10:27 a.m., Qingdao Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau Pier.

Two brand-new, modern anti-smuggling boats were docked on the inner and outer sides of a dunship at the anti-smuggling dock. The vessels were sleek, streamlining from bow to stern, significantly reducing water resistance compared to the typical deep V-shaped boats.

After six consecutive days of trial sailing, it could be felt that at medium and low speeds, the boat's bottom generated significant dynamic lift, with resistance comparable to the round-bilge type boats previously equipped in Qingdao.

Due to features like a full-length chine line, V-shaped transverse section, and smaller waterline entry angle, along with a large transverse deadrise angle at the stern and appendage designs such as long tail fins and bilge keels, its wave resistance performance was excellent.

The matching of the boat's machinery and propellers was also very superior. The design intentionally did not pursue the maximum still-water speed at the designed displacement but rather reserved significant main engine power while meeting the speed requirements specified in the design task. Thus, it ensured that at maximum displacement loading, the main engine could still reach the highest RPM, and the boat speed only decreased by about 0.5 knots.

The maneuverability was also outstanding, being stable during high-speed turns, with a small heeling angle and a turning radius of only 5.5 times the boat's length.

More importantly, its appearance was aesthetically pleasing, and the lines were clean!

The front wall of the superstructure adopted a curved design, with a truss-type quadruped mast. The front deck was equipped with a machine gun, while the rear deck was equipped with a motorboat and a boat crane, with the skylight of the auxiliary engine room located inside the motorboat's rack, providing a large activity space on the rear deck. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

In short, the deck layout was tidy, compact, and well-ordered.

The silhouette of the entire side of the boat was both aesthetically pleasing and carried the majesty of a warship.

The shipyard assisted in painting the boat names and numbers. The one equipped to Jiangcheng Customs was China Customs Boat 823, and the one equipped to Binjiang Customs was China Customs Boat 825.

Although it couldn't be named China Customs 001, Han Yu still fell in love with China Customs 825, moving his luggage onto the boat as soon as he arrived in Qingdao, and has been living on it ever since.

He treated the boat as his home, and naturally, Guo Weitao, Xiao Gong, Jiang Shengqi, and other anti-smuggling members also lived on the boat. Jiangcheng Customs' Vice Director Li, who led the team to receive the two anti-smuggling boats, was left feeling quite awkward living alone onshore.

No mistake, the leader in charge of equipment reception was from the customs, and both anti-smuggling boats belonged to the customs' equipment!

For this reason, all maritime anti-smuggling personnel, including Han Yu, were nominally affiliated with the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau, but in reality, they had dual identities as customs officers and anti-smuggling police.

The original plan required half a month of trial sailing.

However, plans never keep up with changes.

Around 9:30 this morning, Vice Director Li and Han Yu almost simultaneously received orders from the General Administration of Customs, the Provincial Military District, and the East Sea Fleet's East Sea Base.

The only difference was the General Administration's order was conveyed through Qingdao Customs.

The orders from the Provincial Military District and the East Sea Base were relayed through the North Sea Fleet Qingdao Base HQ.

Upon receiving the orders, Vice Director Li immediately went to the shipyard to complete the handover procedures in advance, while Han Yu quickly convened all crew members of the two anti-smuggling boats and accompanying armed police officers for a meeting.

In total, over fifty people, the command cabin of the anti-smuggling boat couldn't accommodate them, so they had to borrow the conference room of Qingdao colleagues.

Two cars arrived in the morning in succession, each group more serious-looking than the last.

Guo Weitao, Jiang Shengqi, and others had already sensed something big was happening, even feeling the tension in the air. While they silently speculated about what was going on, Han Yu cleared his throat and said, "Comrades, the superior has assigned us an urgent task, and the remaining trial missions will be conducted at sea."

"Secretary Han, are you saying we need to return early?"

"To be precise, it's an early departure. This maiden voyage is also our first battle. This is the trust from our superiors, the honor of our Boats 823 and 825!"

"Secretary Han, what's the mission?" Captain Liu of Boat 823 couldn't help but ask.

"The superiors have required strict confidentiality. The specifics of the task will be announced after we set sail."

Han Yu pulled out a mobile phone and placed it on the podium, looking around, and said, "Now, please hand in your phones and pagers. The devices of Boat 823 will be uniformly handed to Li Guan for safekeeping, who will bring them back to Jiangcheng for you. The devices of Boat 825 will be handed over to Squad Leader Zhang Xiaojun, who will take them back to Binjiang."

It was normal to hand over phones and pagers before executing a task, so everyone had no objections, quickly pulling out their phones or pagers and queued to place them on the podium.

Squad Leader Zhang Xiaojun of the armed police felt overwhelmed and asked with a bitter face, "Secretary Han, are you saying that we won't be participating in the operation, that we should return to Binjiang first?"

"Yes."

"Why aren't we being taken with you at this critical moment, this wasn't what was said before we left!"

Previously, the main purpose of bringing them over was to use the trial and return voyages to give them a good sense of work and life at sea.

In fact, this goal had been halfway achieved. In the past few days of trial sailing, the anti-smuggling boat swayed much more on the sea than on the river.

