Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians fought a seesaw battle with the flood for more than a month. The embanknts that needed reinforcent were fortified and heightened, and many civil dikes along the line made great sacrifices, prioritizing the greater good by breaching to divert the flood. With the concerted efforts of all parties, the nacing sixth flood peak was narrowly held back.
The silt barrier wasn't blown up, and the inflow gate wasn't opened!
The hos of over 300,000 people in Angong County were preserved. Although economic losses occurred during two evacuations, these losses were much smaller than the alternative flood diversion.
Han Yu felt a sense of relief, just like when the fourth flood peak was sent away. He switched from standby mode to ergency reinforcent mode, directing the earthwork construction team to urgently fortify the dike sections with safety hazards as per the City Flood Control Command's requirents.
When the flood peak cos, it's "idle"; when it's gone, it's busy. People might not believe this.
Just when he was extrely busy, Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian, far away in Linghai, received good news.
The General Staff, General Politics, General Logistics Departnt, and General Equipnt jointly issued a notice, highlighting that more than 5 million civilian soldiers and reserve soldiers nationwide have played an important role in anti-flood efforts. The headline emphasized that these 5 million reserve officers and soldiers have beco the main force and assault team in anti-flood efforts!
Minister Yang of the Ard Forces Departnt, looking at the file forwarded by the Military District, read aloud with excitent: "At a critical mont when the lives and property of the nation and the people were seriously threatened, all levels of military regions and military departnts resolutely implented the important instructions of the Central Committee and Central Military Commission. They quickly organized more than 5 million civilian soldiers and reserve soldiers, under the unified leadership of local party committees and governnts, to actively engage in the anti-flood struggle, working alongside the People's Liberation Army officers and soldiers, the ard police, and public security police, playing the role of the main force and assault team..."
This is not only an affirmation of the civilian militia reserve forces but also a recognition of the Linghai Reserve Camp and even the Linghai Ard Forces Departnt.
As the First Political Commissioner of the Linghai Ard Forces Departnt, Secretary Ye was very pleased and said with a smile: "Minister Yang, let's first look at the report on the important role played by the civilian militia reserve force officers and soldiers in the anti-flood efforts. Is our Linghai Reserve Camp ntioned in it?"
"It is, I saw it on the way here."
"Read it."
"Alright."
Minister Yang turned to the third page and read: "In early July, continuous heavy rains fell in the Yangtze River Basin. The Dongting Lake and Jingjiang were in full ergency, and the Yangtze River levee was on the brink of danger. The Central Military Commission, Beihu Province Military District, and Nanhu Province Military District urgently mobilized the Linghai Reserve Camp, Tiann Reserve Bridge Group, and Civilian Militia Boat Bridge Group to move across the three Xiang and four rivers.
They were highly mobile, daring to fight tough battles, driving on roads and navigating by boat, averting risks on the levee, rescuing 110,000 people surrounded by floodwaters, inspecting more than 1,600 danger points, transporting over 5,000 tons of materials, and delivering more than 1,500 disaster relief personnel..."
This is a summary of the civilian militia reserve forces participating in the anti-flood efforts across the military and the country. Although the report is long, estimated to be over ten thousand words, there are over a hundred words specifically ntioning Linghai Reserve Camp, which is quite remarkable.
Minister Yang feared that Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian did not realize the significance of this honor and, placing the file aside, said with a smile: "Secretary Ye, the Civilian Militia Boat Bridge Group of the Nanhu Province Military District and the Reserve Boat Bridge Group of the Beihu Province Military District were both established in 1984. Over the past years, they have played a significant role in flood control and relief, with nurous battle honors, and they can be considered a model of the civilian militia reserve forces nationwide."
Mayor Qian took the file material, smiled, and said: "From now on, we must add our Linghai Reserve Camp. We can say we have gained fa in one battle!"
"Indeed, Commander Wang called this morning, very excited. He said the Provincial Military District Commander praised us and planned to visit our Linghai once this anti-flood war is won."
"If the Provincial Military District Commander is coming, the camp needs to be tidied up properly."
"The honor room must be set up."
