Soldiers Assault: Starting from the 7th Steel Company

Chapter 264: What brings you here too?
Upon hearing this, Chen Jiang and Yuan Lang were overjoyed.

The electromagnetic interference in this area is too strong, and the terrain here is a basin, which caused their communications to be interrupted.

Fortunately, thanks to the persistent efforts of the communications officer, they were finally able to make contact with the rear.

"Sharp sword, sharp sword, this is the eagle, respond if you hear me!"

"Sharp sword, sharp sword, this is the eagle, respond if you hear me!"

"Sharp sword, sharp sword, this is the eagle, respond if you hear me!"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Chen Jiang immediately picked up his communicator and shouted loudly.
"Eagle, I am the sword, I am the sword!"

The other party was clearly also somewhat excited.
After a while, he called out, "Where are you? Where are you?"

Chen Jiang quickly reported his location and then gave a brief account of their situation after the parachute landing.
When the other end of the communicator heard that several paratroopers had lost contact, there was a moment of silence. Everyone knew that losing contact under the current circumstances was probably a grave mistake.

"You are all outstanding! The people of our motherland will never forget you!" the other party said excitedly.

After giving instructions, the person on the other end clearly stated that support was being sent to the earthquake zone from all over the country, roads to the epicenter would be cleared soon, and more rescue forces would arrive continuously. Their current task was to work with the local government to stabilize the situation and save as many lives as possible. As long as people were alive, homes could be rebuilt, even better!
"Resolutely complete the mission!"

Chen Jiangli answered loudly.

With support from the rear, Chen Jiang felt much more confident.
"The command headquarters ordered us to expand the search and rescue efforts outwards from our current location, and to try to contact the local government to establish a temporary command post!" Chen Jiang said to Yuan Lang and the key personnel who had gathered around him.

"Understood!" Yuan Lang nodded, then turned to Wu Liuyi. "Liuyi, you take a team and search the western part of the city. Focus on finding any temporary government offices or organized rescue teams. Be careful, keep communication open, and report any developments immediately!"

"Yes!" Without hesitation, Wu Liuyi immediately selected several agile team members, who, carrying the necessary equipment, quickly disappeared into the ruins.

Chen Jiang then directed the remaining personnel, including the young and middle-aged survivors who had joined spontaneously, to conduct a comprehensive search of the surrounding area, centered on the current ruins.

With the professional demolition tools and medical supplies left behind by the helicopter, the efficiency was much higher than before when working by hand.

The rescue work, fraught with the threat of aftershocks and the ultimate challenge to physical endurance, continues amidst a mix of tragedy and hope.

The rescue teams are growing larger and larger, with everyone relying on and supporting each other in the face of natural disasters.

Every now and then, survivors are pulled from the rubble, bringing brief cheers; every now and then, bodies beyond saving are found, eliciting silence and wailing.

A few hours later, Wu Liuyi's team brought back news: they had found the local earthquake relief temporary command center in a primary school campus about three kilometers away, where the damage was relatively minor.

Several surviving local leaders were directing operations there, but the situation was far from optimistic.

When Chen Jiang and Yuan Lang arrived at the temporary camp filled with tents and wounded soldiers, the local cadres and people saw this disciplined team, covered in dust and with tattered uniforms, as if they had seen saviors.

"Great! We've finally got the People's Liberation Army!" A leader in the temporary command post gripped Chen Jiang and Yuan Lang's hands tightly, his voice choked with emotion.

He quickly explained the situation: the county town was severely affected by the disaster, most buildings collapsed, the number of casualties was impossible to count, medical resources were in dire need, and food and drinking water were about to run out.

Chen Jiang informed the other party of the situation at the rear and the upcoming large-scale rescue, which greatly stabilized the emotions of everyone in the command center.

Thanks to the communication equipment brought by Team A, the temporary command center was finally able to establish stable contact with its superiors, allowing for accurate reporting of the disaster situation and the transmission of rescue needs and material lists.

Chen Jiang and Yuan Lang assisted the temporary command in reorganizing the structure, dividing the areas of responsibility, and integrating the limited rescue forces (including a small number of troops, armed police, firefighters, and a growing volunteer team that were gradually gathering). They formulated the rescue principle of "starting with the easy tasks, prioritizing life-saving efforts, and clearing areas by zone".

