Luo Xiaowei said, "My name is Luo Xiaowei, and I am a college student at Donghai University."
A reporter from CCTV? No wonder they dared to step on Professor Sun. Tong Yuan stood up and went outside to make a phone call: "Fine, fine, you just wait."
The expert team of doctors helped Sun Zhongxi outside to treat the wound on his foot. In addition, his vomiting just now was a bit strange, so the digestive system experts decided to give him a consultation first.
Dan Hongfei sighed deeply, "Junior brother, this matter has really blown up."
Zhao Qiang said, "Senior brother, you shouldn't hesitate any longer. Order a city-wide quarantine immediately."
Shan Hongfei said, "With the limited police force in Dongyang City?"
Zhao Qiang said, "Isn't there also the armed police force? We must use force to impose martial law when necessary."
Shan Hongfei rubbed his hands and said, "If that's the case, the situation is too serious. Let me consult the provincial government first."
Zhao Qiang knew that forcing them was useless. These officials were not like him. He was straightforward; if things went well, great; if not, so be it. He didn't have to worry about anyone using this to attack his position. But Shan Hongfei had too many relationships to consider, so he was naturally hesitant and always wanted to shirk responsibility. That's probably where the Chinese word "split the board" came from.
They all went out to make phone calls. Chen Xinyu asked Zhao Qiang, "What should we do?"
Zhao Qiang said, "You should report the news to the station first. I estimate that the station won't be able to decide whether to release it for a while. They also need to consult the central government about this matter. Hehe, that's the situation in the country. I estimate that by the time a decision is made, the situation in Dongyang City will be even more serious and out of control. I don't know what's going on in Donghai City. Xiaowei, call Xiaoya and tell her everything that's happening here."
Luo Xiaowei said, "Okay."
With everyone gone and the room quiet, Zhao Qiang sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and noticed a man squatting in the corner of the office. It was the director of the Central Hospital, his face utterly dejected. One could imagine that this incident had greatly impacted his future, and he might have to step down once the matter was over.
Zhao Qiang took a puff of his cigarette and said to the dean, "Dean, the fact that the doctors and nurses ran away has little to do with you. It's the same principle as the saying 'when disaster strikes, everyone flies away.' It's a normal human psychology. If I were one of those doctors or nurses, I would have done the same. Everyone has parents and children. What would happen to them if something happened?"
The hospital director walked over and sat down next to Zhao Qiang. He held Zhao Qiang's hand and said, "My dear friend, I have done my best, but we can't find the virus at all. If we don't know what kind of virus it is, we can't start treatment. We have no clue at all. This is also where those doctors feel hopeless. Think about it, even the expert group sent down by the central government is helpless. Why are they still staying in the hospital waiting to get infected? Isn't that stupid? If I could run away, I would have run away myself."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "But I think they'll still come back."
The dean said, "Yes, they will definitely come back after their illness subsides, because it's not easy to find a better job in Dongyang City. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. They can't just come and go as they please."
Zhao Qiang said, "Dean, that's not what I meant. Think about it, most of these doctors come into contact with patients with diarrhea. Since there has already been contact infection, they will also get sick soon, so they still have to come back."
The dean was somewhat taken aback: "Does that mean we'll both get infected?"
Zhao Qiang said, "You're the hospital director, what do you think?"
The dean suddenly said in a tearful voice, "I don't want to be so exhausted that I can barely get out of the toilet."
Zhao Qiang said, "So the best way is to find a drug to fight this virus as soon as possible."
The hospital director said, "It's simply not possible with our hospital's capabilities. How about we transfer all the patients to the provincial central hospital?"
Zhao Qiang said, "The journey is so long, and with the number of patients constantly increasing, Dean, would you please consider this?"
The dean buried his head in his knees and remained silent. These matters were far beyond his ability to handle, and it was quite remarkable that he had managed to hold on this long, given the pressure from both the upper and lower levels.
Tong Yuan was no longer at the door. Although he was eagerly awaiting the higher-ups' decision on how to deal with Zhao Qiang and the other two, the central government couldn't hold a meeting just for him, so he needed time to wait. Rather than getting in the way at the door, he decided to find somewhere to hide first.
The chaos at the hospital continued. Due to the lack of effective guidance, some patients' families lost control and began vandalizing the emergency room. Chen Xinyu recorded everything truthfully with a camera and then transmitted it back to the station via the internet. These videos were immediately reported to the central government. While the public was kept in the dark, the central government was required to release the information.
