Chapter 661: 651 The national flag does not fall, the military flag does not fall, people's hearts do not fall!

651 The national flag does not fall, the military flag does not fall, people's hearts do not fall!

Five hours ago, 1800 li out, Zheng Renhe's team finally made it to Nanchuan Town after a difficult march.

Amid the ruins, young figures in camouflage uniforms bustled about.

"It's really fast; someone got here even earlier than us..." Su Yun said, her lips dry, murmuring.

"Our route is longer and worse, so it's normal to arrive late." Zheng Ren followed behind Zhao Yunlong, softly comforting Su Yun.

Really, they compare everything; this competitive spirit, Zheng Ren genuinely feels unnecessary.

After nearly a day and night of arduous trekking, besides the cameraman and reporter, a member of the team, the Inpatient Chief from 912, was struck in the chest by a flying stone, resulting in fractured ribs.

This is still fortunate; at least they could walk here alive.

Zhao Yunlong approached a young soldier in camouflage who was busy rescuing, rendered a military salute, and asked, "Which unit are you from? Where is your commander?"

The young man didn't notice anyone entering Nanchuan Town; he was already exhausted.

Hearing Zhao Yunlong's question, he turned his head to look.

On a face that should have been full of youthful vigor, grime covered it, his eyes were bloodshot, and his body bore various wounds.

"We're from the Military Medical University; the captain is over there rescuing." Seeing that Zhao Yunlong, Zheng Ren and the others were also lightly equipped, having marched long distances into Nanchuan Town, he showed a disappointed expression.

"Who are you? Did you bring relief supplies? A jack, just one jack would do." Hope shone in the young man's eyes.

Such a low request, if outside, wouldn't even count as a request… Unfortunately, even such a low request, in this almost isolated town turned to ruins, is a luxury.

Units that could arrive here immediately were all lightly equipped; heavy gear simply couldn't get through.

Zhao Yunlong shook his head slightly, then hurried in the direction the young man pointed.

In the square, hundreds or thousands of surviving residents sat; some helped the first-arriving rescue teams search for the injured, some wept, and many more had not yet shaken off their stunned, numb state.

A row of bodies lay in a corner of the square, covered with whatever cloth could be found. Several crude military tents had been opened, with people disinfecting; they appeared to be serving as an emergency operating room.

Su Yun glanced at the supplies beside the tent; there was hardly anything. The water and food the team had brought had already been handed out to the starving survivors.

At that moment, the rain, which had just stopped not long ago, began again.

This isolated island—when will the main forces be able to break through? In three days? Or five?

Zheng Ren didn't know.

"Boss, I'm feeling a bit hopeless." Su Yun whispered, her black hair hanging over her forehead, weak and listless.

This, too, was the thought permeating everyone's hearts in the square.

Can we still make it out alive?

Twenty-four hours have passed, and only twenty-something rescue personnel have arrived, carrying supplies… just a drop in the bucket.

A military flag had been erected on a rubble heap at the edge of the square.

Zheng Ren looked at that military flag and said softly, "Despair? Not going to happen."

"This is an isolated island—no food, no water, only these survivors." Su Yun sighed, her voice full of sorrow.

According to the mission, find survivors and then get as many out as possible.

With several hundred people, can we get them out?

Even the elite Sharp Blade Squad is suffering losses; if we really tried to lead several hundred old, weak, sick and disabled out, we'd likely die horribly.

But if we don't leave, are we just going to sit here and wait to die?

There's no way out; the future is a murky fog, filled with the aura of death.

Zheng Ren shook his head, recalled something, took out the folded national flag from his pocket, still warm from his body.

He went under the military flag, forced a smile, and said.

"The national flag does not fall, the military flag does not fall, people's hearts do not fall—what is there to despair about?!"

Su Yun and her companions were stunned.

In the wind and rain, Zheng Ren raised the national flag in his hand; it snapped loudly, fluttering alongside the military flag, steadfast and unyielding.

The national flag does not fall,

The military flag does not fall,

People's hearts do not fall!

Yeah, what the hell is there to despair about? Out there, who knows how many units are marching day and night, crossing mountains and ridges to come rescue.

All difficulties are temporary; all difficulties can be overcome.

From Di Du, flying in from 912, we're not here to despair!

Su Yun smiled, brushed her black hair from her forehead, sending droplets flying.

He found a piece of wood, called a few people over, and secured Zheng Ren's national flag firmly in the rubble.

After a few kicks, it was solid; Su Yun patted Zheng Ren's shoulder and laughed, "Boss, you sometimes make sense."

"Hehe." Zheng Ren also laughed.

"Boss, if we make it out alive, I'll take you fishing in the Maldives." Su Yun swept away her despondency and said.

"The Maldives—is that part of Di Du? Can the subway be built there soon?" Zheng Ren asked, puzzled.

……

……

……

Rescue work has never stopped, no matter how bad the weather or how strong the aftershocks.

After a brief rest, Zheng Ren joined the other team members in the search-and-rescue effort.

While busy, Zheng Ren heard a distress whistle not far away.

He immediately rushed over with Su Yun.

A newly graduated military medic was struggling to move a prefabricated slab, but it was already beyond human strength.

Need mechanical power!

Large amounts of manpower and material resources…… but the troops that can arrive within 24 hours are all lightly equipped, and their numbers are not large, similar to reconnaissance units.

