Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 999 - Chapter 999 Chapter 955 Major Disaster

Chapter 999: Chapter 955 Major Disaster Chapter 999: Chapter 955 Major Disaster “`

The Civil Affairs department’s meeting room was rectangular. In each of the four corners, there was a cabinet-style air conditioner, and just outside the meeting room was a tea and water area. In the center of the room sat an oval conference table. In the middle of the table, there was an open space originally intended for placement of green plants and fresh flowers, but at this moment, it was left empty.

As soon as he sat down, Nie Zhenbang looked at Liu Yaosheng beside him and said, “Comrade Yaosheng, I think this time, we should just listen to Director Guo’s report. Today, we are here to listen–not to speak.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words were laced with a hint of jest. It was impossible for him not to give any direction when he actually arrived–inevitably, he would have a few words to say. However, the message Nie Zhenbang conveyed was very clear: today’s research focus was on the Civil Affairs department.

Liu Yaosheng also smiled and nodded, “Comrade Nansheng, now Secretary Nie is watching you. It’s your turn for the Civil Affairs department to give their work report.”

At this moment, Guo Nansheng appeared calm and unhurried, an attitude which Nie Zhenbang appreciated a lot. His admiration was not concealed in his expression. Only those who truly immersed themselves in their work and were down-to-earth could remain unflustered in such a situation.

Guo Nansheng smiled and said, “Secretary Nie, and all the leaders, the Civil Affairs department’s work concerning rural elderly without family support, left-behind children, and day-to-day operations are all under the responsibility of Deputy Director Li Qisheng…”

This statement was clear to both Nie Zhenbang and Liu Yaosheng. Nie Zhenbang did not mind Guo Nansheng’s approach. Some leaders insist on having the main office holder provide reports during inspections, but that is not necessarily correct. While some office holders could handle many aspects adequately, most would just recite from prepared materials, which was not as realistic or direct. As for the issue of personal status and face, Nie Zhenbang didn’t care about that.

Moreover, judging by Guo Nansheng’s attitude, Li Qisheng must be his capable assistant. Guo Nansheng risked displeasing the leaders to give Li Qisheng an opportunity to present himself–an undoubtedly rare quality of character.

Next, Li Qisheng detailed the routine work summaries and reports within Hongjiang Province’s Civil Affairs.

Overall, Nie Zhenbang was quite satisfied. Hongjiang’s finances were not abundant, and the level of fiscal prosperity in any place directly influenced many areas of work, including science, education, culture, health, sports, as well as civil affairs. The achievements of Hongjiang civil affairs work were rather good, considering the financial constraints. At least, in national rankings, they were not at the bottom compared to their fiscal status, which was progress.

Liu Yaosheng nodded and then said, “Director Guo, please introduce the current situation regarding the ice disaster in Hongjiang.”

Guo Nansheng nodded, opened the notebook on the table, and then said, “Secretary Nie, and all the leaders, this time, due to severe and extreme weather, some areas of our province have also suffered from serious freezing disasters. The main affected areas are concentrated in Wenchun City and Meiping City, with a total of eleven counties and cities affected. Including other areas that suffered various degrees of ice disaster, the affected population reached as many as eleven million. This accounts for a quarter of the entire provincial population. It is estimated that agricultural yields in the two cities have decreased by thirty percent. Additionally, due to transportation blockages, supplies are quite scarce in the two cities, with fresh vegetables being difficult to supply. The lives of the masses have been affected to varying degrees.”

“Furthermore, we are currently at the beginning of the Spring Festival travel rush. With transportation blocked, the number of stranded passengers in the two cities has also placed a heavy burden on them. The provincial Civil Affairs department has urgently mobilized disaster relief tents, quilts, clothing, and heating equipment, trying every possible way to transport them to the disaster areas. Moreover, the provincial electric power group is also working overtime. They are fully repairing and maintaining the iced-over power transmission lines to ensure the power supply in the affected areas.”

Guo Nansheng’s words furrowed Nie Zhenbang’s brows; he had not expected Hongjiang’s ice disaster to be so severe. At the beginning of last year, including Chunan Province, Qianzhou Province, and Bashu Province, they also suffered from ice disasters to some extent, with Chunan Province and Qianzhou Province hit particularly hard. But Nie Zhenbang had not expected Hongjiang to be affected this year, and so severely at that.

After a pause, Nie Zhenbang’s brow furrowed even more, and he said in a grave tone, “Although this time, Hongjiang’s ice disaster mainly affects two cities, we must not take it lightly. We need to be united and do a good job in disaster relief. Approaching the end of the year, the Civil Affairs department must ensure the proper resettlement of the disaster victims and increase the intensity of rescue efforts. We must strive to distribute the relief materials to victims as quickly as possible. In addition, we must consider all means of transportation, including roads, railways, and others, to Meiping City and Wenchun City. The province should establish a special working group, which I will personally lead. The Transportation department must also take concrete action, using all kinds of engineering machinery to increase road maintenance and ensure smooth traffic, to guarantee that the people of the province have a stable and peaceful Spring Festival.”

