Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 889 - 845 The Prime Minister has arrived

Chapter 889: Chapter 845 The Prime Minister has arrived

Chapter 889 -845 The Prime Minister has arrived

Highway 18

About thirty-odd kilometers from the urban area of Yizhou City, the road is completely surrounded by mountains, with the highway skirting the edge of the mountains—cliffs on one side and steep walls on the other. This stretch of Highway 18 in Bashu Province is the most dangerous section within the territory.

At this moment, on a slightly broader side of the road, the area has become a temporary construction site. Along the side of the highway that it occupies, more than a dozen military tents have been erected. This is the command center for the earthquake disaster relief in Wenshu, the forefront and highest-level headquarters, because Prime Minister Leng Yunfei and Deputy Prime Minister Nie Guowei are here at this moment.

Inside the tent, the Prime Minister’s eyes appear deep-set and bloodshot—it’s obvious that he hasn’t rested well.

Right now, inside the tent, a long military table in the middle holds the route map of Highway 18 through the Yizhou section.

A general officer with the rank of full general is reporting to Prime Minister Leng, “Commander, according to satellite remote sensing data, all other sections of Highway 18 have now been cleared, leaving only this ten-kilometer stretch. According to the engineering corps’ estimate, it will take at least another ten hours to clear it.”

Upon hearing this news, Leng Yunfei’s face instantly changes, and the reporting general immediately says, “Commander, the main difficulty is that the construction width is too narrow. It’s hard for the engineering machinery to get in.”

The expression on Prime Minister Leng’s face turns grim. Since his arrival in Bashu, he has been working non-stop. Looking at General Shen Jiantao, Commander of Tianfu Military Region, Prime Minister Leng speaks sternly, “By hook or by crook, we need to get in there. The sooner, the better. One second earlier could mean saving one more life.”

As he speaks, Prime Minister Leng stands up and looks at Shen Jiantao with a solemn expression. He speaks in a deep voice, “Ten hours is absolutely unacceptable. If the work surface is too narrow, then find a way—any means, any cost. I only want one result: the road must be cleared within three hours, opening up Yizhou City’s lifeline. The people have supported you, and now, in the face of this massive disaster, it’s up to you.”

Having said this much, Shen Jiantao clearly understands that a critical order has been given. He promptly stands at attention and nods, “Please rest assured, Prime Minister. The entire Tianfu Military Region will spare no cost or effort to ensure that this lifeline is cleared within three hours.”

After Shen Jiantao leaves, Nie Guowei approaches and whispers, “Prime Minister, please go and get some sleep. Since yesterday afternoon, you have been up for nearly forty hours…”

Prime Minister Leng waves his hand and sighs, “Old Nie, say no more. I understand what you mean. But now is not the time to rest. We still know nothing about the situation in the worst-hit areas. According to Zhenbang’s report, at the moment, Yizhou City is without power and water, lacking food and medicine, as well as large engineering equipment and rescue forces. I can’t sleep.”

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Since receiving the news, Prime Minister Leng flew to Bashu and has been without sleep. During the day and night, he has been inspecting various disaster areas, talking to the local people, calming the public’s emotions, and at night, convening meetings with all parties to discuss and deploy disaster relief efforts. It has been over forty hours now, and even young people would not be able to endure it, let alone an elder approaching his seventies.

At this moment, in another tent, the Commander of Tianfu Military Region is convening a meeting with the military chiefs of the various units under the command.

Shen Jiantao’s expression is stern as he looks around at everyone and speaks in a deep voice, “Comrades, just now, the Prime Minister has issued a final, critical order. We must clear the transportation line within three hours. For this, I have promised the Prime Minister with a military order, ensuring completion of the task within three hours. I want to reiterate to everyone here, be you a general or a soldier, tell everyone. Clearing the way will be a victory, and I will commend you for it!”

As soon as the words are spoken, Major General Ye Jianshe, the Military Region’s Chief of Staff, says, “Commander, the current problem is that we can’t open up enough space for the operation. Even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice.”

Shen Jiantao waves his hand and says sternly, “A narrow operation surface is not an excuse. Issue my command: if the operation surface isn’t enough, break it open. For the ten-kilometer road, conduct segmented construction along the route. Engineering machinery with off-road capability, charge in. For the excavated earth and rocks, adopt local placement measures along the roadside slopes or dump them over the cliff edges. In short, whatever methods you use, I just want a result. Three hours, remember, the road must be cleared within three hours.”

Three hours fly by in an instant. When the clock points to 8 p.m., at last, the soldiers from the civil engineering group repairing the roads on the Yizhou side and Tianfu Military Region’s engineering troops successfully join forces on Highway 18. Deafening applause and cheering erupt.

