Riverside police

In the past eight days, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been stacking sandbags to guard the Jingjiang embankment to ensure that the rising floods will not overwhelm the simple embankment.

This is a positional battle that consumes the will. Days of hard work left the combatants covered with sunburns and lacked necessary rest. Many combatants suffered from heat stroke and overexertion, and it often happened that someone suddenly fainted on the embankment.

Some soldiers even died, some died of illness, some died of exhaustion!

The province is under great pressure and does not want the People's Liberation Army and the masses to suffer any more casualties. At the same time, considering that the entire embankment has been soaked in floods for more than 40 days, it will be difficult to withstand the upcoming sixth flood peak. Flood diversion plans were formulated this morning. The timetable was sent to the Jingzhou Municipal Government.

Before 6 p.m., it was confirmed again that all people in the flood diversion area had evacuated.

At 9:30 tonight, the explosives for the embankment must be loaded.

At 10:30 tonight, the dam will explode.

At midnight tonight, the gate will be opened to release the flood!

The timetable has been released, and there is no longer any controversy about whether to divide the floods or not. It can be said to be a certainty!

…

Before Secretary Ye returned to Linghai, he made a request for the first team and the second team to switch defenses.

How could Lao Ge not know Secretary Ye's good intentions of wanting Xianyu to show his face in front of the big boss, so he immediately agreed.

Han Yu had no choice but to lead a detachment upstream after seeing off the fifth flood peak, and rushed to the water where the second detachment had previously anchored to stand by.

Dongdong was no longer responsible for delivering water. He sat next to Han Yu and looked in the direction of the North Gate and said: "Second uncle, the people on the other side have all moved. Director Huang said that more than a thousand People's Liberation Army are searching for anyone on the other side. People haven’t left yet. Can’t the flood be diverted after the search is completed? Why did the engineer say that the flood can be diverted or not?”

If all goes according to schedule, the time in the floodplain will always remain on August 16, 1998. After twelve o'clock tonight, half of Angong County will turn into a vast ocean.

Han Yu looked at the other side from a distance, was silent for a long time, and whispered: "If the flood is diverted, not counting the investment in flood control in the previous month or so, and the reconstruction and production restoration after the flood, the direct economic losses may be estimated to be tens of billions.

If the floods are not diverted, if the Jiangbei Levee breaks and the Jianghan Plain and the three towns of Hanwu are flooded, the losses will be even greater and may even affect the modernization process of the country. On the surface, this account seems to be easy to calculate, sacrifice the few and save the many. "

"Then why can't the superiors make a decision?"

"Because this involves the fate of hundreds of thousands of people. If we only act according to the documents, no one from the vice president L to the leaders of Jingzhou City will have to bear any responsibility. But for the hundreds of thousands of people in the flood diversion area, this is a It’s a disaster. My family is gone, everything is gone, just think about how many years of hard work it will take to recover.”

“Didn’t the government say it would help the victims rebuild their homes?”

"The power of the government is limited. You are busy delivering water these days and have not watched much TV news. If you do, you will know how many people have been affected by the disaster across the country."

"how many people?"

"The news at noon said that the number of people affected by the disaster was 220 million."

"So many!" Dongdong was startled, thinking that his uncle had remembered it wrong.

Han Yu didn't know how to explain it to his nephew, so he simply pointed to the other side and gave an example: "Yesterday afternoon, all our trucks were transferred by superiors to help the people move. But there were too many people to be moved, and more than two hundred trucks were simply not enough.

Although Staff Officer Dai and others worked hard, they actually did not help much. They only helped relocate a dozen households of villagers. Because people have to move all their household appliances, clothes, luggage, and thousands of kilograms of food rations to a safe area. Otherwise, how will they live in the future? "

Dongdong was stunned and couldn't help but ask: "What should we do with the people who don't have military vehicles to help them move?"

"Hire a car. If you can't hire a car, hire a tractor at a high price."

Han Yu took a deep breath and said solemnly: "On the way back from the mission, Staff Officer Dai met a couple from Yangliu Village, the same couple who gave us pears."

Dongdong asked in surprise: "Is that the big pig farmer who planted a lot of pear trees and raised a lot of pigs at home?"

"Um."

Han Yu touched his nose and said with mixed emotions: "They have moved three times including this time, and they cried when they saw Staff Officer Dai. They said that they drove more than 30 pigs at home to 'escape' during the last transfer. Since then, It was less than five kilometers from my home to the safe zone. Because the road was full of people and the water was blocked, I had to walk for six hours to get there.