At this moment, the central government was also engaged in heated discussions, with opinions divided into two camps. One camp advocated immediately imposing martial law throughout the city to strictly control the spread of the virus and to notify the World Health Organization to utilize global medical resources to overcome this unknown virus. The other camp believed that this was making a mountain out of a molehill; it was just diarrhea and should not affect the economic order of S province. They argued that the diarrhea might be related to seasonality and seawater pollution, and that they should wait and see how the disease developed. Perhaps it would subside once the human body adapted, and there was no need to launch a large-scale campaign like this, as it would severely restrict the development of the national economy.
The Yang family supported decisive isolation and global notification, while the Hu family faction mostly supported waiting for the disease to develop further and not taking drastic measures. Just when the two sides were deadlocked, the Hu family suddenly sided with the isolation and notification, and the Yang family won a great victory, and the corresponding orders were passed on.
Tong Yuan waited anxiously for the phone call in his office. He knew that the central government's research had yielded results. Based on his analysis of the central government's power balance and the personalities of its officials, he believed that the matter should be handled cautiously and secretly, so as not to cause widespread panic. As for the three people he mentioned who disrupted the stability of Dongyang City, he estimated that they should be severely punished as examples.
"Minister Tong, you've worked hard in Dongyang City. The Central Committee has highly praised your work. In view of the further development of the situation, the Sixth Vice Premier has set off for Dongyang City to take command. However, considering that the infection has spread, you and the members of the working group cannot return to Beijing for the time being. Please stay in Dongyang City to assist the Sixth Vice Premier. The work in the ministry will be temporarily taken over by others..."
Tong Yuan didn't understand, but he vaguely sensed something was wrong. "What about the quarantine? And what about the three people who injured Professor Sun from the medical team?"
"The Sixth Vice Premier will handle these matters, so you don't need to worry. You can return to Beijing after the infection situation has calmed down. Okay, that's all." The other party hung up the phone.
Sun Zhongxi, who had been waiting inside, asked anxiously, "What's going on?"
Tong Yuan said, "It seems that this is not what we expected. The six vice premiers will come to Dongyang City in person, and we have been left idle."
Sun Zhongxi said, "What are you talking about? Without people like us, who could have figured out a way to treat this disease?"
Tong Yuan said, "I don't know either. Anyway, everything is decided by the Sixth Vice Premier. Let's wait for him to arrive before we report to him."
After the central government made the decision, the province immediately received the order. The armed police set off an hour later to Dongyang and Donghai, the two cities with the most severe cases. Shan Hongfei and Xu Liming also received urgent telegrams from the central government and the province to immediately implement a city-wide quarantine and impose martial law in the severely affected areas, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.
The worst-case scenario unfolded: widespread chaos erupted in Dongyang and Donghai cities, with many people taking advantage of the confusion to loot and vandalize the streets. Initially, the police were able to maintain order, but after a few hours, the infection entered a rampant phase, with a large number of police officers and medical personnel becoming infected. Everyone was forced to find places to use the toilets, leaving the streets to be left to the mercy of those who took advantage of the chaos, resulting in a series of atrocities.
Dan Hongfei was filled with deep regret. If he had listened to Zhao Qiang and taken the quarantine seriously from the beginning, the situation in Dongyang City would not have been so bad. In Donghai City, which was at the same level as him, the order was not disrupted because Xu Liming supported the quarantine with his daughter's backing. Based on this alone, Xu Liming's promotion was a sure thing.
(Thanks to ge1eizi, 1iuyu123, Walking on the Tightrope Cat [3 photos], Fresh Meat Dumplings, and Youyouruoshui for their monthly ticket support)
(Thanks to 666 for the 521588 coin donation, thanks to 我是有富人梦中 for the 200 coin donation, and thanks to 沫首乘龟 for the 100 coin donation)
Volume Two [400] Martial Law
[4oo] Martial law
Zhao Qiang looked out at the street from the window. Luo Xiaowei pushed open the door and came in. She quietly came up behind Zhao Qiang, then wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. "Zhao Qiang, dinner is ready. Let's eat."
Zhao Qiang sighed, "I still couldn't be of much help."
Luo Xiaowei said, "You've done your best."
In the restaurant, Chen Xinyu was setting the table. She had already prepared all the interview content and was just waiting for the arrival of the 6th Vice Premier before conducting the interview. The information provided by Shan Hongfei said it would be 4 pm, but it was still early. At that time, Zhao Qiang would personally accompany her to the airport. With Zhao Qiang there, Chen Xinyu was not afraid even if the streets were chaotic.
Seeing Zhao Qiang's sullen expression, Chen Xinyu cautiously asked, "Are you angry about last night?"
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "Do you think so?"
Luo Xiaowei chuckled: "Doesn't seem like it."
