Power and Wealth Chapter 242

Power and Wealth

Chapter 242 – Rescue!

Unexpected calamity!

No one had expected this to happen!

Dong Xuebing looked towards the buried tour bus and felt his head exploding. He cursed and ran towards the County’s leaders. The mud from the landslide had buried 3 to 4 tourists and several rescuers, which includes Hui Tian Village Station’s officers. Dong Xuebing is anxious, and one of his men was sacrificed. Public Security Bureau Chief Liang Chengpeng and the few team leaders of the rescue teams also ran towards Mayor Xie and Secretary Cao.

“Mayor Xie, what should we do now?”

“This place is too dangerous. You all should move to somewhere safer!”

“That’s right. There might be more landslides, and it is not safe here!”

The few accompanying officials suggested to Xie Huilan to evacuate the scene. During this time, the leaders must be protected, and nothing must happen to Mayor Xie. However, Xie Huilan was staring at the location where the bus was buried, and Cao Xupeng, also have not intentions of retreating. The ones trapped in the bus were not rescued, how can they leave now?

Liang Chengpeng sighed. “I’m afraid they cannot be rescued.”

A woman standing not far away was crying and pleading. “Please save my son! Someone… Please…”

A middle-aged couple was holding on to some rescuers’ arms. “My daughter is still inside! Hurry up and save her!”

“My husband is still on the bus!”

But no rescuers dare to go near, and if they want to dig a rescue tunnel to the bus, they will need heavy machinery or rescue vehicles. However, it will take time for the vehicles to arrive, and the road conditions are preventing them from reaching the accident site. The bus is now buried, and the air inside will not last until the rescue vehicles arrive. If they try to clear the mud with their bare hands, the falling rocks and mud might injure or even kill the rescuers. Everyone had rushed to the scene and had not brought any rescue equipment with them!

Furthermore, it was a massive landslide, and the people on the bus might have been killed from the impact.

Go and rescue them now? That will be risking your life!

Liang Chengpeng ordered his men to call for the rescue vehicles, and after he got the reply from them, he reported to Xie Huilan. “The rescue vehicles can only arrive in an hour.”

Xie Huilan replied with a straight face. “It will be too late!”

Cao Xupeng took a deep breath and added. “That’s right. Even if the air inside the bus can last for an hour, but the mud will be seeping through the windows, and there will be lesser air. They might not even last for 15 minutes. It will be too late by the time the rescue vehicles arrive!”

Liang Chengpeng asked. “Then… what should we do?”

The rain was still pouring, and the rescued passengers were crying and shouting.

Xie Huilan decided. “Rescue them! Continue with the rescue operations immediately!”

Liang Chengpeng’s eyes twitched. “Mayor Xie!” He also wanted to rescue the passengers, but he cannot put his men’s lives on the line. Rocks and mud are still falling from the mountains, and some rocks are the size of a football. It’s too dangerous to go into that area without protective gear!

Xie Huilan firmly replied. “I don’t care what you all do! Even if you all have to dig out the bus with bare hands, you all must also rescue everyone from the bus!”

Cao Xupeng gritted his teeth and said. “Save them!”

Liang Chengpeng had no choice but to obey to his leaders’ orders. He looked at his men and ordered them. “Get two officers with better fitness to rescue them!”

Dong Xuebing looked around. “Where is Liu Dahai?”

Chen Fa looked around. “Station Chief Liu was still here earlier.”

Everyone shouted for Liu Dahai, but there was no reply. Dong Xuebing’s face changed. “Old Liu is trapped in the bus? Damn!” It was too chaotic at the scene, and everyone was wearing raincoats. It’s hard to differentiate their identities, and they suddenly remembered Liu Dahai was helping with the rescue before the landslide. Dong Xuebing shouted. “Old Chen! Pick two men to rescue them! Hurry!”

“Yes!”

Chen Fa shouted to two officers, and some villagers passed spades to the officers. The two officers were scared, and their hands were trembling. But when they thought of the ones trapped in the bus, they still pushed themselves to go forward.

This is not a mudslide, and the rocks and debris are from the surface of the mountains. One can still walk on it.

Although the mud is knee-high, the officers can still walk on it.

One officer stepped on the thick mud and made his way forward slowly.

At this moment, Dong Xuebing and the rest were looking at both officers nervously!

The rain was not stopping and was foggy. The mountainside is extremely unstable after the massive landslide earlier, and many rocks were exposed. With the rain washing down on the rocks, many of them tumbled down the mountain. If the rocks were tumbling down from 5 to 6 meters, it was still fine. But many of the rocks are tumbling down from dozens of meters, and even a few hundred meters high! The force from the rocks is unthinkable!

One step…

Three steps…

Five steps…

Before the officer can take eight steps towards the bus, an accident happened!

A chipped rock rolled down the mountain, and Bam! That officer shouted in pain and fell onto the mud, holding his leg. He started to sink into the mud. Some parts of that area are deeper, and when that officer tried to get up, his other leg sunk into the mud!

