Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 1043 - 684: Extreme Emergency! 100,000 Lives at Stake! (Part 2)
"I've already arranged for a vehicle to pick them up, Political Commissar Yang is personally leading the team, I'll contact him right away."
"Make sure to act quickly!"
"I understand."
Han Yu didn't have time to explain to the commander, he hung up Master Xi's call and hurriedly contacted Political Commissar Yang.
Unexpectedly, right after calling Political Commissar Yang, Huang Yuanchang's call came in again.
"Director Huang, what are the instructions?"
"Salted Fish, there's a serious breach at Pai Zhou Bay, Hezhen Village. We, at the Changhang Bureau, are organizing forces to aid emergency relief efforts. Deputy Director Yuan of Hanwu Port Supervision Bureau has personally led Supervision 47 and Supervision 87, and President Cui of the Yangtze River Shipping Company is convening vessels to depart immediately. The Hanwu Transportation Committee is also organizing forces overnight."
"Director Huang, Master Xi just called me, and I've already notified the Water Rescue Team. Political Commissar Yang is personally going to pick them up, and once Xu Mingyuan and Ma Jintao are picked up, they'll rush over overnight."
"That's good."
Huang Yuanchang still couldn't believe there would be a breach at Pai Zhou Bay, taking several deep breaths before continuing: "The superior has appointed Secretary Wang from Yu Jia County Committee as the site commander, and Deputy Director Yuan of Hanwu Port Supervision Bureau and Deputy Director Xie of Beihu Province Navigation Bureau as deputy commanders, with the Supervision Boat 87 as the command boat on site.
I have Political Commissar Yang's mobile number; I'll immediately call him, asking them to contact Director Yuan upon arrival and follow his instructions. Regarding logistics support for the Water Rescue Team, although the distance from Hanwu is close, the bureau might not be able to cover right now, so if conditions allow, you should bring enough support."
"Rest assured, we're prepared. Before departure, I have the logistics support team prepare three days' supply for them."
"Okay, that's it for now; contact me promptly if there are any situations."
...
Master Xu represents the Yangtze Flood Control Headquarters, and for any alerts related to the Yangtze River Basin's floods, the headquarters sends them to Master Xu.
But Master Xu is also an engineer in the emergency rescue team; he needs to participate in the rescue tasks, it's impossible for him to sit in the command dispatch room waiting for notifications, so the reception of alerts or notifications is handled by Vice Director Yu.
Vice Director Yu from Jingzhou Port Supervision Bureau Traffic Control Center, upon hearing about Pai Zhou Bay, took out several flood alerts concerning Yu Jia County, stepped forward gravely and said: "This is indeed a case of trouble coming at a bad time—fish Yajia already suffered substantial losses, and now with the breach at Pai Zhou Bay, it's really making things worse."
The commander couldn't resist asking: "How severe are the losses?"
Vice Director Yu looked at the alert reports and said: "From the 6th of last month to this afternoon, there have already been fifteen civil dikes and dikes in total: namely Wubai Gong, Danzi Island, Sanxin Yuan, Jielihu, Gui Liangzhou, Guzhou, Huxian Island, and Xingfu Yuan, Tu'er Mountain, Jinshui Fishery, Huangshawan Fish Farm, which had to be abandoned."
"A county with these many civil dikes, all of a sudden abandoning more than ten, how many farmlands and community homes would've been flooded! How will those civilians survive afterward?"
The commander was greatly startled, walking to the water map, furrowed his brows and asked: "Where is Pai Zhou Bay, is it important?"
The geographical environment of Pai Zhou Bay is quite special; as a veteran of the Yangtze Port Supervision System, Vice Director Yu was very familiar with the situation of Pai Zhou Bay, and pointed to the water map explaining: "Pai Zhou Bay used to be a sandbar in ancient times, the Yangtze River flows through it splitting in two; every spring and summer flood seasons, it's submerged, but come autumn and winter it turns into two north-south river channels, a bit like Zhuangming Island at the Yangtze River Tail.
Later, as embankments were erected flanking the Yangtze River, currents gradually shifted northward, splitting the sandbar into two; mostly attached to Jiangbei, with a small part belonging to Jiangnan, eventually leaving Pai Zhou as this Jiangxin Island.
Starting from the Song Dynasty, embankments were built, further repaired during Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, especially as Hezhen Village's dam completed in the early Republic years, Pai Zhou then joined the Old Official Zone, the remaining Jiatao of the waterway became sedimented land, forming a gourd-shaped peninsula terrain.
Thus, this segment of Yangtze River formed into this amphitheatrical path, length of 55.5 kilometers, of which about 15 kilometers trace opposite 'backflow,' hence the saying, 'The Ten Thousand Miles of the Yangtze River flows east, whereas Pai Zhou has 30 miles of westward flow,' and in the middle of the rushing Yangtze River forms an Ω-shaped peculiar geographical landscape, also reputed as 'The First Bay of the Ten Thousand Miles Yangtze River.'