Minister Yang saw that the two city leaders were so happy and seized the mont to say: "Secretary Ye, Mayor Qian, the civilian militia reserve forces are inherently unified. Practice has proven that working separately and managing separately is not conducive to the construction of the civilian militia reserve forces.
Many places now have one team with two signs, unlike Binjiang, where the militia is the militia, and the reserve is the reserve. I think we can fully draw on the advanced experience of our peer districts and counties and integrate the civilian militia reserve forces."
Without the Binjiang Reserve Group, we in Linghai can manage on our own.
Secretary Ye found this proposal quite good and pondered, saying: "Vice Minister Li and Deputy Mayor Shen led the team in flood fighting and are familiar with the reserve camp situation. You can hold a eting when you return, and let Vice Minister Li oversee the reserve camp."
Having finally achieved success, Mayor Qian also did not want to cooperate with Binjiang, asking: "But there is one problem. The camp instructor is a cadre from the Binjiang Reserve Group."
"Can we transfer him over, to the Ard Forces Departnt? If the Binjiang Reserve Group disagrees, I'll personally go to the Military District. We in Linghai can set up a pilot project, and the Military District will surely support it."
With Secretary Ye's decisive decision, it was settled that from now on, the Linghai Reserve Camp would be self-built and self-managed by Linghai, only accepting business guidance from the Binjiang Reserve Group.
This ans the Linghai Reserve Camp will henceforth be the reserve camp of the Ard Forces Departnt.
Minister Yang was very excited and couldn't help but ask: "Secretary Ye, when can Salted Fish and the others co back?"
"Shen Fan called last night. He said Master Han, through observation and analysis of data provided by the Yangtze River Water Resources Commission's hydrological teorological forecasting office, found that the iyu front is still over the Yangtze River Basin. It's possible that the upstream provinces and cities like Xichuan and Mountain City will continue to rain."
"There will still be rain, and more flood peaks!"
"Yes, the flood control situation remains severe." Secretary Ye was worried when recalling what he saw when visiting the Linghai Reserve Camp soldiers in Beihu.
Mayor Qian sighed softly, adding: "Master Han's prediction that the flood will return is definitely not wrong. Shen Fan told over the phone that yesterday afternoon, the Yangtze River Committee commissioned Master Xi to issue a letter of appointnt to Master Han, appointing him as a special expert of the hydrological teorological forecasting office."
Minister Yang curiously asked: "What kind of appointnt is this special expert?"
"It's different from the appointnt his son-in-law received. They truly regard Master Han as an expert, not only with expert fees but also eligible to apply for research projects."
"So it's sowhat like a university's visiting professor?"
"Yes."
Mayor Qian nodded, continuing: "Late last month, everyone thought the flood was over, and nothing was wrong. Many troops had withdrawn, even Salted Fish and the others were preparing to pack up and return. Master Han predicted accurately that the cold air from Siberia would collide with the airflow coming from the South Sea, potentially causing heavy rains in the Yangtze River Basin. As a result, Hanwu experienced an unprecedented torrential rain the next night.
Of course, the prediction of the 'reversed iyu season' wasn't just made by Master Han, several experts in the teorological system predicted it too, but they didn't retire to a secondary line, he did. Shen Fan said even the National teorological Bureau wants to hire Master Han as a special professor at the teorology Training Institute."
Minister Yang couldn't help but laugh: "In the end, it's just Salted Fish who doesn't take his father-in-law seriously."
"It's not just Salted Fish, both Salted Fish's wife and sister-in-law don't take Master Han seriously either. So, there's so truth to the saying that distance adds beauty. This analogy might be a bit inappropriate, but being too familiar indeed makes things lose their mystery, and naturally, there's no respect."
"Makes sense. Like my daughter, she watches TV every day, and she's so impressed by the soldiers on TV during the flood rescues. When I told her I was also in the liberation army and I led a team to the riverbank for flood fighting recently, she said I was a fake soldier, saying officers in the Ard Forces Departnt are all fake officers."
"Hahaha, my second child doesn't even regard as a mayor, let alone as an official."
"My son is better."
Secretary Ye chid in with a smile, "He still respects quite a bit, but after a few years in college, he thinks he's sothing special, a bit having high aims but low skills. Every ti he cos ho, he critiques my work, saying this thing I did was not good, and that thing is no good."
