Reborn as a Noble's Son-Chapter 888 - 844 Mr. Zhang Farewell

Chapter 888 -844 Mr. Zhang, Farewell!

Chapter 888 -844 Mr. Zhang, Farewell!

Having finished speaking, Nie Zhenbang took out a bright red party flag from the inner pocket of his chest. He unfolded it, presenting it in front of everyone. In a deep voice, he said, “Comrades, do you still remember the solemn oath we took under this party flag? Do you still remember the basic principles of us Communists? To endure hardship before enjoying comfort. Do you still remember the scenes where our revolutionary martyrs shed their hot blood and were not afraid to sacrifice their heads for the nation, for the ethnicity?”

While speaking, Nie Zhenbang turned and pointed behind himself, raising his voice, “Comrades, behind us, under these ruins, lie our children, the flowers of the motherland, the future of the ethnicity. At this moment, what should we do? Fear of death is not the quality of a Communist Party member. Today, right here, we raise this party flag, this is our charging post for party members. Those who are party members, follow me!”

As his words fell, Wu Li had already found a steel pipe and came over with it. The bright red party flag was hung on the flagpole. It was planted next to the ruins and at this moment, it appeared incomparably eye-catching, incomparably heroic.

Nie Zhenbang turned his head and walked toward the ruins; without any additional words, he began to act, moving large building stones one by one.

At this moment, Nie Zhenbang was like the Foolish Old Man Moves the Mountain, unstoppable. With no way out and no other thoughts, his only notion was to save as many lives as possible.

In that moment, a silence fell over the crowd. Suddenly, a voice shouted out, “Folks, let’s go up. If Governor Nie is not afraid to die, what are we afraid of? Governor Nie is at the frontline, can we not go forward?”

This encouragement immediately resonated with the surrounding crowd. Beneath the bright party flag, not only party members but even ordinary people were inspired.

In the country, the common people are simple and grateful. At this moment, under public scrutiny, as the governor is personally fighting on the front line, not afraid to die, what more is there to say.

At this moment, everyone completely forgot their fear of aftershocks, forgot their own sorrow, and threw themselves wholeheartedly into the rescue work.

The rescue effort began first with the school building that had not completely collapsed. With everyone working together, a path was quickly cleared through a classroom. Inside, dozens of students shivered. This disaster had left a heavy and indelible memory on the children. Among them, a teacher was looking after the students like a hen protecting her nest.

Seeing this, Nie Zhenbang immediately said, “Children, you have been saved. Quickly, follow your teacher and get out, you are safe now.”

The rescue had started at seven in the morning and continued until noon. All teachers in the part of the educational building that had not completely collapsed had been cleared out, and a total of more than six hundred students were saved. However, the situation, according to the school principal, did not look optimistic.

In the Yizhou Central Elementary School, there were more than nine hundred students in total. According to the class schedule at that time, besides the two classes that were lucky to have physical education outside, and another class that was spared while having a music lesson, there were still at least several dozen children trapped under the collapsed section of classrooms.

“Chief, it’s no use, the precast concrete blocks are too heavy. Solely relying on manpower is completely ineffective. Now, it would be best if we could bring in some large construction machinery,” Wu Li was also covered in dirt at this moment.

Not just Wu Li, but everyone was covered in dust, their original features barely discernible, sweat soaked through their faces, mingling with the dust, and streamed down cheeks and temples.

From a distance, Xing Guofeng ran all the way over. Nie Zhenbang stood up straight and walked down. By now, Xing Guofeng had already run up to Nie Zhenbang.

Before Xing Guofeng could speak, Nie Zhenbang said, “Mayor Xing, you’ve arrived just in time. Now, can we get a large piece of construction machinery over here? Without machinery, we simply can’t dig through.”

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Xing Guofeng appeared troubled and spoke in a low voice, “Governor, all the machinery is deployed at the Municipal Committee for full-scale rescue efforts. It’s really…”

Before he could finish, Nie Zhenbang quickly interrupted him, with a stern voice, “Mayor Xing, I do not object to the leaders at the Municipal Committee needing rescue, nor do I have any prejudice, but you can’t divert all the machinery there. Such allocation will prevent normal rescue efforts throughout the city. Also, at this time, the most urgent task is to establish connectivity between Yizhou and the outside world. How can you act like this? Immediately make new arrangements to ensure hospitals, schools, and other important sites are equipped with construction equipment. This will allow us to accelerate the rescue efforts.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words were compelling, brooking no doubt or contradiction. Xing Guofeng felt a secret relief inside. Now, with the governor’s orders, there would be no blame for his rescue efforts falling short. If, just suppose, all the standing committee members of the Municipal Committee were…

Thinking of this, Xing Guofeng seemed to have seen his path to a bright future. He nodded immediately and said, “Yes, Governor, I will definitely adjust the arrangement of the heavy machinery according to your instructions.”

