Chapter 10 Strange Things

On December 5, the second day of the provincial parliament’s inquiry meeting, the former Zhongjiang City Rat Control Command Center was revoked, and a higher-level Rat Control Command Center was quickly established.

Vice Premier Zhang Huaiyu personally served as the commander of the command center, and Minister of the Ministry of Health Tian Yingping and Governor of Yizhou Province Qin Haichuan served as the deputy commander of the command center. However, Deputy Prime Minister Zhang Huaiyu and Minister Tian are not yet in office. The daily work of the command center is under the responsibility of Governor Qin, and other members of the command center include:

Li Yuanfang, Executive Vice Mayor of Zhongjiang City and Acting Mayor

The troops stationed in Zhongjiang City, Southwest Military Region, Major General Bao Shandong, commander of the 45th Mechanization Division of the Army

Wang Han, Director of the Provincial Forestry Department, Chen Bangxian, Acting Director of the Zhongjiang Forestry Bureau

Zhang Yuesheng, Director of the Provincial Health Department, Han Qiang, Director of the Zhongjiang Municipal Health Bureau

Xie Guoqiang, Director of the Provincial Police Department, and Gao Fei, Director of the Zhongjiang Police Department.

Zhang Jie, Minister of Propaganda of Zhongjiang City

Professor Lin Yusen continued to serve as an advisor to the command center, and Song Qinghe, as Professor Lin's assistant, also became a member of the command center.

The command center is still located in Building 2, Zhongjiang City Gymnasium. All 7 floors of Building 2 are occupied by the command center.

The entire Army's 45th Mechanical Division was dispatched. In addition to the division's direct troops stationed in the city gymnasium, three mechanization regiments built bases in Biyun and Cangnan County near the mountainous areas.

The Southwest Military Region will draw all the direct army aviation brigades, including 25 large S-70 helicopters and 5 small helicopters in Z-11 to the command center, and draw 1 paratrooper battalion from the direct airborne regiment - about 400 paratroopers are stationed in Zhongjiang City. Two rocket artillery battalions have been transferred from the military region's artillery units to strengthen the 45th Division. In addition, the Southwest Military Region will also allocate a batch of armored vehicles, flamethrowers and other equipment to the troops under the 45th Division.

Immediately afterwards, the medical team of the Provincial Department of Health took over four hospitals in Zhongjiang City, including two county-level hospitals in Biyun, and used them as the base camp to deal with rat infectious diseases. They allocated a large number of drugs, medical devices and ambulances to strengthen the hospital's ability to deal with emergencies.

At the same time, the command center once again issued a blockade order - all the mountainous intersections in the western mountainous areas have been deployed to set up military and police checkpoints, and personnel are strictly prohibited from entering the mountainous areas. All freight and passenger vehicles in the mountainous areas are suspended. The command center also contacted the Ministry of Railways of the State Council to stop all trains passing through the mountainous areas.

In addition, the command center also issued a large number of orders to chemical factories across the country to purchase rat killers. The number of acquisitions of the first batch of rat killers was 10,000 tons. Due to the limited financial capacity of Yizhou Province, the State Council allocated 500 million yuan of financial support to the command center. However, even with financial support, it would take at least one month to produce and transport such a huge rat killer to Zhongjiang City. Currently, the command center has no more than 1,500 tons of rat killers, and most of these rat killers are provided by the chemical factory under Liu Xiao and the others.

On December 6, the command center held its first meeting. At the meeting, Governor Qin ordered the helicopter troops to take turns to search for the movement of rat groups in the mountains. Once discovered, a large number of rat killing agents were immediately placed to eliminate the rat groups.

The meeting also studied the proposal of compulsory refuge in mountain villages proposed by Lin Yusen, but this proposal was disappointed from the beginning. The reason is very simple. Although everyone knows that it is very difficult to implement this proposal, and it is even far beyond the ability of Yizhou Province, no one dares to object. Mayor Jiang is there. If there is another tragedy in Liangzi Village, those who oppose compulsory refuge will become targets of attack by lawmakers.

Finally, Lin Yusen saw the participants' faces silent, and said helplessly: "If mandatory shelter cannot be implemented for the time being, then at least we should now formulate an alternative, which is how mountain villages can strengthen their prevention of rat attacks, and how the command center can rescue villagers in emergencies."

Governor Qin nodded and immediately gave instructions to Mayor Li: "Professor Lin's proposal is very important. The Zhongjiang Municipal Government immediately formulates a rat prevention plan for mountain villages and reports it to the command center for discussion and implement it immediately."

"Zhang Fang, is there any news about rats here recently?"

After putting the teacup on it, Liu Xiao asked impatiently.

This is a teahouse in Ganshui County. Although it was afternoon, the teahouse was very deserted. Except for Liu Xiao and Zhang Fang, there were no other guests.

Zhang Fang took a sip of tea in a rage, thought bitterly for a long time, but shook his head. Zhang Fang was transferred from the Biyun County Police Department to the Comprehensive Public Security Department of the Ganshui County Police Department in June, and is not very familiar with the personnel affairs of Ganshui County.

