Chapter 884: Chapter 840 Crawl Inside Chapter 884: Chapter 840 Crawl Inside At this mont, everyone was touched by the noble sentints of the father and son, Nie Guowei and Nie Zhenbang. What are personal gains and losses compared to the national interest?
Director Leng stood up and said in a deep voice, “Comrade Nie Zhenbang, I entrust Yizhou City to you. But rember, you must co back alive.”
Nie Zhenbang nodded, his expression more solemn and serious than ever before. Without waiting for Nie Zhenbang to speak, Director Leng spoke again, “Comrade Liu Hanliang, imdiately contact Tian Wenhu at the Tianfu Military Region. The Tianfu Military Region must imdiately dispatch a battalion to accompany Comrade Nie Zhenbang into the disaster area.”
…
The disaster was a command.
At this mont, although it was already five o’clock in the afternoon in the Tianfu Military Region’s barracks, the parade ground was bustling with activity. Around three in the afternoon, the Tianfu Military Region had received an order from the central governnt. All troops stationed in Bashu were to act imdiately, rushing to the front lines of the disaster area and go all out in conducting earthquake relief work.
“Attention!”
“At ease!”
“Comrades, we have received orders from central leadership. This huge earthquake in Wenshu has left the entire Yizhou with disrupted traffic, communication, and power. At this mont, countless civilians are buried under the rubble. Countless civilians are isolated, and helpless. The people of Yizhou need our helping hand desperately at this mont. Soldiers are trained for such tis. As directed by higher-ups, the military region is dispatching the 211th battalion. You will be trekking on foot into Yizhou to conduct rescue operations. Do you all have the confidence?”
“Yes! Yes! Yes!”
The unified shouts echoed through the heavens and the earth.
At that mont, on the parade ground, Nie Zhenbang’s official car ca from a distance and stopped nearby. Nie Zhenbang had now changed into a set of camouflage gear, without shoulder boards, military emblems, or ranks. This was all to facilitate the upcoming operations.
Beside Nie Zhenbang stood Wu Li and Li Jupeng, who were similarly dressed. Wu Li had a large package on his back containing a mariti satellite phone to bring along.
Nie Zhenbang also carried a package on his shoulder—it contained military rations. Under these circumstances, Nie Zhenbang had thought things through carefully. The disaster area was undoubtedly in need of food and drink, and they absolutely must not add trouble to the disaster area.
Seeing Nie Zhenbang’s arrival, the major general officer who had been giving the speech ran up, saluted Nie Zhenbang, and said, “Comrade Chief, the Tianfu Military Region’s direct action scouting battalion is fully assembled, awaiting your orders. I am Huang Jingwu, deputy-chief of staff of the Tianfu Military Region.”
However, in this mont, Nie Zhenbang also solemnly returned a military salute and said with a heavy voice, “Please, at ease.”
With that, Nie Zhenbang stepped forward in front of everyone and began to speak, “Comrades, I am Nie Zhenbang, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and governor of Bashu Province. Today, I will join you all as a part of the vanguard to advance into the hardest-hit area—the epicenter of the Wenshu earthquake.”
Upon hearing these words, the expressions on all the soldiers’ faces changed. None of them had expected that a governor would dress like a common soldier and join them in such a risky undertaking.
This sight was, of course, witnessed by Nie Zhenbang, and he had anticipated this response. The desired effect was to lead by example.
Of course, even if this weren’t the case, Nie Zhenbang believed that these most lovable people would do their utmost. But now, with this news, Nie Zhenbang believed the effect would be even better.
After a mont of silence, Nie Zhenbang’s sharp gaze swept over the more than fifteen hundred people present. He said in a firm voice, “Comrades. This will be a fierce battle. This disaster, following the Tang City earthquake, is another trial for Huaxia, a trial for our entire nation. I won’t hide the truth about the situation in the epicenter from you. Yizhou City, located in the Western Region of our province, is close to the Snow Plateau and surrounded by mountains. Most of them thousand-ter-tall peaks and ranges. With such a strong earthquake this ti, the mountains have beco loose. During our trek, aftershocks may occur at any ti, and we could encounter unexpected difficulties such as landslides and collapses. Furthermore, we will be marching at night in a rush. I won’t mince words—the mission this ti may lead to casualties among us. I ask you, are you afraid?”
“Not afraid!”
“Not afraid!”
“Not afraid!!”
The roar echoed through heaven and earth once again. Nie Zhenbang was quite satisfied, nodded, and continued, “Well done, comrades, I believe no one is afraid because everyone understands that deep in the mountains, in the isolated areas, our relatives and fellow villagers are waiting for us to rescue them. Ti is life, disaster is command. The sooner we reach the disaster area, the more lives we may be able to save. Now, pass on my order, right turn, target the military vehicles ahead, board the vehicles!”