These young military doctors dug through the rubble with their hands, looking for relatively shallow victims who could be dug out, both the wounded and the dead.

The wounded received treatment, while the dead were carried to the town central square. This place is the flattest open space in the whole town.

Before my eyes, crushed stone and rubble pressed down on the prefabricated slab, and I could faintly see a necrotic foot being pressed by the slab. The little military doctor dared not make any violent movements, merely clearing away the surrounding rubble.

His efforts were effective; at least this area of ruins now shows a basic outline.

There was a gap between the prefabricated slab and the stone rubble, about 20 cm wide, sloping, roughly 50 cm long. Zheng Ren followed the gap and peered inside; the space inside was extremely narrow, and the body of a pregnant woman with a big belly fit exactly into the gap.

She was lucky, not dying directly.

But her luck was also bad—one foot was crushed and had already become necrotic.

The pregnant woman was unconscious, and beside her was a 4- or 5-year-old little girl, blinking her big eyes, looking bewildered.

It seemed she had been frightened into a stupor. However, with the gap, breathing was not a problem, and water and food could be passed down.

Zheng Ren frowned; the diagnosis given by the system panel in the upper right of his field of view caused his hormone secretion levels to spike directly to the peak.

The unconscious patient herself had multiple blunt contusions, which were not fatal. A fracture of the left lower leg tibia and fibula was also not a big deal.

Ischemic necrosis of the left lower leg…… could also be amputated.

But bacteremia and infection-induced toxic shock—these two diagnoses indicated that even if the victim were rescued, the chances of survival were not high.

This is assuming no time is wasted.

The current medical capabilities…… Zheng Renye also felt regretful.

Lacking everything, that's the status quo.

But these are not the main point. Zheng Ren saw that the pregnant woman's uterus was contracting violently, and she was about to give birth. However, the umbilical cord around the fetus's neck prevented normal delivery.

If it were in the capital, no! If it were at Haicheng Shi Yiyuan, in any even the most rudimentary operating room…… even on a kang bed, Zheng Ren would be confident performing a cesarean section within a few minutes to smoothly deliver the baby.

However……

"The pregnant woman below is about to give birth, the fetus's umbilical cord is around the neck. What medical equipment do you have?" Zheng Ren asked urgently.

The young military doctor stared for a moment, "Umbilical cord around the neck?" How did he diagnose that?

But anyone in the medical field knows how critical this situation is just from that remark. Moreover, in such an environment, obedience is the best choice.

"Only have the opening package, gauze, povidone-iodine, cotton balls, and splints." He said hesitantly.

"Opening package, syringe, Su Yun, give a shot of anesthetic!" Zheng Ren's tone left no room for refusal.

Dignified and solemn, as if this place were an operating room and he had already scrubbed up and was ready to go on stage.

Su Yun had no objection, quickly analyzed the situation, opened the last bottle of pure water, poured it over, and gave Zheng Ren a simple cleaning.

Wash hands, simple disinfection with povidone-iodine, Zheng Ren began putting on gloves.

Su Yun threw away the pure water bottle and thrust his arm into the narrow gap.

The posture was awkward, especially awkward. The angle was also small, only barely able to see the operating field. The only "good" news was that the pregnant woman was unconscious, so local anesthesia would probably suffice.

Zhao Yunlong held a satellite phone, ran over, and said while running: "I've contacted headquarters; a helicopter will be here soon."

Zheng Ren said nothing, took the opening package from the hands of the not-yet-graduated little military doctor, stuffed it through the gap into the narrow space, one hand opened the package, preparing to perform surgery immediately.

"Chief Zheng, what are you doing?" Zhao Yunlong saw Zheng Ren adopting a posture for surgery and asked anxiously.

"Cesarean section, fetal umbilical cord around the neck, the pregnant woman's uterus contracting violently, no time left!" While Zheng Ren prepared, Su Yun reached in with one hand to disinfect the surgical area for the pregnant woman.

Full of dust and smoke, a light movement of the arm sent sand and gravel falling down.

Performing a cesarean section under these circumstances?

"Chief Zheng, there will be infection." Zhao Yunlong came to Zheng Ren's side and said softly but sternly.

"The baby has no time." Zheng Ren said: "The adult is already in infection-induced toxic shock; as long as the helicopter arrives on schedule and is taken to Rongcheng, it can be sent to Huaxi for treatment."

"……" Zhao Yunlong was speechless.

Zheng Ren spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for refusal.

Zhao Yunlong thought it over and indeed that was the case.

The victim's foot was black, obviously necrotic. Having been compressed for nearly 24 hours, the toxins from the necrotic tissue had already entered the bloodstream; even if now sent to Huaxi for rescue, whether the person could be saved remains uncertain.

This is still Huaxi; if it were transferred to a slightly inferior hospital, the person would definitely not be saved.

Whether to save the adult or the child—no one expected that upon just arriving at South Chuan Town, they would have to face such a choice.

……

……

Note: The first team to rush into the epicenter was the teachers and students of Chongqing Third Military Medical University; if I recall correctly, they reached the central area in just over ten hours. Salute!

This cesarean section, it is said, was performed by a teacher of the Third Military Medical University; mother and child were safe, later the pregnant woman underwent an amputation and survived. When eating and drinking, I heard a senior from Huaxi say this, so I'm using it here.