Chapter 1054 - 1019: Emergency Mobilization

On his way home, Xu Chunliang received another call from Ye Qingya. She had also heard about the earthquake in Juzhou and reminded Xu Chunliang to stay safe.

Xu Chunliang assured Ye Qingya not to worry. There was still some distance between Dongzhou and Juzhou, and although affected, the impact wouldn’t be too severe. According to data from the Dongzhou Seismic Center, the earthquake in Dongzhou finally registered at a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale.

Ye Qingya told Xu Chunliang that her father had just received orders to go to the disaster site in Juzhou to inspect the situation and guide the relief work.

Xu Chunliang was a little puzzled. Isn’t Ye Changyuan from the National Development and Reform Commission? What does a local disaster have to do with them?

Through Ye Qingya, he learned that there had been a change in Ye Changyuan’s work recently, and he was now with the National Disaster Reduction Committee. Ye Qingya was clearly worried, as her father was going to the frontline of the disaster, which carried some risk.

Xu Chunliang comforted Ye Qingya, saying that the earthquake had already passed. Moreover, leaders of Ye Changyuan’s level wouldn’t go alone, and local officials wouldn’t truly let higher-ups be on the frontline. He realized that Ye Changyuan might have been affected by the Dongzhou metro incident, suggesting complex underlying dynamics and the Ye family hadn’t benefited in this struggle.

After chatting with him for a while, Ye Qingya went to help her father prepare.

Xu Chunliang felt a coolness on his face and looked up to see a light rain in the night sky. He thought of something and took out his phone to check the weather forecast for Juzhou.

The weather forecast showed that Juzhou would experience overcast to cloudy weather in the coming days, with no rain predicted, which eased Xu Chunliang’s mind somewhat.

That night in Dongzhou, most people couldn’t sleep, Xu Chunliang included. At four in the morning, another earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 occurred, feeling even stronger than before.

Even Xu Changshan was awakened, calling out Xu Chunliang’s name as the two rushed outside together.

If the old man had been home alone, he might have chosen not to flee. But with his grandson there, his thoughts changed; if he didn’t leave, Xu Chunliang certainly wouldn’t either.

The light rain had fallen throughout the night, leaving the outside a bit cold and dreary. Xu Chunliang felt uneasy, constantly refreshing the news. Dongzhou’s second earthquake was indeed related to Juzhou and Yizhou. According to the National Seismic Data Center’s report, at 22:34 last night and 4:13 this morning, Juzhou suffered two earthquakes, the first measuring 6.3 and the second a staggering 7.7 on the Richter scale.

This earthquake was a strong intraplate event in the eastern mainland of China.

The strong quake impacted most of the eastern regions and sea areas, spanning from the banks of the Yellow River to north and south of the Yangtze River. The intensely felt V-grade region stretched from the southern part of the northeast to Jin East, south to Northern Gan, east across the sea to the Peninsula, and even Neon felt it. The total felt area neared one million square kilometers, with damaged areas reaching 180,000 square kilometers. Juzhou, Shushui, Xia Pi, Zhongwu, Tan Province, and other locations experienced severe destruction, while over a hundred counties in Lunan, Jiangbei, and Northern Anhui faced varying levels of damage, marking it as the fiercest earthquake in recent years in East China’s history.

These cities are located on the Tanlu Earthquake Zone, where a famous, devastating earthquake occurred during the Kangxi era—a historical event recorded at a whopping magnitude of 8.5.

The Tanlu Fault Zone is a primary fracture zone among a series of massive northeast-oriented faults on the East Asian continent, extending over 2,400 kilometers within China. It cuts through different tectonic units in eastern China, boasting a grand scale and complex structure. It serves as a junction for varying movements of crustal blocks and houses the regular geophysical zones and deep-source magma activities. It formed in the Mesoproterozoic, undergoing multiple tectonic events.

According to statistical research, since 1400 AD, within a 200-kilometer radius centered on the Tanlu Fault, there has been one magnitude 8.5 earthquake, five magnitude 7.0-7.9 earthquakes, and eleven magnitude 6-6.9 earthquakes. Notably, the midsection witnessed one 8.5 magnitude quake and seven magnitude 7.0-7.9 tremors.

At five o’clock, Xu Chunliang received an emergency notification, instructing all mid-level hospital staff to return for a meeting immediately, and all medical workers in the city were put on emergency standby.

After ensuring his grandfather was settled, Xu Chunliang promptly headed to the Infectious Disease Hospital.

Though Dongzhou felt the quake intensely, it wasn’t the epicenter, having only marginally suffered its repercussions. So, no major damage occurred. At five in the early morning, the sky was still dark, and few cars or pedestrians were on the roads, though some people were seen jogging, unfazed by the situation, subtly indicating the city wasn’t much affected. However, two hundred kilometers away, Juzhou had plunged into chaos due to this earthquake.

Approaching the Infectious Disease Hospital, the scene contrasted sharply with the outside; the parking lot was already filled with cars, with numerous hospital employees rushing in. Some, like Xu Chunliang, were mid-level staff notified to come back, while more volunteered on their own.

Upon learning of the Juzhou disaster, the leadership team in Dongzhou City convened overnight, deciding to form a professional rescue and earthquake relief medical team. The Health Bureau had issued an urgent notice about assembling a medical team for the disaster area rescue efforts.