The couple drove more than 30 pigs, ten of them got separated and two were extremely hot. After returning home, I found that the pear orchard contracted by my family had been stolen. All the pears on the trees had been picked. I lost more than 80,000 yuan in just the transfer. If your home is flooded due to flood diversion and all the pear trees are drowned, how will you repay the money you borrowed from others to grow pears and raise pigs? "

Dongdong was silent.

After resisting so many floods, Dongdong has grown up, hugging her knees and keeping silent.

Han Yu looked at the turbid river water rushing eastward, and continued: "So we can't divert the flood if we can. But there has been another round of heavy rain upstream. The water level here is about to exceed the 45-meter safety line. You know what is in front of us?" How fast is the current?"

"How urgent is it?" Dongdong asked curiously.

"The flow rate per second is 63,000 cubic meters, which is equivalent to a West Lake being discharged every 3 minutes and 42 seconds." Han Yu took a few deep breaths and added: "And the tributaries are also flooding. It can be said that the Yangtze River, Han River, and Qingjiang and Lishui are attacking us at the same time, and now we are really surrounded on all sides."

“Isn’t the place where the Han River and the Yangtze River meet downstream?”

"Although the intersection of the two rivers is not on our side, and although the floods of the Han River cannot flood us, they will push up the water from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. While bringing unprecedented pressure to the Han and Wu sides, it will also push up the flow of water on our side. water level.”

“Then why didn’t the mat workers suggest diversion of floodwaters?”

"Xi Gong is not just worried about the hundreds of thousands of people on the other side."

Han Yu picked up the mobile phone strapped to his chest and checked the time, and explained: "He and his colleagues calculated a set of data after repeated calculations. Although this flood peak is fierce, it will cause the water level of Jingjiang River to rise very high. But it should not exceed the fourth flood peak. Furthermore, the water level is very high and the flow is very fast, but the flow is not very large.

If we blow up the dams to divert the flood now, it will be equivalent to using a big footbath to catch a cup of water. Not only will hundreds of thousands of people in the flood diversion area lose their homes, but it will not be of great help in the subsequent flood fight. In short, it is not cost-effective to divert the flood now. "

Dongdong asked: "Who has the final say on whether to divide the flood?"

"Zhong Y has the final say, but the final decision lies with Vice President L. After all, he knows the situation best."

"Is Vice President L here?"

"coming."

"Second uncle, have you met Vice President L?"

"No, the engineer saw him. He went to report on his work."

Just as he was talking, Secretary Wang's call came from the intercom.

"Copy that, I'm on a floating crane, what's going on?"

"Xianyu, the city's defense department has sent some experts. They are going to Beizha to verify the situation. They are in a hurry. Please arrange for 001 to send them across the river quickly."

001 was originally going to be deployed to carry out the warning mission of blowing up the embankment, but in fact almost all the law enforcement boats that could be dispatched were gone.

Han Yu considered that the engineering fleet had to carry out major emergency rescue missions at any time and could not do without law enforcement vessels for piloting and escorting. Through Boss Huang, he asked his superiors to let 001 stay. Unexpectedly, 001's stay came in handy.

Not daring to waste a moment, he stood up and held up the walkie-talkie and said, "Copy that, I'll get on 001 right now and I'll send the experts across the river."

"Second uncle, I'm going too."

"Okay, hurry up."

…

Han Yu climbed onto 001 and personally took the helm to drive 001 to the barge. After picking up several experts from the Jingjiang Water Conservancy Bureau, he learned that the city leader suddenly remembered the elevation of the North Gate and wanted to confirm the height of the flood gate.

This data is important.

Because once the dam outside the flood gate is blasted, you will have to face the flood directly when entering the flood gate.

If the water level is higher than the flood gate, then the flood will overflow the flood gate and flow into the flood diversion area without opening the dam.

The flood gate is an important flood control facility. It cannot be damaged by floods, let alone be washed away or collapse, because the mission of the flood gate is not only to open the gate to divert floods, but also to close the gate to block the flood, and to play the role of regulating the water level. Flood diversion in 1954 It was turned on three times.

If floods are allowed to flow into the flood diversion area, what if the dams outside the flood diversion project area cannot stop it?

Let’s not talk about far away, let’s talk about Mengxiyuan, which suffered a collapse some time ago.

