Chapter 169 Epicenter
“Zhiyi,” he said to Nan Zhiyi in a rapid, serious, and stern voice, “Listen, I have to go to headquarters immediately!”
After he finished speaking, he put his still-sleeping son into her arms, rushed back into the small building, and rushed out again in the blink of an eye, carrying a blanket and a military water bottle.
"Go to the main playground; it's the most spacious area. Follow the logistics department staff; they'll organize things!"
He put his arm around Nan Zhiyi's waist and jogged to lead her to a relatively open and safe area on the playground of the nearby compound.
In this short stretch of road, he saw the logistics personnel on duty blowing whistles, shining flashlights, and shouting to guide the crowd to gather on the parade ground, while nimble soldiers carried tents, ropes, and other supplies.
The playground was crowded with people, mostly women, the elderly and children who were still in shock. Most of the men looked solemn, and many, like Gu Xiao, had already left quickly to go to their respective posts.
Gu Xiao settled Nan Zhiyi in a relatively quiet spot, wrapped a blanket around her, and placed the kettle aside.
"The situation might be serious, and I might not be able to come back for many days! You stay here, follow the logistics arrangements, and take good care of yourself and Xiaoman, understand?"
Nan Zhiyi's heart pounded wildly, and her palms were covered in cold sweat.
She knew the situation was far more serious than she had imagined.
She nodded emphatically, trying to give him a reassuring smile: "I know! Go ahead and do your thing, don't worry about us! I'll take good care of Xiaoman and wait for you to come home! Don't worry!"
Gu Xiao said no more, squeezed her hand tightly, turned around and strode into the night, his figure quickly disappearing into the hurried crowds and vehicles.
Nan Zhiyi held Xiaoman tightly in her arms and stood at the edge of the gradually gathering crowd.
She looked around and saw that the soldiers from the logistics department were already setting up military tents, giving priority to accommodating the elderly and their families with young children.
The beams of flashlights crisscrossed, commands, children's cries, and anxious inquiries mingled together, and the air was thick with the smell of dust and panic.
Before Nan Zhiyi could suppress the lingering fear in her heart, Xiaoman also woke up and started crying.
She gently patted Xiaoman's back, whispering words of comfort to him, or perhaps to comfort herself.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, Xiaoman, Daddy's busy, Mommy's here, and there are lots of uncles and aunties here too, we'll be fine..."
Not long after, the aftershocks stopped.
Nan Zhiyi was guided by soldiers from the logistics department and led into a green military tent.
The tent was filled with the smell of canvas and dust, and a thin moisture-proof mat was laid on the ground.
She covered herself with a thin blanket and fed the whimpering Xiaoman.
As dawn broke, the playground was already in good order.
Sister Zhang rushed over anxiously. Seeing that Nan Zhiyi and Xiaoman were safe and sound, she breathed a sigh of relief and exclaimed, "I was so scared! Sister-in-law, I'm so glad you're alright!"
She took Xiaoman from her, checked the diaper, and let Nan Zhiyi rest for a while.
Soon after, Mencius' mother arrived, supported by Zhou Anping.
Meng's mother looked serious, but still maintained her composure, asking Nan Zhiyi with concern if she was injured: "Gu Xiao must be busy. If you need anything, just ask. These are extraordinary times, so please don't be shy."
Zhou Anping's eyes were red, and his voice trembled: "Zhiyi, Qingshan and the others have also been assembled urgently, and there's still no news..."
Nan Zhiyi wanted to offer comfort, but found her throat tighten and she couldn't say anything.
She was also very worried about Gu Xiao. If it was a major earthquake, there would definitely be continuous aftershocks... What if Gu Xiao encountered any danger...?
at the same time.
Operations command post.
The ringing of telephones, radio calls, and urgent commands nearly lifted the roof off.
"The epicenter is preliminarily identified as being in the Hebei area!"
"Extremely strong, possibly exceeding level 7.5!"
"Unable to get in touch! Almost all lines are down!"
"The situation regarding railways and highways is unclear!"
Gu Xiao's voice cut through the noise, "Aren't the X Division's engineer battalion and motorized infantry regiment the closest to the Luanxian Bridge?"
"Yes, but the condition of the bridge is unclear; it may have been destroyed! Moreover, the national highway leading to the bridge passes through Jiguanshan, a landslide-prone area. There are constant aftershocks now; it's too dangerous! Should we wait..."
"Wait? Wait until everyone inside dies!"
Gu Xiao waved his hand to interrupt, "All communications are cut off, we're now an isolated island! We need to know what's going on inside as soon as possible, what we need, and there must be a way for the follow-up teams and supplies to get in!"
He looked around at everyone and gave a simple order: "All members of the engineer battalion, take your best equipment, and the 1st Battalion of the infantry regiment will be responsible for escort and mobility! At the fastest speed and at all costs, open up the lifeline from Luanxian to the earthquake core area!"
"clear!"
Gu Xiao did not stay at the command post.
After deploying the advance troops, Gu Xiao led the command team and communications unit, riding in jeeps, and followed the advance team to the outskirts of the epicenter.
The closer you get to the epicenter, the more horrifying the scene becomes.
The earth was torn open with a grotesque gash, the railway tracks were twisted like toys, and the village was reduced to a pile of rubble.
The Jiguanshan section of the road was completely buried by a massive landslide, with boulders and mud blocking the way.
The advance team of officers and soldiers is trying to clear the area, but progress is slow.
"Clearance too slow! Demolition team! Calculate the explosive charge, blast open a breach! Maintain a safe distance!"
Gu Xiao jumped out of the car and stepped forward to personally observe the terrain, walking on the gravel.
After the explosion, the passage was barely opened, and the convoy passed through with a close call.
The city on the opposite bank was shrouded in a thick layer of gray-yellow dust, eerily silent, with only the occasional faint cry as proof that life still lingered there.
"Report! The underwater situation is complex; there isn't enough time to erect a heavy-duty floating bridge!"
"Find a fordable spot! Reconnaissance squad, in the water!"
Gu Xiao ordered the engineering battalion commander, "Take men and use whatever materials you can find—steel cables, door panels, truck tarpaulins—to build a makeshift cableway. Send a scout detachment over to establish a bridgehead and gather intelligence on the other side!"
The soldiers jumped into the icy river, using their bodies to probe the way and their shoulders to carry the ropes.
The simple, shaky cableway was quickly erected.
Gu Xiao was one of the first people to glide across.
Stepping onto the land on the other side, a thick layer of dust and the stench of death assaulted my senses.
The sight before them left the soldiers frozen in place, their minds reeling.
This is no longer a city, but a huge graveyard that has been completely crushed by immense force.
There are hardly any standing buildings in sight; the mountains are just a jumble of twisted steel and concrete blocks.
The electrical wires drooped like a black spider web, and dirty water gushed from the broken water pipe.
In the dead silence, only the occasional faint knocking, groaning, and weeping sounds came from the depths of the ruins.
Each sound struck a chord in everyone's heart.
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