Chapter 128: Dry Skies, the Wildfire Won

Move quickly, hurry and lift it up!

Don't worry about it for now, just pile it inside!

Is there any mineral water left? Move as much as there is, don't leave a single bottle!

Jiefang-brand troop transport vehicles parked at the entrances of the street‑side taverns and supermarkets.

The soldiers quickly moved out one crate after another of mineral water from the shops, along with some bread, biscuits, and ham sausages.

Lu Yang delivered the last crate of mineral water into the carriage, Zhou Kaidong reached out and hauled him up, then immediately ordered the Second Squad Leader to dispatch the vehicle.

With all that added, the carriage instantly became cramped.

But up to now, they still didn't know the purpose of this long trip, or where they were headed.

Lu Yang asked, "Squad Leader, where exactly are we going?"

Earlier the situation was urgent, so there was no time to explain; now Zhou Kaidong could finally tell everyone what had happened.

"A fire suddenly broke out on Little Pine Mountain, more than ten kilometers away; the fire‑fighting troops arrived on the scene immediately, and the nearby militia, as well as soldiers from several of our regiment's companies, rushed over to help."

"Our task is to maintain order at the site and provide logistical support for the firefighting operations!"

Hearing that, everyone finally understood why the meal hadn't been finished, and the Company Commander urgently gathered them to set out.

They even stopped halfway to find a shop, supplying this many drinking water, snacks, instant noodles and other simple provisions.

A fire situation is an order, especially since, having received their ranks, they are no longer new recruits but privates.

Moreover, the location is relatively close, and they're only handling logistical support, which carries no real danger.

Thus, when the Regiment Commander called, the New Recruit Company mobilized as a unit.

The Second Squad Leader's vehicle still raced like the wind and lightning, but this time it was driven much more steadily than the previous return from Tuan Bu, and it also benefited from the cargo in the carriage.

In less than fifteen minutes, the new recruits arrived at the site; the moment they stepped out of the vehicle, a wave of heat swept over their faces.

Little Pine Mountain wasn't very large, its total height only about two hundred meters, and the fire had already been contained by the fire‑fighters.

But the ash and char from the burned vegetation still retained residual heat, giving the feeling of being in a sauna even before getting close.

To prevent smoldering embers from reigniting and threatening nearby villagers and farmland.

Therefore, at the first moment after the fire broke out, the fire‑fighters rushed over with their sirens blaring.

At the foot of the mountain, four or five fire trucks were parked, representing all the fire‑fighting resources the local county could muster.

But fire trucks couldn't ascend the mountain, so the firefighting work on the summit progressed somewhat slowly.

Nevertheless, the fire at the foot had been largely extinguished, and many soldiers wielding fire extinguishers and combat engineers' shovels were conducting carpet‑style sweeps to eliminate any remaining sparks.

As the saying goes, "wildfire never fully burns out; spring winds bring it back to life."

Eliminating potential safety hazards and cooperating with the fire‑fighting troops is the primary task at hand.

The new recruits, following Gao Feng's on‑site command, were assigned to different zones to provide logistical supplies to the veteran fire‑fighters still battling the blaze.

"Have some water!"

Lu Yang, cradling about ten bottles of mineral water in his arms, ran up to a few fire‑fighters who had just descended the mountain.

The fire‑fighters didn't hesitate, took the bottles, lifted their masks and took a couple of sips.

Then, in one go, they poured the water all over their heads.

Sizzle......

Lu Yang watched the white smoke rising from their fire‑proof suits.

The sensation was just like throwing heated river stones into water.

Without proper protective gear, they'd likely be severely burned before even getting close to the fire.

"Comrade, is there anything I can help with?"

Lu Yang volunteered, wanting to help with something.

One young fire‑fighter, his face covered in black ash, gave a wry smile and said, "Just bring more mineral water and carry more fire extinguishers; leave the rest to us!"

After saying that, a few fire‑fighters who took a short rest slung new fire extinguishers onto their backs and headed back up the mountain.

As a logistics person, even if Lu Yang wanted to help now, he was short on strength.

All he could do was fulfill the Company Commander's orders, distributing as much water and some simple energy‑boosting food to the soldiers as possible.

One crate of mineral water was handed out with hardly any effort; most soldiers took a few sips and then poured the water over their heads.

Hot.

Too hot.

The higher they climbed, the hotter it got.

Even though many spots no longer showed visible flames, the residual ground heat could still easily scorch people's cheeks.

At this moment, Lu Yang, cradling two bottles of mineral water, ran toward a fourth‑phase NCO shoveling soil on the mountain.

"Veteran, have some water and rest a bit."

Hearing the familiar voice, the fourth‑phase veteran stopped his work and turned around.

Despite his ash‑covered, dirt‑smudged appearance, Lu Yang recognized him at a glance.

"Guo?"

"Lu Yang, why are you here?"

Guo Yongwen gasped heavily, took the mineral water Lu Yang handed over.

In just two seconds, the bottle visibly shrank as the water was drained.

Guo Yongwen's Seventh Company was conducting field training, so they were eager for orders.

They were also the first team, right after the fire‑fighters, to arrive and help extinguish the blaze.

As soldiers of the hard‑core Seventh Company, they fought the fire with earth without professional protection.