Watching the soldiers line up and step onto the military vehicles one by one, under the leadership of Huang Jingwu, two colonels had already co forward.
Huang Jingwu introduced, “Commander, these two are the regint commander and political commissar of the 211 Regint. This is Comrade Ye Tao, the regint commander, and this is Comrade Jia Chen, the political commissar.”
Both colonels were about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, and they were a bit surprised by Nie Zhenbang’s age. However, their good military qualities and organizational discipline made them salute without hesitation, “Good day, Commander.”
At this mont, Nie Zhenbang waved his hand and said in a deep voice, “Captain Ye, Commissar Jia, it’s an extraordinary ti, let’s set aside those formalities. This ti, as we follow the military into Yizhou City, all marching matters will be entrusted to you. You are the military commanders; during the march, do not worry about us, proceed with your plans. I am not fond of empty formalities; now, we are racing against ti.”
Ye Tao and Jia Chen exchanged looks and both relaxed. When they heard that leaders from the governnt side would be following, they had opposed the idea, fearing that if the leader was not knowledgeable about military affairs, it could hinder everyone’s efforts.
Now, it appeared that Governor Nie’s military quality was probably no less than their own. As professional soldiers, this was sothing Ye Tao could discern.
In ten minutes, two military off-road vehicles led out of the camp, followed by dozens of military vehicles, forming a long convoy. Not only were there police cars accompanying them, but the military vehicles also turned on their warning lights, flashing continuously.
Each military vehicle displayed banners with slogans such as “United as One,” “Solidarity in Crisis,” and “Earthquake Relief.”
At this ti, according to the requirents and orders of the Bashu Provincial Party Committee and Governnt, all provincial highways were fully opened, and all tolls for highway travel were waived.
The convoy moved quickly, and in less than half an hour, it had left Tianfu City, passed the ring road, and taken the highway towards Changhong City.
By seven o’clock in the evening, the convoy passed through Changhong City without any delay, continuing forward. Babei County is the county bordering Changhong City and Yizhou City.
When the military convoy arrived, officials from the Babei County Committee, County Governnt, and County Ard Forces were waiting at the entrance.
The military vehicles pulled over, and as Nie Zhenbang got out of the car, the leading person said, “Governor, I am the Vice County Head of the Babei County People’s Governnt.”
At this mont, Nie Zhenbang didn’t let him finish speaking, waved his hand to interrupt, and asked directly, “How is the road to Yizhou City up ahead?”
“Straight ahead is the Number 3 National Highway. Ten kiloters ahead, the road is cut off, and the bridge has also collapsed. From the point of interruption, Yizhou City is still over sixty kiloters away…”
As soon as his voice fell, Nie Zhenbang turned and got back into the vehicle, and to Ye Tao next to him and Jia Chen in the front passenger seat, he said, “Captain Ye, the road is interrupted ten kiloters ahead. It’s already 8 o’clock at night. Speed up the advance, I suggest we rest at the point where the road is interrupted, eat so dry food, and then, we prepare to march on foot.”
Ye Tao’s expression was also very serious as he nodded. Although he was a soldier, he understood the urgency of the situation; a day’s delay would be detrintal to the disaster area. Arriving one hour earlier or later at the disaster site could make a world of difference.
Imdiately afterward, Ye Tao gave the command, “Pass on my order, continue advancing.”
The convoy drove out for about ten minutes and then stopped. Looking ahead with the help of the vehicle headlights, the road between towering mountains had been overwheld by a landslide, with two excavators working incessantly at the forefront. A little further ahead, the bridge was seen to have completely collapsed.
Witnessing the power of nature, Nie Zhenbang also took a sharp breath, and with a very solemn expression to Ye Tao and Jia Chen beside him, he said, “Captain Ye, looking at the current situation, it is critical in the disaster area. The road is impassable; we’ll have to take the mountain path beside it. I have a request for you, Captain Ye, and it’s not an order.”
Looking at the puzzled expressions of Ye Tao and Jia Chen, Nie Zhenbang knew that as the Governor of Bashu Province, even if the 211 Regint was not under the Bashu Military Sub-district but under the Tianfu Military Region, he could still give commands in this situation, after all, their participation in the rescue effort was ordered by the Military Commission.
Nie Zhenbang disregarded their expressions and continued, “One can imagine, the further in we go, the more difficult the roads may beco. It’s impossible for the main force to advance; I hope the 211 Regint can select elite soldiers to form a strike team. I will lead the strike team ahead. The main force, under your leadership, should strive to reach Yizhou by nine in the morning the next day, even if it ans crawling. This is my request to both of you.” (
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