Chapter 65: Rescue

Upon arriving at the drill ground, the team members were already lined up, each with a serious expression and a heightened spirit. Standing tall, Mu Nanhe rapidly scanned the assembly and declared loudly, “Comrades, the people of the neighboring county are facing the threats of floods and landslides. As soldiers, our mission is to stand up when the people need us the most! Now, we will set off immediately to carry out rescue operations!”

“Yes!” the team members echoed in unison, their voices ringing loudly in the rain, filled with determination and fearlessness, making the rain seem to tremble in response.

Mu Nanhe led the group quickly onto military vehicles, racing toward the disaster-stricken area in the pouring rain. All the while, the rain showed no sign of letting up; gusts of wind whipped the rain against the windows, and the roads became slick from the standing water. Yet, the military vehicles maintained their speed, like warships cutting through the waves.

Upon reaching the disaster zone, the sight before them made everyone’s hearts sink. Raging floodwaters roared like wild beasts, churning with debris and making a deafening noise. Large swathes of farmland and villages were mercilessly submerged, with floating furniture and crops creating a scene of devastation. Homes teetered precariously in the rising waters, many having already collapsed. Landslides blocked the roads, with boulders and mud piled high.

Mu Nanhe quickly issued orders: “Team One will be responsible for evacuating trapped civilians and guiding them to safety; Team Two will follow me, equipped with tools to clear road obstructions; Team Three will search for and rescue those trapped by the floods; Team Four will quickly gather sandbags, soil, and rocks, fill the sandbags, and transport them to the breached dam; Team Five will form a human chain to attempt to seal the dam breach while buying time for the sandbags. Everyone, safety first! Move out!”

In the midst of the rain, the soldiers set out to clear the road blockages. They encountered a massive boulder blocking their path, a serious impediment to the rescue vehicles. The rock was over a meter high and too heavy for the surrounding team members to budge.

Mu Nanhe stepped forward, determination shining in his eyes. He circled the boulder quickly, assessing its position and the surrounding environment, racking his brain for the best solution.

After a moment, he called out, “Everyone, listen to me! Let’s find a few sturdy tree trunks and use the lever principle to pry it up!” With that, he dashed toward a nearby grove, his eyes scanning for suitable tree trunks. In no time, he spotted a few, wrapped his arms around one, and with a powerful yank, he broke it cleanly in half with a sharp crack. He quickly stripped away the branches and hefted the trunk over his shoulder before returning.

At the boulder, he inserted one end of the tree trunk underneath, gripping it tightly with both hands while planting his feet firmly in the mud, his legs as strong as steel columns. Taking a deep breath, he shouted, “Are we ready? On my command—one, two, three, push!”

As his command rang out, the team members exerted their strength in unison. However, on the first attempt, the boulder only wobbled slightly. Undeterred, Mu Nanhe wiped the rain and sweat from his brow, shouting again, “Again! One, two, three, give it your all!”

This time, he concentrated all his energy into his arms, the veins bulging, muscles tense as he strained with all his might. His expression was resolute, teeth gritted, every muscle in his body working hard to move the boulder.

Under his leadership, the team worked together, shouting in sync, and with a deep thud, the boulder finally shifted, slowly moving aside and clearing a path for the rescue vehicles.

Meanwhile, Team Three was navigating the turbulent waters in a speedboat to rescue those trapped. Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, howling like an enraged beast. The massive waves crashed violently against the boat, causing it to rock precariously, seemingly on the verge of capsizing.

Driver Liu Liu gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white from the pressure, beads of sweat mingling with rain trickling down his face. He shouted, “The wind is too strong; it’s hard to control the boat!”

Sitting next to him, Chen, who was monitoring the water levels, kept his eyes fixed on the raging surface, his expression tense as he said, “The water level keeps rising, and the currents are getting stronger. Everyone be careful!” Meanwhile, Zhang, responsible for comforting the trapped civilians, clung to the railing to avoid being thrown overboard, reassuring their frightened passengers, “Don’t worry! We will get you to safety!”

Mu Nanhe stood at the front of the speedboat, facing the fierce wind and waves with unwavering determination. His gaze was steady and calm as he kept a close watch on their surroundings.

He commanded loudly, “Liu, steady the wheel—adjust according to the current, don’t resist it! Chen, closely monitor the water level and currents, and alert us if anything changes! Zhang, take good care of the civilians and ensure they remain calm!”

His voice cut through the howling wind and crashing waves, like a stabilizing force that brought comfort to the team’s frayed nerves.

Through the wind and flood, the speedboat pressed on. Each time they encountered a swirling current, Mu Nanhe made quick judgments, directing Liu to skillfully avoid obstacles.

In one instance, the boat was lifted high by a massive wave and then slammed back down violently. Liu lost his grip momentarily, nearly losing control of the steering wheel.

Reacting swiftly, Mu Nanhe grabbed Liu’s arm, steadying the wheel while shouting, “Stay calm! We’re in this together!” Thanks to Mu Nanhe’s command and the team’s close cooperation, the speedboat successfully maneuvered closer to the trapped civilians, managing to rescue them safely.

As night quietly descended, darkness enveloped the disaster zone. The rescue site was illuminated only by the flickering beams of flashlights, and the tension in the air intensified further. Trapped in a building submerged halfway in water were civilians, fear and helplessness pervading their hearts.

A frightened mother tightly held her young child, body trembling, eyes filled with despair. When she saw the distant beams of flashlights and heard Mu Nanhe’s strong and determined calls, her eyes reignited with hope. “Don’t be afraid, child! The People’s Liberation Army has come to rescue us!”

Upon reaching the building, Mu Nanhe discovered that the stairs leading up were submerged. Without hesitation, he leaped forward and accurately grabbed hold of an exterior drainage pipe, using his incredible arm strength and agility to begin climbing.

With every step upwards, he fought against the impact of the flood and the slickness of the pipe. His hands were chafed raw from the rough surface, but he gritted his teeth, driven by a single thought: to rescue the trapped civilians as quickly as possible.

Once he reached the floor where the civilians were gathered, he turned on his flashlight to illuminate the surroundings and called out to the terrified crowd, “Don’t be afraid! We’re here to rescue you! Everyone follow me in order; we’ll get you out one by one!”

He personally carried the elderly and children on his back, carefully escorting them down to the speedboat. He made multiple trips back and forth, soaking wet from sweat and rain, his energy depleting, yet he never paused. When attempting to rescue a mobility-impaired elder, the old man clung tightly to the doorframe in fear, refusing to budge.

Mu Nanhe squatted next to the elder and gently reassured, “Don’t worry, sir. I promise I will get you down safely. Just trust me.” After the elder relaxed under his patient coaxing, Mu Nanhe successfully got him to comply and facilitated his rescue.