Chapter 62: The Emperor's Decree

  Hong Ying pushed away Xue Xiang and said, "You dare to forge military orders in this military restricted area! You're just a young whippersnapper, how dare you be so reckless!" He suddenly remembered that the little soldier had introduced Xue Xiang as a staff officer of the Junde Anban. How could there be such a young staff officer? The vigilance of the soldiers is really low these days. Such an obvious lie can deceive them, it seems that discipline needs to be tightened up.

  Xue Xiang smiled and said: "Hong Ge, just because you are the leader, I can't be a high-ranking advisor? Take a look at this." After that, Xue Xiang took out his ID and handed it over.

  Hong Ying took it over, opened it and looked at it: "Good boy, you're really capable! Are you 16 or 17 this year? You've become a lieutenant colonel staff officer, and it's still An Ban, it's really amazing. Quickly tell me, how did this happen? By the way, is Old Shou Zhang doing well? It's been many years since I saw him. Thinking about it, I really owe him an apology, all these years I haven't gone to visit him, nor have I taken good care of you and your siblings." As he spoke, he became somewhat sentimental, Xue An Yuan was like a teacher or father to him.

  Xue Xiang came to find him today mainly because of the earthquake, and he hastily answered Hong Ying's question. His mind was fully focused on this urgent matter. Xue Xiang said: "Brother Hong, I came to find you today, mainly because there is a big thing that needs your help." After saying that, he pointed to Ma Tiechui who was standing aside and said: "This person is the main party involved, let him speak instead."

  Hong Ying knew Xue Xiang's temperament, joking about trivial matters and being serious about important ones. Seeing him speak solemnly, she calmed down and listened to Ma Tiechui's account. Ma Tiechui was honest and had a good eloquence. After a round of conversation, the causes and consequences were clearly explained, with reason and evidence, even mentioning the kites seen on the way here.

  Hong Ying sat down on the chair with a thud, stunned. He didn't believe Ma Tiechui, but he trusted Xue Xiang unconditionally. He believed that Xue Xiang would never use such a life-and-death matter to amuse himself.

  "Lao San, who have you discussed this matter with? Have you reported it to the relevant leaders?" Hong was shocked for a long time before he came back to his senses.

  Xue Xiangdao said, "Hong Ge, Ma Laoxian has put himself in a difficult position for this matter. He is a man of great virtue and prestige, yet he has done so; if we two young people with no social standing were to speak out about it, who would believe us?"

  Hong lit a cigarette and took a puff before handing the pack to Xue Xiang: "Old Three, since you've come looking for me, you must have had a plan in mind. Speak up, what do you want me to do?"

  That's trust, unconditional trust!

  Xue Xiang pulled out a cigarette, tossed the pack to Ma Tiechui and said in a deep voice: "Hong Ge, gather all the people you can assemble, depart at 12 o'clock tonight, divide into several small teams and enter various districts and streets of Qintang City. Use loudspeakers to announce that around 4 o'clock tonight, there will be a strong earthquake within the Qintang city area, and let residents evacuate in time."

  Hong Yingdao said, "There's no problem with the manpower, Old Three. Are you really sure that the earthquake will occur around 4 am? Even international seismic monitoring hasn't heard of such accuracy." It wasn't that Hong Ying had changed his nature, but rather Xue Xiang's words were too unreasonable. Xue Xiang said there would be an earthquake, and he believed him. After all, precursors to earthquakes have been heard before, and everyone knows about them. But to say that it will occur within a certain hour is still hard for him to believe. This has nothing to do with trust; it's beyond reason. If you don't doubt it, then that's blind obedience.

  Ma Tiechui also felt strange, but he didn't ask, anyway, he just followed Xue Xiang's lead. Whatever Xue Xiang said or did was fine by him. Xue Xiang could only smile wryly and scratch his head, thinking of an excuse: "Hong Ge, I set the time at around 4 o'clock for a reason. If we start evacuating at 12 o'clock, it will take at least two to three hours, right? If we say the time is too close, it might cause panic and stampedes; if we say it's too far away, what if the earthquake doesn't happen until dawn? We won't be able to explain that either." This was just an excuse, he was afraid that there wouldn't be enough time, why did he have to set the evacuation time at 12 o'clock. It was all because he had carefully calculated the timing, making sure it sounded reasonable on the surface and gave them enough leeway to evacuate the crowd without causing unnecessary trouble if the earthquake didn't happen on schedule.

  Hong Ying nodded and said, "Do we need to inform the Prefectural Committee and the Municipal Revolutionary Committee? We can't keep this a secret from them. If the Prefectural Committee makes one phone call to the Central Committee, we'll be in trouble no matter how hard we try to explain ourselves."

  Xue Xiang smiled bitterly: "If there's a good reason, I'll report directly to General An Lao. Why bother with this trouble? I firmly believe the earthquake will occur tonight. Hong Ge, if you're not convenient, help me gather a battalion of soldiers. With my identity as a Jide, I'll fake an imperial edict. If anything goes wrong, it's on me."

  Hong Ying Bang's palm slapped on the red wood table, shaking the teacups into the air: "What are you talking about, you little brat? You think your brother Hong is so irresponsible. Let's bet on it, even if we lose and end up in a military court. If we win, my future capital will be secured, saving tens of thousands of lives, what a great achievement!"

