Han Yu brought the three water conservancy experts back to the North Bank. Just after securing the mooring lines, Political Commissioner Yang, Huang Yuanchang, Secretary Wang, and Reporter Wang, who hadn't been seen for a while, ca to the side of the ship.
"Commissioner, is there an assignnt?"
"Five minutes ago, Major General Jiang called to convey an order from the Central Military Commission."
Political Commissar Yang and the three experts boarded the dunship, and climbed to 001, saying urgently, "Tonight, all troops along the Yangtze River are to go onto the levee. Regardless of what military branch they were previously part of or which military region they hail from, they are all to follow the command of the Guangzhou Military Region's commander."
Han Yu was montarily stunned and instinctively asked, "No diversion of the floodwaters?"
Political Commissar Yang held onto the high-pressure water cannon and said, "Major General Jiang didn't ntion whether to divert the floodwaters. He said the military region has divided the few hundred kiloters of the Yangtze River embanknt that need to be tightly defended into three battlefields: Shishou, Jianli, and Honghu. However, the first-stage main task of our ergency rescue assault team is to handle ergency rescue from Linzao, down to the south of Jianli City, covering 182.35 kiloters of the Jingjiang embanknt."
Concentrating forces to secure the Jingjiang embanknt suggests that the superiors might really not plan to divert floodwaters.
If there is no flood diversion, as long as it's defensible, all previous efforts will not have been in vain, and the human and financial resources invested earlier will have aning.
Filled with excitent, Han Yu heard Huang Yuanchang say, "Salted Fish, the anti-flood command ordered the First Team to depart imdiately and head downstream to the waters near the Yang Liu Village section of Angong County for standby; the Second Team is to head upstream, navigating to the waters at the border of Lingjiang County and Shishou City for standby."
These standby locations are well chosen.
They are slightly upstream of the main hazardous sections, ensuring that whether a major danger occurs, the First or Second Teams, both capable of plugging breaks, can reach the site within an hour and a half. Since downstream navigation is faster than upstream, especially the First Team with high-powered tugboats, the maximum downstream speed can reach twenty-five kiloters per hour.
After calming himself, Han Yu inquired, "What about the second phase?"
"The First Team will first confront the flood peak and follow it. If we're lucky and no rescue tasks arise, it will rendezvous with the Second Team, and together they'll follow the flood peak downstream to Honghu, accompanying the flood peak to the waters at the border of Honghu and Yu Jia, and then return."
"With a total round-trip distance of over six hundred kiloters, Director Huang, there's a lot of preparation to do before departure, we can't move fast."
"Rest assured about the ergency supplies needed for rescue. The anti-flood command and various districts and counties are racing against ti to gather them. By the latest tonight 9 PM, at least one hundred ships of ergency supplies will be dispatched to the Yangtze River line."
As soon as Huang Yuanchang finished speaking, Old Wang looked up and said, "Salted Fish, I just sent Zhang Erxiao to prepare dry rations."
Han Yu asked, "What about the fuel?"
Old Wang turned and pointed to the river not far away, "It has arrived. Captain Wu is currently organizing refueling for each ship."
In combat, logistics are key, and flood rescue is no different.
The four hundred plus tons of fuel from the floating refueling ship brought from back ho were used up earlier. Huang Yuanchang didn't have enough funds to purchase fuel, and local budget constraints were tighter, leading to loans being taken out for flood defense.
Huang Yuanchang couldn't "squeeze" any more from the Changhang System units, nor could he approach the already difficult local party and governnt leaders, so he pleaded with the military region's commander.
Once the commander understood the situation, he said that although the military's budget is tight, there is still so fuel, and ordered several fuel depots set up by Guangzhou Military Region in Beihu to transport over a hundred tons successively using tankers; however, this lasted just a few days before it ran out, and more had to be shipped, which is the second batch that just arrived.
In short, Boss Huang, the logistics chief, did an impeccable job.
Han Yu took out his phone to check the ti, asking, "Uncle Wang, how long until the living supplies are in place?"
"Half an hour."
"Alright, we'll set sail in half an hour." Han Yu pondered, then turned to ask, "Director Huang, considering safety is a must for night navigation of the engineering fleet, could you please consult with the anti-flood command to bring back Yangtze Police 110, Binjiang Police 002, and Supervision 48?"