Yizhou City.

At this moment, Yizhou City had completely lost power. The supply and transmission lines were utterly destroyed in this massive earthquake. Come nightfall, the entire Yizhou was plunged into pitch darkness.

By this time, a full 32 hours had passed since the earthquake struck, and it was at this very moment that the Prime Minister entered the epicenter of the Wenshu earthquake.

Having received the news, Nie Zhenbang now led the surviving officials of Yizhou City in waiting at Yizhou Square.

The square was silent, the people who had just experienced a great disaster either sitting on the ground or standing, their eyes all turning toward the Prime Minister.

At this moment, aside from the rumbling of a dozen or so diesel generators, there was no other sound.

Prime Minister Leng’s expression was very solemn and sad. Looking at Nie Zhenbang, Prime Minister Leng held out his hand and said firmly, “Comrade Nie Zhenbang, you have worked hard. On behalf of the Central Government, I thank you for your efforts and for your fearlessness in the face of sacrifice. How is the resettlement of the affected people going?”

As soon as these words were spoken, Nie Zhenbang said, “Prime Minister, currently, the surviving civilians in Yizhou Urban Area have all been settled in Yizhou City Citizens Square, Yizhou Sports Center, and the fields of several colleges and high schools. The mood among the people is relatively stable, but now there are quite a few problems. We are severely lacking in food and drinking water, and additionally, there is a great shortage of medicines, medical equipment and facilities, as well as medical personnel. This is the most fundamental issue. Many of the seriously injured cannot receive effective treatment due to the limitations of medical conditions.”

Prime Minister Leng nodded and looked around the people in the square with his usual calm voice, “Comrades, fathers and fellow villagers of Yizhou City, I am Leng Yunfei. I have come to visit everyone. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and Director Shen, I express my deep sorrow and affectionate condolences for the disaster you have suffered. Houses have collapsed and fallen, but we can rebuild them. As long as we are alive, there is hope. As long as we are united with one heart and one mind, I believe we will be able to overcome this difficulty and defeat this severe natural disaster.”

Following that, under the guidance of Nie Zhenbang, Prime Minister Leng and his party arrived at the medical area. Nie Zhenbang introduced, “Prime Minister, at the moment, eighty percent of the buildings in the Yizhou Urban Area have become rubble and debris. Now, many of our people are injured. We’ve set up medical tents here on the square and over there at the sports stadium. Currently, all the diesel generators that we have been able to gather in the city are being given priority to medical units. The main difficulties we’re facing are the severe shortage of rescue engineering equipment and machinery, as well as a lack of food and water. These past two days, most people haven’t had much to eat, and in a few more days, I’m worried that we’ll have a big problem.”

Listening to Nie Zhenbang’s report, Prime Minister Leng’s expression immediately turned grave. Turning his head, Prime Minister Leng said to Su Xuan, the Secretary of the Bashu Provincial Party Committee standing behind him, “Comrade Su Xuan, we must now immediately organize manpower and transportation to first transport the urgently needed food, water, and medicines in the disaster area. Throughout Bashu Province, all roads should be prioritized for disaster relief vehicles, while ensuring that police cars clear the way and accompany vehicles transporting supplies. We must deliver the materials as quickly as possible.”

Afterward, the group went on to visit the settlement area for those affected by the disaster on the square. At a few tents erected with striped cloths, there were children half-grown inside; the oldest no more than twelve, the youngest, still babes in arms.

As they entered the tent, several policewomen in uniform stood up, and Nie Zhenbang explained, “Prime Minister, these children have either been separated from their parents in the earthquake, or their family members have already perished. Right now, under the limited conditions, they are temporarily gathered here.”

Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Prime Minister Leng’s eyes. Walking forward, Prime Minister Leng crouched down and embraced a young girl and a young boy, both about eight to ten years old.

These two children were already confirmed to have lost their families. From their initial bewildered helplessness to their current sinking into sorrow.

Looking at the children, Prime Minister Leng reached out and gently wiped away their tears, whispering, “Child, don’t cry. The government will take care of you, your life and your education. Even though you no longer have your parents, society will still have many more people caring for and helping you. We all need to be strong.”

Standing up, Prime Minister Leng’s hands still tightly embraced the two children. He looked up at the people around him, especially towards Nie Zhenbang, saying, “You need to do a good job of comforting the orphans in the disaster area and have detailed plans and policies in place. For children who are separated from their parents, we must do everything we can to help them reunite. For those who can be placed with relatives, we also need to coordinate well. And for orphans, we need to give one hundred and twenty percent of our love to ensure that their lives and education are not affected.”(