Vice Director Yu paused, then continued: "A poet once wrote a poem: Pai Zhou, Pai Zhou, you are truly remarkable. Even the Yangtze River, when sees you, must flow west for thirty miles!
As a peninsula within the Yangtze River, Pai Zhou Bay is surrounded by water on three sides, and due to the enormous bend hindering the river stream, causing slower river flows, it bears great strategic significance for flood prevention downstream at Hanwu City, 75 kilometers away."
Master Han hadn't been to Pai Zhou Bay, but he understood a bit of hydrology.
He extinguished the cigarette, pointed to the water map: "Upstream at Hanwu, the Yangtze River loops around forming this 'Pai Zhou West Flow,' which effectively is a 'buffer device' for flood prevention towards Hanwu; major floods when mediated, controlled by the 'Pai Zhou West Flow' will leisurely flow pass Hanwu."
Vice Director Yu nodded: "So there's a ballad saying, 'Pais Zhou West Flow curves a bend, Hanwu water dips three feet three.' People of Pai Zhou fight against nature and water, protecting the shores not only for their safety, but also safeguarding Hanwu. Hence many civil dikes were abandoned, yet the superior never considered having Pai Zhou residents sacrifice small for the big, tearing open breaches for flood retention. Yet, fate didn't comply, a breach still occurred."
Listening to both Vice Director Yu and Master Han's explanations, the commander finally grasped the importance of Pai Zhou Bay, turning back and said: "Salted Fish, aren't you adept at sealing breaches? Fifteen minutes ago the breach happened, sealing it now should still be attainable!"
"It's too late."
"The breach's 100 meters aren't that extensive; if manpower's inadequate, I can provide personnel!" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
"Commander, it's legitimately too late."
Han Yu inhaled deeply, fixed his gaze on the water map unwillingly: "From our place to Pai Zhou Bay's voyage is about 200 kilometers, an engineering fleet intending to seal the breach, assembling will alone take at least two hours. Nighttime isn't comparable to daytime, fleets have slower nocturnal navigations, reaching there will require at least eleven hours, meaning upon our arrival, it would be more or less submerged."
The commander fell into silence for a moment, inquiring: "Director Yu, how extensive is Pai Zhou Bay?"
"Exact figures aren't clear, but it surely won't be less than 150 square kilometers, and population definitely surpassing fifty thousands."
"Commander, it's close to Hanwu, Beihu Province will undoubtedly exert full rescue efforts."
Just after Master Han finished speaking, Han Yu's phone buzzed again.
Han Yu equally disregarded checking caller ID, upon connection heard Major General Jiang urgently declaring: "Salted Fish, over at Hanwu's Pai Zhou Bay, there's a breach!"
"I know, I just received the news."
"The Military Region orders the Water Rescue Team to depart promptly for rescue!"
"Major, Yangtze Flood Headquarters just dispatched orders, so did the Changhang Bureau; Commissar Yang has already gone to Xiang'an County gathering the Water Rescue Team, estimated arrival tomorrow pre-dawn around five."
"Too slow, hasten their efforts, it's urgent, must quicken up."
"Yes!"
Contemplating the recently issued orders by the superior, Major General Jiang paused before iterating: "Salted Fish, not only are several thousand civilians at Pai Zhou Bay, our Air Force sibling units are there too; they are supporting flood rescue efforts, but currently no contact at all."
Han Yu paused slightly, hastily responded: "Understood, I'll contact Political Commissar Yang immediately."
"Is he leading the rescue?"
"Yes."
"You handle your tasks, and I'll contact him."
...
This unprecedentedly significant danger!
Within fifteen short minutes, Yangtze Flood Headquarters, Changhang Bureau, and Guangzhou Military Region sequentially issued orders for immediate rescue efforts.
Yet, the Emergency Rescue Assault Team only possesses one Water Rescue Team, what Han Yu can accomplish is limited, thinking about the urgent situation over there, he had to turn and say: "Director Yu, your supervision boats must head over, Pai Zhou Bay there most needs boats."
"Yes!"
Han Yu contemplated and turned again, saying: "Director Ge, a peril of this magnitude, potentially affects tens of thousands impacted, timely evacuation aside, food and water remain an issue. Mayor Shen brought a shipment of supplies; send them all over."
"Alright." Old Ge gauged for a moment, suggested: "Send the Changhang medical group along too."
"Fine."
Han Yu grabbed the radio, call-out: "Captain Wu, Captain Wu, it's Han Yu; a breach at Pai Zhou Bay downstream in Yu Jia County, urgencies need boats for rescue and essential supplies. Please arrange promptly, let Liu Wei lead organizing the departure of Transport Boats 3 and 5 along with the supervision boat!"