There is a reason why Liu Xiao was anxious to get some news about the rat group from Zhang Fang, who works in the county police station. It is December 9th. More than 30 helicopters under the command center have been searching in the mountains for three consecutive days, but they have not found the rat group, let alone grasp the movements of the large-scale rat group. It is not easy to find the rat group lurking in the vast native forests.

Villages in the mountainous areas have also strengthened precautions. Each village is equipped with radio, even if it has been connected to the phone. Rats can subvert the train and bite off the cables. If the village is slow to rescue when attacked by a group of rats due to communication interruptions, no one can afford this responsibility.

Strangely, although the command center was nervous and waiting for the news that the rat group had attacked the village for more than 3 days, all the villages were always quiet news. Liu Xiao, who was responsible for the special edition of the Rat Damage News of Zhongjiang Evening News, couldn't stay in Zhongjiang City, so he drove to Ganshui County to see if there were any first-hand news topics to dig. However, even in Ganshui County, which was close to the mountainous area, there was no news about the rats. The huge rat group seemed to have disappeared.

"Zhang Fang," Liu Xiao knocked the table with his fingers and said unhappily: "You are close to the mountainous area and you work in the police station. If I don't believe you, you don't have any information about rats to provide me."

"I really haven't heard of the mouse. You know, I've only been here for half a year..." Zhang Fang handed Liu Xiao a cigarette, lit it, and said with a wry smile: "If you have to say news about the mouse, it's the mouse that makes the prices here soar. Those of us who rely on our salary to make a living are about to lose the blame."

"Rats make prices soar?" Liu Xiao was surprised. The Rat Waste Order was released for only three days, and the prices in Ganshui County immediately responded. This was too fast.

"Where is there any mistake?" Zhang Fang sighed: "In order to prevent the attack of mice, it is strictly forbidden to enter the mountainous areas. Even few people in the towns near the mountainous areas dare to go. The vegetables, meat and wood in the countryside cannot be transported out. In addition, every family is hoarding grain madly, so why don't the prices rise exponentially?"

"Now, in several counties near the mountainous areas, everyone is restless. The newspaper said that it will take 2-3 years for 2 billion rats to automatically collapse. During this period, the cultivated land will be looted and no grass will grow. If people encounter rat groups in the wild, there is basically no possibility of survival. Therefore, those with some channels have moved to other places to live, and those with no channels can only stock up on food. In a few days, the cash of several banks in Ganshui County has been withdrawn. The pork has increased to 25 yuan/catties, and the radish and vegetables are at least 5 yuan/catties. If this continues, we will go begging for food." Zhang Fang took a sip of cigarettes with an anxious expression on his face.

Liu Xiao took a sip of tea, his mouth full of bitterness. The rat-avoidance order was released for only 3 days, and the rural economy was almost at a collapse. If it lasted for 2-3 years, Liu Xiao would no longer dare to think about it.

"Look at the teahouse, there are definitely more than 10 tables of people fighting against Landlords at this time, but today there are only two of us. It's so miserable. I guess the teahouse is about to close." Zhang Fang lamented.

"What about the countryside? Aren't the rural villagers even more miserable?" Liu Xiao asked.

"There is no need to say that the villages in the mountainous areas have applied for relief from the government, and the government is in a dilemma. It's not that there are no relief supplies, but mainly the problem of how to transport them. Using a convoy, worrying about encountering rat groups and using helicopters is too expensive."

It seems that even if the mandatory refuge plan is not implemented in mountainous areas, the price is not low. Because of the personal experience of encountering rat groups in mountainous areas, Liu Xiao firmly supports the proposal of mandatory refuge. Of course, it will cost a lot to implement this plan. However, compared with human life, what is the economic cost? Liu Xiao knew from Song Qinghe that the resistance of the mandatory refuge proposal in the command center. Now, Liu Xiao has begun to brew a news report. Well, the title is "Passive Prevention of Rat Groups will only drag down the economy of the entire Yizhou Province." I hope such a report can help Lin Yusen's proposal.

"By the way," Zhang Fang slapped his head and said, "I am very familiar with Liu Zhen in Anchang Town. His place is closest to the mountainous area. Maybe there is some latest news about rats. Well, I'll call you now to ask."

Zhang Fang took out his cell phone and called Liu Zhen. After a few simple greetings, he asked if there was any news about the mouse.

Liu Zhen on the other end of the phone seemed a little hesitant.

Zhang Fang was impatient and said, "Old Liu, I'm asking for information about a reporter from Zhongjiang Evening News. If you have something to say, you might be able to attract the attention of the command center in advance through the newspaper. You have to hide it. If something really happens, it's not you who will take responsibility."

Perhaps Zhang Fang's words worked, and Liu Zhen on the other end of the phone began to say it. As Zhang Fang listened, he looked incredible.

Five minutes later, Zhang Fang finished the call, looked at Liu Xiao's inquiring eyes, and said with a wry smile: "It's so fucking weird. There are all kinds of strange things these days - someone actually bought rats at a high price."

"Oh, you can tell me in detail." Liu Xiao was excited and looked at Zhang Fang with bright eyes.
Chapter completed!