The officer behind him saw it and stepped forward to pull him up.

But at that moment, 4 to 5 rocks rolled down from the mountains!

One of the rocks hit the second officer on his ribs, and another hit his head. That officer immediately collapsed onto the ground motionlessly!

Dong Xuebing urgently cried out. “Bring them back! Quick!”

Liang Chengpeng shouted to his men. “Go!”

A few firemen and villagers walked over quickly with their arms covering their heads to rescue those two officers. Some did not even step onto the mud, as they were afraid of getting hit by the falling rocks. Only five of them reached the two officers and carried them back to safety. The officers had fractures but were still alive.

After what had happened, no one dares to go forward.

This is not risking lives. It’s suicide!

Xie Huilan’s face turns black and shouted. “Go again!”

Liang Chengpeng saw no one moving, and he shouted to his men. “Xiao Li! You go!”

The officer from the County’s Bureau jumped and turns pale, but he cannot go against Chief Liang’s orders. He is skinny and did not sink into the two meters thick mud when he was walking on it. One meter… five meters… eight meters… He was getting closer to where the bus was, but when he was about to reach that spot, Xiao Li disappeared into the mud!

“Xiao Li!”

Xiao Li had fallen into a hole!

Liang Chengpeng was anxious, and he saw two arms waving frantically, trying to climb out of that hole. But the ground was wet and slippery, and he couldn’t climb out by himself. When Dong Xuebing and Liang Chengpeng shouted to the rest to rescue Xiao Li, Xiao Li’s arms stopped struggling and disappeared.

Another Public Security officer was sacrificed!

Liang Chengpeng’s eyes were red. He was the one who ordered Xiao Li, and if he did not ask him to go, he might not…

Someone from the rescue party shouted. “We must not go again!”

Someone added. “That’s right. The ones on the bus might be dead now!” Everyone was scared to be ordered to go to the bus.

Cao Xupeng had entered his car to call County’s Party Secretary Xiang Daofa to report on the situation. After he came out of the vehicle, he shouted. “Party Secretary Xiang had ordered to save the passengers at all costs!” He paused for a while and continued. “We cannot rush in, and the rescue vehicles will not be here in time! Hurry and think of other solutions!”

No one said a word.

What can they do? Other than walking across the mud and dig a hole to the tour bus, they have no other solutions!

But two men had died in the process, who dares to go near that area?

Liang Chengpeng, Dong Xuebing, and the rest looked at Xie Huilan. Xie Huilan thought for a while and said. “Evacuate the villagers to the County town and send the injured to the hospital. The rest will move towards the south, away from the mountains. I will remain here to wait for the rescue vehicles!”

Chen Fa interrupted. “I had received news that the road back to the County is blocked by a few fallen trees.”

Xie Huilan shouted. “Move the cars away from here! Before the rescue vehicles arrive, the roads must be cleared!”

Cao Xupeng stopped Xie Huilan. “Mayor Xie! You must not remain here! You should leave!”

Xie Huilan waved her hand. “Stop! Secretary Cao, bring them away now!”

“Mayor Xie!”

“Mayor!

“Go!”

Liang Chengpeng starts to evacuate the villagers and ordered the buses carrying the injured to move to a safer place. The road in front is blocked by a few uprooted trees and debris, and the buses can pass through. But that area is far away from the mountains and is temporarily safe. All the vehicles were moved there, and some villagers start to clear the road. Because a few tourists’ family members are still trapped in the bus, they refused to leave.

Liang Chengpeng, Cao Xupeng, and the other leaders remained at the scene as the Mayor is still there, and they cannot leave without her.

Xie Huilan ordered. “Old Cao, Old Liang! Bring the people away!”

Cao Xupeng and the rest of the leaders’ impression of Xie Huilan was pretty, graceful, and always smiling. But in this situation, they saw a different side of her. She is decisive and brave when facing dangers. She refused to leave before everyone is rescued, and not everyone is as fearless as her!

Boom…!!!

A few loud rumblings were heard, and the ground shook!

No one knows which side of the mountains is having a landslide again.

Everyone’s face changed as they heard the sounds, and some officials started retreating towards the buses. That area is considered safe from landslides.

Xie Huilan replied coldly. “Don’t make me repeat myself! Go now!”

An old woman staggered over. “Mayor Xie! My grandson is still on the bus! When the rock hit our tour bus, he was thrown to the back of the bus! Please… I beg you all to save him! He is only ten years old! Please save him!”

Xie Huilan consoled the old woman. “The rescue vehicles are on their way! I believe they will be fine!”

The middle-aged couple pleaded. “The rescue vehicles will not be here in time! Please get your men to save them! Don’t go! We beg you all…. Please!” The couple kneeled on the wet road and kowtowed to Xie Huilan. They kowtowed twice and were bleeding from their forehead!

