Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1131 - Chapter 1131 Chapter 1087 Capsizing in the Gutter

Chapter 1131: Chapter 1087: Capsizing in the Gutter? Chapter 1131: Chapter 1087: Capsizing in the Gutter? Lushan Dike?

Lushan Dike!

Upon hearing Liu Junwei’s report, Nie Zhenbang’s heart suddenly tightened, a question mark, an exclamation mark. However, Nie Zhenbang, after all, was a battle-hardened veteran, with the self-control and willpower that came with it. Looking at Liu Junwei, Nie Zhenbang spoke in a deep voice, “What exactly is going on? What’s the current situation at Lushan Dike?”

No sooner had he spoken than Nie Zhenbang took a step forward and said, “Hong, notify Dai immediately to head to the Lushan Dike site.”

Below the Lushan Municipal Party Committee building, Nie Zhenbang’s official car was parked directly in front, with the doors already open. Nie Zhenbang, Liu Junwei, and Hong Feng got into the car respectively.

The car had already sounded its siren and activated its strobe lights, roaring out of the courtyard of the Lushan Municipal Party Committee. In the front seat, Hong Feng took out his cell phone and contacted the Mayor of Lushan City, Xia Hong: “Mayor Xia? This is Hong Feng. Secretary Nie’s official car is en route to Lushan Dike. We will pass through Lushan City along the way, please make arrangements. Inform the comrades of the municipal traffic police detachment to implement temporary traffic control on the road from the entrance of the Lushan Municipal Party Committee all the way to Lushan Dike.”

Leaving aside Hong Feng’s arrangements, in the backseat, Nie Zhenbang turned to Liu Junwei on his right and said, “Comrade Junwei, what’s the specific situation?”

Liu Junwei’s expression appeared grave as he replied, “Secretary Nie, based on the reports from below, the issue has arisen again at the same section of Lushan Dike where the first flood peak passed through. A large-scale piping phenomenon has reoccurred. Currently, further details are unclear; Comrade Xia Hong is at the site now.”

Whooshing, Nie Zhenbang’s official car raced at an unprecedented speed. At this moment, the quality of Dai Fei, a guard from the Central Security Bureau, was perfectly demonstrated.

Dai Fei was not only first-rate in combat skills but also highly skilled in security protection and driving techniques. The distance from the Lushan Municipal Party Committee compound to Lushan Dike was nearly ten kilometers. Yet, Dai Fei covered this distance in less than 5 minutes, with a speed reaching 120 kilometers per hour–and this wasn’t even a highway.

The car charged directly onto Lushan Dike, the segment near Black Stone Town.

At this moment, thousands of people had already gathered on the dike, and the scene was a tumult of noise. Every so often, someone would shout, “Quick, wooden stakes! Bring over the wooden stakes, the slope protection is showing signs of collapse, the foundation beneath is already hollowed out.”

“It’s no use, Secretary Wen! We can’t reach the bottom. The sandbags we throw down are being washed away by the water immediately; they’re utterly useless.”

…

Hearing these words, Nie Zhenbang’s mood instantly sank. He went forward, and there Xia Hong, who had arrived at Lushan Dike ahead of him, came up and said, “Secretary Nie, the situation is very bad. It is highly likely that the dike could breach.”

This statement made Nie Zhenbang’s face darken, and his heart filled with too much reluctance. The most dangerous time for Lushan City’s flood defense and emergency response efforts had been when the previous continuous downpour and the torrential floods from upstream had struck simultaneously.

They had survived such danger, such immense pressure; now, when the entire Hongjiang Province and the provinces of the middle and upper reaches were enjoying a continuous stretch of fine weather, and water levels were already falling, to have an accident now would be like capsizing in a drain. Wouldn’t it?

With a solemn expression, Nie Zhenbang looked at Xia Hong, standing beside him were Li Kaiyong, the deputy commander leading the team from the Hongjiang Provincial Military Area; Zeng Xinhua, the regimental commander of the garrison brigade; and Lei Yi, the commander of the Hongjiang Provincial Armed Police Forces Corps.

In an extremely serious tone, Nie Zhenbang said firmly, “Comrades, we have reached the most dangerous, critical moment. The dike’s peril is now right in front of us. At this moment, this is a battle. A formidable siege. Just now, I received a call from Director Fang Li of the Central Office. Prime Minister Mu Dingjian will arrive in Lushan City tonight at seven to inspect and guide the flood defense and emergency response work in Hongjiang Province. At this time, comrades, tell me, what should we do?”

With the conclusion of Nie Zhenbang’s speech, the expressions of Zeng Xinhua, Li Kaiyong, and Lei Yi all changed significantly. With Chief Mu Dingjian coming today to inspect and guide the work, if, at this moment, Lushan Dike were to breach, one could imagine how embarrassed Chief Mu Dingjian would be.

If it had breached before receiving the notice, or if it had happened a few days earlier, that would have been one thing, for Lushan Dike was under tremendous pressure, and a breach could be understandable. The problem now was that it had been preserved before, yet suddenly might breach. That would inevitably leave a poor impression in the leaders’ minds.

