Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 954 - 636: A Gathering of Talents!

The soldiers of the 132 regiment, lacking tents, could only rest outdoors on sandbags.

With many mosquitoes and the ground cold, if it rains, they would all become drenched, not only making rest difficult but also increasing the risk of illness.

Fortunately, when asking the Command Center for stakes, they didn't know where to find them, leading the Forestry Bureau to deliver six ships of nan bamboo via the Changhang Logistics Support Team.

Bamboo cannot be used for stakes, but it can be used to erect scaffolding and tents, which Han Yu gratefully accepted.

Seeing that all vessels transporting emergency supplies had canvas covering their cargo holds, Qiu Xueliang quickly drafted some receipts and requisitioned all the canvas! Regarding the value of the canvas, let them settle accounts with Boss Huang along with the transportation fees.

With canvas, things became easier.

Master Dai and Battalion Commander Wu organized the soldiers to transport the bamboo onto the embankment, using lead wire (iron wire) to set up frames, then cutting the canvas on site to cover them, and securing them with wire.

Many hands make light work.

In less than two hours, six large tents were set up!

The nearby villagers, who hadn't evacuated with the "main forces," saw the liberation army fully committed to helping defend their homes, and spontaneously returned overnight with much straw. Some villagers even brought their own bamboo mats and mosquito nets.

The army does not take a single thread or needle from the masses; observing discipline is vital.

While straw is of little value and is currently needed, bamboo mats and mosquito nets cannot be accepted. Master Dai, on behalf of the emergency assault team, politely declined the goodwill of the villagers, while also reminding them not to leave the embankment without the permission of the county committee and government.

With dry straw as padding and tents to shield from wind and dew, the soldiers slept soundly.

When they awoke, it was already bright.

Stepping out of the large tent, they noticed that the fifty-plus meter section of the embankment connecting with the cofferdam had widened by four to five meters since they went to sleep!

The large excavators of the "Hong Kong Garrison" were still digging soil under the embankment, while the two oddly shaped dump trucks were transporting soil to the embankment on both sides of the breach, where three large shovels and a bulldozer were busy raising and widening the embankment.

Turning to look at the "landing point," they were astonished to see that it too had been reinforced.

The construction access road leading from the "landing point" to the embankment below had clearly been repaired overnight, with a gentler slope than before, and three road rollers were parked at the base, with two of them having compactors nearly as tall as a person.

The embankments on both sides of the "landing point" remained areas for emergency supplies, with two officers from the "Hong Kong Garrison" examining and counting files at the stockpile...

"Don't stare, what's there to see?"

Battalion Commander Wu paced quickly over and shouted, "Squad leaders of seventh, eighth, and ninth squads, each assign two people to receive toiletries and protective equipment at the logistics tent of the 'Hong Kong Garrison.' After receiving them, immediately distribute them."

"Yes!"

"I haven't finished, what is 'yes'?"

Battalion Commander Wu snorted coldly and continued, "Ahead are two water tankers from the firefighting team; once toiletries are received, line up by squad to wash. Clean yourselves properly, and brush your teeth well. Don't eat until you're clean, and be mindful to conserve water."

"Yes!"

"Quickly."

…

Han Yu hadn't risen early; rather, he hadn't slept since midnight.

Having just completed his shift with Zou Xiangyu, he was eating breakfast inside the "Senior Officer Tent," chatting with the elderly engineer from Angong County Water Resources Bureau who managed to sleep for a few hours.

"Let's leave soon!"

"Secretary Han, I'm reluctantly leaving, but I have no choice."

"Is there a danger?" Han Yu instinctively asked.

Master Yan looked up at Director Ge and Navy Major Feng Qingsong who were just walking in, solemnly saying, "Our county's rivers are numerous, with eighteen rivers including Songdong, Songxi, Hu Du, and Ouchi. Most of these rivers divert Yangtze River water into Dongting Lake, which is why our county is called 'Jianghe Corridor.'"

Han Yu, knowing only of the severe disaster in the county, quietly asked, "How long are the dikes in Jianghe Corridor?"

"683 kilometers of water barrier dike sections."

"That long!"

"This excludes the 95.74 kilometers of Yangtze River embankment."

As the chief engineer most familiar with the county's water situation, Master Yan bore even more pressure than County Magistrate Huang, sighing helplessly, "If a nationwide comparison were made for the length of dikes in districts and counties, our county would surely rank first.

The Yangtze River water levels have surged, unable to discharge downstream, forcing entry into Dongting Lake via our region. Downpour in the Dongting Lake basin makes it hard to discharge into the Yangtze downstream, necessitating drainage into the Yangtze through us.

Currently, you're aware that Jingjiang's water levels remain high, just as the situation in Dongting Lake, wedged between the two, all rivers within are operating at levels that surpass warning and guarantee thresholds. Essentially, the entire county is surrounded by water higher than rooftops!"

No wonder the nation embarked on the Jingjiang diversion project decades ago, enveloping most of their county's towns within the diversion plan.

Diversion sounds simple but achieving it is far from easy.

Considering such a huge region, the economic loss due to diversion would be massive, leaving countless civilians homeless, possibly destitute...

The weather forecast indicates more rain upstream within days.

Recognizing that Linghai Reserve Camp's main battlefield might very well be in their county, Han Yu contemplated, "Master Yan, I'll arrange a vehicle for you soon. If conditions allow, could you organize someone to send us a map detailing the county's river distribution along with the most detailed traffic map you can provide?"

"No problem, I'll call the bureau soon; someone's on duty there."