"

"Stand, easy!"

The team leaders at the rear immediately issued orders, and the entire team came to a stop.

The three of them walked towards that direction.

The People’s Armed Police over there were few, and a Colonel leading them was scolding some people squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads.

As they approached, they saw the Colonel holding two bags, pointing at the man on the edge, "A child’s bag, a woman’s bag, which one is yours?"

The man immediately said, "These are my kid’s and my wife’s!"

"What’s your wife’s name? Where does she live? When was she born?" the Colonel asked, opening the woman’s bag, seemingly finding something, and took a look.

The man immediately fell silent, saw a reporter filming nearby, and his face turned even more panic-stricken, his arms shielding his face.

The Colonel’s face darkened further as he pointed at those men and said, "The women’s clothing in the bags you’re carrying, are they belonging to your family members?"

The men on the ground were shaking like a sieve.

The Colonel was infuriated, but the People’s Armed Police didn’t have the authority to arrest anyone, so he could only shout loudly,

"I’m telling you! You’re lucky to have been born in a good era. If this had been during the Tangshan incident, I could have shot you on the spot for profiteering from national calamity! Get lost!"

The men immediately stood up and were about to run.

"Stop right there!"

Coming face to face with them, Fang Huai blocked their exit.

As these people ran over, Fang Huai heard the commotion and casually grabbed the one running in the lead, saying,

"Take everything out of your coat and trouser pockets!"

At first, when they saw the three of them, they were prepared to run past them without any regard.

But the three did not stop them.

The guy who was caught immediately protested, "Why are you only catching me?"

Fang Huai ignored him and instead smiled toward the People’s Armed Police officer behind him, signaling.

And in just a few seconds, all those men came slinking back.

As they rounded the corner, they were met with the sight of over 800 neatly lined-up soldiers filling the intersection.

The returned men, already frightened out of their wits, began pulling out gold and silver jewelry from their clothes, while saying,

"Really, that’s all! That’s all we found! Let us go, please!"

The eyes of the People’s Armed Police Colonel bulged.

He had never really caught petty thieves like this before and lacked experience. Seeing this situation, his eyebrows shot up.

"You still dare to hide? Inexcusable! Arrest them! Take them away!"

Several Military Academy cadets immediately stepped forward, twisting the men’s arms behind their backs, and took them inside.

Only then did Major General Jin step forward and rendered a salute:

"Comrade! I’m from the Chengdu Military Region, ordered by our superiors to come reinforce! What’s the situation inside?"

The Colonel immediately returned the salute, saying, "I am from the People’s Armed Police Chengdu Command Academy! Comrades, you are..."

This was addressed to Fang Huai and Brigade Captain Chen.

Three different forces: Firefighting, People’s Armed Police, People’s Liberation Army.

This mix of uniforms, he could not quite understand.

It was then Major General Jin finally said with a smile, "We are troops pulled back from the barrier lake! Everyone else is behind us!"

The Colonel’s eyes lit up, "This morning it was you..."

Major General Jin nodded.

The Colonel immediately stood at attention, giving a crisp salute, "You’ve worked hard!"

After that, he saluted them one by one and shook their hands.

"Comrade, is it very chaotic inside?" Major General Jin couldn’t help but ask.

Passing through several places, this was the first time they saw a checkpoint on the road outside the city.

"Ah," The Colonel’s expression changed upon hearing this, "It’s not chaos, it’s just too busy. New Town, Old Town, we can’t rescue everybody, the building collapse is too severe, and the residents are too bold, each one diving inside looking for relatives.

Afterquakes have already crushed four to death, and we can’t really stop them.

Moreover, there are always those who loot amidst the chaos. Yesterday, we received a report from a female employee of the Agricultural Bank of China’s Qushan Branch that the bank had been robbed clean. We had to send a battalion out to secure the bank and hold the intersections."

Listening to this, the three of them exchanged a look.

The previous few towns were indeed in much better shape than this.

Indeed, only by being in the midst of it could one realize this wasn’t just a disaster zone, but also a county with a large amount of wealth. In fact, just by walking over the ruins, you could see quite a number of bankbooks.

But the rescue towns they had been in previously were coordinated by supporting departments from various places and were not chaotic.

All of China was now in Sichuan.

This statement was no exaggeration.

Take An County for example. When they passed through there at night, it was brightly lit; just a few steps away, Traffic Police uniforms read "Tianjin Traffic Police," a few more steps, Jinan Traffic Police, another few steps, Hangzhou Traffic Police.

Even Shenyang Traffic Police were present.

Three kilometers of road through the town, they saw police from cities thousands of kilometers apart on duty.

At that moment, the Colonel looked a bit troubled, saying:

"Could you possibly not tell the townspeople inside that the barrier lake flood has already been drained?

If it can’t be helped, we’ll still need to use this reason to evacuate people... just say the flood hasn’t been completely dealt with."

Upon hearing this, all three of them realized why they had seen signal flares for evacuation fired again inside the town.

Every disaster zone needed not only relief but also order.

A truly regrettable necessity.

All three of them sighed.

Major General Jin shook his head, "Let’s go, let’s head inside first."