  He said he would do it, and Hong Ying was also a decisive person. He immediately picked up the phone, gathered his strength, and waited for orders. Soon, Shi Zhiwei, the chief of staff, ZZ director, and the team leaders of various teams gathered together. Hong Ying introduced Xue's identity according to the words he had prepared earlier, saying that he was carrying out a secret order from An Ban. Because there were differences in opinion between the two sides regarding the impending earthquake news, they hesitated and did not decide. Shi Zhiwei decided to take action first, so he sent his most trusted advisor Xue to deliver the secret order. Then, he introduced the main program and steps of tonight's operation. As soon as he finished speaking, everyone stood up and responded with a loud "yes" without any hesitation. Xue nodded secretly, it seemed that Hong Ying had a good grasp on this team.

  Everyone deeply believed in this order. Firstly, the contradictions between J and the other side were no secret at this level. In people's subconscious mind, they regarded this action as an extension of the contradictions between J and the other side, and they must obey J's orders. Secondly, the news of the earthquake was absolutely not fabricated by J, because J would never joke about the lives and safety of the masses, let alone such a low-level, uninteresting, and extremely risky joke that no big shot would be so bored with.

  At the order of Hong Ying, everyone began to take action. Row after row of soldiers gathered, and vehicle after vehicle started to move in all directions, loaded with military supplies and important military materials. Before the operation even began, Hong Ying arranged for the property and machinery of the 166th Division to be transferred first, thinking that every little bit counted.

  ………..

  The waiting time is always so unbearable, the old man of time walks slowly to twelve o'clock. Hong Ying gives the order and the evacuation action officially begins. According to the plan, each class is divided into districts and areas, with a loudspeaker for each class, and personnel are arranged at traffic intersections to organize the evacuation. The soldiers all carry real guns to prevent profiteers from taking advantage of the chaos. Suddenly, "Woo, woo" motorcycles, trucks, and jeeps dispersed in all directions around the division headquarters.

  It was night, the weather turned gloomy, the night was as black as ink, and the cool breeze came in waves. Qin Tang, this pearl of heavy industry in North China, was shining brightly with lights, but who knew that this enchanting beauty was about to come to an end.

  "Comrades, residents, please note! Comrades, residents, please note! Just received news that around 4 o'clock tonight, Qin Tang City will experience a strong earthquake. Strong earthquake, please evacuate immediately, evacuate immediately! This is not a drill, this is not a drill!" The sharp electronic sound came from the loudspeakers on military trucks, jeeps and motorcycles, playing repeatedly. The quiet city of Qin Tang suddenly became like an ocean, with thousands of meters of huge waves rising rapidly. Qin Tang was a heavy industrial city, during the time when China and the Soviet Union were at odds, many air raid shelters were dug, and since then, Qin Tang had been conducting drills. Therefore, Xue Xiangcai required Hong Ying to add "this is not a drill" in the announcement.

  At this moment, the lights of the entire Qin Tang City lit up one after another, and piece by piece, the area seemed to be ignited by the sound of the horn.

  Li Xia was also startled awake by the piercing sound of the loudspeaker, and when she made out the voice shouting from the loudspeaker, she turned pale with fright. She turned on the bedside lamp and slapped her husband Qin Shi, who was snoring beside her: "Old Qin, listen, the loudspeaker outside says there's an earthquake tonight, what should we do? Is it a prank?"

  Qin Shi was woken up by Li Xia from his dream, still not fully awake: "Earthquake? What earthquake, you had a nightmare, dreaming of an earthquake?" Hmm, no, there really are loudspeakers shouting. Qin Shi jumped up, pulled away the curtains and looked out the window, on the wide main road, there were already many vehicles, pedestrians carrying big bags and small packages, squeezing all the way.

  "Not good, wife, quickly go wake up Jiajia and Maomao, it's really going to be an earthquake! The loudspeaker outside is from the national defense army, it must be true. There are people all over the road outside." Qin Shi put on his clothes while calling out to his wife to hurry up and get ready, and go wake up their two children.

  Qin Shí had just finished dressing and was about to go collect the cash and receipts when he heard someone knocking on the door. Qin Shí hastily opened the door, and it turned out to be his neighbor, Hu Dàshū.

  "Qin, hurry up! Quickly call your wife and kids to run away quickly, what are you still hesitating about? The whole building is dark except for your home, your aunt is worried and asked me to come up and take a look. As expected, you're all still dawdling..." Old Man Hu scolded in a stern tone, showing that he was extremely anxious.

  Qin was also anxious, turned his head and rushed into the house, took the cash and documents, picked up the two children and ran out, calling Li Xia to follow.

  "Recorder, recorder tape, I can't take it down." Li Xia held a box in her arms and carried a large package on her shoulder, with the whole person covered by a small mountain of things, only revealing her head.

  Qin was so angry that he put down the two children, grabbed the boxes and packages on Li Xia's body and threw them all over the floor. He kicked the recorder on the small table far away, hitting the wall and shattering into pieces.

  "You're crazy, several hundred yuan, we saved up for a year's salary when we got married and you just wasted it like that. This life is unbearable, waaahhhh....." Li Xia pulled at Qin Shi's clothes and started making a scene.

  Qin didn't have time to explain, he simply scooped up Li Xia and shouted for the two children to follow him as he rushed downstairs. As they ran, he slapped Li Xia's plump buttocks with his palm, scolding: "Foolish woman, what are you thinking? Do you want money or do you want your life?"

  Li Xia was touched by Qin Shi on her sensitive spot, and her face turned red. She twisted on his shoulder and said: "You dead man, do you know how urgent it is? Stop messing around! Put me down quickly, go hug the child, I'm going to give birth to this family!"