Chapter 1930 Entering the Disaster Zone

The process of getting along with others, from strangers to acquaintances to mutual trust, is a very slow one. Without some special opportunity, few people can trust someone else shortly after meeting for the first time.

Zhao Fusheng was no exception.

Although Liu Yiming was carefully selected by Zheng Yao to be his assistant, in fact, before this, Zhao Fusheng had some doubts about his abilities.

But now, seeing Liu Yiming's genuine reaction, he instead felt that this person was quite interesting.

"Chairman, rest assured, I will relay the message back at the first opportunity!"

Liu Yiming struck a pose of a martyr serving his country, which made Zhao Fusheng laugh.

"Great Sage, where do you go?"

"To crush the Heavenly Palace!"

"What if you never return?"

"Then I shall never return."

A passage suddenly flashed through Zhao Fusheng's mind.

But combined with Liu Yiming's round face, he found it hard to get into the scene.

"You, don't overthink it."

Zhao Fusheng laughed and said to Liu Yiming, "I'm not a capitalist; why would I need you to go in my place?"

Then he looked at Zhang Qian: "Although aftershocks are somewhat dangerous, I think it's not a big problem. At this time, I need to go. It's beneficial for Chen Shijie, for the public, and for the company, isn't it?"

Zhang Qian remained silent.

He was no longer the ignorant youth who only knew how to solve problems with his fists. Managing a subsidiary of Future Group and heading the supervisory department had gradually made him understand that many times, the reason we make certain decisions is truly that we are in a situation where we have no choice.

Just as Zhao Fusheng said now, Future Group had invested so much manpower, material resources, and money. If Zhao Fusheng, as chairman, didn't even dare to go to the disaster area, it would really become a joke.

For a company of Future Group's level, there are many who add icing on the cake, but equally many who wait to throw stones when someone is down.

Otherwise, why would Zhao Fusheng make such a big deal out of this?

In the end, wasn't it because he had no confidence?

Thinking this, a resolute expression appeared on Zhang Qian's face as he looked at Zhao Fusheng: "I'll go with you."

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Of course."

From start to finish, he never intended to leave Zhang Qian behind.

Others might not know, but Zhao Fusheng was well aware that in his situation, going to the disaster area would not pose any real danger to his life.

……

……

"Chairman, can you pretend you didn't hear what I just said?"

Sitting in the car heading to Suying County, Liu Yiming said to Zhao Fusheng with a wry face.

There was no help for it; his performance just now was too embarrassing, simply pathetic.

Zhao Fusheng laughed heartily and nodded: "Alright, I have a bad memory."

"Thank you, Chairman, thank you, Chairman."

Liu Yiming chuckled.

The group was not riding in a sedan but in an open truck.

There was no choice; under the current circumstances, taking a sedan into Suying would be quite risky.

Moreover, transportation was tight at this time; having a truck to ride was already a good outcome.

"Chairman, do you think there will be aftershocks?"

Liu Yiming sat beside Zhao Fusheng and muttered quietly.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "I really don't know about that."

In fact, from his memory, there were aftershocks, and they caused heavy casualties.

But Zhao Fusheng couldn't say that.

Or rather, his purpose in going this time was precisely for this matter.

After all, he knew about the aftershocks; even if he just shouted a few warnings, he might save a few lives.

"By the way, Chairman, just now General Zhang said that the People's Liberation Army had already arrived in the disaster area yesterday. Is that true or false?" Liu Yiming asked puzzledly. "Isn't it said that the aftershocks there are very strong?"

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Yes, the airborne troops have already been dispatched."

This was not bragging; to be honest, this time, China's airborne troops truly earned admiration.

In the fifty-eight years since their founding, they executed a non-war military air operation by airborne means for the first time.

At that time, the roads in the earthquake-stricken area were severely damaged, ground rescue forces could not reach, and the area at the epicenter had become an isolated island. The airborne troops became the last hope for entering the disaster area to assess the situation.

Moreover, due to heavy rain and thick clouds, helicopters attempted several landings but failed.

Rain below the parachute drop altitude is a major taboo for airborne operations.

Zhao Fusheng remembered reading a report, a recollection by the commander who directed that airborne drop. He said that when the aircraft descended to an altitude of 7,000 meters, the pilot found that the windshield wipers were frozen, unable to see anything, and could only rely on instruments to fly.

Even worse, due to ice on the fuselage, the cabin door could not be opened, and the aircraft had to circle over the disaster area and return to the airport.

