After two days and two nights of continuous heavy rain, the water level in the low-lying areas of Anfeng Town has risen to waist height.
Various debris and tree trunks and branches were floating in the turbid water, and occasionally one or two water snakes would appear and pass through the water.
There are even more dangers underwater. If you don't take proper protection, you may be scratched by unknown sharp objects at any time, which will lead to wound infection and even the risk of amputation in serious cases.
What is even more dangerous is the undercurrent whirlpools formed by some sewer openings hidden under the water. If you accidentally step into the whirlpool, you will be swept to the bottom of the water in minutes, and even your body cannot be retrieved.
These were the experiences accumulated during flood control and disaster relief before the land battle. On the way to Henan Province, I had repeatedly emphasized to the soldiers that while saving others, they should also try their best to protect themselves.
Lu Zhan walked towards the town hall in the rain, glancing at the street scenes along the way.
Under the attack of the strong wind and heavy rain, the streets were in chaos. The signs of shops on the street were blown to the ground, and there were many broken doors and windows scattered around. There was only a gray color between the sky and the earth. There was no trace of people in sight, just like a dead city.
Lu Zhan shook his head, thinking that he must be tired and confused, which was why he came up with such unrealistic feudal superstitions.
He reviewed the results of his efforts over the past day and a half. Most of the residents in the town who had not had time to take shelter had already been evacuated. Only a dozen workers from the town slaughterhouse in the deepest part of the flooded area were still trapped on the roof. With two more trips at most, all the trapped residents of Anfeng Town could be sent to a safe area.
As we approached the town office, we began to see people scattered along the road.
The residents of Anfeng Town who were the first to be transferred recognized Lu Zhan and greeted him warmly. Lu Zhan was not as serious as usual in the army and responded patiently one by one.
The heavy rain is merciless, but people are kind. In front of the victims who suffered from this unexpected disaster, Lu Zhan also rarely released a bit of his warmth.
By the time he arrived at the town hall and picked up the phone, more than ten minutes had passed and the person on the other end was still waiting patiently.
"Report to the commander, I am Lu Zhan."
Hearing his resolute voice coming from the receiver, the tense expression of the regiment leader Fan Yingguang on the other end of the phone relaxed:
"Lu Zhan, I'm Fan Yingguang. How's the situation over there?"
The 718th Unit sent three battalions of troops to support Henan Province. The Marine Corps' First Battalion was the first to arrive and had been engaged in rescue work in Anfeng Town for a day and a night.
Lu Zhan gave a brief report on the disaster relief work in Anfeng Town. When he heard that all personnel had been evacuated with only a dozen or so people left, Fan Yingguang nodded approvingly:
"Very good, your First Battalion has completed its mission well. After transferring the last group of people to a safe location, you will prepare to withdraw from Anfeng Town and provide support to Tianxing Town and Nanping Town, twenty kilometers away. The Second and Third Battalions are currently experiencing some difficulties in their disaster relief efforts, so you will go and help guide them!"
Lu Zhan straightened his expression:
"Yes, Chief!"
After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhan walked out without stopping.
Little did he know that within just a few minutes after he answered the phone, a lot of people gathered under the eaves of the town hall gate. They had heard that the military chief who saved them had returned, so they came to see him.
As soon as Lu Zhan came out, people immediately surrounded him and thanked him:
"Commander Lu! Thank you! If you hadn't brought the troops to rescue us, I'm afraid we would still be trapped in the water!"
"Thank you, Commander! Thank you, soldiers!"
Someone put a bag of rations into his hands:
"Commander, you've worked hard! Eat more so you can have more strength!"
"These are freshly steamed buns made from the flour everyone pooled together. Eat some while they're hot!"
There was also a short girl with two thick black braids. She came up to Lu Zhan with a bowl of ginger soup and a red face.
"Commander, you're soaked by the rain. Drink a bowl of ginger soup to drive away the cold..."
She had just said half of her words when she saw Lu Zhan's gaze sweeping over her. She was so embarrassed that she stuffed the bowl into the hands of the soldier next to her, turned around and ran away shyly.
Lu Zhan was deeply touched by the kindness expressed by the people, but now is not the time to relax. Time is life, and there are still many disaster-stricken people waiting for their rescue.
"Thank you everyone, food is precious, please save it and eat it. Our troops have supplies, don't worry!"
He saluted the crowd with a standard military salute to express his gratitude, and then without stopping, he quickly plunged into the heavy rain.
Seeing that the battalion commander had left, the young soldier also wanted to leave in a hurry. However, he was holding a bowl of hot ginger soup in his hand, so he could only tilt his head back and drink it down in big gulps. His ears were so hot that they seemed to be smoking. He quickly put down the bowl and hurriedly chased after him.
Lu Zhan was completely focused on the disaster relief site, and he walked very quickly. As he was about to reach the flooded area, he suddenly noticed a person struggling in the turbulent water.
Without hesitation, he jumped into the water and swam hard towards the person in the water.
The man who was about to drown was struggling violently. Seeing this, Lu Zhan swam behind him, put one hand around his neck from behind, kept his face above the water, and swam towards the shore with him.
The young soldier who arrived immediately rushed over and picked up a thick branch from the roadside and handed it to Lu Zhan:
"Battalion Commander! Hurry and hold him!"
Lu Zhan was quick-witted and grabbed the branch that was stretched out towards him. With the help of the young soldier and relying on his own strong physical strength, he dragged the man ashore from the turbulent torrent.
After reaching the shore, Lu Zhan panted and looked back at the man he had just rescued. He was so angry that he almost laughed.
I saw the man coughing in pain with his eyes closed, spitting out water from time to time, but his hands were still tightly holding something in front of his chest.
The heavy rain affected his vision, and the young soldier leaned over to see clearly and exclaimed:
"Oh my god, it's such a big fish!"
The man on the ground coughed so hard that he almost vomited all his internal organs. It took him a while to recover and he said incoherently:
“Thank you…thank you…”
Lu Zhan didn't have time to waste any more time with him, so he asked the young soldier to help take him back to the town office, and he went to meet up with Bi Guoan and the others.
The young soldier helped him sit up, but was speechless when he saw that he was still holding on to the big fish.
"Comrade, are you really going to fish for your life? How dare you go fishing in such turbulent water?"
The man shook his head in a daze, obviously still not recovered from the exhaustion.
"No, I didn't touch it. There are no fish that big in our little ditch..."
"Just now... a whole bunch of them were washed down from above by the flood, and only this one was washed ashore..."
"I thought I'd pick it up, but I lost my balance and slipped into the water."
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