"No problem, I'll call the anti-flood command to get permission."
...
Everything was arranged, and now all that's left is to wait.
Han Yu looked at Reporter Wang, who was carrying a large travel bag and draping a backpack, curiously asking, "Uncle Wang, when did you return?"
Reporter Wang, who was so familiar with 001, went over to open the command cabin door, placed the luggage inside, and turned back saying, "I just got back less than an hour ago, catching a ride in an interview car from a friend at Xinhua News Agency."
"Where's your apprentice?"
"He doesn't exercise enough and his health isn't as good as mine, this old man. He fell ill halfway, so he was sent to the hospital for a check-up, got so dication. When he felt a little better, I sent him back first."
"In the past month, where have you traveled? How far did you go?"
"We traveled along the Yangtze River embanknt, and if you talk about the places visited, there are many. From Beihu, we traveled all the way to Hui'an, catching rides when there were so, and taking public buses when there weren't. We spent several days in Hui'an and heard about the breach in Jiujiang, so we returned, eting Xiao Yao and Xiao Sun while there."
Curious, Han Yu asked, "Uncle Wang, how many articles have you submitted during this period?"
"I sent quite a few photos, but only wrote one article. My editors and chief editor might find my article sowhat inappropriate; I sent it four days ago, and still today they haven't published it."
Scratching his ssy hair, Reporter Wang contemplated a bit and said, "Salted Fish, I'll join you for 'patrolling the Yangtze' later and stay overnight on 001. There's a bed for under the command cabin, is there?"
"Yes."
He's different from other journalists; he cares about national affairs and mainly engaged in dia oversight and investigative reporting before. He rarely writes ordinary news articles now; only in-depth ones, which so dia outlets might be hesitant to publish.
Han Yu realized he likely wrote about so issues during flood relief efforts. Not wanting and not daring to inquire further, he simply pointed towards the inflow gate of the Jingjiang flood diversion project and said, "Uncle Wang, things are quite lively over at the North Gate. They say there are over two hundred dia reporters waiting for the silt barrier to be blasted and the gate to open for flood diversion."
After giving it so thought, Reporter Wang nonchalantly remarked, "It's not just waiting. I estimate they've prepared news reports like 'Opening of the North Gate', and 'Silt Barrier Scenes' from various angles and titles, just waiting for an explosion to send site photos to their editors for next day's papers."
"Don't you want to take a few pictures?"
"It's not like the flood diversion has happened yet, and with so many reporters there already, what's the point in going?"
"I nearly forgot, you only write exclusive news."
"It's not necessarily about writing exclusive news, but there are plenty of reportable stories, and it's unnecessary to cover what everyone knows."
As they spoke, Wu Hai Li's voice ca over the walkie-talkie.
"Secretary Han, Secretary Han, do you copy?"
"Copy, go ahead, Captain Wu."
"All ships have been refueled, all ships have been refueled."
"Prepare the vehicle for standby."
Han Yu adjusted the communication frequency and raised the walkie-talkie again, "Secretary Wang, Zhao Jiang, this is Han Yu, please respond."
"Received!"
"When will the life supplies be in place?"
"They are being hoisted, and they will be fully in place in at most ten minutes."
"Good." Han Yu put down the walkie-talkie, leaned out, and asked, "Uncle Zhu, is the fuel for 001 sufficient?"
"Enough, we just refueled in the morning, and we also added the lubricating oil."
"That's a relief." Han Yu quickly glanced around and asked, "Where's Dongdong? He was just here, and now he's gone."
Old Zhu pointed overhead and smiled, "In the cockpit, with Captain Fan. He said he'll watch the radar for Captain Fan later."
Dongdong knows how to watch the radar, but once we set sail, he definitely won't really be assisting Captain Fan with the radar.
Han Yu was almost certain that Dongdong would be steering the boat later. As a passenger, it was a bit frightening, but considering that he was already the "ship captain" of 001 at Dongdong's age, and with Captain Fan supervising, there shouldn't be any issues. So he didn't ask further.
After all, being the child of a shipman, mastering steering is an essential skill.
At 4:48 PM, the engineering fleet and transport fleet of the First Team set sail on ti.
001 led the way, with the Yangtze Police 110 and Supervision 48 escorting on either side.
