Chapter 23 - Consider the Big Picture? I AM the Big Picture!

Chapter 23; Consider the Big Picture? I AM the Big Picture!

Jiangjing International Airport.

The highways and high-speed trains leading out of Jiangjing had long since been paralyzed. The only hope of leaving Jiangjing was by plane.

Thousands of survivors crowded outside Jiangjing International Airport, hoping to grasp this last glimmer of hope and escape from this hell on earth.

As the most important safety zone, the airport’s defense was strong, with an entire reinforced brigade maintaining order.

“Let us in!!! I have money, I have money, I’ll pay thirty thousand for a ticket!”

“I’m the vice president of Tongyuan Group, I’ll pay one hundred thousand, let me in!”

The crowd was in chaos because the airport was already sealed off. They watched planes taking off, but there were only a few left.

By now, people were no fools. They didn’t believe any planes would come back to pick them up! Each plane that left was one less plane available!

Facing the angry and excited crowd, the leading officer said coldly, “The current order is to wait for arrangements in place! Please do not panic, wait calmly!”

People were desperate to the point of cursing. How could they wait calmly in such a situation? But they didn’t dare to force their way in; the military had already dared to blow up Jiangbei Bridge, what wouldn’t they dare to do?

Some well-connected dignitaries were entering the airport through a small passage. These dignitaries looked at the anxious and angry crowd outside with pity. Many of those people were also wealthy individuals.

But in the current situation, having money alone was useless. Even if you offered a million, you couldn’t buy a ticket! In a crisis, power trumps wealth.

A middle-aged man who had already entered the airport was walking quickly towards the boarding gate. He had a commanding presence, followed by several subordinates.

Clearly, he was a high-ranking official.

The middle-aged man instructed a young man beside him, “Secretary Song, once we get off the plane, immediately withdraw as much cash as you can.”

Secretary Song nodded, “Understood, Minister Sun.”

This middle-aged man was Sun Wanghou, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources. Though a deputy minister, he was still a high-ranking official.

He had arrived in Jiangjing three days ago to host a meeting on ecological environmental management. He had not expected to encounter such a disaster!

So he immediately used his authority to leave the quarantine zone and head straight to the airport to escape Jiangjing.

He had also received news that the capital had fallen, so he planned to go north where it was still relatively safe.

Just then, commotion broke out at the boarding gate.

“What do you mean the plane is gone?!”

Several dignitaries lost their composure and shouted at a military officer in front of them, “What do we do now!?”

The officer, expressionless, said in a deep voice, “Please be patient and wait for the next flight.”

“Do you think we’re fools? There won’t be another flight!”

“I’m Chen Huaide, the logistics minister of the Provincial Armed Forces Department. Lieutenant, bring the last plane back!”

“I’m the chairman of the Jiangjing Municipal Council…”

The dignitaries were enraged. Jiangjing had become a disaster zone, so how could any more planes dare to fly here!?

Sharp-eyed individuals saw a large passenger plane still on the tarmac through the window.

“Isn’t there still a plane!?”

“There’s still a plane. We’ll take that one, let’s go!”

People clung to this last hope, pointing at the final plane.

But the officer shook his head and said calmly, “No, that plane has a special assignment and cannot take off now.”

“Special assignment?” The crowd was stunned. In such a dire situation, what special assignment could there be!?

At this moment, Sun Wanghou and his group approached.

“Comrade, what is this special assignment for the plane?” Sun Wanghou’s voice was steady and calm, even in this crisis.

Seeing Sun Wanghou’s entourage, everyone knew he must be a big shot.

Secretary Song introduced calmly, “This is Deputy Minister Sun of the Ministry of Water Resources.”

A minister?

Everyone gasped as they hadn’t expected a minister-level official to be here! Some dignitaries remembered hearing about a minister-level official coming to Jiangjing for a meeting a few days ago.

It must be him.

The officer was surprised to hear about a minister-level official. He hesitated before revealing some information.

“It’s an order from the Garrison Commander’s Office. This plane is waiting for someone and cannot take off.”

“Waiting for someone!?” A large plane waiting for one person!?

These dignitaries were high-ranking themselves, but even they could only manage to get a ticket out of Jiangjing.

And this person had an entire plane waiting for them?? Who on earth could this be??

Even Sun Wanghou was stunned. He didn’t have that kind of clout! The airport was under military control, and he couldn’t command the military.

But who was this person with higher status than him?

Sun Wanghou pondered, recalling that he was the highest-ranking official from the capital recently…

But the situation was urgent, and they couldn’t wait any longer!

Sun Wanghou said in a deep voice, “Comrade, the situation is dire. It’s inappropriate for so many of us to wait for one person.”

“The minority should obey the majority. We are all high-ranking officials, pillars of the country. If something happens to us, it will be a loss for the country and cause chaos.”

“Comrade, let us go first. You have to consider the bigger picture!”

But the officer remained expressionless. Are you kidding?

He might be a soldier, but he knew that someone who could keep a plane on standby must be of unusual status, higher than these people.

These dignitaries could leave, but what about him? He himself was counting on catching a military plane once the troops retreated!

At this moment, a laugh rang out.

“Consider the big picture? Heh, I AM the big picture.”

Everyone turned to see who spoke and a handsome young man appeared in the boarding corridor, escorted by a group of heavily armed soldiers…