Further south is Xiang'an County in Nanhu Province. Although Xiang'an County was also flooded, due to a north embankment at the junction with Angong County, the flood level difference between the north and south sides was nearly ten meters.

It is said that some people in Nanhu who did not understand the situation mistakenly thought that Beihu was deliberately releasing floods, and they almost got into a fight with the cadres and people in Angong County. In fact, Nanhu Province was opposed to the construction of a flood diversion project in Angong County, and they were strongly opposed to it.

In short, even if you decide to divert floods, you must ensure that nothing goes wrong.

The river near the siltation embankment was full of law enforcement boats on guard duty. Han Yu turned on the police lights, picked up the walkie-talkie, tuned to the public security wireless frequency, and reported the mission of the trip.

The leader of the Jingzhou Public Security Bureau who was responsible for the security mission immediately contacted the police to confirm that 001 of the "Hong Kong Garrison Force" was not there to cause sabotage, and then allowed a small patrol boat that blocked 001 to pass.

Since the flood gate was blocked by the siltation embankment, Han Yu could only send three water conservancy experts to the siltation embankment.

Considering that the experts could not get ashore, they asked Lao Zhu and Xiao Chen to put down the iron canoe, and drove the iron canoe with Dongdong to send the three experts ashore.

Han Yu found a place to tie the canoe and helped the three experts climb ashore. He was startled when he saw that there were not only police officers but also many militiamen sent by the Jingzhou Military Division on the shore. All armed with live ammunition.

The siltation embankment is about 2.5 kilometers away from the flood gate, and no one can't reach it.

Han Yu called Lao Wang again and asked Comrade Lao Wang to contact the city defense commander. After waiting on the embankment for about five minutes, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Jingzhou Military Division drove to pick him up in person.

Because they arrived relatively early and performed various rescue missions like firefighters on the river every day, the "Hong Kong Garrison" became well-known among the troops participating in flood fighting on both sides of the Jingjiang River.

There are at least a dozen reasons why the reputation is so great.

For example, the "Hong Kong Garrison" dragged a gas station and a water plant. For example, the "Hong Kong Garrison" has several large excavators. For example, the "Hong Kong Garrison" has good food. Another example is that the "Hong Kong Garrison" has women. Soldiers and so on.

Deputy Chief of Staff Xiang met the legendary commander of the "Hong Kong Garrison". The little guard who saw the commander was very curious and opened the car door and said: "Secretary Han, let's go and take a look. We should be able to sit down if we are crowded."

"To the deputy chief of staff, I won't go over. I'll wait here."

"OK."

While greeting the three experts to get on the bus, Deputy Chief of Staff Xiang explained: "The reason why the security is so strict is mainly for safety. There are 119 explosive chambers in this dam, and a total of 20 tons of explosives have been buried in advance. No one knows if there will be an accident, so we must be careful and careful again.”

"Understood," Han Yu thought for a moment and then said, "Don't worry, Deputy Chief of Staff, we don't smoke and we won't use open flames."

"Okay, I'll leave first."

"Go ahead, Mr. Yang, don't worry, we won't leave, we will wait for you here."

As soon as the three experts were sent away, a captain officer wearing a "commander" red sleeve came up to him and reminded: "Secretary Han, right? Not only are you not allowed to smoke here, you are not allowed to make cell phone calls, and it is best not to use the walkie-talkie. .”

"Sorry, we didn't know just now."

"It's okay to know now."

"What's your surname? Which army are you from?"

"Your surname is Liu." The captain looked around and said with a bit of embarrassment: "I am the commander of the ground blast company responsible for blowing up the embankment. The explosives under our feet were planted by our company."

Han Yu was stunned and asked in a low voice: "Where are the surrounding militiamen?"

"They are mainly responsible for assisting. We have less than 80 people in our company, and we have to carry not two tons but 20 tons of pre-embedded explosives, so we need the help of the militia brothers."

Company Commander Liu scratched his neck, thought about it and said: "Their next task is to give warnings. From where we stand as the center of the circle, there will be a firing crew stationed at every other section for ten kilometers, each equipped with a Type 79 submachine gun and a 50 Fire bullets. Before blowing up the dam, they will shoot 30 bullets and fire a warning shot."

Explosions are dangerous, and detonating twenty tons of explosives at once is even more dangerous.

Han Yu admired the captain in front of him and asked: "Liu Company Commander, when did your company come?"

"We came here even early and have been here for thirteen years."