Yuan Lang fully utilized the strengths of Team A, dividing the team members into several elite groups, equipped with tools and medics, specifically tasked with tackling key areas with deep burial and high rescue difficulty.

"Limited food, medicine, and drinking water must be used centrally and uniformly. This is a critical period, so strict management is necessary."

At Chen Jiang's suggestion, they allocated some manpower to coordinate and manage the supplies rescued from the city, and then distributed them to the disaster-stricken people according to their basic living needs.

Chen Jiang and his team also received a food allowance—one packet of instant noodles each. Because the city had lost water and electricity, drinking water was extremely scarce, so the A team members and firefighters opted to eat them dry.
The flatbread was rough, making a gritty sound when chewed, and mixed with dust from the air, making it difficult to swallow.

But no one complained. Everyone chewed silently and diligently, trying their best to convert the food into energy to sustain their strength.

Wu Liuyi even carefully poured the crumbs that fell into his palm into his mouth, not wanting to waste a single bit.

All around were the painful groans of the wounded, the suppressed sobs of people who had lost loved ones, and the shouts and clanging of equipment from the rescue site.

This packet of instant noodles, which would normally seem insignificant, is incredibly precious at this moment; it sustains life, order, and hope.

Chen Jiang finished his meal in a few bites, took a swig of the last bit of water from the pot, stood up, and said to Yuan Lang, "Team Leader Yuan, this isn't a solution. More and more disaster victims are gathering here, and we're really short of tents, food, medicine, and drinking water. We have to find a solution quickly."

"What can we do? We can't exactly rob someone, can we?" Yuan Lang joked. "Besides, in this situation, there's nowhere to rob someone even if we wanted to."

What was said in jest was taken seriously. Qi Huan, who had been silently working, suddenly said, "Captain, will the pharmacies in this county town be destroyed by the earthquake? We can get those medicines out and use them first!"

"Yes, there should still be things in the other warehouses and such." The soldiers next to him chimed in.

In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken.

When Chen Jiang spoke to the local government leaders, they unexpectedly raised different opinions.
"Isn't this a bit inappropriate? What if the owners of these businesses sue us? Who will take responsibility then?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Lang immediately flew into a rage. "What kind of time is this? Human lives are at stake! Are we supposed to uphold so-called social morality and let those resources sit idle while the common people starve and are homeless?"

"That's not how it works. These are two different things. Once you all leave, those people will be targeting our local government and causing trouble. This will be very complicated." Chen Jiang was speechless after hearing this. You can't talk about ice with a summer insect!

"I'll take responsibility for this! When we go to collect the supplies, we'll make a list and record it! The national treasury will provide unified compensation after the disaster. If there are any complaints from the public later, they can come to me! I'll be at the General Assembly Center!" Chen Jiang's attitude was very firm.

Considering that Chen Jiang was, after all, a "big shot" from above, these grassroots cadres couldn't say anything more.

"only."

"Alright, saving lives is urgent, there are no 'buts'. Hurry up and do it, otherwise we'll really have to hold people accountable if something goes wrong!" Chen Jiang interrupted the other person's dawdling without any politeness.

At Chen Jiang's insistence, the atmosphere in the temporary command post became solemn.

The local leader opened his mouth, but under Chen Jiang's unquestionable gaze and the anxious eyes of the soldiers around him, he swallowed his concerns and let out a helpless sigh and nod.

“Qi Huan!” Yuan Lang immediately called out.

"To!"

"Take a few men and immediately go and take inventory of the locations of all known pharmacies, food wholesale warehouses, and hardware stores in the city! Be quick!"

"Yes!" Qi Huan accepted the order.

Chen Jiang added, “Remember, we need to be quick, but also standardized! We are doing rescue work, not looting. Every item we take must be recorded in detail, including the name, quantity, and location of the item. Try to find the original packaging or label. Leave a written record on site, stating that it is an emergency requisition for earthquake relief and signing it, and also clearly writing the date. If the shop owner or person in charge is present, communicate with them in person and ask them to sign to confirm; if no one is present, we will post the record in a prominent place and take a photo for record-keeping.”

"Understood!" Qi Huan nodded emphatically, fully aware of the special nature and importance of this mission.