Mayor Qian sighed and said, "Secretary Ye, we all went through the sa thing. When we started working back then, didn't we think this leader was incompetent, and that leader had no skills!"
"I never did. I respected every leader."
"Is that really true?"
"Maybe I felt a bit like that in my heart, but I was very respectful to my superiors in my actions, hahaha."
The three of them laughed and chatted, and the phone on the table rang.
As soon as Secretary Ye picked up the phone, he heard Vice Mayor Qin's voice asking on the other end, "Secretary Ye, have you seen the joint report from the Four Headquarters and the mo on the participation of the Civilian Militia Reserve Force officers and soldiers in the flood rescue?"
"I've seen it, Minister Yang is right beside ."
"I didn't expect it, truly unexpected, congratulations to you all."
"Mayor Qin, we should be congratulating you. You're the First Political Commissioner of our Binjiang Reserve Forces. Without you, there wouldn't be our Linghai Reserve Camp!"
Vice Mayor Qin was indeed very happy and excited, and quickly said, "Secretary Ye, this achievent was made by Salted Fish and the others. We can't take credit alone, and there's no need for mutual flattery. There are two main things I called you about."
Secretary Ye smiled and asked, "What are they?"
"First, the City Committee and the Municipal Governnt have decided to increase investnt in the construction of national defense reserve forces. Just half an hour ago, the city approved a ten million budget for the construction of the Binjiang Reserve Group, planning to first build the camp, instead of squeezing into the small building at the military district communication station like now."
"Ten million!!"
"Yes, it's ten million. I just called Xia Jianqiang, and he was dumbfounded."
The city seems to have money to spare, giving away ten million just like that.
Secretary Ye was also a bit stunned, and after a while, he smiled and asked, "Mayor Qin, does the Binjiang Reserve Group really need that much to build a camp?"
"The warehouse also needs renovation. Anyway, if we're doing it, we should do it properly. But don't worry, the ten million won't all be spent on Xia Jianqiang's place, you all should quickly co up with a plan and see how to renovate the Linghai Reserve Camp's facilities."
"Mayor Qin, I'm currently discussing this matter with Mayor Qian and Minister Yang. The camp not only needs a renovation, but it also needs to be rebuilt. Even the Provincial Military District Commanders will co to inspect, those few rows of bungalows are not presentable."
"That's exactly what I'm considering; you propose the plan, and I'll handle the funding."
"Alright, what's the second thing?"
A team I raised has achieved success and even received recognition from the Four Headquarters.
Vice Mayor Qin was glowing with excitent as he said, "Deputy Division Commander Tao from the Jiangnan Reserve Division just called . Salted Fish and the others are competing for an honorary title against the active forces. Initially, we thought we might forego the Red Saber Battalion title, but asked if we could be granted another honorary title.
At first, the Military Region Commanders didn't quite understand the Linghai Reserve Camp's situation, thinking it was too frivolous. They only agreed to distribute military uniforms, cap insignias, collar flowers, and ranks, and the honorary title matter was shelved. Perhaps they saw the joint communiqué from the Four Headquarters yesterday afternoon, and this morning, the Provincial Military District was asked to organize the deeds materials."
Secretary Ye smiled and asked, "Has the superior decided to grant our Linghai Reserve Camp an honorary title?"
"Yes, but it won't be awarded by the Nanjing Military Region; it's awarded by the Central Committee. Deputy Division Commander Tao said that this happened just in ti. The Central Committee happens to be coordinating with the General Staff and General Politics, planning to comnd certain units within the army that participated in flood rescue. The docunt was sent to the Nanjing Military Region, and the Nanjing Military Region then reported the Linghai Reserve Camp Water Rescue Team."
An award from the Central Committee is good too, as long as it's an honorary title!
Secretary Ye pursued, "Did the higher-ups ntion what kind of honorary title they plan to award?"
Vice Mayor Qin laughed and said, "It seems to be an 'Anti-flood Rescue Youth Assault Team' honorary title, and that's a national honor."
...
PS: Back in the nineties, the city allocated ten million to the Reserve Group, it really happened.
It was in Old Zhuo's city, and at that ti, the regint commander and political commissioner were both dumbfounded, unable to believe it was true.
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