Binjiang Police 002 and the supervision boat of Jingzhou Port Supervision Bureau increased power to rush ahead; they needed to reach downstream quickly to et up with the Second Team and provide security and protection for the engineering and transport fleets of the Second Team and possibly execute water rescue missions.
The officers and soldiers frequently traveled back and forth on the river, but the scene they witnessed today was completely different from the past month.
Looking around, the embanknts on both sides were filled with people and red flags.
Previously, during patrol inspections, on average, one person was responsible for a hundred or two hundred ters of embanknt. Today, there was almost one person every ter and a red flag every dozen ters!
People on the boat curiously watched the embanknts on both sides, while the military and civilians on the embanknts also curiously watched the engineering fleet of the First Team.
"Commander, the 'Hong Kong Garrison' is here! The big tugboat and the 'small aircraft carrier' are both here!"
"I see, no need to shout."
Having collaborated with the "Hong Kong Garrison" before and even shared a al with them, the officers and soldiers were very excited, waving frantically to greet the "Hong Kong Garrison." One soldier even pulled out a red flag and waved it vigorously.
The commander recalled that the "Hong Kong Garrison" arrived as early as early July and had been involved in nurous rescue operations since then. Seeing the engineering signs of the "Hong Kong Garrison" not far away, he couldn't help but shout, "Everyone, salute the 'Hong Kong Garrison,' pay respects to the 'Hong Kong Garrison'!"
The officers and soldiers were stunned for a mont, then hastily stood at attention and saluted promptly.
Han Yu saw this clearly and quickly raised the walkie-talkie, "Captain Wu, Captain Wu, the officers and soldiers on the north bank embanknt are saluting us. Order all the boats to sound their horns!"
"Received."
The sound of horns echoed, reverberating over Jingjiang.
The officers and soldiers on the shore saw a response from the "Hong Kong Garrison" and imdiately cheered.
Everything before his eyes made Han Yu realize that the engineering fleet's "river patrol" did not only enable them to execute major rescue missions promptly but also instilled confidence in those guarding the embanknts, whose physical and ntal energy were at critical points, and even boosted the morale of the military and civilians guarding the embanknts on both sides.
"Captain Fan, turn on the loudspeaker, play military songs, play marches, and select those that can boost morale and play them!"
"Got it, got it!"
Han Yu put down the walkie-talkie, adjusted his camouflage uniform, and walked out of the command cabin to the bow of the ship.
At this mont, the resounding sound of military songs played.
"Forward, forward, our team is like the sun, treading on the land of the motherland, bearing the hope of the nation, we are an invincible force..."
Han Yu sang along while waving his arms in rhythm towards the embanknt.
Dongdong was excited, listening with fervor, gently turning the helm, adjusting the course, and trying to sail as close to the shore as possible.
The officers and soldiers on the shore were even more excited, involuntarily joining in the singing.
The military region commander happened to be inspecting this section of the embanknt and could hear the loud military songs outside through the car window. He imdiately had the driver stop the car to get out and see what was happening.
Seeing hundreds of guarding military and civilians singing along with the ergency rescue assault team sailing on the river, he couldn't help but sigh while walking along the embanknt, "The morale is usable, the morale is usable!"
Han Yu was unaware that the military region commander was on the shore. After singing a song, he took the wireless microphone from Xiao Chen and shouted towards the shore, "Greetings, comrades on the shore!"
"Greetings, comrades of the Hong Kong Garrison!"
"We have already overco five flood peaks. Do you think we can overco the sixth one?"
"Yes, we can!"
"Good, let's celebrate in advance. I have a lot of tapes here, all military songs. Everyone can request songs. What's the next song?"
A soldier cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to 001, "The One, Two, Three, Four Song!"
"Alright, next song: 'The One, Two, Three, Four Song'."
Captain Fan heard it clearly and hurriedly searched for the tape.
In no ti, the military song played again, and the officers and soldiers from the earthwork construction subteam, earthwork transport subteam, the 132 Regint's auxiliary construction subteam, and the 132 Regint's Party mber Assault Team all ran to the ship's side, joining the large-scale chorus with the officers and soldiers on the shore.
Being prepared this ti, unlike the hastiness of the previous song, they sang with more cohesion, louder, and more powerfully!
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