Especially the day before yesterday, when the weather was particularly harsh with strong winds and big waves, the anti-smuggling boat swayed side to side by over 30 degrees at the worst. Veteran Water Police Guo Weitao, Xiao Gong, and old Navy men like Jiang Shengqi and Wang Zhixin all vomited. These armed police officers vomited even more intensely, first throwing up their meals, then bile, and eventually even blood!

They had just recovered today and were immediately met with an emergency mission. It wouldn't be reasonable to not take them along at this time, but some matters can't be handled too leniently.

Han Yu took a deep breath and said helplessly, "Squad Leader Zhang, I understand your feelings, but right now I have to prioritize how to complete the tasks assigned by our superiors.

Considering the upcoming lengthy voyage and the limited endurance of the two boats, taking you along will directly impact our ability to successfully complete the mission assigned by superiors."

"There are only twelve of us, one boat can't fit everyone, so we can have a few people on the 823!"

"When I mention endurance, I'm not talking about capacity, but that once you board, there will be twelve more mouths to feed. Our fresh water tanks are only so big, and we must calculate various consumptions precisely."

"We... we can conserve water."

"Comrade Zhang Xiaojun, say no more. This is an order, not open to negotiation!"

Han Yu looked at the guys' disappointed faces, thought for a moment, and then explained, "Even if you don't board the ship, we have to conserve water as well. In the coming month, we might not even have hot meals.

The anti-smuggling boat, while not small on the river, is just a small vessel at sea. One wave can wash away a pot of water; cooking is simply not feasible, so we might rely entirely on dry rations for sustenance."

A voyage of one month!

Guo Weitao and Jiang Shengqi realized and simultaneously wondered what kind of mission this really is.

Han Yu, not knowing what they were thinking, took a look at his notebook, and continued, "Now to assign tasks before departure, I've communicated with the shipyard, and they will bring people to install the 'Roland C' by noon. Old Jiang and Old Liu, you should be familiar with Roland C, please assist them with the installation and testing later."

'Roland C' is an electronic navigation system that both the Navy and fishing boats have relied on for the past twenty years, but 'Roland C' is outdated and has been phased out by Western countries long ago.

Jiang Shengqi found it unbelievable and couldn't help but say, "Secretary Han, our boat is equipped with the most advanced navigation equipment. We have two colored navigation radars, electronic navigation charts, a GPS global positioning system, and radio direction finders…"

"I know."

Han Yu put down the notebook and said gravely, "For smuggling missions, these electronic devices, especially GPS navigation, are extremely helpful, but the mission we are about to undertake is not smuggling. GPS is very advanced, but the GPS satellite navigation system belongs to the United States, and we cannot rely on the American satellite system."

The mission ahead is not smuggling...

The group was stunned, instinctively recalling the increasingly tense Taiwan Strait situation these days.

Han Yu surveyed the group and gave an example: "On July 23, 1993, when our cargo ship 'Galaxy' was sailing in the Indian Ocean, it suddenly stopped and drifted. It wasn't mechanical failure, but because there was no GPS signal, the crew couldn't determine the direction, hence could not proceed.

At first, they thought it was an equipment malfunction, but no matter how they tried to fix it, nothing worked. Later, they learned it was because the United States suspected we were delivering weapons to Iran and deliberately shut off the navigation signal in the region where 'Galaxy' was located.

We need to learn from this lesson. We must not only avoid relying solely on GPS navigation, but also the soon-to-be-installed 'Roland C'. Over-reliance on a single form of ship positioning is very dangerous, as we must account for potential electronic interference."

Han Yu paused for a moment, then continued, "Therefore, Second Officer, Third Officer, please study the navigation charts thoroughly. Recall what you learned in military academy and during your recent training. Magnetic compasses and sextants have not disappeared from history; you must master the skills to navigate without deviation even amidst constant signal interference!"

The sextant is an essential marine instrument, known for its simplicity, reliability, excellent concealability, low cost, and geographical independence. Even today, it remains relevant in the maritime field.

Both naval and local maritime academies consider the sextant a compulsory subject, and the skill to proficiently determine positions with a sextant is one that navigational professionals and senior merchant ship officers must possess.

Realizing the nature of the mission ahead, Jiang Shengqi inwardly shuddered, but Han Yu continued, "Gong Jian, Wang Xiaolong, your task is to quickly procure all supplies needed for the voyage. You must act swiftly and complete it by 5 p.m."

"Secretary Han, for how many days are we preparing?"

"Don't ask me how many days to prepare for. I have just one request: fill the oil and water tanks, stuff the fridge, and stock up on dry goods that don't spoil easily. Also, prepare bottled water; load as much as you can."

"Understood!"

"Wang Zhixin, Jiang Guochang, you are responsible for firearms and ammunition, prepare five sets of machine gun rounds, and equip each anti-smuggling boat with ten automatic rifles and two thousand bullets each."

Wang Zhixin was shocked and stared at Han Yu, asking, "Secretary Han, we are just armament inspectors, how are we supposed to prepare?"

"When Li Guan returns, take some people with Li Guan to the Qingdao Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau to fetch the artillery shells. As for the rifles and rifle ammunition, Old Jiang, you'll come with me to borrow them from the Navy's Qingdao Base."

"Can we borrow them?"

"We should be able to, definitely will!"

…

PS: Headache, fever, feeling severely unwell.

Tested for antibodies, seems positive again.