They literally dug firebreaks, cooperating with the fire‑fighters to halt the spread and keep the fire within a limited area.

And the cost was that the entire personnel of the hard‑bone Seventh Company were almost completely drained of stamina, many having blisters on their hands and feet from burns.

There was no choice; protective suits were limited, local firefighting forces were also short, and vehicles couldn't go up the mountain, so firefighting had to rely on manpower.

Lu Yang saw Guo Yongwen propping himself up with an entrenching tool, speaking weakly, so he handed him another bottle of water and offered: "Guo Team, let me help you?"

Guo Yongwen shook his head: "Forget it, you're just a rookie; you'd be safer down there. With veteran soldiers around, it's not your turn to show off…"

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yang snatched the entrenching tool from his hand.

And he told him that he was no longer a recruit but a private.

He was now a true member of the People's Liberation Army of Dragon Country, having received his rank.

"I'll take over the squad for a while; you go rest a bit, drink some water, eat something to replenish."

"Recover a little, then switch back with you—does that work?"

Guo Yongwen glanced at the limp on his shoulder and couldn't really argue.

His condition really isn't good right now.

He'd worked too hard earlier, and his dehydration is quite severe.

If he doesn't stop and rest, he might even be carried off with heat stroke, which would be serious.

"All right, then stay safe, don't rush ahead, and just follow the main force."

"Our job is mainly to extinguish flames, eliminate hidden threats, and dig firebreaks."

"Actual firefighting isn't our strong suit; we mainly have to rely on the firefighters."

"Got it!"

Lu Yang smiled and gave him an OK sign, then wrapped his sleeve around the hot shovel handle and began swinging it vigorously.

One shovel strike revealed some reddish sparks in the soil.

Especially when exposed to air, those sparks glowed like fireflies for a moment.

And this is the hidden danger that must be snuffed out at the spark!

When it comes to digging, Lu Yang also has his own set of experience and techniques.

How to exert force, how to save effort, how to be faster and more efficient.

Whether building simple shelters, digging smokeless stoves, or making drainage ditches, Lu Yang is well practiced, and this time is no different.

Guo Yongwen, now staggering, walked down to the mountain base, bent over, picked up a bottle of mineral water from the ground, took two sips, then poured the rest over himself.

The burning and scalding sensation eased considerably, and the air he breathed through his nostrils was no longer as scorching as before.

This feeling was like doing high‑intensity physical labor in a sauna over fifty‑sixty degrees....

Guo Yongwen opened his palm to see that both hands had blisters filled with blood; he simply lanced them, rinsed with water, then bandaged them with the gauze he carried.

"Guo Platoon, who was that kid you were just talking to?"

At that moment, a veteran from the Seventh Company also couldn't hold up and came down from the mountain to rest.

Covered in dust and dirt like a refugee, he plopped onto the ground and gasped heavily.

Fighting mountain fires is a physical job and a prolonged struggle, so after a spell you must be forced to take a break.

Otherwise, heat stroke will cause excessive body temperature, excess internal heat, and damage to nervous organs.

Even professional firefighters must rotate shifts; otherwise the fire won't be put out and people will first be "roasted" by the blazing, scorching flames.

Guo Yongwen looked up the mountain, his grimy face breaking into a smile: "His name is Lu Yang; he's a soldier under my command."

"Correct me—I'm the one who brought you in the training squad!"

Zhou Kaidong's appearance wasn't appropriate, so he handed him two Snickers bars.

Guo Yongwen gave him a sideways glance: "How do you show up everywhere?"

Zhou Kaidong: "You gonna eat it? If not, I'll feed it to the dogs."

Guo Yongwen moved his mouth, cursed "idiot," and still reached out to take the Snickers.

He now needs not only lots of water but also to replenish his strength; and this high‑sugar, high‑calorie Snickers is exactly what he requires.

Unfortunately, the temperature on site is too high, and the Snickers has melted into a puddle.

Rather than eating it, one can only lick it—an unsightly way to consume it, proving Zhou Kaidong's point that if you don't eat it, you might as well feed it to the dogs......

After a quick energy boost and some water, Guo Yongwen prepared to go up and relieve Lu Yang.

This kind of work is tough even for veterans, let alone Lu Yang, who is only a newly ranked private.

But Zhou Kaidong raised a hand to stop him: "You can't even stand steady like this—rest first, I'll go take his place."

Without giving Guo Yongwen a chance to argue, Zhou Kaidong pocketed two bottles of mineral water, picked up an iron shovel bought from a hardware store, and headed up the mountain.

At this moment Lu Yang was swinging the iron shovel with vigor, and he turned to see Zhou Kaidong had also arrived.

"Squad Leader."

"How are you holding up?"

"Aside from the heat, I'm fine."

Zhou Kaidong wiped sweat from his brow, looking puzzled.

Earlier it didn't seem this hot—why has the temperature risen?

Logically, with everyone working together to keep the fire under control, the temperature should be dropping now, right?

Lu Yang stopped, looked up toward the summit, and frowned.

A mountain wind swept from south to north, and the previously stable fire at the summit suddenly turned violent and rampant.

A patch of pine forest on the north side was instantly engulfed in flames, turning the trees into towering torches that stained half the sky red.

Just as everyone marveled at this, a firefighter on the summit was seen engulfed in flames, rolling down the mountain while letting out a painful howl......