“`

Next to him, Liu Yaosheng also nodded his head and said, “Comrades, Secretary Nie’s instructions are very important, but here, I still have to make a request regarding the Civil Affairs Department. Although disaster relief is a systemic project, the Civil Affairs Department is the leading force. Here, everyone in the Civil Affairs Department must take concrete action, go deep into the disaster areas, visit the masses, ensure the relief materials and funds are in place, and prepare for follow-up investigations on the use of funds.”

Nie Zhenbang, however, was frowning and said, “Comrade Yaosheng, it is said that Chunan has suffered a more severe disaster than we have here in Hongjiang, but why does it seem that Chunan is handling it much better?”

This indeed was a curiosity for Nie Zhenbang. The frost disaster this year hit Chunan hard, yet the disaster relief and road clearance operations in Chunan Province proceeded in an orderly fashion, and the province had not reported any particularly severe incidents. This was puzzling.

Liu Yaosheng, as the responsible leader, was very clear about this and immediately explained, “Secretary Nie, because Chunan Province also suffered a severe frost disaster last year, they were better prepared this year with ice-breaking vehicles for the roads and various equipment for ice resistance. Moreover, after this winter began, Chunan had a clear understanding of the frost disaster and made full preparations. Therefore, although they were actually hit harder than us, they managed to reduce their losses significantly because of their efficient response.”

Hearing this, Nie Zhenbang fell into a contemplative silence. After a while, he stood up and instructed Xu Hongzhuan next to him, “Secretary-General, please arrange for us to go to Wenchun City overnight tonight. As the saying goes, ‘No investigation, no right to speak.’ Let us go to the very front of the disaster area to see the real situation of the people and to see what the roads have really become.”

The words of Nie Zhenbang stunned everyone present; no one had expected that Nie Zhenbang would make such an impromptu decision. But who was Nie Zhenbang? As the top official of the provincial committee in Hongjiang, his words were commands. Xu Hongzhuan did not hesitate and immediately nodded, “Yes, I’ll arrange and prepare right away. Also, regarding the accompanying personnel…?”

Nie Zhenbang glanced at Liu Yaosheng and Guo Nansheng, then said, “I think we should arrange for the heads of the Transportation, Civil Affairs, Agriculture, and Electricity Departments to accompany us, and Comrade Yaosheng, you will join us too. We can allow journalists from the provincial newspaper and TV station to follow us. Let’s travel light. We will depart in one hour. It is now half-past two in the afternoon; we aim to reach Wenchun City by seven o’clock tonight.”

With Nie Zhenbang’s order, the relevant departments sprang into action. Chen Le from the Political and Legal Committee also called to consider the possibility of icy roads and traffic congestion. After weighing the situation, Nie Zhenbang accepted Chen Le’s suggestion that two police cars would accompany them on this trip. The convoy would consist of eight off-road vehicles, plus two Coaster vans, and all cars were equipped with anti-skid chains and rescue equipment.

Meanwhile, at the provincial committee compound, Wu Guangshun, the head of the Transportation Department, Cai Xinkai, the head of the Agriculture Department, and He Zhenghui, the head of the Water Resources and Electricity Department, all hurried over.

All department and bureau leaders and not strangers to one another, the three of them stepped out of their cars and went over to where Guo Nansheng of the Civil Affairs Department was, beginning to converse in low voices.

Guo Nansheng hadn’t expected Secretary Nie to pull such a move out of the blue, but from this, Guo Nansheng’s respect for Secretary Nie grew. Secretary Nie truly held the common people and their suffering close to his heart. Having such a Secretary was Hongjiang’s fortune, Hongjiang’s luck.

One by one, the staff from the propaganda departments arrived, and although Chen Le from the Public Security Department couldn’t accompany them personally, he sent Zhou Yumin, the head of the provincial public security traffic police corps, to join the group. Comrades from the provincial committee’s motorcade also placed various rescue tools and anti-skid chains in the trunks of the cars.

It wasn’t yet half-past three, still more than ten minutes to go, when Nie Zhenbang, along with Xu Hongzhuan and Liu Yaosheng, emerged from the provincial committee building. By then, the leaders of the departments and bureaus had come to greet them. Nie Zhenbang gave a slight nod and said, “Let’s get in the cars. Thank you all for your hard work on this occasion.”

Just as Nie Zhenbang was setting off for Wenchun City, at that very moment, in Wenchun, at the city committee and government building, Li Youquan, the city committee secretary of Wenchun City, also stood up from his desk, walked out of his office, and instructed his secretary, “Chen, go inform the Secretary-General. I’ve just received a call from Secretary-General Xu of the provincial committee. Secretary Nie and his group are already on their way to Wenchun City. Notify all committee members to convene for an emergency meeting.”(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at . Your support is my greatest motivation.)