“I will also kneel!” The old woman and a few other family members kneeled on the road to beg Xie Huilan!

“Save them! If anything happens to my daughter, I will join her!”

“Xiao Juan is still on the bus! Xiao Juan….”

“Mayor Xie! We beg you to save them!”

The injured passengers were on their knees, begging Xie Huilan to order the continuation of the rescue operations. But two officers were sacrificed, and rocks were still falling from the mountain. If the rescue party were to continue their way to the tour bus, more people would be sacrificed.

It was chaotic at the scene!

Xie Huilan is considering asking someone to drive a bus onto the mud near the foot of the mountain to block the falling rocks and debris. Although this maneuver is hard, at least they are tried. This is also the reason why Xie Huilan insists on staying there. But Xie Huilan did not move from the scene, and the rest of the leaders dare not to move and had to remain there to help. But the injured passengers can’t wait and wanted Xie Huilan to send people to dig an escape route for the people trapped in the tour bus. As they were begging Xie Huilan on their knees, loud rumblings can be heard from the mountains. Another massive landslide might happen anytime!

Chaos!

It was too chaotic!

Dong Xuebing was furious and shouted. “Everyone from Hui Tian Village Station! Come over!”

Chen Fa heard Dong Xuebing and led his officers over. “Chief Dong, what should we do now? Who should we listen to?” Mayor Xie had ordered them to retreat, the passengers were begging them to rescue their relatives, and Chief Liang is not allowing them to leave!

Dong Xuebing stared at Chen Fa. “Who do think?”

Chen Fa immediately replied. “We will listen to your orders!” All the officers replied.

“Good!” Dong Xuebing pointed to his side. “Those passengers are crying on the ground! Those from the rescue party! Those from the Bureau, including the leaders from the County government! I give you all 5 minutes to get them into their vehicles and bring them away from here! All of you must leave this place! Go and wait at the minibus there! Listen carefully! Every single one of them must leave this place!”

Chen Fa paused. “Mayor Xie and Party Secretary Cao…”

Dong Xuebing gave Chen Fa a stare. “You don’t understand my orders?! I want every one of them to leave this place!”

“Yes, Sir!”

After receiving orders from Dong Xuebing, the officers from Hui Tian Village Station moved. One of them boarded a minibus nearby and drove towards the County Leaders, and the rest of the officers start to grab and throw people into the bus. One of the passengers refused to move and tried to jump out of the minibus. But Chen Fa reacted fast and cuffed him to the bus!

Liang Chengpeng shouted furiously. “Chief Dong! What are you doing?!”

Dong Xuebing ignored him and roared to his men. “Get everyone onto the bus! I will take full responsibility!”

To everyone’s horror, Liang Chengpeng and Cao Xupeng were pinned down and carried onto the minibus by force!

In the past, Dong Xuebing treated his subordinates well, and whenever there are difficulties, he will be the one rushing in front of his men. Now, every officer from Hui Tian Village Station is loyal to Dong Xuebing and respected him more than Bureau Chief Liang and the leaders from the county government. This is why when Dong Xuebing ordered them to bring everyone away by force, they acted without hesitation. If it was the officers from other stations, they will not be so united and dare not to bring Liang Chengpeng and Cao Xupeng away by force.

They are Dong Xuebing’s soldiers!

This is Hui Tian Village Station!

Cries and pleads can be heard from the minibus!

“I don’t want to go! Xiao Juan!”

“My son is still in there! What are you all doing?! Leilei!!!”

“Rescue them! Please! I beg you all to save them! Don’t leave!”

“Oh, god! Someone, please save my grandson!”

In the end, even Xie Huilan was forced onto the bus by a female officer!

Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes and looked at Dong Xuebing. “Do you know what you are doing?”

Dong Xuebing firmly replied. “I know! Sorry for doing this to you all!” He turned to the driver and shouted. “Chen Fa! Drive!”

The minibus and a few other police cars started moving.

Chen Fa noticed Dong Xuebing had not boarded the police cars and stick his head out. “Chief Dong, hurry, and board!”

Dong Xuebing took a deep breath and waved his hand. “Just go!”

Chen Fa and the other officers from Hui Tian Village Station were stunned. “Chief Dong, what are you doing?!”

Xie Huilan turned and stared at Dong Xuebing. Liang Chengpeng and Cao Xupeng could guess what Dong Xuebing was trying to do and were stunned. “Xiao Dong!”

Dong Xuebing looked at them emotionlessly. “Hurry up and go!”

Chen Fa gritted his teeth and cursed. “F**k! Let’s go!”

From inside their vehicles, everyone could see Dong Xuebing bending over to pick up a shovel with his bandaged arm and walked slowly towards the buried tour bus!

This scene was too shocking to everyone!

Translator’s notes: Why didn’t he turn back time to save those sacrificed officers?

mudflow

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudflow

Landslide

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landslide_classification