Zhao Qiang said, "Personal feelings can't be taken into account for now. Dongyang and Donghai are facing a major disaster. Look at the reports online. This situation has occurred in many coastal cities, and Dongyang is still trying to hide it. Look at the cities around the Pacific Rim. Similar reports have appeared in Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the United States, and Canada. I really don't know what the country is thinking. The situation has become so serious, yet they are still considering economic issues? Senior Brother Shan has always been decisive, but now that he's in a higher position, he's become hesitant and timid."
Luo Xiaowei advised Zhao Qiang, "There's nothing we can do about it. If Senior Brother Shan hadn't done this, he probably wouldn't have been able to stay as the municipal party secretary for long. That's how things have always been in the Chinese officialdom, and it's not something you can change with your own power."
Chen Xinyu took Zhao Qiang's notebook and looked at it. This was information that Xiao Wei had searched online. Although the cases that appeared in other places were extremely rare and did not attract the attention of local hospitals, based on the clues in the reports, it should be the same as the initial situation in Dongyang City. In a few days, this diarrhea would spread like wildfire until it became uncontrollable.
Zhao Qiang ate a large piece of pork with a vicious bite and said, "If Yang Shiqi were here, that would be great."
Chen Xinyu asked, "Why?"
Zhao Qiang said, "With her in front of us, Senior Brother Shan feels much more at ease. He will do whatever I say. But right now, he can't bear the responsibility, so he doesn't dare to give orders."
Luo Xiaowei said, "Wasn't a citywide martial law order already issued at noon?"
Zhao Qiang pointed outside and said, "It's too late, and the curfew isn't strict enough, plus we're short-handed."
After dinner, Luo Xiaowei and Chen Xinyu went to their room to rest for a while. Zhao Qiang plugged in Xiaowei's charger, and the two talked in the room, mainly about the infectious virus.
Xiao Wei said, "When I was in the hospital, I secretly took some blood samples from patients and used energy to separate the known substances in them. However, I couldn't detect the properties of the last type of cell. This is a new type of cell that humans have not yet discovered."
"Oh, you've already isolated the virus sample?"
Xiao Wei said, "Well, although I don't know the characteristics of this cell, I'm already trying to test its reaction with all sorts of substances I can find around me. So far, none of the drugs in the hospital can kill its activity. At most, they can temporarily inhibit its reproduction, but the duration of this effect can vary. Brother, let me take a blood sample from you. I need to analyze why you and Sister Xiao Wei weren't infected. Maybe we can find a way to deal with this virus."
Zhao Qiang held up his finger: "Come on, I have plenty of blood on me."
Xiao Wei extended a thin needle from the side of the notebook. Zhao Qiang pricked his finger with it, and his blood flowed into Xiao Wei's notebook through the needle hole. She used energy to analyze the composition of Zhao Qiang's blood and then conducted experiments to combat the virus. She didn't aim to eliminate the virus; simply extinguishing its activity and preventing it from reproducing would be a great success.
This analysis would take a long time. Zhao Qiang checked the latest weapons and equipment research conducted by the two of them for a while, and the time was up quickly. Chen Xinyu, dressed neatly, came into the room and called Zhao Qiang. Zhao Qiang closed his laptop, took the two women out of the guesthouse, and found that taxis had long since stopped operating and there was a lot of garbage piled up on the road. So Zhao Qiang ran into a residential building, stole a motorcycle, and took the two women straight to the airport.
Shan Hongfei mobilized almost all the city's police force to the vicinity of the airport, but even so, the Sixth Vice Premier felt that this was the worst treatment he had ever received during his inspection. The airport was deserted, with no welcoming crowds or flowers, and not even a single child, making it seem like the end of the world. Fortunately, the Sixth Vice Premier was not a very particular person, so he did not make a fuss.
Upon disembarking from the plane, the six vice premiers immediately asked the Dongyang municipal government leaders who were there to greet them: "What is the situation now?"
The mayor said obsequiously, "Premier, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest at the hotel first, and then we will report to you."
The six vice premiers straightened their faces and said, "Nonsense! What time is it? You're still in the mood to rest. No wonder the source of infection in Dongyang City hasn't been controlled. It's all because of people like you who don't do your jobs properly. Look at Donghai City. The quarantine zone is well-organized, and the people are at peace. Unlike here, it's like you've been attacked by bandits."
Dan Hongfei looked ashamed, while the mayor shrank back into the crowd, too frightened to show his face again. Dan Hongfei stepped forward and said to the six vice premiers, "Premier, we are severely lacking in police force. We can't even guard the main roads leading in and out of Dongyang City, let alone maintain order in the city. Please request reinforcements from the military immediately. In addition, the medical staff at the city's central hospital have almost completely collapsed and also need assistance from external medical organizations."