Ultimately, the commander decided to have a small team use parafoils to parachute in first, reconnoiter the disaster situation and ground conditions, and then guide large-scale airdrops.

Parafoils are more maneuverable and have better wind resistance than the round parachutes commonly used by paratroopers, but they are more complex to operate. Airborne troops have regulations that only after a certain number of jumps with round parachutes can one begin parafoil training.

This was a parachute drop with no meteorological data, no command guidance, and no ground markers—a triple-none drop. The difficulty was unimaginable.

The epicenter was in a high mountain canyon terrain, with very limited areas suitable for parachuting. The peaks in the area were mostly around 4,000 meters above sea level, and they had to jump from altitudes above 5,000 meters. For paratroopers usually trained to jump from hundreds of meters, this was a blind jump between life and death.

But those brave paratroopers wrote their suicide notes and jumped anyway.

After landing, they immediately sent a report to headquarters concerning the lives of their comrades: due to the complex ground conditions, which were not conducive to large-scale parachuting, and because the remaining personnel used round parachutes with poor wind resistance, they recommended canceling subsequent parachute operations. This meant they would independently undertake tasks such as reconnaissance of the earthquake damage and guiding aerial rescue.

The ground was more dangerous than the air. The roads along the Min River leading to the disaster area were buried by landslides in many places, and aftershocks continued. Below was the surging river, and above, stones occasionally fell, hitting helmets with a thud. Once, just after they passed a landslide area, huge boulders rolled down with a rumble...

To be honest, even just reading the words, Zhao Fusheng could feel the peril.

In his previous life, he was merely an observer.

Now, he was about to become a participant.

……

……

The convoy stopped when it was about halfway there.

"What's going on?"

Zhao Fusheng frowned and asked the person in charge of the relief effort.

This was the manager of Future Group's Sichuan branch, named Song Qiang.

Song Qiang smiled bitterly: "The road ahead is blocked. The People's Liberation Army said they can help transport the supplies, but it's too dangerous and told us to go back!"

He paused and said in a low voice: "Chairman, maybe we should go back."

They were not far from the epicenter. In Song Qiang's view, even if this was just for show, they had reached a point where they could justify themselves. There was no need for Zhao Fusheng to continue taking risks.

Zhao Fusheng waved his hand: "Tell the People's Liberation Army that we are not going back. The road is blocked, so we'll go with them."

At this moment, the disaster area most needed supplies and volunteers. Having come this far, Zhao Fusheng was determined not to turn back.

"But there is no road ahead!"

Song Qiang hesitated.

"If there's no road, we'll walk."

Zhao Fusheng stood up, jumped directly off the truck, and called to the people behind: "Each person take some supplies; we'll follow the People's Liberation Army on foot."

"Ah?"

"Okay."

Different people had different reactions. Some looked surprised, but the bodyguards following Zhao Fusheng responded calmly.

They themselves were former military personnel; field marches were routine for them. Moreover, at this time, if it weren't for protecting Zhao Fusheng's safety, they might have already rushed to the front line.

"Chairman." Song Qiang still wanted to stop Zhao Fusheng.

But Zhao Fusheng had already stepped forward.

The person in charge ahead was an officer, apparently a platoon leader.

"Comrade Platoon Leader, is there no road ahead?" Zhao Fusheng asked him.

"You are?"

The platoon leader was somewhat puzzled. This convoy had caught up quickly from behind; originally he thought it was organized by the local government, but unexpectedly, after asking, he found out it was a private enterprise.

"My name is Zhao Fusheng, I'm the head of this rescue team." Zhao Fusheng said. "How about this: Comrade People's Liberation Army soldiers, you go ahead, and we'll follow with the supplies. If it's convenient, could you also help us carry some over?"

The platoon leader hesitated.

They had received orders to rush to the disaster area for rescue operations but had not brought supplies because the orders were temporary and there was no time to arrange.

Now, if they followed this man's suggestion, they could bring some things to the people in the disaster area when they arrived, which would be a good thing.

"I need to report to my superiors."

After thinking it over, the platoon leader said.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "Alright, I can wait."

The platoon leader went to find the signalman to report to his superiors. Five minutes later, he returned to Zhao Fusheng.

"Thank you for your trouble." The platoon leader said to Zhao Fusheng.

He was well aware that as a civilian, mobilizing so many supplies and so many people, the man before him was no ordinary figure.

"Let's go."

Zhao Fusheng smiled lightly, walked over, hoisted a bundle, and said to the people behind: "Everyone, stay close to the team. Let's move!"

Some things, no matter how much you say, are not as good as doing them earnestly.