The Infectious Disease Hospital decided to dispatch six medical staff to join the Dongzhou City’s first earthquake relief medical team. Following the principles of prioritizing professionalism and personal voluntariness, they planned to send their most outstanding medical personnel.

The hospital didn’t notify that many people; the medical staff who came after hearing the news volunteered. Disasters may be ruthless, but people are compassionate. In such times, the noble side of the white-coated warriors emerges, although there might be a few opportunists among them.

Due to the limited size of the Infectious Disease Hospital, the health bureau only allotted them six spots this time. Vice President Pan Junfeng was the first to register, meaning there were only five spots left for others.

When Xu Chunliang arrived, there were already thirty-one doctors and one hundred ten nurses registered. Faced with such enthusiastic registration, Yan Huaiyi was so moved he couldn’t speak.

Yan Huaiyi discussed with Secretary Sun Weimin; although there were many registrants, they could only send six. They had to choose the most outstanding in their field, capable of taking on major responsibilities, because going out represented the image of the Infectious Disease Hospital, and they couldn’t embarrass it.

While a few leaders were discussing to finalize the list, Xu Chunliang found Pan Junfeng. He knew that he had no chance in the standard selection process, so he directly approached Pan Junfeng, who was already confirmed, to replace him.

Pan Junfeng also needed this opportunity. Although the goal was earthquake relief, everyone knew that as long as one returned safely from this trip, it was like being gold-plated. However, since Xu Chunliang spoke up, Pan Junfeng couldn’t refuse him the favor, and said earnestly, "Xiaoxu, it’s an earthquake above magnitude seven, and it’s raining heavily in the disaster area. There will be aftershocks in the coming days, it’s very dangerous."

Xu Chunliang said, "Precisely because of this, let the young people go. I’m agile and particularly skilled in emergency care, especially in bone injuries, thanks to my grandfather’s teachings."

Pan Junfeng said, "You’re an only child."

Xu Chunliang said, "Don’t worry, I’ll definitely come back safely. I’ve also settled things at home. Dean Pan, you’re the pillar of your family, with elders and children to care for. You should avoid taking the risk."

After pondering, Pan Junfeng realized there were indeed many risks in this mission. His wife and son were against him going. Pan Junfeng thought it better to leave the opportunity to the young.

He finally nodded in agreement, urging Xu Chunliang to submit an application to join the party to the hospital’s party committee, expressing his determination to go to the front line for disaster relief, to save lives and serve the motherland.

In such circumstances, fast-tracking party membership was never an issue.

The six-member list from the Infectious Disease Hospital was finalized: General Surgery’s Zhuang Yongzhi, Orthopedics’ Yang Yuqi, three nurses—Lin Shan, Zhang Li, Zhou Yongmei, and Xu Chunliang, who joined last minute, replacing Pan Junfeng.

After a leadership discussion, it was decided that Xu Chunliang would be in charge of managing and dispatching this rescue team. They also organized a medical rescue reserve team, ready to be summoned at any time.

In less than half an hour, the final list was confirmed. These six people immediately went to the Dongzhou Health Bureau to assemble.

The first batch of earthquake relief medical teams formed by the Dongzhou Health Bureau included seven teams in total, with Health Bureau Chief Hu Zhengjin as the general commander. The team from the Infectious Disease Hospital was integrated into the team from Changxing Hospital, led by Vice President Qin Guoliang from the Changxing side.

Theirs was the seventh squad. Xu Chunliang found many familiar faces among them. Orthopedics’ Wang Xiaofeng, with whom they had collaborated at the Weishan Island Branch, and Emergency Department Head Dong Yimin were also involved.

The health bureau allocated only eight spots to Changxing Hospital, possibly due to Changxing’s current semi-public status. For other city hospitals, each hospital sent out a whole medical team. Changxing, in the end, was on par with the specialized Infectious Disease Hospital level, and the two hospitals jointly formed a medical team. Considering the special nature of this squad, the health bureau appointed Qin Guoliang as captain and Xu Chunliang as vice captain.

Qin Guoliang secretly lamented, unsure whether he was faltering or if Xu Chunliang was rising too fast; now he was actually teaming up with him. The medical staff from Changxing Hospital welcomed Xu Chunliang’s arrival. They all knew Xu Chunliang was always one to lead by example, and following him was unlikely to incur a loss.

Although Changxing Hospital wasn’t given enough recognition, they exuded no less presence. Dean Zhao Feiyang and Secretary Gao Xinhua personally came to send off the rescue team members.

Gao Xinhua noticed Xu Chunliang was also in the rescue team, inevitably feeling touched. When Zhao Feiyang shook hands with the team members, Gao Xinhua pulled Xu Chunliang aside and said in a low voice, "Chunliang, did you tell your grandfather about going to the disaster area?"

Xu Chunliang shook his head, dared not say, fearing his grandfather wouldn’t let him go.

Gao Xinhua sighed, "The disaster area still holds certain risks. If he knew, he definitely wouldn’t let you go."

Xu Chunliang said, "Uncle Gao, you’re underestimating my grandfather. Encountering such a situation, he would wish to go himself."