The six vice premiers turned to their secretaries and asked, "Where have the reinforcements from the People's Armed Police arrived?"
The secretary said, "We were already fifty kilometers away from Dongyang City half an hour ago, and we should be outside the city now."
The 6th Vice Premier nodded with relief: "Notify the armed police reinforcements to make sure they do a good job of disinfection and prevention. I don't want to see anything else happen to them. Block all roads in and out of Dongyang City, and no one is allowed to enter or leave at will. All flights at the airport are suspended and no planes are allowed to land. Our next medical team sent by the military region will take Route 6 and they will arrive in two hours."
When Shan Hongfei heard that the 6th Vice Premier had arranged everything, he breathed a sigh of relief. However, the order and quarantine in the city were still in chaos, and a large number of healthy people were needed to reinforce the work. It seemed that this task had to be organized and completed by the municipal government, and the 6th Vice Premier could not do everything for him.
Very few reporters came to the airport to cover the event. Firstly, since the initial measures were in place, no one dared to conduct random interviews and reports. Secondly, most reporters had been infected while interviewing at the hospital and were now either in public restrooms or in the bathrooms of hotels or homes, too busy taking care of themselves to care about others.
Without the flashing lights of the reporters, the 6th Vice Premier was a little unaccustomed to it. Fortunately, someone finally came up to interview him. When he saw that he recognized the girl, the 6th Vice Premier smiled and said, "Little Chen, what are you doing in Dongyang City? You filmed all the news videos sent back by the station, right? Only you have the guts to do that. Other reporters are probably too scared to come closer."
Chen Xinyu giggled: "Premier, you're exaggerating. Can I just ask you one question?"
The sixth vice premier said, "Speak."
Chen Xinyu asked, "What measures do you have to stop the situation from escalating further?"
The sixth vice prime minister said, "There is no perfect plan yet, but I think it will be formulated soon. Would you please come and supervise its implementation?"
Chen Xinyu said, "Okay, but I'm afraid Vice Minister Tong won't allow me to do this. He might want to punish me."
The sixth deputy prime minister asked, "Oh, why are you being punished?"
Chen Xinyu said, "Because I hit Professor Sun."
The sixth vice prime minister asked curiously, "Then why did you hit him? You're not an unreasonable person, are you?"
Chen Xinyu said, "I hit Professor Sun to remind him not to harm the people of the city for his own selfish interests. Unfortunately, my slap didn't work, and the situation still got out of control."
The 6th Vice Premier chuckled. He didn't comment on the matter. Firstly, Sun Zhongxi was a man of some standing, and secondly, it was normal for him to make the decision to avoid risks. He might have done the same in his place. Who would dare to easily issue an order for a city-wide lockdown? However, with Professor Sun's help, it seemed that the scapegoat for this incident had been found. Thinking of this, the 6th Vice Premier glanced at Tong Yuan, the Vice Minister of Health. Since you have accomplished nothing here, it is only right that you suffer some injustice.
The motorcade entered the city government in a grand procession. At least two hundred people were patrolling the perimeter of the city government at that moment. There was no other way; they were afraid that patients carrying the virus might get close. If the six deputy prime ministers were infected, it would be a terrible crime.
The meeting was convened hastily, and the leaders at each level reported the situation to the six vice premiers one by one. By the time the six vice premiers understood the ins and outs of the matter, the armed police reinforcements had completed the blockade of Dongyang City. At the same time, another convoy entered the municipal government compound, consisting entirely of medical vehicles. This was the arrival of the additional military medical team.
Zhao Qiang accompanied Chen Xinyu to sit in on the previous meeting. In his opinion, the nearly two-hour meeting was all nonsense. No useful suggestions or measures were put forward. It was all just a review. What's the use of reviewing things now that they're already like this? It was just going through the motions and engaging in formalism. When Zhao Qiang was in college, he didn't understand these formalities and didn't realize that so-called formalism could kill people. Now he has a real understanding of it.
The medical team dispatched by the military was large, with a total of over 100 people. The team was led by a female colonel. Her first task was to report to the Sixth Vice Premier. At this time, the meeting was only halfway through, and her appearance was very timely, because the next step was to discuss how to deal with this emergency.
Zhao Qiang stood at the window looking out at the medical vehicles. He spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. Zhao Qiang gestured to Chen Xinyu, pointed outside, and then went out first.
"Senior Sister!" Zhao Qiang called out, and Gu Xuemei quickly turned around. "Junior Brother?"
Zhao Qiang gently squeezed Gu Xuemei's hand and said, "Why are you here?"
Let's make another one popular in Volume 2 [401]
[4o1] Let's push another one to the top!