Soon, several "supply requisition teams" composed of members of Team A, armed police officers, and local guides familiar with the terrain quickly set off. This was a desperate measure that broke with convention, but for the lives that might still be struggling under the rubble, and for the wounded and civilians in urgent need of rescue, they had to do it.

Time ticked by, and the predicament of the makeshift camp worsened.

As more and more disaster victims gathered, there was a severe shortage of tents, and many people had to huddle in the open air.

Medicines, especially hemostatic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory drugs, were quickly depleted.

The rationing of drinking water and food has been reduced to a minimum.

Yuan Lang directed the main rescue force to continue fighting on the ruins. Every aftershock was terrifying, but no one retreated.

Chen Jiang was stationed at the temporary command post, coordinating all parties and dealing with the endless stream of problems: where signs of life were found and reinforcements were needed, which area had a small-scale disturbance among survivors that needed to be calmed down, and how to distribute medicines and food to ensure maximum fairness and efficiency. He was overwhelmed with problems, but he always maintained the most optimistic attitude.

Because he knew that everyone was watching him, and if he wavered in his resolve, it would affect the morale of the earthquake relief team.

Several hours later, the first conscription team returned, bringing back mixed news.

Fortunately, they found a large quantity of undamaged medicines in a partially collapsed pharmacy warehouse, especially urgently needed antibiotics, bandages, and disinfectant.
Worryingly, a medium-sized supermarket almost completely collapsed, making excavation extremely difficult. Only a small amount of bottled water and convenience food from the edges could be salvaged.

"Report! We have requisitioned a batch of medicines from the 'Weimin Pharmacy' warehouse. The list is here! There is a written receipt on site."

The team leader handed Chen Jiang a detailed list, densely filled with the names and quantities of medicines, followed by the pharmacy manager's trembling but clear signature. "The manager and his family were also trapped nearby. We helped them set up a makeshift shed. He was very cooperative, saying that as long as it could save lives, they could use whatever they wanted."

Chen Jiang looked at the list and breathed a long sigh of relief; this was undoubtedly a timely help. "Good! Immediately hand the medicines over to the medical personnel! Prioritize the seriously injured and those needing surgery!"

Following that, the other teams returned one after another, with varying results.

Some found intact hardware stores and obtained more demolition tools and gloves;
Some discovered the underground warehouse of a small grain store and salvaged several bags of rice and flour;

However, some target locations are too damaged to be accessed in a short period of time.

Some people also discovered that a small group of people were taking advantage of the situation to engage in petty theft. The soldiers, of course, did not show any mercy and quickly arrested these scoundrels and handed them over to the relevant departments for processing.

The most exciting team was led by Qi Huan. Following the directions of an old neighbor, they found a relatively remote but sturdy warehouse of a state-owned sugar and wine company.

Although the warehouse was damaged, its main structure remains intact.
After finally opening it, it was found to be filled with a lot of undamaged bottled water, compressed biscuits, canned food, and some work protection supplies (such as quilts and gloves).

When the news reached the command center, everyone was thrilled.

Although these numbers won't last long for the city's survivors, they are a godsend!

"Immediately organize forces to transfer this batch of supplies at all costs! Prioritize the injured, the elderly, children, and frontline rescue workers!" Chen Jiang's voice was hoarse with excitement.

Large quantities of life-saving supplies were continuously transported back to the temporary camp.

When clear bottled water, biscuits, and canned food were distributed to the disaster victims, and when brand-new quilts were placed on the shivering elderly and children, the atmosphere of despair in the camp was somewhat alleviated, and hope was rekindled in people's eyes.

Although many difficulties remain, at least the most basic survival needs have been initially alleviated.

After two days of rescue operations, the road was finally cleared by the subsequent rescue forces. Military field hospitals, social medical assistance volunteer teams, and civilian rescue teams all arrived one after another.

What moved Chen Jiang and his team deeply was that there were also many civilian vehicles transporting various supplies. Because the roads were very narrow, priority was given to special vehicles for earthquake relief. These civilians who came from all over the country could not enter, so they could only do some basic work on the outskirts of the earthquake zone.

This truly exemplifies the meaning of "when one place is in trouble, help comes from all sides"!
However, Chen Jiang saw his wife among the social medical assistance volunteer team that came to help. It seems that Chu Ning still has the blood of a soldier flowing in her veins. In the face of such a major disaster, she still took the initiative to volunteer to come to the front line.

(End of this chapter)