The dike had been preserved before due to the full exertion of all efforts; now, if it were not preserved and breached, it would mean everyone had let their guard down. By then, should an official ire be provoked, it would spell disaster far and wide, and the cadres of all Hongjiang Province would suffer the consequences.

The dike must not breach, no matter the cost. We must protect it at all costs. This belief has become a consensus among everyone.

Nie Zhenbang’s tone shifted, and he said in a deep voice, “Organize the water conservancy experts immediately to study measures. All the troops along the entire line of the dike, party and government leaders, and ordinary citizens must be mobilized. Allocate people where people are needed, and resources where resources are needed. We must do everything possible to defend the dike.”

Once Nie Zhenbang had finished speaking, everyone started to take action. At this time, accompanied by Liu Junwei, Nie Zhenbang entered the tent.

In the middle, several old-fashioned office desks had been put together to form a large platform with a large blueprint on top, which was the geological structure and construction diagram of the Lushan Dike. Next to it were the hydrological data of Lushan Dike over the years.

In the tent, a group of experts in their fifties, including one in his sixties, gathered to exchange and discuss ideas.

Liu Junwei introduced to Nie Zhenbang, “Secretary Nie, this is Comrade Fu Zhengping, a professor of hydraulic engineering at Red River University, an academician of the Engineering Academy, and a water conservancy expert who enjoys a special allowance from the State Council. Professor Fu.”

Liu Junwei first introduced the older professor in his sixties, then introduced a few slightly younger professors to Nie Zhenbang. They were all well-known experts in water conservancy, geology, and architectural mechanics in the province.

Nie Zhenbang nodded slightly as a greeting and extended his hand to shake hands with Fu Zhengping, saying, “Professor Fu, I entrust the safety of Lushan Dike to you and the other experts.”

Fu Zhengping was a typical scholar, who shared a common trait of focusing on their own academic pursuits with relatively little concern for social interactions and other matters.

Nie Zhenbang, without any feigned politeness or rambling, got straight to the point–an approach that undoubtedly matched Fu Zhengping’s style. Fu nodded and said, “Secretary Nie, rest assured, the breach of the Lushan Dike is a major issue related to flood and drought prevention along the entire Changjiang River, including the Hongjiang River. We will go all out to ensure the safety of the dike.”

As he spoke, Fu Zhengping pointed to a spot on the blueprint and said, “Secretary Nie, look here, this is the geological data for the Black Stone Town area. According to it, Black Stone Town’s geological structure was already unstable. After prolonged soaking by the floodwaters and the first flood passage, the dike has now reached its limit. In these days, as the floodwaters gradually recede, the pressure on the dike suddenly decreases, which actually causes an imbalance of forces. Of course, under normal circumstances, this condition is not obvious nor of great importance. But under the current circumstances, the long-term soaking has softened the base of the dike. The previous piping has taken away some of the sediment, causing the dike to show signs of sinking. That’s why this illusion occurs. Under safe conditions, there is actually a danger of breaching.”

Nie Zhenbang listened very carefully. Although he was not well-versed in water conservancy engineering, geological structures, or architectural mechanics, Nie Zhenbang still understood some basic concepts.

He nodded and looked at Fu Zhengping, “Professor Fu, please tell us, what is the best course of action at this time?”

Fu Zhengping nodded and replied, “Secretary Nie, the dike’s geology is already close to its limit. Piling wooden stakes and filling sandbags are not solutions. The flood is still happening, and although the water flow is not as great as before, it is still substantial. Sandbags without support will ultimately have only one outcome–they will be washed away. Now, the best method is to use cranes to directly drop large concrete blocks into the dike. This is similar to building reservoirs or hydroelectric dams. The final closing part can only be secured with large, heavy objects to ensure they won’t be washed away, thus protecting the safety of the dike.”

Large concrete blocks, Nie Zhenbang understood–it was like when the Three Gorges closed, concrete blocks several meters high and long were cast and dropped in whole. But where could one find such stones at this moment? Wasn’t this an impossible task?

After pondering for a moment, Nie Zhenbang immediately said, “Professor Fu, at this time, it’s not easy to find concrete blocks at short notice.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Professor Fu looked at Nie Zhenbang and said, “Aside from this, there is another method, which has been used in flood control before.”

Nie Zhenbang couldn’t quite remember, but Liu Junwei was struck by a thought and looked at Professor Fu, “Professor Fu, do you mean sinking a ship?”

Fu Zhengping adjusted his glasses, very firm and certain, “That’s right, sinking a ship. Given the current state of the dike, small boats are meaningless and ineffective–we need to sink large ships, a thousand-ton class. Initially, we must mobilize at least two ships.”

Having said his piece, Fu Zhengping didn’t say more. He had offered his opinion, and now, the decision-making was out of his hands.

Nie Zhenbang contemplated briefly and then nodded, “Comrade Junwei, contact suitable large ships at once. We must mobilize them as quickly as possible.” (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (NovelFire.net), your support is my greatest motivation.)

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