"Liu Company Commander, are you kidding me?"

"Secretary Han, I really am not kidding you."

Company Commander Liu had heard of the "Hong Kong Garrison" more than once. Faced with the person in charge of the "Hong Kong Garrison" who had been fighting for more than a month like a firefighter, he felt very uncomfortable. He was silent for a while before saying with a bitter smile: " Our company was established to blow up this embankment.

I have been in the army for 13 years. From a soldier to a company commander, I have had only one training purpose over the years, which is to successfully blast away this three-kilometer-long silt embankment as quickly as possible. "

The waiting time always makes people suffer. Han Yu felt panicked and wanted to talk to someone. He couldn't help but ask: "It will explode in a few hours, and it will really explode. How are you feeling now?" ?”

Company Commander Liu thought for a moment and asked, "Secretary Han, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"Of course it's the truth."

"Tell the truth... I want to explode, but I don't want to explode."

Company Commander Liu took a few deep breaths, looked back at the flood gate in the distance and said, "I want to blow it up because our company has been undertaking this task since 1986, and we come here every year during the flood season to train. We charge explosives and insert detonators. , wiring, 17,000 meters of wire must be pulled within two hours. The blasting plan is carried out every year, and the troops run five kilometers every day. From the North Gate to the anti-siltation embankment, a round trip is exactly five kilometers.

Thirteen years have passed, and no real action has been taken. The soldiers in the iron-clad camp were replaced, and the officers and soldiers of the company were replaced. After they were replaced, I changed from a soldier to the fourth company commander. I wanted to explode, maybe just to prove that I and the hundreds of comrades before and after me were not soldiers in vain! "

Company Commander Liu couldn't speak anymore, and Han Yu clearly saw him crying.

Dongdong was deeply shocked and couldn't help but ask: "Why don't you want to explode?"

The ancients said that it takes ten years to sharpen a sword, but I have been preparing for it for thirteen years.

Han Yu could understand Captain Liu's mood at this moment, and whispered before Captain Liu could speak: "I understand this. Like you, like the eight million people in Jingzhou, I don't want to explode."

"Secretary Han, your understanding is definitely not as deep as mine, and the pain in your heart is definitely not as deep as mine!"

Company Commander Liu wiped away his tears and said with a bit of self-mockery: "Did you know? Our company may be the only unit in the army that is not popular with the people."

"As for that?" Han Yu patted his arm and comforted him: "You are just following orders from your superiors."

"As for!"

Company Commander Liu interrupted Han Yu's consolation and said with a grimace: "There is an old man nearby who survived the flood diversion in 1954. Whenever he sees people from our company, he picks up his cane to beat us and points his nose at us. We are unethical, and specialize in the immoral act of breaking the bank.

The soldiers would stay away from him when they saw him, just like we had done something bad. That was 1954, we weren’t even born, it’s none of our business! But this is not 1954. It is really going to explode now, and we have to set it off. "

Han Yu was silent, not knowing how to comfort him.

Company Commander Liu took several deep breaths and continued: "Others in the People's Liberation Army are risking their lives to protect the levee, but we are training to blow up the levee with all our lives. When we bury the explosives, we feel proud that the motherland has entrusted us with such a sacred task. But after burying the explosives, we feel proud in our hearts. I feel uncomfortable, and I even hate myself a little. But my identity is a soldier, and it is not me who has the final say whether to blow up or not. I only follow the orders from above."

"So there's no need to blame yourself. When the mission is completed, I'll treat you to dinner. The food in our camp is good."

"I know, I heard people say that you are Linghai Hotel."

Han Yu pretended to be relaxed and said: "We also have Linghai Hotel."

It's going to explode in a few hours!

Company Commander Liu ignored the joke and stared at Han Yu seriously and said sincerely: "There are many reporters in front of us, including domestic ones, foreign ones, and even CCTV. At noon, a reporter told me that the bombing of the defense Silt embankment, my little company commander is famous.

I would rather not be famous, I would rather these thirteen years of training be in vain than explode! A flood will have a huge impact on the people, and a family may not be able to recover in five or ten years.

Secretary Han, you are the main force in flood fighting and rescue operations. You will definitely be able to see Vice President L. If you do after you go back, help me tell Vice President L that I will resolutely carry out the charging order and we will complete the charging task to the letter. . But I think, even if there is 1% hope, can it not explode? Can the flood diversion area be given a way out? This is the wish of the common people, and it is also the wish of our explosive company! "