[14] Rescue effort

Outside the night roamed the streets, and inside the living room the debate raged on.

"My prince, the main cause of this flood, is due to the inadequate sewage system of the city. But given the circumstance, it is impossible to repair it, unless we drain the water first." Ye-Li said.

"What if we just tear down the embankment?" Lin-Lin pointed on the map.

"Tearing down the embankment is too difficult in these flooded conditions. Also its rain season right now, if we tear down the embankment and another heavy rain comes by, then the water from the Huangpu River will pour into the city." Ye-Li shook her head.

"Do you have any suggestions on how to drain the flood?" Wang-Yi asked.

"We can open the north city gate and let out the water into the moat river, but there is going to be an initial over pour of water that will flood into the north slums area. We have to evacuate the people in the north slums area first, and construct a sand bag buffer line across the north slums riverside to minimize the over pour.

"How much man power do we need, if we are going to get this done within 1 day?" The prince asked.

"1…1 day?" Ye-Li voice was in a little shock, but she quickly regained herself. "If its one day, then we need a work force of at least 30,000." Ye-Li answered.

"Very well. Yu-Xiao-Xi, I need you to be at the northern slums and vocally rally the volunteers, and tell them there will be free food for the volunteers."

"I shall get to it at once, my prince." Yu-Xiao-Xi bowed.

"Jiang-Yi, I need you to record all the expenses for this flood draining project."

"Yes, my prince." Jiang-Yi bowed.

"Ye-Li, I want you to oversee the whole flood draining operation at the site."

"Understood my prince." Ye-Li bowed.

"Alright, the meeting is adjourned. Now let's get to work now." The prince said.

***

The morning mist barely cleared, as another group of survivors arrived on a small wooden boat. They docked themselves on the half flooded stairs leading up to the city wall. The city wall was almost packed to the brim with survivors, and many more were arriving.

"Ma'am, the wall is almost at full capacity, what should we do?" asked one of the special forces soldiers.

"Lower the ladders and let those who are able bodied climb down." San-Qi said.

"Yes ma'am!" The special forces solider saluted.

A moment later, 3 dangling ladders were rolled down on the north gate and many more rolled down the west wall.

Seeing the crowd surge forward at the sight of the ladder, San-Qi immediately jumped onto the edge of the wall and whipped out her giant battleaxe.

"LISTEN UP! One person per ladder! No pushing! No shoving! Or else no one is getting the hell outta here alive." San-Qi gritted her teeth.

The crowd hesitated then grew docile in compliance.

One by one, the people lowered themselves onto the ground. Once they were on the ground, they hurried across the stone bridge towards the other side.

"Madam!" a feminine voice called out.

San-Qi tilted head towards the source of the voice, the owner of the voice appeared to be a young mother holding a baby in her arms.

"En?" San-Qi stared at her with one eye.

"I have a baby, and I can't carry him down on my back, I am afraid I will drop him! Can you please find a way to lower him onto the ground?"

San-Qi paused for a moment, then turned her head and called out to one of the special forces soldiers:

"Get me a two ropes and a basket! Now!"

"Yes ma'am!" The solider saluted then ran off. A minute later, he came back with two ropes and a basket.

San-Qi jumped back onto the city wall again. She then took over the basket and ropes from the solider, and then got on one knee and began to tie the knots herself.

"That should do it." San-Qi got up again. "Alright, you can place the baby in the basket now." she turned and said to the young mother.

"Thank you madam!" The young mother thanked, as she placed the baby into the basket.

"I-Its nothing." She turned her head away. "You two there! I want you two to lower her child onto the ground. If you drop the basket, I will drop your head." She pointed to two special forces soldiers standing at the side.

"Yes ma'am!" They answered with a sliver of fear in their voice.

Nevertheless, the special forces soldiers obeyed and carefully lowered the baby in the basket onto the ground.

"Thank you so much madam!" The young mother fell to her knees and hugged her waist.

"L-let go! You're embarrassing me!" San-Qi's voice lost a bit of her cool.

"Yes madam!" The young mother got up. "Please excuse me for now, I need to pick up my child."

"Just go." San-Qi turned her head away, and leaned her back on the wall.

After seeing the young mother descend the ladder, San-Qi looked up to the sky and thought:

So this is what being praised by the people feels like huh?...