Speaking of the highway, Xing Guofeng seemed to remember the purpose of his current visit and said, “Governor, the engineering teams from the Highway Bureau and the Transportation Bureau have already headed to the site on National Highway 18. At this time, the blocked roads have been partially cleared. It’s estimated that by no later than five o’clock in the afternoon, National Highway 18 will be fully reopened.”

…

With Nie Zhenbang’s order, Xing Guofeng did not hesitate at all and immediately drew six large excavators and cranes from the municipal rescue site.

Around Yizhou Central Elementary School, since Nie Zhenbang was directly supervising here, Xing Guofeng naturally took personal charge. This was an opportunity to perform in front of the governor. If he managed to catch the governor’s eye, it would be greatly beneficial to his future.

Soon, an excavator was called over. Even with the excavator’s help, the rescue speed did not increase. At this moment, it was not like usual where the excavator could dig freely. Under the rubble, victims were buried, and no one could be certain whether there were any survivors.

Thus, most of the excavator’s time was spent clearing the debris around the rubble and acting as a crane during the manual rescue. Whenever large precast slabs were encountered, they were strung up with steel cables and then dragged by the excavator. Very quickly, the first completely collapsed classroom was cleared. In one corner of the classroom, due to the right angle structure, the collapse was not complete, and many supports remained. About twenty students were crammed in a corner less than one and a half meters high. Panic and fear were written on every face. Nearby, more than a dozen students had already lost their lives, their most precious lives.

Nie Zhenbang, shocked by the scene, whispered, “Speed up the rescue.”

By around five o’clock in the afternoon, all the collapsed classrooms had been basically cleared, leaving only one classroom remaining at Yizhou Central Elementary School.

At that moment, atop the ruins, more than a dozen precast slabs lay in disarray, cleverly forming a narrow space.

Nie Zhenbang stepped forward and said solemnly, “The closer we are to here, the more careful we have to be. Pay close attention to avoid a secondary collapse. Due to our carelessness, the surviving students might lose their lives.”

After more than an hour, when all the debris was cleared, everyone was stunned.

In a corner of the classroom, desks were piled up around, creating a support. Inside the desks, about a dozen children were huddled together, trembling. On the outside, an adult man used his not so sturdy body to create a space for the children.

But at this moment, several heavy precast slabs were pressing on the man. His eyes were closed tight, and he was no longer breathing. Yet, until the moment of death, he had been in the protective posture for the children.

At Yizhou Central Elementary School, under the guidance of the surviving teachers, the children shakily stood up. With the help of the rescue personnel, they were rescued one by one.

From the intermittent words of the children, Nie Zhenbang also learned the truth. This young teacher Zhang, at the moment the disaster struck, evacuated his class of over thirty students as quickly as possible. When the last eleven children were about to leave, the building collapsed. In this desperate moment, Teacher Zhang piled up the desks and hid the children in the corner, placing himself on the outside. In the end, he used his slender body to protect the children.

With moistened eyes, Nie Zhenbang turned and said, “Is the principal of Yizhou Central Elementary School here? Teacher Zhang deserves our admiration and respect. The school must handle the family members well. Do not let a hero bleed and cry.”

After his words, the principal of Yizhou Central Elementary School, also choking up, stepped forward and said in a low voice, “Teacher Zhang’s spouse, Teacher Luo, and their three-year-old child have also perished.”

Silence. Oppression. At this moment, the entire scene was incredibly oppressive. Nie Zhenbang was stunned for a long while without speaking, but silently bowed deeply to Teacher Zhang’s body and whispered, “Teacher Zhang, may you rest in peace!”

Following Nie Zhenbang’s gesture, the hundreds of rescuers and teachers and students gathered on the playground all bowed three times to Teacher Zhang, “Teacher Zhang, may you rest in peace.” (